403.255.8998
7101 Macleod Tr. S.W. Calgary, Alberta
In 1977, Peter started Edo Japan in Southcentre Mall, and it expanded throughout Southern Alberta and British Columbia. Edo Japan is now one of the most popular franchises serving Japanese food in North America. Peter owned over 30 other restaurants before opening Kinjo Sushi & Grill, his current and only restaurant.
Kinjo Sushi & Grill can seat only 65 people but on a busy day over 300 customers can be served. Kinjo uses a fast food style of serving sushi because it is oriented towards customers who are on their lunch breaks and don’t have long to eat. Although Kinjo can be a fast-paced environment, Peter still makes an effort to get to know his customers. He says that he knows the first names of 70% of his customers and gives 3.5% of his profit back in Pocky and samples. Other than being the owner of Kinjo Sushi & Grill, Peter is involved in giving presentations about Japanese culture and food at various Jr. High Schools.
History of Japanese Immigration to Canada
Twenty-six times smaller than Canada with four times its population, Japan sits on a group of islands on the easternmost side of the Asian continent.
In the late 19th century Japan opened its doors to the rest of the world and started to modernize. It was during this time that the Japanese people were permitted to immigrate to different countries. The Japanese began immigrating to Canada in 1887 and by 1914 over 10,000 Japanese had settled in Canada. However, early in the 20th century, there was growing racism against Asians because Canadians feared that the Japanese and Chinese would take their jobs, therefore the relations between Canada and Japan worsened. In 1907 Canada reduced the amount of Japanese immigrants allowed into the country to less than 400 per year through the “Gentlemen’s Agreement.” In 1928 Canada introduced further restrictions on Japanese immigration to 150 Japanese male per year.
The worst episode for Japanese immigrants in Canada was during WWII when Japan was at war with Canada and the United States. More than 20,000 Japanese-Canadians were confined and their property was forcibly taken, regardless of their thoughts about the ongoing war. In fact, no Japanese immigrants were allowed to enter into Canada from 1940 until 1967 when the Point System was established. In 1988, Canada officially apologized to Japanese-Canadians for their unjust treatment during WWII.
Presently, approximately 50,000 Japanese citizens travel to Canada every month− 5,000 of them to work and 5,000 to study. The rest come to Canada for tourism.
Welcome to The Kinjo Club!
Sign up today and get special updates, access to fun classes, and VIP-only event information.
Peter Kinjo
At the age of 18, Peter Kinjo decided that he needed a change from his home country Japan to a country that had more opportunities. He trained in an immigration program that was geared towards manual labor for six months. With the skills learned in the immigration program, Peter wanted to move to South America and join his relatives in Brazil. However, as he was training, he got a position as a trainee in the “Canadian Japanese Agricultural Trainee Program.” South America was then forgotten, and he set sights on a different country: Canada.
On April 1st 1971, Peter arrived in Canada to begin his new life. He worked a variety of jobs since he arrived, from construction to farming to meatpacking, for years. This was until he started working in the food industry and he began collecting menus and recipes so that he could one day open his own restaurant.
<<< back
 | ||||
Website Designed & Developed by BASE 5 Media
| ||||
