Hirabayashi, Korematsu and Yasui file suits to overturn wartime convictions

Vol. 96, No. 5, February 11, 1983. 8 pages. View this issue

The front page carried news that Gordon Hirabayashi, Fred Korematsu and Min Yasui had each filed petitions to overturn their World War II convictions for violating curfew and internment orders, citing newly uncovered government documents. A support group, the Committee to Reverse the Japanese American Wartime Cases, was seeking donations for the litigation, and its appeal ran again on page 4. Also on page 1: JACL Redress Director John Tateishi warned of a false claims form, communities planned Day of Remembrance events for the 41st anniversary of Executive Order 9066, and the CWRIC set its report for Feb. 24.

Inside are the JACL National Redress Committee’s discussion of compensation guidelines, redress fundraising reports from districts and chapters, and chapter installation news from Placer County, Seattle, Ventura County and others. Commentary came from Henry Sakai, Bill Hosokawa and Bill Marutani.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Hirabayashi, Korematsu, Yasui File Suits; JA Support Group Seeks Funds, page 1. Gordon Hirabayashi, Fred Korematsu and Min Yasui have all filed petitions seeking to overturn their WWII-era convictions for violating curfew and internment orders, citing newly uncovered government documents suggesting internment was not militarily necessary. A separate support group, the Committee to Reverse the Japanese American Wartime Cases, is seeking donations to fund the ongoing litigation.
• False Redress Claim Forms Circulated, page 1. JACL Redress Director John Tateishi warned that a fraudulent ‘claims form’ circulating in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago has misled Japanese Americans into believing redress claims can currently be filed. Tateishi called it a cruel hoax, stating no legislation or mechanism for filing claims yet exists.
• FDR Ordered Interning of Hawaii Nikkei in 1936, page 1. Author Tony Hodges revealed a declassified 1936 memo showing President Roosevelt instructed military officials to identify Japanese Americans in Hawaii for potential internment, years before Pearl Harbor. Minoru Yasui of JACL’s Redress Committee called the memo evidence of premeditation on Roosevelt’s part.
• Nikkei Communities Plan to Hold a ‘Day of Remembrance’, page 1. Japanese American communities across the country are planning events to commemorate the 41st anniversary of Executive Order 9066, including programs in San Francisco, Berkeley, Seattle, Chicago, New York, Boston and San Diego. Events include speaker programs, film screenings, a fun run, and a candlelight march.
• CWRIC to Release Report Feb. 24, page 1. The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians rescheduled its press conference to Feb. 24 to announce its findings. The report will not include recommendations to Congress, which will come later.
• WW2 Cases Litigation Fund Seeks Support, page 4. The Committee to Reverse the Japanese American Wartime Cases announced that litigation expenses for the Hirabayashi, Korematsu and Yasui cases have been covered by volunteer attorneys and donations, including $5,000 from the San Francisco JACL chapter. The committee is now urgently seeking contributions as the cases move to pretrial stages.

National

• Inouye Says President Wasn’t Honest, page 1. Sen. Daniel Inouye criticized President Reagan’s State of the Union address, saying the economic plan balanced the budget on the backs of the less affluent while protecting the wealthy. He proposed cutting defense spending and delaying tax cuts for high earners as a fairer alternative.
• Japan Plans to End Auto Curbs, page 1. A Japanese trade official announced that voluntary curbs on automobile exports to the United States will end in 1984, citing declining exports due to recession. Japan’s auto exports fell 7.6% in 1982, the first such decline since the mid-1950s.
• Mansfield Denies Retirement Reports, page 2. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Mike Mansfield dismissed reports that he plans to retire, saying he intends to stay in Tokyo given the critical state of U.S.-Japan trade relations. Mansfield, who will turn 80 in March, has served as ambassador since 1977.
• Eu Sets Sights for ’86 Senate Seat, page 2. California Secretary of State March Fong Eu announced plans to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Alan Cranston in 1986. Eu, the only statewide Chinese American official in the U.S., recently won re-election by a large margin.

Community

• JACCC’s Theater Dedicated in Los Angeles, page 1. The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles dedicated its new theater, Nichibei Gekijo, on Jan. 21. The ceremony included the unveiling of the theater’s Kyoto Nishijin-woven stage curtain.
• Bannai Confident He’ll Stay with VA, page 2. Paul Bannai, director of the VA’s Department of Memorial Affairs, said he expects to remain in his post through the Reagan administration despite earlier uncertainty following the departure of VA chief Robert Nimmo. Bannai has developed a good working relationship with new VA Administrator Harry N. Walters.
• L.A. Gang Project Director Resigns, page 2. Tommy Chung resigned after 18 months as director of the Los Angeles Community Youth Gang Services project, citing outside interests and health reasons. Chung, a Pan Asian JACL member, will remain as a consultant until June.
• Japan Society Luncheon Panel on Economic Outlook, page 3. The Japan Society will hold a luncheon panel discussion on the U.S.-Japan economic relationship in San Francisco on Feb. 18, featuring economists from the Federal Reserve Bank and Bank of America. Admission is $15 including lunch.
• SFSU Offers Japan Summer Program, page 3. San Francisco State University will offer its first summer study program in Japan, a six-week Japanese language program at International Christian University in Tokyo. Students will also visit Kyoto, Nikko, Hakone and Kamakura, with an application deadline of April 1.
• Keiro Family Medical Clinic Opens in L.A., page 3. The Memorial Hospital of the Japanese Community has opened the Keiro Family Medical Clinic, formerly the private practice of the late Dr. Thomas T. Nakao. The clinic, affiliated with City View Hospital, is staffed by five physicians.
• L.A. Pioneer Center Offers Tax Service, page 3. Free income tax and Renter’s Credit filing assistance is being offered at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center for people earning under $12,000 annually. The volunteer tax staff, trained by the IRS, will serve the elderly on Saturdays from Feb. 12 through April 2.
• San Jose’s Yu-Ai Kai Plans 3 Canyons Trip, page 3. Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service is accepting sign-ups for trips to Mammoth Lakes, Las Vegas, and several canyons including Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion. Two groups of 40 will travel in June via bus and flights through Phoenix.
• Book Published on Japanese Names, page 3. Aiko Nishi Uwate has published a book featuring over 1,000 Japanese names for babies, including characters, pronunciation and meaning. The book is the result of three years of research and is aimed at expectant Sansei parents.
• Lawmaker Johnston Feted at French Camp’s Dinner, page 5. Over 150 members and guests attended the French Camp JACL New Year’s party, where new officers were installed including Mats Murata as president. Assemblyman Johnston was honored for introducing reparations legislation for Nikkei state workers, and reporters were recognized for a series on Japanese American internment.
• San Jose Sponsors Students for PCYA, page 5. The San Jose JACL Chapter is sponsoring two high school seniors, Monica Urata and Paul Endo, to attend the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans in Washington D.C. from Feb. 26 through March 5.
• Michael Ego Appointed Assistant Area Representative for AARP, page 5. Michael Ego, Ph.D., has been appointed assistant area representative for the American Association of Retired Persons, working from AARP’s western regional headquarters in Long Beach. Ego holds a doctorate in gerontology and chairs the National JACL’s Aging and Retirement Committee.
• Coachella Honors 5 Issei Pioneers, page 8. The Coachella JACL honored five Issei pioneers—Yoshi Kono, Yoshitaro Mizutani, Ishii Sakamoto, Ai Nagata, and Kiyo Kitahara—at its annual Pioneer Night potluck dinner. The chapter also announced new associate memberships and upcoming scholarship applications.
• Golden Gate JACL Names ’83 Officers, page 8. The Golden Gate JACL Chapter announced its 1983 officers, including Kathy Reyes as president, and highlighted its role in passing a San Francisco ordinance compensating Nikkei city employees dismissed during WWII. The chapter plans to alternate monthly meetings between board and general sessions featuring guest speakers.

Commentary

• By the Board: Membership Increase, by Henry Sakai, page 4. JACL National Board Chair Henry Sakai reports that 1982 membership increased 1% to 26,770 after a low of 26,615 in 1981, with 48 of 112 chapters maintaining or exceeding 1981 levels. Sakai credits active chapters and membership drives for gains and thanks membership chairs for their efforts.
• From the Frying Pan: Translators of the Future, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa reflects on the advance of computer technology from his youth with crystal radios to modern computer typesetting, and discusses a Japanese project to develop computer translation systems for technical and scientific documents. He notes the challenges computers face translating idiomatic phrases and differences between English and Japanese grammar.
• East Wind: Inter-Racial Marriages, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Bill Marutani reflects on his observations of inter-racial marriages involving Nisei spouses, noting that in earlier eras such unions faced strong social opposition and ostracism. He recalls anecdotes of acceptance and argues that marriage is fundamentally between two people rather than between races.

JACL

• Redress Committee Discusses Compensation Guidelines, page 5. The JACL National Redress Committee met to review legislative guidelines, recommending a direct payment system through a government agency rather than a federally chartered corporation. The committee is also considering recommending an individual compensation figure of up to $90,000, more than the previously publicized $25,000.
• Ventura Supervisors Back Redress, page 5. Ventura County Supervisor John K. Flynn presented a resolution supporting JACL’s national redress program to incoming chapter president Harry Kajihara at the Ventura County JACL installation dinner. Guest speaker Akemi Kikumura, author of ‘Through Harsh Winters,’ delivered a talk on the effects of internment on her family.
• PSWDC Gets $17,850 for Redress, page 5. The 32 JACL chapters of the Pacific Southwest District Council voted to release $40,000 from the treasury in quarterly installments to support the PSWDC redress assessment. As of January 15, $17,850 had been raised through pledges and donations.
• Districts, Chapters Do Well on Pledges, page 5. National Director Ron Wakabayashi reported that 89-97 of 112 JACL chapters are participating in the redress pledge fundraising drive, which aims to repay a $300,000 loan from the League’s Endowment Fund. As of Jan. 21, the effort had acquired a hard-pledge total of $96,945, close to the $100,000 first-year target.
• Hollywood Offers Books for Redress, page 5. The Hollywood JACL Chapter is offering copies of the cookbook ‘Cuisine of China’ to members who donate $15 or more to the JACL Redress pledge drive. The offer runs through March 1.
• Placer President Sees Bright Future for JACL, page 6. Kay Miyamura was installed for his second term as president of Placer County JACL, pledging the chapter would continue public service and civil rights work despite economic hardships affecting US-Japan relations. Guest speaker George Kondo praised the chapter’s strong public relations efforts and noted increasing Sansei involvement in JACL.
• Mako Nakagawa Heads Seattle JACL, by Ann Fujii, page 6. The Seattle JACL Chapter held its 61st annual installation and awards banquet, with Mako Nakagawa installed as the new president, succeeding Kathryn Bannai. Ten awards were presented to longstanding members for their service to the chapter.

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