Redress news from Washington State, and the PC editor’s last column

Vol. 96, No. 20, May 27, 1983. 12 pages. View this issue

Redress and the World War II incarceration (often called internment) led this issue. Washington Gov. John Spellman signed a state bill giving $5,000 to Japanese American state workers dismissed in 1942, and the front page also reported that the Justice Department had moved to dismiss the National Council for Japanese American Redress lawsuit. Elsewhere, Harvard kept John J. McCloy’s name on a scholarship program, and James Rowe disputed a claim McCloy made about Attorney General Francis Biddle. On page 6, Peter Imamura wrote his final column as PC Editor, and JACL leaders Min Yasui, John Tateishi and Ron Ikejiri explained why redress legislation had not yet been introduced in Congress.

Also inside: Ron Wakabayashi on the Vincent Chin case, the Puyallup memorial project at the former Camp Harmony site, a Little Tokyo security patrol, JACL chapter scholarships, and John Tateishi’s talk to Japanese Canadians seeking compensation.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Washington Governor Signs State Worker Reparations Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Washington Gov. John Spellman signed ESSB 3163 into law, providing $5,000 compensation over two years to Japanese American state workers dismissed from their jobs in 1942. The bill, which passed with bipartisan support led by Sen. George Fleming and Rep. Art Wang, also extends eligibility to surviving spouses of deceased former employees.
• U.S. Gov’t Seeking Dismissal of NCJAR’s $25 Billion Lawsuit, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss the $25.2 billion lawsuit brought by the National Council for Japanese American Redress on behalf of interned Nikkei, citing expired statutes of limitation. NCJAR’s lead counsel Ben Zelenko said the group anticipated the motion and plans to file an opposition memorandum.
• Puyallup Memorial Gets Underway, Seeks Funds, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Organizers are seeking community donations to complete the Puyallup Fairgrounds Monument Project at the former site of the Camp Harmony Assembly Center, with sculptor George Tsutakawa designing an 8-foot bronze memorial. The State of Washington will match community contributions, requiring $8,900 in donations to complete the $20,800 project.
• Former Justice Dept. Member Finds Error in McCloy’s N.Y. Times Article, page 7. James Rowe, a former assistant attorney general during WWII, disputed John J. McCloy’s New York Times op-ed claim that Attorney General Francis Biddle regretted the Japanese American evacuation, stating Biddle was actually a strong opponent of the internment. Rowe’s letter asserts Biddle fought against the evacuation alongside a few Justice Department lawyers.
• Washington State Compensation Bill Background, page 7. The article details the legislative history of ESSB 3163, tracing its origins to a September 1982 initiative by Frank Irigon, Ron Sims, Tim Gojio, Ruth Woo, and Cherry Kinoshita, with advice from California’s Priscilla Ouchida. Cherry Kinoshita noted the bill sets a precedent for redress at county, city, and school board levels and sends a message to Congress about state willingness to provide tangible compensation.

National

• Harvard Will Keep McCloy’s Name on Scholarship Program, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Despite protests from Jewish and Asian American students, Harvard University reaffirmed that a new German-American scholarship program will be named for John J. McCloy, who was instrumental in the WWII internment decision. Harvard’s dean defended McCloy, saying he was not responsible for the charged evils.
• Poll Shows Fewer Americans See Japan as Dependable Ally, page 1. A Foreign Ministry survey found the number of Americans viewing Japan as a dependable ally dropped sharply over the past year, with 40% calling Japan dependable versus 33% calling it unreliable. The poll revealed growing American dissatisfaction with Japan’s trade practices even as support for a Japanese defense buildup declined slightly.
• Pacifist Floyd Schmoe to Be Honored with Tufts U. Degree, page 2. Floyd W. Schmoe, a 87-year-old peace activist who protested Japanese American internment during WWII and later built housing for Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors, will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Tufts University. He has received numerous awards for his humanitarian work including the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure from Emperor Hirohito.
• Marutani Loses Bid for Pa. Judgeship, page 2. Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge William Marutani failed in his bid to win a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, losing to Judge Nicolas Papadakos by a 2-to-1 margin. Marutani, a longtime JACL member and the only Japanese American on the U.S. Commission on Wartime Relocation, had sought to become the first mainland Japanese American on a State Supreme Court.
• Noguchi’s Book Probes Stars’ Deaths, page 2. A book by demoted Los Angeles County coroner Dr. Thomas Noguchi, titled “Coroner,” will be published by Simon & Schuster in October and will explore celebrity deaths including Robert Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and John Belushi. Noguchi will address speculation about a second gunman in the Kennedy assassination.
• Hayakawa Still Wants English to Be Official U.S. Language, page 4. Former Senator S.I. Hayakawa has formed U.S. English, an organization advocating for English as the official language of the United States and opposing bilingual voting ballots. The group’s president Gerda Bikales said the effort reflects growing national awareness that unofficial English status is insufficient amid aggressive bilingualism promotion.
• Nikkei in IBM ‘Sting’ Case Pleads ‘No Contest’ to Charges, page 4. Tom Yoshida, president of NCL Data Inc., pleaded no contest to charges of conspiring to transport stolen IBM computer secrets to Japan in the Hitachi espionage case, avoiding trial after a seven-month FBI sting operation. His attorney cited the weight of video evidence against him as the reason for the change in plea.
• Tateishi Addresses Japanese Canadians, page 5. John Tateishi, National JACL Redress Committee director, spoke to about 250 members of the National Association for Japanese Canadians seeking compensation from the Canadian government for wartime internment and property confiscation. The Canadian group plans a national conference in September to discuss compensation demands for the over 22,000 Japanese Canadians who were interned.
• Japan to Produce All-Plastic Cars, page 5. Toyota and Nissan are reportedly planning non-metal cars for the 1990s using ceramics and carbon-fiber composites instead of metal, according to former U.S. trade official Harold B. Malmgren. Malmgren noted Toyota’s strong track record of meeting its stated objectives over the past 20 years.
• U.S.-Japan Poll on Trade and Defense Issues, page 7. A parallel poll of American politicians and scholars found 72% predict serious friction between Japan and the U.S. in high-technology areas like semiconductors and computers. Views on Japanese defense buildup were split, with knowledgeable Americans more supportive (65%) than the general public (41%).
• Argentines Await Word on ‘Missing’ Relatives, page 8. Argentines of Japanese ancestry are seeking information about relatives who disappeared during the military junta’s crackdown on leftist sympathizers between 1977 and 1978, with 10 Japanese Argentines still missing after five years. Families have petitioned the Japanese government and Diet for help after Argentine authorities ignored their pleas, following similar efforts by other ethnic communities.
• Thief Who Burglarized Pasadena’s Art Museum May Be Connoisseur, page 8. A burglar stole 171 netsuke carvings worth over a quarter-million dollars from the Pacific-Asia Museum, selectively choosing pieces in a manner suggesting expert knowledge of the art form. Police believe the thief used sophisticated techniques to bypass the museum’s security system, and the collection was on loan from the Peabody Museum.
• Man Faces Trial for Murder of Nikkei, page 8. Marion A. Brown was ordered to stand trial for three counts of first-degree murder in the death of Harumi Hayashi, who was found bound and murdered after being forced to withdraw $8,000 from a bank. Court documents show bank employees identified Brown as the man who drove Hayashi to make the withdrawal before his body was discovered.

Community

• CAJA, JABA Award Law Scholarships, page 2. The California Asian Judges Association and Japanese American Bar Association selected five Southern California law students to receive scholarships totaling $200 to $500 each. The awards were presented at a dinner sponsored by both groups at the Miriwa Restaurant in Chinatown.
• Little Tokyo Patrol Cuts Down Crime, page 3. The Little Tokyo association hired a private security company to patrol the streets after dark, resulting in declining break-ins and street crime. The association is now seeking public contributions from local businesses to cover the monthly patrol costs of about $3,000.
• New Nursing Home Planned in Seattle, page 3. Nikkei Concerns has set plans in motion to build a new 120 to 150-bed nursing home to replace the existing Keiro Nursing Home, which has a 98% occupancy rate and a waiting list of 90 patients. The estimated $4.5 to $5 million project is being financed through corporate assets, community foundation grants, and other sources.
• Sage UMC to Hold Bazaar in Monterey Pk., page 3. Sage United Methodist Church will hold its annual bazaar themed “Here’s Happiness” featuring ethnic food, cultural exhibits, door prizes, games, and entertainment. Proceeds will fund the church’s Christian service programs.
• Scholarship Named in Memory of Nikkei UCLA Law Student, page 5. The William E. Nakano Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of a UCLA law student killed in an auto accident in 1981, who was active in community service organizations. The scholarship, funded with $1,500, offers annual $250 awards to law students demonstrating concern for Asian and Pacific Island communities.
• Religious Group Wins $1 Million Suit, page 5. A jury awarded $1,851,530 to the Nihonmachi Terrace and Hinode Towers against the builders of the 1975 housing project after a trial lasting over six months. The suit addressed improper construction causing water leaks and damage, with the Japanese American Religious Federation serving as the joint venture owner.
• Nikkei Re-elected to Aging Council, page 5. Don Kazama was re-elected to the Chairmanship of the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging at its Annual Meeting on May 6, 1983.
• S.F. Legal Outreach Expands Its Services, page 8. Nihonmachi Legal Outreach has expanded services to provide legal assistance to moderate-income people on a sliding fee scale while continuing free services for low-income clients. The organization handles family law, immigration, tax, criminal law, and other legal matters, with translators available by appointment.
• Retirement Group Forms L.A. Chapter, page 8. The American Association of Retired Persons formed a new local chapter in Los Angeles with thirty charter members, electing officers including George Hayamizu as president. The chapter will meet monthly at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center.
• Fremont Honors HS Students, page 10. The Fremont JACL held its high school graduate luncheon honoring numerous graduates from area high schools, with several receiving scholarships from various sponsors. Judge Ken Kawaichi of the Superior Court of Alameda County served as guest speaker.

Arts & Entertainment

• Photo Exhibit Slated at JACCC, page 3. An exhibition of works by Los Angeles photographer Patrick Nagatani will open at the JACCC’s George J. Doizaki Gallery, featuring 30 dye-bleach photographs from two series exploring physical and spiritual worlds. Nagatani is currently an artist-in-residence at the JACCC.
• EWP, AADAP to Hold ‘Yellow Fever’ Play, page 3. East/West Players and the Asian American Drug Abuse Program announced a preview presentation of “Yellow Fever” by R.A. Shiomi, a detective story set in Vancouver featuring Nisei detective Sam Shikaze. The play stars Robert Ito of the “Quincy” television show.
• Japan Prints Slated at L.A. Art Museum, page 3. Two exhibitions of Japanese prints will open at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in June, including a traveling exhibition of over 100 works by 34 modern artists and a collection of Meiji and Taisho period woodblock prints. Both exhibitions run from June 16 through August 7, 1983.
• ‘Nisei Fisherman’ Postponed at JACCC, page 3. The JACCC and East West Players announced the postponement of “A Song for a Nisei Fisherman,” originally scheduled to open the New Japan America Theatre, due to contractual difficulties. Ticket holders can obtain refunds or credits toward other performances.

Military & Veterans

• Memorial Day Services Slated, page 3. The 1983 Annual Nisei Memorial Day Services will be held at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, honoring Nisei war dead and all Japanese Americans who served their country. The ceremony, sponsored since 1952 by the Golden Gate Nisei Memorial Post and Military Intelligence Association, will include remarks from JACL National Director Ron Wakabayashi.
• WW2 Souvenirs Returned to Japanese After 39 Years, page 7. Joe Milanoski, a former U.S. Army military intelligence officer and Japanese linguist, has spent years locating next of kin to return Japanese wartime documents that had been kept as souvenirs since WWII. Milanoski has successfully returned 35 of 50 original documents and is seeking others with similar items to forward to Japan.

In-Depth

• Mother Gives Daughter a Rare But Vital Gift: New Kidneys, page 5. Joyce Kitagawa, a 22-year-old Gardena woman suffering from kidney failure, received a transplant from her mother Miyobo at St. Vincent Medical Center, performed by twin brother surgeons the Mendez brothers. Joyce’s family and friends, including her fiance and employer TRW, supported her throughout the hospitalization and recovery.

Commentary

• The Last Wave, by Peter Imamura, page 6. In his final column as PC Editor, Peter Imamura reflects on criticism from Kashu Mainichi’s George Yoshinaga that the PC is dull and overly focused on JACL matters, while offering advice to his successor about maintaining fairness and building a newspaper with broader appeal. He urges future editors to be thick-skinned, respect diverse opinions, and work to strengthen the connection between the PC and the JACL organization’s future.
• Farmers, Civil Rights, by Fred Y. Hirasuna, page 6. A letter responding to PC Board Chair Henry Sakai’s earlier remarks defends Central California Japanese American farmers against accusations of prejudice toward Hmong refugees, detailing efforts by Harry Kubo and the Nisei Farmers League to find farm work and guidance for Hmong immigrants. The writer argues that advocacy for human and civil rights isn’t exclusive to urban dwellers and describes real strains on local resources from refugee resettlement.
• Chol Soo Lee, by Michi Weglyn, page 6. A letter praising a 20/20 TV expose on the wrongful nine-year imprisonment of Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee, criticizing the political motivations behind his conviction and the prosecution’s continued pursuit of retrial. The writer calls the cost and injustice of a potential retrial a legal and moral atrocity.
• Attitude on Women, by Ozzie Ima, page 6. A letter responding to a reader’s criticism of the author’s earlier article on Nikkei women, clarifying that his statement about women accepting their present role was taken out of context. He states he does not intend to place blame solely on women, acknowledging men’s role in perpetuating prejudices.
• Patience Required, by Min Yasui, John Tateishi, Ron Ikejiri, page 9. JACL leadership explains why redress legislation has not yet been introduced in Congress, citing the pending final recommendations from the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians expected by June 1983. The JACL believes introducing legislation prematurely would damage credibility with congressional supporters who backed the Commission’s creation.
• The Chin Slaying, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 10. JACL National Director Ron Wakabayashi reflects on the Vincent Chin murder case, highlighting the light sentencing of the killers and drawing parallels to the vulnerability of Japanese Americans to similar racial violence amid declining perceptions of Japan. He argues the case should serve as a wake-up call from complacency to vigilance for Asian American communities.
• Not Alone, by Ron Ikejiri, page 10. JACL Washington Representative Ron Ikejiri describes the organization’s strategy of building broad coalitions with ethnic, business, labor, and civil rights organizations to support redress legislation. He emphasizes that Congress is unlikely to act on legislation perceived as serving only narrow interests.

JACL

• PNW Grows to 10 Chapters as Olympia Joins Ranks, page 9. The JACL Pacific Northwest District Council ratified the new Olympia Chapter, expanding the district to 10 chapters, with Ted Masumoto Jr. to be installed as president. The council also discussed the Meiji-mura Museum project involving the dismantling of Seattle’s Japanese Evangelical Church and redress activities including the coram nobis lawsuit.
• PSWDC Supports Fair Hearing for Takahashi, page 9. The Pacific Southwest JACL District Council passed a resolution supporting a fair and impartial hearing for Mitsue Takahashi’s appeal against dismissal as a teacher, and voted to send $250 to the committee working to restore her reputation. The council also endorsed support for Detroit’s American Citizens for Justice regarding the Vincent Chin case sentencing.
• Ways and Means to Begin Deferred Giving Program, page 9. The National JACL Ways and Means Committee is launching a deferred giving program to help secure the financial future of JACL chapters and offices, targeting individuals in estate planning stages. Committee Chair Gene Takemine and National Director Lia Shigemura are identifying key estate planning guides for Nikkei communities.
• West Valley JACL Scholarships, page 9. The West Valley Chapter awarded $500 scholarships to Pamela Shishido and John Togasaki, and a $750 scholarship to Teresa Tauchi, all high-achieving students planning to attend UC Berkeley. All three recipients maintained strong GPAs while participating in extensive extracurricular activities.
• Florin Scholarship, page 9. JoAnne Sonoda received the 1983 Florin JACL Scholarship after ranking 6th in her class at Elk Grove High School with a 3.9 GPA. She plans to attend UC Davis to major in agricultural-related studies.
• MDC’s Tani Nearly Resigns After Flap Over Redress, by Kaz Mayeda, page 9. Midwest District Council Governor John Tani nearly resigned after expressing personal doubts about the JACL redress program’s monetary compensation approach at a Cleveland Chapter dinner, prompting calls for his resignation at the following council session. A secret ballot ultimately rejected his resignation, with members affirming confidence in his ability to represent the district despite disagreement over his personal views.
• Mike M. Masaoka Fellow, by Gene Takamine, page 10. The JACL Ways and Means Committee announced the Mike M. Masaoka Fellow program to honor Masaoka’s decades of service while raising funds to permanently endow the National JACL Office. The project aims to raise $500,000 to create a stable income source for the organization.

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