Redress hearings set for April 28, and death sentences for two Korean students

Vol. 102, No. 12, March 28, 1986. 12 pages. View this issue

The front page of this issue carried Robert Shimabukuro’s report on two former Western Illinois University students sentenced to death in South Korea, with a third given life imprisonment, and on the supporters in the U.S. who condemned the verdicts. Also on page 1 were the rescheduling of the first House hearing on redress bill H.R. 442 to April 28 and a New York City council committee’s hearing on a resolution backing H.R. 442 and S. 1052. Inside, columns by Bill Hosokawa and Yosh Nakashima, and a Peggy Nagae letter, filled the commentary pages.

Other coverage included the Onizuka scholarship funds, a column on Japanese Peruvians shipped to the U.S. during World War II, and a review of the film Gung Ho. The paper also reported on preparations for the national JACL convention in Chicago, and on how Stephen Okazaki’s documentary Unfinished Business fared at the Academy Awards.

What’s in this issue

National

• Death Sentences for Korean Students Condemned by Supporters in U.S., by Robert Shimabukuro, page 1. Two former Western Illinois University students, Kim Sung Man and Yang Dong Hwa, were sentenced to death and a third to life imprisonment in South Korea for allegedly being North Korean agents. Professor Jai Hyon Lee and human rights groups argue the charges are groundless and part of a government effort to suppress dissent among Korean students.
• Civil Rights Group Changes Name, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian Pacific American Advocates of California has changed its name to Asian Pacific American Coalition USA as it transitions to a national organization. The multi-ethnic coalition has promoted causes including redress, bilingual education, and opposition to anti-Asian violence and English-only language efforts.
• Researcher Takes Issue With Anti-Bilingual Ballot Arguments, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A study by Dr. Chalsa Loo of UCLA challenges arguments used by opponents of bilingual ballots, finding that Chinese immigrants are aware English proficiency improves opportunities and want to adjust to American ways. The study concludes that eliminating bilingual ballot provisions would unfairly penalize immigrants who speak English but have not yet mastered reading it.
• Asians Sweep Science Awards, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Five students of Asian ancestry won top awards in the 45th annual Westinghouse Science Talent Search, including first-place co-winners Wei-Jing Zhu and Wendy Kay Chung who each received $20,000 scholarships. Other winners included Yoriko Saito, George Jer-Chi Juang, and Anh Tuan Nguyen-Huynh for projects spanning plant biology, physics, and cell cultures.
• Mineta Critical of Pearl Harbor Ad, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Rep. Norman Mineta criticized a political radio ad by Republican candidate Tom Skornia that invoked Pearl Harbor imagery in connection with U.S.-Japan trade discussions. Mineta called the ad’s rhetoric ignorant and bigoted, warning it could fuel racially motivated violence against Asian Americans.
• A/P City Officials Get Organized, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The National League of Cities’ Asian Pacific Municipal Officials Caucus elected its first officers, with Seattle city treasurer Lloyd Hara as president. The caucus addresses issues like anti-Asian violence, redress, voter registration, and encourages more Asian Americans to run for political office.

Community

• JA’s Promotion Causes Protest, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Accusations of racism surfaced at a Seattle Community College District trustees meeting after faculty leaders protested Chancellor Donald Phelps’s promotion of Naomi Iwata-Sanchez. Asian American community leaders defended the promotion while union leaders said their opposition was about fiscal responsibility, not race.
• Onizuka Fund Drives Under Way, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Three scholarship funds established in memory of astronaut Ellison Onizuka continue to receive donations, including over $200,000 in Hawaii and $10,000 from Martin Marietta Corp. in Colorado. The National 4-H Council also established a fund honoring Onizuka’s past involvement with the organization.
• Older Women’s Problems Topic of PSW Program, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Pacific Southwest District JACL will sponsor an all-day conference called ‘The Feminization of Aging’ on May 17 at USC, featuring keynote speaker Grace Montanez Davis. The conference will address unique challenges facing older women including health, finance, and caretaking issues.
• Florin JACL Holds Time of Remembrance, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Over 400 people attended Florin JACL’s fourth annual Time of Remembrance event, featuring keynote speaker Harold Langley from the Smithsonian Institute. The event recognized the last Issei tokay grape grower in the area and included entertainment and tributes to community members.
• Gardena Valley JACL Seeks Queen Candidates, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Gardena Valley JACL is seeking candidates aged 19-25 for its annual Queen Contest, with the winner representing the chapter and competing for Nisei Week Queen title. Candidates or their parents must reside in the South Bay area.
• Ex-D.C. Rep Now Businessman, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Ronald Ikejiri, former Washington D.C. representative for JACL, now heads Frantz Industrial Group, which manufactures oil filters in Fresno. The company purchased the rights to the Frantz Co. and Ikejiri handles foreign market distribution from Washington.
• 2 New Chapters Plan Activities, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Two newly-created spin-off groups from West L.A. JACL, an under-30 and over-30 group, are planning mixer and river rafting activities this month. The groups may become independent chapters pending approval at the next Pacific Southwest District quarterly meeting.
• Women’s Brunch Slated for Apr. 6, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Pacific Southwest JACL Women’s Concerns Committee will hold a Leadership Brunch at Pavan Restaurant for JACL women interested in leadership development. The event will allow attendees to discuss common problems and solutions.
• Nihonmachi Site of Health Fair, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The fourth annual Nihonmachi Health Fair will be held at Christ United Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, offering free vision, blood pressure, hearing, podiatry and other health services. Multiple community organizations are volunteering and bilingual translation will be available.
• Japan Trip for Scouts Planned, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A Los Angeles-area Boy Scout troop is organizing to attend the 9th Nippon Boy Scout Jamboree in Japan this August, with plans to tour multiple cities and participate in a homestay program. The contingent is led by Mas Dobashi, who has attended previous jamborees.

Incarceration & Redress

• Apr. 28 New Date for Hearings, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The first hearing on House redress bill H.R. 442 has been rescheduled to April 28 by Rep. Dan Glickman’s subcommittee. JACL-LEC leaders met with Glickman to discuss the hearing and expressed confidence in a fair process despite many new subcommittee members.
• Endorsement of Redress Legislation Considered by New York City Council, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A New York City council committee heard testimony supporting a resolution urging Congress to pass redress bills H.R. 442 and S. 1052. Witnesses included 442nd veteran William Kochiyama and representatives from Concerned Japanese Americans and Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
• Koreans Continued: Activists Seek Commutation of Death Sentences, page 12. Jai Hyon Lee and human rights organizations including Amnesty International and NACHR continue efforts to seek commutation of death sentences against Korean students, calling the charges a frame-up to silence dissent. A student who studied in West Germany reportedly died under suspicious circumstances while in custody, raising concerns about torture.

Arts & Entertainment

• Ito to Teach CSULA Acting Class, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Actor Robert Ito will teach a 10-week advanced acting course at CSU Los Angeles beginning April 1, as part of the university’s effort to build an Asian American culture program. Ito has performed with the National Ballet of Canada and starred in numerous stage and television productions including the series ‘Quincy.’
• ‘Gung Ho’ So-So, by Robert Shimabukuro, page 5. A review of Ron Howard’s film ‘Gung Ho’ about a Japanese auto company reviving an American factory, starring Michael Keaton and Gedde Watanabe. The reviewer finds the film loses its initial promise as serious topics like racism and labor relations are introduced but not meaningfully resolved, ending as formulaic Hollywood comedy.
• Women’s Art to Be Showcased, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Twenty-two women artists including Linda Nishio, Mari Umekubo, and May Sun will be honored at a Los Angeles City Hall reception for a poster commission project sponsored by the Woman’s Building. The ‘Cross Pollination’ exhibition depicts artists’ relationships to their ethnic backgrounds and will be distributed to community centers.
• Artist’s Career to Be Reviewed, by P.C. Staff, page 9. A historical overview of artist Yasuo Kuniyoshi’s 30-year career is being presented by Whitney Museum of American Art at Philip Morris, featuring 18 oil paintings and six drawings. Despite being declared an enemy alien after Pearl Harbor, Kuniyoshi remained a devoted American patriot and his work blended American, European, and Japanese artistic influences.
• ‘Business’ Loses in ’86 Oscar Race, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Stephen Okazaki’s documentary ‘Unfinished Business,’ about the WW2 internment of Japanese Americans, lost the Academy Award for best feature documentary to ‘Broken Rainbow’ about Navajo-Hopi land disputes. The ceremony was held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on March 24.
• Awards Given for Asian Portrayals, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The Association of Asian Pacific American Artists presented its second annual ‘Jimmie’ media awards honoring realistic and balanced portrayals of Asian Pacific Americans in film and television. Winners included Tri-Star Pictures’ ‘Alamo Bay,’ Steve Okazaki’s ‘Unfinished Business,’ and veteran actor Keye Luke who received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Commentary

• Japanese Peruvian Internment Parallels, page 4. This column discusses the little-known history of Japanese Peruvians who were uprooted and shipped to the U.S. during WW2, drawing parallels to the incarceration of Japanese Americans. The author questions why the U.S. government’s capability to relocate people internationally wasn’t used to save Jews from the Holocaust, while affirming the intent is to improve rather than criticize the country.
• Love, Japanese Style, by Bob Shimabukuro, page 4. The author reflects on unspoken romance themes in Japanese media compared to American ‘will they or won’t they’ TV shows like ‘Moonlighting’ and ‘Cheers.’ He also discusses the new ‘Gung Ho’ TV series, an engineer’s resignation from Hyster Co. over anti-Japanese ad campaigns, and tributes to astronaut Ellison Onizuka including a sacred eagle feather he carried into space.
• For the Record, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Corrections note that an obituary of George Mitsuo Kaneko was written by Bill Hosokawa, not George Yasukochi. Additionally, corrections were made to the LEC Fund Drive Report figures for Selanoco Chapter and Pacific Southwest District Dinner donations.
• Samples of Success Stories, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Responding to reader input, the columnist profiles several successful Japanese Americans in corporate positions, including Steven and Robert Nakasone at Disney and Toys R Us, Arthur Yoshizawa at Bristol-Myers, and Robert Fujioka of Design West Inc. He argues this success challenges perceptions that racial discrimination bars Japanese Americans from top business jobs.
• ’30’ to the Readers, by Saiki, page 5. A longtime Pacific Citizen columnist announces his retirement from writing ‘Nisei in Japan’ after years of contributing columns. He reflects on generational differences between Nisei and Sansei, the need for continued education about Japanese American heritage, and the diversity within Asian American communities.
• Opening Ourselves Up, by Peggy Nagae, page 5. A letter from the Assistant Dean at University of Oregon Law School describes how the Pacific Citizen’s holiday edition resonated deeply with law students, including those from interracial families seeking self-validation. She thanks the paper for its sensitivity and willingness to cover sensitive issues important to the Japanese American community’s future.
• Who’s at the Helm?, by Yosh Nakashima, page 5. The columnist questions the lack of unified communication among JACL-LEC leadership regarding the redress program’s direction and strategy. He calls for leaders to set aside internal friction and self-aggrandizement to work together toward passage of redress bills in Congress.

JACL

• JA Woman Appointed as Judge, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Gov. George Deukmejian appointed Fumiko Hachiya Wasserman as a municipal court judge in the Los Angeles Judicial District. Wasserman, a UCLA and Loyola Law School graduate, has served as an assistant U.S. attorney and held leadership roles in several legal and community organizations.
• Chicago Gears Up for Confab, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Preparations are underway for the 29th Biennial National JACL Convention in Chicago from July 20-25, with chair Ron Yoshino promising an enjoyable week of business and social activities. The convention will include workshops on anti-Asian violence, redress, and other topics, plus special events like a Cubs-Padres baseball game.
• Nakashima Seeks Reelection, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Vice president Yosh Nakashima is the first candidate to formally file for National JACL office, seeking to retain his position. In other election news, Harry Kajihara won the Pacific Southwest District Council endorsement for president over Rose Ochi.

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