<Begin Segment 19>

MA: So looking back over the years, can you talk about the changes that you've seen in the Japanese American community in Alamosa, specifically?

BK: Well, it's changed a lot in the last, even the last five or six years. Because the population has dwindled so much, you know, the closing of the Buddhist church and selling the building. So we just don't get together very often anymore. And when my older sister was alive, then she would, after the church was sold, they would meet in the homes and it was usually at my sister's house. And so, I would go over and join them, especially if it was for some observance for our folks or something like that, or one of my nephews. And so, and then we'd all eat together. I really miss that, because we don't do that anymore. So that has changed a lot. Not very many of us there anymore.

MA: Did your kids, where do they live now? Did they move out of Alamosa?

BK: Uh-huh. My one daughter lives in Fort Collins, and the two sons live here in a suburb of Denver. Highlands Ranch. Yeah, when they were growing up, though, and now also, there weren't very many Japanese people to date. And some of them were related to us, and so, they all dated Caucasians. Ended up marrying Caucasians.

MA: Is there anything else you want to talk about? Any reflections that you have or any thoughts that you want to share?

BK: Oh... I was just thinking, earlier when I said that we really, we really need to be more outgoing, we need to get involved. Just like I tell my sisters up here, and they're so reluctant. And I think that would really help break down barriers if they would do that. 'Cause I know it really has helped me. And so, and I often wonder why they don't do that. I know my sisters don't do it because I think they feel safer being with other Japanese.

MA: Within the community?

BK: Yeah, being within the Japanese community and not straying out. But I just really feel that we need to do more of that. We really do. Especially now that our kids and grandkids are marrying Caucasians and outside of the Japanese race. We really need to. But don't lose the Japanese traditions either. [Laughs]

MA: I was going to say it seems like there's always this tension between keeping the Japanese traditions alive and also understanding that people are marrying outside of the race and everything and you have to sort of talk with other communities and interact with other communities. But it seems sometimes that there's a tension there, between keeping the traditions alive and going in the other direction.

BK: Yeah, that's true.

MA: Is there anything else you want to share?

BK: No, thank you very much for interviewing me.

MA: Yeah, thank you so much, this was just really interesting. Great interview. So thank you.

BK: Thank you.

<End Segment 19> - Copyright ©2008 Densho. All Rights Reserved.