Densho Digital Archive - Kazuko Uno Bill Interview I (denshovh-bkazuko-01-0007)

<Begin Segment 7>

MA: What about churches? Was there a Buddhist, like a Buddhist temple in South Park?

KB: There was, there was no church in South Park, no Japanese church in South Park. My parents were members of the Nichiren Buddhist church which I think is still in Seattle. And they were very active in that church.

MA: So they would go to Seattle for the events and activities at the church.

KB: Right, uh-huh.

MA: Would you also go to the church...

KB: We went, yes, uh-huh. They had, there were some pictures where, I always meant to ask my parents exactly what they were, but my sisters were dressed in these fancy Japanese clothes when there was a special celebration at the church. They were called ohigosan or something like that. There'd be lots of food. It seems like the Japanese always had food at the celebrations. [Laughs]

MA: Yes. So you mentioned the language school which was kind of in a central area for South Park. Did you attend the language school?

KB: Yes, we went after our regular school, so like in the winter, it would get dark by the time we finished. It was like maybe, let's see, the regular school finishes about three, three-thirty, and then we would go to the Japanese school which would be, like, maybe from four to six or something like that. So then we would go home. So it would sometimes be dark by the time we finished with our school.

MA: And this was when you were in elementary school?

KB: Yes.

MA: Or did you continue all the way through?

KB: I think basically in elementary school. I don't think I went after I started high school.

MA: Did you, in general, did you enjoy language school?

KB: Yes, because I just enjoyed school, I just loved school. And the best part was when the teacher would read us Japanese stories. When she found out that we were restless and not paying attention to what we were supposed to be doing, then she'd get out her little books and she'd read us Japanese stories. And that was really nice, we all enjoyed that.