Vol. 75, No. 23, December 6, 1972. 6 pages. View this issue
A proposed new JACL headquarters building in San Francisco drew attention in this six-page issue. Frank A. Iwama set out the case for and against a resolution from the NC-WNDC, with supporters pointing to inadequate offices and opponents to deficit budgets. The incarceration of Japanese Americans in World War II (often called internment) ran through the commentary. G. M. Embrey asked that the camp years be faced honestly, and Grace Kimoto asked JACL to explain the Korematsu and Hirabayashi decisions. Bill Hosokawa and Allan Beekman wrote about Nikkei political gains in Hawaii.
Other pages followed Byron Goto’s complaint against ABC-TV before the New York State Human Rights Commission, and a tax ruling against Oregon Elks lodges over discriminatory membership. Also inside are a profile of Benjamin Franklin’s Japanese descendants, a visit to Davao in the Philippines, and a tale of a no-fault auto accident in Japan.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- JACL Office Building: Yes or No?, by Frank A. Iwama, page 2. The National JACL is considering a resolution from the NC-WNDC to construct a new headquarters office building in San Francisco. Supporters cite inadequate current facilities and long-term investment value, while opponents raise concerns about deficit budgets and fundraising feasibility.
Commentary
- Camp Experience, by G. M. Embrey, page 2. A letter writer argues that the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans must be honestly confronted rather than glossed over with recollections of fishing trips and picnics. The writer insists that Sansei and Yonsei deserve to learn this history as a lesson about constitutional democracy.
- Evacuation Cases, by Grace Kimoto, page 2. A California teacher writes that learning the Supreme Court upheld the Evacuation as constitutional was a painful blow. She calls on JACL to hold workshops and produce a handbook explaining the Korematsu and Hirabayashi decisions and reparation efforts.
- From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa reflects on Nisei political leaders in Hawaii, including Lt. Gov. George Ariyoshi and businessman Keiji Kawakami. He observes that Hawaii Nisei are increasingly attaining positions of influence within the Establishment.
In-Depth
- Perspectives on Japanese American Identity and Research Ethics, by George Araki, page 2. Dr. Chris Kiefer discussed research on Japanese American attitudes toward history, dividing respondents into personal styles across generations. The talk sparked debate over whether research on ethnic groups should include members of those groups on the research team.
Obituaries
- Franklin’s Japanese Kin, by James Smart, page 2. This profile traces the Japanese descendants of Benjamin Franklin through Robert Irwin and his marriage to Takechi Iki. It focuses on Yukiko Irwin, a New York Shiatsu practitioner who carries both samurai and Franklin heritage.
Community
- Byron Goto Wins Initial Round in Discrimination Case Against ABC-TV, by Joe Oyama, page 3. Former ABC-TV art director Byron Goto won the first round of his complaint before the New York State Human Rights Commission, alleging he was laid off due to race and age. The commission directed ABC-TV to reimburse him for two years of back pay and pension.
- Unique Brand of No-Fault Auto Insurance in Japan Is Just That, by Crocker Snow Jr., page 4. The author recounts a minor auto accident in Japan and the formal apology and negotiated settlement process that followed. He describes the cultural approach to responsibility and insurance as remarkably efficient.
- Nikkei Gain in 1972 Hawaii State Elections, by Allan Beekman, page 5. Nikkei hold 51 percent of Hawaii’s elective offices after the 1972 elections, a gain of 1.5 percent. The article also profiles State Rep. Jean Sadako King as an example of growing Nikkei political leadership.
National
- Nonprofit Group Seeks Stay of Oregon Elks Tax Ruling, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Oregon Non-Profit Organizations group plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to stay a lower court ruling that declared tax exemptions for Elks lodges unconstitutional. The ruling stems from a case brought by the ACLU against discriminatory membership policies.
Military & Veterans
- Japanese Americans Tour the Philippines, by J. F. Cunningham, page 4. Japanese visitors are returning to Davao, once known as Little Tokyo of the Philippines, now as buyers and tourists. The article recounts the prewar Japanese community there and its wartime and postwar changes.
Arts & Entertainment
- Unsuccessful Analysis of Evacuation, by Allan Beekman, page 5. Beekman reviews Carey McWilliams’ 1944 book Prejudice, which framed Japanese American wartime treatment as racial intolerance. He finds the analysis flawed in its reliance on racial categories and its misleading factual claims.
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