Jesse Jackson in Little Tokyo and the redress fight in court and Congress

Vol. 98, No. 20, May 25, 1984. 16 pages. View this issue

The front page carried Jesse Jackson’s May 17 speech in Little Tokyo, where J.K. Yamamoto reported he addressed a crowd of roughly 700 on Asian American concerns, including the World War II incarceration (often called internment) and reparations. Two redress stories ran beside it: a federal judge dismissed the $24 billion class action lawsuit brought by the National Council for Japanese American Redress, and another judge ordered an evidentiary hearing on Gordon Hirabayashi’s coram nobis petition. Inside, Minoru Yasui outlined upcoming sub-committee hearings, and Ron Ikejiri reported that the House redress bill, HR 4110, had reached 100 sponsors.

Also in this issue: Memorial Day tributes to Nikkei servicemen, a list of Nikkei names on the Vietnam Memorial, and Allen Okamoto’s account of serving in the 442nd. Harry Honda’s Little Tokyo Life series visited Seinan-ku, Bill Hosokawa wrote from Ontario, Oregon, and Misao K. Sakamoto described a visit to Sao Paulo. JACL news covered the membership contest, scholarships and the coming convention in Honolulu.

What’s in this issue

National

• Jesse Jackson Courts Asian Votes for California Primary, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. Rev. Jesse Jackson became the first presidential candidate to speak in Little Tokyo, addressing a crowd of roughly 700 about Asian American concerns including WW2 internment, reparations, and opposition to the Simpson-Mazzoli immigration bill. He also criticized corporate America for the Japan-trade backlash and the murder of Vincent Chin, while promoting his ‘Rainbow Coalition’ theme of multi-racial unity.
• School District Charged With Failing to Provide Enough Bilingual Classes, page 2. The U.S. Office for Civil Rights found the Oakland School District in violation of Title VI for failing to implement its Bilingual Master Plan and provide equal education for limited English proficient students. A related class action suit was also filed by parents in Alameda County Superior Court.
• New Alcoholism Program Approved, page 2. The Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee approved demonstration projects to benefit Native Hawaiians suffering from alcoholism, according to Sen. Spark Matsunaga. The projects are part of a bill reauthorizing federal alcohol and drug abuse institutes for three more years.
• Panel to Study Attacks on Minorities, page 2. California Attorney General John Van de Kamp announced creation of a Commission on Racial, Ethnic, Religious and Minority Violence to study prejudice-motivated crimes. JACL Pacific Southwest regional director John Saito is among the 16 members.
• Vincent Chin’s Mother to Be Honored, page 2. Lily Chin, whose son’s 1982 death stirred Asian American communities nationwide, will visit the Bay Area to receive community honors including an award from the Asian Law Caucus. The trial of Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz, charged with killing Vincent Chin, begins June 5 in Detroit.
• Ariyoshi Amused by Fasi’s Switch, page 2. Hawaii Gov. George Ariyoshi reacted with amusement to the news that his rival, former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi, switched from Democrat to Republican. Fasi announced the switch in an attempt to recapture the mayoralty.
• New Physics Prize Established in Memory of Particle Theorist Sakurai, page 15. The American Physical Society established the J.J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics, a $5,000 annual award honoring the late UCLA physicist who died in 1982. The prize committee includes Nobel laureates Julian Schwinger and Sheldon Glashow among other distinguished physicists.
• Japan Eases Restrictions on Nationality, page 16. Japan’s Diet liberalized its nationality laws, extending citizenship to children whose mother or father is Japanese, affecting an estimated 40,000 children. A related measure also allows foreigners to retain their original names instead of requiring Japanese name changes, as exemplified by sumo wrestler Jesse Kuhaulua and baseball manager Sadaharu Oh.

Incarceration & Redress

• Internees’ Class Action Lawsuit Dismissed, page 1. A federal judge dismissed the $24 billion class action lawsuit filed by the National Council for Japanese American Redress (NCJAR) on behalf of WW2 internees, citing the statute of limitations. NCJAR chair William Hohri expressed disappointment and said an appeal is likely, calling the decision a failure of the judicial system to repair an obvious injury.
• Judge Orders Hearing on Gov’t Misconduct in 1942 Test Case, page 1. Federal judge Donald Voorhees ordered an evidentiary hearing on Gordon Hirabayashi’s petition for a writ of error coram nobis, overriding Justice Department pleas to keep the case closed. The hearing will examine whether government officials suppressed evidence to wrongly convict Hirabayashi of violating WW2 curfew and exclusion orders.
• DNC Urged to Back Compensation, page 2. JACL national vice president Rose Matsui Ochi told the Democratic National Committee’s platform committee that redress was a civil rights priority, speaking at one of six hearings held nationwide. Ochi argued monetary redress is founded in American jurisprudence as a remedy for government violations.
• Jewish Agency Supports Redress, page 2. The American Jewish Committee voted at its annual meeting to support monetary compensation for interned Japanese Americans. AJC attorney Samuel Rabinove said justice requires something more than an apology.
• Redress Phase Five: Sub-Committee Hearings, by Minoru Yasui, page 6. JACL redress chair Minoru Yasui outlines upcoming sub-committee hearings led by Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Sam B. Hall, urging constituents to contact committee members in support of redress legislation. He warns that the 98th Congress will likely adjourn without definitive action, requiring the legislative process to restart in 1985.

Community

• Cultural Center Raises First Million, page 2. San Francisco’s Visions ’80 fund-drive for the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California hit the $1 million mark with a $10,000 pledge from George Okamoto. The center is scheduled to begin construction later in the year and will house non-profit service groups and community programs.
• Mayor Washington Establishes City Panel on Asian American Affairs, page 2. Chicago Mayor Harold Washington issued an executive order establishing a mayor’s advisory committee on Asian American affairs, including JACL Midwest regional director Bill Yoshino. The city also established an Asian Desk within the Commission on Human Relations and declared Asian American Week.
• Asian American Issues Focus of Debate Among Candidates’ Supporters, page 2. Representatives of the three Democratic presidential candidates will present their stands to the Asian Pacific community at a San Francisco forum May 31. Mabel Teng, Lorna Takahara Strand, and Barbara Lee will speak for Jackson, Mondale, and Hart campaigns respectively.
• Ethnic Groups Forming Coalition, page 2. A national federation of American cultural and language communities is being formed, comprising representatives from various ethnic groups including Japanese Americans, with its first meeting set for May 24-27. The non-profit organization aims to educate the public on maintaining ethnic languages and cultures.
• JARs Honor County GOP Incumbents, page 2. Japanese American Republicans tendered campaign support to three Los Angeles County incumbents at an event attended by close to 200 people. District Attorney Robert Philibosian and Supervisors Mike Antonovich and Deane Dana were honored as keynote speakers.
• Clavell Short Story Contest Accepting Works by Nikkei Writers, page 3. The 6th American-Japanese National Literary Award contest is accepting short story entries, with the winner receiving a $1,000 cash prize and trophy from novelist James Clavell. Entries must incorporate the Japanese American experience and be submitted by June 22, 1984.
• ‘Women Warrior’ Nominations Open, page 8. The Pacific and Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition is accepting nominations through June 18 for the second annual Woman Warrior Awards, recognizing achievements in various fields. Last year’s awardees included Janice Mirikitani and Sandy Ouye Mori among others.
• Chapter Pulse, page 9. Brief chapter news updates cover Carson JACL’s upcoming cultural fair participation, a Seattle JACL program featuring former Japanese Supreme Court Chief Justice Takaaki Hattori, Tri-Valley JACL receiving the 1983 Chapter of the Year award, Seabrook’s 40th anniversary dinner, Sacramento’s community picnic, and Monterey Peninsula’s redress fundraising variety show.
• Service for Abbot Takahashi to Be Held, page 15. Memorial services for Zengan Seytsu Shodo Takahashi, who died in Koyasan, Japan, will be held at Koyasan Buddhist Temple. Takahashi was instrumental in founding Boy Scout Troop 379 and organizing the Japanese Folk Dancing Festival, forerunner of the Nisei Week Festival, during his decades of service as a Shingon priest in Los Angeles.

Commentary

• An Ex-GI Wants to Thank ‘Dear People of Japan’, page 4. Eli Ponich, a 66-year-old former WW2 soldier, wrote a letter recounting how two Japanese soldiers spared his life on Okinawa after he tended to a wounded Japanese boy. He hopes to locate and reward the soldiers and the boy, now grown, decades later.
• Washington Wrap-Up: Redress Update, by Ron Ikejiri, page 6. The House redress bill HR 4110 reached 100 sponsors by the end of April, with 18 new co-sponsors joining since January. House hearings are scheduled for June 20-21, while the Senate companion bill S 2116 has 20 sponsors with a Senate hearing possible in late summer.
• East Wind: What Makes the Nisei Tick, by Bill Marutani, page 6. Columnist Bill Marutani explores Nisei values and codes of honor, including concepts of giri, on, and personal responsibility for family and community integrity. He illustrates this with the example of George Inagaki, who paid off his deceased father’s debts despite having no legal obligation to do so.
• From the Frying Pan: Ontario, Oregon, by Bill Hosokawa, page 7. Columnist Bill Hosokawa recounts his visit to Ontario, Oregon, to attend the Snake River JACL chapter’s 39th annual graduation banquet, describing the area’s history of Japanese American farmers who settled there during WW2 to help with crop harvests. He reflects on how many Sansei have returned to farm using their professional educations, creating a thriving Nikkei community.
• About Our Readers (2): Personal Profile, page 7. The second installment of the 1983 PC Market Survey presents data on marital status distribution among readers across JACL districts, based on a 33% response rate from 2,182 randomly selected subscribers. The survey compares findings to California census data on the broader Japanese American population.
• Letters: A Good Choice, by Tommy Woon, page 7. A letter from Oberlin College’s counselor responds to a previous PC article touting Carleton College, highlighting Oberlin’s long history of serving Japanese Americans including admitting interned students during WW2. The letter details Oberlin’s strong academic record and continued commitment to recruiting Asian American students.
• Letters: Other Heroes, by Eiji Tanaka (E.J. Suyama), page 7. A letter responds to Kats Kunitsugu’s article on ‘No-No Boys,’ defending draft resisters and renunciants who acted out of conscience just as Hirabayashi, Yasui, and Korematsu did. The writer argues these individuals, including those who resisted an unconstitutional renunciation law, deserve to be remembered as heroes too.
• Letters: Apology Is More Important Than Money, by Frank F. Sakamoto, page 7. A letter argues that redress issues of apology and exoneration should be handled separately from monetary reparations, so aging internees can receive apologies while still alive. The writer references the death of Hito Okada, father of the JACL 1000 Club, who did not live to see redress settled.
• Letters: Nice Cartoons, by Noby Yoshimura, page 7. A brief letter compliments cartoonist Peter Hironaka for his work, particularly praising his Gila River Reunion cartoon and his emphasis on positive community highlights. The writer encourages Hironaka to continue his work.
• Letters: Minidoka Reunion?, page 7. A reader inquires whether anyone knows of a Minidoka High School class of ’45 reunion planned for the year and asks to be notified with information. The brief letter seeks community assistance in locating reunion details.
• Nikkei Audience Hears Aihara Give Advice About Macrobiotic Diet, by Joe Oyama, page 10. Herman Aihara of the George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation spoke to Issei and Nisei seniors at a Berkeley nutrition lunch program about dietary health, cautioning against excessive meat, sugar, and supplementary vitamins. He recommended natural brown rice, limited oil use, and moderate fruit consumption for health maintenance.
• By the Board: Government for the People?, by Miki Himeno, page 11. Columnist Miki Himeno reflects on the unsettling experience of aerial malathion spraying for fruit-fly control, drawing comparisons to China’s pesticide-free open markets. She questions how much authority a government should have over its citizens’ lives, invoking concerns about totalitarian overreach.
• Women’s Concerns: An Artist’s Perspective, by Mary Ogawa, page 13. The article discusses how artists rarely face direct workplace prejudice since talent is typically judged before personal identity, fostering camaraderie among creative professionals. The author reflects on how this background builds confidence that can translate into leadership roles within organizations like JACL.

Military & Veterans

• Nakagawa, Yasui to Deliver Talks at Memorial Day Ceremonies, page 4. Memorial Day services across the country will honor Nikkei servicemen, including a Los Angeles ceremony featuring a tribute to 24 Nikkei servicemen killed or missing in Vietnam, with Capt. Gordon Nakagawa as keynote speaker. In San Bruno, JACL redress chair Minoru Yasui will deliver the keynote address at another ceremony.
• Nikkei Names on the Vietnam Memorial, page 5. A compiled list of over 100 Nikkei names found on the Vietnam Memorial was submitted by Sachio Saito and expanded by the Japanese American Veterans Memorial and Reunion Committee chaired by Lance Matsushita. The list aims to help families and friends locate the names of their loved ones among the memorial’s more than 50,000 names.
• Fighting Prejudice, In Uniform or Out, by Allen Okamoto, page 5. A 442nd veteran reflects on his unique experience as an East Coast volunteer who faced prejudice both from white American troops and within Japanese American cliques at Camp Shelby. He recounts the brutal front-line combat experiences and reflects on how non-incarcerated Nisei also suffered trauma, joining the redress fight out of honor for fellow Japanese Americans.

In-Depth

• Little Tokyo Life (No. 18): Seinan-ku, by Harry Honda, page 4. This installment traces the history of Los Angeles’s Seinan-ku (Southwest Ward) Japanese American community from its origins following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake through its peak in the 1930s-1960s. The column details the nurseries, businesses, churches, and demographic changes that shaped the neighborhood over decades.
• A Visit to Sao Paulo… Unique Adventures in Brazil, by Misao K. Sakamoto, page 11. A PANA Convention participant recounts her 1983 visit to Sao Paulo’s Japanese community, exploring the history of Japanese immigration to Brazil beginning in 1908 and observing the vibrant Liberdade (Japantown) district. She also describes Brazil’s social and economic challenges, including poverty, labor unrest, and the country’s innovative sugarcane alcohol fuel program.
• Persons of Consequence, by Nancy Wey, page 12. This historical piece recounts the story of Mrs. Gall, a Japanese immigrant woman in 1870s Eureka, California, who concealed her ethnicity amid intense anti-Chinese sentiment in Humboldt County. The article also documents other early, little-known Japanese American pioneers and argues they deserve recognition as important historical figures despite lacking fame.

JACL

• Down to the Wire: Membership Contest, page 8. National JACL’s membership contest enters its final two months, with chapters competing for awards based on percentage and numerical membership increases compared to the previous year. Awards will be presented at the 28th Biennial Convention in Honolulu this summer.
• ‘And Justice For All’ Gets Strong Response, page 9. JACL’s offering of autographed copies of John Tateishi’s book about WW2 internment experiences has received strong response, with over 400 reservations received. Random House is releasing the book with major advertising and a book tour including TV appearances by Tateishi.
• Eleven Persons Up for Highest Award, by Lily A. Okura, page 12. The committee for Japanese American(s) of the Biennium awards announced five Gold Medallion recipients will serve on the selection panel, including Mike Masaoka and Daniel Inouye. Eleven candidates have been nominated across various categories including arts, politics, education, and business.
• Chapter Scholarships, by David Nakayama, page 13. The national JACL scholarship committee met to select 1984 recipients from thirty national awards totaling over $52,000, while local chapters contribute approximately $25,000 more through their own scholarship programs. The youth director acknowledges numerous participating chapters and invites others to establish local programs.
• MDC Holds Successful Meeting, page 13. Midwest JACL district delegates gathered in Cincinnati for their spring 1984 meeting, featuring a redress workshop led by Hank Tanaka emphasizing direct congressional contact and public outreach strategies. Bill Yoshino presented materials on an upcoming computer system to facilitate communication between grassroots JACLers and national redress headquarters.
• Kudos for Retirement Video, by Mike Ego, page 13. The national aging and retirement committee completed a videocassette documentary about Nisei aging and retirement experiences, created by cinematographer Emiko Omori and previewed favorably in multiple cities. The video, dedicated to the late Henry Ushijima who began the project, will premiere at the national convention in Honolulu.
• W. Valley Awards 3 Scholarships, page 13. West Valley JACL awarded scholarships to three outstanding students: Susan Kaku received $750, Diane Tanabe received the Harold H. Yanagita Memorial Scholarship for $500, and Arnold Kondo received $500. All three demonstrated strong academic achievement and extensive extracurricular involvement.

Arts & Entertainment

• Yoneda’s 60 Years—’Ganbatte: Keep Up the Good Fight!’, by Raymond Okamura, page 10. A book review of Karl Yoneda’s autobiography chronicles his 60-year career as a labor organizer and Communist Party member, detailing his experiences from early labor strikes in Japan to WW2 internment and his controversial alliance with JACL’s pro-American faction at Manzanar. The review praises the book as an absorbing window into lesser-known aspects of Japanese American history.

Obituaries

• Prominent Hood River Nisei Dies, page 15. Mitsuo Takasumi, 72, a pioneer Nisei farmer and lifelong JACL member in Hood River, Oregon, died of apparent heart failure while attending a community event. He was deeply involved in civic affairs, serving as Red Cross chapter president and in numerous other community leadership roles, and is survived by his wife, three children, and a grandchild.

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