Hyakunen Club

The Kamloops Hyakunen Club is a Senior’s Club, organized during the Japanese Canadian Centennial in 1977 by the Kamloops Japanese Canadian Association. The ‘hyakunen’ in their name is there because the Japanese word ‘hyaku’ means ‘100’, and they wished their members to live to be 100 and also because they were organized in the Centennial Year, the 100^th year since the first Japanese landed in Canada, and ‘hyakunen’ means 100 years.

Their purpose is ‘Welfare, comfort and friendship towards the members’. It was organized to be a ‘social club’ for the seniors who were, at that time, mainly Japanese speaking, and did not get out in the general public too often.

Activities have varied throughout the years, and they no longer meet on a regular basis, although the Board of Directors continues to meet once a month.  They continue to hold a Shinnen Shimbokukai (new year’s party) for members in February of each year and recognize those who have reached the special ages of 77, 88, and 99.  Some members also meet at the Cultural Centre each Wednesday morning for a game of ‘Carpet Bowling’.

Membership is open to any KJCA members who are Seniors.  Contact the Cultural Centre (250-376-9629) for information on how to join.