Senate hearings on the JACL redress commission bill, S 1647

Vol. 90, No. 86, March 28, 1980. 12 pages. View this issue

The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs held its hearings on S 1647, the JACL bill to create a commission to study the World War II incarceration (often called internment) of Japanese Americans, and the front page showed them. Sen. Spark Matsunaga, Rep. Norman Mineta, Rep. Robert Matsui, Jerry Enomoto and Mike Masaoka spoke in support, while William Hohri dissented, calling for immediate redress instead of a study. Page 11 adds Sen. Alan Cranston’s testimony and the 140-page JACL document given to the committee. Robert Matsui’s address on HR 5499 continued on page 4.

Sen. S.I. Hayakawa’s proposal to hold Iranians in the United States drew letters and columns from Henry S. Sakai, Curtis M. Yamate and Henry T. Tanaka, and the issue also covered JACL’s $100-a-plate American Testimonial dinner in Los Angeles. The paper also reported Judge Robert Takasugi swearing in 157 pioneer Issei as citizens, chapter installations, and columns by Clifford Uyeda, John Tateishi and Bill Hosokawa.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Senate Panel Hears JACL Redress Bill, by George Wakli, page 1. The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs held hearings on S 1647, JACL’s bill to establish a commission to study the WWII internment of Japanese Americans, with testimony overwhelmingly in favor. Witnesses included Sen. Spark Matsunaga, Rep. Norman Mineta, Rep. Robert Matsui, Jerry Enomoto for JACL, and Mike Masaoka, while William Hohri dissented, calling for immediate redress instead of a study commission.
• Sen. Cranston Testimony and JACL Documentation Detailed, page 11. Sen. Alan Cranston submitted testimony strongly supporting S 1647 as an original co-sponsor, while JACL presented a 140-page document to the Senate committee outlining the rationale for the bill and detailing WRA camp conditions and Nisei military service. JACL representatives at the hearing included Clifford Uyeda, Lily Okura, Karl Nobuyuki, Cherry Tsutsumida, and Ron Ikejiri.

National

• Judge Takasugi Swears In 137 Pioneer Issei as Citizens, page 1. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Takasugi presided over the mass naturalization of 157 pioneer Issei at the new Japanese Union Church in Los Angeles. Takasugi spoke of the need for America to seek forgiveness for past racism against the Issei and warned against repeating wartime injustices.
• Unanimous Calif. Assembly Supports S 1647, HR 5499, page 3. The California Assembly voted unanimously to approve Assembly Joint Resolution 56, sponsored by Paul T. Bannai, supporting federal legislation to create a commission investigating the WWII internment of Japanese Americans. The resolution gained over 100 co-sponsors out of 120 Assembly and Senate members.
• Mastermind of Massacre Convicted, page 3. Tom Yu, 21, described as the mastermind of the 1977 Golden Dragon restaurant massacre in San Francisco, was convicted on five counts of murder and 13 related charges. He faces sentencing April 7, following a jury deliberation of eight hours.
• Hayakawa Retreats on Bill to Hold Iranians, page 3. Sen. S.I. Hayakawa introduced a scaled-back bill allowing detention of Iranian diplomats as “enemy aliens” until American hostages in Tehran are freed, retreating from his earlier proposal to put thousands of Iranians in relocation camps. Hayakawa defended his stance despite widespread criticism from the Japanese American community.

JACL

• 1,300 at JACL’s American Testimonial, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. Over 1,300 people attended JACL’s $100-a-plate American Testimonial dinner at the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles to raise funds for redress legislation, organized largely by Karl Nobuyuki and PSW staff. Senators Inouye and Matsunaga could not attend due to illness and injury, and a press conference beforehand grew heated over Sen. Hayakawa’s proposal to intern Iranian nationals.
• Mineta to Run for 4th Term, page 3. Rep. Norman Y. Mineta announced his candidacy for a fourth term representing California’s 13th Congressional District. He declared his candidacy on March 5.
• Placer County Installs Nitta, by Roy Yoshida, page 6. Alfred Nitta was sworn in as president of Placer County JACL at an installation dinner in Auburn, with Regional Director George Kondo officiating. Guest speaker Alex Ferreira discussed county land-use challenges and expressed support for the planned Japanese American Heritage Center near Penryn.
• Masaoka to Keynote Phila. Installation, page 6. Mike Masaoka will speak on “Looking at the 80s” at the Philadelphia JACL installation dinner, marking his first East Coast JACL speaking engagement in a decade. Judge William Marutani will emcee, with Teresa Maebori becoming the new chapter chairperson.
• Chapter Comments on Constitution Draft Due July 1, page 9. The revised draft of the National JACL Constitution and Bylaws, prepared by Judge Mikio Uchiyama’s committee, will be considered at a constitutional convention in San Francisco during the National Convention. Chapters are asked to submit comments through district representatives by July 1.

Community

• City Official Suspended a Week for Racial Slur, page 1. Dr. Steve Estrine, San Francisco’s director of community mental health services, was suspended without pay for a week after repeatedly using a racial slur against Chinese Americans. Chinese for Affirmative Action’s Henry Der said the suspension alone would not resolve the matter and demanded a public apology.
• Capacity Crowd Attends Monterey Peninsula Fete, page 6. Monterey Peninsula JACL installed John Gota as its new chapter president before a capacity crowd of 200 at the American Legion Hall, with Rep. Leon Panetta as guest speaker. The event recognized growing Sansei leadership, presented the JACL Silver Pin to Dr. Clifford Nakajima, and honored Royal Manaka with the Outstanding Community Service Award.
• UC-JWA Fund in Bid for $20,000, page 6. The UC Berkeley Japanese Women Alumnae scholarship fund, established in 1969, acknowledged $5,336 in recent donations from over 50 donors and hopes to raise $20,000 this year to offset inflation. Contributions are directed to the Regents of the University of California through chapter representative Toy Togasaki.
• Turlock Social Club Donates to JACL Scholarship Program, page 10. The Turlock Social Club established the Nisaburo Aibara Memorial Scholarship in honor of community leader Niisaburo Aibara, who founded the Stanislaus County Japanese Association and contributed extensively to community relations. JACL Youth Director Bruce Shimizu praised the scholarship as embodying the spirit behind JACL’s broader scholarship program.
• Nisei Week Exhibitors to Meet for ’80 Show, page 10. Organizers planning cultural exhibits for the 1980 Nisei Week Japanese Festival will meet at the New Otani Hotel to complete space contracts and select exhibit sites. Participation fees have been waived for cultural exhibitors to encourage wider involvement.

Military & Veterans

• Labor Dept. Cites San Francisco Nisei, page 1. Roy T. Ashizawa of San Francisco received the U.S. Department of Labor’s Distinguished Service Award from Secretary Ray Marshall after 31 years of service. Ashizawa, a former Nisei MIS linguist who served in Attu, was also active in reversing the American Legion’s support of the 1924 Japanese Exclusion Act.
• JACL’s American Testimonial: Behind the Scenes, page 7. A detailed account of the American Testimonial dinner describes the seating mishaps, menu, entertainment by Butch Kasahara, and speeches honoring the five Nikkei members of Congress. Sen. Hayakawa was confronted by audience members when he defended prewar Japanese language school teachings, while Reps. Matsui and Mineta delivered rebuttals focused on redress and the challenges of the 1980s.

Commentary

• Hayakawa Proposal Called Irresponsible, page 3. California Assemblyman S. Floyd Mori blasted Sen. S.I. Hayakawa’s proposal to intern Iranian nationals as appalling and irresponsible, comparing it to the WWII Japanese American internment. Sacramento JACL president David K. Takashima resigned from Hayakawa’s constituency council in protest, while columnist Bill Hosokawa offered a more measured take suggesting diplomats, not all Iranians, could be subject to exchange.
• Olympic Flame, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. National JACL President Clifford Uyeda reflects on the controversy over boycotting the Moscow Summer Olympics, acknowledging that politics and sports have never been fully separated. He argues that striving for ideals like the Olympic flame, despite imperfection, helps nations and individuals grow and should be kept alive.
• Eve of Mar. 22, by John Tateishi, page 4. JACL Redress Committee chair John Tateishi recaps recent redress campaign developments, including the newly restructured National Committee on Redress meeting, preparations for Senate testimony on S 1647, and JACL’s strong opposition to Sen. Hayakawa’s Iranian internment proposal. He also previews the upcoming American Testimonial dinner in Los Angeles.
• The Hayakawa Hassle, by Henry S. Sakai, page 4. A letter writer criticizes JACL and the Japanese community for continuing to honor Sen. Hayakawa despite his offensive statements, arguing it insults the other four Nikkei congressmen. The writer hopes JACL will eventually take a firm stand against Hayakawa to protect the redress campaign.
• Letter on Hayakawa’s Rhetoric, by Curtis M. Yamate, page 4. A letter writer condemns Sen. Hayakawa’s rhetoric on Iranian internment as exploiting fear and prejudice reminiscent of Executive Order 9066. The writer expresses fear of political silence allowing history’s injustices to repeat.
• Without Commitment, Nisei May Be ‘Invisible’, by Robert T. Matsui, page 4. Rep. Robert Matsui continues his address on the importance of HR 5499, the commission bill on Japanese American internment, urging JACL members to provide financial and political support. He calls for commitment and sacrifice among Japanese Americans, citing examples like Sadao Munemori and Karl Nobuyuki, and warns against complacency in the 1980s.
• If You Dream About a Dragon, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa’s column recounts Korean traditional dream interpretations as described by writer Ahn Jung-Hyo, detailing various omens of fortune, death, and marriage found in dreams. The column closes by musing whether Koreans dream more vividly than others.
• Why, Again?, by Henry T. Tanaka, page 5. Henry T. Tanaka criticizes Sen. Hayakawa for proposing internment camps for Iranians, questioning how a co-sponsor of the redress commission bill S 1647 could support such a discriminatory measure. Tanaka suggests Hayakawa’s actions contradict his supposed support for examining the wrongs of Executive Order 9066.
• Letter on Indochinese Refugee Welfare Coverage, by Anna E. Peterson, page 6. The Executive Director of the International Institute of St. Louis writes to clarify that Indochinese refugee assistance is federally funded through the IRAP program rather than true welfare, correcting potential misperceptions from an earlier PC article. She explains that medicaid benefits are used more frequently than cash assistance among newly arrived refugees facing significant health needs.
• Industrial Executives, by Nobuyuki Nakajima, page 10. Nobuyuki Nakajima reflects on leadership qualities among industrial executives, arguing that while some leaders are born, many develop leadership skills through effort and management training. He emphasizes the value of early career participation and self-improvement for aspiring leaders.
• For One Who’s Turned 26, by Sachi Seko, page 10. Sachi Seko writes a reflective column about her son’s 26th birthday, recounting his quirks, past struggles through childhood phases, and her hopes that he is finally maturing into responsibility. She closes by adding to a humorous birthday list of chores for him, including making his own bed.

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