Skip to main content
[Home Movies of Family in Tacoma, WA; On Board Ocean Liner; Pan-Pacific Buddhist Conference in Japan and more / circa 1934]
Maker
Sasaki, Sensho
Dateca. 1934
Mediumacetate
DimensionsFilm Format: 16.00 mm, Diam: 7 in, L: 440 ft
ClassificationsMoving Images
Credit LineGift of the Sasaki Family
Object number96.150.5
DescriptionBlack and white home movie footage of Tacoma, Washington and Japan filmed by Reverend Sensho Sasaki, circa 1934. Footage in the Tacoma area includes city views, the Tacoma Hongwanji Buddhist Church, and a farm. Footage in Japan includes the ship voyage overseas, delegates gathering for events and group photographs at the Pan-Pacific Buddhist Conference, and general street scenes and outings in a Japanese town.
Timecode list:
0:30 -- Very dark indoor footage, unclear, and upside down.
0:43 – Tacoma street views; Roxy Theater, large intersection with cars and streetcars. Japanese American man holds one boy and another stands near him (same little boys as other Sasaki home movies; likely Reverend Sasaki’s sons). They walk toward the camera, the man lifts his hat.
1:21 – Exterior of the Tacoma Hongwanji Buddhist Church from across the street; three adults and three little boys exit the church and walk towards a house next door (likely the reverend’s home).
1:51 – Indoors; two little boys (same as 0:43) sit on a couch and drink from glass bottles with straws. A man and woman sit on a couch; the man smokes and the woman laughs.
2:15 – Views of Tacoma from a hill; three adults and three children (same as 0:43 and 1:21) exit a home, walk across a street, and approach the camera. Holy Rosary Catholic Church is visible down the hill. Views overlooking the water from a hill.
2:58 – A woman and one of the little boys wave from the back seat of a car; the rest of the family gets in; they wave.
3:16 – A Caucasian man milks a cow and stares at the camera.
3:31 – A woman runs a brush over a milk cooler (milk flows over water-cooled horizontal pipes); the milk collects below.
3:46 – Family inside a car wave as a car pulls away. A family group (men, women, children) walk between buildings and pose by a small man-made pond. A boy in overalls carries one of the little boys (from 0:43); the youngest boy throws a tantrum in the background.
4:47 – Many people on the deck of a ship preparing to leave; some take photos of each other. Some women have flower bouquets. Close-ups of individuals and groups. The little boys (from 0:43) wear matching outfits. Panning views of people throwing streamers; people on the dock; men boarding gangplank and taking off their hats simultaneously.
6:43 – A group walking down the steps of a building, “Canada Buddhist Mission” sign above the steps.
7:04 – Views from a hilltop of a ship departing.
7:20 – “Vancouver Harbour Commission” sign; family walks towards the camera and waves.
7:41 – Panning views of people preparing to depart on a ship.
7:56 – On board a ship, views of the open ocean. A Caucasian woman climbs the railing and waves to the camera. Views of the ship from above.
8:57 – Close-up of a uniformed crew member waving his hat and shaking hands with a JA man (same as other Sasaki home movies).
9:13 – The crew member crouches with a basket of kittens. The man (from 8:57) and crew member pat and gather the kittens.
9:37 – View straight down at water spray from the ship’s bow.
9:49 – Family members (including the two little boys, wearing paper fez hats) stroll on deck, wave to the camera, and sit in lounge chairs.
10:52 – A woman stands at the ship’s railing.
11:01 – Family members outdoors in Japan; women in kimono; men and children in mostly Western clothing. Children play on a wooden swing.
12:21 – Family members at the seashore; small boats nearby. The children dig in the sand.
12:35 – At the Pan-Pacific Young Buddhist Association Conference. Vertical banner with Japanese writing [Buddhist conference?]; large brick building. Very large group assembled outside for a group photograph on the building’s steps. Closeups on the group, including priests and people from India.
13:30 – Views of people outside the photograph, including the group photograph cameraman and his setup. Closeup of an Indian man with a large fan. The group turns and ascends the steps.
13:52 – View of a large temple from down the street; closeup of entrance gate with a dharma wheel and sign “welcome” and Japanese characters.
14:09 – Closeups of monks in traditional clothing; closeup of the Indian man (from 13:30).
14:37 – Views of baseball players, teams include NYBA and others. Group shot of young men holding a PP YBA CONF pennant (Pan-Pacific Young Buddhist Association).
15:00 – Panning views of people walking around a large garden. People walk across a bridge; some wear conference ribbons. People stand under a covered patio; mix of people wearing Western clothing, Indian and Japanese clothing.
16:56 – Group of Japanese and Indian men and women assembled in a line, possibly for a photograph.
17:03 – Men on a rooftop; panning city views.
17:19 – Men in formalwear; women with flower bouquets. Outdoor crowds at temple complex. One flag reads “Hawaii Delegate / Pan-Pacific Conference”. Other banners in Japanese.
17:45 – Men and young boys wave small Japanese flags; a parade passes through. A group carries a YBA banner.
17:55 – Group on a steam ship or ferry; boys in school uniforms.
18:09 – Straight on view from the front of a small narrow-gauge trolley or funicular.
18:16 – Men carry another man on a litter. Street views; rickshaw carts; bicycles; pedestrians.
18:42 – Film ends.
0-18 ft. : Street scenes of Tacoma with automobiles, street cars, Japanese American person walking with child. (Excellent)
18-31 ft. : Wide shots of temple as family (ministers?) walks out to a house next door. (Great)
31-39 ft. : Family in living room. (Good)
39-62 ft. : Top of hill as family in formal attire walking up. They get into an automobile and drive off. (Great)
62-102 ft. : Family visits farm.
102-147 ft. : People leaving for Japan, close-ups. (Great)
147-253 ft. : Aboard ship heading to Japan, sea shots with family. (Good)
253-336 ft. : Visiting relatives in Japan, attending Buddhist conference, people from India pictured. (Good)
336-434 ft. : Japanese baseball team, visiting Japanese gardens, sightseeing. (Overexposed)
;1 film reel (440 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm. original reversal pos. , Title supplied by cataloger.;Black and white home movie footage filmed by Reverend Sensho Sasaki of Tacoma, Washington and a trip to Japan in 1932, including street scenes, Buddhist temple, family scenes at home and traveling abroad to Japan where they visited relatives, attended a Young Buddhist Association conference, and did sightseeing.
Timecode list:
0:30 -- Very dark indoor footage, unclear, and upside down.
0:43 – Tacoma street views; Roxy Theater, large intersection with cars and streetcars. Japanese American man holds one boy and another stands near him (same little boys as other Sasaki home movies; likely Reverend Sasaki’s sons). They walk toward the camera, the man lifts his hat.
1:21 – Exterior of the Tacoma Hongwanji Buddhist Church from across the street; three adults and three little boys exit the church and walk towards a house next door (likely the reverend’s home).
1:51 – Indoors; two little boys (same as 0:43) sit on a couch and drink from glass bottles with straws. A man and woman sit on a couch; the man smokes and the woman laughs.
2:15 – Views of Tacoma from a hill; three adults and three children (same as 0:43 and 1:21) exit a home, walk across a street, and approach the camera. Holy Rosary Catholic Church is visible down the hill. Views overlooking the water from a hill.
2:58 – A woman and one of the little boys wave from the back seat of a car; the rest of the family gets in; they wave.
3:16 – A Caucasian man milks a cow and stares at the camera.
3:31 – A woman runs a brush over a milk cooler (milk flows over water-cooled horizontal pipes); the milk collects below.
3:46 – Family inside a car wave as a car pulls away. A family group (men, women, children) walk between buildings and pose by a small man-made pond. A boy in overalls carries one of the little boys (from 0:43); the youngest boy throws a tantrum in the background.
4:47 – Many people on the deck of a ship preparing to leave; some take photos of each other. Some women have flower bouquets. Close-ups of individuals and groups. The little boys (from 0:43) wear matching outfits. Panning views of people throwing streamers; people on the dock; men boarding gangplank and taking off their hats simultaneously.
6:43 – A group walking down the steps of a building, “Canada Buddhist Mission” sign above the steps.
7:04 – Views from a hilltop of a ship departing.
7:20 – “Vancouver Harbour Commission” sign; family walks towards the camera and waves.
7:41 – Panning views of people preparing to depart on a ship.
7:56 – On board a ship, views of the open ocean. A Caucasian woman climbs the railing and waves to the camera. Views of the ship from above.
8:57 – Close-up of a uniformed crew member waving his hat and shaking hands with a JA man (same as other Sasaki home movies).
9:13 – The crew member crouches with a basket of kittens. The man (from 8:57) and crew member pat and gather the kittens.
9:37 – View straight down at water spray from the ship’s bow.
9:49 – Family members (including the two little boys, wearing paper fez hats) stroll on deck, wave to the camera, and sit in lounge chairs.
10:52 – A woman stands at the ship’s railing.
11:01 – Family members outdoors in Japan; women in kimono; men and children in mostly Western clothing. Children play on a wooden swing.
12:21 – Family members at the seashore; small boats nearby. The children dig in the sand.
12:35 – At the Pan-Pacific Young Buddhist Association Conference. Vertical banner with Japanese writing [Buddhist conference?]; large brick building. Very large group assembled outside for a group photograph on the building’s steps. Closeups on the group, including priests and people from India.
13:30 – Views of people outside the photograph, including the group photograph cameraman and his setup. Closeup of an Indian man with a large fan. The group turns and ascends the steps.
13:52 – View of a large temple from down the street; closeup of entrance gate with a dharma wheel and sign “welcome” and Japanese characters.
14:09 – Closeups of monks in traditional clothing; closeup of the Indian man (from 13:30).
14:37 – Views of baseball players, teams include NYBA and others. Group shot of young men holding a PP YBA CONF pennant (Pan-Pacific Young Buddhist Association).
15:00 – Panning views of people walking around a large garden. People walk across a bridge; some wear conference ribbons. People stand under a covered patio; mix of people wearing Western clothing, Indian and Japanese clothing.
16:56 – Group of Japanese and Indian men and women assembled in a line, possibly for a photograph.
17:03 – Men on a rooftop; panning city views.
17:19 – Men in formalwear; women with flower bouquets. Outdoor crowds at temple complex. One flag reads “Hawaii Delegate / Pan-Pacific Conference”. Other banners in Japanese.
17:45 – Men and young boys wave small Japanese flags; a parade passes through. A group carries a YBA banner.
17:55 – Group on a steam ship or ferry; boys in school uniforms.
18:09 – Straight on view from the front of a small narrow-gauge trolley or funicular.
18:16 – Men carry another man on a litter. Street views; rickshaw carts; bicycles; pedestrians.
18:42 – Film ends.
0-18 ft. : Street scenes of Tacoma with automobiles, street cars, Japanese American person walking with child. (Excellent)
18-31 ft. : Wide shots of temple as family (ministers?) walks out to a house next door. (Great)
31-39 ft. : Family in living room. (Good)
39-62 ft. : Top of hill as family in formal attire walking up. They get into an automobile and drive off. (Great)
62-102 ft. : Family visits farm.
102-147 ft. : People leaving for Japan, close-ups. (Great)
147-253 ft. : Aboard ship heading to Japan, sea shots with family. (Good)
253-336 ft. : Visiting relatives in Japan, attending Buddhist conference, people from India pictured. (Good)
336-434 ft. : Japanese baseball team, visiting Japanese gardens, sightseeing. (Overexposed)
;1 film reel (440 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm. original reversal pos. , Title supplied by cataloger.;Black and white home movie footage filmed by Reverend Sensho Sasaki of Tacoma, Washington and a trip to Japan in 1932, including street scenes, Buddhist temple, family scenes at home and traveling abroad to Japan where they visited relatives, attended a Young Buddhist Association conference, and did sightseeing.
Fukuzaki, Ben
ca. 1943-1955
Yoritsune, Henry
1930-1956