Herb and Mel Wakabayashi

Herb Wakabayashi

Mel Wakabayashi

Osamu “Herb” Wakabayashi and Hitoshi “Mel” Wakabayashi were the sons of Japanese parents who lived In Vancouver, British Columbia. At the onset of the Second World War, the family was placed in an internment camp at Slocan City in B.C. They were eventually moved to Northern Ontario, finding themselves in the Neys camp along the shoreline of Lake Superior.^[1] After the war ended, their family made their way to Chatham, Ontario, and settled down. Mel and Herb were exceptional athletes in their youth, playing hockey and baseball alongside Chatham legend Eddie Wright. Upon their graduation, they went in different directions. Herb attended Boston University and received many accolades for his performances in the so-called “UN Line”.^[2] Mel was scouted by Al Renfrew, head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, and ultimately decided to play for the blue and yellow. Winning an NCAA championship in 1964 and being named a first-team All-American in 1965, along with Player of the Year in 1966, his collegiate career was more than fruitful. In 1967, he was signed to the Detroit Red Wings and began practising with their farm club, the Memphis Red Wings. Unfortunately, his size was a limiting factor and the NHL was not in the cards.^[3] Both brothers moved to Japan a few years later and continued their hockey careers. Mel played 11 years in the Japan Ice Hockey League, eventually becoming the head coach of the Japanese men’s national ice hockey team, where he represented Japan at a number of major international events.^[4] Herb played in three Olympics, on home ice in Sapporo in 1972, Innsbruck in 1976, and Lake Placid in 1980 where he carried the flag for Japan.^[5] Both brothers were inducted into the Chatham Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, and Mel earned his spot in the University of Michigan Hall of Honor in 2006.

Researched and written by Mark McWhinney, University of Windsor student