Japanese Centennial Sculpture

This monument was donated to the City of London by the London St. Thomas Japanese Canadian Centennial Society to commemorate 100 years of Japanese settlement in Canada.

In 1877, Mazo Nagano arrived in New Westminster, British Columbia and is forever remembered as the first Japanese citizen to settle in Canada. Official Japanese emigration to Canada was established ten years later with the opening of regular steamship service between Yokohama and Canada. This new connection led to a steady increase in Japanese immigrants, including such peak years as 1906-1908 when over 9,000 Japanese citizens landed on Canadian soil.

The deer, mountain, and the sun are considered national symbols of Japan. Deer are considered sacred, are a good omen, and are permitted to roam free in some Japanese cities. The mountain and rising sun carved on the monument could represent Mount Fiji, Japan’s tallest mountain, and the famed red sun featured on Japan’s flag.

The main component of the Japanese Centennial Sculpture is a tiered embellished column designed with Japanese architectural details. The column is comprised of six carved stone sections.

Atop the main pillar of the column rests a hexagonal enclosure, likely intended to hold a lantern or a candle. The column is topped by an elaborate pagoda with six corners that swirl upwards to imitate pedals. A bulbous finial with a pointed tip finishes the column.