[MG1]

Just read the thread about a Bokken sword and Mikado was mentioned. Mikado Enterprises used to be further down Hastings. A few doors west of Gore Avenue. They were into the ship chandling business exclusively at that time (60's and early 70's). I guess with the world changing, their business had to focus on other things. Interesting that they went into the martial arts business, as I don't recall any of hte owners being into that. Come to think of it, one of the owners was into Kendo.

One of the wives of the owners there was the prettiest Japanese ladies I have seen. Not only that, she was super nice and elegant. She must have come from a well to do family, because she was so refined and proper (jyohin).

Anyway, I hung out there and played with the two kids who were my age. They lived somewhere in the west end, from what I recall, but went to Strathcona Elementary. I guess it was more convenient. Nice guys they were. After graduating from Strath. I never saw them again. The old storefront was in the same block as the post offfice and fire hall No. 2. I remember playing in the alley with them every Saturday and watching the firefighters practice and hone their skills. The post office on the corner must have been the busiest one in all of Vancouver. Packed with Asians sending their mail and parcels back home.

I guess Mikado moved from their original location because of the conditions of the building. It was run down and full of cockroaches. Man, did they have huge cockroaches there. Cockroaches were a common thing in Chinatown, but the ones I saw there were like on steroids.

I really should drop by Mikado and see what the place is like and say hi. The last time I went there, about 8 years ago, they still had Japanese food and sundries. I drive by the place every so often now and it looks like the place has nothing but martial arts equipment.