Sixteen Candles protests, Fujiyoshi’s trial and the JACL scholarship winners

Vol. 99, No. 5, August 3, 1984. 16 pages. View this issue

Asian American reaction to the film “Sixteen Candles” ran through this issue. J.K. Yamamoto reported on community representatives meeting Universal Studios officials over the “Long Duk Dong” character, and Richard Kato reviewed the film on page 2. The front page also followed the eighth hearing in Kobe for Ronald Fujiyoshi, a Sansei on trial for refusing to be fingerprinted as a resident alien, and covered Asian Democrats at the 1984 Democratic National Convention, where Geraldine Ferraro addressed the Asian Pacific Caucus.

Page 6 profiles the 1984 JACL National Scholarship winners, and page 10 and page 12 list chapter scholarship recipients. Ahead of the national convention in Honolulu, readers will find resolutions for the National Council, a convention-night show and omiyage shopping tips. Other pages include a Heart Mountain workshop on Nisei draft resisters, Harry Honda’s column on the Little Tokyo centennial honorees, and columns by Floyd Shimomura and Rose Ochi.

What’s in this issue

National

• Fujiyoshi’s Case Supported by Defense Witness, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A defense witness testified for three hours at the eighth hearing of Ronald Fujiyoshi, a Sansei missionary on trial in Kobe for refusing fingerprinting as a resident alien. The Ministry of Justice also denied Fujiyoshi a re-entry permit before the trial, and the next sessions were set for September, October and December.
• Asians Win Some, Lose Some at Demo Confab, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Asian Democrats organized for greater representation at the 1984 Democratic National Convention but were angered when officials initially failed to invite California Secretary of State March Fong Eu to address the floor. After protests from Asian American leaders, Eu was eventually confirmed to speak on the convention’s last day.
• Ferraro Addresses A/P Democratic Caucus, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Democratic vice-presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro addressed the Asian Pacific Caucus in San Francisco, praising the growth of Asian American political participation. She highlighted her working relationship with Rep. Robert Matsui and Rep. Norman Mineta and commended the caucus’s efforts on redress and platform issues.
• Women’s Group Demands Equality for Koreans in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 16. A delegation of 84 members of the National Korean Women’s Assn. of Japan traveled to the U.S. to file a UN petition seeking to end discriminatory fingerprinting and registration practices against Koreans in Japan. The group, representing 1.8 million signatures, met with officials in San Francisco and presented their petition to UN representatives before touring Los Angeles and Honolulu.

Community

• ‘Sixteen Candles’ Protests Taken to Universal, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. Asian American community representatives met with Universal Studios officials to protest the stereotypical portrayal of the ‘Long Duk Dong’ character in the film ‘Sixteen Candles.’ The group presented demands including hiring an Asian Pacific American in a policy-making role, but no definite commitments were made beyond further talks.
• A-Bombings to Be Commemorated, by P.C. Staff, page 3. San Francisco will hold an interfaith service marking the 39th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, featuring speakers from hibakusha and peace organizations. Similar commemorative events are scheduled in several other U.S. and Canadian cities including San Jose, Fresno, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, New York, and Toronto.
• Little Tokyo’s 100, by Harry Honda, page 8. This Little Tokyo Life column details the controversy and the process behind selecting 30 living and 70 deceased honorees recognized at the Little Tokyo Centennial celebration dinner. The column lists honorees and explains how community groups were asked to nominate individuals who contributed to Little Tokyo’s growth over its 100-year history.
• Chapter Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Multiple JACL chapters including Cleveland, Contra Costa, Fresno A.L.L., East Los Angeles, Fowler, Marysville, and Milwaukee announced their 1984 scholarship recipients. The article details the academic and extracurricular achievements of each winning student along with their college plans.
• Conventioneers to Face No Omiyage Woes in Hawaii, by Christine Froechtenigt, page 11. The Honolulu JACL chapter has arranged for a one-stop omiyage shopping booth at the Pacific Beach Hotel for convention attendees, offering Hawaiian treats, liqueurs, music, and gifts. The article highlights various local shops and products including macadamia nuts, Island recording artists, aloha attire, and books about Japanese American history in Hawaii.
• Chapter Scholarships (Fremont, Monterey, Philadelphia, Placer), by P.C. Staff, page 12. Fremont, Monterey Peninsula, Philadelphia, and Placer County JACL chapters announced their scholarship winners, including new awards like the Tom Kitayama Jr. Memorial Scholarship and the S/Sgt Masa Sakamoto Memorial Award. The article also describes the Okei Memorial Achievement Awards given to students at Gold Trail Elementary School.
• Two JAs Hurt in Sidewalk Tragedy, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Manami Kano, 13, and Walter Fujita, 15, both of Los Angeles were among 57 people injured when a psychologically disabled driver drove a car onto a sidewalk at Westwood and Weyburn, killing one person. Both youths were released the same evening after receiving medical attention.

Arts & Entertainment

• ‘Sixteen Candles’: A Dreary Exercise in Asian Stereotypes, by Richard Kato, page 2. A reviewer analyzes the movie ‘Sixteen Candles’ and its stereotyped Asian character Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, arguing the character is subhuman and lacks balance due to the absence of other Asian characters. The review notes some positive and negative aspects while condemning the overall offensive portrayal.

Incarceration & Redress

• Workshop on Nisei Resisters Offered, by P.C. Staff, page 3. East West Players is hosting an ‘art meets history’ workshop where Asian American writers and artists will discuss WWII camp resistance with former Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee members. The workshop, led by playwright Frank Chin, aims to develop a play about the controversial history of Nisei draft resisters.

JACL

• Harada to Headline Convention Night, by Karleen Chinen, page 3. Japan’s foremost minyo singer Naoyuki Harada will headline ‘Furusato Matsuri: Festival of Japanese Folk Songs’ at the JACL national convention in Honolulu. The show will also feature comedian Frank DeLima and local performers Teddy and Nanci Tanaka.
• Summary of Resolutions for Consideration by National Council, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A list of resolutions to be considered at the National Council convention, covering topics including Korean minority rights in Japan, political action committees, concerns about stereotypes in ‘Futatsu no Sokoku,’ senior citizen membership fees, and U.S./Japan relations. Additional resolutions on ‘Year of the Bible’ and ethnic concerns were also proposed by the ethnic concerns committee.
• 1984 National JACL Scholarship Winners, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Pacific Citizen profiles numerous recipients of national JACL scholarships across freshman, undergraduate, and graduate categories, detailing their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and future educational plans. Winners include students pursuing fields from engineering and medicine to the arts and law.
• Ochi Outlines Platform for Membership Services, by Rose Ochi, page 14. National JACL Vice President for Membership Rose Ochi describes her efforts to develop membership programs including a national development contest and streamlined renewal processing. She also details her advocacy work on redress testimony before the Democratic National Committee and her background as a civil rights attorney interned during WWII.

Commentary

• The Flickers, by Bill Marutani, page 4. In this East Wind column, the author reminisces about attending Japanese movie nights as a child with Issei parents, recalling both samurai action films and melodramatic tearjerkers. He reflects on the cultural experience of Japanese cinema and video, from community hall screenings to modern video cassettes.
• Give Your Vote of Confidence, by Henry Sakai, page 5. In this By the Board column, the author describes the Pacific Citizen’s financial struggles and the need for a new typesetter and larger office space as the paper’s rent subsidy ends. He thanks readers for over $2,900 in contributions already received and asks for continued support to build an operating reserve.
• Caucusing, by Miki Himeno, page 5. In this By the Board column, the author discusses the tradition of district caucuses at JACL conventions and suggests innovative scheduling to balance serious business with enjoying Hawaii’s attractions. She also comments on Geraldine Ferraro’s vice presidential nomination and raises questions about youth delegate certification and proxy voting rules.
• Looking Toward the Future, by Michael H. Otsuka, page 7. A scholarship essay winner reflects on his generation’s responsibility to engage with global problems despite the absence of a defining cause like Vietnam or civil rights. He argues JACL must pursue redress while also addressing broader issues like model minority myths and fostering understanding among minority groups.
• Responses to Plea, page 11. Several readers wrote in with donations and supportive messages following the Pacific Citizen’s recent fundraising plea, expressing appreciation for the newspaper’s role in connecting isolated Japanese American communities. A letter also raises concerns about PC’s editorial direction and independence from JACL’s administrative structure.
• Macrobiotic Diets, by Mitsuo Tomita, M.D., page 11. A letter writer criticizes a previous Pacific Citizen article on macrobiotic diets for potentially fostering false beliefs about cancer treatment, citing American Cancer Society findings that macrobiotic diets offer no proven benefit against cancer. He urges the PC to publish corrective information to prevent readers from wasting time and money on unproven therapies.
• Canadian Story, by J.B., page 11. A reader inquires about the publisher of ‘Nikkei Legacy: The Story of the Japanese Canadian from Settlement to Today’ by Toyo Takata. The response directs the reader to New Canada Publications in Toronto.
• Recruiting Younger Nikkei, by B.J. Watanabe, page 12. The New York JACL chapter president argues that recruiting and developing Sansei members in their mid-twenties to late forties is a critical but underaddressed issue for the organization. He highlights a proposed convention resolution to form a Recruitment and Leadership Development Committee to address this gap.
• Letter from Japan, by Floyd Shimomura, page 13. National JACL President Floyd Shimomura reflects on receiving a thank-you note from scholarship recipient Steven Seto studying in Japan, recalling his own formative experience studying at International Christian University in 1968-69. He discusses JACL’s priority of developing stronger U.S.-Japan relations programming amid trade tensions and historical distortions in Japanese media.

In-Depth

• Idaho-Oregon Obon, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Daily Argus Observer of Ontario, Oregon published a 16-page special section about the 38th annual Obon Festival at the Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple, filled with ads from Japanese American businesses. The article describes the history of Japanese Americans in the Treasure Valley area and the cooperative relationship between the Buddhist and Methodist churches there.

Obituaries

• Rev. Hiroshi J. Yamashita, 72, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Rev. Hiroshi J. Yamashita, a retired Oakland-born Methodist minister, died July 23 from a heart condition. He is survived by his wife Asako, daughters, and several siblings across the country.
• Rev. Chozo Haruyama, 89, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Rev. Chozo Haruyama, a Fukushima-native Methodist minister, died July 16 in Tsujido, Japan. He had served multiple churches including Blaine Memorial in Seattle, Wesley in San Jose, and churches in Brawley and Oakland, California.
• Lloyd Y. Matsumoto, 48, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Lloyd Y. Matsumoto, a Lockheed Missiles & Space test engineer from San Jose, died June 2. He was active with the San Jose Buddhist Church, serving as board president in 1984, and as scoutmaster of Troop 611, and is survived by his wife Lois and three children.

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