Hayashi Family

Matsujiro Hayashi [1893 – 1987]

Yasuno Hayashi [1899 – 1950]

Matsujiro Hayashi was born on April 30, 1893, in Wakayama-ken, Japan, to Fukusaburo and Yoshie (nee Ueyama). He was a fisherman employed by the BC Packer Company in Skeena, BC.

Yasuno Hayashi (nee Hayashi, Matsujiro’s and Yasuno’s fathers were cousins) was born in 1899, in Wakayama-ken, Japan. 

Matsujiro married Yasuno in Japan. They had four children: Shigekazu, Yoshiharu, Kazue, and Miyako. In 1931, Yasuno and all four children returned to Japan because, given that Matsujiro was the eldest in the family, Yasuno was to take care of Matsujiro’s parents. (Miyako was not born yet; Yasuno was pregnant with her at that time, and she was born in Japan in 1931) 

Matsujiro was forcibly uprooted to Greenwood, BC, and then exiled to Japan on October 2, 1946. He returned to Canada at some point and lived in Revelstoke until passing away on September 4, 1987, at the age of 94.

Dennis Hayashi inside Wakita's General Store, ca. 1950. P-13259.

Dennis Shigekazu Hayashi [1923 – 2000]

Yaeko Hayashi (nee Wakita) [1931 – 2014]

Dennis Shigekazu Hayashi was born on August 19, 1923, in Steveston, BC. He went to Japan with his mother and three siblings in 1931. He was educated up to high school in Japan. He returned to Canada, probably in the late 1930s. He likely came to Revelstoke in 1947 as his cousin, Fuji Sakiyama, had already been in Revelstoke.

He and Fuji first worked at Pradolini Brothers Construction. In 1948, they started Revelstoke Boat and Woodworks and then acquired the Pradolini Brothers' construction business upon Al Pradolini's retirement. Boat and Woodworks became Revelstoke Builders Supply in 1955.

Dennis married Yaeko (nee Wakita) on May 2, 1956. They had three children: Allyson, Stewart and, Patricia.

Dennis and his wife Yaeko started a clothing store on Second Street, called Gayle Jean, in 1972. Eventually, he opened two more clothing stores, Daspy and Style Trend, between the 1970s and 1980s, and only kept Daspy until their retirement in 1993. 

Dennis passed away on December 7, 2000, in Revelstoke, at the age of 77. Yaeko passed away on January 3, 2014, in North Vancouver, at the age of 82.

Yaeko is a daughter of Saijiro Wakita and a sister of Masae Aura (nee Wakita). See the Wakita Family and Aura Family profiles for more.