Day of Remembrance in Little Tokyo and the push for H.R. 442

Vol. 102, No. 9, March 7, 1986. 12 pages. View this issue

The front page carried the Day of Remembrance program held in Little Tokyo on Feb. 23, where more than 400 people heard speakers stress unity and support for other minority groups facing similar mistreatment. Robert Shimabukuro reported from Los Angeles, and Yuri Kochiyama covered a Day of Remembrance event at Hunter College in New York. The issue also followed the redress bills: Rep. Stephen Solarz became the 121st co-sponsor of H.R. 442, and hearings set for March 19 were postponed. Grayce Uyehara wrote about volunteers mailing lobbying packets for H.R. 442 and S. 1053.

Other pages carried commentary from Bill Hosokawa on a trip to Japan and Clifford Uyeda on Navajo relocation at Big Mountain. There were also chapter installation dinners and events, news of Filipino American communities reacting to events in the Philippines, and the announcement that program director Lia Shigemura would leave the national JACL staff.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Solidarity Stressed at L.A. Day of Remembrance, by Robert Shimabukuro, page 1. Over 400 people attended the Day of Remembrance program in Little Tokyo on Feb. 23, sponsored by PSW JACL, NCRR, and the 100/442 Veterans group, following a candlelight parade commemorating the issuance of E.O. 9066. Speakers emphasized unity, support for H.R. 442 and S. 1053, and solidarity with other minority groups facing similar mistreatment.
• DOR Rekindles Interest in Redress, by Yuri Kochiyama, page 12. A packed house at Hunter College’s 1986 Day of Remembrance heard speakers including Rev. Franklin Woo and William Hohri discuss redress/reparations, with Hohri providing updates on the NCJAR lawsuit’s recent Appeals Court ruling. The event also featured cultural presentations including Bob Miyamoto’s film “Gaman” and a piano solo by jazz artist Sumi Tonooka.

National

• H.R. 442 Gains N.Y. Co-sponsor, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Stephen Solarz (D-N.Y.) signed on as the 121st co-sponsor of H.R. 442 on Feb. 28, with credit given to N.Y. chapter JACL members Bob Moteki and Tom Kometani for securing his endorsement through the Brooklyn Independent Democrats. Kometani has been asked to take over as Eastern Regional Redress Coordinator from Grayce Uyehara.
• H.R. 442 Hearings to Be Rescheduled, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hearings on H.R. 442 previously scheduled for March 19 have been postponed, according to JACL-LEC director Grayce Uyehara, who was notified by the Judiciary subcommittee. Subcommittee chair Dan Glickman intends to reschedule once other issues facing April deadlines are resolved.
• Ex-police Commissioner Announces Candidacy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Architect and former San Francisco police commissioner Thomas Hsieh formally announced his candidacy for a Board of Supervisor position on Feb. 24 at a lunchtime parade with 150 supporters. Hsieh has served on several city commissions and is an executive committee member of the Democratic National Committee.
• Ex-CIA Man Commits Suicide After Spy Conviction, by P.C. Staff, page 1. CIA analyst Larry Wu-tai Chin apparently committed suicide Feb. 21, two weeks after his conviction for passing classified information to China for over 30 years. His widow expressed strong doubt about the suicide, questioning how materials used were available to him in prison.
• Mineta Questions ‘Abolition’ of A/P Concerns Office, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Norman Y. Mineta asked the House Committee on Education and Labor to investigate the effective abolition of the Offices of Asian and Pacific American Concerns and Hispanic Concerns in the Dept. of Education. Mineta noted that despite denials from the Secretary of Education, the offices no longer function as separate entities.
• Judge to Return to Private Practice, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Judge William Marutani of the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas announced he is stepping down from his post before his term expired in 1988, citing boredom and a desire for new challenges. Marutani, the first Asian American outside the Pacific Basin to sit as a judge of record, said he plans to return to private practice.
• Filipino Teacher Awarded $257,000 in Employment Discrimination Case, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission ordered the Minneapolis public schools to pay Filipino teacher Lourdes Ciesielczyk $257,000 in back pay and punitive damages for failing to hire her as a teacher due to race discrimination. The commission also ordered the district to hire her and report on its hiring of Asian teachers for five years.
• California Assemblyman Calls for Interethnic Dialogue, Cooperation, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Assemblyman Gray Davis labeled the rise of anti-Asian American incidents a “black mark on the soul of Los Angeles” and called for increased interethnic cooperation during Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week. Davis cited statistics showing a 90% increase in racial violence toward Asian immigrants in L.A. County since 1981.

Military & Veterans

• ‘Yankee Samurai’ Director to Attend U.S. Premiere, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Katriel “Kay” Schory, producer-director of the documentary “Yankee Samurai,” will attend its American premiere March 15 at the Palace of Fine Arts, hosted by Go For Broke and the National Japanese American Historical Society. The 50-minute film covers the Nisei soldier and WW2 camp experience and already aired in Europe.

Community

• Community Rallies Around Demoted Community College President Fujimoto, by Martie Quan, page 2. Nearly 400 supporters gathered Feb. 24 to back Dr. Masao Jack Fujimoto after the LACCD Board of Trustees moved to remove him as president of West Los Angeles College, with APLDEF collecting over $2,300 to help him. Supporters organized mailgrams and speeches to the Board, with negotiations continuing and the Culver City City Council planning to ask for reconsideration.
• Pickets, Questions Greet Hayakawa at ‘English as Official Language’ Forum, by Edna Ikeda, page 2. About 25 people picketed former Senator S.I. Hayakawa’s appearance at a San Diego forum on making English the official language, organized by PAVE. Audience members from Asian, black, and Chicano communities challenged Hayakawa’s claims about bilingual education and the amendment’s potential impact on immigrant participation.
• Filipino American Communities Rejoice at News of Marcos’ Departure From P.I., by P.C. Staff, page 3. Filipino Americans on the West Coast celebrated the ouster of Ferdinand Marcos and rise of Corazon Aquino, with rallies in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, though sentiment was more divided in Hawaii where some Marcos supporters gathered. Community leaders expressed pride mixed with cautious optimism about the new government’s challenges ahead.
• Ventura County Chapter Installation Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Sen. Alan Cranston spoke about redress efforts at the Ventura County chapter’s installation dinner Feb. 15 before an audience of over 100 people. Certificates of appreciation were presented to Cranston and Ventura County Supervisor John Flynn for their redress work, with officers installed by Ken Inouye.
• Idaho Falls Chapter Installs New Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Intermountain Governor Hid Hasegawa installed new officers for the Idaho Falls chapter at an installation dinner Feb. 13, including president Shoji Nukaya and other board members. The chapter named vice presidents, treasurer, secretary, and social co-chairs.
• San Gabriel Valley Chapter Day at the Races, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The San Gabriel Valley chapter is hosting a Day at the Races fundraiser April 12 at Santa Anita Race Track benefiting the Scholarship Fund and Redress/Reparations Fund. Tickets are $10 including buffet lunch, with children admitted free.
• Eden Township Chapter Cooking Class, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Eden Township JACL is sponsoring a four-session cooking class beginning April 7 at the Eden Japanese Community Center, featuring demonstrations of sushi making, Chinese cookery, chicken preparation and dessert making. The cost is $25 for all four sessions or $8 for a single session.
• Florin Chapter to Hold Recognition Night and Time of Remembrance, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Florin JACL will observe its third Recognition Night and Time of Remembrance March 15 at the Florin Buddhist Hall, where Issei will share camp memories and be honored along with Sacramento and Placer JACL officers. The Go For Broke exhibit “East to America” and “A Japanese American Experience” exhibit will also be on display.
• Gardena, South Bay Chapters Joint Installation Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Gardena and South Bay chapters will hold a joint installation dinner March 16 at Ichabod Crane’s Restaurant in Torrance. Cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner, with cost at $20 per person.
• Marina Chapter ‘Games People Play’ Event, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Marina chapter will hold a potluck dinner and parlor games night called “Games People Play” on March 29 at Lakeside Village in Culver City. Cost is $4 for chapter members and $5 for guests.
• West Valley Chapter Installation Dinner Features TV Hostess, by P.C. Staff, page 7. TV hostess Serena Chen shared humorous interview experiences and advised Asians to take a higher public profile at the West Valley chapter’s installation dinner in San Jose. A potluck and bingo social welcoming new members is planned for March 15 at the chapter clubhouse.
• Joint Installation Dinner Dance Draws 400, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Over 400 people attended a joint installation dinner dance Feb. 22 at the LAX Hyatt for seven PSW chapters, featuring speeches from chapter presidents, PSW Governor Ken Inouye, and JACL presidential candidates Harry Kajihara and Rose Ochi. Sixty-six officers were installed en masse before dancing to The Music Company began.
• West Los Angeles Chapter Spins Off Two New Chapters, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Two new chapters are being formed from the West Los Angeles chapter in March, one for 20-30 year-olds meeting March 9 and another for those over 30 meeting March 14. The goal is to nurture leadership skills in younger and philanthropically-oriented members who will eventually feed into the parent chapter.
• Singles Group Formed in Orange County, by P.C. Staff, page 9. A new singles group targeting ages 35-50 is being formed in Orange County by founder Grace Masuda, emphasizing a friendly, non-threatening social setting. Planned activities include seminars on personal relationships and growth-producing experiences like white-water rafting and camping trips.

Commentary

• U.S.-Japan Relations (Part 2), page 4. The columnist questions why JACL, a civil rights organization, should spend time and resources on the economic issue of U.S.-Japan trade relations rather than focusing on genuine civil rights issues. The author argues that being Japanese American does not make one responsible for Japan’s economic activities, and challenges JACL leadership to justify discussing this topic at the upcoming national convention.
• No Sympathy, But…, by Kenji Okuda, page 4. A letter writer expresses concern about JATC’s withdrawal of tours to South Africa simply because of apartheid, arguing that visiting the country provides valuable understanding and that tour spending benefits black, colored and Indian employees. The writer suggests tours to South Africa remain worthwhile and are available outside JATC sponsorship.
• Coverage Applauded, by Daniel M. Mayeda, page 4. A former Washington D.C. JACL board member praises J.K. Yamamoto’s reporting for broadening readers’ awareness of issues affecting other Asians and minorities, referencing the Vincent Chin case as an example of cross-community impact. The writer applauds editor Bob Shimabukuro’s shift toward covering diverse and controversial views in the Pacific Citizen.
• A Society on the Move, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa recounts his trip to Japan, describing the country’s visible prosperity through well-dressed citizens, high hotel prices, and luxury goods, contrasting it with the relative lack of homelessness compared to U.S. cities. He also mentions meeting Ambassador Mike Mansfield and Barry Saiki, and encourages readers to visit this dynamic, changing society.
• A People Forced to Move, by Clifford Uyeda, page 5. Uyeda explains the intra-tribal schism between “traditionals” and “progressives” within the Navajo and Hopi tribes regarding land disputes driven by coal and energy company interests and Public Law 93-531, which mandates Navajo relocation from Big Mountain by July 1986. He discusses the Udall-McCain bill as a potential solution and describes a Day of Remembrance event where Big Mountain Navajo representatives spoke about their struggle.
• Misplaced Emphasis, by Wilfred De Cristoforo, page 5. A letter writer criticizes organizers of a Salinas Day of Remembrance ceremony for honoring JA veterans instead of focusing on the significance of remembering the signing of E.O. 9066 and the resulting internment. The writer argues DOR should serve as a reminder against future civil rights violations, not a day to honor military veterans.

JACL

• A Fund That Needs to Move, by Mas Hironaka, page 5. Hironaka describes the JACL 1000 Club Life Membership program, explaining that the rate was returned to $500 from $1,000 and funds are placed in Special Trust Funds with only interest being dispensed. He urges members to join as life members before the Chicago Convention to help provide JACL with a permanent, growing source of income.
• Volunteer Commitment, by Grayce Uyehara, page 6. Uyehara describes the JACL-LEC office’s efforts mailing lobbying packets for H.R. 442 and S. 1053, highlighting grassroots volunteers across the country working to secure votes from targeted subcommittee members like Rep. Harley Staggers. She praises the dedication of redress workers nationwide, including contacts in Mississippi, Georgia, West Virginia, and Oregon.
• The Fine Folks of Selanoco, by Grayce Uyehara, page 6. Uyehara praises the Selanoco chapter for its fundraising success, including a $8,000 LEC fundraiser and over $6,000 raised through Holiday Issue ads split between the Pacific Citizen and chapter scholarship programs. She highlights several members as “prime solicitors” and credits the chapter’s lobbying efforts with Rep. Dannemeyer and president Frank Kawase’s leadership.
• National JACL Program Director Shigemura Announces Resignation, by P.C. Staff, page 8. National JACL program director Lia Shigemura announced her resignation effective March 31 to explore different career opportunities, after helping develop the Asian Mail-order Bride Catalog Report, Health Fair program, and the film “A Tale of Nisei Retirement.” Executive director Ron Wakabayashi and Women’s Concerns Committee chair Irene Hirano praised her contributions to the organization.
• Award Named After N.Y. Activist, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The New York chapter JACL will award the first Ruby Yoshino Schaar Biennium Playwright Award in 1986 to honor its former chapter president, a longtime activist and voice instructor whose singing career was cut short by WW2. The cash award recognizes playwrights whose work reflects the Japanese American or Japanese Canadian experience.
• Tateishi Dinner Set for March 22, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A dinner honoring former redress director John Tateishi will be held March 22 at the Meridien Hotel in San Francisco, sponsored by the NCWNP District Council. Tateishi served as JACL redress chair and director for eight years and was credited with passage of the bill creating the Commission on Wartime Internment and Relocation of Civilians.
• NCWNP District to Hold Speech Contest Preliminaries, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The NCWNP District will hold a preliminary speech competition April 26 at National headquarters to select finalists in two divisions of the National JACL Speech and Forensic Competition. Winners will have the opportunity to compete nationally in Chicago on July 25.

Obituaries

• Tom Shimazaki, 1916-1986, by Meriko Mori, page 7. The Greater Los Angeles Singles chapter mourns charter member Tom Shimazaki, who died Feb. 18; he was an engineer at Rockwell International and an active leader in several singles organizations. His leadership helped grow the GLA Singles chapter to 200 members and contributed to the success of the First National JACL Singles Convention in 1984.

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