A Salinas camp monument, redress efforts and the Vincent Chin case

Vol. 96, No. 18, May 13, 1983. 12 pages. View this issue

The front page carried news on several fronts. The Salinas City Council unanimously approved a Kinenhi Monument at the site of the former assembly center, where 3,608 Japanese Americans were held in 1942 during the World War II incarceration (often called internment), with dedication set for Feb. 19, 1984. The FBI opened an investigation into possible civil rights violations in the beating death of Vincent Chin. Washington State passed a bill paying $5,000 to each of 38 Japanese American state workers who lost jobs during the war, and Ernest Iiyama and Donald Tamaki spoke to Alameda County supervisors about fired county employees.

Inside are Harry Honda on the University of Utah conference on relocation and redress, Judge Bill Marutani on his run for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and Teresa Watanabe on writing to the news media. Other pages cover the Mitsue Takahashi case, a San Francisco coram nobis fund raiser with Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi and Min Yasui, and the announced resignation of Editor Peter Imamura.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

  • Monument to Salinas Camp Wins Approval for Erection, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Salinas City Council unanimously approved a request by the Salinas Valley JACL to build the Kinenhi Monument commemorating the internment of 3,608 Japanese Americans at the former assembly center site. Dedication is scheduled for Feb. 19, 1984, along with the donation of a miniature Japanese garden to the city.
  • Washington State Worker Bill Passes, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Washington State House passed a bill providing $5,000 reparations payments to each of 38 Japanese American state workers who lost jobs during WWII due to ancestry. The bill, similar to California, Los Angeles and San Francisco ordinances, awaits the governor’s signature.
  • Alameda County Nikkei Seeking Redress for Fired JA Workers, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ernest Iiyama and other Japanese Americans urged Alameda County supervisors to compensate former county employees fired during WWII due to their race, similar to ordinances in San Francisco and Los Angeles counties. The board delayed a vote pending further legal review, despite testimony from Donald Tamaki of the Asian Law Caucus that the issue was a fundamental American civil liberties matter.
  • Coram Nobis Fund Raiser Slated for S.F., by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Friends of the Asian Law Caucus and the Committee to Reverse the Japanese American Wartime Cases will hold a benefit reception with Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi and Min Yasui on June 3. The three petitioners are seeking to reverse their WWII convictions for defying government curfew and evacuation orders.
  • French Camp Sets Dance for Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 12. French Camp JACL will sponsor a midsummer dance on June 18 at the Stockton Buddhist Church Social Hall to benefit the Redress Campaign. The event will feature music by the ‘Music Makers’ band and refreshments.

National

  • FBI Investigates Chin Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The FBI has begun investigating possible civil rights violations in the beating death of Vincent Chin after the two men charged pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received only probation and fines. Detroit’s Asian community and JACL’s Midwest District have protested the lenient sentence and called for action.
  • Mitsue Takahashi Case Goes Before Calif. Appeals Court, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The case of fired Livingston teacher Mitsue Takahashi went before the California Fifth District Court of Appeals for oral arguments on her dismissal, which she claims was reprisal for refusing to sell land to the school district. A support committee has formed to restore her reputation, though the local JACL chapter has not supported her efforts.
  • Nikkei Involved in IBM Sting Case Enters ‘Not Guilty’ Plea, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Tom Yoshida, the sole remaining defendant in a trade secrets case involving Hitachi and IBM, refused to plead guilty like his co-defendants and will go to trial May 16. Prosecutors say embarrassing videotapes from an FBI sting operation will now become public court documents.
  • Harvard U. Students Protest J. McCloy’s Name on Award, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Leaders of five Harvard student groups protested a new scholarship program named after John J. McCloy, citing his role supporting Japanese American internment and other wartime decisions. The groups asked Kennedy School administrators to rename the Volkswagen Foundation-funded program before German students arrive this fall.
  • History’s Valuable, But What About the Future?, by Harry Honda, page 7. A conference on ‘Relocation & Redress: The Japanese American Experience’ at the University of Utah brought together academics to analyze the internment experience in scholarly depth. The columnist suggests a future conference should examine the political, social and economic future of Japanese Americans rather than only the past.
  • McCloy Scholarship Protest Continues, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Guido Goldman, the Kennedy School program’s director, defended naming the Volkswagen-funded scholarship after John McCloy, citing his record in German-American relations. Jewish Law Students Association members maintain McCloy’s wartime actions, including his defense of Japanese American internment, should disqualify him from the honor.
  • Takahashi Case Details and JACL Monitoring, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mitsue Takahashi has filed complaints alleging discrimination based on race, age, sex and national origin, as well as a lawsuit for breach of employment contract. The National JACL Board voted to monitor the case to ensure she receives a fair and impartial hearing, while the local Livingston-Merced chapter remains divided on supporting her.

Obituaries

  • Murata Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A longtime Seattle resident who worked in the fish market and studied for U.S. citizenship, Mrs. Murata was an organizing member of the Seattle Koyasan Buddhist Church and its women’s federation. She is survived by a nephew and niece in Seattle.
  • Pioneer Surgeon Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. Joseph H. Ogura, an internationally recognized research pioneer in larynx surgery, died April 14 apparently of a heart attack at age 67. He developed a procedure for throat surgery preserving speech and swallowing in cancer patients and served 35 years on the Washington University medical school faculty.
  • Obituary: Haruyo Kimura, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Funeral services were held for Haruyo Kimura, 91, who came to Seattle in 1914 and was later interned at Tule Lake during WWII. Her family returned to Seattle in 1945 and opened a grocery that became the First Hill Thriftway.

Community

  • Nine Nikkei Win Merit Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Nearly 1500 winners of corporate-sponsored four-year Merit Scholarships were named recently, including nine Nikkei students from California, Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois and Minnesota. The scholarships range from $1,000 to $8,000 over four years.
  • Gymnast Named Athlete of the Year, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Richmond, B.C. Sansei gymnast Patti Sakaki won the University of British Columbia’s ‘Woman of the Year’ award for the third time after capturing the Canadian University All-round Gymnastic Championship for the fourth time. She competed despite stress fractures in both legs and may represent Canada at the World University Games in Edmonton this summer.
  • Central Calif. Nikkei Helping Laotian Refugees in Many Ways, page 3. Pastor Mitsuo Ishii and the Fresno Asian Church, whose 200 members are mostly of Asian ancestry, have organized clothing drives and health screenings for Laotian refugees in the Fresno area. County health officials praised the volunteer efforts, which augment limited public health nursing resources for refugees.
  • Dairyman Held Hostage in Robbery, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Milton Mitose, a Japanese American dairyman at a Los Angeles Safeway, hid with coworkers for over four hours during an armed robbery before escaping through a smashed door. He described the experience, including being confronted by police with weapons, as one of the most frightening moments of his life.
  • WLA Health Fair to Be Held on May 22, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The annual West Los Angeles Health Fair will offer free health screenings including blood pressure, dental, eye and urine tests on May 22. The event is sponsored by multiple community organizations including the Japanese Optometric Society and the WLA Chapter of JACL.
  • Washington Panel May Get Extension, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The future of the Washington State Asian American Commission rests with Gov. John Spellman after the legislature passed a bill extending its life until mid-1988. Without new authorization the commission would have ceased to exist after June 30.
  • St. Mary’s to Hold Bazaar-Carnival, by P.C. Staff, page 4. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church will hold its annual Bazaar-Carnival on May 21, an event sponsored by the church since before World War II. Proceeds will support the church’s pre-school, Japanese-speaking congregation and community projects.
  • IBM Case Background: Hitachi Executives’ Guilty Pleas, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Hitachi and two of its executives pleaded guilty Feb. 8 to charges stemming from an FBI sting operation targeting IBM trade secrets, paying fines up to $10,000. The sting also produced charges against Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and four employees, with that trial scheduled to begin July 19.
  • CCDC Director Feels the Big Shake-Up, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Sachiye Kuwamoto, JACL Central California regional director, experienced a 6.5 Richter Scale earthquake centered near Coalinga while on duty at the Nikkei Service Center in Fresno. She reported no damage to the building or the Fresno area despite the significant shaking.
  • Nikkei Dies in Crash, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Susan Takeuchi, 31, of El Sobrante was killed instantly when the car she was riding in was sideswiped by a suspected drunken driver on Highway 17 near San Jose. The other driver was booked on suspicion of felony drunken driving and manslaughter.
  • Sonoma County to Hold Pancake Sale, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The Sonoma County JACL will hold a Benefit Pancake Breakfast on May 15 at Memorial Hall in Sebastopol to help raise funds for the Redress Campaign and other chapter activities.
  • New Mexico Seeks Nikkei Veterans, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The New Mexico JACL Chapter will hold ‘Omatsuri: A Japanese Festival’ on June 26 to honor all veterans, especially those of Japanese ancestry. The chapter is seeking to contact Japanese American veterans for the event.
  • Singles’ Potluck, Divorce Workshop, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The Greater L.A. Singles Chapter will hold a potluck dinner featuring the film ‘Wataridori’ about early Issei immigrant women, along with orientation for a trip to Mazatlan. A separate divorce support group meets Tuesdays in Torrance for those going through divorce.

Arts & Entertainment

  • L.A. County Museum Gets Japan Art, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Mr. and Mrs. Joe D. Price of Bartlesville, Oklahoma donated a major collection of more than 300 Japanese scroll paintings and screens, along with $5 million toward a pavilion, to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The collection, considered among the finest Edo Period work, includes pieces by Ito Jakuchu and other major Kyoto artists.

In-Depth

  • Quality, Not Quantity, Is the Key, Says Japan to the U.S., page 5. Japanese leaders interviewed believe the U.S. retains economic potential but has lost its competitive edge in quality production, citing a need for Americans to regain a work ethic. Experts compared Japan’s and America’s shares of world GNP and discussed auto industry competition and future economic trends.
  • Shibuya-Snell: From Internment Camp to State Consumer Affairs Director, page 8. Shibuya-Snell, a former internee at Heart Mountain during WWII, now serves as a state consumer affairs administrator after a career at television station KNBC in Los Angeles developing consumer protection programs. She emphasizes balanced cooperation between consumers and businesses rather than favoring either side.
  • Economist Finds Own Company and ‘Un-Retires’, page 8. Sam Nakagama, a 58-year-old economist who worked in Gen. MacArthur’s headquarters in Tokyo after WWII, founded his own company Nakagama & Wallace selling economic forecasting subscriptions. He is known on Wall Street for his wit and has advocated for an oil-import tax to stabilize the domestic oil industry.

JACL

  • Marutani Gets Exceptionally Well Qualified Rating in Judge Race, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Philadelphia Common Pleas judge Bill Marutani received the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s highest rating of ‘exceptionally well qualified’ among seven candidates in the state supreme court primary election. He has received endorsement from the Philadelphia Inquirer but needs additional campaign contributions.
  • Mile Hi to Host Spring MPDC Meeting in Denver June 3-4, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The Mile Hi Chapter will host the Spring District Council Meeting of the Mountain Plains District Council in Denver, coinciding with the city’s Sakura Matsuri festival. Judge William Marutani will be the keynote speaker at the Saturday evening banquet.
  • PC Editor to Resign End of May, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Pacific Citizen Editor Peter Imamura will resign at the end of May to enter the Summer Program for Minority Journalists at UC Berkeley, with his last issue dated May 27. Editorial Assistant Cindy Ogawa also resigned to take another position, and the paper will temporarily return to Harry Honda’s control.
  • D.C. Leadership Program: Looking Toward the Future, by David Nakayama, page 10. National JACL’s Youth Director describes the new JACL Washington D.C. Leadership Program scheduled for June 19-25, designed to develop potential young Japanese American leaders. Rep. Norman Mineta and Rep. Robert Matsui will serve as featured speakers for participants selected by each district.
  • Ways & Means Fund Gets Contributions, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The JACL Ways and Means Support Fund received contributions ranging from $25 to $100 from various individual donors. The report lists specific contributors and their donation amounts.
  • 1000 Club Welcomes Two to Honor Roll, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Frank Sakamoto, 1000 Club chairman, welcomed two new Chicago members including Tad Kimura, a 34-year American Legion member, and another longtime community volunteer. Both men have contributed significantly to community projects and organizations.
  • Mike M. Masaoka Fellows Report, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The Mike M. Masaoka Fund received contributions from several individuals and organizations categorized as Fellows, Sustaining and Amicus members. The fund supports general operations of JACL in honor of Masaoka’s over 40 years of service.

Commentary

  • Male Chauvinism: A Few Examples, by Bruce and Paula Shimizu, page 6. A skit performed at the Tri-District Conference in Reno by Marin County JACLers humorously dramatizes conflicting male and female perspectives on household roles, communication and gender stereotypes. The performance was created to promote the Women’s Concerns Committee Workshop.
  • More on Redress, by Jean Okuye, page 6. A letter to the editor responds to a previous anti-reparations letter, arguing that Americans are not bound by Bushido code and praising Sansei activists like Warren Furutani and Mike Murase for pursuing justice. The writer supports reparations efforts including the NCJAR Legal Redress Fund.
  • Mitsue Takahashi, by Mary Tani (Livingston/Merced JACL), page 6. A letter to the editor objects to how National JACL has presented the Mitsue Takahashi case, claiming a biased position has been taken. The writer urges the organization to be objective in monitoring the case and informing its constituents of the facts.
  • Expressing Yourself in the News Media, by Teresa Watanabe, page 6. An editorial writer for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner encourages Asian Americans to write letters to newspapers and politicians, noting that Nikkei voices are often absent from public debate on redress issues. She offers practical tips for writing effective, concise letters that can influence public policy.
  • Return to the Political Arena, by Bill Marutani, page 7. Judge Bill Marutani writes about his campaign for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court primary election, describing the challenges of running without a large ethnic voting bloc. He encourages other Nikkei to consider running for statewide office despite the difficulties involved.
  • Tri-District Issues, page 9. A columnist reflects on the Tri-District conference in Reno, criticizing NCWNDC’s tabling of a motion to help Mitsue Takahashi and comments made about Laotian refugees and immigration policy. The writer urges JACL members to evaluate issues based on civil and human rights principles rather than personal biases.

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