I found out some shocking news after translating some of the koseki documents. Both my grandfathers had previously been married! I don’t think any of their children knew about this.

Kiheiji Kishi, my paternal grandfather, had a first wife named Kiyoe Hamachi. They were married on Aug. 1, 1919. Unfortunately, Kiyoe died in Japan on Mar. 14, 1920. No cause of death is listed but I suspect it could have been from the Spanish Flu which was prevalent at the time. Only seven months later, Kiheiji married my grandmother Sakie Sasao on Oct. 25, 1920. She was a “picture bride” who emigrated to Canada with her mother-in-law Shige Seto in May of 1921. According to family lore, Kiheiji was supposed to marry Sakie’s older sister but something went awry and he ended up marrying Sakie. I have not been able to find any evidence that Kiyoe ever visited Canada or Kiheiji ever went back to Japan for his first marriage.

Kishizo Kimura, my maternal grandfather, also had a first wife. Her name was Toshi Kaku. They were married on Nov. 18, 1924 and then divorced two years later on Nov. 1, 1926. I believe the koseki says there were two reasons for the granting of the divorce but the reasons are not listed. I think that she did not want to come to Canada and he did not want to live in Japan. On Aug. 10, 1929, Kishizo married my grandmother Haruno Makino. She already lived in Vancouver and the couple were formally introduced by some family friends.