JACL’s response to Hayakawa’s proposal to intern Iranians

Vol. 90, No. 85, March 21, 1980. 8 pages. View this issue

The front page and much of the commentary turned on Senator S.I. Hayakawa’s proposal to round up non-citizen Iranians and place them in relocation centers, as Japanese Americans were in World War II. The JACL issued a position statement, and the paper reported sharp criticism from Senators Inouye and Matsunaga and Representatives Mineta and Matsui. Clifford Uyeda wrote on the shock the community felt, citing the 1942 experience, and the White House reply to JACL’s concerns was printed on page 1. A joint statement from the four members of Congress urged continued support for the March 22 testimonial dinner in Los Angeles, which raised funds for legislation to study the wartime incarceration (often called internment). Executive Order 9066 appeared in the front-page statement.

Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa profiled the Japanese American community in Houston, Bill Marutani wrote on votes, money and labor, and Robert T. Matsui urged census participation. Page 6 gathers chapter news from San Jose, Santa Barbara, Stockton, Tri-Valley, West Valley and Sonoma County.

What’s in this issue

National

• JACL Position Statement: ‘Bargaining Chips’ for U.S. Hostages in Tehran, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL issued a statement condemning Senator S.I. Hayakawa’s proposal to round up non-citizen Iranians and place them in relocation centers in retaliation for the Iran hostage crisis. The organization pledged to vigorously fight any such legislation, citing its own history as victims of wartime internment and its commitment that such actions should never happen again to any group.
• Hayakawa Proposes Interning Iranians, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senator S.I. Hayakawa’s remarks about rounding up Iranian nationals and interning them as was done to Japanese Americans in WWII sparked outrage among Nikkei community leaders and Congress members. Despite his co-sponsorship of JACL’s redress legislation, Hayakawa defended his proposal based on an old 1798 law, drawing sharp criticism from fellow legislators including Senators Inouye and Matsunaga and Representatives Mineta and Matsui.
• Ron Ikejiri Probes the Census Undercount, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Washington JACL representative Ron Ikejiri will join Rep. Robert Garcia and Doris Saunders in a PBS half-hour show about the effects of census undercounting of minority populations. The program is scheduled to air before April 1 census day.
• New York Japanese American Help for the Aging Receives Grant, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Japanese American Help for the Aging, Inc. received a $30,000 grant from New York Community Trust to continue its outreach program among New York’s elderly Japanese population. George Yuzawa chairs the JAHFA board, with Sato Iwamoto serving as director.
• Hayakawa Comment Draws Widespread Reaction, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Senator Hayakawa’s proposal to intern Iranian nationals drew strong condemnation from numerous Japanese American political figures including Sen. Inouye, Rep. Mineta, Rep. Matsui, Assemblyman Paul Bannai, and Gardena councilmembers Mas Fukai and Vincent Okamoto. National JACL leaders including Dr. Clifford Uyeda and Karl Nobuyuki reaffirmed JACL’s commitment to fight any such legislation while California political figures across party lines also criticized the proposal.

JACL

• Joint Statement: Re: Mar. 22 Testimonial, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga, and Representatives Norman Mineta and Robert Matsui issued a joint statement regarding the March 22 JACL testimonial dinner in Los Angeles. They disagreed with Hayakawa’s remarks about interning Iranians but urged continued support for the dinner, which raises funds for legislation to study the WWII evacuation and internment of Japanese Americans.
• Matsunaga, Matsui Honorees at JACL Testimonial, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senator Spark Matsunaga and Representative Robert Matsui will be honored at the JACL American Testimonial dinner on March 22 at the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. The article details Matsunaga’s distinguished legislative career and WWII military service with the 442nd, as well as Matsui’s rising influence as the first Sansei member of Congress.
• ‘Jr. Olympics’ Interest High, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Interest is high for the 1980 JACL Jr. Olympics scheduled for June 1, with winners advancing to the state JACL championships. The event now has wider sponsorship from the No. Calif.-Western Nevada JACL District Council, with chapters encouraged to form teams.

Incarceration & Redress

• The White House Reply, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The White House responded to JACL’s concerns about the Iranian hostage crisis, stating that President Carter’s administration policy is to handle cases on an individual basis rather than targeting people based solely on national origin or ancestry. The letter, signed by Anne Wexler, assured that the administration would not deport naturalized Iranian citizens or legal residents without due process.
• 35 Years Ago in The Pacific Citizen, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A historical digest of news items from March 1945 covering topics including anti-Nisei sentiment, Hawaii statehood debates referencing Nisei war records, and Oregon’s legislature rejecting a resolution to exclude evacuees. Also noted are War Department announcements about Japanese Americans in military service and Interior Secretary Ickes’ comments on discouraging return to the West Coast.

Community

• JACLer of Biennium Frank K. Oda Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Frank K. Oda, 60, a longtime active JACLer and community leader in Santa Rosa, died after helping lead Sonoma County JACL post-war and serving as California chairperson for the Japanese History Project. He was honored with the ‘JACLer of the Biennium’ award in 1962 and is survived by his wife, daughters, brother, sister, and two grandchildren.
• East L.A. Festival Set April 19-21, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Cherry Blossom Festival will be held April 19-21 at East Los Angeles College campus. The event is sponsored by community organizations with support from local groups.
• J.A. Family Topic of Six Workshops, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Los Angeles JACL and Sage United Methodist Church will co-sponsor the popular ADAP workshop series addressing family abuse issues. The workshops will run on consecutive Tuesday nights at Sage UMC on Garfield Avenue.
• San Jose JACL Bridge Party, by P.C. Staff, page 6. San Jose JACL will sponsor its sixth annual bridge party on Saturday, with a $3.50 entry fee covering social bridge as well as duplicate sections for intermediate and advanced players. Prizes will be awarded to players.
• Santa Barbara JACL Installation Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Santa Barbara JACL held its installation dinner on February 16 at the Montecito Country Club, featuring Mayor David Shiffman as keynote speaker emphasizing the importance of civic participation. New officers were installed under chairman Mike Hide, with music, corsages, and invocations rounding out the evening’s program.
• Sonoma County JACL Mourns Frank Oda, Sets Scholarship Deadline, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Sonoma County JACL mourned the death of longtime executive administrator Frank Oda, who died March 3 and had called JACL his ‘second love.’ The chapter reminded students that March 31 is the deadline for chapter memorial and National JACL scholarship applications.
• Stockton JACL Installation Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 6. National JACL executive director Karl Nobuyuki was keynote speaker at the Stockton JACL installation dinner at Gong Lee Minnie Restaurant, with Judge Bill Dozier installing new officers headed by president Ruby Dobana. Outgoing president George Baba was honored, and three members received surprise Silver Pin awards.
• Tri-Valley JACL Family Events and Progressive Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Tri-Valley JACL members planned a Sunday pancake breakfast and bowling event, along with an upcoming teriyaki box lunch sale to benefit community service projects and scholarships. A recent progressive dinner brought members together across several Valley homes, featuring a humorous white elephant gift exchange.
• West Valley JACL to Hear Exchange Student Experience, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Lily Weckerly of Santa Clara will show slides and discuss her experiences as an exchange student in Japan at the West Valley JACL meeting on March 22. The event will be held at the chapter headquarters in San Jose.
• ‘Japan in Cincinnati’ to Publicize Expo ’70 Gift of Books, by P.C. Staff, page 6. An event called ‘Japan in Cincinnati’ is scheduled for April 10-12 to acknowledge an Expo ’70 Fund gift of books about Japan to the University of Cincinnati’s Central Library. The three-day program includes displays, lectures, exhibits, and a potluck luncheon, organized jointly by the university, Japanese Language School, local JACL, and the chamber of commerce.
• Fremont JACLers Help Start Sister City Ties with Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Local JACL members helped establish the Fremont-Fukaya Sister City affiliation, formalized in January with a visit by Fukaya dignitaries. JACLers George Kato, Aileen Tsujimoto, and Yoko Young serve on the Sister City Committee and its financial support arm, with several JACL families serving as host families for the visitors.

Obituaries

• Bishop Y. Yoshimune Abe Dies at 93, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Bishop Y. Yoshimune Abe, the last bishop of the Methodist Church in Japan, died March 1 in Tokyo at age 93. A graduate of a New Jersey seminary, he helped organize the Kyodan, the United Church of Christ in Japan, and was elected bishop in 1939.

Commentary

• After Hostages, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. JACL National President Dr. Clifford Uyeda writes about the shock Japanese Americans felt over proposals to intern Iranian nationals, drawing parallels to the 1942 internment experience. He states that Japanese Americans have only one option: to fight any legislative efforts to imprison residents en masse solely on the basis of ancestry.
• U-No Bar: Change of Life, by Raymond S. Uno, page 4. Raymond Uno reflects on reading old Pacific Citizen issues and reminisces about changes in his life since his JACL presidency, including more time spent with family and new activities. He humorously describes becoming a ‘house-husband’ and the challenges of balancing commitments with family life.
• East Wind: Votes, Money and Labor, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Bill Marutani discusses the three leverage points in political influence: votes, money, and volunteer labor, analyzing national voter registration statistics by state. He notes that Nisei living in states with lower overall registration percentages carry greater proportional political leverage than those in high-registration states.
• Without Commitment, Nisei May Be ‘Invisible’, by Robert T. Matsui, page 4. Rep. Robert Matsui addresses the challenges facing America in the 1980s including inflation, energy dependence, and declining international standing, while urging the Japanese American community to engage actively in the upcoming census count. He emphasizes that accurate census participation is crucial for political representation and federal funding in the coming decade.

In-Depth

• From the Frying Pan: Hopping (Around) in Houston, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa profiles the small but active Japanese American community in Houston, Texas, highlighting individuals like engineer Tosh Matsumoto, attorney Paul Shinkawa, and community matriarch Jean Kurosaka Sano. He also describes meeting journalist Lee Chia and discovering an authentic Japanese restaurant called Tokyo Gardens.

Arts & Entertainment

• New Plays Open at East West Players, by P.C. Staff, page 7. East West Players will present Perry Miyake Jr.’s ‘What the Enemy Looks Like,’ about a Nikkei Vietnam veteran, alternating with ‘Da Kine,’ a story about a Korean American boy coming of age in Hawaii written by Leigh Kim. The productions run through March and April with direction by Alberto Isaac and Sab Shimono respectively.
• ‘Hiroshima’ Head East on Tour, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The band Hiroshima, which has earned praise from West Coast critics, is taking its distinctive sound on tour to the East Coast. The tour runs from March 8-26.

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