A teacher’s slur controversy, and Carter’s Nikkei appointments

Vol. 85, No. 5, July 29, 1977. 8 pages. View this issue

A California history teacher’s use of a racial slur for Japanese in his classroom drew the front page of this eight-page issue. Bill Glines reported from Hollister that John Buchanan, who teaches at San Benito High School, called the wartime treatment of Japanese Americans a “bum deal,” praised the 442nd’s combat record, and pledged to stop using the word. Also on page 1, the Washington JACL Office reported that Patsy Mink, Gerry Mukai, David Ushio and Mary Ann Yoden won senior posts in the Carter Administration, and John Marumoto wrote about the Fukuzaki brothers’ tuna-research voyage to Guam.

Commentary on page 4 took up the Bakke case. Wayne Horiuchi asked whether Japanese Americans count as minorities under affirmative action, and a reader questioned JACL’s support for the University of California. Bill Hosokawa visited the Tamotzu Gallery in Santa Fe. Page 3 reported on fundraising in Tokyo for the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles, and the Nisei Week fashion show.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Evacuation was a ‘bum deal,’ says San Benito teacher John Buchanan, by BILL GLINES, page 1. San Benito High School teacher John Buchanan defends his teaching of WWII history after controversy over his use of the term ‘Japs’ and remarks about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He calls the wartime treatment of Japanese Americans a ‘bum deal’ and praises the 442nd’s combat record while pledging to stop using the term.

National

• Fukuzaki brothers off to Guam on hunt for tuna, by JOHN MARUMOTO, page 1. Veteran fishermen George and Ben Fukuzaki came out of retirement to skipper the Jeannette C on a seven-month government-contracted research voyage to new tuna fishing grounds in the western Pacific. They are testing a modified net designed to catch tuna without killing porpoises.
• Carter appoints four Nikkei to high-level posts, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Washington JACL Office reported that four Japanese Americans, Patsy Mink, Gerry Mukai, David Ushio, and Mary Ann Yoden, were appointed to senior positions in the Carter Administration. The appointments were credited to the efforts of JACL and congressional and administration supporters.
• Four named to unit on mental health, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Four Japanese Americans were named to task forces of the President’s Commission on Mental Health. The commission’s work will inform the President’s FY 1979 mental health budget and a final report due April 1978.
• Pac/Asian American Heritage Week proclamation sought, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Rep. Frank Horton introduced a joint resolution, with Rep. Norman Mineta as co-sponsor, asking the President to proclaim a Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week in early May. Horton noted the contributions of prominent Asian Pacific Americans and the need for 218 House co-sponsors.
• Hawaii asks bilingual voting aid for two groups be dropped, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The State of Hawaii and its four counties filed a federal suit seeking relief from providing Japanese and Chinese bilingual voting assistance, citing a 1976 survey showing decreased illiteracy. The suit argues these groups no longer qualify under the Voting Rights Act of 1975.

Community

• Court & Law, by P.C. Staff, page 2. This news roundup reports on Judge Jon J. Chinen’s promotion to full-time federal bankruptcy judge, Santa Ana Councilman Harry Yamamoto’s lawsuit against Orange County supervisor Philip Anthony, and the swearing-in of Los Angeles municipal judge Hiroshi Fujisaki. Each item covers a Nikkei legal or political milestone.
• 21st Mile-Hi graduation party, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Mile-Hi JACL graduation dinner-dance in Denver now honors 350 graduates with 24 scholarship awards sponsored by 12 organizations. Photos show the 1977 recipients.
• Nisei to design new look department store, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Wayne Y. Takeuchi of Chaix & Johnson Associates, a Courtland native, will design the Liberty House store for Sacramento’s Downtown Plaza. The 50,000-square-foot prototype is expected to open in more than a year.
• San Quentin racial violence ‘unfortunate … not unique’, by P.C. Staff, page 2. State corrections director Jerry Enomoto responded to July 12 racial violence at San Quentin in which self-styled Nazis attacked Black Muslims. He described such incidents as recurring cycles in the prison system.
• Nisei wins big Brazil lottery, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Yukio Sabada of Sao Paulo won the largest prize in Brazilian gambling history, about $1.67 million. He plans to share half with friends who helped him and bank the rest.
• Gyo Obata designer of Sak’s 5th Ave., by P.C. Staff, page 2. Saks Fifth Avenue unveiled plans for a $6.5-million San Francisco store at Union Square designed by Gyo Obata of St. Louis. The design was revised after consultation with architectural heritage groups.
• Japan to raise ¥1,000,000,000 for Li’l Tokyo cultural-community center, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Leaders including Shintaro Fukushima and Nihachiro Hanamura launched fundraising in Tokyo for the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles. The goal is $3,000,000 from about 300 Japanese firms by early 1978.
• 2nd/Central buys 4-story warehouse, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Two industrial parcels on Central Avenue in the Little Tokyo Redevelopment area were sold for $560,000. Second/Central Associates plans to convert the four-story Davies Warehouse into an office, shop, and restaurant complex.
• Census tabulators for ’80 sought, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Census Bureau is accepting Los Angeles applications for community service representatives and field interviewers. Asian Pacific Islanders are especially encouraged to apply to ensure an accurate count.
• Nisei Week fashion show come Sunday, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The 1977 Nisei Week Japanese Festival opens with a fashion show on July 31 at the Bonaventure Hotel’s California Room. The Montebello Japanese Woman’s Club sponsors the event.
• Helping an Issei with his property tax averts state take-over and eviction, by George Kondo, page 4. A neighbor alerted JACL to an elderly Issei couple whose San Francisco property was about to be sold for unpaid taxes. JACL helped the couple redeem the property and pointed out senior property tax assistance programs.
• Hollywood chapter queen candidate introduced, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Hollywood JACL introduced Carol K. Tsuchida as its candidate for Miss Nisei Week at a July 30 buffet. The chapter and Metropolitan L.A. will also co-sponsor an Asian Family Affair fashion show in October.
• JACL-Blue Shield program available in Mountain-Plains, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Northern California-Western Nevada JACL/California Blue Shield Health Plan was extended to the Mountain-Plains District Council, enabling members there to enroll during an open period. Chapter meetings in Colorado, Nebraska, and New Mexico will explain the process.
• Argentina-bound Nisei families help develop fisheries, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Argentina offers free public land as an incentive for Japanese families to develop its fisheries, according to a visiting Argentine official. The arrangement was described in connection with the Nisei fishing industry.
• San Diego retirement seminars, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Japanese American Retirement Committee in San Diego is conducting a series of five retirement seminars held on the fourth Friday of each month at the Nisei VFW Hall. Topics include health and financial planning.
• Seattle-PNW ’78 Japan flight has advantages, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The April 1978 Seattle JACL and PNWDC flight to Japan offers passengers from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Portland the chance to stop over in Seattle at no added cost. Details are available from travel chairperson Harry Kadoshima.
• Government, Medicine, Church, and Education briefs, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Brief items report Assemblyman Paul Bannai’s city council term bill signed by Gov. Brown, Ted Taniguchi’s election as chairman of the Washington State Board of Pharmacy, and the Rev. Harold Oda’s appointment as Buddhist chaplain for the National Scout Jamboree.

Obituaries

• First Nisei dentist in Canada was ‘grand-daddy’ of JCCA, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. George Akira Ishiwara, founding president of the Japanese Canadian Citizens Association in British Columbia, died May 12, 1977. He was the first Nisei to practice dentistry in Canada and led redress efforts after the evacuation.

Commentary

• Accountability, by Karl Nobuyuki, page 4. Karl Nobuyuki examines accountability as a core JACL value, citing volunteer legal counsel Frank Iwama and former national president Jerry Enomoto. He urges members to support Enomoto’s stance on equal access and minority rights.
• To the Sansei, by Larry Hayashida, page 4. Letter writer Larry Hayashida urges Sansei to learn about Nisei history and the sacrifices of their parents. He encourages involvement in JACL and passing this heritage to the next generation.
• Makoya-Makura, by Naomi Kashiwabara, page 4. A reader shares a passage from a travel guide describing a Japanese Christian sect, the Makoyas, who claim descent from the Ten Lost Tribes. The editor notes a possible phonetic link to the Japanese word for tabernacle.
• Bakke Case, by Nisei letter writer, page 4. A letter writer questions JACL’s support for the University of California in the Bakke case and asks how JACL would view a Japanese American applicant in Bakke’s position. The editor responds that the Pacific Citizen cannot speak for JACL’s official position on the case.
• Why should JACL support the University when Affirmative Action programs do not consider Japanese Americans and Asian Americans as minorities?, by Wayne Horiuchi, page 4. Wayne Horiuchi, in his Plain Speaking column, examines the Bakke case and whether Japanese Americans are considered minorities under affirmative action. He argues that the issue of reverse discrimination must be discussed in local communities.
• Anna’ deserves to be forgotten, says Thai American in rap on play, by Gary Swaddiphap, page 4. Thai American Gary Swaddiphap criticizes the musical ‘The King and I’ for misrepresenting Thai history and culture. He describes meetings with the Starlight Opera Company seeking changes to the production.
• Tamotzu Gallery, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa describes visiting the Tamotzu Gallery in Santa Fe, run in memory of the late Japanese artist Chuzo Tamotzu. He recounts Tamotzu’s wartime work for the Office of War Information and his later persecution during the McCarthy era.

Sports

• NC-WN swim invitational slated Aug. 7 at Palo Alto High, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The third annual Northern California-Western Nevada JACL swim meet will be held August 7 at Palo Alto High School. Competition is open to JACL-affiliated youth 18 and under, with entries due by July 31.
• Sports briefs: Colleen Matsuhara, Janice Ninomiya, Gary Namba, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Colleen Matsuhara was appointed assistant women’s basketball coach at UCLA. Janice Ninomiya broke a state girls’ track record and Gary Namba earned Deaf Olympics medals.

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