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Scrapbook assembled by the Binnings commemorating Bishop Kojo Sakamoto’s September 1966 visit to UBC to open his calligraphy exhibit.

Fonds consists of records related to the Binnings’ correspondence with (predominantly) friends and colleagues overseas in Japan from 1959 to 1971, including Bishop Kojo Sakamoto and members of his family. Mostly composed of personal letters written by hand, several letters are painted using calligraphy. Other records include program brochures and news clippings for exhibits in Japan and North America, and scrapbooks assembled by the Binnings. These either commemorate various visits they took to Japan or of visits their Japanese friends took to Canada. Fonds is divided into three series:

1. Correspondence
2. Sakamoto Printed Exhibit Matter
3. Scrapbooks

Series consists of a voluminous amount of communication (approximately 270 letters) between both B.C. Binning and their friends and colleagues in Japan, predominantly Bishop Kojo Sakamoto, his family, and other friends and translators. The bulk of the communication occurs mostly around September 1966 onwards, when Sakamoto’s calligraphy was the focus of an exhibit at the University of British Columbia. Correspondence is presented in the form of letters, traditional scrolls, postcards, telegrams, notes, and a small amount of newspaper clippings.

Series is arranged chronologically by date, regardless of author. There are approximately eighteen correspondences that are undated that were all authored by Bishop and Kiyoko Sakamoto. These follow the dated correspondence.

Scrapbook created by B.C. and Jessie Binning to commemorate their first visit to Japan in 1958. Many notes that accompany the photographs describe how the trip transformed the direction of B.C.’s artistic and architectural works. The purpose of the trip was to study the art and artists of Japan in order to form a working relationship between one another; it specifically marked the beginning of a decade-long relationship with Bishop Kojo Sakamoto. The trip was partially sponsored by the Canada Council and the University of British Columbia.

Accompanied by Japanese text, the photographs in this scrapbook appear to have been assembled by the Binnings as a gift their Japanese friends abroad.
Scrapbook is written exclusively in Japanese script.

Series consists of printed materials sent from Kojo Sakamoto to the Binnings related either to the Bishop’s own art, or that of his mentor, Tomioka Tessai. Printed material comes in the form of exhibit catalogues, brochures, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings. A collection of encapsulated photographs from an undated calligraphy exhibit is also found in this series.

Small number of photographs assembled by Binnings as a gift for Bishop Kojo Sakamoto after their first trip to Japan.

Series consists of 6 scrapbooks assembled by the Binnings, either as commemorative souvenirs of their travels or as gifts to their Japanese friends overseas for a period of time covering over a decade. Scrapbooks consist predominantly of photographs, but also include brief notes and newspaper clippings. One file of textual records provides notes for a souvenir album assembled by B.C.

Photos taken and assembled by the Binnings commemorating Sakamoto’s visit to Vancouver for the opening of the Tessai Exhibit in November 1960.

An assortment of photographs of Japanese friends and geography assembled by the Binnings over nearly a decade. Predominantly photographs of Bishop Sakamoto in 1961 up until his death in 1969.