Redress hearings set, and the passing of Hito Okada

Vol. 98, No. 14, April 13, 1984. 12 pages. View this issue

Redress led the front page of this 12-page issue. JACL Washington Representative Ron Ikejiri reported that House and Senate subcommittee hearings on redress bills S 2116 and HR 4110 had been scheduled, with the Senate hearing confirmed for June 1 in West Los Angeles. Inside, Rep. Leon Panetta announced he would co-sponsor the Civil Liberties Act of 1983, and Minoru Yasui reviewed John Tateishi’s book ‘And Justice for All.’ Ron Wakabayashi’s Musubi column described how the national JACL board set up the redress campaign under Tateishi. The paper also marked the death of Hito Okada, founder of the JACL 1000 Club and national JACL president from 1946 to 1950, in a tribute by Harry Honda.

Elsewhere, Karen Seriguchi reported from the California Democratic Party’s Asian Pacific Caucus convention, and Bill Hosokawa’s columns told of Japanese American resettlement in Madison, Wisconsin, and of Japanese baseball gloves. Chapter news ran on pages 9 and 10, and page 12 carried a Canadian commission’s recommendation of monetary redress for Japanese Canadians.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

  • Senate Hearing on Redress Bill Set, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL Washington Representative Ron Ikejiri reported that Senate and House subcommittee hearings on redress bills S 2116 and HR 4110 have been scheduled, with the Senate hearing confirmed for June 1 in West Los Angeles. Supporters including Reps. Matsui and Mineta expressed optimism that the hearings represent a major step forward for redress legislation.
  • ‘…And Justice For All’, by Minoru Yasui, page 8. This Redress Phase Five column reviews John Tateishi’s new book ‘And Justice for All,’ a 288-page oral history compilation of 25 Japanese Americans’ experiences in WW2 incarceration camps, published by Random House. Yasui praises the book’s emotional power and notes that proceeds will fund the JACL redress campaign.
  • Canadian Commission Recommends Monetary Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The House of Commons Commission on Visible Minorities presented a report to Canadian parliament recommending monetary redress for Japanese Canadians interned during WW2, along with a public acknowledgment of wrongdoing. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau expressed reluctance to pursue compensation, citing concerns about where such redress efforts would end historically.

National

  • Asian American Democrats: Getting Involved in Political Process Means Clear Goals, Hard Work, by Karen Seriguchi, page 1. At the California Democratic Party’s Asian Pacific Caucus convention in Los Angeles, high-ranking state officials including Rep. Norman Mineta and Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy urged about 160 attendees to build political power through voter registration and coalition-building. A straw poll on presidential candidates favored Mondale, followed by Jackson and Hart, and the event honored six Asian Pacific political pioneers.
  • ‘No Fingerprinting,’ Say Nearly 2 Million, by P.C. Staff, page 2. About 1.8 million signatures were collected on a petition in Japan seeking an end to fingerprinting requirements for foreign citizens under Japan’s alien registration law. Korean organization representatives met with Japanese political party leaders to deliver the protest petitions, calling the requirement a human rights violation.
  • Matsunaga Urges Education Programs for Native Islanders, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sen. Spark Matsunaga urged the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources to adopt recommendations from the Native Hawaiian Educational Assessment Project report. He compared the educational needs of Native Hawaiians to those of Native American Indians, citing federal responsibility toward them.
  • Aid to Marcos Protested, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Seventy persons picketed the Japanese consulate in San Francisco to protest Japan’s plan to loan the Philippines 55 billion yen despite ongoing investigations into the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino. A member of the Coalition Against the Marcos Dictatorship criticized Prime Minister Nakasone’s administration for not supporting the Filipino people’s desire for democracy.
  • Sens. Hold 2 Delegate Votes, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Hawaii Sens. Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga will represent two constituencies at the Democratic national convention in San Francisco as part of the U.S. Senate delegation in addition to the Hawaii delegation. Inouye supports Walter Mondale while Matsunaga remains uncommitted.
  • Immigration to Hit House Floor, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The controversial Simpson-Mazzoli immigration bill is expected to reach the full House of Representatives by early May, with Speaker Tip O’Neill vowing to prevent opponents from blocking its passage. The bill would penalize employers who hire undocumented immigrants and require identification cards for U.S. residents, raising concerns about discrimination against ‘foreign-looking’ job applicants.
  • U.W. to Combine Studies, by P.C. Staff, page 2. University of Washington president William Gerberding announced a plan to consolidate Afro-American, Asian American, and Chicano Studies into a single Department of American Ethnic Studies. Minority students responded with sit-ins and rallies, fearing the merger would force programs to compete for scarce resources and lose their individual focus.
  • Community Rallies Around Laotian Brother Killed in Attack, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Japanese Americans in St. Louis launched a fund-raising drive for Sinhxay Praphavanh, 18, after his brother Khamseng died from injuries sustained in a baseball bat attack by Johnnie Troupe, who has been charged with second-degree murder. The brothers had fled Laos in 1981, and the surviving brother now needs financial support to stay in school.

Community

  • Calif. Honors Leaders in Compensatory Education, by P.C. Staff, page 2. State Superintendent Bill Honig honored 24 principals of compensatory-education schools in California on Feb. 29 for meeting rigorous performance and leadership criteria. The honored schools included 21 elementary, one junior high, and two senior high schools that demonstrated above-expectation academic achievement despite disadvantaged student populations.
  • Entertainers to Perform at Fund-Raiser for Redress Coalition, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The National Coalition for Redress/Reparations is holding a ‘Target: Washington’ fund-raiser at Little Tokyo Towers featuring singer-songwriter Nobuko Miyamoto and comedy troupe Cold Tofu. The event will update attendees on the status of redress legislation and raise funds for NCRR’s congressional advocacy efforts.
  • Sasakawa Donating UCLA $1 Million, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Philanthropist Ryoichi Sasakawa will present UCLA with $1 million to promote its Japan studies program, enabling the university to become the first in the U.S. to promote research projects with Japan in physical and natural sciences. Sasakawa has previously donated to other major initiatives including a bullet train study and the U.S.-Japan Foundation.
  • Jackson Supporters to Gather April 14, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian Pacific Americans for Jesse Jackson holds its first major fund-raiser at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, featuring entertainment by Dom Magwili and Saachiko. The coalition focuses on voter registration drives and has 17 members on the California Democratic primary ballot as Jackson delegates.
  • Panetta Co-Sponsors HR 4110, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Rep. Leon Panetta announced in a letter to Monterey Peninsula JACL president Robert Ouye that he will co-sponsor the Civil Liberties Act of 1983, HR 4110. Ouye noted that Panetta had previously opposed individual payments but changed his mind after meetings with Nikkei community leaders.
  • Tri-Valley Serves Community, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Tri-Valley chapter JACL completed three 1983 community service projects: awarding two $200 scholarships, donating multimedia haiku kits to local school districts, and donating a list of Japanese American-themed books to the Dublin Public Library. Community service co-chairs were Donna Yokomizo and Alice Morioka under chapter president Dr. Henry Kitajima.
  • NCWNP District Council to Award Achievements of High School Seniors, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The N. Calif./W. Nevada/Pacific district JACL is accepting applications for its scholastic achievement award, open to high school seniors who are JACL-JAYs members or children of JACL members. The award recognizes scholastic and extracurricular achievement regardless of financial need, with applications due by June 30.
  • JACLers Host Lima Visitor in L.A., by P.C. Staff, page 9. Local JACLers hosted a Little Tokyo dinner for Asako Kaneshige of Lima, Peru, who was visiting her sister Martha Tamashiro, reviving memories of the last PANA convention in Peru. Mrs. Kaneshige had previously hosted a surprise luncheon for touring JACLers in Lima.
  • Monterey Peninsula Installs Ouye, by P.C. Staff, page 10. More than 120 members and friends attended the Monterey Peninsula JACL installation dinner where Robert Ouye, former mayor of Marina, was installed as president. Several local mayors and officials attended, and Pacific Grove proclaimed the day ‘Bob Ouye Day’ in his honor.
  • Orange County JACL Easter Egg Hunt Set for April 21, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The annual Orange County JACL Easter egg hunt will be held at the Garden Grove Community Center with help from the So-Phis and O.C. Asian Youth Club. Colored eggs and prizes will be provided for the many children expected to attend.
  • Berkeley Chapter Hosts Park and Park Performance, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Poe and Masumi Park of Tokyo will perform a wide range of traditional Japanese and Korean folk songs to hard rock music at the N. Berkeley Senior Center. The performance is co-sponsored by the Nikkei Senior Center and Japanese Community Center of the East Bay.
  • West Valley Chapter Holds Annual Bridge/Bowling Night, by P.C. Staff, page 10. West Valley JACL chapter is holding its yearly bridge and bowling night with dinner prepared by committee chairpersons Ray Uchiyama and Tom Kamimori. Members pay a small fee for the meal and bring their own table service before heading to Saratoga Lanes to bowl.
  • Fowler Chapter Hears Talk on Fog and Fruit Production, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Fresno County farm advisor Frank Yoshikawa gave a slide-show lecture on the importance of fog for fruit crop production at the Fowler JACL annual dinner meeting. Chapter president Tad Nakamura also announced the upcoming Fowler community picnic in Fresno.
  • Seattle Workshop to Explore Nikkei Awareness, by P.C. Staff, page 10. A day-long workshop titled ‘Nikkei Awareness: The Unique Experience of Growing Up as a Japanese American’ will be held at Blaine Methodist Church featuring psychologist Jim Morishima as keynote speaker. Discussion topics include Nikkei personality, interracial dating, and career advancement issues for Sansei and Yonsei.

Arts & Entertainment

  • Tokyo Ballet Group to Celebrate 25th Anniversary with United States Tour, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Tokyo Ballet Group performs at Zellerbach Auditorium on the U.C. Berkeley campus and later in Los Angeles as part of its first American tour celebrating its 25th anniversary. The company, known for blending Japanese traditional dance with Western ballet, features guest artist Yuriko Kimura, principal dancer of the Martha Graham Dance Company.

JACL

  • More Than a Committee, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 4. The Musubi column describes how the national JACL board has approved an operational structure placing John Tateishi in charge of the daily redress campaign, with the board assuming direct policy responsibility. The piece calls on individual members to leverage personal relationships and get involved in the political process during this election year.
  • Midwest District Council to Convene in Cincinnati, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Nine Midwest JACL chapters will convene for the district council meeting in Cincinnati, featuring a speech by redress director John Tateishi and a political skills workshop led by Matt Abe and Hank Tanaka. The host chapter is covering registration fees for chapter youth.

Commentary

  • Behind Every Successful JACL Leader…, by Miki Himeno, page 4. This Women’s Concerns column highlights the unsung women of the East Los Angeles JACL chapter, including Mable Yoshizaki, Michi Obi, and Mattie Furuta, who have sustained chapter operations for decades. The author argues that JACL’s success depends on contributions from women as much as from its recognized male leaders.
  • Japanese at the Door!, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. In this From the Frying Pan column, guest writer Edwin O. Kennedy recounts the resettlement of the Nomura family and other Japanese Americans in Madison, Wisconsin during WW2, describing the initial hostility and eventual acceptance by the community. The piece follows Helen, an orphan who was taken in by Kennedy’s family, and the enduring friendships and gratitude expressed by the resettled families despite their wartime suffering.
  • Japanese Gloves Better Than Players, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. This Frying Pan column describes how Japanese company Mizuno has become a leader in baseball equipment innovation, including bullet-proof nylon gloves and electronic training gadgets, even though Japanese players are not yet competitive with American major leaguers. Cappy Harada clarifies that Japanese baseball still lags behind the American major leagues despite business successes.
  • EDC Status Clarified, by Grayce K. Uyehara, page 8. EDC Redress Chairperson Grayce Uyehara responds to a letter from New England chapter president Kei Kaneda clarifying a misunderstanding about Min Yasui’s article regarding the chapter’s redress campaign coverage. She explains the history of the New England chapter’s revival, the division of congressional coverage among Eastern districts, and welcomes the chapter back to the redress effort.

Sports

  • Wasatch Front North Sponsors Invitational Basketball Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Wasatch Front North Chapter JACL is sponsoring an invitational basketball tournament at the National Guard Armory in Layton, Utah, limited to the first 12 teams to register. Teams must meet guidelines including Asian American ancestry requirements and limits on players with college basketball experience.

Obituaries

  • Hito Okada Was JACL Personified, by Harry Honda, page 11. Hito Okada, founder of the JACL 1000 Club and national JACL president from 1946-50, passed away April 5 at a Salt Lake City nursing home after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. The tribute recounts his decades of service including 33 years with the National JACL credit union and his role in launching JACL’s postwar legislative campaigns.
  • Hisao L. Masuyama, 61, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Hisao L. Masuyama of Gardena, an MIS/Korean War veteran and career Army officer, died April 3; he was the first California Nisei elected VFW Department commander. After his military service he became a schoolteacher active in community and veteran affairs, survived by his wife, children, brother, and sister.
  • Thomas G. Tayama, 73, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Thomas G. Tayama of Los Angeles, a Placer County Nisei active in the restaurant trade before the war, died April 2; he later worked as a sports consultant and interpreter for Fuji-TV and Nippon TV. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, brother, and sisters.

Military & Veterans

  • Tokunaga Appointed FBI Section Chief, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Don S. Tokunaga, a 15-year FBI veteran, has been appointed section chief of the special projects section in the laboratory division at FBI headquarters. He began his career as a special agent in San Antonio and Los Angeles before serving in various training, inspection, and administrative roles.

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