ensoku

Since 2019, Kikiai Collaborative has hosted three ensoku events. Japanese for “field trip,” these large-scale gatherings have brought people together through food, art, conversation and place.

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how it started

Since 2014, founding members of Kikiai Collaborative have organized and participated in national conferences hosted by the Young Leaders Committee (YLC) of the NAJC. In the early years of these conferences, the idea of regional gatherings came up again and again.

Prompted by the YLC, Kikiai Collaborative brought this idea to life through their first ensoku event in 2019.

Organized independently from the YLC and NAJC conferences, which continue today, Kikiai’s goal was to bring together the Japanese Canadian community through food, art, conversation and place.

What started as a one-time regional gathering turned into one that drew participants from across Canada and the United States. In 2023 and 2024, Kikiai would return to organize their second and third ensoku events in the former Tashme internment site.

Each ensoku builds on one another and is driven by the interests of group members.

Sunshine Valley, B.C.—Leslie Komori plays a taiko drum during the Bon Odori at ensoku 2024, an intergenerational gathering in the former internment site organized by Kikiai Collaborative, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. Photo by Kayla Isomura

explore past events

ensoku

ensoku 2024

Aug. 17, 2024 | Sunshine Valley, B.C.
An intergenerational event honouring our ancestors through Obon customs, literary readings and more.

ensoku 2023

June 25, 2023 | Sunshine Valley, B.C.
Bringing young-ish Japanese Canadians to the former Tashme internment site.

ensoku 2019

May 18-19, 2019 | Vancouver, B.C.
Connecting participants through food, discussion, place-based learning and creative exploration.