Today's Toronto Star online. Mr. Asa was a well-known JW, often giving travelling talks.
| Mar. 8, 2003. 01:00 AM |
John Asa, 65, founded Japan Camera His store grew to 100-outlet empire ASHANTE INFANTRYSTAFF REPORTER John Norifumi Asa, 65, died in hospital Thursday of a head injury after being struck by a car that morning. Police say Asa was a passenger getting out of a car when he was hit by another car about 8:30 a.m. on Regional Road 13 just east of Leaskdale in the Township of Uxbridge. Investigators say the accident happened on the side of the road and hope that with forensics they will be able to pinpoint exactly what happened. Asa and brothers Roy and Kenji founded Japan Camera in downtown Toronto in June, 1959, as A.S.A. Camera. It was incorporated as Japan Camera in 1962 and has since blossomed into a retail photographic empire with more than 100 stores across Canada. In 1978, the company introduced North America's first on-site One-Hour photofinishing. They began franchising in 1980. Asa and his brothers left Hiroshima in 1954 to become mushroom pickers in Canada. After completing the three-month contract, they stayed to attend high school, exchanging housework, laundry and child care for room and board. To earn extra money, Asa started a Japanese gardening business, employing other students and his brothers. Their efforts turned enough profit to start the camera store. Asa leaves his wife, three children and six grandchildren. |