Redress, the coram nobis cases and a judge’s run for the state Supreme Court

Vol. 96, No. 16, April 29, 1983. 12 pages. View this issue

The front page carried the campaign of Judge William M. Marutani, who was endorsed by the Philadelphia Inquirer in his bid for a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Also on page 1 were a Los Angeles reception that raised over $14,000 for the coram nobis cases of Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi and Min Yasui, and the response of former assistant secretary of war John J. McCloy to Japanese American redress efforts. A KQED-FM radio documentary on the Japanese American incarceration was announced on page 3, trees were planted at the Amache memorial site in Colorado, and Bill Hosokawa wrote about euphemisms such as “evacuation” for the World War II incarceration (often called internment).

Inside are JACL news and columns from Ron Wakabayashi, Alysa Watanabe and George Kondo, plus word that Minoru Yasui would speak at the Fresno chapter’s 60th anniversary dinner. Other pages cover Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week events, Chicago’s Heiwa Terrace housing for elderly Nikkei, and Michael Toshiyuki Uno’s Oscar nomination.

What’s in this issue

National

• Marutani Gets Support From Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial, page 1. Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas Judge William M. Marutani received an endorsement from the Philadelphia Inquirer in his bid for a seat on the state Supreme Court. Marutani, who was interned at Tule Lake during WWII and later served in the MIS, will appear on the May 17 primary ballot for both major parties.
• Coram Nobis Fund Raiser Nets $14,000, page 1. A Los Angeles reception held March 31 raised over $14,000 to support the coram nobis cases of Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi and Min Yasui. The funds will help offset legal costs for attorneys seeking to reverse the WWII-era convictions of the three men who defied evacuation and curfew orders.
• Nikkei Arrested for Supplying Chemicals to PCP Drugmakers, page 4. Jonathan Sasuga, a Japanese American businessman, was arrested along with two employees for selling chemicals used in PCP production at his Paramount warehouse. Authorities called him California’s largest dealer of supplies for Angel Dust production, following a year-long investigation.
• VA Official’s Use of Funds Questioned by Wash. Post, page 5. Paul Bannai, director of the Veterans Administration’s Office of Memorial Affairs, faced scrutiny from the Washington Post for frequent government-funded trips to Los Angeles, many tied to visits to a cemetery where he plans to be buried. Officials noted his travel falls into a ‘gray area’ regarding appropriate use of government funds.
• Allen Registers as Japan Lobbyist, page 5. Richard Allen, who was ousted as presidential national security adviser after accepting $1,000 from a Japanese magazine, has registered as a foreign agent to lobby for Japanese companies including Mitsubishi and the Bank of Tokyo. He had been cleared of wrongdoing by Justice Department and White House investigations.
• Birmingham-Hitachi Expand City Ties, page 5. Birmingham, Alabama Mayor Richard Arrington and Hitachi Mayor Tomeji Tachibana agreed to expand their sister city relationship in cultural and economic fields. The agreement follows the establishment of sister city ties between the two cities in April 1982.

Community

• Asian Pacific Heritage Week Full of Activity, page 1. Los Angeles has designated May 7-14 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week, following a proclamation signed by President Reagan. Numerous events are scheduled throughout the week including art exhibitions, cultural performances, health screenings, and community luncheons.
• Nikkei Mayor Leads Fight Against PCB Tainted Site, page 2. Union City Mayor Tom Kitayama is fighting PG&E over a hazardous waste facility storing PCBs without proper city permits. Community anxiety grew after a PCB-contaminated soil spill on the Nimitz Freeway caused a massive traffic jam.
• Seattle Mayor May Have Eased Tensions With Asian Leaders, page 2. Seattle Mayor Charles Royer met with Asian community leaders to address concerns over lack of Asian representation in city government following the dismissal of Arlene Oki from his staff. Seattle JACL boycotted the meeting, citing lack of a formal invitation, while other Asian leaders said the mayor’s overall record on hiring was good despite ongoing concerns.
• AAJA Journalism Scholarships Offered, page 3. The Asian American Journalists Association is offering scholarships from $250 to $1,000 for Asian American students pursuing broadcast or print journalism careers. High school seniors and college students may apply, with a deadline of May 20.
• AHA Slates Nutrition Program, page 3. The American Heart Association of Los Angeles will present a nutrition program at Little Tokyo Towers on May 7, focused on cooking Japanese and Asian foods in a low-sodium manner. The free seminar will include bilingual lectures, a cooking demonstration, and recipe giveaways.
• Placer County Health Program for Nikkei Set, page 3. Placer County Health Department has established a preventive health care program offering free screenings for Nikkei residents 60 and older. The screening includes medical history, nutrition assessment, blood pressure checks and testing for various diseases.
• Senior Care Center to Discuss Exercise, page 3. A support group for families caring for someone with memory loss will meet April 30 at Union Church in Los Angeles to discuss the importance of exercise for older people. The group aims to provide mutual support and share information among caregivers.
• Asian Women Writers’ to Hold Readings, page 3. Mitsuye Yamada and Nellie Wong will read their works as part of the Ninth Annual Women Writers Series in Los Angeles. The event is one of six evenings focused on works by diverse women writers funded by a National Endowment for the Arts grant.
• VC Media Group to Hold Grants Workshop, page 3. Visual Communications will sponsor an all-day workshop on Media Grantsmanship for independent film and video producers on May 7 in Los Angeles. The workshop, led by KCET’s Steve Tatsukawa, will cover topics on proposal writing and grant funding processes.
• Keiro Nursing Homes to Benefit From Wimpy Hiroto’s Testimonial, page 4. A community testimonial dinner will honor JCI Executive Director William ‘Wimpy’ Hiroto on May 26 at the Bonaventure Hotel, benefiting South Bay Keiro and Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute. Hiroto successfully completed a $1.5 million building drive during his eight years as director.
• Japan Gov’t Honors Insurance Leader, page 4. Coy Eklund, retired chairman of Equitable Life Assurance Society, became the first American insurance industry leader awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government. He was honored for fostering closer business ties between Japanese and American insurers.
• Tenants for Gardena Housing Picked, page 5. Two hundred names were drawn lottery-style to determine priority tenancy for the JCI Gardens senior citizens housing development in Torrance. The $4.8 million complex offers 100 one-bedroom units, with local Gardena-Torrance seniors given priority in the selection process.
• Burglary Attempt Foiled in Li’l Tokyo, page 8. A burglary suspect was arrested after breaking into the Bunka-Do gift shop in Little Tokyo attempting to steal decorative swords. A passing motorist sprayed mace on the suspect while customers at a nearby cafe helped hold him until police arrived.
• Nikkei Plan Reunion, page 8. Over 700 former residents of Tacoma and the Puyallup Valley are expected for a Pierce County Reunion scheduled for August 12-14 in Tacoma. Former residents from across the country and even Japan are expected to attend the three-day event featuring tours, a banquet, and social activities.
• Aging Workshop in Sebastopol, page 12. A workshop focusing on the aging process will be held April 30 at Enmaji Buddhist Church in Sebastopol, sponsored by the church and Sonoma County JACL. Topics include generational dialogue, elderly housing and care developments, and a wheelchair training workshop for young people.

Incarceration & Redress

• Former Asst. Secretary of War Says Redress Drive Is Unjust, page 1. John J. McCloy, former assistant secretary of war under FDR who implemented the WWII evacuation orders, wrote in the New York Times that current redress efforts by Japanese Americans would ‘perpetuate injustice.’ He argued the Japanese government bears responsibility for the evacuation, not the U.S. government.
• Radio Series on Camp Issues Slated in San Francisco May 2, page 3. KQED-FM will broadcast a new two-part radio documentary series, ‘The Japanese American Incarceration: More Than a Memory,’ examining the camp experience and ongoing redress efforts. A live call-in session featuring JACL Redress Director John Tateishi and other panelists will follow the broadcast.
• Trees Planted at Amache Memorial Site, page 4. Members of the Denver Central Optimist Club and Arkansas Valley JACL planted 120 Russian olive saplings at the proposed Amache Memorial Site in Granada, Colorado. The trees were chosen for their ability to survive the harsh weather conditions at the former relocation center site.

In-Depth

• Chicago’s Heiwa Terrace: Pride and Joy of Nikkei, by Betty Nakanishi, page 4. Heiwa Terrace, a congregate housing facility for Japanese American elderly and handicapped in Chicago, has thrived since opening with full occupancy and a range of social services. The facility, built through community and federal partnership, offers meal programs, activities, and social services coordinated by the Japanese American Service Committee.
• Asian American Women Making Inroads Into the Work Force, page 6. Asian American women are increasingly entering diverse professional fields, though they still face underemployment and pay disparities compared to their education levels. The article explores cultural conflicts, affirmative action’s impact, and perspectives from several professional Asian American women on balancing cultural identity with career success.
• Cultural Factors Hamper Mental Health Service, page 8. A symposium at Del Amo Hospital examined how cultural factors among Asian Americans, including emotional restraint and family-oriented thinking, create barriers to seeking mental health treatment. Experts noted Asians often delay seeking help for years and that effective therapy must include family involvement.

Commentary

• Sexism in Language, by Lia Shigemura, page 6. JACL National Program Director Lia Shigemura examines how language reflects and perpetuates sexist attitudes in society, citing examples like ‘girl’ and ‘lady’ as subtly demeaning terms for women. She argues that broadening awareness of language’s impact on groups is the first step toward constructive change.
• Truman Once Held Racist Views, page 6. Letters written by a young Harry Truman reveal racist views including slurs against Black, Chinese, and Japanese people, as reported by The Kansas City Star. Despite this history, Truman later integrated the armed forces and supported civil rights advancements as president.
• Amache Memorial Letter, by Nobuo Furuiye, page 6. A letter from the Denver Optimist Club thanks the Arkansas Valley JACL for their support in planting 120 Russian olive saplings at the Amache Memorial Site. The writer expresses gratitude for both moral and monetary support from JACL members during the tree-planting project.
• Euphemisms Among Japanese Americans, by Bill Hosokawa, page 7. Judge Bill Marutani’s presentation on ‘The Tyranny of Terminology’ highlighted how euphemisms like ‘evacuation’ mask the true nature of the WWII incarceration experience. Hosokawa argues that accepting such language perpetuates misconceptions and urges more accurate terminology to reflect historical reality.
• O-Haka Mairi, by Bill Marutani, page 7. Marutani reflects on visiting his mother’s resting place at Sunset Memorial Mausoleum in Berkeley over the past fourteen years since her death in Japan. He describes the Nikkei gravesites and his continuing ritual of visiting and leaving flowers and incense in her memory.
• PANA Travel Information, by George Kondo, page 12. Details are provided for JACL members traveling to the Pan American Nikkei Conference in Lima, Peru, including airline carriers and tour package information. Information on registration and optional post-conference tours to Cuzco, Nazca, and the Amazon is also included.

Military & Veterans

• Slide Show on Heart Mountain, 442nd, page 7. A program on the Nikkei WWII experience, ‘Citizens of America—Enlisted and Detained,’ will be held May 7 at the Ken Nakaoka Memorial Center in Gardena. Two slide shows will cover the Heart Mountain internment camp and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Arts & Entertainment

• Oscar Nomination May Be Key to Success for JA Filmmaker, page 9. Filmmaker Michael Toshiyuki Uno did not win the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for ‘The Silence,’ but the nomination boosted his career in Hollywood. The article traces Uno’s path from physics student to award-nominated director, including his earlier documentary work on Asian American history.
• Banquet Marks Theater Opening, page 9. The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center celebrated the opening of its Nichibei Gekijo theater with a Grand Opening Commemorative Banquet at the Bonaventure Hotel. Special Ambassador from Japan Nobuhiko Ushiba served as keynote speaker, highlighting the theater’s role in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations.

JACL

• JAs Can Serve as Bridge, Says Commerce President, page 10. Lawrence F. Snowden, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, told the JACL Japan Chapter that Nikkei can serve as a bridge in U.S.-Japan relations due to their dual cultural understanding. He discussed trade friction between the two nations and praised Japan’s efforts to liberalize trading policies.
• Fresno/A.L.L. 60th Yr. Celebration Slated for May 22 at Hilton Hotel, page 10. The American Loyalty League/Fresno Chapter of JACL will celebrate its 60th year of service with a gala dinner featuring guest speaker Minoru Yasui. The celebration will honor Barbara and Izumi Taniguchi and four known living charter members of the oldest continuing JACL chapter.
• French Camp Offers JACL Scholarship, page 10. The French Camp JACL Scholarship is available to high school seniors whose parents are members of the French Camp JACL. Interested applicants should contact scholarship chairman Al Pagnucci for the application form.
• PSWDC Nisei Relays in June, page 10. The 32nd Annual JACL-PSWDC Nisei Relays will be held June 5 at Santa Ana College for persons whose parents have been JACL members for at least three years. Registration forms are due by May 21, and volunteers are also sought to serve as Nisei Relays Princesses.
• Placer to Fete A/P Heritage Week, page 10. Placer County JACL will observe Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in May with exhibits and demonstrations at the Loomis Library, running from May 3 to 25. Main events will take place on two Saturdays featuring bonsai demonstrations, karate, and Japanese armor displays.
• S.F. Scholarship Deadline Extended, page 10. Applications for the San Francisco Chapter JACL Scholarship for 1983 are still being accepted, with the deadline extended to May 28. Interested applicants should contact Hiroyuki Arima for more information.
• Musubi: Strength in Numbers, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 10. JACL National Director Ron Wakabayashi discusses the organization’s membership and financial status, noting the group has overcome past financial difficulties but remains poor in program funding. He highlights opportunities for membership growth in Hawaii and Southern California where competition from other organizations is strong.
• Fresno/A.L.L. to Show ‘Fast Lane’, page 10. The American Loyalty League/Fresno Chapter of JACL will present Sansei Theater Production’s one-man show ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ by Lane Nishikawa on June 3. The performance serves as a fundraiser for the chapter’s redress efforts.
• Youth Program: Staying Alive, by Alysa Watanabe, page 12. JACL Board member Alysa Watanabe discusses challenges in the National Youth Program, particularly the lack of communication between District Governors and District Youth Representatives. She highlights new initiatives including a National Youth Program Manual and National Youth Directory aimed at revitalizing youth engagement.

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