U.S.-Japan trade strain after the IBM case, and redress ahead

Vol. 95, No. 3, July 16, 1982. 8 pages. View this issue

The front page carried the IBM computer sting and what it meant for U.S.-Japan trade, with former California trade director King calling relations a mess. Rep. Norman Mineta and 14 other House members urged the Judiciary Committee to keep the Fifth Preference for family reunification in immigration law. Inside, Justice Arthur Goldberg told the Honolulu JACL he would support material reparations for internees, and Ron Ikejiri wrote about JACL’s access to Congress in the coming Redress campaign. John Tateishi remembered his Kibei father.

Also inside are Bill Hosokawa’s visit to Hiroshima’s Peace Park, Harry Honda on Sen. Daniel Inouye’s speech for the 100th/442nd/MIS Museum Foundation, and a reader’s memories of Tule Lake. A plaque dedication pilgrimage to the Tule Lake camp site was announced for October 2. Chapter news covers scholarships, festivals and a proposed JACL life membership rate.

What’s in this issue

National

• IBM Case Adds Friction to U.S.-Japan Trade, page 1. The IBM computer sting operation involving Hitachi and Mitsubishi has heightened tensions already strained by auto and Medfly trade disputes between the U.S. and Japan. Commentators in both countries debate whether the case reflects legitimate security concerns or rising anti-Japanese sentiment, with additional friction arising from seafood price-fixing accusations and video game copyright disputes.
• Mineta Urges Fifth Preference to Remain in Immigration Law, page 1. Rep. Norman Mineta and 14 other House members urged the Judiciary Committee to restore the Fifth Preference for family reunification in immigration reform legislation. Mineta vowed to introduce a floor amendment if the committee does not reinstate the preference category allowing citizens to sponsor siblings.
• Washington State Auditor Says Asian Commission Unnecessary, page 1. A legislative auditor’s report concluded there is no pressing public need to continue Washington’s State Commission on Asian American Affairs beyond its scheduled 1983 expiration. Commission director Vivian Luna disputed the findings, arguing the agency serves a unique liaison role for the growing Asian Pacific American community.
• Seattle JACL Participates in High Court Case on Busing, page 1. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that a Washington state initiative barring mandatory busing for racial balance was unconstitutional, upholding Seattle’s desegregation program. Seattle JACL joined other civil rights groups in supporting the program with an amicus brief before the Court.
• Inspector General Sato in the News, page 2. Veterans Administration Inspector General Frank Sato’s investigation led VA head Robert Nimmo to reimburse the government $6,441 for chauffeur wages used in violation of a 1981 law. The report also examined Nimmo’s use of a larger car and office renovations, finding no extravagance despite regulatory violations.
• Hayakawa Introduces New Secretary of State, page 2. Sen. S.I. Hayakawa, a member of the Senate foreign relations committee, was set to introduce Secretary of State-designate George Schulz at confirmation hearings. The hearings were scheduled to begin July 13.
• Asian Commission Continued, page 8. Commission director Vivian Luna defended the Washington State Commission on Asian American Affairs against a critical auditor’s report, emphasizing its unique liaison role and its efforts coordinating community opposition to legislation like the Simpson/Mazzoli immigration bill. She noted the Governor’s office supports the Commission’s continuation.

Community

• Denver Facility Named for Nisei Director, page 1. A new facility at the Wheat Ridge Regional Center in Arvada, Colorado was dedicated and named the Sunada Learning Center in honor of Dr. Kayo Sunada, who served 21 years on staff including 15 as director. Sunada, a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, was credited with dramatically improving residents’ lives.
• Judge Kanemoto of San Jose Retires, page 1. A testimonial banquet will honor Judge Wayne Kanemoto of San Jose Municipal Court following his retirement from the bench. The event is sponsored by the local Japanese American community on August 12 in San Jose.
• Rotary Honors Issei Pioneer, page 1. Omaha Rotary’s Free Enterprise Day honored 77-year-old Harry G. Watanabe, board chairman of Oriental Trading Co., who came to the U.S. at 13 and built a world-wide import-trading firm. Watanabe helped resettle wartime evacuees in Omaha and was a major donor to the JACL Headquarters Building Fund.
• Goldberg in Hawaii, page 2. Justice Arthur Goldberg, a member of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, addressed the Honolulu JACL luncheon, calling the wartime treatment of Japanese Americans one of the most monstrous injustices in American history. Goldberg announced he would support material reparations for internees and said he almost refused to serve on the commission because of its name.
• New Chief Named at Sumitomo Bank, page 2. Teruhisa Shimizu became Sumitomo Bank of California’s ninth president on July 1, succeeding Nimei Akamatsu who was recalled to Tokyo. Shimizu joined Sumitomo Bank in 1955 and had been general manager of its international banking group in the Americas.
• Noguchi Raises Funds in Japan, page 3. A report discusses legal issues surrounding Los Angeles County Coroner Thomas Noguchi’s case, including concerns raised by attorney Isaacs about a potential conflict of interest involving the county’s retained law firm. CARP spokesman John Saito denounced the commission’s denial of Isaacs’ request, questioning whether the county sought a favorable outcome.
• Hibakusha Film in Gardena July 17, page 3. “Survivors,” a film about Japanese American atomic bomb victims, will be shown at the Ken Nakaoka Memorial Center in Gardena. The screening is sponsored by the Committee for Atomic Bomb Survivors, Asian Americans for Nuclear Disarmament, and the Gardena-South Bay NCRR chapter.
• Tanabata Fest Set at Pacific Asia Museum, page 3. The Japanese Arts Council of the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena will hold a musical and culinary celebration called Tanabata Matsuri on July 24. The event features a buffet dinner of specially prepared Japanese foods in the museum’s courtyard garden.
• Megamillion Club Planning for Holidays, page 3. The Megamillion Club, formerly known as the Japanese American Widows and Widowers, will hold a brunch-workshop to plan year-end holiday activities. The event takes place July 25 at the Hyatt Airport Press Room in Los Angeles.
• Oxnard to Hold Obon Festival July 17, page 3. Oxnard Buddhist Church will hold its 27th annual Obon festival featuring indoor and outdoor cultural exhibits, food, and Obon dance. Yo Iwai serves as general chair for the event.
• New Mexico Gears for Aug. 1 Matsuri, page 6. New Mexico JACL’s second annual Japanese Festival will be held at Taro’s Garden on August 1, expected to draw Nikkei from across the state. A recent chapter picnic featured a concert by touring guitarist Yoshio Homma and was attended by about 60 members and friends.
• Carson Sells Fireworks for Scholarship Fund, page 6. Carson JACL operated a fireworks booth from June 28 through July 4 to raise funds for the chapter scholarship, taking advantage of neighboring Torrance’s firework ban. Volunteers staffed the booth around the clock and the chapter also held a simultaneous rummage sale.
• Powell St. Festival Set July 31-Aug. 1, page 8. Japanese Canadian groups in Vancouver will sponsor the Powell St. Festival for the fourth consecutive year, named after the prewar area where Japanese community life was centered. The festival will be held at Oppenheimer Park and is sponsored by the local JCCA.
• Man of the Year, page 8. Shigeru “Shig” Yabu received the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce’s Man of the Year Award from retiring president Frank White. Yabu, executive director of the Camarillo Boys and Girls Club since 1967, was honored for his community service.

Commentary

• Census: 5,000 in U.S. Turn 65 Years of Age Every Day, by Betty Kozasa, page 1. The JACL Aging and Retirement Committee met for the first time in May under chairman Dr. Michael Ego to address issues facing the growing elderly population. The article cites 1980 census data showing 25.5 million Americans over 65, with women significantly outnumbering men in older age brackets and facing higher poverty rates.
• Museum Foundation, by Harry Honda, page 4. Sen. Daniel Inouye delivered a major policy speech on world peace and nuclear disarmament at a fundraising luncheon for the 100th/442nd/MIS Museum Foundation, warning of the dangers of nuclear war and urging arms control. The editor reflects on the importance of preserving Japanese American WWII history through the planned museum and upcoming exhibit at the L.A. County Museum of Natural History.
• Origami—The Art of Folding Paper, by Barry Saiki, page 4. Barry Saiki explores the history and art of origami, tracing its origins to the Nara period and its development among Japanese nobility before becoming widely practiced during the Tokugawa period. The column describes the crane fold as the foundational technique from which countless other paper creations derive.
• Tule Lake Recalled, by James Tabata, page 4. A reader recalls childhood memories of Tule Lake internment camp, including recreational activities as well as negative experiences with gangs and violence within the camp. He describes his family’s eventual resettlement in Cleveland in 1945 with WRA assistance.
• Shades of EO 9066, by Dennis A. Roland, page 4. A reader draws a comparison between draft resisters evading prosecution and the government’s past capability to incarcerate Japanese Americans under Executive Order 9066. He argues failing to fully prosecute draft resisters would dishonor the sacrifice of those who served in the 442nd.
• 35 Years Ago in the Pacific Citizen, page 4. This historical retrospective recounts news items from July 1947, including a lawsuit by Winters Farm Co., a shoyu arsenic poisoning scare, and housing discrimination controversy in San Mateo. It also notes the first Nisei jockey and legislative action on the Soldier Brides Act.
• Quiet Americans at Hiroshima Peace Park, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa recounts his third visit to Hiroshima’s Peace Park, describing the atomic bomb museum’s exhibits and the story of a girl who folded paper cranes hoping for world peace before dying of her injuries. He notes that American visitors typically become very quiet after touring the museum, reflecting deep emotional impact.
• Two-Way Street, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Bill Marutani reflects on the difficulty of admitting error and seeking forgiveness, and the corresponding grace required to grant forgiveness. He discusses how American society typically relies on monetary compensation for wrongdoing, which often cannot fully restore what was lost, especially in matters like redress for Japanese American internment.
• Access and Responsibility, by Ron Ikejiri, page 5. Ron Ikejiri discusses the crucial role of JACL’s congressional supporters in the upcoming Redress legislative campaign, emphasizing the importance of access to lawmakers. He argues that with access comes responsibility for JACL to effectively advocate and persuade Congress of the merits of its positions.
• Familiar Dilemma, by Karen Seriguchi, page 6. Karen Seriguchi recounts a talk by Sen Nishiyama, a Nisei Sony executive, who argued that greater understanding of U.S.-Japan trade realities could ease tensions, noting Japan also faces American protectionist barriers. She reflects on the dilemma Japanese Americans face in serving as cultural and economic liaisons without reinforcing stereotypes of foreignness.
• Census Continued: Aging Policy Recommendations, by Betty Kozasa, page 8. The continuation of the aging census article details recommendations from the House Select Committee on Aging’s Human Service Model, including mandated services for the frail elderly and simplified administration. It raises questions about how these policies will affect the Issei and growing Nisei elderly population, previewing a workshop at the 1982 National JACL Convention.

Incarceration & Redress

• My Kibei Dad, by John Tateishi, page 2. John Tateishi reflects on his Kibei father’s complex views about the JACL’s redress efforts and the internment, describing his father’s fierce pride, independence, and ultimately deep American patriotism. The column notes his father Sam Shigetoshi Tateishi died July 2 after a prolonged illness.
• Testimonial Set for Sac’to BCA Minister, page 3. A testimonial and appreciation dinner will honor Rev. Hogen Fujimoto, who served the Sacramento Betsuin before his retirement. The Brawley-born minister was raised in Santa Barbara and previously directed administration at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley.
• Plaque Dedication Set for Tule Lake, page 3. The Tule Lake Christian Ministry Plaque Dedication Pilgrimage will take place October 2 atop Castle Rock at the former camp site, with a bronze plaque honoring the Christian ministry carried on in every camp. Names of all ministers, including student ministers, will be inscribed on the plaque alongside a new steel cross.

Arts & Entertainment

• Review Seeks Asian American Poetry, page 3. The Greenfield Review Press, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, will publish a major anthology of poetry by Asian American writers featuring pictures, bios, and poetry selections. The anthology deadline for submissions is December 15.

JACL

• Selma JACL Awards Chapter Scholarship, page 6. Ron Kurisu, a graduating senior at Selma High School, received the Selma JACL Scholarship. He was active as class senator, president of the Central California Jr. Young Buddhists Association, and a member of swim teams.
• New JACL Life Membership Rate Urged, page 6. San Diego JACL proposed establishing a $500 regular life membership rate with principal invested so interest covers dues, including chapter rebates. Chapter president Mas Hironaka noted that recruiting 2,000 regular life members could create a $1 million trust fund.

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