Vol. 82, No. 15, April 16, 1976. 6 pages. View this issue
A Los Angeles parole officer, Randy Yamanaka, said he was being pushed out of his career because he is Japanese American, after affirmative action hiring guidelines led to his being passed over for a transfer. State Corrections Director Jerry Enomoto said the policy troubled him and that he planned to act on it. The same front page carried news of Iva Toguri d’Aquino, known as Tokyo Rose, and her case for a presidential pardon, plus a bill to restore the Angel Island immigration barracks.
On the opinion pages, Frank Chin wrote about the film Go for Broke! and compared it with the television film Farewell to Manzanar, while Sachi Seko offered her own reflection on that production. Also inside are an editorial on National President Tanaka’s Federated Plan, details for the 24th Biennial National JACL Convention in Sacramento, Tony nominations for Pacific Overtures, and a salute to Ellen Endo by Los Angeles City Hall.
What’s in this issue
National
- ‘Affirmative Action’ Aces Out Nikkei Worker, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Randy Yamanaka, a Los Angeles parole officer, says he is being forced out of his career because he is Japanese American, as affirmative action hiring guidelines led to his being passed over for a transfer. State Corrections Director Jerry Enomoto says he has a problem with the policy and plans to act on it.
- Dr. Mikuriya Files for California Senate Seat, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Todd Mikuriya, a Berkeley physician and son of a Philadelphia pioneer Issei, is seeking the Republican nomination for state senate in the 11th District. His background includes federal marijuana research and consulting for local police.
Community
- Ellen Endo Among Women Saluted by City, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles City Hall recognized Ellen Endo, Rafu Shimpo English section editor, during its Bicentennial salute to local women. She was nominated by the Metropolitan L.A. JACL chapter she helped found and is active in numerous community and media groups.
- Imperial Valley JACL Honors Pioneers at Keiro Kai, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Imperial Valley JACL honored about 25 area pioneers at a keiro kai banquet, where twelve attended, with entertainment and a Japanese menu prepared by committees. The writer praises the event as a gracious tribute to the valley’s early Issei settlers.
- Downtown L.A. JACL Mother of Year Luncheon to Honor Shika Kato, by Frank Hirata, page 1. The Downtown L.A. JACL will honor Shika Kato, who turns 100 on Aug. 6, as Mother of the Year at its May 8 luncheon. Kato, a pioneer Issei mother who raised seven children, was recommended by the Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California.
- Helping Hand for Burn Victim Margaret Takatori, by Mitch Himaka, page 1. Six-month-old Margaret Takatori survived a San Diego fire that killed both her parents and is recovering from severe burns. A fund has been established to help her, and the Yamasaki family has taken her in as a relative.
- Sacramento Convention Preparations Under Way, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Registration and program details are announced for the 24th Biennial National JACL Convention in Sacramento, June 21-26, 1976. Information covers registration fees, lodging, tournaments, and travel arrangements.
- Poston II Reunion Planned, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A preliminary meeting has been scheduled for a summer reunion of Poston II High School graduates in San Jose. Organizers are updating their address list for the event.
Arts & Entertainment
- ‘Pacific Overtures’ Up for Tony Awards, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Broadway musical Pacific Overtures, about Commodore Perry opening Japan, received ten Tony Award nominations, including a Best Actor nod for Mako. The 31-member cast is entirely Asian American, and the awards will be televised April 18 on ABC.
- ‘Farewell to Manzanar’, by Sachi Seko, page 2. Sachi Seko reflects on the television production of Farewell to Manzanar, praising its emotional power and the performance of Nobu McCarthy. She notes the film lacked a political explanation for the camps, which she says were rooted in American racism.
- Hawaii Hub of Three Titles, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A book review covers three books tied to Hawaii, including a memoir by a minister who ministered to Nikkei in internment camps, a study of martial law in Hawaii during WWII, and an anthology on Chinese in Hawaii. The reviewer finds the memoir’s account of the evacuation less compelling than its subject matter.
Incarceration & Redress
- Tokyo Rose Seeks Presidential Pardon, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Iva Toguri d’Aquino, known as Tokyo Rose, has begun speaking to the press as renewed interest in her case grows following JACL support for a presidential pardon. She discusses her wartime broadcasts, her trial, and her feelings about the accusers and the government.
- Angel Island Site to Be Restored, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Legislation was introduced to fund preservation of the Angel Island immigration detention barracks in San Francisco Bay. An advisory committee is also seeking historical records and inscriptions left by detainees to document Asian American history.
Commentary
- Tanaka’s ‘Federated Plan’, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial comments on National President Tanaka’s Federated Plan to shift JACL emphasis from National to District councils. It urges districts to take the first steps toward implementing the plan rather than waiting for National to relinquish authority.
- Beyond the Call of Duty, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial praises Mountain Plains Gov. Mits Kawamoto and an Omaha JACL group who drove nearly 800 miles through a snowstorm to attend a district council session. It notes the great distances district officers travel to serve their chapters.
- ‘Go for Broke!’ vs. ‘Farewell to Manzanar’, by Frank Chin, page 2. Frank Chin critiques the 1951 film Go for Broke! for its portrayal of Japanese Americans, praising its characterization and language while arguing it set a standard that later films failed to meet. He contrasts it unfavorably with the TV film Farewell to Manzanar, which he calls a decency-lowering portrayal.
- Tokyo Man Sees No Humor in Kobe Police Fine, by Mas Manbo, page 3. The column recounts a Yomiuri reader letter mocking Kobe police for fining people who urinate in public while Tokyo officials do the same. The writer argues the lack of public toilets is the underlying problem.
- Don Quixote or Sir Galahad?, by Barry Saiki, page 3. Barry Saiki comments on the Lockheed bribery scandal in Japan, arguing that Western standards of business ethics clash with different cultural practices abroad. He suggests the controversy reflects broader conflicts over how commerce is conducted overseas.
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