Redress bill HR 4110 introduced, and Amache remembered

Vol. 97, No. 17, October 21, 1983. 12 pages. View this issue

The Civil Liberties Act of 1983, HR 4110, led the front page. Majority Leader James Wright introduced the redress bill with 72 House co-sponsors, and the paper printed an extract of its findings and purposes. The cover photo showed the Amache memorial in Colorado, dedicated on Labor Day weekend, and a letter on page 4 thanked the paper for its coverage of the dedication. Page 8 carried “Perspectives,” in which Jerry Enomoto recalled the World War II incarceration (often called internment) at Tanforan and Topaz.

Inside are three commentary pieces on generational labels by H.H., William Wetherall and Raymond Okamura, and Bill Hosokawa on a Parade magazine cover about Japan. Other stories cover the Fujiyoshi fingerprinting trial in Japan, the Hmong community in Central California, a new bronze monument at Puyallup, and a JACL redress fund nearing $100,000.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Civil Liberties Act of 1983 Introduced in House With 72 Co-Sponsors, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Majority Leader James Wright introduced HR 4110, the Civil Liberties Act of 1983, co-sponsored by 72 House members to implement recommendations of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. The bill includes findings on the wartime evacuation, an apology, and provisions for eligible individuals of Japanese ancestry.
• Extract of Redress Bill HR 4110: Findings & Purposes, by P.C. Staff, page 1. This excerpt details the findings and purposes section of the redress bill, describing the wartime evacuation, relocation and internment of Japanese Americans as motivated by racial prejudice and war hysteria rather than military necessity. The bill calls for acknowledgment of injustice, an apology, and a public education fund.

National

• Cultural Misunderstanding Blamed in Hmong Suicide, page 1. A Hmong man named Vang died by suicide in jail after apparently misunderstanding his legal situation following an accident, with advocates saying cultural and language barriers contributed to the tragedy. Advocates argue that police and legal systems need more education about cultural differences, noting that concepts like ‘mental health’ do not translate directly into Hmong culture.
• Fujiyoshi Fingerprinting Trial Drags On—No Verdict in Sight, page 1. The human-rights trial of American missionary Ronald Susumu Fujiyoshi, who refused fingerprinting required under Japan’s alien registration law, continued with a third hearing before the Kobe District Court. Witnesses including Nisei Mary Tomita of Oakland testified about discrimination faced by aliens, and attorneys called for reforms to the fingerprinting system.
• City of Hope Scientist Wins Genetics Award, page 2. Dr. Susumu Ohno, director of reproductive genetics at the City of Hope, became the first recipient of the newly established Kihara Prize in Japan for his work on evolutionary biology and sex determination in mammalian embryos. The prize is conferred by the Japanese Society of Genetics.
• JACL Credit Union Declares 7% Dividend, page 5. The National JACL Credit Union board declared a 7% dividend for the quarter, with assets nearing $5.7 million, according to manager Terrell T. Nagata. Reduced loan rates, including 11.9% APR for new cars, have proven attractive to members.
• It’s Lowry vs. Evans for U.S. Senate, page 10. U.S. Rep. Mike Lowry defeated Seattle Mayor Charles Royer in a primary to determine who would run in the special Nov. 8 Senate race in Washington state. Lowry faces Governor Dan Evans in the general election.
• Dellums Protests Fingerprinting Prosecutions in Japan, page 10. U.S. Rep. Ron Dellums sent a letter to Japan’s Justice Minister protesting the prosecution of aliens who refuse fingerprinting and the denial of re-entry permits to missionary Ronald Fujiyoshi and others. The case highlights increasing tensions as over half of Japan’s 670,000 Korean residents face re-registration and fingerprinting requirements by 1985.
• Central California Tries to Cope with Growing Hmong Population, page 12. Central California counties are struggling to provide services to a rapidly growing Hmong refugee population, with thousands applying for welfare assistance amid language, education, and cultural barriers. Officials note a secondary migration pattern bringing Hmong families from other states to California, straining already limited resources like the Nationalities Service agency in Fresno.

Community

• Kuramoto Appeal Succeeds, page 1. Dr. Ford Kuramoto, director of the Hollywood Mental Health district office, successfully had a letter of reprimand removed from his personnel file after five months and four hearings. The reprimand stemmed from a late Medi-Cal billing, while a white administrator who caused a larger loss in a similar incident received no reprimand.
• Sacramento County Redresses Nikkei Employees, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sacramento County joined other local governments in offering redress payments to former Japanese American county employees who lost their jobs due to internment between 1942 and 1946. Eligible survivors or their families must apply for payment by April 2, 1984.
• PC People, page 2. A roundup of notable Japanese Americans including Ishimatsu’s work with California Women for Agriculture, a JACL president’s academic background, and optometrist Norman Seto’s career. Various community members are recognized for professional and civic achievements.
• Farmland Building Designer Receives ’83 Metal Building Manufacturers Award, page 2. An agricultural engineer, Ota, was honored by the Metal Building Manufacturers Association for his research developing basic caloric data on farm animals, particularly poultry, aiding structural design worldwide. He retired in 1979 from the USDA Agricultural Engineering Research Division after a career producing widely used publications on poultry housing.
• Hawaii Jodo Missions Bishop Named, page 2. Dwight Nakamura, longtime minister of Hilo Meishoin Mission, was named statewide bishop of the Hawaii Jodo Mission, succeeding Bishop Gido Shimbo. Nakamura, a former Japanese Navy officer, was among the first to enter Hiroshima after the atomic bombing to aid victims.
• Two Honolulu Teachers Honored with Presidential Awards, page 2. Barbara Kagan of Moanalua High School and Arthur Kimura of McKinley High School were among 104 teachers named by the White House to receive Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching. Both developed notable science education programs in Hawaii.
• Community Health Fair Planned at Union Church of Los Angeles, page 3. The annual Little Tokyo Community Health Fair will be held Oct. 22 with over 300 volunteers providing free health screenings including dentistry, blood pressure, and vision checks. Last year more than 500 people received free health tests at the event.
• San Diego’s Dr. Hara to Be Honored, page 3. Dr. Shigeru S. Hara, a 72-year-old Sacramento physician who served in the Tule Lake camp hospital and later in WWII France, will be honored at a testimonial banquet by the Japanese Coordinating Council in San Diego. Hara has delivered 3,000 babies in his nearly 40-year medical career and continues to practice part-time.
• Mental Health Treatment Examined at USC Conference, page 3. A conference titled ‘Challenges for Asian/Pacific Mental Health’ was held at USC, featuring keynote speakers and workshops on topics including cultural concepts in therapy and medication issues for Asian populations. The event was sponsored by the Asian Pacific Planning Council’s Mental Health Sub-committee.
• Anthology Seeks New Material, page 3. The Japanese American studies program at San Francisco State University is seeking literary submissions, both historical and contemporary, for an anthology called ‘Fusion ’83’ to be published in December. Project director Jim Okutsu requested submissions by the end of October.
• Party to Raise Funds for Redress Supporter, page 3. Harry and Janet Kajihara hosted a fundraiser for Ventura County Supervisor John K. Flynn, who helped secure a county resolution supporting redress for Japanese Americans. The event was held at their Oxnard home with tickets at $7.50.
• Diet Visitors Greeted in Los Angeles, page 3. Four Japanese Diet representatives were greeted at a breakfast meeting hosted by L.A. County Supervisors Michael Antonovich and Deane Dana. The visit was intended to lay groundwork for the scheduled Reagan-Nakasone conference at the Williamsburg Economic Summit.
• After a Struggle, a New Club Is Born, page 6. The Camarillo Boys and Girls Club opened a new $1.2 million facility after years of fundraising and setbacks, including the demolition of its original inadequate building. Executive director Shig Yabu described the long journey from a humble 1967 beginning to the new complex serving 1,500 members.
• The Aesculapius of Venice: Dr. Mits Inouye Honored, by Harry Honda, page 7. Dr. Mitsuo Inouye was honored at a testimonial dinner by the Venice-Culver community for decades of service as a family physician and community leader, including chairing the Venice Japanese Community Center building fund and supporting Dr. Thomas Noguchi during a county controversy. The event featured tributes from numerous community organizations and messages from Senators Inouye and Matsunaga and Rep. Mineta.
• Players Gear Up for Volleyball Match, page 9. The Northern California-Western Nevada-Pacific JACL District will hold its seventh annual volleyball tournament at Terra Linda High School gym in San Rafael, open to JACL and Japanese American Youth group teams. Entry fee is $30 per team with specific gender composition rules.
• Record Numbers View Camp Monument at Puyallup, page 9. The Western Washington State Fair drew a record 1,199,722 visitors who viewed a new bronze sculpture by George Tsutakawa commemorating the site’s history as a WWII Japanese American assembly center. The monument project, led by Seattle and Puyallup Valley JACL chapters, faced controversy over its design and site placement before completion.

Arts & Entertainment

• Murakami Concert Set in San Francisco, page 2. A benefit performance titled ‘An Evening of Music with May,’ featuring Hawaiian-born San Francisco Opera Chorus singer May Murakami, was scheduled for Oct. 21 at Christ United Presbyterian Church. The event supports an unspecified cause.
• PBS to Unfurl ‘Silk Screen’ Series Featuring Asian American Stories, page 3. PBS is airing ‘Silk Screen,’ a series of documentaries depicting Asian American experiences, including films on Southeast Asian refugees, Nisei actors, Monterey’s multiethnic fishing community, and Asian Americans in nontraditional professions. The series was packaged by the National Asian American Telecommunications Association and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
• Reliving 1942 Evacuation in Film Haunts Extras, page 3. Some 200 Asian extras recreated the World War II evacuation of Japanese Americans for the Japanese film ‘Horizon,’ directed by Kaneto Shindo, at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, Ca. Many extras, including former internees, said the filming brought back painful personal memories of their own wartime experiences.
• Artists Combine ‘Best of Both Worlds’, page 6. Great Leap’s new production ‘Best of Both Worlds,’ based on the work of singer/songwriter Nobuko Miyamoto, premiered at the Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo. The performance combined musicians, dancers, martial artists, and visual artists under choreographer/director Jose De Vega.
• Computer Industry President to Speak, page 9. An executive from the American division of Nippon Electric Co. is scheduled to speak at a JACL event, with numerous committee members listed for hospitality, publicity, and catering duties. Details of the specific event and date are limited in the text.

Commentary

• What Mas Mambo Has Materialized: Generation Count—An Issei Contribution, by H.H., page 4. This commentary examines debate over generational labels like Nisei, Sansei, and Yonsei, sparked by a Japan Times piece by Mas Mambo questioning the practicality of counting generations as intermarriage increases. The author notes that generational terminology is an Issei-originated tradition now recognized in American dictionaries.
• How Long Can It Be Kept Hibakusha ‘Sanjuyonsei’, by William Wetherall, page 4. Wetherall explores the history and critiques of using generational labels for Japanese Americans, citing a column by the late John Holland mocking the practice as needlessly complex. He discusses how intermarriage and biracial identity make such strict generational counting increasingly impractical.
• Generational Labels, by Raymond Okamura, page 4. Okamura argues against the use of generational labels like Issei, Nisei, and Sansei, contending the practice excludes many Japanese Americans including postwar immigrants, biracial individuals, and those from other countries. He describes a past JACL attempt to promote ‘Nisei’ as a catch-all term as a failed effort at ‘generational hegemony.’
• Support Lowry, by Philip Tajitsu Nash, page 4. This letter urges support for Rep. Mike Lowry’s Senate campaign in Washington state, citing his strong advocacy for Japanese American redress despite the political cost. Rep. Norman Mineta is quoted praising Lowry’s leadership on civil rights issues.
• Amache Synergy, page 4. A letter thanks the Pacific Citizen for its coverage of the Amache Memorial dedication, crediting the publicity with helping sustain the Denver Central Optimist Club’s efforts to complete the memorial project. The writer describes the group as amateurs who persevered despite lacking experience.
• Japanese Cars, page 5. A letter responds to a prior column about U.S.-Japan trade friction, arguing that American complaints about Japanese imports are hypocritical given past American car manufacturers’ poor quality and reliability. The writer suggests Japanese automakers should not be blamed for producing fuel-efficient cars Americans want.
• Karma and Compensation for Evacuees, by Hashime Saito, page 5. A letter proposes that the WWII evacuation was a form of karmic atonement for past wrongs committed by evacuees in previous lives, questioning whether monetary redress is warranted. The author compares this reasoning to claims that other groups do not receive compensation for past suffering.
• Term Paper Request, by Scott Sugiura, page 5. A high school student requests information for a term paper on Japanese American history, including a copy of the government report ‘Personal Justice Denied.’ The PC response provides ordering information for the report through the Government Printing Office.
• Let Me Know, by T. Takemoto, page 5. A reader and former JACL Honolulu organizer, now a vice-consul in Sao Paulo, Brazil, requests notification before his subscription lapses, praising the relevance of the paper’s content. The PC response advises him to contact the Honolulu chapter or renew directly.
• Halberstam’s Essay on Japan Mischaracterized by Parade Editors, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa criticizes Parade magazine’s editors for using a sensationalized geisha cover photo and a misleading headline on David Halberstam’s thoughtful essay about Japan’s economic challenge and potential rearmament. He argues the editors distorted Halberstam’s nuanced point about Japan’s defense policy discussions into something resembling WWII-era imagery.
• ‘Perspectives’: What It Means, by Jerry Enomoto, page 8. Former JACL national president Jerry Enomoto reflects on his teenage experience of the WWII evacuation and internment at Tanforan and Topaz, challenging the notion that camp life was easy for young Nisei. He emphasizes that while they made the best of a difficult situation and found some positive memories, the internment remains a grave injustice requiring full acknowledgment and redress.

JACL

• JACL Redress Fund Nears $100,000 Mark, page 9. JACL National Headquarters announced that chapter pledges toward the redress campaign fund totaled $101,511.47 as of early October, with Pacific Southwest District chapters making significant contributions. A chapter-by-chapter summary breakdown was provided showing membership and amounts received.
• JACLers to Receive New Benefits, page 9. JACL members nationwide can now access discounts through Hertz car rentals and a Tire Systems membership discount program, approved by the National JACL Board. Members will receive ID cards and information by mail in October.
• Presidential Classroom Extends Invitation to JACL Students, page 10. Presidential Classroom for Young Americans, Inc. invited JACL chapter students nationwide to apply for its Washington, D.C. program, which includes seminars with government officials and visits to sites like Capitol Hill. Students must be juniors or seniors in good academic standing, with several JACL chapters’ past participants listed.
• Presidential Class Applications Open for San Jose Students, page 10. One student from San Jose will be selected to travel to Washington, D.C. for the Presidential Classroom program, with seminars covering government, corps, and labor topics over an intensive week. Chapter scholarship chair Masa Sato provided application details and deadlines.

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