Vol. 83, No. 16, October 15, 1976. 6 pages. View this issue
The search for a new JACL National Director was the lead news of this six-page issue. The application deadline was extended to Nov. 30 after the first round of applications produced few qualified candidates, following David Ushio’s resignation. Donald Hayashi serves as acting director. Wayne Horiuchi’s column, “Dave Ushio’s Record,” looked back on Ushio’s last years in the post, and other front-page items covered a proposed Pacific Northwest regional office and three constitutional amendments that failed mail ratification.
Harry K. Honda’s editorial “Topaz: 1942-1946” described a caravan to the former Topaz camp to dedicate a Utah JACL monument and plaques. The first page also reports on a Canadian Nikkei conference ahead of the 1977 Issei centennial. Inside are letters on reparations and Pearl Harbor, Sachi Seko’s column “Merv Comes to Dinner,” the trial of Wendy Yoshimura, and community criticism of the ABC sitcom “Mr. T and Tina.”
What’s in this issue
Incarceration & Redress
- Canadian Nikkei Prepare for Issei Centennial Year, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A three-day conference on the Japanese experience in North America was held at the University of Lethbridge ahead of the 1977 centennial of the first Japanese in Canada. Speakers included David Suzuki, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Roger Daniels.
- Topaz: 1942-1946, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. A caravan traveled to the former Topaz internment camp to dedicate a Utah JACL monument and historical plaques marking the site. The editorial reflects on the injustice of the wartime incarceration and the importance of remembering it.
JACL
- Deadline Extended for National Director Position, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The application deadline for JACL National Director was extended to Nov. 30 after the initial search produced few qualified candidates. The post follows David Ushio’s resignation and Donald Hayashi serves as acting director.
- Portland JACL Proposes PNW Regional Office, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Portland JACL proposed establishing a Pacific Northwest regional office with Stan Kiyokawa as regional director. The idea received general support from chapters at the PNWDC meeting in Tacoma.
- Three Constitutional Amendments Fail Ratification, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Three proposed amendments to the JACL Constitution failed mail ratification because too few members responded. Only one change was adopted at the 1976 convention.
Community
- Tax-Exempt JACL Can Now Lobby Up to 20% of Budget, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A revised tax law allows public charities like JACL to spend up to 20 percent of their budgets on lobbying. Washington representative Wayne Horiuchi said the change gives JACL clearer room to advocate.
- Eastern District to Meet in N.Y., by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Eastern JACL District Council will meet in New York to plan budget proposals, reparations discussion, and the joint convention next year. Reports from several officers are on the agenda.
- Japanese Community Honors Sachi Hirotsu, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Nearly 250 people gathered in Los Angeles to honor Sachi Hirotsu for her service as manager of the Little Tokyo Redevelopment Project. Community groups recognized her leadership as she moves to a private development firm.
- Gardena Valley JCI to Hold Open House, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Gardena Valley Cultural Institute will dedicate its rebuilt two-story multi-purpose building after a fire destroyed the old structure. Open house activities are scheduled for the afternoon.
Arts & Entertainment
- Wendy’s Trial Set to Open Oct. 18, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The trial of Wendy Yoshimura is scheduled to open in Alameda County with jury selection expected to take the first two weeks. The article covers the upcoming court proceedings.
- ABC-TV ‘Mr. T and Tina’ Draws Community Criticism, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Japanese American groups met with producers of the ABC sitcom starring Pat Morita to protest stereotypes in the show. Morita said he was not surprised by the protests and the producers agreed to address concerns.
Commentary
- Dave Ushio’s Record, by Wayne Horiuchi, page 3. Horiuchi reflects on the controversies of David Ushio’s last years as National Director and credits him with significant accomplishments. He argues Ushio’s contributions to JACL outweighed his administrative shortcomings.
- Merv Comes to Dinner, by Sachi Seko, page 3. Columnist Sachi Seko recounts a dinner with Merv Jackson, a Black IBM employee, and reflects on quotas, merit, and personal pride. She concludes that a person’s first image should be of his own dignity rather than group categories.
- Reparations, by Toyo Shimizu, page 4. A letter writer opposes the reparations campaign, questioning its underlying goals and urging a forward-looking outlook. The writer points to Solzhenitsyn’s Stanford remarks as a model of perspective.
- Pearl Harbor, by Mack Yamaguchi, page 4. A reader responds to a letter criticizing Japanese purchase of land overlooking the Pearl Harbor memorial. The writer argues the criticism reflects wider prejudice and that JACL should help heal such divisions.
Military & Veterans
- Brig. Gen. E. Yoshimasu Retires, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Brig. Gen. Edward M. Yoshimasu ended a 37-year Army career in Hawaii, where he was deputy adjutant general of the Hawaii Army National Guard. He was the senior-ranking Nisei military officer.
Obituaries
- Hawaii Theater Figure Wright Faser Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Wright Faser, a Hawaii theater director, actor, writer, and TV executive, died at Queen’s Medical Center. He founded the Windward Theater Guild.
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