Discover the "Asahi: Canadian Baseball Legends" online exhibition, highlighting the history and triumph of a team of Japanese Canadians who captivated Vancouver fans between 1914 and 1941
VANCOUVER March 15, 2008
The National Nikkei Museum, Heritage Centre and 7th Floor Media launch "Asahi: Canadian Baseball Legends". This online exhibit was developed in partnership with the Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC), an initiative of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
The Web site tells the story of the Vancouver Asahi baseball team, a talented group of Japanese Canadian baseball players who triumphed over inequality, adversity and prejudice to successfully compete in the Vancouver senior city leagues between 1914 and 1941. During this time, the Asahis won numerous championships, often against Caucasian teams made up of much bigger players. Although the Asahi dynasty was abruptly brought to a halt in 1942 when players, along with others of Japanese descent, were relocated to internment camps, the story of the Asahi is one of hope and perseverance. It is a Canadian story about young men playing for the love of the game and instilling pride for all Japanese Canadians in the process.
The site focuses on these popular Canadian heroes in four chapters: Building the Club, Triumph, Pride of the Community and The Asahi Legacy. Users are invited to explore each chapter in depth to discover the history of the team, learn about their unique brand of baseball and their contributions to the community, while also learning about some of the key players. The site contains engaging historic photographs as well as video and audio clips. Many of these clips feature former Asahi players talking about the game and reflecting on their experiences. The site, available in English, French and Japanese, will be of interest to historians, teachers, students and baseball fans alike. Baseball fans will be especially interested in the selection of downloadable baseball cards, while teachers and students will make use of the collection of Teachers' resources, the timeline and the map section of the site.
Although the Asahis have been the subject of several recent books, films and travelling exhibitions, this is the first time their story has been brought to an online audience. The online exhibition allows people from across the country and the world to become fans of this legendary team. 7th Floor Media Co-director Noni Maté explains the importance of the site: "The story of the Asahis is interesting on so many levels and relates to several themes. Whether someone is a baseball fan, interested in the Japanese Canadian experience, the history of Canada, or sport in general, this site will be of interest, as it has a little something for everyone."