Hammond, B.C. on August 28 1936. During the war, Wakayama was interned with family at Hasting Park, Vancouver, B.C., and in the interior of B.C. at Tashme, Roseberry, and New Denver. After the war, the family moved east to Chatham, Ontario where Wakayama went to Central Public School and Chatham Collegiate Institute. Wakayama then entered the School of Architecture at the University of Toronto and worked during summers at J.W. Storey, Architect Chatham, Page and Steele, Architects, Toronto. He graduated in 1965 with B.Arch and started at Craig, Zeidler, Strong Architects, Toronto which became Zeidler Roberts, Architects where he became an Associate, General Partner and Senior Partner and retired after 35 years in 2000.