Atomic bomb survivors, redress and JACL planning in March 1978

Vol. 86, No. 10, March 17, 1978. 12 pages. View this issue

Medical aid for atomic bomb survivors in the U.S. led the front page. Congressional hearings on HR 5150 were set for March 31 in Los Angeles, even as the Carter Administration declined federal assistance, and the American Medical Association’s board of trustees endorsed the bill. Inside, columnists took up the wartime incarceration (often called internment) and redress. Clifford L. Uyeda wrote that redress is about meaningful compensation and preventing future injustice, Roy S. Kaneda questioned the age-18 limit in HR 9471, and Michi N. Weglyn pointed readers to sources for films on the forced removal. Bill Hosokawa answered a letter about the loyalty of the Kibei.

The rest of the 12 pages ranged widely. Harry Honda reported on Nikkei results in California’s March 7 local elections, and the National JACL Board scheduled a special budget meeting for May. Book reviews covered Buddhism in America, the case of Iva Toguri d’Aquino, and a novel of Hawaii, alongside chapter news and a notice of an MIS reunion in Tokyo.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• A-bomb hearings in L.A. set for March 31, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Congressional hearings on HR 5150, a bill to provide medical aid to atomic bomb survivors living in the U.S., are scheduled for March 31 in Los Angeles. The Carter Administration has declined federal assistance, prompting the Committee of Atomic Bomb Survivors to continue its campaign for the bill.
• Nikkei survivors seek medical aid, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The American Medical Association’s board of trustees endorsed HR 5150, which would provide federally funded medical care to atomic bomb survivors. The board’s position differed from its Council on Legislation, which had recommended existing programs instead.

Community

• Pearl Harbor discussion draws JACL concern, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL officials requested a formal apology from Nova Academy in San Francisco after a history teacher allegedly told a Japanese American student that his parents bombed Pearl Harbor. The school disputes the characterization, while JACL emphasizes that such statements by teachers are unacceptable.
• Nat’l JACL Board schedules special budget meeting in May, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National JACL is reviewing a proposed budget exceeding $750,000 for the next biennium, and a special EXECOM and District Governors’ meeting is set for May 13-14. Other matters included preserving tax-exempt status and adding 1929 to the JACL seal.
• Calif. Nikkei win in local elections, by Harry Honda, page 1. Several Japanese Americans won or retained local offices in California’s March 7 elections, including Mayor Tsujio Kato of Oxnard and councilman Masani Fukai of Gardena. Some Nikkei candidates, including George Ogawa in Torrance and Barton Shigemura in Fountain Valley, lost their bids.
• Cal Nikkei win in local elections, by Harry Honda, page 1. Japanese American politicians in California’s March 7 local elections saw both victories and defeats. Several incumbents were re-elected while some first-time candidates fell short.
• Intermountain District ponders funding youth, by Yuki Harada, page 3. The Intermountain District Council held its first quarterly session in Salt Lake City, previewing the 1978 national convention and approving the district budget. Delegates also discussed youth programs and endorsed efforts to institute Asian American studies at area universities.
• Calendar, pulse & memos, by P.C. Staff, page 6. This chapter-news roundup covers the 21 JACL-sponsored PCYA students, Tosh Shoji’s Silver Beaver Award, and Center Players’ production of Hiroshi Kashiwagi plays. It also includes chapter officer lists and recent chapter activities.
• Midwest Comments: Hats Off to Hoosier, by MDC Page Committee, page 7. The Midwest District Council column praises the Hoosier chapter in Indianapolis for rapid growth and active participation in education, festivals, and national programs. The column describes the chapter as representative of JACL’s best in the Midwest.
• Harano candidate for Chicago alderman, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Former JACL Midwest governor Ross Harano announced his candidacy in a special election for alderman of Chicago’s 48th ward. If elected, he would be the first Asian American on the city council.
• Encouraging feedback, by Anna Peterson, page 7. Anna Peterson reports on a membership survey about the MDC Page, noting encouraging responses and suggestions to broaden writers and coverage. She invites more members to volunteer as contributors.
• End of trust in Asian faces, by Sam Honda, page 9. Sam Honda describes being robbed in a New York hotel by an Asian man who knocked on his door seeking help. He warns other JACL travelers about this method and says it has damaged his trust in Asian faces.
• Congress airing future of bilingual education, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Hayden Lee of the Organization for Chinese Americans urges support for bilingual education, compensatory education, and ethnic heritage studies as Congress considers reauthorizing ESEA. He criticizes the Carter budget request for not allowing program expansion.
• Chapter pulse, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Chapter news from Fowler, New York, Reno, and White River Valley JACL describes installations, programs, and fundraising events. Highlights include a Shinto film screening in New York and Reno’s sukiyaki benefit dinner.

National

• FBI careers for Asians offered, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The FBI is intensifying recruitment of minorities for Special Agent and clerical positions, according to the Washington JACL Office. Interested applicants may contact any FBI field office or write to FBI headquarters in Washington.
• Nikkei perspective criticizes U.S. foreign policy, page 5. Mike Masaoka criticized the State Department for inviting too few Asian Americans to the National Foreign Policy Conference. He also argued that the U.S. puts economic concerns above human rights in matters such as redress and atomic bomb survivor aid.

Commentary

• Sailing Without a Chart?, page 4. The columnist argues that JACL needs a long-range planning committee like the former National Planning Commission to chart the organization’s future goals. He urges the leadership to share a long-range plan with the membership before the convention.
• Films on Evacuation, by Michi N. Weglyn, page 4. Michi Weglyn responds to a reader’s question by identifying the National Archives and Army Signal Corps as sources for films on the wartime evacuation and Nisei soldiers. She also notes a paperback edition of her book Years of Infamy is forthcoming.
• Loyalty of Kibei, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa responds to a letter alleging his book Nisei impugns Kibei loyalty, quoting passages that defend the Kibei and reject blanket accusations. He acknowledges the newspaper should have verified the claim before publication.
• Internment Credit, by Roy S. Kaneda, page 4. Roy Kaneda argues that the age-18 limitation in HR 9471, which grants Civil Service retirement credit for WWII internment, is discriminatory and should be lowered or eliminated. He notes that the criterion for imprisonment was national origin, not age.
• Not Just a Recovery, by Clifford L. Uyeda, page 5. Clifford Uyeda argues that redress for WWII incarceration is not about recovering what was lost but about obtaining meaningful compensation and preventing future injustice. He stresses that a verbal apology alone is insufficient.
• From What We Gather, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa shares anecdotes including a Florida museum honoring George Morikami, a Japanese immigrant who donated land for a park, and genealogical records kept by Buddhist temples. He also recounts a lighthearted episode involving a senior citizen skier.
• End of trust in Asian faces, by Sam Honda, page 7. Sam Honda recounts being robbed and tied up in a New York hotel room by a young Asian man who had asked for help. He warns JACLers to be cautious and reflects on how the incident has affected his trust in Asian strangers.
• Silver Volunteers’ retired but not retiring, by Barry Saiki, page 11. Barry Saiki describes Japan’s Silver Volunteer program, which sends retired experts to assist less developed countries. He contrasts this with what he sees as the limited social concern of prosperous nations.
• Chicago Silver Volunteers, by Barry Saiki, page 11. Barry Saiki reports on the Silver Volunteers program in Tokyo, which sends retired Japanese experts abroad for technical cooperation. He argues that developed nations should direct more social concern toward needs beyond their borders.

Arts & Entertainment

• Ups & downs of Nisei in Hawaii, by Richard Gima, page 8. Richard Gima reviews Patsy Saiki’s novel Sachie, a Daughter of Hawaii, which portrays the lives of early Japanese immigrant families on the Big Island. He praises the book for its accurate depiction of customs and community life.
• Titles from Tuttle, by Allan Beekman, page 8. Allan Beekman reviews recent Tuttle publications on Japan, including Japanese storytelling tales, Donald Richie’s novel Companions of the Holiday, and Mike Mansfield’s reports on Asian policy. He also notes new titles on the American Revolution from an Asian perspective and Asian peopling of Hawaii.
• Theater, stage & books, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Pacific Citizen announces a new production of Wakako Yamauchi’s And the Soul Shall Dance at East/West Players in Santa Monica. The notice invites readers to attend the opening on March 17.
• Books on Review: Japan Foundation publications, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Recent publications on Japan and Asian American history are reviewed, including works from Japan Publications and the East-West Center. The list highlights new translations and scholarship.
• Bookshelf: On Buddhism, by H.H., page 9. A review of Tetsuden Kashima’s Buddhism in America, which traces the history and social organization of the Buddhist Churches of America. The reviewer notes the author’s personal insight from growing up in a Buddhist Church community.
• Here are excerpts of the feature book review, by Larry Rumley, page 9. Larry Rumley reviews Rex Gunn’s self-published account They Called Her Tokyo Rose, which documents the wartime case of Iva Toguri d’Aquino and her 1977 pardon. The review praises the book as an accurate and well-written report of a miscarriage of justice.

Military & Veterans

• MIS reunion in Tokyo slated, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The Military Intelligence Service Language School alumni association will hold a grand reunion in Tokyo from November 9 to 11, 1978. The event marks several anniversaries of the MIS and U.S. occupation of Japan.

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