Redress bill S 1647 gains backers; an Oregon Sansei leads Girls Nation

Vol. 89, No. 58, August 31, 1979. 8 pages. View this issue

Redress was the main business of this 8-page issue from August 31, 1979. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution backing the JACL-supported study bill S 1647, and the Order of AHEPA endorsed it at its national convention. John Tateishi wrote that the redress committee would be dissolved and reconstituted for the next phase of the campaign. A question and answer fact sheet on redress ran across pages 5 and 7. On the front page, Leilani Yamada of Medford, Oregon, told how she was elected president of Girls Nation for 1979.

Elsewhere, Denny Yasuhara and Dale Minami wrote about a JACL civil rights complaint over Asian American Studies at Washington State University. Clifford Uyeda’s President’s Corner looked at the Nikkei role in U.S.-Japan relations. Other pages cover a ceremony dedicating a former incarceration camp site in Twin Falls, Idaho, the new Marina JACL chapter, and Barry T. Saiki’s column on bribery in Japan.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Oregon Sansei Heads Girls Nation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seventeen-year-old Leilani Yamada of Medford was elected president of Girls Nation for 1979 by fellow senior girls from across the country. She credited her distinctive speaking style and personality for the win, and said the experience changed her thinking about a political career.
• Marina JACL Joins Pacific Southwest District, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The newly formed Marina JACL chapter was officially welcomed into the Pacific Southwest District Council at its quarterly meeting in Gardena. The chapter, sponsored by Venice Culver JACL, plans to emphasize developing Sansei leadership and has named its board.
• Order of AHEPA Backs Bill for Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Order of AHEPA adopted a resolution at its national convention endorsing S 1647, making it the first national ethnic organization outside JACL to back the measure. The group’s support is significant given its large membership and influence.
• AACI Urges Wendy’s Freedom, Protests Nestle Commercial, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Asian Americans for Community Involvement urged Gov. Brown to pardon or commute the sentence of Wendy Yoshimura, whom they describe as a community activist unfairly targeted. The group also protested Nestle’s marketing of synthetic infant formula in Third World nations.
• Mineta Listed in Mid ‘Top 10’ in San Jose, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A San Jose Mercury News power-structure study named Rep. Norman Mineta among the ten most powerful figures in San Jose. The list was compiled from interviews with 16 local leaders.
• Contra Costa JACL Picnic Ends With Unhappy Note, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Contra Costa JACL picnic at Turtle Rock Ranch drew nearly 400 people and raised about $5,000 for the budget. Organizers were disappointed when the chapter was told it could not book the location for future events.
• Honors and Awards, People, Business, Education, Flowers, Health, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A roundup of community members’ honors, including George Ohashi’s hairdressing award, Akira Kondo’s JAL appointment, and several education and science appointments. Each item briefly notes the recipient’s accomplishments.

Incarceration & Redress

• WSU Treats Asian American Studies Differently, by Denny Yasuhara and Dale Minami, page 1. The article details how Washington State University denied Asian American Studies proposals for years while approving other ethnic programs, prompting a JACL civil rights complaint to HEW. It argues the federal Office of Civil Rights’ ruling against the complaint undermines equal educational opportunity.
• San Francisco Mayor, Board Endorse S 1647, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution supporting the JACL-backed redress study bill S 1647. The action is believed to be the first civic endorsement of the bill.
• Sen. Inouye to Address Community Center Benefit Luau, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sen. Daniel Inouye will speak at the Southeast Community Center benefit luau in Norwalk on Sept. 9. The center’s history, from its wartime use as an evacuee hostel to its new complex, is recounted alongside fundraising details.
• Question and Answer Fact Sheet on Redress, page 5. A continuing Q&A fact sheet addresses common objections to redress, including whether it puts a price on freedom and why those who were children should receive compensation. It argues that redress compensates individuals for specific harms rather than being based on need.
• Dedication of Camp Site in Twin Falls, page 5. A ceremony in Twin Falls, Idaho dedicated the site of a former incarceration camp holding about 10,000 Japanese Americans. Speakers praised the evacuees and Senator Church addressed the lasting significance of the site.
• Redress Phase 2: Next Gear, by John Tateishi, page 7. Redress committee chair John Tateishi announces the committee will be dissolved and reconstituted to meet new campaign demands following the bill’s introduction. He thanks members for their work and outlines the need for fundraising and strategy.

Commentary

• Kamon Family Crest Ad Text Excluded, page 2. Not an editorial article; excluded.
• People on the Potomac: Frank S. Sato, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Profile of Frank Saburo Sato, a CPA and career federal official who was appointed Inspector General of the Department of Transportation. The article describes his professional rise and his continued involvement with JACL and community activities.
• President’s Corner: Nikkei Role, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. JACL President Uyeda argues Japanese Americans must openly engage in U.S.-Japan relations because poor relations fuel anti-Japanese American sentiment. He cites the JACL Whale Issue Committee as an example of effective re-education of the American public.
• Washington Wrap-Up: New Traditions, by Ron Ikejiri, page 4. Washington office director Ron Ikejiri urges JACLers to increase political awareness and participation at national, state and local levels. He argues politics shapes the continued viability of the Japanese American community.
• Redress: Pro and Con, page 4. A reader letter argues that redress payments should be weighed against the many non-Japanese Americans who supported the Nisei during the war. It suggests honoring those allies as well.
• A-Bomb Reaction, by Sheridan Tatsuno, page 4. A letter responds to an Aug. 6 article on atomic bomb survivors, expressing concern that Japanese exports still link Japanese Americans to Japan in the public mind. The writer notes the article was sent to about 60 papers.
• ‘Konnichiwa’, by Arnold B. Larson, page 4. A letter recounts a conversation with a 442nd veteran about discrimination and the caste system, concluding that everyone harbors some bigotry. The writer urges JACL members to prove their commitment to education and assimilation.
• Leadership and Commitment, by Kimi Tambara, page 6. The Portland JACL board agreed in principle to support the Black Union Front’s push for quality minority education. The column describes the coalition’s 18-month study and the school board’s dismissive response.
• Where Are We Going?, by Bruce Shimizu, page 6. New National Youth Director Bruce Shimizu introduces himself and describes his longtime JACL involvement. He frames the staff’s ‘Operation 80s’ plan as the future direction for the organization.
• Nisei in Japan: Bribery Is a Way of Life, by Barry T. Saiki, page 8. The column examines bribery scandals in Japan involving aircraft purchases and compares ethical standards across countries and eras. It argues that the U.S. should allow its businesses some flexibility in international dealings.

In-Depth

• Redress (Continued), page 5. The continuation of the redress fact sheet outlines the harms suffered by Japanese Americans, including families separated and children deprived of security and cultural identity. It explains why the government’s actions warrant compensation.

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