<Begin Segment 6>

AI: Well, now, being that you were kind of isolated there, and it would take a special trip to get together with any of the other Japanese families, was there anything that your mom or dad did to try and kind of encourage you to stay Japanese in some way? To -- did they emphasize any kind of values or customs, or talk to you at all about being Nihonjin, or what that meant?

KO: Well, yes, I'm sure that they tried to instill in us some... things about the Japanese culture. And, I don't know whether we were very good students about that or not. I think it was difficult for them too, because my dad, he was working all the time, and my mother was trying to keep the household together. And I think she went through a lot during those years, knowing what the situation was that we went through. So, I...

AI: Any kind of lessons stand out in your mind? Like, I know some people received lectures, something like, "Well, because you're Nihonjin you should do this, or you shouldn't do that." Or, "You've got to remember this or that."

KO: Well I'm, I'm sure there was a lot, some of that. 'Course, I think whether it was what they said or not we all tried hard to be good students. And we were successful sometimes. [Laughs]

AI: Did they emphasize any particular kind of religious upbringing, or religious values or practice?

KO: No, not really. My mother was a Buddhist -- in fact part of her family became Buddhist ministers in Japan. But my dad, I don't know what his religion might have been. As I said, he was a renegade with his own ideas. But one of the things that happened, was that some of my friends were Presbyterian, and they brought me into their church. And so I remain a Presbyterian today.

AI: So at an early age, you kind of joined up with some friends, and got familiar with their church.

KO: That's right.

AI: Do you think there was anything that stuck with you from your mother's Buddhism? Or is that something that is pretty distant for you?

KO: No, I can't say particularly that there was anything that sticks out in my mind. But, having nowhere to go to go to services or anything like that, I'm sure that whatever religious feelings she felt or observed, she did it on her own.

AI: Mhmm. Well, what about other kinds of Japanese holidays or celebrations? Did you do anything either with your own family, or with the other families around? Say, New Year's, or Boy's Day?

KO: Well, I think the biggest holiday that I can remember, that we observed with other people, was the Fourth of July. And back in those days, you didn't have the restrictions on the fireworks. This family in Aberdeen would always bring fireworks of all kinds over. And it's a wonder we didn't burn the town down, because we were shooting those roman candles off all over the place. But yeah, that's one of the things I remember. And then I'm sure that we would get together with some of the other families during some of the other holidays. You know, back in those days, life was pretty simple, so if you got together for a dinner or a luncheon, that was a big deal.

AI: Right. Well, now Fourth of July, that's pretty much a -- that's your red, white and blue American holiday. Did you ever feel, I mean, did you always feel totally American, or did you kind of feel like sometimes, "Yeah, I'm American, and well, I'm Japanese, and well..."

KO: Well, I don't think I ever felt that I was a Japanese to the extent that I had any loyalty to Japan. Naturally when you're in school and they're teaching you things about America, and how... the history of America and things like that, I think it would only be natural to grow up as Americans. Although, some people might find that a little difficult. But I... being alone in that community, I think it made a lot of difference in the way we thought over other Japanese.

AI: Right.

<End Segment 6> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.