Vol. 87, No. 22, December 8, 1978. 12 pages. View this issue
Asian and Pacific American organizations in Los Angeles sought $500,000 from United Way for a multi-service center, the lead story of this 12-page issue. Also on the front page, Shintaro Fukushima presented nearly one million dollars to the board of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Little Tokyo. Redress ran through the inside pages: Sharon Suzuki described a Day of Remembrance caravan to the Puyallup Fairgrounds, site of the former Camp Harmony, and George Kondo reported on a plaque for Tule Lake. Mark Abe and Earl G. Waters offered opposing views on redress.
Columns came from Clifford Uyeda, Harry K. Honda, Bill Marutani and Bill Hosokawa. Other stories covered former members of Company K of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team holding a reunion, a protest over a Jungle Jap fashion label, chapter Christmas parties, and news from Japan, including Masayoshi Ohira’s election as prime minister.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Asians Seek $500,000 from United Way, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Representatives of Asian and Pacific organizations in Los Angeles sought a $500,000 allocation from United Way to fund a multi-service center. The proposal would support research, technical assistance, and direct services where alternatives are lacking.
- Japanese Donate $1,000,000 to Li’l Tokyo Cultural Center, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Shintaro Fukushima presented nearly one million dollars to the JACCC board for the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center complex in Little Tokyo. The donation was collected by diplomats and businessmen and will help build the Bunka Kaikan complex.
- Carson Citizens Intend to Recall Mayor Yamamoto, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Carson citizens group began a recall effort against Mayor Sak Yamamoto and Councilman John Marbut, alleging mismanagement in a rubbish collection contract. The group must gather signatures from 20 percent of registered voters to force a special election.
- Councilwoman Eunice Sato Bids for State Senate, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Long Beach Councilwoman Eunice Sato announced her candidacy for the special election to succeed George Deukmejian in the 31st state senate district. She pledged to reduce state and federal control over local government and to pursue efficiency in government.
- Eden Township 30th Annual Christmas Party, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Eden Township JACL will hold its 30th annual Christmas party at the Eden Japanese Community Center with a children’s talent show and Santa Claus. Committee members are listed for the event.
- Fourth Annual Luau a ‘Hit’, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Las Vegas JACL benefit luau raised its scholarship fund goal despite heavy rain. The chapter’s December calendar includes an election meeting and a mochitsuki.
- Christmas Is for Children, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Tri-Valley JACL announces its Christmas party on December 15 in Pleasanton with crafts, a piñata, and Santa Claus. Attendees are asked to call organizers to RSVP.
- Akira Kawanabe: A Way of Life in the Quiet Valley, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Architect Akira Kawanabe returned to his native San Luis Valley in Colorado to open his own practice focused on solar energy. He also helps residents apply solar energy to homes and farms.
- United Way Asian Pacific Funding Needs Grow, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The continuation of the United Way story notes that Asian Pacific agencies have received limited funding for decades. Committee members argue a multi-service center is both realistic and justified.
- Japanese Students in SLC Need Tutors, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Alice Kasai reported that 11 Japanese students in Salt Lake City schools need extra tutoring help. Needs were most apparent for Chinese students.
- Book Asks ‘Why America?’, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The proceedings of a conference on Asian American immigration, Why America?, document the experiences of five Asian American pioneers. The book is available for $3.50 postpaid.
- Radio Li’l Tokyo to Hold 26th Ball, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Radio Li’l Tokyo announces its 26th annual Christmas Eve ball at the Los Angeles Hilton featuring the band The Gathering. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the gate.
- Ohira Elected Prime Minister, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Masayoshi Ohira was chosen to succeed Takeo Fukuda as Japan’s prime minister and pledged that friendship with the United States would remain the cornerstone of his foreign policy. He also said Japan would cooperate with all countries.
National
- Jap Still in High Fashion, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL regional director George Kondo protested the Jungle Jap label on Kenzo fashion wear sold at I. Magnin in San Francisco. JACL asked that the offensive labels be removed from the line.
Incarceration & Redress
- Chinatown Witness Emerges, Says Wrong Man Convicted, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A Chinatown witness told the Sacramento Union that Chol Soo Lee was wrongly convicted in the 1973 Yip Yee Tak murder. The witness claims to know the real killer and says other Asian witnesses saw the shooting but stayed silent out of fear.
- This Time, It Was a ‘Harmonious’ Trek to Puyallup, by Sharon Suzuki, page 3. Seattle-area Nikkei held a JACL-sponsored Day of Remembrance caravan to the Puyallup Fairgrounds, former site of Camp Harmony. Speakers including Gordon Hirabayashi, Min Masuda, and Mayor Charles Royer addressed a crowd of 2,000 about redress.
- Seeking Justice for JAS, by Earl G. Waters, page 5. Earl Waters recounts the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans and argues that it was an unconstitutional injustice. He contrasts the treatment of Japanese Americans with that of German and Italian Americans.
- Plaque Dedication for Tule Lake, by George Kondo, page 6. George Kondo describes the approved text and history of a state monument plaque at the Tule Lake concentration camp. The JACL-led effort overcame objections over the phrase concentration camps and a fundraising drive was launched.
- JACL Meeting on Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 6. JACL Redress Committee chairman John Tateishi called a strategy meeting in San Francisco to adopt a timetable for the redress campaign. Several members were named to the committee.
Commentary
- Caring, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. JACL National President Clifford Uyeda reflects on a snorkeling trip at Hanauma Bay and on the human capacity to care for the weak. He argues that protecting the unfortunate is what distinguishes humans from other creatures.
- Something New Coming, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. Editor Harry Honda previews a membership brochure to be inserted as an advertising supplement and explains a new rate structure for such inserts. He asks chapters to update the membership directory accordingly.
- Dedicated Ye Editor’s Desk, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. Editor Harry Honda previews a new membership insert for the Pacific Citizen. He invites readers to use it to recruit new members.
- Redress—Pro and Con, by Mark Abe, page 5. Mark Abe argues that monetary redress is unnecessary and that a nationwide education effort would be more valuable. He proposes a government apology, a television special, and a film for history classes.
- Sansei in Japan, by Cheryl Miyagishima, page 5. A reader critiques romanticized portrayals of Japan and argues the Japanese are not unique or exotic but people much like Americans. The letter uses everyday examples to show Japanese people as ordinary human beings.
- Shimatsu and Short Pencils, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Columnist Bill Marutani reflects on Issei values of frugality and how they passed, imperfectly, to his Sansei children. He finds hope that some of the Issei spirit of economy survives in the younger generation.
- ‘Yakuza’ Issei-Style, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa compares modern Japanese yakuza expanding abroad with the prewar Issei gambling clubs of Los Angeles and Seattle. He notes those prewar clubs also funded cultural and welfare activities.
JACL
- Do-It-Yourself Packet for Aging and Retirement Programs, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The JACL aging and retirement committee will emphasize self-programming through a do-it-yourself instructional packet for chapters. The committee will collect data on existing programs and receives $5,000 in seed money.
- Twin Cities to Host EDC-MDC ’79 Confab, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Twin Cities chapter will host the 1979 joint JACL/EDC-MDC convention in Minneapolis in July. Sam Honda is the convention chairman and district youth will meet concurrently.
Military & Veterans
- 442nd’s ‘Co. K’ Reprinted, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Former members of Company K, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, held their second reunion in San Francisco. Announcements included a reprint of the Story of the 442nd pamphlet and plans for a 1980 trip to Bruyères.
Arts & Entertainment
- Party to Introduce Mirikitani Book, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Friends of Janice Mirikitani will hold a celebration on December 10 to introduce her book Awake in the River. The book features her poetry and prose.
- East West Players in Holiday Mood, by P.C. Staff, page 11. East West Players will stage the musical fantasy Princess Charley from December 19 through New Year’s Eve. Artistic director Mako calls it a light holiday show for the whole family.
In-Depth
- Suicide Rate in Japan Continues to Increase, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Suicides in Japan rose sharply, with more than 20,000 self-inflicted deaths last year, which some attribute to the breakup of traditional families and urban pressures. Researchers link the trend to the mass migration to cities during the economic boom.
- Tokyo’s Safest-City-in-World Image Challenged, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Researcher Akira Ishii of the University of Tokyo found that Tokyo has far more minor crimes than police statistics show. He argues that the city’s safety image depends on whether minor offenses are counted.
Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.