The Japanese Cultural Center of New Mexico has been open since 2024 and is a showcase organizers said has been in the making for decades.Calvin Kobayashi, the president of the New Mexico chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. For years, Kobayashi and other members have worked to preserve their culture.This was a time well before the cultural center opened on San Pedro Drive NE.”We did it out of garages, bedrooms, living rooms, and everybody’s homes,” Kobayashi said.Your neighborhood: Local news from KOAT Action 7 NewsHowever, there was once a time where he wasn’t as proud of his Japanese heritage.”I just wanted to be white, Anglo American and fit in,” Kobayashi said. “Not make waves and have everybody treat me like, the other folks, if you will.”He now said he feels he has spent the last four to five decades of his life embracing his heritage. With the cultural center operating, the facility embraces traditional Japanese hobbies and education.”They work on origami,” Kobayashi said. “We have a couple people that have come in here and just graduated out of Japanese language school. They volunteer to Japanese language class.”Coming Together: Project CommUNITYOther activities include literature and media, and an entertainment center with musical instruments. There are also plans to open a memorial for veterans, honoring those who fought for the United States.The cultural center also sheds light on what some Japanese Americans faced during World War II. New Mexico was one of several states that established Japanese internment camps in the 1940s.As renovations continue, the group hopes to offer more activities, like cooking classes in a commercial kitchen. Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for free
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
The Japanese Cultural Center of New Mexico has been open since 2024 and is a showcase organizers said has been in the making for decades.
Calvin Kobayashi, the president of the New Mexico chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. For years, Kobayashi and other members have worked to preserve their culture.
This was a time well before the cultural center opened on San Pedro Drive NE.
“We did it out of garages, bedrooms, living rooms, and everybody’s homes,” Kobayashi said.
Your neighborhood: Local news from KOAT Action 7 News
However, there was once a time where he wasn’t as proud of his Japanese heritage.
“I just wanted to be white, Anglo American and fit in,” Kobayashi said. “Not make waves and have everybody treat me like, the other folks, if you will.”
He now said he feels he has spent the last four to five decades of his life embracing his heritage. With the cultural center operating, the facility embraces traditional Japanese hobbies and education.
“They work on origami,” Kobayashi said. “We have a couple people that have come in here and just graduated out of Japanese language school. They volunteer to [teach the] Japanese language class.”
Coming Together: Project CommUNITY
Other activities include literature and media, and an entertainment center with musical instruments. There are also plans to open a memorial for veterans, honoring those who fought for the United States.
The cultural center also sheds light on what some Japanese Americans faced during World War II. New Mexico was one of several states that established Japanese internment camps in the 1940s.
As renovations continue, the group hopes to offer more activities, like cooking classes in a commercial kitchen.
Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for free
AloJapan.com