| biography | Thomas (Tommy) Sawayama was born in Hammond, BC on Oct 18, 1919. Tommy was a pitcher for the Hammond Sunday League baseball team and made his Burrard League debut playing with the Asahi Seniors' baseball team on June 13, 1940. His professional baseball career spanned 1939-1941. [Source: Adachi, Pat. Asahi: A Legend in Baseball. Etobicoke: Coronex, 1992.]
In 1944, Tommy worked as a field boss (foreman) at Woods Orchard (owned by Mr Rolley Woods) in Vernon, BC. Tommy was the supervisor and worked with other Japanese Canadians who were hired as temporary labourers to pick apples. Tommy may have worked in the Orchard before and/or after 1944 too but it is uncertain.
Aya Fujioka was born on April 15, 1920. Tommy Sawayama and Aya Fujioka were married in Slocan, BC, on July 15, 1945. Together, they had three children, Gary, Michael, and Laurie. Aya passed away on September 13, 2019.
Yosh Fujioka Jr. was Aya Sawayama (née Fujioka)'s brother. Aya's other siblings include Yosh Fujioka Sr., Yuri, and Teruko (Terri). |