A racial slur at a San Diego commencement, and Matsui’s primary win

Vol. 86, No. 23, June 16, 1978. 12 pages. View this issue

A commencement speech at San Diego City College turned into the main story of this 12-page issue. When trustee president Lou Ridgeway spoke of the need “to straighten out those people,” students booed, and faculty including Don Estes and speaker Warren T. Furutani walked off the stage. Elsewhere on the front page, Robert T. Matsui won the Democratic nomination for a Congressional seat, Judge Taketsugu Takei won his superior court race, and Harry Honda wrote about Bill Hosokawa’s new book of columns. The Chicago JACL also backed Skokie residents opposing a Nazi march.

The commentary pages carry several voices. Brian Bio wrote about camp pilgrimages to Manzanar, Tule Lake and Topaz, and Michi N. Weglyn urged JACL to seek release of wartime records. Bill Hosokawa, Gene Konomi, George Inagaki and Judy Tachibana also contributed columns. Chapter news includes scholarship awards and the Sequoia JACL track team’s win at the San Francisco Jr. Olympics.

What’s in this issue

National

• Racial slur erupts at commencement, page 1. A San Diego City College commencement speech was disrupted when trustee president Lou Ridgeway made disparaging remarks about Japanese during a speech. Faculty and students walked out and demanded a public apology from Ridgeway.
• Sac’to Democrats pick Matsui, page 1. Sacramento City Councilman Robert T. Matsui won the Democratic nomination for the third Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. John Moss. His win raises prospects of the first Sansei in the House of Representatives.
• Judge Tak Takei wins with 57%, page 1. San Jose Nisei Judge Taketsugu Takei won a six-year superior court term in the June 6 primary over challenger David Lull. The race attracted statewide attention and heavy campaign spending.
• JACL blasts racism in Nazi march, page 1. The Chicago JACL board unanimously supported Skokie, Illinois residents opposing a planned American Nazi Party march. The resolution cited the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans as evidence of how fragile constitutional guarantees can be.
• U.S. govt did … in 1942, page 1. Hawaii’s financial director urged Congress to distribute alien immigrants among states and consider controls on interstate migration to Hawaii. Rep. John Erlenborn objected to the suggestion.

Commentary

• Hosokawa compiles sampling of his columns for new book, by Harry Honda, page 1. Bill Hosokawa’s fifth book, Thirty Five Years in the Frying Pan, collects his best columns from 35 years of writing. It is being published by McGraw-Hill for release in the fall.
• Nikkei participation on Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, by Lorrie K. Inagaki, page 4. JACL argues that Japanese Americans should be represented on the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission to reflect their role in American interests. It urges the government to avoid tokenism and select nominees sensitive to the Japanese American experience.
• Derogatory and Obsolete Terms, by Tokyo, page 4. A column explains that Nisei and Sansei often use Japanese terms considered derogatory for Blacks, Chinese, and Koreans. It recommends correct terms and notes that some Japanese vocabulary learned at home is outdated.
• Pride of ‘First South’, page 5. A writer recalls Salt Lake City’s First South Japanese neighborhood and reflects on the pride of earlier generations versus the identity movement of Sansei. The piece contrasts their dignity with what the author sees as imitative militancy.
• Us Against Them, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa argues that JACL, founded to address shared threats to Japanese Americans, struggles today because members differ in politics, economics, and generation. He uses Proposition 13 and farm labor disputes to illustrate the divisions.
• The New Mayors: An Issei’s Assessment, by Gene Konomi, page 5. Gene Konomi recalls the Miyoshi Store in Guadalupe and reflects on how the family’s history connects to new Santa Maria mayor Toru Miyoshi. He sees the rise as shaped by both family heritage and ethnic background.
• Thoughts Change About Japanese Retirement Home, by George Inagaki, page 7. George Inagaki describes his mother’s experience at the Japanese Retirement Home, where she found companionship and cultural activities. He says his view of old people’s homes changed after seeing how well the home is run.
• The Great American Kiss, by Judy Tachibana, page 9. Judy Tachibana examines early 1900s short stories about Japanese characters in magazines such as Overland Monthly and how they shaped images of Japanese immigrants. She finds the portrayals often negative or stereotyped.

Obituaries

• Haruye Goto Masaoka, 92, page 2. Issei pioneer Haruye Goto Masaoka died at age 92 in Los Angeles, mourned by about 300 people. She raised eight children after her husband’s death and was honored by JACL for encouraging high school graduates toward college.
• Central Cal honors scholars, page 6. The Central California JACL District Council announced eleven scholarship and citizenship achievement winners. Awards ranged from $100 to $250.

Community

• U.S. Nikkei Talent Registry formed, page 2. The JACL Eastern District Council is establishing a Talent Registry of skilled and talented Nikkei throughout the United States. Nominations are being sought with a July 31, 1978 deadline.
• JACL turns Nisei Week queen coronation into charity ball, page 6. The Hollywood JACL is sponsoring the Nisei Week Coronation Ball on Aug. 19 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Proceeds benefit the Japanese Retirement Home and the Friends of Little Tokyo Arts.
• San Jose JACL honors scholars, page 6. The San Jose JACL honored graduating seniors and scholarship donors at its potluck dinner, distributing $1,800 to eleven winners. The chapter’s scholarship program began in 1962 with a $25 award.
• Sequoia wins S.F. Jr. Olympics, page 7. The Sequoia JACL track and field team earned the most medals at the San Francisco JACL Jr. Olympics, winning the NC-WNDC outstanding team honors. Janice Matsuoka was named outstanding athlete after setting two records.

Incarceration & Redress

• Pilgrimage, by Brian Bio, page 4. Japanese Americans and others make annual pilgrimages to former incarceration camp sites such as Manzanar, Tule Lake, and Topaz. The author argues that revisiting this past protects the future by ensuring such injustice is never repeated.
• Internee records, by Michi N. Weglyn, page 4. Michi Weglyn urges JACL to pursue release of Justice Department and INS internment records, citing concerns that wartime files are being destroyed. She recommends individuals request documents under the Freedom of Information Act.

In-Depth

• Nisei plan to curb nuclear war finds Japan in role of mediator, page 12. Ralph K. Sakamoto, a former Japanese Army air force pilot, proposes a nine-point plan for Japan to mediate between the U.S. and Soviet Union in dismantling nuclear arsenals. He outlines an inspection team of Japanese, U.S., Soviet, and UN observers.

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