Immigration, Bitburg and the Angel Island Issei exhibit

Vol. 100, No. 17, May 3, 1985. 12 pages. View this issue

A Senate immigration bill with stricter penalties for employers led the front page, alongside news that Loni Ding won an Emmy for “Nisei Soldier: Standard Bearer for an Exiled People,” a documentary about the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Also on page one: JACL redress coordinator John Tateishi joined other groups in protesting President Reagan’s planned Bitburg visit, and the Fumiko Kimura case went to trial. Richard Oyama of the Hokubei Mainichi reported on the Angel Island dedication of a photo exhibit honoring the Issei, with remarks from Rep. Norman Mineta and Chester Tanaka.

Inside are columns by Bill Hosokawa and Bob Shimabukuro, who also paid tribute to outgoing editor Karen Seriguchi, plus coverage of the Tri-District JACL convention, a Poston reunion and the San Mateo chapter’s 50th anniversary. Floyd Shimomura closed his series on JACL’s long-range goals, and G. Tim Gojio reported on protests over Senator Paul Trible’s remarks about Asians.

What’s in this issue

National

• Sen. Simpson to Reintroduce Immigration Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senator Alan K. Simpson plans to reintroduce a bill to curb illegal immigration with stricter penalties for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. The bill would offer legal status to those who entered before 1980, but only after a presidential commission certifies reduced illegal employment and entry.
• JACL Joins Other Groups in Bitburg Protest, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL redress coordinator John Tateishi and other ethnic leaders joined Jewish groups in protesting President Reagan’s planned visit to the Bitburg military cemetery in Germany, where Waffen SS soldiers are buried. The joint statement urged Reagan to cancel the visit, saying it would insult victims of the Nazis.
• Kimura to Stand Trial; $100,000 Bail Set, by Katie Kaori Hayashi, page 1. Fumiko Kimura, accused of attempting suicide with her two children at Santa Monica Beach, was ordered to stand trial on murder and child endangerment charges. A preliminary hearing examined translation issues regarding her Miranda rights, and bail was increased to $100,000 over flight risk concerns.
• Trible’s Statement Draws Protests, by G. Tim Gojio, JACL Washington Representative, page 2. Asian American groups expressed outrage after Senator Paul Trible reportedly said ‘Asians have no value for life’ in a Washington Post article about the Vietnam War. JACL and other organizations sent letters of protest, while Trible claimed he was misquoted, though the Post reporter stood by the original quote.
• World Economy Conference Slated, by P.C. Staff, page 6. JACL is among sponsors of a major international conference titled ‘The World Economy and Peace’ scheduled for May 16-18 in Seattle, featuring keynote speaker Paul Volcker and government representatives from multiple countries. The conference aims to help participants understand the world economy and how the existing economic system might adapt to enhance prospects for peace.
• JA Republicans Adopt Resolution on Free Trade, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Japanese American Republicans adopted a resolution supporting President Reagan’s free-trade policies and condemning protectionist sentiment in Congress. JAR President Lance Izumi stated the resolution aims to show that free trade is based on economic principles while condemning anti-Japanese rhetoric among some members of Congress.
• Editorials Say U.S. Also to Blame in Trade Crisis, by Compiled by J.K. Yamamoto, page 11. Despite anti-Japan sentiment in Congress over the trade imbalance, major U.S. newspaper editorials have argued that America bears significant responsibility for the trade deficit, citing the overvalued dollar and American consumer demand for Japanese products. The editorials warned that trade restrictions could hurt American consumers and provoke retaliation, while editorial cartoons have generally taken a harsher anti-Japan stance.

Arts & Entertainment

• Ding Wins Emmy Award for ‘Nisei Soldier’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Loni Ding won an Emmy for producing and directing ‘Nisei Soldier: Standard Bearer for an Exiled People,’ a documentary about the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. It was her fourth Emmy, awarded by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in San Francisco.

In-Depth

• Vietnamese Give Their Viewpoints on War, by Elizabeth Lu, page 1. At a USC conference marking the tenth anniversary of the Vietnam War’s end, panelists debated whether the media, military, or policy-makers bore the most blame for the Indochinese tragedy. Speakers including Dr. Haing Ngor discussed Indochinese perspectives often missing from mainstream war retrospectives, while high school students showed limited knowledge of the conflict.

Incarceration & Redress

• Issei Struggles Recalled at Angel Island, by Richard Oyama, Hokubei Mainichi, page 1. A crowd of 350-500 attended a dedication ceremony at Angel Island for a photo exhibit honoring the Issei, produced by the National Japanese American Historical Society and Go For Broke, Inc. Keynote speaker Rep. Norman Mineta spoke about the Issei immigrant experience and warned against excessive rhetoric in U.S.-Japan trade conflicts.
• Issei Exhibit Dedication Draws Mineta, Honda Reflections, by Richard Oyama, Hokubei Mainichi, page 5. Continuing coverage of the Angel Island exhibit dedication includes remarks from Go For Broke author Chester Tanaka on the connection between Issei struggles and the 442nd/100th Battalion’s achievements. Issei Hisazo Honda recalled his 1919 arrival and one night at Angel Island, while others reflected on the importance of preserving Issei history; the exhibit will later travel to the Smithsonian.

Community

• Anh Mai Killer Pleads Self-Defense, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The trial of Robert Glass Jr. began in Boston for the 1983 killing of Anh Mai and stabbing of three other Vietnamese refugees, with the defense claiming self-defense against a group of Vietnamese youths. Asian community activists criticized the defense’s use of stereotypes and noted other recent anti-Asian violence in the Boston area.
• New Keiro Fund Drive Begins, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Washington Governor Booth Gardner addressed 900 people at a kickoff dinner for Nikkei Concerns/Seattle Keiro’s Expansion Project to raise $2 million for a new nursing care facility. The $6.5 million project will create 150 beds to address a long waiting list, with completion projected for summer 1986.
• Presbyterians to Celebrate Church’s 100th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Rep. Norman Mineta will be guest speaker at the 100th anniversary celebration of Christ United Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, to be held at the Miyako Hotel. The banquet will honor members of over 50 years and feature entertainment by soprano May Murakami.
• Reunion of Sacramentans Slated, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A deadline of May 20 has been set for the first-ever Prewar Sacramento Reunion luncheon, to be held May 27 at the Red Lion Inn. The event will feature a presentation on a study of Japanese American communities in Sacramento by instructor Wayne Maeda.
• Interracial Parent/Child Relationship Examined, by P.C. Staff, page 6. At a Tri-District JACL convention workshop, psychologist Stephen Murphy-Shigematsu discussed the unique experiences of Japanese interracial children, drawing on interviews with multiple families. Panelists and families like the Barbarees and Hirasunas shared how they navigated identity, culture, and community acceptance for their interracial children.
• San Diego Singles to Hold Dance Party, by Joe Nagase, page 7. JACL San Diego chapter will sponsor a singles dance party on May 18 at the historic Hotel Del Coronado, following polling that showed strong interest in such events. The chapter’s singles group was launched in March with speeches by Dr. Harry Kitano and Prof. Midori Watanabe-Kamei.
• LAPD Honors Retiring Founder of Asian Task Force, by P.C. Staff, page 11. LAPD Lt. Jimmy Sakoda was honored by over 700 well-wishers including Police Chief Daryl Gates at a retirement party after 26 years on the force. Sakoda developed the Asian Task Force in 1975 and became the first Japanese American LAPD lieutenant in 1976, later writing a bestselling novel in Japan based on his cases.

Commentary

• Some Old-Fashioned Ethics, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Hosokawa reflects on the stricter discipline of his school days in Kent, Washington, compared to lax attitudes he observed decades later in a Philadelphia classroom. He argues that the Nisei generation’s instilled respect for learning and discipline contrasts with indifference he now sees in workplaces and schools.
• Asian Women: Past and Present, by Bob Shimabukuro, page 4. Shimabukuro writes about discovering the story of Lalu Nathoy, a Chinese immigrant woman sold into slavery who became an independent pioneer in Warrens, Idaho, as told in Ruthanne Lum McCunn’s book ‘A Thousand Pieces of Gold.’ He also pays tribute to outgoing PC editor Karen Seriguchi for her work elevating the newspaper’s quality and reputation.
• Ties That Bind, by Mark S. Ishimatsu, page 4. A letter responding to a previous piece argues that Japanese Americans should reconsider traditional ties to the Democratic Party, contending that government intervention solutions can erode individual liberty and create dependency. The writer argues that individual pursuit of goals, rooted in family values, has worked well for Japanese Americans rather than group-based political solutions.
• Qualified and Confident, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa praises the appointment of Glen S. Fukushima, a Sansei, as Director for Japan in the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, noting his extensive qualifications from Stanford, Harvard, and Keio University. He argues the appointment represents significant progress in that the most competent candidate was chosen without ethnic background being a barrier.
• Wada Gains Respect, by Margaret Saito, page 5. A letter responding to criticism of Yori Wada argues that Wada earned respect long before the redress controversy and that true respect isn’t contingent on agreement with one’s opinions. The writer commends Wada’s courage in expressing his views despite backlash.
• Whereabouts, by Scott A. Sandage, page 5. A scholar researching a biography of entertainer George M. Cohan seeks information about Cohan’s longtime valet, Michio ‘Mike’ Hirano, who may have been sent to a Japanese American internment camp. He asks readers for any information about Hirano’s fate after Cohan’s 1942 death.
• Appreciation, by Harry Sakasegawa, page 5. International Farmers Aid Association trainees donated $30 to the Salinas Kinenhi Restoration Fund to help repair vandalism damage, inspired by news stories about the incident. The trainees expressed gratitude to the Issei and Nisei for laying the foundation that allowed newcomers from Japan to integrate into American society.
• Ethnicity in Ads, by Clifford B. Alterman, page 5. A reader questions the appropriateness of running an ad for the ‘Los Angeles Japanese Casualty Insurance Assn.’ and asks whether a similarly identified ad with a different ethnic designation would be run. The PC general manager responds that ad copy is evaluated on manner of offer, not name, and welcomes directories of other ethnic businesses.
• Iacocca Responsible for ‘Japan Bashing’, by Robert Shimabukuro, page 8. Shimabukuro criticizes Chrysler president Lee Iacocca for contributing to anti-Japanese sentiment through his rhetoric opposing auto import quota extensions, even as Chrysler simultaneously settled lawsuits and formed joint ventures with Japanese companies. He argues Iacocca’s prominence and influence have helped normalize racist stereotypes in American media and business culture.

JACL

• Our Long-Range Goals, by Floyd Shimomura, page 5. In the final installment of a series, Shimomura outlines JACL’s long-range goals regarding U.S.-Japan relations, emphasizing the need to maintain a racially tolerant atmosphere and better understand global business and technology trends. He argues JACL must adapt its civil rights focus to address increasingly international causes affecting domestic issues like anti-Asian violence.
• Beauty a Competitive Asset, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A controversial resolution opposing JACL chapter participation in beauty contests, proposed by the NCWNP Women’s Concerns Committee, was withdrawn before a vote at the Tri-District conference in Fresno. Advocates for queen contests, including Jon Kaji and Deena Hard, argued that pageants provide positive opportunities and serve as public relations assets rather than being demeaning to women.
• JACLers Organize Asian Week Events, by Roy Yoshida, page 7. Placer County Chapter JACL is observing Asian Pacific Heritage Week with cultural exhibits and demonstrations at the new Rocklin Library, coordinated by Kazuko King and James Kaneko. The event features displays of calligraphy, ikebana, kabuki painting, and other Asian cultural artifacts, plus origami and bonsai demonstrations.
• San Mateo Chapter Marks 50th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The San Mateo JACL chapter celebrates its 50th anniversary on May 18 with a dinner-dance at the Clarion Hotel in Millbrae, featuring national JACL president Frank Sato as guest speaker. Former chapter presidents will be honored guests, with music provided by George Yoshida’s band.
• Mile-Hi Chapter Hosts Ansel Adams Exhibit Reception, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mile-Hi Chapter JACL and the Denver Art Museum hosted a reception attended by over 250 people to publicize an exhibit of Ansel Adams’ photographs. National LEC chairman Minoru Yasui spoke at the event, which runs through May 12.
• Who’s Who at Poston Reunion, by Harry Honda, page 7. Approximately 700 former residents of Poston Camp III gathered at the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel for a reunion weekend, reconnecting after decades apart. The event included a formal dinner with speeches, dancing to Tak Shindo’s orchestra, and a Sunday brunch, with many longtime JACLers in attendance.

Obituaries

• Sumio Miyamoto, Sacramento Insurance Man, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Sumio Miyamoto, a Sacramento insurance man and travel agent, died March 16; he was a 1928 charter member of the New Citizens League of San Francisco, one of seven groups that formed JACL. He originated the JACL motto, ‘Security Through Unity.’
• Clarke H. Kawakami, Former USIA Staff Member, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Clarke H. Kawakami, 75, of Washington D.C., a former staff member of the U.S. Information Agency, died of cardiac arrest on April 13. A Harvard graduate, he served in the U.S. Army in the China-Burma-India theater during WW2 and later on General MacArthur’s staff in occupied Japan before joining USIA in 1955.
• George Tsuneyoshi Tokuda, Seattle Drugstore Owner, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 10. George Tsuneyoshi Tokuda, 72, of Seattle, former owner of Tokuda Drugs and a well-known community member, died April 5 of cancer. A 1933 University of Washington graduate and founder of Liberty Bank, he is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
• Yoichi Okamoto, Official LBJ Photographer, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Yoichi Okamoto, 69, official White House photographer for President Lyndon Johnson, died April 24 at his Bethesda, Maryland home, with his death ruled a suicide by hanging. Born in Yonkers, N.Y., he served in the U.S. Army during WW2 before his photography career.
• Fumihiko Togo, Former Japanese Ambassador, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Fumihiko Togo, Japan’s ambassador to the U.S. from 1976-80, died of cancer April 9 in Tokyo. His diplomatic posts included consul general in New York and Calcutta, and he was involved in negotiations over the 1960 Japan-U.S. security treaty.
• Yoshio ‘Kaiser’ Tanaka, Baseball Manager, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Yoshio ‘Kaiser’ Tanaka, 78, died of a heart attack April 10 in Tokyo after a career managing Japanese baseball teams including the Hanshin Tigers and Daimai Orions. Before WW2 he had been a catcher for the Tigers.

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