Back to weekly: CWRIC hearings, a Mexico City convention and 1946 look-back

Vol. 93, No. 3, July 17, 1981. 8 pages. View this issue

The Pacific Citizen announced that it was returning to 50 issues a year, publishing every Friday except the last and first weeks of the year. The front page carried news from the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, whose hearings opened July 14 in Washington, and word that about 100 JACL delegates were heading to the Pan-American Nikkei Convention in Mexico City. Larry Tajiri’s 1946 column “Who Pushed the Button?” was reprinted from the 35 Years Ago feature, and an article on William Hiroto’s thesis looked at how the Los Angeles press covered the World War II incarceration (often called internment).

Inside are columns by JACL President Jim Tsujimura on his Japan trip, Ron Wakabayashi in his first column as national director, Bill Hosokawa, Bill Marutani and Harry Honda. Sen Nishiyama and Clifford Uyeda took up whether non-citizens should be full voting members of JACL. Chapter news from Spokane, Cleveland, Sacramento and other places fills page 6.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

Over 100 JACL Delegates to Attend Mexico City Confab, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A delegation of roughly 100 JACL members, mostly from California with some from the Eastern District Council and Toronto, is traveling to Mexico City for the historic Pan-American Nikkei Convention July 24-26. The group includes JACL national director Ron Wakabayashi, past leaders, regional directors, and PC editor Harry Honda, with lodging split between two hotels.
Who Pushed the Button?, by Larry Tajiri, page 1. This 1946 Nisei USA column, reprinted as part of the PC’s 35 Years Ago feature, examines the federal court ruling against Gen. John L. DeWitt’s use of military force in enforcing exclusion orders during the WWII evacuation. Tajiri explores who bears responsibility for the mass evacuation decision, citing opposition from Navy Intelligence and the Justice Department, and criticizing DeWitt’s acceptance of racist rumors and pressure from West Coast interests.
CWRIC Hearings Open in Washington, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians opened hearings July 14 in the Senate Caucus Room, with historic WWII evacuation figures including Karl Bendetsen, James Rowe, and Gordon Hirabayashi scheduled to testify. A second day of hearings on July 16 included testimony from organizations such as the ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, JACL, and NCJAR.
L.A. County Supervisors Back CWRIC, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn discussed a board resolution supporting the CWRIC redress process with JACL national director Ron Wakabayashi and Mas Fukai, who had been confined at Gila River during the war. The resolution calls for Congress to adequately compensate Japanese Americans forced into WWII detention camps.
Bannai to Attend PSWDC Workshop, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A PSWDC workshop on July 19 at Little Tokyo Towers will feature an update on the Washington CWRIC hearings, with panelists including ACLU Legal Director Fred Okrand, former U.S. Immigration commissioner Rose Matsui Ochi, and attorney Richard Sherwood. Organizers urged community members to submit written or oral testimony about their camp experiences to the CWRIC.

National

UFW’s Chavez Wants Recall of Union City Mayor Kitayama, by P.C. Staff, page 1. United Farm Workers leader Cesar Chavez is supporting a drive to recall Union City Mayor Tom Kitayama in a special August 4 election after failed unionization efforts at Kitayama’s nursery. Latino community leaders behind the recall allege the mayor is inaccessible and point to other grievances, which Kitayama denies.
ZIP+4 Gets Green Light From White House, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The proposed ZIP+4 postal coding system, intended to increase automation and save the U.S. Postal Service money, was approved by the Office of Management and Budget in a letter to the Postmaster General. Use of the additional four digits will be voluntary, with mass mailers encouraged by a discount for finer sorting.

Community

Student Fund to Broaden Appeal, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Nisei Student Relocation Council Commemorative Fund’s board is establishing regional committees in California and other regions to educate the Nikkei community and raise funds. The NSRC previously helped over 3,500 Japanese Americans relocate from WWII camps to colleges and continues to assist students with financial aid and placement.
West Valley JACL Daruma Folk Fest, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The West Valley JACL and its Senior Club will co-sponsor the Daruma Folk Festival on Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Saratoga Lanes parking lot in San Jose. Information is available from Ms. Toshi Tanaka.
Former AADAP Director to Head L.A. Anti-Gang Program, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Danny Chung, former executive director of the Asian American Drug Abuse Program, was named director of L.A. County’s gang violence prevention program, replacing John Flores. Chung, born in East Los Angeles, has worked with various ethnic organizations and is a member of the JACL Pan Asian Chapter.
Spokane Honors Issei, Nisei Seniors, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Spokane held a well-attended banquet honoring remaining Issei pioneers and, for the first time, Nisei seniors over age 70. Mayor Ron Bair, Rep. Tom Foley, JACL President Jim Tsujimura, and a Japanese consul official all spoke at the event.
Cleveland JACL OKs Group Legal Plan, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Cleveland JACL board adopted a group legal plan at its March meeting, appointing membership chair Ken Kurokawa to promote the service. Scholarship awards were also presented to local graduates at a June dinner.
French Camp JACL Benefit Bazaar, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The French Camp JACL’s annual benefit bazaar, raising funds for chapter activities and community center maintenance, was scheduled for Saturday, July 18, at the French Camp Community Hall.
Mile-Hi Fund-Raiser Called Profitable, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Mile-Hi JACL’s first-time participation in the Capitol Hill People’s Fair was reported profitable thanks to member and volunteer efforts. The chapter is also planning a community picnic for Sunday, Aug. 2.
Sacramento JACL to Celebrate 50th, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Sacramento JACL will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a gala dinner dance at the Woodlake Inn on Saturday, Nov. 14. Charter members are being asked to contact the chapter.
Mt. Olympus Outing Includes Bingo for Seniors, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Mt. Olympus JACL’s annual outing on Aug. 8 at Evergreen Park will feature games starting at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6:30, with bingo planned for seniors.
Relici: Fr. Bryce Nishimura Celebrates Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Fr. Bryce Nishimura, a native Angeleno and Maryknoll priest, celebrated the 70th anniversary of the order’s founding alongside his own milestones as a missionary. A graduate of Manzanar High School, he was ordained in 1956 and later became administrator of St. Francis Xavier Chapel in Los Angeles.
Asian Women’s Directory Being Developed, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The California Asian/Pacific Women’s Network is developing a resource directory to help Asian/Pacific women maintain communication between individuals and local women’s organizations. Interested parties can contact Judith Tanaka at the Asian American Studies Center at UCLA.
PC People: Awards, by P.C. Staff, page 8. This roundup covers various community members receiving honors, including Margie Higa named Optimist Youth of the Winter Quarter, Stacy Hirakawa receiving the Phi Chi Theta award, and Tomiye Ishimatsu honored by the Salt Lake City Community Services Council. Other honorees include Honolulu police Sgt. Edwin Awalami and Sansei beauty Donna Jill Kimura, who won a talent competition scholarship at the Miss California pageant.
PC People: Business, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Lindsay Hiratzka, 28, was appointed vice president and manager of the Berkeley office of Northern California Savings. Hiratzka is a UC Berkeley graduate who has worked with the savings and loan firm since 1976.
PC People: Courtroom, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Thirteen Japanese American candidates passed the February Spring Bar Examination given by the State Bar of California, with names and hometowns listed including Colleen Awara-Bannigan and Richard K. Uno. The group represents a range of Northern and Southern California communities.
PC People: Education, by P.C. Staff, page 8. UC Davis professor Masayoshi Yamaguchi retired after 40 years researching vegetable crop physiology, while Ronald Takaki of UC Berkeley received a 1981 Distinguished Teaching Award. Also noted were student David Hamamoto’s energy education award and Ball State professor Tetsumaro Hayashi’s outstanding research honor for Steinbeck scholarship.

In-Depth

’41-’42 Climate of Fear Reinforced by L.A. Press, by P.C. Staff, page 1. William Hiroto’s 1968 USC master’s thesis examined how the Los Angeles Times’ WWII-era coverage and editorials from Dec. 1941 to Feb. 1942 contributed to wartime hysteria against Japanese Americans, contrasted with Japanese American vernacular papers that tried to maintain calm. The thesis traced the Times’ shift from early tolerance to a sustained editorial campaign favoring mass evacuation, fueled by sensationalized stories and biased columnists.
The Japanese American Community: JACL-UCLA Research Project, by Gene N. Levine / Colbert Rhodes, page 2. This piece describes a book based on survey data from the JACL-UCLA Japanese American Research Project examining acculturation among Issei, Nisei, and Sansei generations. Dr. Levine’s study, presented at the 1978 National JACL Convention, explored how the Japanese American community retained solidarity despite assimilation pressures.

Military & Veterans

All-Navajo Platoon Reports for Training, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A new all-Navajo Marine Corps platoon, the first since WWII’s famed Navajo code talkers, reported for boot training in San Diego. The 60 recruits will train together for 11 weeks before being assigned to other units, echoing the Navajo radio operators who frustrated Japanese codebreakers during the Pacific campaigns.

JACL

Makabe Appointed JACL Vets Chair, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Wilson Makabe, a Reno JACLer and 442nd veteran, was appointed chairperson of the JACL Veterans Affairs Committee by President Jim Tsujimura on June 21. Makabe has had a career with the Veterans Administration and serves under Vice President Mits Kawamoto.
IDC Aids Idaho Historical Society’s Nikkei Project, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Intermountain District Council allocated program funds to three member chapters at its June quarterly session, including Boise Valley JACL for historical displays at the Idaho State Historical Society and Idaho Falls JACL for a sister city affiliation. Salt Lake JACL received funds to begin planning the upcoming IDC biennial convention.
WLA Sansei JACL Installs Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The newly formed West Los Angeles Sansei JACL held its first annual installation banquet on June 26 at the Travelodge International Hotel. Bill Sakurai installed new officers including Ron Sakurai as president.
1000 Club, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The 1000 Club membership report lists new and renewing members by chapter for the period of June 29-July 2, 1981, including members from Puyallup Valley, San Fernando, San Francisco, Venice-Culver, and Washington D.C. A personal note highlights Sacramento 1000er Louis Seto’s retirement and family milestones.

Commentary

President’s Corner: Japan Trip, by Dr. Jim Tsujimura, page 4. JACL President Jim Tsujimura reflects on his trip to Japan, describing how the visit reinforced his sense of identity as an American of Japanese ancestry with a dual heritage. He discusses how U.S.-Japan tensions affect Japanese Americans and argues that JACL has a role in promoting better understanding between the two countries.
Ye Editor’s Desk: Silver Strand, by Harry Honda, page 4. Harry Honda recounts attending the San Diego JACL’s Fourth of July picnic at Silver Strand State Beach, reconnecting with old friend Jeanne Konishi from Salt Lake City. He describes typical picnic activities and the chapter’s fundraising for its scholarship fund.
Letterbox: Thanks to Patty, Too, by Patty Paganini, page 4. A departing JACL staff member reflects on her years working on the organization’s fiscal operations, crediting CPA Bob Yoshioka and former National Treasurer George Kodama for establishing sound financial management. She expresses confidence in new leadership, including incoming Treasurer Hank Sakai and National Director Ron Wakabayashi, to continue the progress.
Letterbox: Oyama’s Outcry, by Joe Oyama, page 4. Joe Oyama responds to a prior letter, clarifying that he was not part of a ‘volunteer host family’ program but rather helped a family friend’s daughter, an exchange student, stay briefly before returning to Japan. He reiterates that his original article’s focus was contrasting Tokyo with rural Pryor, Oklahoma.
Letterbox: Let This Be, by Lillian Baker, page 4. Lillian Baker complains that the Pacific Citizen only changed the word ‘debate’ to ‘discussion’ rather than issuing a full retraction regarding a reported debate involving Min Yasui. She reiterates her willingness to debate or discuss redress issues with JACL or NCRR at any time.
Letterbox: Mad as Hell, by M. Yamanaka Iseka, page 4. A reader responds angrily to Lillian Baker’s recurring commentary, urging her to reflect on the sacrifices of the Japanese American community. The letter insists that the U.S. Constitution must never be violated.
Letterbox: South Bay Salvo, by Edwin Y. Mitoma, page 4. The South Bay JACL newsletter editor thanks the Pacific Citizen for its coverage of the chapter’s Redress Forum and Nisei Week Queen contestant, as well as for reprinting newsletter articles.
Speaking Out: A Japan JACLer’s Views on Membership in JACL, by Sen Nishiyama, page 4. Sen Nishiyama, a Japan Chapter special member, argues that non-U.S. citizens should not hold full voting membership in JACL since the organization engages in political activities reserved for citizens. He proposes that non-citizens instead serve as dues-paying special or associate members who contribute culturally, socially, and financially without voting rights or eligibility for office.
Musubi: ‘Tough’-Going at Times, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 5. In his first column as national JACL director, Ron Wakabayashi humorously describes the challenges of having a long, hard-to-pronounce Japanese American surname, including constant misspellings and mispronunciations by secretaries and strangers. He recounts an airplane encounter where an elderly woman assumed he was Chinese and complimented his English, highlighting everyday experiences of identity and misperception.
From the Frying Pan: A Glorious 4th, But With Less Sizzle, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa reflects on his family’s Fourth of July tradition of a picnic and fireworks, noting how safety regulations have eliminated the more dangerous explosive fireworks of the past. He revisits a 1949 column about his children’s excitement over Roman candles, contrasting it with his grandson’s more restrained celebration decades later.
East Wind: Mike Masaoka’s Contributions, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Bill Marutani praises Mike Masaoka’s extensive knowledge and experience, despite past disagreements between the two, highlighting Masaoka’s gentlemanly and thoughtful character. Marutani encourages JACL members to seek out and value Masaoka’s perspective rather than being intimidated by his commanding presence.
Cliff’s Corner: Non-Citizen Members, by Dr. Clifford Uyeda, page 6. Dr. Clifford Uyeda discusses the ongoing debate over whether non-American citizens should become full voting members of JACL, referencing Sen Nishiyama’s views published elsewhere in the issue. Uyeda suggests a possible compromise allowing special members to vote and hold local office but not national elective positions.
Tsujimura Column Continued: Japan Trip, by Dr. Jim Tsujimura, page 8. Continuing his column, Tsujimura details Japan’s financial and diplomatic support for U.S. policies, including the Olympics boycott and sanctions against Iran, and argues JACL should help correct misunderstandings about Japan. He calls on JACL to actively engage in promoting sound U.S.-Japan relations rather than remaining passive out of fear.

Obituaries

Photographer Dies, Wife Sues Hospital, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Kyoto-born photographer Akira Aimi, 32, died July 6 from injuries sustained when a cable snapped on the Brooklyn Bridge and fractured his skull. His wife Mariko filed suit against St. Vincent’s Hospital, alleging doctors failed to provide adequate care and pressured her to let them abandon treatment.

Arts & Entertainment

Concert Marks Amerasia Bookstore’s 10th Year, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A concert was held to mark the 10th anniversary of the Amerasia Bookstore, featuring performers including Chin and Chris. The event celebrated the bookstore’s decade of service to the community.
AATW Opens With ‘FOB’, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Asian American Theater Workshop opened its 1981-82 season with David Henry Hwang’s play ‘FOB,’ winner of the 1980 Obie Award for best new play. The production opened July 17 at the workshop’s San Francisco location.

Sports

Nisei Farmers President Harry Kubo Elected, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Harry Kubo of Parlier was elected president of the newly-founded California Japanese American organization. Additional details on the group’s mission were included in the brief report.

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