Farm labor and the Simpson-Mazzoli immigration bill, plus a new editor

Vol. 95, No. 14, October 1, 1982. 8 pages. View this issue

The front page turned to the Simpson-Mazzoli immigration bill and what it could mean for California farms. Harry Kubo of the Nisei Farmers League and Tom Hale of the California Grape and Tree Fruit League argued that the bill’s H-2 certification program was too slow for perishable crops. The same page followed IBM’s trade-secrets case against Hitachi and National Semiconductor, and Sen. Spark Matsunaga’s flight from Honolulu to cast the deciding vote that overrode a presidential veto.

Inside, new editor Peter Imamura set out his plans for the paper in his column, while Sachi Seko wrote her farewell column and Floyd Shimomura gave his President’s Update. Bill Marutani reviewed Akemi Kikumura’s book on an Issei woman’s life. Page 8 carried a JACL redress item and a report on the Amache Historical Society’s plan for a monument at the former camp site in Granada, Colorado, along with three JACL scholars among the Yale freshmen.

What’s in this issue

National

• Nisei Farmers League Criticizes Simpson-Mazzoli Immigrant Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Nisei Farmers League and the California Grape and Tree Fruit League warn that the Simpson-Mazzoli immigration bill, which imposes penalties on employers hiring illegal aliens, would devastate California agriculture’s labor supply. Harry Kubo and Tom Hale argue the bill’s H-2 certification program is too slow for perishable crops and that domestic workers are unwilling to fill farm jobs.
• Hitachi Says IBM Charges Groundless, by P.C. Staff, page 1. IBM filed a lawsuit against Hitachi and National Semiconductor over alleged theft of trade secrets, while declining to sue Mitsubishi Electric. Hitachi called the complaint groundless and accused IBM of trying to unfairly eliminate competitors, while National Advanced Systems’ president called the case a marketing ploy.
• Mitsubishi Pleads Not Guilty, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mitsubishi Electric Corp. pleaded not guilty to charges of buying stolen IBM trade secrets, with trial set for January 18 in U.S. District Court in San Jose. Defense counsel argued the charges against Mitsubishi and four employees lacked legal effect because they were served in Japan.
• Matsunaga’s Key Vote Overrode Reagan’s Veto of Appropriations, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sen. Spark Matsunaga flew overnight from Honolulu to cast the deciding 60th vote overriding President Reagan’s veto of the Fiscal Year 1982 Supplemental Appropriations bill. The override succeeded by a narrow margin after two Republican senators switched their votes at the last moment.
• Japan Cars Are Still the Unsafest, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A new survey from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found small Japanese-brand automobiles from 1979-1981 had the worst crash injury and damage repair records in the U.S. market. Large American cars, including the Oldsmobile Toronado and Mercury Marquis, had the fewest insurance claims.
• Mitsui Employees Enter Plea Bargain, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A federal judge accepted a plea bargain and fined three Mitsui & Co. employees for filing false statements related to dumping steel on the U.S. market. The case concluded an 18-month investigation that resulted in Mitsui pleading guilty to 21 criminal counts and paying $210,000 in fines plus $11 million in civil penalties.
• Calif. Asian Bar Criticizes Attacks on Judicial Nominees, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Asian/Pacific Bar of California criticized state Sen. H.L. Richardson’s campaign opposing confirmation of Governor Brown’s Supreme Court appointees, including Justices Broussard, Kaus and Reynoso. Bar president Dale Minami argued the effort to defeat the only black and Hispanic justices suggested a racial motive and undermined judicial independence.
• Student Complains of U.S. Textbook Views of Japanese, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An 11-year-old Japanese student in Maryland, Toshio Motoike, complained to Japan’s Foreign Ministry that his school’s library books contained incorrect and insulting descriptions of modern Japan. The ministry responded quickly, having the Japanese embassy investigate and donate corrective materials to the school.
• Hawaii’s Gov. Ariyoshi Scores Victory, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Gov. George Ariyoshi defeated Lt. Gov. Jean Sadako King in the Democratic primary for a third term, outpolling her 187,634 to 106,926. Ariyoshi will face state Sen. D.G. Anderson and former Honolulu mayor Frank Fasi in the November general election, while Sen. Spark Matsunaga ran unopposed.
• Japan Consul Faces Charge, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Japanese Consul General Ryo Kawade’s case, involving charges of driving while intoxicated and aggravated assault, was referred to Superior Court for a jury trial in Atlanta. His lawyer filed a motion to drop the charges, arguing they violated the Vienna Convention’s diplomatic protections.
• Noguchi Hearings End; Cost $200,000, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Testimony concluded in the appeals hearing for ousted Los Angeles coroner Dr. Thomas Noguchi, with both Noguchi and county attorney William Masterson predicting victory. The Civil Service Commission’s hearing officer will decide the case by mid-December after final arguments in November.
• Japanese Language Courses Offered, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The U.S.-Japan Cross Culture Center announced Japanese language lessons starting in October, with evening and Saturday morning class options over a twelve-week course. The center also offers private lessons, business training, and information on a specialized language and culture program taught in Japan through the Intercult Japanese Institute.

JACL

• Playwright Awarded, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL Vice President Miki Himeno presented playwright Phillip Kan Gotanda with the second half of his $5,000 Henry and Chiyo Kuwahara Memorial Scholarship. Gotanda in turn gave Himeno the first draft of his new play, ‘The Wash,’ during the ceremony at JACL headquarters.
• Matsunaga Keynotes Tribute Hosted by Seattle JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Seattle JACL will host a ‘Tribute to Asian Americans’ banquet honoring individuals and organizations for community service, keynoted by Sen. Spark Matsunaga. Eleven recipients will be honored with Multi-Media Awards, including posthumous recognition for labor activist Silme Domingo.
• National Youth Council, by Alysa Watanabe, page 6. JACL National Youth Council board member Alysa Watanabe reports on the 27th Biennial JACL National Convention, where 20 youth delegates worked to strengthen the National Youth Council despite a hectic schedule. Goals include increasing communication with JACL nationally, creating a youth directory, and establishing new youth chapters in each district.
• IRC Biennium, by Chuck Kubokawa, page 8. International Relations Committee chairman Chuck Kubokawa reviews the committee’s past two years, including helping establish the Pan American Nikkei Association and coordinating a trip to Japan for past JACL president Jim Tsujimura. He discusses U.S.-Japan economic tensions and biased media coverage of Japanese investment, and thanks past committee members for their service.
• JACL Scholars Among Yale Frosh, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Yale University announced that 19 Asian American students from Los Angeles, including three 1982 JACL scholarship recipients, began freshman studies this month. The JACL scholars include Archibald Asawa, Suzanne Noble, and Michael Otsuka, who each won named scholarships.

Community

• Parents’ Lobbying Brings New Law Requiring Truck Alarms, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Theodore and Margaret Abe successfully lobbied for California legislation requiring warning devices on garbage trucks after their 14-year-old son Kent was killed by a reversing garbage truck. Governor Brown signed the bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Ernest Konnyu, which takes effect in September 1983.
• Scientist Heads Cancer Cell Research Center, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center launched a long-term research program under new director-elect Sato, a Sansei scientist, aimed at giving researchers stability to pursue original, risky research. The center plans to offer 10-12 fellowships and expand its senior staff after nearly losing funding eight months earlier.
• A/P Bar of Calif. Elects New Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Asian/Pacific Bar of California elected David Bow Woo as its new president for 1983, along with Teresa Tan as president-elect and Lillian Lim Quon as secretary. A new local chapter, the Asian/Pacific Bar Association of the Southern Bay Area, joined the statewide organization, bringing its membership to eleven local groups.
• Reagan Lauds Radio Li’l Tokyo’s 30th Yr., by P.C. Staff, page 3. President Reagan sent a congratulatory message to Radio Li’l Tokyo as the Los Angeles station prepares to celebrate 30 years of broadcasting. The station will hold a gala anniversary banquet at the Biltmore Bowl on Nov. 27 and publish a 150-page souvenir booklet.
• Angel Island Immigration Site Opens Up for Tours to Public, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The historic immigration detention barracks on Angel Island, which detained thousands of Asian immigrants including Japanese picture brides from 1910-1940, are now open to public weekend tours. The Angel Island Immigration Station Advisory Committee, led by Paul Chow, has worked for years to restore and preserve the site known as the ‘Ellis Island of the West.’
• Kato Seeks Oxnard Council Seat, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Former Mayor Tsujio Kato announced his campaign for a seat on the Oxnard City Council in the upcoming November elections. Kato, a Ventura County JACLer, had previously made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for the 36th state Assembly seat.
• Milwaukee JACL Awarded for Design in Floral Contest, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Milwaukee JACL Chapter won a ‘Best Design’ award in the county’s ‘Petal Your Parks’ floral competition after budget cuts threatened flower planting in local parks. Eleven volunteers, coordinated by Reiko McKendry and designed by Sanae Kiefer, created a Japanese-style garden at Brown Deer Park.

Arts & Entertainment

• Film, ‘The Challenge’ Features Sansei Actress in Major Role, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sansei actress Donna Kei Benz, born in Oahu, won a major role as the daughter of a samurai warrior played by Toshiro Mifune in the film ‘The Challenge.’ Benz described working with Mifune as inspirational, calling him a legend with a powerful on-screen presence.
• Asian American Jazz Festival Slated Oct. 8, 9 on USF Campus, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Kearny Street Workshop and City Celebration will sponsor an Asian American Jazz Festival at the University of San Francisco featuring performers including saxophonist Gerald Oshita, the jazz quartet United Front, and a taiko-woodwind duo. The two-day festival also includes the San Francisco Kulintang ensemble performing indigenous Philippine gong music.

Commentary

• Transition, by Peter Imamura, page 4. New Pacific Citizen editor Peter Imamura introduces his editorial philosophy, pledging to present news fairly and objectively rather than serving as a JACL ‘flak piece.’ He announces plans to separate JACL news into its own section and to open the opinion pages to more diverse voices, especially younger Sansei writers.
• President’s Update, by Floyd Shimomura, page 4. JACL National President Floyd Shimomura reports on redress pledge collection from chapters, a productive elected officers meeting in San Francisco setting committee goals, and his attendance at the Monterey Peninsula Chapter’s 50th anniversary celebration. He thanks chapter leaders for their hospitality and urges continued chapter action on redress funding.
• ’84 Convention, by Sam Nakano, page 4. St. Louis JACL President Sam Nakano writes about concerns for the 1984 JACL Convention in Hawaii, questioning whether average dues-paying members, especially Sansei and Yonsei, can afford to attend given distance and inflation. He urges the Planning Committee to create an affordable package deal to ensure broader representation beyond just affluent members.
• Nisei Wk. Queens, by Joseph D. Sasaki, page 4. A reader responds to bias against Nisei Week Queen candidates of Eurasian or mixed backgrounds, citing research showing the Japanese people are themselves of heterogeneous, mixed Asian racial origin. He argues this should end debate over who is qualified to be a Nisei Week candidate.

In-Depth

• A Happy ‘Swan Song’ from Happy Valley, by Sachi Seko, page 4. Longtime Pacific Citizen columnist Sachi Seko writes her farewell column as outgoing editor Harry Honda is replaced by Pete Imamura. She reflects on her years writing for the paper, her regrets about her grandfather and mentor Larry Tajiri, and thanks numerous JACL leaders, friends, and family for their support over the years.
• Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Bill Marutani reviews Akemi Kikumura’s book ‘Through Harsh Winters: The Life of a Japanese Immigrant Woman,’ finding striking parallels to his own family’s Issei-Nisei experience. He praises the book’s unflinching portrayal of Issei moral strength, dignity, and quiet endurance of poverty and discrimination.

Incarceration & Redress

• Monument Planned for Amache Site, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Amache Historical Society is planning a permanent monument at the former Amache War Relocation Center site in Granada, Colorado, including the old camp cemetery and a barrack foundation. The committee, led by Min Tonai, aims to raise $25,000 through private donations and hold a dedication and reunion in summer or fall 1983.

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.