Obasan Ten Event Timeline

Obasan Lives with Naomi and Stephen

1941

Involved: Obasan, Naomi, Stephen
Where: Vancouver
What: After Mother leaves with Grandma Kato to go to Japan, Obasan moves in with Stephen and Naomi to take care of them and watch over them.

Naomi's Mother leaves for Japan

Sep 9, 1941

Involved: Naomi's Mother
Where: Vancouver to Japan
What: Grandma Kato is sick so Mother goes to Japan to visit her but never ends up returning. Naomi then is constantly wondering what happened to her and where she is.

Moving to Slocan

May 22, 1942

Involved: Stephen, Aya Obasan, Naomi
Where: Vancouver to Slocan
What: The family is being sent to different camps at this time. Stephen, Aya Obasan, and Naomi are forced to leave Vancouver and go to a ghost town (Slocan).

Death of Grandpa Nakane

Nov 18, 1942

Involved: Grandma Nakane, Stephen, Naomi
Where: New Denver
What: Grandpa Nakane dies from an ailment. Naomi is made stronger because of this death and Stephen becomes sad. This is the first death in their family.

Barker's Farm

1945

Involved: Naomi, Stephen, Obasan, Uncle
Where: Granton, Alberta
What: Naomi, Stephen, Obasan, and Uncle all leave Slocan and go to Granton at the Barker's Farm. There they were forced to farm and did not get to come into contact with anyone else. Naomi and Stephen went to school and they continued to talk with Nakayama Sensei.

The Death of Father - Springtime

1950

Involved: Naomi, Stephen, Nakayama Sensei, Penny
Where: Granton
What: In the springtime, Father dies after a surgery and is buried by his friends. Naomi comes to terms when Penny comes over and Naomi says the words out loud to her that Father is dead.

Death Of Uncle

Sep 13, 1972

Involved: Stephen, Naomi, Obasan
Where: Granton
What: Naomi is teaching at a school when she hears about the death of Uncle. This event brings up many painful memories from her past

Naomi learns about her mother

Sep 14, 1972

Involved: Nakayama Sensei, Obasan, Stephen, Naomi
Where: Obasan's House
What: Nakayama Sensei reads the letters that reveal what happened to Mother and Grandma Kato in Japan. Naomi learns that her mother died from the bomb and that Naomi's brother was dying of Lukemia.

Aunt Emily's Letters

Sep 14, 1972

Involved: Naomi
Where: Obasan's House
What: Obasan gives Naomi letter from Aunt Emily from her to Mother about the Japanese persecutions. Even though the letters brought up new emotions for Naomi, they were never answered.

Naomi and the Coulee

Sep 15, 1972

Involved: Naomi
Where: the coulee
What: After the death of Uncle, Naomi goes to visit the coulee to remember her Uncle and think and reflect on her life.