A reparations survey and a 1977 look at a compelling state interest

Vol. 84, No. 12, April 1, 1977. 8 pages. View this issue

Reparations led the front page. A questionnaire from the Pacific Southwest JACL District Council’s reparations committee drew 401 responses, and 376 of them, or 93%, were in favor. Phil Shigekuni reported on who answered, who should be eligible and how payment should be made. Harry Honda summarized the National JACL Board’s March meeting under President Jim Murakami, which worked through a 50-item agenda. The editorial page asked how the compelling state interest argument once used to justify the incarceration (often called internment) is now cited in affirmative action cases.

Also in these eight pages: Lee Ruttle’s report on the appeal in the Wendy Yoshimura case, Lillian C. Kimura’s notes from the Midwest District, and Wayne Horiuchi’s account of the 31 students JACL sponsored in the Presidential Classroom. Bill Hosokawa, Sachi Seko, Jon Inouye and Barry Saiki each wrote a column, and a news brief covered Sen. S.I. Hayakawa’s plan to restore saccharin to the market.

What’s in this issue

National

• 93% Responding to Survey on Reparations Check ‘Yes’, by By PHIL SHIGEKUNI, page 1. A questionnaire distributed by the Pacific Southwest JACL District Council’s reparations committee drew 401 responses, with 376 (93%) in favor of reparations. Respondents also weighed in on eligibility criteria and preferred payment methods, with direct payment to individuals the most popular choice.
• S.I. Hayakawa Says Autos Kill More Than Saccharin Each Year, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sen. S.I. Hayakawa announced he would draft legislation to restore saccharin to the market, calling a Canadian cancer study extremely inconclusive. He argued the doses were unrealistically high and that FDA risk estimates were overstated.
• Asian Task Force of Police Backed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Asian Task Force of the Los Angeles Police Department may be disbanded due to budget constraints. Two city commissioners and a Status of Women commissioner have urged city leaders to recognize the unit’s unique service.
• Carter-Fukuda Talk Over Major Problems, by P.C. Staff, page 1. President Carter and Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda met in Washington to discuss trade imbalances, color television exports, and nuclear reprocessing. Fukuda argued that a reprocessing ban would unfairly discriminate against non-nuclear nations like Japan.

JACL

• JACL Board Actions Summarized, by By HARRY HONDA, page 1. The National JACL Board, meeting March 18-20 under President Jim Murakami, cleared a 50-item agenda covering finances, the Mas Satow Memorial Fund, affirmative action, and board liability. Youth, scholarship, and chapter matters were also addressed.
• Six Judicial Errors, Jury Misconduct Charged as Wendy Case Now on Appeal, by By LEE RUTTLE, page 2. Defense attorneys for Wendy Yoshimura argued six grounds for a new trial, including improper evidence and jury misconduct, after she was sentenced to 1 to 15 years. She was released on $50,000 bail pending appeal.

Community

• NC-WN Blue Cross to Celebrate 30th, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Northern California-Western Nevada JACL Blue Cross Plan will celebrate its 30th anniversary on April 15 in Mountain View. Founders Phil Matsumura and Dr. Robert Okamoto will be honored.
• Lodi JACL Charter Officers, by Harry Hatasaka, page 1. The newly chartered Lodi JACL, sponsored by Stockton JACL, installed its first officers. The chapter is now JACL’s #103.
• Emeritus Fellow Status Proposed for 1000 Club, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Northern California-Western Nevada District Council covered twenty points at its first quarterly meeting, including a proposal to recognize 20-year 1000 Club life members as Emeritus Fellows. Other business included the Oakland Museum exhibit and national director candidate interviews.
• JACLers in America’s Heartland, by By LILLIAN C. KIMURA, page 4. Midwest District Governor Lillian Kimura reports on chapter installations, the challenge of attracting young members, and fundraising through ethnic folk festivals. She also highlights district efforts on Iva Toguri’s pardon and political education.

Commentary

• Compelling State Interest, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial examines how the doctrine of compelling state interest, used to justify Japanese American internment, is now invoked in affirmative action cases like DeFunis and Bakke. It notes the irony that JACL supports affirmative action resting on precedents from Korematsu and Hirabayashi.
• Yoshimura Trial, by NOBUYUKI NAKAJIMA, page 2. A letter writer argues Wendy Yoshimura was convicted on doubt rather than evidence and compares the prosecution to totalitarian methods. The writer contrasts her case with those of Angela Davis and Iva Toguri.
• On Contrived Shortage, by Jon Inouye, page 2. Columnist Jon Inouye questions the water and energy shortages, suggesting monopolistic interests benefit from artificial scarcity while viable alternatives are suppressed. He argues overpopulation is a myth and blames waste rather than land scarcity.
• Integration May Erase Mochitsuki, by Barry Saiki, page 3. Barry Saiki reflects on changes observed during a trip to California, including rising gas prices, employment shifts, and home values. He worries that rapid integration and interracial marriage may erase traditional Nikkei customs such as mochitsuki.
• Age Shall Not Weary Them, by Sachi Seko, page 5. Columnist Sachi Seko reflects on aging, marriage, and the personal freedom that comes with later years. She contrasts the constraints of earlier social expectations with the joy of living without them.
• It’s Up to Mr. Carter, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa compares Japan’s reluctance to play a larger political role with the political caution of Japanese Americans after the Evacuation. He suggests President Carter could encourage Japanese American involvement by appointing qualified individuals to federal posts.
• The Presidential Classroom, by Wayne Horiuchi, page 5. JACL Washington Representative Wayne Horiuchi reports on the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans, in which JACL sponsored 31 students this year. The program is praised and JACL plans to reserve 40 places for 1978.

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