Bigotry, redress and JACL installations in early 1983

Vol. 96, No. 2, January 21, 1983. 8 pages. View this issue

A report released Jan. 11 by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights led the front page, warning that violence and harassment spawned by prejudice remained a serious threat to American society. The Pacific Citizen also covered redress: an NCRR forum in Gardena, a San Francisco ordinance to compensate Nikkei city employees dismissed during World War II, and a Min Yasui talk to the JACL Mountain Plains District. Columns by Bill Hosokawa and Bill Marutani, and letters from Elsie Uyema and James S. Oda, filled the commentary pages.

The JACL pages carried installation dinners in San Francisco, the San Fernando Valley and Santa Barbara, plus news of youth chapters and the 1983 JACL National Scholarship applications. Elsewhere are a Los Angeles exhibit of Japan’s Living National Treasures, a Pasadena netsuke show, and the 1980 Census finding that 59% of California Japanese American households owned their homes.

What’s in this issue

National

• Bigotry Still Threatens U.S., Says Civil Rights Commission, page 1. A U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report released Jan. 11 warns that bigotry-driven violence and harassment remain a serious threat to American society, citing incidents involving swastikas, KKK rallies, and racial harassment in 1982. The report notes states and communities are responding with new laws, police task forces, and educational programs, and cites a 15% decline in anti-Semitic vandalism as a hopeful sign.’
• Japan Becoming Infatuated With American ‘Junk Food’, page 1. McDonald’s Japan predicts another record year as Japanese eating habits shift toward Western fast food, meat, and fewer vegetables, worrying nutritionists. Despite dietary changes, Japan retains relatively low heart disease rates, though experts warn of rising cholesterol, salt and sugar intake.
• Computerized Appliances Are Popular in Japanese Homes, page 1. Microprocessors are increasingly built into Japanese consumer electronics, from microwave ovens to air conditioners to digital audio disc players. Companies like Matsushita are leading a trend toward “home automation,” with chip shipments for home electronics rising steadily.
• Census Says 59% of Ca. JAs Own Homes, page 4. The 1980 Census of Housing shows that 59.3% of Japanese American households in California owned their homes, compared to 59.1% for white householders and lower rates for other minority groups. The report details housing trends in California during the 1970s, including large increases in home values and rents.
• Suspected Killer of Nikkei Stands Trial, page 4. Howard Hines, 28, is scheduled to stand trial in Prince George’s County, Md., for the 1979 murder of University of Maryland student Michiyo Nakada, 22. Nakada was stabbed more than 30 times and her body was partially burned.
• Japanese Politician Commits Suicide, page 5. Former Japanese cabinet minister Ichiro Nakagawa, 57, died by suicide, though doctors initially falsified reports claiming a heart attack at his family’s request to preserve his honor. Nakagawa was a rising figure in the Liberal Democratic Party and had been a candidate for prime minister in November’s LDP elections.

Community

• Japan Hotel Manager Charged With Negligence in Feb. ’82 Fire, page 1. The owner of Tokyo’s Hotel New Japan, Hideki Yokoi, pleaded not guilty to professional negligence charges stemming from a February 1982 fire that killed 33 people, including Nikkei American Mutsuyo Furiya of San Francisco. Prosecutors say untrained staff and inadequate fire prevention equipment contributed to the blaze; the next hearing is set for Feb. 17.’
• Japan’s Living Treasures to Be Exhibited at L.A.’s JACCC, page 1. The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center will host “Living National Treasures of Japan,” the first comprehensive exhibition of such works to leave Japan, opening April 5 at the new George J. Doizaki Gallery. Master papermaker Kozo Furuta will give demonstrations, and the show is organized with the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and several Japanese cultural organizations.
• Issei Woman Set Ablaze by Juvenile Playing a ‘Prank’, page 1. 81-year-old Shina Shigemura suffered third-degree burns after a 12-year-old boy allegedly threw matches that ignited her clothing in Mountain View, Calif. Two young neighbors who had taken first aid lessons helped extinguish the flames and call for help.
• Nisei Arrested in Investment Scheme, page 1. James Okura Jr., 36, of Irvine was arrested on charges of stealing more than $1.5 million from 40 investors in four gift shops he owned, allegedly promising a 50% annual return. He faces 26 counts of grand theft and dozens of securities violations.
• Nikkei Studying Kilauea’s Effects, page 2. Geophysicist Arnold Okamura and seismologist Bob Koyanagi, both Nikkei scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey, are monitoring the Kilauea Volcano’s eruption that began Jan. 3. Their tracking of “harmonic tremors” helped scientists estimate how long the eruption would continue.
• Nikkei Appointed UCSF Asst. Dean, page 2. Mary Anne Koda-Kimble was appointed assistant dean for student affairs at the UC-San Francisco School of Pharmacy, continuing her role as vice-chair for education. She has received multiple teaching awards and serves on the California State Board of Pharmacy.
• Issei Donates Property to Buddhists, page 2. Mitsue Suzuki, 88, who has long supported Koyasan Buddhist Temple causes, donated all her real properties to the temple in a ceremony witnessed by Bishop Ryosho Sogabe and other temple leaders. The donation will be used to fund Buddhist teachings and scholarships under the “Suzuki Mitsue Fund.”
• Ca. Assembly Speaker Brown to Keynote AABA’s Installation, page 3. Assembly Speaker Willie L. Brown Jr. will keynote the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area’s installation dinner Jan. 28, which will also honor Chief Justice Rose E. Bird. AABA, formed seven years ago, represents over 300 Asian American attorneys and judges in Northern California.
• JACCC to Hold Fairy Tale Workshop, page 3. Children ages 7-11 can enroll in a free Japanese fairy tale workshop led by Nobuko Joanne Miyamoto at the JACCC, running 10 Saturdays from Feb. 12 to Apr. 16. The sessions will use dance and drama to teach tales like “Momotaro” and “Urashima Taro.”
• No-Nuke Program Set in Li’l Tokyo Today, page 3. Asian Pacific Americans for Nuclear Awareness (APANA) will host “Towards a Nuclear-Free Pacific” on Jan. 21 at Little Tokyo Towers, featuring speakers Darlene Keju and Giff Johnson from the Pacific Concerns Resource Center in Honolulu.
• Japan Helps Victims of Hurricane Iwa, page 4. The Japanese government donated $3,000 to Hawaii in sympathy for damages caused by Hurricane Iwa. Consul-General Mitsuro Donowaki presented the donation to Gov. George Ariyoshi, who passed it to the Hawaii chapter of the American Red Cross.
• Pioneer Center Senior Care Meeting, page 4. The Senior Adult Day Care Center at Japanese Community Pioneer Center is starting a monthly support group for families caring for people with memory loss, beginning Jan. 22 at Union Church. The program is coordinated with Sachiko Reece of the Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Center.
• Education Assn. Seeks Award Nominees, page 4. The National Association for Asian and Pacific American Education is soliciting nominations for its 1983 Distinguished Service Awards, due by Feb. 1. Nominees need not be NAAPAE members.
• Washington JA Killed in Auto Crash, page 4. Hisanari Fujiwara, 44, manager of Cindy’s Restaurant in Bellevue, Wash., died when his car crashed into a concrete loading dock on New Year’s Day without swerving or braking. Police found no alcohol in his blood and no evidence of depression, and are investigating possible mechanical failure.

Obituaries

• Harry Kingman, Ex-Lobbyist Who Helped Nisei During WW2, Dies, page 2. Harry L. Kingman, a former New York Yankee, YMCA official, and Washington civil rights lobbyist who spoke out against Japanese American internment, died Dec. 27 at age 90. UC Regent Yori Wada credited Kingman with helping Nisei students find jobs and housing in the 1930s.
• Hideo Okada, ‘Mr. Waipahu,’ Dies, page 2. Hideo “Major” Okada, a longtime ILWU builder and early organizer of Hawaii’s Democratic Party, died Dec. 4 at age 72. Sen. Daniel Inouye praised Okada’s grassroots organizing, which helped elect Governor John Burns in 1954, though Okada never sought office himself.

Arts & Entertainment

• EWP Play: ‘Yamashita’ Explores Asian American Dilemma, page 3. Roger Pulvers’ play “Yamashita,” running at East West Players through Feb. 13, examines American political policies in Asia and their impact on Asian Americans. The production features Gene Borkan, Ping Wu and Ernest Harada.
• Netsuke to Be Displayed in Pasadena, page 3. An exhibit of 400 Japanese netsuke miniature sculptures from the Peabody Museum of Salem will be on view at Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena from Feb. 2 through Oct. 16. The pieces range in size and material, depicting folk characters, deities, and daily life scenes, with lectures and a symposium planned for spring.

Incarceration & Redress

• NCRR Sets Redress Forum in Gardena, page 3. The Gardena/South Bay chapter of NCRR will host a public forum on Japanese American reparations Jan. 22 at Gardena Buddhist Church, featuring speakers including attorney Frank Chuman and representatives of NCJAR and JACL. A similar program is planned in Little Tokyo on Jan. 29 with speakers Bert Nakano and Ron Wakabayashi.

Commentary

• Mansfield Sees Dark Clouds on U.S.-Japan Trade Horizon, page 4. In a Yomiuri Shimbun interview, U.S. Ambassador Mike Mansfield discusses rising protectionist pressure in the U.S., including the “local content” bill, and warns of worsening U.S.-Japan trade tensions amid economic distress. He calls for a phase-in approach to opening Japan’s beef and citrus markets and urges cooperative solutions to the trade imbalance.
• ‘Gothic Line’, by Elsie Uyema, page 4. A reader reflects on the emotional impact of reading about the WWII ‘Gothic Line’ battle alongside newly obtained documents verifying his parents’ internment dates. He notes his parents were released from camp 11 days after the battle, underscoring the injustice of their incarceration despite their loyalty.
• ‘Offensive Strategy’, by James S. Oda, page 4. A reader disputes an earlier Pacific Citizen article’s portrayal of Tokutaro Abe as the sole hero in defeating a 1939 anti-Japanese fishing bill, crediting Ruth K. Yamazaki and liberal assemblymen for the bill’s defeat. He also questions the claim that CIO leadership urged Sam Yorty to introduce the bill.
• America Through the Eyes of Japan’s Youth, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa recounts a conversation with two Japanese educators about how young Japanese people have become more confident, fashionable, and assertive compared to a decade ago. The visitors also described young Japanese people’s distorted, media-driven impressions of America’s crime and culture, gleaned largely from Hollywood films and TV.
• Philadelphia’s Chinatown, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Marutani reflects on his long affiliation with Philadelphia’s Chinatown, including past legal work for community groups like the Yellow Seeds, and describes ongoing threats from development projects including a tunnel project cutting through the community. He highlights community leader Cecilia Moy Yep’s efforts to preserve Chinatown amid new housing construction.

JACL

• S.F. Compensation Bill Gets ‘Favorable’ Review, page 6. A San Francisco ordinance proposed by Supervisor Quentin Kopp to compensate Nikkei former city employees dismissed during WWII received favorable consideration from the Civil Service Committee. JACL representatives Dr. Clifford Uyeda and George Kondo testified in support, and JACL is researching city archives to identify affected former employees.
• South Bay Youth Hold First Meeting; Goals Discussed, page 6. The South Bay JACL’s new Youth Chapter held its first meeting Dec. 28, drawing 28 prospective members who discussed goals including service to Issei seniors and underprivileged children. The group also discussed fundraising, career firesides, and participation in JACL programs and scholarships.
• Santa Barbara JACL Installation Feb. 5, page 6. The Santa Barbara JACL will hold its installation dinner Feb. 5 at the Montecito Country Club, with National JACL Redress Committee chair Min Yasui as guest speaker. New officers including president Mike Hide will be installed.
• Mountain Plains District Holds a Busy Fall Meeting, page 6. The JACL Mountain Plains District’s Fall Meeting in Omaha featured Min Yasui discussing redress and CWRIC status, and Chuck Kubokawa updating members on the Pan-American Nikkei Association. The district also honored longtime Omaha JACL supporters Harry Watanabe, George and Matsuye Shimada, and Akiye Rebarich.
• CCDC Slates Luncheon Meeting, page 6. The JACL Central California District Council will hold a luncheon meeting Jan. 30 at Gum-Bo Chinese Buffet Restaurant in Visalia for $4.50 per person.
• Central Cal JAYs Seeking Larger Membership for ’83, by Ian Taniguchi, page 8. The Fresno JAYs, the only active JACL youth group in the Central California district, is working to rebuild membership through activities like an annual mochitsuki fundraiser. New officers were elected including president Marina Kitamura, and upcoming events include a movie night and ski trip.
• SFV JACL Installation Jan. 22, page 8. The San Fernando Valley JACL Chapter will hold its Annual Installation Dinner Jan. 22 at the Holiday Inn, installing new president Paul Tsuneishi. National JACL president Floyd Shimomura will be the featured speaker.
• JACL Scholarship Forms Now Available for Students, page 8. Applications for the 1983 National JACL Scholarship and Student Aid awards are now available through local chapters and national headquarters. Freshman applications are due to local chapters by March 15, with other scholarship and student aid deadlines in April and July.
• San Francisco JACL Installation Jan. 22, page 8. The San Francisco JACL will hold its annual installation dinner Jan. 22 at the Cathedral Hill Hotel, featuring Rep. George Miller, co-sponsor of the Lowry Redress Bill, as guest speaker. New officers for 1983 include president Greg Marutani.
• PC Advertising Rates Increased, page 8. Effective Jan. 1, 1983, Pacific Citizen advertising rates increased due to rising production and labor costs, with general display rates rising from $4.50 to $5 per column inch. Classified ad rates also rose, though business directory listing rates remained unchanged.

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