Vol. 89, No. 60, September 14, 1979. 8 pages. View this issue
The dedication of the Minidoka Relocation Center site as a U.S. Historic Place led this issue. About 500 people gathered near Hunt, Idaho, on August 18, and speakers including Sen. Frank Church and Bill Hosokawa stressed that the camp must be remembered so such injustice is never repeated. Ed Yamamoto’s adaptation of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, given at the ceremony, is printed on page 2. Redress ran through the issue as well: Clifford Uyeda defended the National Redress Committee’s approach, while Edward M. Kitazumi wrote an open letter calling for a committee willing to act.
Also inside: a review of Edward Miyakawa’s novel Tule Lake, Tad Masaoka’s run for San Mateo college trustee, and the Hollywood JACL’s plans for a dinner-dance marking the Pacific Citizen’s Golden Anniversary. Bill Marutani’s East Wind honors the Issei, and a Portland program for senior Nikkei marks its first year.
What’s in this issue
Incarceration & Redress
- Minidoka Dedicated as U.S. Historic Place, by P.C. Staff, page 1. About 500 people gathered on August 18 to dedicate the site of the Minidoka Relocation Center as a U.S. National Historic Landmark near Hunt, Idaho. Speakers including Sen. Frank Church and Bill Hosokawa stressed the importance of remembering the camp so such injustice is never repeated.
- Minidoka Memorial, by Ed Yamamoto, page 2. Former Pacific Northwest District governor Ed Yamamoto adapted Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address at the Minidoka dedication to call for continued work toward eliminating discrimination. He emphasized that the internees’ sacrifice must never be forgotten.
Community
- Tad Masaoka Early Candidate for San Mateo College Trustee, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Longtime JACL member Tad Masaoka announced his candidacy for a four-year seat on the San Mateo Community College District board of trustees in the November 6 election. He cited his previous work as chairman of the 1975 master plan committee and his service with the 442nd Infantry.
- Ikoi-no-kai Program, by Peg Sargent, page 6. The Ikoi-no-kai Nutritional Program in Portland completed its first year serving senior Nikkei with hot meals, transportation, and social programs. Operated with volunteers and advisory representatives, it averages 45-50 seniors per day.
- Hollywood JACL Plans Community Picnic and Golden Anniversary Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Hollywood JACL will hold a dinner-dance on October 20 to celebrate the Pacific Citizen’s Golden Anniversary. The event will feature a slide presentation on the newspaper’s history.
National
- Non-Nikkei Reactions to Redress Make Print, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Letters to newspapers in Torrance, San Jose and San Francisco revealed both hostile and supportive public reactions to JACL’s redress campaign. Responses from columnist Guy Wright and others addressed the letters point by point.
Commentary
- Redress Commission Approach Defended, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. JACL National Redress Committee chair Clifford Uyeda explains that monetary compensation is a means toward a broader constitutional goal of preventing future injustices. He argues redress is fundamentally a question of whether constitutional guarantees hold during national emergencies.
- Open Letter Re: Revised Redress Proposal, by Edward M. Kitazumi, page 4. Edward Kitazumi criticizes the National Redress Committee for deferring its duties to Congress and calls for replacing the committee with one willing to act. He argues JACL should petition the government directly as its National Council intended.
- East Wind, by Bill Marutani, page 4. A cartoon-style column reflects on the hardships faced by Issei immigrants who arrived in a strange land unable to speak the language. The piece honors their courage and hope for a better life for their children.
- Retirement Communities for Japanese Investment, by Nobuyuki Nakajima, page 5. Nakajima proposes inviting Japanese investors to build retirement communities in the U.S. as a way to address trade imbalance and foster mutual understanding. He argues the benefits would extend beyond economics to cultural exchange.
- Anti-Japanese Emotions Still Erupting, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A Seattle letter writer conflates Japanese exports with Japanese Americans and opposes Rep. Roybal’s bill for atomic bomb survivors. The piece argues that such reactions show why combating racial blindness remains a major challenge.
- Tule Lake Novel Reviewed, by Shigeya Kihara, page 6. A reader praises Edward Miyakawa’s novel Tule Lake for its powerful depiction of the degradation and horror of the Tule Lake camp. He calls it the best Nisei novel he has read.
- Moshi Moshi: 25 Konomi, by Konomi, page 8. The columnist recalls school-bus disputes in a California district and reminisces about attending the prestigious Shuyukan middle school in Fukuoka, Japan. The column describes daily walks, school life and childhood memories.
Military & Veterans
- Dilemma of Chinese Sansei in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Ho-Shu Chin, a third-generation Chinese student in Japan, won a national oratory contest by describing her frustrations with being regarded as an alien despite being born and raised in Japan. She expressed hope for a day when she could call herself Chinese-Japanese without hesitation.
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