Redress hearings set for Washington, and an NBC protest answered

Vol. 92, No. 23, June 12, 1981. 12 pages. View this issue

The Pacific Citizen’s June 12, 1981 issue followed the run-up to the first hearings of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC), set for July 14 and 16 in Washington, D.C., with later sessions planned for Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Alaska. The front page covered Seattle’s redress workshop, where witnesses such as Theresa Takayoshi, William Kawata and Bill Iseri practiced their testimony, and Seattle JACL’s offer to help Aleut witnesses prepare. Page 2 listed new supporting organizations and noted $67,000 raised by 75 chapters. The front page also reported that NBC’s Richard P. Gitter answered JACL protests over a Saturday Night Live sketch, and that Michael Woo lost his Los Angeles City Council runoff to Peggy Stevenson.

Elsewhere are 1981 JACL scholarship winners (pages 1, 3, 6 and 9), Henry Mori’s reflections on a Poston reunion, columns by Bill Hosokawa, Bill Marutani and Marshall M. Sumida, and a Washington status report on page 7.

What’s in this issue

National

  • NBC Assures JACL Its ‘Bad’ Reruns No-Go, by P.C. Staff, page 1. NBC vice president Richard P. Gitter responded to JACL protests over the network’s broadcast of anti-Japanese and racist sequences on Saturday Night Live. A conference was set up between NBC and JACL regarding the demeaning portrayal of Japanese cars as ‘Japmobiles’ alongside American cars.
  • Racist Campaign Alarms L.A. Times Over Mike Woo’s Defeat, by Peter Imamura, page 1. Michael Woo was defeated by incumbent Peggy Stevenson in the June 2 runoff election for Los Angeles City Council, with campaign mailers labeling Woo an ‘outsider’ and referencing his father’s wealth in racially-tinged attacks. Actor George Takei, who helped with Woo’s campaign, said Stevenson targeted voters who hadn’t come out for the primary, and political strategists expressed alarm over the racial tactics used.
  • Takechi Loses by 47 Votes in Omaha City Council Race, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A 43-year-old candidate lost a May 12 runoff election in Omaha, Nebraska to Mrs. Connie Findlay by a narrow margin of votes. Takechi blamed his defeat on a campaign flier referencing a 1977 proposal he made regarding prostitution legislation.
  • Sansei Geneticist Ridicules ‘White Smarter’ Theory, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Sansei geneticist Dr. David Suzuki of the University of British Columbia attacked racist theories claiming inherited IQ differences between blacks and whites during a Toronto panel discussion. Suzuki argued that environmental factors, not genetics, explain group differences in measured intelligence, warning that such theories enable discriminatory behavior.

Incarceration & Redress

  • 1st CWRIC Hearings Set July 14, 16 in DC, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) will hold its first hearings on July 14 and 16 at the Senate Caucus Room in Washington D.C., according to executive director Paul T. Bannai. Subsequent hearings are tentatively scheduled for Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Alaska through September to investigate the WWII evacuation of Japanese Americans and Aleuts.
  • Seattle JACL to Help Aleuts Prepare Testimony, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seattle JACL was asked by Michael Stepetin of the Aleut-Pribilof Island Assn. to help prepare Aleut witnesses for CWRIC testimony. The chapter agreed and invited them to redress workshops, according to Cherry Kinoshita.
  • Seattle Redress Witnesses Tell It Like It Was During ’42 Removal, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A redress workshop in Seattle drew 200 attendees to hear practice testimony from witnesses about their wartime experiences, moderated by Dr. Charles Z. Smith with CWRIC Commissioner Hugh B. Mitchell attending. Witnesses including Theresa Takayoshi, William Kawata, and Bill Iseri shared stories of family separation, lost property, and suffering during the evacuation and internment.
  • Resolutions of Support, by P.C. Staff, page 2. JACL added three more national organizations to its roster of redress supporters: The Newspaper Guild, the Episcopal Church, and the League of Women Voters of the U.S. Each organization passed resolutions acknowledging the constitutional violations of the WWII incarceration and supporting the CWRIC’s work.
  • Two Redress Workshops Set This Weekend in S.F., by P.C. Staff, page 2. Two redress workshops are scheduled in the San Francisco Bay Area, one in Palo Alto and one in Oakland, featuring JACL redress chair Minoru Yasui and coordinator John Tateishi. Yori Wada will chair a related S.F. redress forum on June 27 at Nihonmachi.
  • Ohio Congressmen All Briefed on CWRIC Push, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Cleveland JACL chapter president Henry T. Tanaka provided background information on PL 96-317 to all members of the Ohio congressional delegation regarding the CWRIC. Tanaka wrote to both supporting and opposing congressmen, explaining the commission’s purpose and urging continued engagement as hearings proceed nationwide.
  • Personal Inside-Camp Testimony, page 2. This editorial explains that CWRIC investigations will include personal witness testimony in addition to archival research, since official WRA records alone cannot capture the full human experience of incarceration. It urges former camp inmates to come forward and share their personal stories before the Commission to preserve the historical record.
  • 75 Chapters Raise $67,000, by P.C. Staff, page 2. JACL Headquarters acknowledged redress campaign contributions totaling $67,000 from 4 district councils, 75 chapters, and 1 auxiliary as of May 1981. Dr. Clifford Uyeda noted that with commission hearings now scheduled, continued contributions are necessary for JACL’s preparations.
  • 35 Years Ago, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This historical retrospective recounts June 1946 news items including JACL’s support for non-segregated veterans housing, the 442nd RCT receiving its 7th Presidential Unit Citation, and legal rulings affecting Issei citizenship and fishing rights. It also notes deportation issues facing Issei immigrants after the war.

Arts & Entertainment

  • Popular Japan Series With Nisei Figures May Be Film, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Novelist Toyoko Yamasaki’s 50-part series ‘Futatsu no Sokoku’ covering 100 years of Japanese experience in America is being considered for film adaptation, with actor Toshiro Mifune expressing interest in a role. The story centers on a Kibei newspaperman caught between pro-U.S. and pro-Japan factions at Manzanar, with his brother joining the 442nd and father sent to Tule Lake.
  • Genius of Design, by H.H., page 4. A book review covers two Kodansha volumes on Japanese design: ‘The Genius of Japanese Design’ by Sherman E. Lee exploring traditional Japanese aesthetic principles, and ‘Japan Style’ showcasing contemporary Japanese design adapted to modern life. Both books are praised as a complementary pair illustrating unique Japanese art and design traditions.
  • Oregon Honors Yoshiko Uchida, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Author Yoshiko Uchida, recognized for her children’s books, will be honored by the University of Oregon at its June 14 commencement. Her manuscripts are held in the university’s library Special Collections.
  • Fourth Hwang Play Debuts at Stanford, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The Stanford Asian American Theatre Project held the world premiere of a fourth play by David Henry Hwang, exploring the complex relationship between an aged madame and a famed novelist who patronizes her brothel. Hwang, a Stanford graduate now at Yale, has written other acclaimed works including ‘The Dance and the Railroad’ and ‘FOB’.

JACL

  • 1981 Freshman Scholarship Winners, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A list of JACL freshman scholarship winners for 1981 is presented, showing recipients, hometowns, and sponsoring chapters across the country. Awards ranged from $250 to $1,000 and were sponsored by various memorial funds and chapters.
  • San Diego JACL Awards $3,400 in Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 3. More than 180 people attended the 24th annual San Diego JACL scholarship banquet where 18 scholarships totaling $3,400 were presented. Keynote speaker Harvey Itano, UC-San Diego professor and 1980 Nisei of the Biennium, spoke about sacrifices made by Issei parents for their children’s education.
  • Sacramento Area Scholars Share $3,350, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Sacramento JACL scholarship committee announced its 1981 winners sharing $3,350 provided by 18 local groups and individuals. Winners were selected from area high schools and community colleges, with awards sponsored by various memorial funds and organizations.
  • Washington Status Report, page 7. This detailed report covers numerous JACL Washington Office activities including CWRIC updates, the ‘JAP’ trademark cancellation petition, National Museum of Japanese American History development, and Asian Pacific American Heritage Week stamp advocacy. It also addresses voting rights act extension, education issues, and various civil rights coalition activities during early 1981.
  • National JACL Board Resolutions, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The National JACL Board adopted resolutions at its May 29-31 meeting addressing aging and retirement issues, alternative funding sources, and guidelines for the JACL 1000 Club including new life membership provisions. The resolutions establish policy frameworks for addressing senior citizen needs and improving JACL’s financial sustainability.
  • National Scholarship Program Report, by Bruce Shimizu, page 8. Bruce Shimizu reports on the status of JACL’s scholarship programs including the postponed graduate awards, the Abe/Esther Student Aid Program, and the new JACL/Carleton College Scholarship awarded to Peter Nakahata of Mill Valley. He also summarizes national youth programs including the Classroom for Young Americans, Japan youth tours, and the National Youth Conference at UC Irvine.
  • Congratulations: 1981 JACL Scholarship Winners, by P.C. Staff, page 9. This feature profiles numerous 1981 JACL scholarship recipients including Roger Hideo Nozaki, Amy Hiraga, Jessica Kojiro, Kent Suzuki, Karen Gail Amano, Glen Kazuo Osaki, Stephanie Jeanne Lee, Gayle Yuri Sato, Kenneth Mikio Kubo, Paul H. Aoyagi, Ken David Saruwatari, Katherine Keiko Koyanagi, Bryan Cedric Wright, Mark David Kawakami, and Patrick Ota. Each profile details their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and college plans.

Commentary

  • Time Again to Ask Friends in Public Life, page 2. This editorial calls on JACL members to enlist friends in public office to testify before the CWRIC hearings in support of Japanese Americans. It emphasizes that supporting testimony from elected officials could have significant impact on the Commission’s deliberations regarding redress.
  • Haru, Changing Weather in Japan, page 4. The columnist recounts attending the Prime Minister’s cherry blossom garden party at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo, describing the beautiful kimonos, diplomatic guests, and tranquil Japanese garden design. The experience left the writer with a vision of global unity and harmony among the diverse international guests.
  • Poston I, Block 46, by Henry Mori, page 4. Henry Mori recounts attending a reunion of former wartime inmates of Block 46 at the Colorado River Relocation Center (Poston), describing the camp’s history and the positive achievements of the younger generation since the war. He reflects on how camp reunions celebrate progress rather than dwelling on the painful past.
  • Letters to the Editor, by Tak Kadani, Naomi Kashiwabara, and others, page 4. Several letters address topics including a reader’s wartime MIS and CIC service history in Korea, concerns about Japanese exchange student programs potentially overcharging host families, and praise for Pacific Citizen advertising results. One letter details discrepancies in costs charged to different host families for exchange students.
  • Momentous Matter of Decision, by Sachi Seko, page 4. In this humorous column, the author recounts her husband asking her to decide between keeping their dog or their grown son living at home, illustrating gender dynamics in Nisei marriages where wives make difficult decisions. She reflects on helping her son establish his own home, drawing parallels to her own experience leaving home after camp with donated kitchen items.
  • More Details on Nisei at Ft. McClellan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa’s column follows up on research into Nisei soldiers who trained American troops at Fort McClellan by impersonating Japanese soldiers during WWII, citing a 1945 Associated Press account found by reader Richard K. Hayashi. Roy Uno’s recollections help clarify discrepancies about unit sizes, distinguishing between a larger company of Kibei soldiers held in reserve and smaller specialized training teams.
  • Strolling, Sex and Sumi-masen, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Marutani humorously discusses his habit of walking briskly as exercise, recalling his basic training days keeping pace with fellow soldiers from Arkansas and Kentucky. He contrasts his walking habits with his wife’s shopping endurance and notes cultural differences between pedestrian Philadelphia and car-centric Los Angeles.
  • Depth and Subtlety of Shibumi, by Jim Konomi, page 5. Konomi explores the historical development of ‘shibumi’ as a Japanese aesthetic concept, tracing its origins from 16th century tea ceremony culture through Edo period merchant class fashion trends. He discusses how political reforms and sumptuary laws shaped the evolution of understated taste, culminating in the appreciation of humble materials like tsumugi fabric.
  • Indian Treaties and Redress, by Marshall M. Sumida, page 5. Sumida draws a parallel between Japanese American redress efforts and a Supreme Court ruling upholding the constitutionality of legislation allowing Sioux Indians to pursue property claims from treaty violations. He argues this precedent shows Congress can recognize a ‘moral debt’ and provide compensation through legislation, suggesting redress for Japanese Americans is similarly achievable.
  • Poston Block 46 Reunion Reflections, by Henry Mori, page 12. Mori continues his reflection on the Block 46 reunion, noting that forty years is a long time and relying on souvenir booklet photos to recognize attendees from their youth. He reflects on meeting Issei pioneers and notes the significance of May 27, 1942, the date the block’s residents were sent into the unknown of internment.

Community

  • Eight Riverside Youth Win Local Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Eight Riverside area youth received local scholarships recognizing their achievements, including recipients from the Terasawa, Won, and Yamanishi families. Awards were presented by Eden JACL and related groups.
  • White River Valley Scholarship Awarded, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The White River Valley Civic League’s scholarship was awarded to Douglas Hiranaka, a 1981 graduate of Kent Meridian High School, at a graduation banquet in Auburn, Washington. Dr. John Ishii, president of St. Martin’s College, delivered the keynote address to graduates.
  • Seminary Sets Up Dr. Mayberry Chair, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Memorial gifts are being sought for the Ralph L. Mayberry Chair at a Philadelphia seminary in honor of Mayberry, who died at 93, for his work befriending Japanese Americans during the prewar and war years including visits to Manzanar and Poston. He was a founding trustee of the seminary in 1925 and served on its board until his death.
  • Marysville Honors Its Charter JACL Members, by Hatsue Nakamura, page 6. Marysville Chapter JACL honored its charter members at a dinner attended by 150 people, featuring guest speaker Noboru Honda who served as executive secretary before the 1942 Evacuation. Frank Nakamura, a charter member and past-president, presented a history of the chapter since its 1935 founding, and National JACL Director Ron Wakabayashi spoke on Nisei contributions to Japanese American history.
  • Sansei Stabbed for Peddling Bad Dope, by P.C. Staff, page 10. John Takeuchi, 22, died of stab wounds at his Hollywood home while his mother was hospitalized from injuries inflicted by two Asian suspects now in custody. Investigators said the incident stemmed from ‘bad cocaine’ sold by the victim to the pair.
  • Koyasan’s 379 Scouts Win Field Day, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Over 200 Boy Scouts from local Nikkei troops competed in the annual invitational field day at Ernest E. Debs Park, with Koyasan Temple’s Troop 379 claiming most individual honors. Junichi Nakagawa amassed 796 out of 900 possible points in the super-five event.
  • JACLer Protests Sub Display in S.F., by P.C. Staff, page 10. Dr. Clifford Uyeda was the lone individual testifying against the proposed berthing of the submarine USS Pampanito as a tourist attraction at Fisherman’s Wharf before the San Francisco Port Commission. Uyeda argued against using a symbol of war to welcome visitors, while commissioner Harry Bridges joined him in opposing the proposal.
  • Nisei-Sansei ‘W/W’ to Hold First Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 11. A new Nisei-Sansei group for widows and widowers will hold its first get-together on June 20 at Yamato Restaurant in Century City. Interested individuals were asked to call for reservations by June 15.
  • Buddhist Studies Summer Program, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley is offering a two-week summer program for young Buddhists ages 15-19 starting August 2. The program includes lectures from Rev. Hiroshi Abiko and a retreat week at San Luis Obispo led by Rev. Akio Miyaji.
  • Rev. Kanow Named to Confab on Aging, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Rev. Shinpachi Kanow, 68, was named the 16th Congressional District delegate to the 1981 White House Conference on Aging scheduled for November 30-December 3 in Washington. A retired Presbyterian minister and longtime JACLer, he has been active in Monterey County senior citizen programs.

Sports

  • San Mateo Wins Jr. Olympics, by P.C. Staff, page 8. About 350 athletes competed in the Northern California JACL Olympics at Chabot College, with first three place winners invited to the annual North-South JACL meet. San Mateo claimed the team title among various divisions of track and field events.

Military & Veterans

  • Army Nisei General Retires, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Brig. Gen. Theodore Kanamine received the Distinguished Service Medal during his retirement ceremony after serving as Army chief of staff since April 1979. Born in Los Angeles, Kanamine earned degrees from the University of Nebraska and served in Germany, Korea, and Vietnam during his military career.
  • Military Notes, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Second Lt. Tom Kuramata received his commission and B.S. degree at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s graduation ceremony, having lettered twice in wrestling. Marine Pfc. Gary T. Sato was designated honorman of his training unit during graduation ceremonies at Marine Corps Recruit Depot.

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.

More from Issue archive