jujiro - Jujiro Wada Memorial Association

Family Tree

Discovering MY Japanese Heritage; Memories of My Grandmother, Helen, Part.1

Jujiro Wada’s only daughter Helen Silveira —Helen Silveira (married 5 times): children Eddy, Harry, Donald, Juanita, Leonard, Adamae and Edith O`Hare; Harold, Lorraine, Lucille, Robert, Ruth, Norma, and Melvin Wight; Richard M. Medeiros; Marilyn Peters

I, Michael O’Hare, was born in 1953 so I had 12 years to be with my Grandmother, Helen.

She lived on Plum Street in San Jose, California. That was about 18km from my parent’s house in Santa Clara. We went to visit her often.

Her house had a basement that was converted into a home. The basement house had its own entrance in the back of the house and my Grandma lived there. My Aunt Lorraine lived upstairs in the main house. 続きを読む

Columns

Leader Dogs

Jujiro Wada (James Wada) improved, explored and expanded the the Iditarod trail in 1909, as commissioned by the Seward Chamber of Commerce, together with Frank Cotter. Nowadays the trail opened by Wada and Cotter is still in use for racer, where musher and breeders can compete to show their expertise. Sled dog racing is far more than just navigating and steering. One has to understand the psychology of the dogs, and their physical strength.

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Avoiding foot wounds of malamute

Jujiro Wada improved, explored and expanded the the Iditarod trail, as commissioned by the Seward Chamber of Commerce, together with Frank Cotter. This was in 1909, conditions were harsh that year. In the midst of this exploration, his lead dog suffered from a frozen paw near Rainy Pass, where temperatures dropped to -62C. Wounded he could barely move forward. Frank Cotter wrote about about this episode in his memories about Wada in the Nikkei Weekly titled Ju Wada as I know him. For more details on Wada`s travel see Life History.

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Yukon River

Jujiro Wada traveled from Seattle to Dawson in 1902 and along the route he passed through Skagway. In July he made it all the way from Dawson to Nome aboard the Yukon river steamer Rough Rider, where he took employment as a cook. The scenery he probably saw during his breaks is described below. For more details on Wada`s travel see Life History.

Family Tree

Discovering My Japanese Heritage – Michael O’Hare

I learned about my Japanese heritage from my Mother.

She sent me an e-mail explaining the information our family received from an author in Minnesota telling us that Jujiro Wada was the Father of my Grandmother. I was surprised and excited and hoping it was true, yet I was a little skeptical.

For more details on Helen Wada Silveira and Jujiro Wada`s Life History.

Past Events

Ryan and Joe on Ehime Newspaper

Children of Soga elementary school in Matsuyama interacted with Jujiro’s descendants.
Descendants of Alaska pioneer adventurer Jujiro Wada (1875-1937) visited Ehime Prefecture on 3 days from November 23.
On the 25th, the descendants interacted with about 75 children of Soga Elementary School in Hinode-cho, where Jujiro spent his childhood.
Jujiro’s descendants Sean O’Hare and Ryan O’Hare’s brothers came from San Jose, USA.
The elementary school students sang the songs that Matsuyama City Theater Company Mikan Ichiza performed when they performed a musical in Alaska.
When asked by the children about Jujiro’s episode, the descendants introduced, “Jujiro helped the ship that was wrecked.”
Miyu Kikuchi said, “I respect Jujiro. I was very happy to interact with the descendants. I want to know more about Jujiro.”
Sean was also pleased, “The musical story is a dream come true and has a positive impact on children.”
The three also visited the riverside park of Hinode town, where the Jujiro Wada memorial monument was built, and interacted with members of the NPO Jujiro Wada memorial association.

(Ehime Newspaper on December 1, 2019)

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Malamute

In 1909 Wada proposed to Seward Chamber of Commerce to mush the Iditarod trail and proof that it was a very practical route from Seward to the mining town of Iditarod for the period when river navigation is hindered by ice.

Past Events

Descendents of Jujiro Wada visiting Ehime

The descendents of Jujiro Wada, Sean O’Hare and Ryan O’Hare, and Joe Frio of their friend came to Ehime prefecture.
On November 25, they interacted with member of jujiro wada memorial　association.
After that, they went to Soga Elementary School and the fifth graders of elementary school performed songs of Jujiro`s musical with a feeling of welcome to them. They were very pleased.
NHK, Nankai Broadcasting, Ehime Shimbun, and Ehime CATV covered it.
We would like to express my sincere appreciation for the cooperation of the Inoue Principal and other elementary school teachers.
Thank you to Eri Osakabe who volunteered as an interpreter.
Noriko Kan, who had other requirements and was unable to participate this time, met by chance at Matsuyama Airport and sent them off together.
It was a very good day.
We are very happy about that the elementary school children met descendants of Jujiro Wada and made their eyes shine.
And they said that they were proud of the local great man Jijiro Wada.
The elementary school children had a lifetime memory.
Sean, Ryan, Joe. Thank you very much for coming.

Past Events

Exhibition of Toshio Wada’s paitings Part 2

Again a rotating exhibition is held by Uchiko Town featuring paintings by the late Toshio Wada, grandson of Wada`s only brother.

Until end of Oct, a changing selection of his paintings can be seen. He passed away last year November at the age of 93. He took a keen interest in painting also as a member of The Uchiko Committee for Lovers of Painting, and studied painting under Mr. Nakaoka in 1997. From then, every year during the Uchiko Culture Festival/Summer Festival Art Exhibition he had paintings exhibited all from the 1st Collective Hobby Painting Exhibition until the 17th edition. From 2013 and onward up till last year he had each year 3 of his paintings exhibited every year at the “Let’s Paint Our Surroundings” Exhibition.

Past Events

Exhibition of Toshio Wada’s paintings

A rotating exhibition is held by Uchiko Town of paintings by Wadas grandson, the late Toshio Wada.

Until end of June, a changing selection of his paintings can be seen. He passed away last year November at the age of 93. He took a keen interest in painting also as a member of The Uchiko Committee for Lovers of Painting, and studied painting under Mr. Nakaoka in 1997. From then, every year during the Uchiko Culture Festival/Summer Festival Art Exhibition he had paintings exhibited all from the 1st Collective Hobby Painting Exhibition until the 17th edition. From 2013 and onward up till last year he had each year 3 of his paintings exhibited every year at the “Let’s Paint Our Surroundings” Exhibition.

In April 2013 and 2014, his painting were at the 61st and 62nd edition of
the Prefectural Spring Exhibition. And in July 2014 he had a private exhibition at Uchiko Town Visitor Center.