Redress hearings ahead: JACL prepares as the 1980 Census arrives

Vol. 92, No. 15, April 17, 1981. 8 pages. View this issue

The Pacific Citizen’s April 17, 1981 issue followed JACL’s preparations for redress hearings. Minoru Yasui of Denver was named chair of the reconstituted National JACL Redress Committee after John Tateishi resigned as chairman. Seattle’s Community Committee on Redress/Reparations held workshops on giving oral testimony, and a New York survey found 62 of 67 respondents in favor of redress. Ron Ikejiri reported on the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, and Dr. Jim Tsujimura introduced new Executive Director Ron Wakabayashi. The front page also reported on the 1980 Census and the growth of Asian populations in California.

Elsewhere in the issue: PBS rejected the film Hito Hata for national broadcast, and a racist attack on a Nikkei professor’s office at the University of Chicago drew comment from the Chicago JACL. National membership fell 16.5% after a dues increase. Columns by Bill Hosokawa, Bill Marutani, Peter Imamura and Sachi Seko fill the commentary pages.

What’s in this issue

National

• Census Shows Asians Fastest Growing Ethnic Group in California, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Los Angeles Times review of 1980 Census Bureau tapes on California revealed detailed ethnic population breakdowns across the state, showing Asians grew significantly since 1970. The article details county-by-county population figures for Anglo, Hispanic, Black, Asian and American Indian populations statewide.’
• Alleged ‘Steel Dumping’ by Japanese Co. Investigated, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A previously secret U.S. Customs Service affidavit alleged that Mitsui Co. USA, a subsidiary of Mitsui Bussan Kaisha of Japan, violated U.S. steel pricing laws through a ‘steel dumping’ conspiracy using a phony Texas plant. A Mitsui representative denied the allegations and claimed the U.S. government conducted an illegal search of the company’s offices.
• Nikkei Professor’s Office Hit by Racist Vandalism, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A Nikkei history professor’s office at the University of Chicago was ransacked, set afire, and defaced with swastikas and the slur ‘Jap Go Home’ in February. Chicago JACL president John Tani noted similar incidents at Cornell and Wesleyan University, linking the attacks to anti-Japanese economic resentment.
• Ford Sees 120-Year-Old U.S. Flag in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Former President Gerald Ford was shown a 120-year-old American flag with 31 stars and a bronze medal of President James Buchanan while appearing on a Japanese television program in Osaka. The memento’s owner explained the items were presented to a Tokugawa Shogunate delegation sent to Washington in 1860 to ratify a U.S.-Japan treaty.

Arts & Entertainment

• PBS Rejects ‘Hito Hata’ for National Broadcast, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Public Broadcasting Service rejected Visual Communications’ film ‘Hito Hata: Raise the Banner’ for nationwide airing, citing technical aspects and doubts about broad audience appeal. Visual Communications has launched a letter-writing campaign urging PBS to reconsider and air the film nationally.
• June 15 Deadline for Clavell Literary Prize, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The third annual American Japanese National Literary Award will award $1,000 and a trophy presented by author James Clavell for the best short story reflecting the Japanese American experience. Entries are open to anyone with at least one parent of Japanese ancestry and must be postmarked by June 15.

JACL

• JACL Reconstitutes National Redress Committee, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Minoru Yasui of Denver was appointed chair of the National JACL Redress Committee and named 12 members after John Tateishi resigned as chairman in February. The committee is preparing for hearings by the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians expected to begin this summer.’
• Membership Dips 16%; New Dues May Be Cause, by P.C. Staff, page 2. National JACL membership fell to 18,647 as of April 1, down 16.5% from 22,340 the prior year, attributed by observers to a 35% dues increase instituted at the last convention. Ten chapters had already surpassed their 1980 totals while eleven had yet to remit 1981 memberships.

Military & Veterans

• New Mexico Thanks Enomoto for Corrections Work, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Jerry Enomoto, past National JACL president, was commissioned a ‘colonel, aide-de-camp’ by New Mexico Governor Bruce King and thanked by the state legislature for his work overhauling the state’s corrections system after the 1980 prison riots. Enomoto, former director of California’s Dept. of Corrections, coordinated a long-term corrections master plan during his assignment with the National Institute of Corrections.

Incarceration & Redress

• Redress Workshops Offer Tips for Hearing Testimony, page 1. The Seattle JACL redress committee formed the Community Committee on Redress/Reparations (CCRR), comprising 15 organizations, to identify witnesses and hold workshops ahead of Commission hearings. A survey of 3,500 Nikkei households was conducted, and workshops led by attorney John Chen Beckwith gave tips on presenting oral testimony effectively.
• Redress Workshops Offer Tips for Hearing Testimony (continued), page 5. Continuing coverage of the CCRR’s redress testimony workshops, outlining tips such as avoiding exaggeration, structuring testimony clearly, and preparing concise oral statements. The piece notes a ‘remedies forum’ and mock hearing planned for May 23 in Seattle to address what witnesses should request from Congress.
• N.Y. Survey Supports Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A survey of the New York Nikkei community found overwhelming support for redress, with 62 of 67 respondents favoring it and 90% wanting direct monetary payment. Minoru Yasui will role-play the Commission chair at the New York Chapter’s mock hearing on April 25 at Columbia University.

Community

• Nikkei Mayor Faces Recall, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A recall effort was launched against Union City mayor Kitayama by Hispanic community leaders. Kitayama became the city’s first elected mayor in March 1974 after many re-elections.
• Tateishi Dinner RSVP Due April 20, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A testimonial dinner for John Tateishi, former JACL redress committee chairman and interim staff coordinator, will be held May 1 at San Francisco’s Jack Tar Hotel. Tickets and reservations are due by April 20, with proceeds going to the John Tateishi Dinner Fund.
• Asian Women Study Seeks Nikkei Response, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A major study on the education and career goals of Asian American women is underway across three school districts and five Bay Area college campuses. Organizers are seeking Japanese and Korean American college women to participate in the survey.
• Univ. of No. Carolina Honors Nisei M.D., by P.C. Staff, page 2. The University of North Carolina dedicated a library in honor of Dr. Kenneth Sugioka, its Nisei chairman of anesthesiology and a native of Hollister, California. Sugioka earned degrees from the University of Iowa and Washington University before joining UNC, where he has served as department chairman since 1954.
• Gardena JACL Queen Contest Draws Lovely Candidates, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A large field of candidates will compete for the Miss Gardena JACL title at the chapter’s annual donation dinner-dance on April 18. Nine contestants were pictured at the Holiday Inn in Torrance.
• L.A. to Celebrate Heritage Week, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The third annual Asian Pacific Heritage Week will be celebrated May 7-14 in Los Angeles, highlighting contributions of the Asian Pacific community. A kickoff dinner featuring Mayor Tom Bradley is scheduled for May 7 at the Miriwa Restaurant.
• WLA Wine-Tasting to Mark 10th Annual, by P.C. Staff, page 3. West Los Angeles JACL Auxiliary will hold its 10th annual wine-tasting fundraiser at Yamato restaurant in Century City on April 26. Proceeds from the event traditionally support community programs.
• South Bay Keiro Resets Kickoff to April 26, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The kickoff luncheon for the South Bay Keiro Fund Drive was postponed from April 12 to April 26 at the Nisei VFW Hall in Gardena.
• NYPD Recruiting Asian Americans, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The New York City Police Department is actively recruiting Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and Korean candidates, noting only 35 Asians currently serve among 23,000 officers. The department hopes to enroll 200 Asian recruits for its next academy class, with exams scheduled for June 23.
• Travel Agents Seek to Protect Tourists from Shady Practices, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Japanese American Society of Travel Agents (JASTA) met in San Francisco to discuss airline deregulation, client protection from cut-rate competitors, and cooperative marketing strategies. Speakers included JASTA president Richard Yamada and travel executives from Northwest Airlines, Yamato Travel Bureau, and Kobayashi Travel Service.

Commentary

• Issue Hunting?, by Peter Imamura, page 3. At a Tri-District meeting workshop, a chapter president questioned whether JACL was merely ‘issue hunting’ to maintain relevance and draw members rather than pursuing substantive goals. The column explores whether Sansei and Yonsei generations feel disconnected from JACL and what it would take to attract their involvement.
• Our New Executive Director, by Dr. Jim Tsujimura, page 4. National JACL President Jim Tsujimura profiles new Executive Director Ron Wakabayashi, detailing his background as founder of Go for Broke and the Oshokujikai nutrition program, and his prior service as National Youth Director. Tsujimura expresses confidence in the leadership transition from acting director J.D. Hokoyama to Wakabayashi.
• Providing More, by Sachi Seko, page 4. In this ‘From Happy Valley’ column, the author reflects on visiting young Darci Sakata and observes her Sansei father’s attentive, nurturing parenting style, contrasting it with earlier generations of Nisei fathers who left childcare to mothers. The piece muses on changing gender roles and values across generations.
• Commission Update, by Ron Ikejiri, page 4. The Washington JACL Office reports on contacts with Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians chair Joan Bernstein regarding staffing, hearing schedules, and budget constraints. The column includes a directory of key Commission members and National JACL Redress Committee contacts.
• Dramatic But Little Known Stories of WW2, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa recounts little-known stories of Japanese colonists fleeing Manchuria and North Korea after Soviet troops invaded at the end of WWII, including Nisei journalist Shin Higashi’s imprisonment by Russians. The column also describes 47 Japanese-Chinese visitors searching for relatives in Japan decades after being separated during the wartime chaos.
• Yes, We Care: Indeed, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Marutani addresses reader concerns that JACL leaders rarely comment on major national events like the Reagan assassination attempt or the Atlanta killings in the Pacific Citizen’s pages. He explains this reflects the publication’s weekly format and cultural values rather than indifference to these events.
• Courageous Ladies, by John Saito, page 6. Saito updates readers on pharmacist Dr. Carole Fujita’s discrimination case against the L.A. County Health Department, which allegedly retaliated against her and witness Dr. Charles Hayase despite a commission recommendation for her promotion. Support committee leader Irene Hirano continues to guide fundraising efforts, including a planned June 7 event at Gardena Buddhist Church.
• It’s Over!!, by Dennis Kunisaki, page 6. Kunisaki reflects on the California/Nevada/Arizona/Japan/Hawaii Tri-District Conference, highlighting remarks on Nikkei attitudes toward volunteerism and a proposal to form a Women’s Leadership Caucus within JACL. He credits volunteers Mas Dobashi and Kiyo Fukumoto for chairing the conference and expresses support for greater women’s involvement in JACL leadership.
• Japanese Tourism Overseas, by Barry Saiki, page 8. Saiki examines Japanese tourism patterns, noting that most of the 221,910 Japanese visitors to Guam in 1980 were likely newlyweds on package honeymoon tours, with group travel being deeply embedded in Japanese culture. The column also discusses the popularity of ‘karaoke’ singing at group gatherings and festive occasions.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.