Redress momentum, coram nobis fundraising and the 100th/442nd’s 40th anniversary

Vol. 96, No. 13, April 8, 1983. 8 pages. View this issue

The 1983 redress effort ran through this issue. JACL National President Floyd Shimomura wrote that the CWRIC report condemning the World War II incarceration (often called internment) drew favorable media coverage, and urged chapters to meet their redress pledges quickly. The front page reported a Los Angeles reception that raised funds for the coram nobis petitions of Gordon Hirabayashi, Fred Korematsu and Min Yasui, and a Marin County commission resolution backing redress. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye spoke in Hawaii at an anniversary luau for the 100th/442nd veterans, 40 years after the Nisei volunteered.

Inside are reports from the JACL National Board meeting, details on the Tri-District Conference in Reno, and the 1982-84 National Scholarship Committee. Judge Bill Marutani’s run for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the decision to keep the Ninomiya Kinjiro statue in Little Tokyo, and plans for a Poston Camp II reunion in August also appeared.

What’s in this issue

Military & Veterans

• 100th/442nd Veterans Fete 40th Anniversary in Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye spoke at a March 27 anniversary luau honoring Japanese American veterans of the 100th/442nd units, reflecting on why Nisei volunteered for service despite being classified as enemy aliens. He recalled the mistreatment they endured while shipping out and the unit’s heroic rescue of the Lost Battalion in France.

National

• Survey Says Americans Favor Quality of Japan-Made Autos, page 1. A Christian Science Monitor survey of over 1,150 readers found many Americans believe Japanese cars are superior in workmanship and fuel economy, though U.S. cars rated better on safety. The survey also explored trade tensions, Japan’s moves to ease import regulations, and mixed reader opinions on buying American versus Japanese vehicles.
• Marutani Seeks Pennsylvania Supreme Court Judgeship, page 1. Judge Bill Marutani of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas is running for an open seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, believed to be the first Mainland Japanese American seeking statewide office. A former internee and JACL national legal counsel, he has a long record of civil rights work including arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court in Loving v. Virginia.
• Noguchi Must Go to Superior Court, page 2. The Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission voted 4-1 to uphold the demotion of former coroner Dr. Thomas Noguchi, forcing him to appeal to Superior Court. His attorney called the decision political rather than factual, while a support group claimed the ruling was tainted by politics.
• Jewish Committee Backs CWRIC, page 4. The American Jewish Committee issued a statement endorsing the conclusions of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, calling the WWII internment of Japanese Americans a grave injustice. The group also announced plans to join an amicus brief supporting legal efforts to overturn the Supreme Court’s wartime ruling.

Incarceration & Redress

• Coram Nobis Fundraiser: Nikkei Attorneys ‘Rewriting History’, page 1. A March 31 fundraising reception in Los Angeles supported attorneys working on the coram nobis petitions of Gordon Hirabayashi, Fred Korematsu and Min Yasui, seeking to overturn their WWII convictions. Yasui delivered an emotional speech, and representatives of sponsoring organizations presented plaques to the attorneys and petitioners.
• Marin Human Rights Commission Urges Redress, page 1. The Marin County Human Rights Commission passed a resolution on March 14 supporting JACL’s redress efforts, including compensation for former Nikkei internees. The resolution acknowledged that past government injustices must be rectified to uphold democratic principles.

Community

• Ota Wins Assembly Seat in Los Angeles, page 2. Mabel Ota won the Senior Assembly seat in California’s Senior Legislature Election for Area 4, besting six other candidates. She is active in numerous senior affairs organizations and retired after 31 years as an educator with the L.A. Unified School District.
• Gardena JCI Director Hiroto to Be Honored, page 2. William ‘Wimpy’ Hiroto, Executive Director of the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute, will be honored at a fundraising dinner for the JCI and South Bay Keiro Nursing Home. Hiroto has contributed to the Gardena and Little Tokyo communities for 30 years, including helping secure funding for senior housing.
• USC’s Asian Student Service Establishes Support Group, page 3. USC’s Office of Asian Pacific American Student Services formed the Asian Pacific American Support Group to provide financial assistance to APA programs, since university funding is inadequate. Charter memberships are available through April 20 at various contribution levels.
• Aging Assn. Starts L.A. Nikkei Chapter, page 3. Mrs. Yo Abe announced plans to form a Nikkei chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) in Los Angeles, assisted by Dr. Michael Ego. An initial meeting was scheduled for April 11 at Union Church in Little Tokyo.
• Little Tokyo Statue to Stay, page 3. The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency board approved allowing a controversial bronze statue of Meiji-era folk hero Ninomiya Kinjiro to remain in Little Tokyo, despite objections from CRA administrators and an art patrons group. Community leaders including Takeo Taiyoshi and Katsumi Kunitsugu spoke in favor of keeping the statue, which was commissioned at a cost of $25,000.
• Poston Camp II Reunion Slated in August, page 3. The Poston Camp II Reunion, themed ‘As Time Goes By,’ will be held August 19-21 at the Sacramento Inn, inviting former residents, teachers, administrators and Issei to attend. Chairman Roy Hayashi said the theme reflects growing appreciation for those who made camp life more bearable.
• Belmont High’s S’43 Class Plans Reunion, page 3. Reunion chair Val Rodriguez is seeking addresses of Nisei students from Belmont High’s class of Spring 1943 for a planned reunion. No reunion date was given in the notice.
• Singles Chapter to Focus on Redress, page 8. The Greater L.A. Singles Chapter will hold an April 8 meeting featuring Harry Kajihara, chairman of the PSWDC Redress Committee, speaking on chapters’ role in redress. A Blue Shield liaison will also be present to answer insurance questions during the extended open enrollment period.
• Housing Matters to Be Discussed, page 8. The Contra Costa JACL Committee on Aging and Retirement will hold an April 15 meeting addressing housing options and hospice care. Speakers will include George Oyama discussing multi-unit apartment investments and Nancy Johnson discussing the Hospice Program for seriously ill patients.
• San Jose to Hold Scholarship Dinner, page 8. San Jose JACL members are invited to a Spring Potluck scholarship dinner where representatives will present awards to recipients. The event will be held at the Buddhist Church Fellowship Hall.

Commentary

• Letters: Coverage Is Valuable and Balanced, by Mrs. Yone Kennedy, page 4. A reader from Yonkers, NY, a Nikkei alumnus of Tanforan and Topaz camps, praised the Pacific Citizen’s balanced and valuable coverage of news of interest to Nikkei. She commended the paper’s careful attention to covering both sides of stories.
• ‘Going For It’ on Redress, by Floyd Shimomura, page 4. JACL National President Floyd Shimomura’s column describes the CWRIC’s February report condemning the WWII internment as a grave injustice and the extensive favorable media coverage it received. He urges all JACL chapters to meet their redress pledges promptly so the organization can capitalize on the momentum before the CWRIC’s final recommendations are released.
• Women’s Committee, by Lia Shigemura, page 4. JACL Program Director Lia Shigemura describes her observations of the NCWNP’s Women’s Committee, which she praises as a model of true collaborative, shared-leadership committee work. She highlights the committee’s efforts to address sexism within JACL and credits grassroots volunteers as the foundation of the organization’s growth.
• Tri-District Workshop on Women’s Issues Focuses on Sex Roles, page 6. A workshop at the Tri-District conference will address unspoken assumptions and cultural constraints regarding sex roles within the JACL, where women perform much voluntary work but hold fewer leadership positions. Participants will present a skit depicting a ‘typical’ JACL board meeting to illustrate the issue.

JACL

• Summary of National Board Decisions, page 5. A detailed recap of actions taken at the JACL National Board meeting, including committee appointments, redress budget decisions, international relations plans with Japan, and support for the coram nobis amicus brief. The board also addressed Aging and Retirement videotape funding, scholarship committee budgets, and Ways and Means matters.
• Chiz Satow Estate Leaves $5,993 to National JACL, page 5. The estate of Chiz Satow, longtime JACL staff member and wife of former National Director Masao Satow, left a final payment of $5,993 to National JACL. Satow worked alongside her husband for over 30 years, noted for her dedication and careful handling of the organization’s resources.
• D.C. Program Deadline Is April 15, page 5. National JACL will offer a week-long leadership development program in Washington, D.C., June 19-25, focused on Japanese Americans’ role in the political system, according to Frank Sato. Each JACL district may select one participant, with tuition funded by the district, and applications are due by April 15.
• Tri-District Registration Forms Still Accepted Until April 15, page 6. Registration for the NCWNPDC, CCDC and PSWDC Tri-District Conference in Reno, Nevada on April 22-24 has been extended to April 15. Keynote speaker Rep. Robert T. Matsui will address attendees, with workshops covering aging, women’s issues, redress, U.S.-Japan relations, agriculture and fundraising.
• Ways & Means Seeking Support, page 6. JACL Ways & Means Committee chair Gene Takamine is seeking individuals to help form a fundraising network with contacts in the business and professional community. Interested persons were asked to contact Takamine directly.
• Scholarship Committee Named, page 6. The 1982-84 JACL National Scholarship Committee was announced, chaired by J.D. Hokoyama, with separate Freshman/Undergraduate and Graduate sub-committees composed of educators and professionals from across the country. The committee includes figures such as Dr. Harry Kitano and news anchor Tritia Toyota.
• National Board Continued: Health Insurance, Takahashi Case, PC Operations, page 8. The JACL National Board reviewed a proposed national health insurance plan, endorsed fundraising efforts to support Mitsue Takahashi’s reinstatement case against the Livingston-Merced School District, and discussed a new Nikkei Travel Club. The board also approved budget changes for the Pacific Citizen to add a part-time editorial assistant and expand page counts.

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