This study examined the efforts of parents and children of Japanese extraction in the San Francisco Bay Area to preserve bilingualism. First, an ethnographic study of the children was carried out at home and school. Second, interviews with the bilingual children's mothers were conducted. Finally, in order to measure each child's bilingual verbal ability, the Bilingual Verbal Ability Tests (BVAT) were administered. The ethnographic study revealed that teachers working with Japanese children are trying to create a student-centered program. Interviews with the mothers revealed that despite their efforts to preserve Japanese language skills, the children, if given the choice, prefer to speak English. It is suggested that efforts are needed to overcome the mismatch between home and school cultures and instead create a school environment where there is little conflict in the socialization process between the wider society, culture and language and the Japanese culture and language. (Contains 18 references.) (KFT)