Vol. 88, No. 43, May 18, 1979. 12 pages. View this issue
Redress was the main subject of the front page. Senator Hayakawa answered an open letter about the JACL redress campaign and its use of terms like Days of Remembrance and concentration camps, calling the effort unrealistic. The ILWU endorsed JACL’s redress bill, including $25,000 for each person unjustly incarcerated. A Day of Remembrance pilgrimage from Little Tokyo to Pomona was postponed to late November because of gasoline shortages. Clifford Uyeda, Harry K. Honda and Barry Saiki wrote the commentary, and Wade Kojima reported on a youth workshop in Milwaukee where Nisei shared their camp experiences.
The front page also carried the settlement statement in Amy Doi v. JACL and news of the Chol Soo Lee and Nakao cases. Inside are Frank Gibney on Japan and the U.S. as partners, an excerpt from Joseph D. Harrington’s Yankee Samurai on Nisei language teams on Okinawa, and Bill Hosokawa’s column on retiring Nisei journalists in Japan. Plans for a medical complex next to Little Tokyo appeared on page 2.
What’s in this issue
Incarceration & Redress
- Hayakawa replies to open letter, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senator Hayakawa responds to the JACL redress campaign and its use of terms like Days of Remembrance and concentration camps. He argues that the redress effort is unrealistic and that the Japanese American experience should be viewed in historical context.
- Gas shortage postpones Pilgrimage to Pomona, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Day of Remembrance pilgrimage from Little Tokyo to Pomona via Santa Anita has been postponed from June to late November due to gasoline shortages. The route followed the 1942 Army assembly point path used for Southern California evacuees.
JACL
- Mutual Statement re: Amy Doi v. JACL, page 1. The JACL and Amy Doi settled her lawsuit over her 1976 dismissal as project coordinator, with the JACL insurer paying $30,000. The mutually agreed statement expresses the JACL’s regret for the incidents in question.
National
- Nakao murder trial transcript studied, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Committee for C.B. Nakao found irregularities in the murder trial transcript, including coroner testimony inconsistent with starvation findings. Nakao is scheduled for a parole hearing May 21.
- U.S. probe of Chol Soo Lee case asked, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Supporters rallied in New York demanding a federal investigation into the Chol Soo Lee case after he received a death sentence in Stockton. They allege court irregularities at his second trial.
- ILWU endorses $25,000 redress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union reaffirmed opposition to racism and concentration camps and pledged support for JACL’s redress bill. The union’s resolution endorsed seeking $25,000 per unjustly incarcerated person.
- Court rule aids foreign shippers, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a California property tax on foreign-owned cargo containers brought by Japan Line Ltd. The court ruled the state tax was unconstitutional multiple taxation of foreign commerce.
- Gov. Brown snubs Asian Heritage Week, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Governor Brown vetoed a staff recommendation to sign a resolution proclaiming the first Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. Asian American leaders expressed dissatisfaction at a press conference, and Brown questioned Assemblyman Mori’s motives.
Community
- Little Tokyo to get major medical complex, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A 5.5-acre site adjacent to Little Tokyo has been secured to relocate City View Hospital and its affiliated care facilities into a single centralized complex. The project, to be called International Medical Center, will include a high-rise physician-owned medical office building.
- What is essential is invisible to the eye, by Doris Yokoyama, page 3. The Southern California Society of the Japanese Blind serves visually impaired Nikkei through education, Braille classes, and community programs. The article profiles members and their advocacy for better services and public awareness.
- Asian businessmen in L.A. organize, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Asian Businessmen’s Association held its inaugural installation of officers during Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. Secretary of State March Fong Eu urged members to push for international trade.
- Youth workshop in Milwaukee: Nisei evacuees relate camp experiences, by Wade Kojima, page 7. The Midwest/Eastern District Youth Council held a spring workshop in Milwaukee on redress and Evacuation, with Nisei participants sharing camp experiences. Participants concluded the issue is a human rights concern beyond Japanese Americans.
- Japan gives $4 million to U.S. projects, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The Japanese government contributed $1 million each to four U.S. cultural and academic projects during Prime Minister Ohira’s visit. The projects include Smithsonian and Metropolitan Museum galleries, an MIT energy research fund, and the Asia Society headquarters.
Commentary
- President’s Corner: Clifford Uyeda, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. JACL President Uyeda condemns the use of racist terms against Asian Americans and a copyright granted for a book titled Notes from The Yellow Peril. He argues that America’s strength lies in its diverse ethnic identities.
- 4 Million of Us, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. Editor Harry Honda estimates the Asian American population will reach nearly 4 million by the 1980 Census. He presents a country-by-country breakdown comparing 1970 counts with his projections.
- Don’t Rock the Boat Attitude, by Barry Saiki, page 4. Saiki reports that Nikkei he met in California broadly supported redress, though wealthier individuals feared backlash. He compares this caution to the wartime Chicago Nisei who avoided large gatherings to escape prejudice.
- A Story of Heroes, by Guy Wright, page 4. Journalist Guy Wright recounts the wartime heroism of Nisei soldiers and interpreters in the Pacific, many of whose achievements were kept secret. He argues their story is a reminder against similar injustice toward any minority.
- Why Is Japan Picked On?, by Nobuyuki Nakajima, page 4. Nakajima argues that Japan has been a friendly, cooperative partner to the U.S. yet faces disproportionate media criticism, especially over trade imbalances. He contends the dollar drain is largely caused by oil imports and foreign aid that go unchallenged.
- Don’t call me, Mom!, by Sachi Seko, page 5. Seko reflects humorously on Mother’s Day and her relationship with her son Alan, from his childhood to his independence. She concludes that children’s character and courage are their own, and she prefers the day unmarked.
- Tokyo, by George Kodama, page 5. Kodama describes brief reunions with old Nisei friends during a visit to Tokyo, noting how busy life there is. He observes that the generation of Nisei who bridged Japan and the West is fading.
- A Fading Generation, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa laments the retirement of Nisei journalists in Japan who bridged English and Japanese media. He notes the difficulty of finding replacements with both language skills.
- Let the Sansei In, page 5. A writer responds to Dr. Roy Nishikawa’s concerns about JACL’s future and proposes reforms including chapter size limits, term limits, and affirmative action for Sansei leadership. The writer argues JACL must bring in new blood to survive.
- Are We a Scapegoat?, by Chiye Tomihiro, page 7. Tomihiro reflects on overhearing a black couple’s resentment toward Asians on a Chicago bus and questions whether Asians will become scapegoats. She cites a TV documentary on gangs and urges communities to prioritize helping their own young people.
- Speaking Out: Are We a Scapegoat?, page 7. Tomihiro’s column raises concerns about Asian Americans becoming scapegoats for frustrations felt by blacks and Latinos. She questions whether communities should focus on helping their own before others.
In-Depth
- Japan Today: Japan and U.S. as partners in a common future, by Frank Gibney, page 7. Gibney argues that Japan is badly misunderstood in America, often reduced to trade statistics, and describes its successful modernization while preserving its culture. He calls for Americans to learn about the Japanese people as true partners.
Military & Veterans
- Yankee Samurai excerpt: In the winter of ’45 the tough Okinawa campaign, by Joseph D. Harrington, page 9. This excerpt describes Nisei language team members during the Okinawa campaign, including their interrogation work, cave surrenders, and the frustrations of being sent into combat without proper training. It recounts several individual stories of bravery and wartime service.
Arts & Entertainment
- From Roppongi, by Mas Manbo, page 12. A columnist reviews novels including The R Document and Marathon Man that reference Japanese American wartime incarceration, and reports on facts from Famous First Facts about early Japanese Americans. He notes several historic firsts for Japanese in America.
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