<Begin Segment 26>

SY: Because really, I mean, you have always taken this very upbeat attitude about your own life, that you've been very lucky.

MK: But I definitely feel that way, I think that I have been very lucky.

SY: But they're obviously things about your life that were very difficult or do you feel that way? Do you feel that there were things that because you were Japanese American that...

MK: I'm sure life could've been a lot easier, not just only socially but other ways, job wise maybe but I think all and all just try to do the best we could with it. I guess that must be the Japanese heritage too.

SY: I guess at a certain point after you join, after you started working for the YMCA you took on other volunteer things besides the museum, and do you remember what prompted you to do all...

MK: I guess anytime fundraising, I did it for Keiro.

SY: And how did that start? Was it before your mother became...

MK: I think it was during the time when she was still there.

SY: I see.

MK: And then we, my sisters and I, still try to volunteer whenever we can. I mean, no brainer type of jobs but then at least we try to help if they call us, which is two or three times a year.

SY: So Keiro really is a... I mean, maybe you can talk a little bit about what Keiro does. I mean, do you think that it's going to be an ongoing thing for Nisei to have a place always?

MK: I've been visiting friends there and surprisingly every time I go there I see another Nisei friend that I know. So slowly it's being transitioned into all the patients being second generation, very few Isseis left now.

SY: So a good proportion of them are Nisei.

MK: Yes, it's English speaking now more than before my mother's time it was all Japanese speaking people.

SY: It's a place where they feel comfortable?

MK: Oh, yeah (...)... my friends are saying that it's one of the best things that happened to them. Almost everyone's reluctant to go the first time but then once they get there, especially the fellows I notice, my friend the other day said that, gee I don't have to worry about what I'm going to eat next and things like that. And he says there's always someone there if I want to talk so it's a good thing.

SY: And that started way before you... I mean, how did you first hear about Keiro besides your mom being there?

MK: I guess when they started that fundraiser way back.

SY: Early on.

MK: Right, but mostly after my mother went in there that we became active.

<End Segment 26> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.