Houston teacher’s job at stake; state worker redress law passes

Vol. 95, No. 11, September 10, 1982. 8 pages. View this issue

A Houston art teacher was at the center of the front page. Betty Waki, a Sansei with 11 years at Sharpstown High School, was asked not to return after the district’s racial Ratio classified her as “white.” Houston JACL and community groups pressed the district, and the paper reported her temporary reinstatement with the policy still unresolved. The issue also followed Assembly Bill 2710, which authorizes payments of up to $5,000 to Nisei fired from California state jobs in 1942, with a call for former employees to come forward. Floyd Shimomura’s President’s Corner thanked those who worked for the bill, and Harry Kajihara wrote about Priscilla Ouchida’s nomination for Sansei-of-the-Year.

Other pages looked at the 27th Biennial JACL convention, with Bill Hosokawa on the honorees and letters from Miyo Hayashi, Itsuko Janet Kajihara and Eji Suyama. Bill Marutani wrote on the paper’s freedom to report frankly. Also found are the Hayashi law scholarship winner, an anti-Japan column that angered Seattle JACL members, Japan trade and economy stories, chapter news and arts notices.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Nikkei Teacher Classified as ‘White’, So Her Job’s Uncertain, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Houston art teacher Betty Waki nearly lost her job at Sharpstown High School due to HISD’s racial Ratio, which classifies Asian Americans as ‘white’ for faculty balance purposes. Houston JACL and community groups pressured the district, leading to Waki’s temporary reinstatement, though her status and the Ratio policy remain unresolved.
• Mixed Ancestry of Nisei Wk. Queens Is a Topic of Concern, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Rafu Shimpo reader, Linden Nishinaga, expressed disappointment that several 1982 Nisei Week Queen candidates, including the winner, were of mixed ancestry, arguing this doesn’t represent the full Japanese American community. The letter sparked responses both supporting and criticizing his view, with Rafu editor Dwight Chuman questioning the value of such beauty pageants altogether.
• CAL-JAR Plans GOP Fundraiser Sept. 16, by P.C. Staff, page 3. CAL-JAR will hold a fund-raising dinner at the New Otani Hotel and plans to host a reception room at the Republican Convention in San Diego. Contact information for membership and event details was provided.
• Journalists Assn. Awards Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Asian American Journalists Association awarded $5,850 in scholarships to 10 winners selected from 50 nationwide applicants at a reception in Little Tokyo. Winners included college and high school students judged on journalism career interest, ability, and community involvement.
• Anaheim Fire Victims Get $9,000 Donation, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Co-chairs Nori Uyematsu and Robert Wada announced that more than $9,000 was raised and distributed to Nikkei victims of Anaheim apartment fires. The Satoh, Shikai and Carr families expressed gratitude to the public and committee for their support.
• Asian Group to March for Nuke Disarmament, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian Americans for Nuclear Disarmament will join a citywide candlelight vigil at the Federal Building in Westwood on UN Disarmament Day, Oct. 24. The interfaith event is co-sponsored by several disarmament and religious organizations.
• Convention Corner: Singles Perspective, by Bebe Toshiko Reschke, page 5. The 1982 JACL National Convention featured well-attended programs for Nikkei singles, including a workshop with Dr. Harry Kitano discussing high out-marriage rates among Nikkei in Los Angeles. A panel of singles groups from across California shared how they formed to meet changing social needs of widowed, divorced, and never-married Nisei and Sansei.
• Washington Asian Commission Facing Termination, Seeks Help, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Washington’s Commission on Asian American Affairs faces termination in June 1983 following a state budget committee recommendation, prompting formation of a ‘Friends of the Commission’ lobbying group. CAAA argues its advocacy and coordination services for refugee and APA communities are unique and valuable despite budget committee skepticism.
• Mineta Honored by JA Groups, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Congressman Norman Mineta was honored by Japanese American community groups for his efforts including authoring legislation granting civil service retirement credit for wartime internment. Mineta also discussed reparations progress and concerns about proposed immigration legislation affecting Asian Americans.
• Ventura JACL to Discuss Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Ventura County JACL will hold a general meeting to report on the 27th Biennial National Convention. The meeting is scheduled for Sept. 10 at the Camarillo Boys and Girls Club.
• Carson JACL to Hold Two Oct. Fund-raisers, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Carson JACL announced a pancake breakfast and weekend rummage sale in October to mark chapter members’ return to community activities. The chapter’s nominations committee will also announce its slate at an upcoming meeting.
• Lodi JACL to Hold Benefit Dance, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Lodi Chapter JACL invited Northern California friends to a benefit dance featuring the Swingtone Band. Proceeds will benefit the Japanese Community Hall Building Fund.
• San Mateo JACL Gets New Community Center, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The San Mateo JACL moved into a new community center and office obtained from the San Mateo Gardeners Association. The new headquarters is located at 415 S. Claremont St.
• Fremont JACL Sets Annual Picnic, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Fremont JACL announced its annual picnic at Fremont Central Park. Contact information was provided for more details.
• CC Women’s Group Set Awards Luncheon, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Central California Asian/Pacific Women will award four $250 scholarships at their annual luncheon, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Linda Tsao Yang, California State Savings and Loan Commissioner. The event will be held at Tornino’s Banquet Hall in Fresno.
• AADAP Slates 1st ‘Trans-A-Thon’, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Asian American Drug Abuse Program will hold its first annual Trans-A-Thon and Community Picnic at El Dorado East Regional Park. The event invites skaters, walkers, joggers, and bicyclists to participate as a fundraiser.
• L.A. Ikebana Group Starting 25th Year, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Ikebana International’s Los Angeles chapter begins its 25th year with a general meeting at the JACCC preceded by a workshop conducted by Etsuko Matsumoto. Donald L.R. Davidson serves as chapter president.
• San Mateo Bonsai Club Slate Annual Exhibit, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The San Mateo Bonsai Club will hold its 19th Annual Bonsai Exhibit at the Central Park Recreation Center. Admission is free.
• NOW Luncheon Slated, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A coalition of National Organization for Women chapters will sponsor a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Mary Dent Crisp, past co-chair of the Republican National Committee who resigned over the ERA platform dispute. Funds raised will support political awareness and feminist education.
• Nisei Heads Tour of Bible Lands in ’83, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Rev. William Kobayashi will host a 16-day tour of Bible lands covering the Holy Land, Egypt, Athens and the Greek isles in March 1983. The tour is endorsed by the Northern California Japanese Christian Church Federation.
• Bay Area Senior Ctr. to Hold Annual Picnic, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Bay Area Japanese American Senior Centers will hold its annual picnic at Mt. Eden Nursery’s Japanese Gardens. Prizes will be furnished by the Eden JACL Chapter.
• Judge Retires: Wayne Kanemoto Honored, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Wayne Kanemoto, 64, retired after 20 years on the Santa Clara County municipal bench and was honored at a community testimonial. The San Jose JACLer’s retirement was celebrated on Aug. 12.
• Eastside Optimist Club Honors Three Students, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Eastside Optimist Club of Monterey Park honored three outstanding students for their scholastic achievements at a recent dinner, awarding $200 scholarships each. Recipients were Carrie Cheng, Donna Sunahara, and Cindy Oda from area high schools.
• Kenny Nishikawa Listed in Who’s Who, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Kenny Kenji Nishikawa, a 1970 Stockton JACL Scholarship winner, was listed in the 13th edition of Who’s Who in California. He is the son of Susumu and Mary Nishikawa.

National

• Seattle JAs Riled by Column Espousing Anti-Japan Ideas, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Seattle Times column by Erik Lacitis warning of a ‘resurgence of Japanese nationalism’ drew angry responses from Seattle JACL members Karen Seriguchi and Stan Shikuma. They called the column racist jingoism that stereotyped Japanese people and relied on dubious expert opinion.
• Mitsui Employees Enter Guilty Pleas, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Three Mitsui & Co. employees entered conditional guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges of assisting in filing false prices on imported steel. Sentencing awaits a ruling on moral turpitude and potential deportation issues under a plea-bargaining agreement.
• Reagan Wants Japan to Lift Food Quotas, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Reagan Administration is pressing Japan to eliminate quotas on 22 food products including beef and citrus as U.S. farm exports to Japan have declined. Formal negotiations are set to begin in October on these trade restrictions.
• L.A. Times Poll Shows Japan Cited for U.S. Economic Ills, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Los Angeles Times telephone poll of 1,592 people found 44% blamed Japanese business competition and 56% blamed foreign oil prices for the nation’s economic troubles. Only 21% blamed President Reagan for the recession and unemployment.
• Japanese Banks Extend Credit to Michigan, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Japanese banks, coordinated through Mitsubishi Bank and Merrill Lynch, provided a letter of credit enabling Michigan to make timely school aid and revenue sharing payments despite a low credit rating. Governor Milliken said it marked the first time foreign banks provided such credit support in the American municipal short-term market.
• Magazine Says Jpn. Kids Test Better, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Discover magazine concluded that Japanese children are not necessarily smarter than Americans but test better due to intense exam preparation, or ‘shiken jigoku.’ Studies found Japanese students devote far more classroom and homework time to math, which researchers say explains their superior test performance.
• One Charge Against Noguchi Dropped; Isaac Begins Defense, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A civil service hearing officer dropped one charge against ousted L.A. coroner Dr. Thomas Noguchi but retained ten others, including mismanagement and illegal solicitation of funds. Noguchi’s attorney Godfrey Isaac began presenting the defense, citing testimony that Noguchi did his best given limited resources.
• Murder Charge for Driver in Accident, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A Marine sergeant was ordered to stand trial on second-degree murder charges after his car plowed into a crowd of Japanese tourists at the Mexican border, killing four. The judge retained 10 felony counts including hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter.
• L.A.-San Diego ‘Bullet Train’ Nears, by P.C. Staff, page 2. California’s state Assembly passed legislation to help finance a proposed high-speed rail between Los Angeles and San Diego, allowing $1.25 billion in tax-exempt bonds. About 25% of funding is expected from Japanese banks, with operation possibly starting by 1988.
• Student Cites ABC-TV News Error, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Ted Koppel read a letter on ABC’s ‘Viewpoint’ from marketing student Jun Sakamoto pointing out that ABC’s World News Tonight ad showed the earth rotating in the wrong direction. Koppel corrected the graphic on air and thanked Sakamoto.

JACL

• Hayashi Scholarship Winner Named, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Roy Yukio Nakano of Gardena was named winner of the Thomas T. Hayashi JACL Law Scholarship, carrying a $2,100 stipend over three years. Nakano, a Long Beach Pacifica JACL member active in redress efforts, graduated Magna Cum Laude from CSU Long Beach.
• JACL’s Anniversary Membership, by P.C. Staff, page 4. National JACL implemented a new Anniversary Membership system as of May 23, 1982, under which memberships run for 12 months from the join date rather than expiring annually on Dec. 31. Vice President Vernon Yoshioka explained the change and urged chapters to pursue fall membership campaigns.
• Nat’l Credit Union Names New Manager, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Terrell Nagata was selected as manager of the National JACL Credit Union, replacing Mrs. Yoshi Fujii who requested reduced work hours. Nagata is an accounting graduate of the University of Utah with prior financial experience.

Incarceration & Redress

• Former Calif. State Employees Sought, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Following passage of Assembly Bill 2710, Assemblyman Patrick Johnston’s office is seeking Nisei who were fired from California state jobs in 1942 due to their ancestry. The law, effective Jan. 1, 1983, authorizes payments of up to $5,000 to eligible former employees.
• Nagasaki Survivor Seeking Last Hope, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kuniko Weber, a 37-year survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing, suffers from numerous radiation-related illnesses and hopes to return to Japan for free medical treatment provided to hibakusha. The Friends of the Hibakusha support group is raising funds for her and her husband’s $1,600 each roundtrip airfare.

In-Depth

• Study Says Japan Explorers Found America in 3000 B.C., by P.C. Staff, page 2. Scholars Yoshitaka Horiuchi and Dr. Koki Asakura wrote a book arguing Japanese fishermen reached South America around 3000 B.C., predating Columbus by 45 centuries. Their research examined similarities between Jomon pottery, language, and facial features and the Inca Empire civilization.
• Priscilla Ouchida Nominated for Sansei-of-the-Year Award, by Harry Kajihara, page 4. Priscilla Ouchida is nominated for the Outstanding Exemplar Sansei-of-the-Year Award for her four-year effort researching and advocating for AB 2710, compensating Japanese Americans fired from state jobs in 1942. Her work with Assemblyman Patrick Johnston and community organizations led to the bill’s passage and signing by Governor Brown.

Arts & Entertainment

• CSULA’s Asian American Theater Project Slates 1st Play, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Actress Nobu McCarthy will headline ‘The Music Lessons,’ the debut production of the Asian American Theatre Arts Project at Cal State L.A., opening Oct. 1. The play, written by Wakako Yamauchi and directed by Sab Shimono, is a love story set in Depression-era Imperial Valley.
• Amerasia Bookstore Slates Jazz Fest, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Amerasia Bookstore in Little Tokyo will hold a three-day Jazz Festival featuring Southland and Bay Area musicians including the Paul Yamazaki Quartet and June Okida Kuramoto of Hiroshima. Proceeds will help finance the bookstore’s move due to area redevelopment.
• ARTS Program Seeks Minority Talent, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Arts Recognition and Talent Search, a national program for young artists, is seeking talented minority youths aged 17-18 for scholarship and internship awards. The program received Ford Foundation funding to address underrepresentation of young minority artists.
• Kitano to Speak on Interracial Marriage, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Center for Japanese American Studies will host Harry Kitano speaking on interracial marriage among Chinese, Japanese and Koreans. Kitano, recently named Japanese American of the Biennium, is author of several books on race relations and Japanese Americans.
• Knox College Professor Authors Book on Japanese Peasants, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Knox College history professor Mikiso Hane authored ‘Peasants, Rebels & Outcastes,’ a History Book Club selection examining Japan’s Meiji Restoration era from the perspective of farm life, rural women, outcastes, and factory workers. The book covers topics through the postwar period.
• Sansei Author Resumes Role With New Books, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A Sansei author from Walnut Grove, interned as a child and later a teacher in Hawaii, published two self-printed books including ‘Yancha Boy: The Adventures of a Walnut Grove Country Boy’ exploring Sansei identity through short stories. The second book, a novel, follows Hawaiian ‘boboro’ country folk of the early 1900s.

Commentary

• President’s Corner: State Employee Redress, by Floyd Shimomura, page 4. JACL National President Floyd Shimomura praises Assemblyman Patrick Johnston and Senator Ralph Dills for their efforts in passing AB2710, which compensates Japanese American state workers fired in 1942. He also credits Priscilla Ouchida and a group of community volunteers for their lobbying work.
• Letterbox: A Convention Critic, by Miyo Hayashi, page 4. A Chicago JACL member criticizes the election process at the National JACL Convention, calling it exclusive and lacking member input on delegate functions and redress guidelines. She argues the organization needs leadership training and better understanding of parliamentary procedure.
• Letterbox: Another View, by Itsuko Janet Kajihara, page 4. A convention attendee praises the Gardena host chapter and various JACL leaders for a successful 27th Biennial Convention focused on community concerns and redress. She highlights the participation of young people and multiple generations working together for common JACL goals.
• Letterbox: ‘A Misconception’, by Eji Suyama, page 4. A reader corrects a prior article’s claim that wartime detention was constitutional, citing Justice Black’s Korematsu opinion which left the detention question unaddressed. He argues this legal gap could be significant for future redress legislation and preventing future incarcerations.
• From the Frying Pan: Convention Honors, But One Hardly Known, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa reflects on three Nisei honored at the JACL convention: Shig Wakamatsu for the Japanese American Research Project, Minoru Yasui as JACLer of the Biennium for redress leadership, and Professor Harry Kitano as Nisei of the Biennium. He laments that Kitano’s recognition was rushed and under-explained during an overloaded banquet program.
• East Wind: Pacific Citizen a Free Press, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Marutani warns against recurring efforts to control or censor the Pacific Citizen’s content under the guise of promoting organizational harmony. He argues the paper should have more latitude for frank reporting, including on internal JACL administrative problems, rather than becoming a mere organizational mouthpiece.

Sports

• Rafu Publisher Feted for Sports Work, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Rafu Shimpo publisher Akira Komai was honored by community sports groups including the Nisei Athletic Union for his decades of work promoting athletics in the Nikkei community. Komai co-founded the NAU in 1947 and led it until retiring in 1980.

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