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LG: So, how did you see this site? Was it a community space for Japanese Americans? Was it a space to teach Americans about Japan?

TM: I think the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, to me, was a place that is one of the finest pieces of Japanese architecture, and it was treasure. And if we didn't take care of it, we lose it. And it served me as a teacher, because when we studied Japan, we'd always come here. But I think, for the citizens of Philadelphia, it also gave them insight into what Japanese architecture was, what the aesthetics of, you know, what a Japanese garden was to be, what it was like, etcetera. And so, I think, as I said, it's a treasure, and it would be terrible if we lost it. So, I felt that other members who were on the Friends group understood that, too. I think, not only Mary and Warren Watanabe, but Louise Maehara. She came and did many things volunteer. And then there were the women who did lots of the arts, like the tea ceremony and koto, et cetera. And it's just a beautiful space, and the fact that Philadelphia accepted it from Japan, but also accepted it... after the New York Metropolitan, MoMA, yeah, modern art, they couldn't house it anymore and this was a perfect space for it. So it would be too bad if it deteriorated, but I think there was worry that it would deteriorate.

LG: So did you and the Friends group feel like it was your responsibility to make sure that it didn't?

TM: I think so. Yes, I think, you know, it's been in existence for, what, thirty-some years, thirty or forty years, the Friends group. And I think, over the years, it's been infused with different people who've come in to shore it up, so to speak. But I think at the beginning, it was a lot of Japanese American interest. But I've often heard, when I have a visitor from Japan, I say, well, let's go here, and they're pretty awestruck, because they think that, they don't often see something like this even in Japan.

LG: Do you remember any events from those years you were involved? Any memories that you have of being in the space, interacting with the Friends group?

TM: Well, I think it was, you know, they were the holidays like the moon viewing. Not holidays, but you know, special events like the moon viewing, Obon, the summer festival. I don't know if they had so much with Boy's Day or Girl's Day. I think they might have, but they were the big holidays. And it was usually during the summer because you couldn't, the house is not heated, so you couldn't bring people here, through here, usually in the winter.

LG: Right. Did you feel supported during this time in the work that you and the Friends group were doing? Did you think the city supported you, did you think  the people of Philadelphia supported what you were working for?

TM: Well, I think they were always fundraising, you know, and I don't remember them feeling disgust that the city wasn't supporting them, but I know they were always worried about where was the money going to come from? And I think, especially with security, that was an issue when they had to, you know, clean the pond and things like that, that were expensive. I think the support... I'm not sure people really felt that they were supported at with huge amounts of... it's kind of hard to say. I think because it has changed, that the sponsorship of this group has changed over the years.

LG: Did the vandalism ever feel targeted?

TM: No, I can't answer whether or not the vandalism was targeted. Certainly, because of the fact that it's in this neighborhood, and maybe people didn't understand what the purpose of the house or what the house was. I mean, it all goes back to education. If you don't understand something, it's easier to destroy it. And I think that's why efforts today to really educate and to get into the community are important.

LG: Okay.

<End Segment 14> - Copyright © 2023 Densho. All Rights Reserved.