Muramoto’s grandson hopes his grandfather’s work inspires people to be more open-minded
Muramoto died in 1958, but some of his family still lives in the area. His grandson, David Muramoto, was very young when his grandfather was most active.
“I can remember getting my picture taken in Deluxe Studios down in Pueblo, and I remember my grandfather smiling and giving me a beaded doll to hold,” David Muramoto said. “And, gosh, I think that the best I can say about my meeting him for the first time was I didn’t drool.”
The younger Muramoto said he’s come to know his grandfather through his photography and hopes his grandfather’s work can inspire people to be more open-minded.
“The fact that he was able to talk to people, everybody from Indian tribes to black Baptist groups, to all these different groups, I think says an awful lot in terms of just accepting the diversity that our country has become,” he said.
Courtesy of Pueblo County Historical SocietyHighlighting art, history and traditions in the modern day
Robin Lawrentz, the former president of the Japan America Society of Southern Colorado, said highlighting art and figures from the internment era can help foster a sense of belonging among Asian Americans in Colorado.
“We would want to develop a knowledge and appreciation for that type of history,” he said.
While the Japanese community in Southern Colorado isn’t what it once was — in Pueblo, 2022 census data shows less than 1 percent of Pueblo’s population identifies as Asian, across all ethnicities — Lawrentz said he and other Japanese Americans hold events to help retain that connection to their culture.
On top of celebrating Japanese traditions, like Mochi-tsuki, when you pound rice to make mochi rice cakes, there are smaller events.
“We have ongoing language courses, we have ongoing cooking classes,” Lawrentz said. “There are a lot of just little things that are going on.”
The El Pueblo History Museum’s exhibit, “Through the Lens: The Photography of Frank Muramoto,” is free and open through the end of July.
CPR News’ Caitlyn Kim contributed to this story.
