CANISTER, FOOD-STORAGE

Description: LARGE CARDBOARD CONTAINER WITH TIN BASE AND LID. CONTAINER MARKED IN RD READS " AJI-NO-MOTO MONO-SODIUM GLUTAMATE NET WT. 100 LBS, 43 9 - - AJINOMOTO CO.. INC. TOKYO MADE IN JAPAN". SIX STAMPS ALL AROUND CONTAINER THAT READ "SHIP TO KOBAI KUMIAI; ASS'N RAYMOND ALBERTA". OPPOSITE FROM RD MARKINGS IS MORE RD MARKINGS WHICH READ "REGULAR AJI VANCOUVER NO. 68". COVER HAS SAME RD MARKING WITH A PIECE OF PAPER TAPED TO IT. PAPER READS "RICE - 60 [CENTS] LB 10# - $6.00 #5 - $3.00". CONTAINER DENTED ON BOTTOM. VARIOUS STAINS AND DAMAGE TO CONTAINER.

History: FOOD CONTAINER WAS IMPORTED FOR CHURCH STORE, KOBAI KAUMAI ASSOC. CO OP STORE FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE JAPANESE. MSG WAS USED IN ANY SOUP AND STIR FRIES WHICH WOULD BE RECEIVED IN BULK AND WOULD BE DISPERSED THROUGH 80 BAGS TO THE CUSTOMERS. THE BUDDHIST CHURCH WAS A TWO STORY BUILDING (BOUGHT IN 1929) THE SECOND FLOOR WAS USED HAS THE CHAPEL WHILE THE LOWER FLOOR WAS PARTLY USED FOR THE SMALL STORE KOBAI. KOBAI HAD A SEPARATE FINANCIAL SET-UP FROM THE CHURCH ITSELF, WAS AN INTEGRAL SUPPORTER OF THE CHURCH. RICE, SHOYU AND MISO WERE AMONG SOME OF THE MORE POPULAR ITEMS SOLD AT THE STORE. IT WAS SAID THAT THE STORE OFFERED A HAVEN FOR NEW HOUSEWIVES WHO HAD RECENTLY COME TO CANADA FROM JAPAN. THE STORE FINALLY CLOSED ITS DOORS AFTER 60 YEARS. THE ROOM USED FOR THE STORE WAS LATER USED HAS A ALTERNATIVE CHURCH SERVICE ROOM AND CALLED "KOBAI MUSEUM" DUE TO ITEMS THAT REMAINED IN THE ROOM FROM THE STORE. THE RAYMOND BUDDHIST TEMPLE WAS SOLD IN 2006 DUE TO BEING UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE SUPPORT FROM THE YOUNGER MEMBER'S WHO WERE LEAVING TO MOVE TO LARGER URBAN AREAS SEE PERMANENT COPY FOR FULL HISTORY