JACL’s 50-year story and the 1982 Gardena convention

Vol. 94, No. 20, May 21, 1982. 8 pages. View this issue

The 1982 National JACL Convention in Gardena led the front page. Delegates were promised a “Day in Gardena” on Aug. 12, with a noontime ceremony at the Mas Satow Memorial Library where Bill Hosokawa’s “JACL in Quest of Justice,” the JACL story spanning 50 years, would be introduced. The front page also reported that George Kodama, a Marina JACLer and former national treasurer, was running for National JACL president, and on the death of George Doizaki, a community leader behind the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. Kats Kunitsugu’s personal tribute to Doizaki followed on page 2.

Inside, Bill Hosokawa traced the history of Fishking Processors, and Harry Honda wrote about sculptor Isamu Noguchi, including his stay at Poston. Bill Marutani looked at 1980 census income figures. Ron Wakabayashi reported on a new film about atomic bomb survivors, and the letters page ran notes on U.S.-Japan trade and on the Issei. Portland JACL’s redress bookshelf and chapter news from around the country fill the later pages.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• JACL Story by Bill Hosokawa to be Introduced at Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Delegates to the 1982 National JACL Convention in Gardena will have a relaxing ‘Day in Gardena’ including the introduction of Bill Hosokawa’s new book ‘JACL in Quest of Justice’ at the Mas Satow Memorial Library. The day includes an official welcome, shopping, and a Hawaiian luau at the Japanese Cultural Institute.’
• George Kodama Up for JACL President, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Marina JACLer and former national treasurer George Kodama announced his candidacy for National JACL president at a Pacific Southwest District Council meeting. He emphasized the need for JACL to prioritize its goals and address U.S.-Japan trade tensions affecting Japanese Americans.
• Honolulu JACL Honors Nikkei Leaders, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Honolulu JACL honored retired University of Hawaii sociology professors including Dr. C.K. Chang at a chapter event. Earl Nishimura was re-elected chapter president with a full slate of officers named to assist him.

Obituaries

• JA Community Leader George Doizaki Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 1. George Joji Doizaki, a community leader instrumental in building the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles, died May 8 at age 67 of a heart attack. He was a founder of several San Fernando Valley community organizations and president of American Fish Co.
• George Doizaki Never Ate Quiche, by Kats Kunitsugu, page 2. A personal tribute to George Doizaki describes his driving force in building the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center despite lacking formal organizational skills or Robert’s Rules knowledge. The author recalls his Kibei background, his pride in his Japanese heritage, and his evolving mellow character in later years.

National

• Protectionism Stirs in U.S.-Japan Farming Trade, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Protectionist sentiment is growing among American legislators and farm organizations due to trade imbalances with Japan, with the American Farm Bureau Federation president suggesting support for trade restrictions could emerge. Rep. David Bowen and Japanese Dietman Hyosuke Niwa offer contrasting views on agricultural trade barriers between the two nations.
• Panel Urges Removal of Judge for Misconduct, Racial Slurs, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Commission on Judicial Performance recommended removing Los Angeles Municipal Judge Mario P. Gonzalez for sexual harassment, jury intimidation, and racial slurs, including a derogatory comment made to an Asian juror. The commission also cited bias against a Mexican American defendant and improper bail practices.
• Hayakawa Backs ‘Unknown’ Aspirant, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sen. S.I. Hayakawa, who decided not to seek re-election, endorsed candidate Ted Bruinsma in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate nomination. The endorsement could affect the race among top contenders Barry Goldwater Jr. and Pete Wilson in the six-way California primary.
• Japan May Have Own ‘Falklands’, by Bob Horiguchi, page 1. Territorial disputes over island groups claimed by Japan, contested by Korea, Taiwan and China, draw comparisons to the Falklands conflict due to potential oil reserves. The Senkaku Islands became a flashpoint in 1978 when armed Chinese fishing trawlers confronted Japanese Maritime Safety Agency vessels.
• First Chinese Seeks U.S. House Seat, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Daniel Wong, a Cerritos councilman and mayor pro-tem, is seeking the Republican nomination for the 34th Congressional District, becoming the first Chinese American to seek a U.S. House seat. Born in Hong Kong, Wong immigrated to the U.S. in 1961 and has been endorsed by several Chinese community organizations.
• Nisei Calls L.A. County Nuclear Evacuation Plan ‘Impractical’, by P.C. Staff, page 3. S. Tanaka, director of L.A. County’s Department of Public Social Services, criticized the so-called ‘Noah’s Ark’ nuclear evacuation plan as impractical and unable to protect a large displaced population. The plan would prioritize evacuees based on their value to society, leaving behind the elderly, infirm and unskilled.
• Japan Hotel Offers Funds to Furiyas, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Hotel New Japan offered $102,000 in compensation to the family of Mutsuto Furiya, an American Nisei businessman killed in a February hotel fire that claimed 32 lives in Tokyo. The family’s attorney rejected the offer as too small compared to typical U.S. injury compensation.
• Japan Loan Sought by City in Central Virginia, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Lynchburg, Virginia requested a $15 million loan from Japan under the ‘Partners in Progress’ program aimed at creating jobs and addressing trade imbalance criticism. California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr.’s administration also submitted $2.3 billion in loan requests to the U.S.-Asia Institute for 22 state projects.
• Japan Decorates Hodgson, Ushiba, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Japan conferred its highest decoration, the First Class Order of the Rising Sun, on former Japanese Ambassador Nobuhiko Ushiba and former U.S. Ambassador James Day Hodgson. Both diplomats had significant connections to JACL, having previously addressed National JACL Convention events.

Community

• Noguchi Appeals Demotion; Testimonial Dinner Account Released, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. Thomas T. Noguchi filed a formal appeal with the Civil Service Commission regarding his demotion, asking for reinstatement as chief medical examiner-coroner. A financial statement of an April testimonial dinner was released amid controversy over use of proceeds for advertisements.
• Sayonara Party for ‘Cho’ Ono, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A sayonara dinner will be held for Nagahisa ‘Cho’ Ono, executive vice president of East-West Development Corp. and Little Tokyo community leader, who is returning to Tokyo. He previously chaired the Nisei Week Japanese Chamber of Commerce’s economic advisory council.
• Food Companies Aid Kimochi Project, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Japan Food Corp. and Kikkoman International each donated $5,000 to help complete the Kimochi Home Project, an Issei care and activity center under construction in San Francisco. The donations help meet a matching grant requirement from the Koret Foundation.
• Fund Started for Nikkei Fire Victims, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A group in Anaheim has opened an emergency relief fund to aid families and an individual affected by a fire. Donations can be sent to the Sat-Shinkai-Carr Fire Victim Fund via Calif. First Bank.
• Brown Volumes, by Sachi Kuwamoto, page 6. Three bound volumes contain oral histories of 120 Issei and Nisei from the San Joaquin Valley, collected by volunteers as part of a Japanese Project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Yoshino Hasegawa led the project, which also included workshops, speakers, and cultural events at Duncan Gardens.
• Miss ELA Named, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Yuri Shimamoto of South San Gabriel was crowned Miss East L.A. JACL during the Emerald Ball, also becoming Monterey Park’s Cherry Blossom Queen and a candidate for Nisei Week Queen. Three JACL princesses were also named at the event.
• West L.A. Health Fair Scheduled May 23, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A community health fair will be held at the Sawtelle Japanese Institute, co-sponsored by West L.A. JACL and several other organizations. The event offers health services and information to the community.
• ‘White Elephants’ for Picnic Sought, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Reno JACL is seeking donated items from spring housecleaning for use as door prizes at its upcoming August picnic at Bowers Mansion. Molly Yamashita is serving as picnic chair.

Arts & Entertainment

• Japan’s ‘Punk’ Cats May Be Fad in U.S., by P.C. Staff, page 3. Shinko Music Publishing Co. of Tokyo has contracted with a Los Angeles advertising director to market Japanese ‘punk’ cat merchandise in the U.S., following huge sales success in Japan. Four kittens dressed as punk rockers were featured, with millions of related books and records already sold in Japan.

Commentary

• Calif. Scenario, by Harry Honda, page 4. Harry Honda describes watching sculptor Isamu Noguchi direct installation of rocks at the JACCC in Little Tokyo and later visiting Noguchi’s California Scenario landscape at South Coast Plaza. He also recounts Noguchi’s lesser-known wartime stay at Poston camp, where he voluntarily went to help with park planning.
• Letterbox: Matter of Race, by Barry Saiki, page 4. A reader responds to a prior column about racial discrimination claims, discussing the case of Floyd Mori and citing personal experiences with housing discrimination as a military officer. He argues that race has often been an unpublicized qualification factor despite public commitment to fairness.
• Letterbox: U.S. Japan Trade, by James Tabata, page 4. A reader disputes claims that American businessmen are to blame for trade imbalances with Japan, citing statistics on auto sales disparities and restrictions on U.S. computers in Japan. He advocates requiring foreign-made vehicles to have domestic content and blames Japan’s trade policy for unemployment in the Great Lakes region.
• Letterbox: To the Issei, by Eigoro Hashimoto, page 4. A reader reflects on the diminishing presence of the Issei generation in California communities and urges readers to take time to connect with elderly Issei while they remain. He shares personal sadness over the passing of community elders and calls for people to pause and say hello to Issei before it’s too late.
• Some Census Figures, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Bill Marutani examines 1980 census data showing Asian American median family income higher than whites and blacks, cautioning that these figures mask realities like multiple working family members and underemployment relative to education levels. He notes that Nikkei income may actually be lower than the broader Asian category suggests.

In-Depth

• From ‘SK Brand’ to ‘Mrs. Friday’, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. The article traces the history of Fishking Processors from Issei founder Shojiro Kawaguchi’s prewar Seattle fish business through internment and resettlement to the thriving frozen seafood company built by his son Mas Kawaguchi. Today Fishking operates five units including plants in Los Angeles, a freezer ship in Seattle, and a shrimp processing plant in Alabama.

Military & Veterans

• Film on A-Bomb ‘Survivors’ Completed, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 5. JACL-sponsored filmmakers Steve Okazaki and Fran Politeo completed a 58-minute film called ‘Survivors’ documenting atomic bomb survivors living in the United States, including actual footage of the Hiroshima bombing. JACL supports efforts by the Committee of Atomic Bomb Survivors to secure adequate health care for this vulnerable population.

Incarceration & Redress

• Portland JACL Starts Redress Bookshelf, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Portland JACL chapter established a small library of redress-related materials including Frank Chuman’s ‘Bamboo People’ and Michi Weglyn’s ‘Years of Infamy’. Additional materials are welcome at the Portland JACL office.

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.