In Memory of our Founder, Shig Hirai

Born in Vancouver near Powell Street on September 9, 1937 to Hyoshiro and Fujiye Hirai, Shig spent his early childhood during the upheaval of the Second World War. After his family lost their business and property, they were forcibly relocated to the internment camp at Lemon Creek in the interior of British Columbia. When the war ended, the Hirai family chose to return to Japan rather than move farther from Vancouver, the home to which they were no longer permitted to return. Life in post-war Japan was difficult, and Shig endured many hardships as a “foreigner.” He struggled to learn the language and often went hungry. These early challenges shaped the resilience and determination that would define him throughout his life.

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At 17, Shig returned to Canada and began working on a sugar beet farm near Taber, Alberta, labouring tirelessly to earn the funds required to sponsor his family’s return. Eventually, the Hirai family re-established themselves in Vancouver. 

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Shig later earned his barbering license and joined his mother and brother Miki at their shop, Fuji Barber, on Main Street. Though he enjoyed the trade, Shig soon gravitated toward the food industry, after managing at his friend’s restaurant Zorba the Greek. 

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In 1962, Shig married Akemi Eto, his lifelong partner whose steady support and shared work ethic played a critical role in their future ventures. In 1969, they made the leap and opened Maneki Japanese Restaurant on East Hastings Street — one of Vancouver’s earliest Japanese restaurants. Shig regularly traveled to Japan to sponsor chefs, helping introduce sushi, tatami rooms, and homestyle Japanese dishes to a city where raw fish and Japanese food in general was still considered exotic. 

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Shig launched the first Fujiya on Powell Street in 1977, initially as a fish and seafood shop before expanding into a full Japanese grocery. He later established Ocean Delight Seafoods, a factory producing satsuma-age, kamaboko, and imitation crab. Over the years, Shig opened additional Fujiya locations in Richmond, Victoria, Coquitlam, Surrey, and the flagship Clark and Venables store.

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In 1990, Ken Hirai, Shig and Akemi’s son tragically passed away from a car accident on Mother’s Day. We are comforted in knowing that they will be reunited now, along with others that Shig loved.

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In 2002, Shig started Hi Genki Japanese Restaurant at the Robert Nimi Nikkei Home. Hi Genki became a cherished community hub, known for its welcoming atmosphere and Japanese homestyle meals. It served residents and the broader community with warmth and generosity until its closure in 2022 during the pandemic. 

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Shig’s life was marked by his entrepreneurial vision, community spirit, and love of people. His guiding philosophy was simple: treat every customer like they’re your only customer. He loved telling stories surrounded by friends and family, together with good food and drinks (especially sweets). He also loved horse racing, cars, and sumo wrestling. His group, the Sumo Aiko Kai, organized amateur sumo at the Powell Street Festival for many years. Among his proudest achievements was helping bring professional sumo wrestlers from Japan to the 1998 Sumo Canada Basho at the PNE Coliseum. 

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A longtime supporter of Japanese-Canadian cultural organizations, Shig was honoured with the Nikkei Community & Business Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.

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Shig is survived by his wife Akemi, daughter Mari (Jeff), brother Miki (Miyako), nephew Sunny (Jina) and niece Emily (Clint), grandchildren Megan and Ryan, and many other family members who will remember him for his generosity, humour, and big heart. We will keep his memory alive in our thoughts and endless stories. A private memorial will be held on Monday December 15 and to follow, a joint Celebration of Life and Fujiya’s 50th Anniversary event is planned for September 2026. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Nikkei Place Foundation or the Vancouver Buddhist Temple.