| biography | Sumie (Sue)'s maternal grandmother was Haru Miwa. Her mother, Chiye Miwa, was born on May 10, 1897 and originated from Hikone-shi, Shiga-ken in Japan. Sumie's father, Sentaro Omoto, was born in 1884 in Inukami-gun Shiga-ken in Japan. They arrrived in Canada at the ages of thirty-six and twenty-two, respectively and were married in 1919. Sentaro joined the Canadian military in Calgary. Sentaro fought in WWI at Vimy Ridge. He was wounded and exposed to mustard gas, later developing breathing problems. The family currently holds the attestation papers and Sumie's niece possesses his medals. Yuki, Sumie's niece, has a German belt from a POW from the war.
Sumie was born on December 19, 1927 in New Westminster with a midwife. All of her other siblings were born in Vancouver with a midwife as well. Her siblings included Minoru (born in 1921), Kiyoe (Mary) (born in 1925; year of the ox), Chizuko (born in 1928; year of the snake), Noboru (Nobby/George) (born in 1930; year of the sheep), and Masaru (Mas/Henry) (born in 1934; year of the dog).
Sentaro became a naturalized Canadian. He attained his fishing license and worked as a fisherman in Steveston, while living in Vancouver. Chiye was mostly a homemaker, but also worked as a barber. Sumie attended the Catholic Japanese Mission School for two to three years for both daycare and kindergarten. Sumie then attended Strathcona Elementary School till 1941. Sumie spent her high school years at four different schools. Before the internment, her first year was spent at Vancouver Technical School. Her next year of high school was missed as it was at the beginning of the evacuation. During the internment, her Grade Ten year was spent at a New Denver Catholic School. Sumie spent her Grade Eleven year at a Tashme school and her Grade Twelve year at Vernon High School.
The Omoto family was interned. At the age of sixteen, Sumie, along with her family, moved to New Denver. They lived in a two-room house, later moving into a three-room house.
During the war, Minoru was barred from enlisting with the Canadian military so Chiye, Kiyoe, Mas, Chizuko, and Minoru went to Japan. Chiye was worried about her son, Minoru, and lived in his home with his wfie. Minoru was involved with the morse code Japanese destroyer gunkan natori. He later returned from Japan and joined the Canadian army/air force. Sentaro, Noboru, and Sumie remained in BC. In 1948, Sumie obtained a permit to work as a dressmaker in Vancouver. She stayed with a politician. |