Book Launch of
Tomey: The Unyielding Spirit of Tomekichi Homma
On Saturday, September 20, 2025, the National Coalition of Canadians Against Anti-Asian Racism (NCCAAR) and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) celebrated the launch of Tomey: The Unyielding Spirit of Tomekichi Homma.
This private event highlighted the history of Tomekichi Homma, a Japanese Canadian who fought to end discrimination and for the right to vote for Japanese Canadians and other Canadians of Asian descent in British Columbia, Canada.
Immediately after the launch, the book was made available free of charge to school boards across Canada to encourage its use in their K-12 curricula and to other organizations interested in promoting the story of this Japanese Canadian who made a significant contribution to Canadian society.
The launch coincided with the participation of the book’s author, Jeff Chiba Stearns, and the illustrator, Ally Adachi, at the Gei Art Symposium hosted at the JCCC from September 19–21, 2025.
APF Canada also hosted a Vancouver launch at the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre on September 25, 2025 featuring a fireside chat with the author and illustrator, with opening remarks from the grandaugther of Tomekichi Homma.
A limited number of books are available for as a thank-you gift for donations of $30 or more. All proceeds support Asian heritage education and anti-racism projects.
A charitable donation receipt will be issued for the eligible portion of your contribution (the amount above the book’s fair market value of $30).
Books can be collected from the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s downtown Vancouver or downtown Toronto offices. Shipping is not available at this time.
Support Classroom Access – Donate a Set of Books to a School
You can directly support Asian heritage education by donating a set of Tomey books to a school or community organization.
A set of 5 books can be donated for $150, and for every 5 books donated, we add an additional complimentary copy as part of our bulk donation initiative.
Support Possible Future Print Runs – Expand Access Across Canada
For donors interested in making a broader impact, contributions of $5,000 or $10,000 can directly support possible additional print runs of Tomey, helping us keep the book accessible to schools, libraries, and community organizations across Canada. These larger gifts enable us to reduce barriers for educators, expand distribution into underserved regions across Canada, and ensure that more students learn the important history of Tomekichi Homma and the fight for racial equality in Canada.
To donate a set of books or support a possible future print run, please email:
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A.W. Lee, NCCAAR Board Director — a.w.lee@asiapacific.ca
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CC: Rosie Bolderston, Senior Program Manager at Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada -- rosie.bolderston@asiapacific.ca
Please indicate the name of the school or organization you’d like to support. If you don’t have a specific school or community partner in mind, we would be happy to connect your donation with an appropriate organization in our network.
We would be pleased to discuss recognition opportunities and work with you to direct your contribution where it can create the greatest educational impact. A charitable tax receipt will be issued for the eligible portion of your donation.
View the full Flickr album here.
Jeff Chiba Stearns
Jeff Chiba Stearns is an Emmy® nominated and Webby award winning animation and documentary filmmaker, Illustrator, and producer based in Vancouver, BC. His is the owner of the animation production company, Meditating Bunny Studio Inc.
Ally Adachi
Ally Adachi is a Japanese Canadian (Yonsei) illustrator based in Vancouver, BC. She focuses on storyboard animation, graphic novel illustration and tattoo design.