Redress debate and the Tri-District Conference in Reno, 1983

Vol. 96, No. 17, May 6, 1983. 8 pages. View this issue

Redress ran through the front page and beyond. A reader’s rebuttal to John J. McCloy’s anti-redress column opened the issue, and the paper reported that the JACL, NCRR and WCRR met in Reno during the JACL Tri-District Conference and issued a joint statement on April 28. A comparison on page 8 sets out where the three groups still differed. The Sacramento County supervisors considered an ordinance for former Nikkei county employees dismissed in 1942, and a Marks resolution urging redress moved through the California Senate Rules Committee.

Other front-page stories covered the future of the Nikkei press and the Lloyd Hara ethics case in Seattle. Pages 5 and 6 carry more from the Reno conference, including workshops on women’s roles and on retirement. Mike Masaoka wrote in defense of Bill Hosokawa’s JACL history. A UC Riverside course heading to the Manzanar Committee’s 14th annual pilgrimage is on page 3.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• N.Y. Times Reader Rebuts McCloy’s Anti-Redress Column, page 1. A reader, Robert H. Schaffer of Stamford, Conn., wrote to the New York Times rebutting former assistant secretary of war John J. McCloy’s op-ed arguing against redress. Schaffer argued that McCloy’s own words revealed the racist logic behind the internment, noting the disparate treatment of Japanese Americans versus German or Italian Americans.
• Male View on Women, by M. Yamanaka Iseke, page 4. A reader responds critically to a previous letter defending the subordinate role of Nikkei women, describing personal experiences of being dismissed and insulted at board meetings for being a woman. The writer argues that truly liberated Nikkei men who respect women are a minority but a valuable one.
• JACL Story: Some Words of Support, by Mike Masaoka, page 4. Former JACL Washington Representative Mike Masaoka defends Bill Hosokawa’s book ‘JACL: In Quest of Justice’ against critical reviews, arguing it is a readable and largely fair history of the organization. He urges JACL members to read and buy the book to better understand and advocate for the organization’s legacy ahead of redress lobbying efforts.

National

• Seattle’s Hara May Have Been Victim of ‘Nitpicking’ by City, page 1. Seattle City Treasurer Lloyd Hara agreed to pay $413 for using municipal office supplies for non-city business, possibly the target of a politically motivated investigation. Hara did not contest the Ethics Board findings, though questions were raised about whether the investigation was excessive given Hara’s community and JACL activities.
• Chin Murder: Racism a Factor, page 1. An Asian American organization in Detroit, American Citizens for Justice, is seeking new sentences for two men who received probation after admitting to beating Vincent Chin, a Chinese American engineer, to death. Witnesses say racial slurs against Chin’s perceived Japanese ancestry and anti-Asian sentiment tied to auto industry job losses were factors in the killing.
• Rape Victim Goes Back to Japan, page 4. Sanae, a rape victim, discussed her experiences in the U.S. in a hospital interview, saying she is not bitter and may return to the U.S. one day. Her attacker, a former caretaker at a home for abused children, pleaded guilty to nine charges including attempted murder and rape, facing up to 79 years in prison.
• U.S.-Japan Agricultural Trade Tensions Discussed at Panel, page 6. Panelists including Kubo and Shimasaki discussed misunderstandings between the U.S. and Japan over agricultural trade, noting that Japanese farmers hold significant political influence and resist loosening import restrictions due to food security concerns stemming from WWII experiences. The panel urged urban Americans to be more sensitive to the challenges faced by farmers and growers.
• Hara Controversy Continues: Mayor Reacts, Editor Questions Probe, page 8. Seattle Times editorial page editor Herb Robinson questioned why public resources were spent on Lloyd Hara’s minor ethics violation while more serious cases went unaddressed. Mayor Charles Royer expressed concern that the ruling could have a chilling effect on city employees’ community involvement and asked the Ethics Board to clarify permissible outside activities.

Incarceration & Redress

• Sacramento Board to Consider Redress Bill for JA Workers, page 1. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors favorably considered an ordinance to establish a Japanese American evacuation memorial fund, allowing former Nikkei county employees to file claims for unfair dismissal in 1942. Supervisor Illa Colins introduced the ordinance, with testimony from former employees and support from JACL officials.
• Ca. Measure Urging Redress Advances in State Senate, page 4. A resolution by State Senator Milton Marks urging Congress to approve financial compensation for interned Japanese Americans advanced unanimously through the California Senate Rules Committee. Marks said he introduced the measure because he personally witnessed the injustice suffered by Japanese American friends during the war.
• Redress Differences Among JACL, NCRR, and WCRR Detailed, page 8. A detailed comparison outlines differences among JACL, NCRR, and WCRR on redress positions, including individual compensation figures, payment schedules, and the composition of a proposed community trust board. JACL favors a board with governmental appointments, while NCRR wants a 100% Nikkei elected board, and WCRR prefers state-level local boards instead of a national one.

JACL

• JACL, NCRR, WCRR Attempt to Work for Common Redress Goal, page 1. The JACL, NCRR, and WCRR met during JACL’s Tri-District Conference in Reno to discuss working together toward shared redress goals, issuing a joint statement on April 28. The groups agreed on individual monetary compensation and community fund provisions, though differences remain to be resolved at future meetings.
• SFV Dinner Nets $4,500 for Redress, page 5. The San Fernando Valley JACL Chapter and the Pacoima Community Center’s Coordinating Council jointly raised over $4,500 at a fund-raising dinner attended by 355 people. The event included a slide presentation on Heart Mountain and followed years of redress activism in the community dating back to a 1975 reparations panel.
• JACLers in Study on Assimilation, page 5. Graduate student Haruo Higashimoto of Brigham Young University is conducting a study on the degree of assimilation of Japanese and Japanese Americans into the U.S. mainstream. JACLers in Utah and Los Angeles are assisting by responding to questionnaires being mailed out May 3.
• Women’s Workshop Looks at Nikkei’s Sex Roles, page 5. A Women’s Concerns Workshop at the JACL Tri-District Conference in Reno featured a skit demonstrating gender roles in a typical JACL chapter meeting, followed by discussions among 70 participants including about 10 men. Generational differences between Nisei and Sansei women’s experiences in JACL were discussed, along with the need for better communication between men and women in the organization.
• Retirement Workshop Urges People to Plan Ahead Soon, page 5. The Aging and Retirement workshop at the Tri-District Conference featured Kay Iwata discussing financial planning for retirement, noting that only 2% of retirees become financially independent. Betty Kozasa also presented on ‘Second Careers’ for seniors, encouraging volunteerism and continued mental engagement after retirement.
• PSW Plans Tours to PANA Confab, page 5. The JACL Pacific Southwest District is organizing tours to the Pan American Nikkei Conference scheduled for July 13-17 in Lima, Peru. Participants will meet with Peru’s president, visit Peruvian families, and attend conference workshops and youth activities.
• N.Y. JACL Offers Scholarships, page 5. The New York JACL Chapter is offering two $500 scholarships in 1983 for beginning freshman students of Japanese ancestry in the greater New York area. The Lucille Nakamura Memorial Scholarship requires commitment to social work, while the General Scholarship is open to citizens and non-citizens with local JACL sponsorship; the deadline is May 20.
• Chicago Credit Union Pays Tribute to Past President, page 5. The Chicago JACL Federal Credit Union’s 36th annual meeting honored outgoing president Lincoln Shimidzu for his 14 years of leadership, reporting record financial highs despite the national recession. Dudley Yatabe was elected to his eighth term as president of the newly elected board.

In-Depth

• Nikkei Press: Future Uncertain as Readership Slowly Declines, page 1. Japanese American newspapers nationwide face declining readership as the Issei generation ages and younger generations turn to mainstream media. Publishers like Hiro Hishiki of the Kashu Mainichi struggle with outdated production technology, competition from Japanese-language television, and a lack of new journalistic talent.
• UCR Students Play ‘Detectives’ to Learn About WW2 Internment, page 3. UC Riverside professor Sarah Stage created a course called ‘The Historian as a Detective’ in which students investigate the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans using archival documents and oral interviews. The class will join the Manzanar Committee’s 14th annual pilgrimage as part of their research into the historic internment camp.
• How One Nisei Survived the Evacuation, page 8. A new book recounts the personal story of an Imahara family charter member of Florin JACL who was evacuated to Arkansas in 1942 and later settled in Louisiana, running a successful nursery business. The book, based on recollections told to Anne Butler Poindexter, is one of few published first-person Nisei histories of the evacuation experience.
• Nikkei Press Faces Competition From Japanese-Language TV and Outdated Technology, page 8. Japanese American newspapers face competition from Japanese-language television stations like KSCE-TV, which attracts advertisers with affluent audiences through NHK news broadcasts. Many papers also struggle with antiquated production equipment and a lack of young journalistic talent, as Sansei and Yonsei increasingly assimilate into mainstream media and careers.

Community

• Gayle Yamazaki Is 1st Woman AF Grad From Contra Costa, page 2. Gayle Yamazaki became a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Academy, earning numerous honors including being on the Commandant’s and Dean’s lists. She reflected on the challenges of being a female cadet and her plans to train in Avionics at Chanute Air Force Base.
• Nikkei Cited by Japan Gov’t, page 2. Four Nikkei Southland residents, Sakaye Aratani, Peggy Nakaki, Kinji Nishi, and Kaneji Oka, were named by Japan’s Foreign Office to receive citations for community service on the Emperor’s birthday. Former JACL Washington Representative Mike Masaoka was also upgraded to receive the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 2nd Class.
• Asian/Pacific Islander High Blood Pressure Week Announced, page 3. May 7-14 has been designated Asian/Pacific Islander High Blood Pressure Week, with free blood pressure monitoring events scheduled at various Los Angeles locations. Bilingual assistance will be available at Chinatown, Little Tokyo, and other community service centers.
• Ogawa Wins Oakland Council Seat, page 3. Oakland city councilman Ogawa won 70% of the vote for the city’s at-large seat, with his campaign bringing together black, Hispanic, Asian, women’s, and labor groups. He is now the only Asian American on Oakland’s city council, which gained its first black majority after this election.
• JACCC Fund Drive Past $1 Million Mark, page 3. The 1983 Capital Fund Drive of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center surpassed $1 million, as announced by chairman Carl M. Tamaki. The drive has dedicated 120 seats in the Golden Circle and 273 seats in the Silver Circle of the Japan American Theatre.
• L.A. City School’s Ethnic Commission Changes Rules, page 3. The Los Angeles City Board of Education agreed to reorganize six education commissions representing ethnic groups, women, and the handicapped after months of study. The new policy limits membership to 29 people per commission with staggered two-year terms and allocates about $408,000 annually for their operation.
• Nikkei Named Rose Princess in Portland, page 3. Sherie Lynne Oka, senior class president and valedictorian at Cleveland High School, was chosen as the school’s 1983 Rose Festival princess. She has a 4.0 GPA and plans to study business administration at Oregon State or the University of Washington.
• Kimochi Home Meets Oyama’s Challenge, page 3. Kimochi announced that it reached its goal of $200,000 in cash raised to meet Clem Oyama’s matching challenge, thanks to a final $1,000 donation from St. Francis Xavier Church. To date $1,125,000 has been raised toward the $1,322,000 construction cost of Kimochi Home.
• JABA to Hold Informative Law Day, page 3. The Japanese American Bar Association will hold its annual Law Day program on May 14 at the JACCC, featuring presentations on social security, wills, and probate procedures. Attorneys will also be available for free counseling on immigration, landlord-tenant, and family law issues.
• Bonsai, Tea Ceremony in Placer, page 5. Demonstrations in bonsai and the Chado/Urasenke Tea Ceremony will be featured during this year’s Asian/Pacific American Heritage observance at the Loomis Library in Placer County. The event is sponsored by the Placer County JACL.
• Panel Discusses Hmong Immigration and Farm Labor Issues, page 6. At a panel including Nisei Farmers League figures, Hirasuna discussed concerns over the arrival of over 51,000 Hmong refugees who settled in the West Coast and Central California, some competing with Nikkei farmers while others relied heavily on government assistance. Kubo addressed undocumented farm labor issues and the Simpson-Mazzoli bill’s guest worker provisions, which farmers oppose due to burdensome regulations.

Obituaries

• Ryoichi Fujii, Founder of Chicago Shimpo, Dies at 78, page 2. Ryoichi Fujii, who founded the Chicago Shimpo newspaper in 1946, died April 17 after a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife Emi and daughters Midori and Sono, and the weekly publication has since been incorporated with Frank T. Sugano as president.
• Masanori (Mike) Miyagishima Dies at 63, page 2. Masanori Miyagishima, a native of Jerome, Idaho, died April 13 at Letterman Army Hospital after a prolonged illness. He served in the U.S. Army since 1942, retired as lieutenant colonel, and is survived by his daughter and son; services were held at Ft. Scott Chapel in the Presidio.

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