In Japan, I was introduced to the concept of “national treasure” being a physical artifact, but also possibly a person, or in the case of one specific example, an artist’s actual hands.

Mari Honma Sensei is a Japanese Canadian national treasure who has extolled Japanese language and culture in Canada, her long-time adopted/chosen home, preserving and expanding these with and for all Japanese Canadians and Japanese who choose to live in Canada.

For me, this is especially relevant and poignant: as a pre-war yonsei, my family was forcibly uprooted, dispossessed and incarcerated pre-war. We might not have had the benefit of our Japanese /Japanese Canadian roots without the dedication and vision of this longstanding, outstanding community pioneer.

Arigato, Honma-Sensei.

Honma sensei ‘s warm smile and the patience to my daughter will be always in our mind.

Honma Sensei has seen the growth of me and my siblings since childhood.

She was a former Japanese school teacher in Coquitlam, who taught us when we were still in elementary school.

To my surprise it wasn’t until my adult years that I would see her again, as the new principal of Alexander Japanese Language school in Vancouver.

My father and I used to volunteer as kitchen helpers at the Alexander Japanese school. It was a pleasant surprise to see her again, and she still remembered us after all those years.

Most recently, we met up again during the filming of the Shogun series which was produced here in Metro Vancouver. She was one of the costumers on set who dressed us background extras.

Just as I remember her in my youth, she has always had such a welcoming, bubbly and very approachable way about her. She is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

Speaking on behalf of my family, our deepest condolences to the Honma family. We have been blessed to know her.

2023年10月7日、UBC新渡戸ガーデンの一望庵で行われた、裏千家淡交会バンクーバー協会の６０周年記念茶会の時の写真です。本間先生のご指導の下、シャナハンくみさんと私（五明明子）が記念式典のオーガナイズのお手伝いをさせていただきました。
本間先生がこの世にいらっしゃらない事がいまだに信じられません。