Vol. 91, No. 12, October 24, 1980. 8 pages. View this issue
The Pacific Citizen’s front page carried a Kashu Mainichi survey of Nikkei in greater Los Angeles, which named three serious problems: housing and health care for the elderly, rising crime, and a waning Japanese image tied to imports. Also on page 1 were Gary Swan’s report on Rep. Norman Mineta’s three 1980 challengers and news that James K. Tsujimura of Portland became the first Century Club life member. On the commentary pages, Jim Tsujimura wrote about JACL fundraising, and Bill Marutani wrote about choosing a new National Director.
Elsewhere in the issue, Sachi Seko recalled a friendship with Michi Nishiura (later Weglyn) that began at the Gila River camp, and Karl G. Yoneda wrote about Joe Koide. Visual Communications finished filming Hito Hata: Raise the Banner, and a $750,000 grant was announced for the JACCC theater in Little Tokyo. Page 3 covered a bill to aid hibakusha and JACL’s membership totals.
What’s in this issue
National
- Nikkei Concerns in L.A.: Housing, Health Care, Crime, Image, by Kashu Mainichi, page 1. A Kashu Mainichi survey of Nikkei in greater Los Angeles found three serious problem areas: housing and health care for the elderly, rising crime rates, and the waning Japanese image due to economic tensions over imports. Respondents expressed concern about inadequate planning for aging Nisei, fear of crime even in daylight, and growing anti-Japanese sentiment tied to trade issues.
- Mineta Challengers ‘Robbed’ of Political Issue on Spending, by Gary Swan, page 1. Rep. Norman Mineta’s shift toward fiscal conservatism on the House Budget Committee has undercut his three 1980 opponents’ attempts to label him a reckless spender. Republican Ted Gagne and Libertarian Ray Strong instead focus on inflation, wasteful spending, and military policy as campaign issues.
- Stronger Push for Hibakusha Aid Bill Seen, page 3. JACL’s liaison committee was advised that Rep. George Danielson’s bill (HR1924) to aid American citizen survivors of the atomic bombings is the best hope for Congressional action next session. The committee is raising funds for a TV documentary on hibakusha and coordinating with survivors in Hawaii and Los Angeles for a medical study.
- Bilingual Project for Nihongo Not Funded, page 8. A federal grant application for a Grade 7-8 bilingual education program serving Korean, Cantonese and Japanese-speaking students in Hawaii was turned down, despite Hawaii receiving over $1 million for other bilingual projects. Sen. Spark Matsunaga noted the difficulty educators face serving 6,500 limited-English-proficiency students in Honolulu.
- $750,000 EDA Grant, page 8. A $750,000 Economic Development Administration grant was announced by Sen. Alan Cranston to help complete the $5.5 million JACCC theater for the performing arts in Little Tokyo. The theater project is expected to be completed in about two years.
Community
- Councilman Fong Jr. Vows to Fight Recall Efforts, page 1. Honolulu City Councilman Hiram Fong Jr. is one of six council members targeted by a recall effort organized by a civic group opposed to prodevelopment voting records. Fong argues the recall process is being misused and says he has faithfully fulfilled his duties despite disagreements from constituents.
- Seattle JACL Opens Min Masuda Fund, page 1. The Seattle JACL has established a separate account for the newly-created Dr. Minoru Masuda Memorial Fund. The fund will assist diverse interests within the Asian community.
- Recall Delayed Against Kitayama, page 1. A recall effort against Union City Mayor Tom Kitayama stalled due to technical flaws in the petition wording. The city council rejected a complaint about Kitayama’s handling of a labor dispute at his nursery, ruling it a private matter rather than a council issue.
- ‘Shogun Revisited’ Theme of 3rd Takahashi Lecture Series, page 1. Stanford University, the Japan Society of Northern California, and JACL are sponsoring a three-lecture series inspired by the TV series ‘Shogun’ at Christ United Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. Lectures by Stanford and UC Berkeley professors will cover topics on feudal Japan, politics, and the lives of women in 17th century Japan.
- Japan Society of Northern California Marks 75th Anniversary, page 1. The Japan Society of Northern California celebrated its 75th anniversary aboard the ferry Klamath in San Francisco. Mayor Dianne Feinstein and author James Clavell attended as honored guests.
- Cherry Blossom Festival to Incorporate, page 1. The Cherry Blossom Festival committee of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California is filing to become a separate nonprofit organization to better seek financial support. A new 11-member board representing six community groups will oversee the 1981 festival planned for two weekends in April.
- Guild Savings Acquired by Allstate, page 1. Guild Savings & Loan Assn., founded in 1964 by local Nisei business and professional men, was acquired by Allstate Savings & Loan Assn. for $8 million. Guild co-founder Dean Itano now heads Allstate’s new Sacramento region.
- 100 Enjoy Eden Township Keiro-kai, page 2. About 100 members and friends attended the Eden Township JACL’s Issei Appreciation supper honoring 22 Issei from the area. Local businesses contributed corsages, cake, and gifts to make the event festive.
- West Valley JACL Chapter Pulse, page 6. Brief items cover several JACL chapters’ activities including Contra Costa’s Tai Chi Chuan demonstration, San Diego JAYS chapter formation discussions, and San Gabriel Valley’s retirement planning seminar featuring attorney Mark Kiguchi on wills and estate planning.
- Nihongo Contest, page 6. The Japanese Speaking Society of America will hold its seventh annual speech contest Nov. 16 in San Francisco with three cash awards. Eligibility is open to U.S. citizens over 18 who haven’t lived in Japan more than two years since age 6.
- Sansei Appointed Police-Fire Chief, page 7. Roy M. Sumisaki, 36, was appointed acting director of public safety for the city of Marina, combining the roles of police and fire chief. Born in the Tule Lake camp, he graduated from Gilroy High School and Golden Gate University.
- CSU-Sac’to Awards, page 8. Four 1980-81 Asian American Studies scholarships were awarded at California State University, Sacramento, including one to art major Doreen Kamada. The awards are funded entirely through community contributions.
- JABA Referrals, page 8. The Japanese American Bar Association established a free lawyer referral service at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles. Panel attorneys will provide services on pro bono, modest means, and regular fee bases.
- JACCC Gallery Director Named, page 8. Miles Kubo, 27, was named the JACCC gallery director by executive secretary Kats Kunitsugu. Kubo is a UC Santa Barbara fine arts graduate who previously worked as a fine arts consultant and assistant director for SPACE Gallery.
- Nakaoka Memorial, page 8. The Gardena Community Center was renamed the Kiyoto Ken Nakaoka Memorial Center in honor of the late mayor of Gardena. A ceremony was held Oct. 25.
JACL
- Century Club Life Member No. 1 Named, page 1. James K. Tsujimura of Portland became the first enrollee in JACL’s new Century Club life membership plan, a one-time $1,000 personal contribution. He will be recognized in the PC Honor Roll as a longtime 1000 Club and Century Club member.
- Nat’l Membership at 95% Mark of 1979, page 3. JACL’s fiscal year-end membership total came to 28,363, down from 29,562 the previous year, with slippage in nearly all membership categories. The breakdown includes regular, Fifty Club, Century Club, Corporate, student, Life, and Memorial members.
- Family Membership Dues Polled, page 3. National JACL sent ballots to 110 chapters and five youth districts to ratify a proposal for a family (spouse) membership dues category, due Nov. 1. The proposal, submitted by Puyallup Valley JACL’s delegate at the national convention, would set spouse dues at $5 less than national dues.
- New PNW Office Secretary Named, page 3. Karen Seriguchi was hired as secretary of the PNWDC JACL regional office in Seattle. The office is open three days a week.
- Asilomar Youth Seminar in ’81 on JACL Proposed, by Ben Takeshita, page 6. A proposal called STYLS (Scholarship Training Youth Leadership Seminar) would have NC-WN-PDC chapters send youth to a leadership seminar at Asilomar beginning August 1981, aimed at engaging youth in JACL activities. If successful, the program could expand nationally, with participants required to organize youth groups or fundraising events afterward.
- NCWNPDC Whing Ding Open to All, page 6. Stockton, French Camp and Lodi JACL chapters are hosting a 1000 Club whing ding Monte Carlo night with a Chinese dinner and magician entertainment on Nov. 8, held alongside the district council’s quarterly session. The district meeting will include elections for five executive board positions and recognition for membership growth in 1981.
Military & Veterans
- U.S. Veterans of Nagasaki/Hiroshima Observe Sept. 24 Anniversary Date, page 3. U.S. veterans who helped clear rubble in Nagasaki after the atomic bombing observed the anniversary of their deployment, highlighting what they call ignored suffering from radiation exposure. More than 130 compensation claims have been filed with the Veterans Administration, none of which have been granted.
Commentary
- In & Out, by Dr. Jim Tsujimura, page 4. National JACL President Jim Tsujimura warns against relying solely on dues increases to fund the organization and announces that Dr. Frank Sakamoto (1000 Club) and Tom Shimasaki (Ways & Means) will lead new fundraising efforts. He likens the pair to football’s legendary Blanchard and Davis duo in tackling JACL’s fiscal challenges.
- Koide a.k.a. Ukai, by Karl G. Yoneda, page 4. A letter responding to a prior PC article about Joe Koide (also known as Nobumichi Ukai), detailing his history with the Communist Party and his role as a government witness in deportation cases against other leftists in the 1950s. The writer provides documented historical details about Koide’s testimony before HUAC and in immigration hearings.
- Citizenship in JACL, page 4. A letter continues a debate over JACL’s citizenship requirement for membership, questioning fairness toward Japanese aliens who were denied citizenship until 1952 yet shared the hardships of Evacuation. The writer challenges another reader’s defense of JACL’s wartime role, calling it a historical failure of vision rather than innocent misjudgment, while noting he has since joined JACL to work on redress.
- Complaint Box, by Susan Quade, page 4. A letter from the San Jose JACL office secretary suggests that Pacific Citizen print an easily usable coupon for subscribers to report problems like missing papers or lack of renewal notices directly to Los Angeles. This would streamline complaint handling currently routed through local chapter offices.
- A ‘Camp’-Born Friendship Survives, by Sachi Seko, page 5. The columnist reflects on her decades-long friendship with Michi Nishiura (later Weglyn), which began at the Gila River camp during WWII. She reminisces about their contrasting personalities, a visit to New York, and Michi’s influence on her unpublished manuscript about camp life.
- A Yardful of Yonsei, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Columnist Bill Hosokawa shares humorous anecdotes about his grandchildren, including karate class antics, nursery rhyme mix-ups, and updates on various grandchildren’s growth and activities. He notes the difficulty of writing about his now-adult children compared to his growing brood of grandchildren.
- Deja Vu: A Replay, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Marutani stresses the critical importance of selecting a new National Director for JACL, recalling the fiscal discipline of former director Masao Satow who treated the organization’s limited funds as a sacred trust. He warns against extravagant spending and calls for a director attentive to the needs of Issei, Nisei, and youth rather than image-focused ‘Madison Avenue’ style leadership.
- Nihonshiki: Romaji as Kana Substitute, by Jin Konomi, page 8. The columnist examines the Nihonshiki and Kunreishiki systems of Japanese romanization compared to the more widely used Hebonshiki (Hepburn) system, tracing their nationalist origins in the 1930s. He argues Hebonshiki better serves Japan’s international communication needs given the global familiarity with Hepburn-spelled Japanese terms and brand names.
Arts & Entertainment
- Kitano’s Latest: Race Relations, 2nd Edition, by H.H., page 4. A review of Dr. Harry Kitano’s updated textbook ‘Race Relations,’ which the reviewer calls lively and up-to-date despite controversy over describing Nisei as the ‘quiet generation.’ The book is recommended for expanding readers’ understanding of race relations in America.
- Nisei Week Scenes Complete Filming of ‘Hito Hata: Raise the Banner’, page 7. Visual Communications completed filming the first dramatic feature-length film written, produced and directed by Asian Americans, recreating a 1930s Nisei Week celebration with over 300 community extras. A benefit premiere is planned at the Ahmanson Theater on Oct. 26, with actors Mako and Hiroshi Kashiwagi starring alongside the late Charles Kamayatsu in his final historical research contribution.
Incarceration & Redress
- Canadian Detention: Within the Barbed Wire Fence, page 4. Takeo Nakano’s book recounts his internment experience in Canada during WWII, including time in a POW camp and road-building in Alberta before being sent to Angler, Ontario. Co-authored with his daughter Leatrice, the book includes traditional tanka poetry and is considered a unique account of Issei immigrant internment in Canada.
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