Redress gains labor and Jackson support, and JACL reorganizes its program

Vol. 98, No. 9, March 9, 1984. 12 pages. View this issue

Redress led the front page of this March 1984 issue. The AFL-CIO executive council endorsed legislation for compensation to Japanese American internees, and Asians for Jesse Jackson announced that the presidential candidate backed swift passage of HR 4110 and S 2116. The JACL national board reorganized its redress program, with John Tateishi directing operations and Minoru Yasui chairing a new advisory council. Yasui also wrote about the House sub-committee handling HR 4110. California recognized Feb. 19 as a Day of Remembrance each year, and Alameda County compensated seven Nisei for wartime job loss.

Elsewhere in the 12 pages, Random House ordered 21,500 copies of John Tateishi’s oral history “And Justice For All,” and Harry Honda reviewed “Little Tokyo: 100 Years in Pictures.” Bill Hosokawa described a night of Noh in Colorado, John F. Aiso wrote about MIS Nisei, and several chapters reported installations and scholarships.

What’s in this issue

National

• AFL-CIO Leaders Endorse Redress Legislation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The AFL-CIO executive council issued a resolution on Feb. 23 endorsing the recommendations of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians and legislation providing monetary compensation to Japanese American internees. Congressional sponsors of HR 4110, including Jim Wright, Norman Mineta, and Robert Matsui, welcomed the labor federation’s support as a significant boost to redress efforts.
• Jackson Endorses Nikkei Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Asians for Jesse Jackson announced that the presidential candidate issued a statement calling for swift passage of HR 4110 and S 2116, with amendments addressing fund allocation and parity for the Aleuts. Bill Chong, national campaign vice chair, called Jackson ‘the only hope left for Asian Americans’ after Sen. Alan Cranston dropped out of the race.
• Asian Lecturer Settles with U. Calif., by P.C. Staff, page 1. Merle Woo, fired from her UC Berkeley teaching post in 1982, announced a settlement in her discrimination case on Feb. 17. The board of regents approved a two-year teaching contract, a $48,584 cash settlement, and $25,000 in attorney’s fees for Woo, who said she was fired for being an outspoken trade unionist, lesbian, and socialist.
• National Group Protests Use of Asian Stereotypes in Denver Fundraiser, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Guests at a Jan. 28 fundraiser for the Asian Art Association of the Denver Art Museum dressed as stereotyped Chinese characters like Charlie Chan, Fu Manchu, and Suzie Wong, prompting a furious response from the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA). OCA executive director Laura Chin called the event a disgusting perpetuation of stereotypes and urged the museum to build closer ties with the Chinese American community.
• Japanese Gov’t Honors Political Scientist, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. John Maki, professor emeritus at UMass Amherst, was honored by the Japanese government with the Third Class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure for his decades of work in Japanese studies. Deputy Consul General Masukane Mukai praised Maki’s 30 years of teaching and his contributions to U.S.-Japan relations.
• Asians a Minority for Commerce Dept., by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Dept. of Commerce announced Feb. 6 that Americans of Asian Pacific ancestry are now eligible for business development assistance from the Minority Business Development Agency. Rep. Sala Burton noted the expansion of the ‘socially or economically disadvantaged minorities’ designation, previously limited to Black, Hispanic, Native American, Eskimo, or Aleut Americans.

Community

• Virginians Oppose Viet Temple, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Vietnamese residents of Fairfax County, Virginia seeking to build a Buddhist pagoda faced opposition from neighbors over traffic and size concerns, with the county board of zoning appeals set to hear the matter March 6. Temple committee chair Frank Vinh defended the project, noting worship occurs quietly and in small groups.
• People in the News, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Honolulu District Judge Marie Milks was appointed to the Oahu circuit court bench by Gov. George Ariyoshi; Gov. John Spellman of Washington appointed Michiko Fujii to the state board of tax appeals; and Sen. Spark Matsunaga named 20 Nikkei nominees to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Merchant Marine Academy.
• Asians to Gather for Statewide Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian Pacific American Advocates of California will hold its third annual statewide conference on March 10 in Sacramento, themed ‘Bigotry and Violence: Barriers to Asian Pacific Americans Becoming or Being Full-Fledged Americans.’ Thirteen workshops will cover topics from redress and violence against APAs to bilingual ballots and media stereotypes.
• Fresno Reunion Slated for Autumn, by Mike Iwatsubo, page 3. Committees have formed to plan a reunion of pre-war Fresno Nihonmachi residents, scheduled for Sept. 28-30 with a tour, banquet, dancing, and picnic. Chisato Ohara is coordinating registration and invitations for the gathering of former Fresnans expected from across the U.S. and Japan.
• Lodi Chapter Hears Ikeda on Politics; Installs Takeda, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Lodi JACL held its installation banquet Jan. 21 at On Lock Sam’s, swearing in Dr. Ken Takeda as president and featuring keynote speaker Glenda Ikeda on Asian involvement in politics. Special acknowledgments went to several members for maintaining the Lodi Community Hall.
• Toriyama Heads Diablo Valley JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Akiko Toriyama was installed as president of the Diablo Valley JACL Chapter at Oaks Golf Club on Jan. 29, continuing a family legacy since her husband George presided over the pre-war Contra Costa Chapter. National JACL program director Lia Shigemura installed the 1984 officers.
• Arizona Chapter Offers Student Aid, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Arizona JACL announced eight scholarships available in addition to those offered by the national organization, with an application deadline of March 16. Interested students were directed to contact Doris Asano in Phoenix for forms.
• Sac’to JACL Travel Plans for ’84 Set, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Sacramento JACL scheduled three tours for 1984: a European tour escorted by Tom Okubo, a Japan tour for first-timers with Frank Oshita, and a Caribbean cruise escorted by Harry Inouye. Arrangements are handled through Miyamoto Travel in Sacramento.
• Tri-chapter JACL Installation Held, by P.C. Staff, page 8. About 150 people attended a combined installation dinner for the Venice-Culver, Marina, and Torrance JACL chapters on Jan. 28 at the Hacienda Hotel, featuring entertainment including a tap dancing group and psychic consultants. Marina Chapter presented awards to outgoing president Ed Goka and volunteer Akimi Kodama.

Incarceration & Redress

• 7 Nisei Compensated for Job Loss, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Alameda County board of supervisors chair John George presented $5,000 checks to seven former county employees at a ceremony in a Berkeley church on Feb. 21, apologizing on behalf of the county for their wartime job loss. George pledged that the error would never be repeated.
• Calif. to Remember Every Feb. 19, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California state legislature issued a resolution recognizing Feb. 19 of each year as a Day of Remembrance to reflect on constitutional and moral rights. Clifford Uyeda, past JACL national president, credited Karen Sonoda and Margine Sako for helping secure the resolution.
• Sequoia Chapter Honors Wartime Friends, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The Sequoia Chapter honored 16 white Peninsula residents who helped Japanese Americans during WW2 internment and resettlement at its 32nd annual installation banquet on Jan. 29. Honoree Gerda Isenberg praised the discipline of Japanese Americans in not resisting internment, while speakers highlighted the courage of both those who helped and those who fought the internment order legally.

JACL

• National Board Adopts Recommendations of Committee Chairs, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL national board, meeting Feb. 24-26 in San Francisco, accepted the resignation of Washington representative Ronald K. Ikejiri effective Sept. 30, tightened resolution submission processes, and approved streamlined membership renewal procedures. Several national committee chairs presented proposals to the board, and the redress program was reorganized with an additional $42,225 granted.
• JACL Redress Program: New Lines of Authority Drawn; Clearinghouse Set Up, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The national board approved a major revamping of the JACL redress program, placing operational authority with redress director John Tateishi and general policy with a new National Advisory Council chaired by Minoru Yasui. Bill Yoshino was named to direct a new clearinghouse coordinating information between chapters and national coordinators, with Tateishi reporting 92 House co-sponsors for HR 4110.
• National Board: Campaign Spending, Membership, and Other Actions, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The JACL national board approved a $1,000 guideline for campaign spending at conventions, a plan to develop corporate membership strategy, and a proposed computerized membership renewal system. The board also addressed resolutions procedures, legal tax-deduction guidance for convention delegates, and MIS veterans’ concerns about JACL’s objections to the television drama ‘Sanga Moyu.’
• Ikejiri to Leave JACL Post; Successor Sought for Work on Nation’s Capitol Hill, by P.C. Staff, page 7. National JACL president Floyd Shimomura announced that Washington representative Ronald K. Ikejiri will leave the organization effective Sept. 30 at the end of his contract. The national board resolved to hire his successor as an employee rather than independent contractor and form a search committee to identify candidates.
• Four Chapters Lead Membership Contest, by P.C. Staff, page 10. National JACL’s membership contest, launched in January 1984, shows Olympia, Honolulu, Carson, and Watsonville chapters leading in percentage and numerical membership increases across three size groups. Winning chapters will receive $250 awards to be presented at the 28th Biennial Convention in Honolulu in August.

Obituaries

• Rev. Juhei C. Kono, 86, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Rev. Juhei C. Kono, Hiroshima-born pastor emeritus of Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church in Seattle, died Feb. 14 at age 86. He is survived by his wife Hisako, three sons, two daughters, and a sister in Japan.
• Sandra Ann Megumi Tagawa, 33, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sandra Ann Megumi Tagawa of Hacienda Heights, California, died Feb. 23 at Queen of the Valley Hospital due to an auto accident. She is survived by her husband Don Katsumi, son Kevin Masaru, sister Jeanne Kaneko, and her parents.

In-Depth

• Historian Uncovers Gen. Patton’s Plan to Detain JA Leaders of Hawaii in 1930s, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Historian Michael Slackman discovered a 1930s plan devised by Gen. George Patton calling for the detention of 128 Japanese American leaders in Hawaii, which was never implemented. The list included individuals who later became prominent judges and legislators, based on the assumption that Japanese Americans would form a disloyal ‘fifth column.’
• Little Tokyo Life (No. 8): ‘100 Years in Pictures’, by Harry Honda, page 12. Harry Honda reviews the new pictorial history book ‘Little Tokyo: 100 Years in Pictures,’ compiled from over 65,000 photographs by Visual Communications and Asian American Studies Central for the Little Tokyo Centennial. The 168-page book features historic images and text covering six periods of Japanese American history in Los Angeles from 1885 to 1984.

Commentary

• Focus on a Sub-committee, by Minoru Yasui, page 4. Minoru Yasui details the House sub-committee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations handling HR 4110, chaired by Sam B. Hall of Texas, and identifies the members whose support must be secured. He calls on JACLers with contacts to Democrats Mazzoli and Boucher, and Republicans McCollum and Shaw, to reach out in support of redress legislation.
• East Wind: Encounters with Nisei in Japan, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Bill Marutani recounts chance encounters with fellow Nisei while traveling in Japan, including meeting Eiichi Sakauye in a Hiroshima hotel lobby and a surprising phone operator connection during his Army occupation service in Kyushu. He reflects on how common such unexpected meetings are among Japanese Americans visiting or stationed in Japan.
• Beauty in Florida, by Henry Fukuhara, page 5. A reader describes visiting the Morikami Museum in Delray Beach, Florida, inspired by a prior Pacific Citizen article, praising its beautiful landscaping and exhibits honoring Japanese pioneer farmers including founder George Morikami. He also notes a newly acquired Isamu Noguchi sculpture on display at the museum.
• Additional Nikkei Names for Vietnam War Memorial, by Misato Kozai Heard, Robert M. Akamatsu, M/M Yoshio Wakayama, page 5. Several readers wrote in to add names missing from a previous list of Nikkei soldiers honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, including Kenneth B. Kohei Kozai, Cpl. Tom Dennis Sugiura, and a nephew whose name appears near Ohara, Steve Masao. One letter also sought help identifying a partially visible name, ‘Hachiro,’ possibly matching Hachiro Imae from a separate veterans’ reunion list.
• Night of Noh in Northern Colorado, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa describes attending a rare performance of traditional Japanese Noh drama by a professional company from Japan in Fort Collins, Colorado, filling 260 seats despite the art form’s slow, stylized nature. Despite warnings that dozing off during Noh is acceptable, he found the performance’s dignity and majesty bridged time and civilizations in a worthwhile experience.
• Moral Strength of MIS Nisei: Portrayed by Yamasaki, by John F. Aiso, page 9. John F. Aiso critiques a Pacific Citizen summary of a dialogue between Masayo Duus and author Toyoko Yamasaki regarding her novel ‘Futatsu no Sokoku,’ arguing that important context and nuance were omitted. Aiso defends Yamasaki’s portrayal of MIS Nisei soldiers’ psychological struggles serving against Japan while honoring their American duty, calling for fair and informed criticism of the work.
• Moral Strength of MIS Nisei (continued), by John F. Aiso, page 11. Continuing his analysis, Aiso explains how MIS Nisei, many of them Kibei fluent in Japanese, carried the psychological burden of fighting against the land of their ancestors while proving unwavering loyalty to America. He argues that Yamasaki’s novel sought to correct Japanese misconceptions about occupation-era Nisei by highlighting their serious, highly motivated service.

Arts & Entertainment

• ‘And Justice For All’ Draws Major Random House Order, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Random House ordered 21,500 copies of John Tateishi’s ‘And Justice For All,’ a 288-page oral history of 25 interviews with Nikkei WW2 internment victims, due for May release. National JACL purchased 7,000 copies and will offer a complimentary copy for redress donations of $25 or more, with proceeds potentially generating $80,000 for redress efforts.

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