Vol. 102, No. 20, May 23, 1986. 16 pages. View this issue
The front page carried the news that two white men, Scott Arsenault and John Febbi, received a six-month sentence and a $15 fine after the beating of two Cambodian refugees, one of whom, Bun Vong, died. Asian American groups condemned the sentence, as reported by Stephanie Voss of East West. The rest of the issue was built around an Aging and Retirement supplement, with pieces by Ford Kuramoto, K. Patrick Okura, Louise Kamikawa and Emi Yamaki on caring for older Nikkei at home, Social Security, the aging Nisei and the Pioneer Center in Los Angeles.
Also inside: the JACL National Board’s request for up to $200,000 from the Endowment Fund for redress lobbying, with Min Yasui’s full resolution on page 4. Henry Sugimoto’s camp paintings went to the Smithsonian, and Nisei veterans of the 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team rode in Torrance’s Armed Forces Day Parade. Several pieces looked ahead to the JACL national convention in Chicago.
What’s in this issue
National
- Six-Month Sentence Given in Fatal Attack on Cambodian Refugees, by Stephanie Voss, East West, page 1. Two white men, Scott Arsenault and John Febbi, received a six-month sentence and a $15 fine after being convicted of assaulting two Cambodian refugees in a roadside brawl that led to the death of Bun Vong. Asian American advocacy groups condemned the lenient sentence as a sign that justice is not equally served to racial minorities.
Arts & Entertainment
- Artists’ Achievements Recognized at Heritage Week Dinner, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. The annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Week dinner in Los Angeles honored actress Kieu Chinh, the band Hiroshima, and playwright Philip Kan Gotanda for their contributions to the arts. Speakers recounted Chinh’s escape from Vietnam, the band’s musical achievements, and Gotanda’s views on Asian American representation in storytelling.
JACL
- LEC Seeks $200,000 from Endowment Fund, by Robert Shimabukuro, page 1. The JACL National Board unanimously passed a resolution requesting up to $200,000 from the National JACL Endowment Fund to support the Legislative Education Committee’s redress lobbying efforts through 1988. The board also extended a moratorium on JACL-sponsored trips to Japan until redress is resolved and approved a dues increase and solicitation mailing.
- APA Democrats to Ratify Bylaws, page 3. Asian Pacific Democrats nationwide are invited to a June 6 Washington, D.C. meeting to ratify bylaws for the National Democratic Council of Asian and Pacific Americans. The gathering will also include a welcome dinner and a fundraiser for Hawaii gubernatorial candidate Patsy Mink.
- Rare Buddhist Art to Be Viewed at Convention, page 5. JACL convention attendees in Chicago will have a special private viewing of ‘The Great Eastern Temple: Treasures of Japanese Buddhist Art from Tōdai-ji’ at the Art Institute of Chicago. The unprecedented exhibition features nearly 150 rare objects, including National Treasures, never before shown outside Japan.
- JACLers to Look at Aging Issues, by K. Patrick Okura, Co-chair Nat’l Aging & Retirement Comm., page 5. The National Aging and Retirement Committee will host a workshop at the JACL National Convention featuring former HEW Secretary Dr. Arthur Flemming as the keynote speaker. The session will address issues facing the aging Nisei population and include a tour of Japanese American Service Committee facilities.
- Ex-Chicagoans to Hold Reunions, page 5. JACL convention events in Chicago will include two nostalgic reunion gatherings for former Chicago-area Nikkei residents, featuring a bus tour led by former National JACL president Shig Wakamatsu and an evening of music and memorabilia at the Hyatt Regency. The events celebrate Chicago’s historical role as a postwar resettlement hub for Japanese Americans.
Military & Veterans
- Nisei Veterans Ride in Armed Forces Parade, page 1. Veterans of the 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team participated for the first time in Torrance’s Armed Forces Day Parade, riding in WW2-era vehicles. Organizers said the goal was to educate younger generations about the unit’s wartime contributions before the aging veterans are no longer able to share their story.
- GFB: Some Facts & Figures, page 4. A column shares statistics about Nisei WW2 military service, including the number of volunteers, the high IQ scores of the 442nd/100th Battalion, and notable families who sent multiple sons to serve. It highlights the disproportionately high Nisei casualty rate and honors Medal of Honor recipient Sadao Munemori.
Commentary
- Reflections of a ‘Senior Citizen’, by Miyo Senzaki, page 1. A woman reflects on her childhood in Seattle, growing up with siblings and a grandmother who immigrated from Japan, recalling family traditions, hardships during the Depression, and lessons learned from her parents. The piece is part of a larger Aging and Retirement supplement reflecting on growing older as a Japanese American.
- A Relevant Issue, by Bob Shimabukuro, page 4. The author explains the origins of the Pacific Citizen’s Older Americans issue, crediting Ford Kuramoto and the JACL Aging and Retirement Committee for compiling the special supplement. He also notes the retirement of longtime National JACL receptionist Yuki Fuchigami and reflects on JACL’s membership challenges.
- Windy But Warm, by Jane B. Kaihatsu, page 5. The author reminisces about growing up in Chicago, describing the city’s vibrant summer culture, sports teams, nightlife, and cuisine ahead of the JACL National Convention there. She also highlights the Asian Human Care Centers banquet celebrating multi-ethnic Asian American cooperation in Chicago, noting the relative absence of Japanese Americans from the event.
- To Be Living Again, page 7. A personal essay recounts the author’s sudden illness, eventually diagnosed as polymyalgia, and the support she received from her daughter Irene and her dog Cho-cho during her recovery. She reflects on gratitude for her family and pet amid the frightening health crisis.
- Probate—Whether to Avoid It, by Harvey Horikawa, page 12. This legal explainer discusses California probate law, outlining when probate is necessary or advisable and the various ownership forms—joint tenancy, community property, and trusts—that can help avoid it. The author warns that poorly planned probate avoidance strategies can create costly complications for an estate.
Community
- City English Measure Put on Hold in Monterey Park, by From a report by the Los Angeles Times, page 2. Newly elected Monterey Park Councilman Barry Hatch said he will delay pushing for an official English ordinance until after a statewide ballot initiative is decided. The issue has been divisive in the city, highlighted by the arrest of ‘Official English’ proponent Frank Arcuri after a disruptive incident at a council meeting.
- Conference Canceled, page 2. The Pacific Southwest District JACL’s ‘Feminization of Aging’ conference, planned for May 17 at USC, was canceled due to lack of response. The event had been intended to address issues facing older women.
Incarceration & Redress
- Camp Paintings Donated to Smithsonian Exhibit, page 3. Artist Henry Sugimoto donated three oil paintings depicting the WW2 internment of Japanese Americans to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The paintings will be part of a planned 1987 Smithsonian exhibit on the Japanese American experience, and the donation was celebrated at a Washington, D.C. reception featuring Rep. Norman Mineta and other speakers.
In-Depth
- LEC Resolution: Application for $200,000 Grant from National JACL Endowment Fund, by Min Yasui, National LEC Chairman, page 4. The Legislative Education Committee’s formal resolution requests authorization for up to $200,000 in advances from the National JACL Endowment Fund to sustain redress lobbying efforts through 1988. The resolution cites momentum from a successful House subcommittee hearing on redress and warns that this may be the last opportunity to secure legislative redress.
- The Last Inari and Makizushi Stand, by Sharon Hashimoto, page 5. A short story follows an elderly Japanese American woman preparing traditional inari and makizushi for a family gathering in Seattle, reflecting on her past, her late husband, and her fear that the traditions she carries will not be passed on to her grandchildren. The narrative explores generational change, assimilation, and the woman’s lingering connection to Japan.
- Caring for the Older Person in the Home, by Ford Kuramoto, page 5. The co-chair of JACL’s National Committee on Aging and Retirement discusses the preference among Nikkei elders to be cared for at home by family rather than in institutions. He notes the scarcity of Japanese American-specific nursing facilities outside Los Angeles and the complex needs of aging Nikkei populations nationwide.
- Social Security: How It Affects You, by Louise Kamikawa, page 6. This detailed explainer outlines Social Security retirement, disability, and survivor benefits, including eligibility requirements, earnings limitations, and application procedures. It also highlights a special provision giving Japanese Americans interned during WW2 credit toward their benefit calculations.
- Observations on the Aging Nisei, by K. Patrick Okura, page 6. Drawing on the University of Washington’s Nisei Aging Research Project, the author discusses how discrimination and wartime incarceration shaped Nisei identity and their tendency to rely on Nikkei community networks in old age. He describes a ‘homing instinct’ drawing aging Nisei back to ethnic enclaves and Japanese traditions.
- Pioneer Center: Serving Our Nikkei Seniors, by Emi Yamaki, page 7. This article traces the history of Los Angeles’s Japanese Community Pioneer Center from its 1969 founding to address isolated elderly Issei through its growth into a comprehensive social services organization. It details programs like the Koreisha Chushoku Kai nutrition program, Operation Shut-In, and the Adult Day Care Center.
- An Overview of Services for the Elderly, by Compiled by Candace Yamagawa, page 7. This roundup profiles organizations serving elderly Asian Americans, including the Asian/Pacific American Legal Center, Yu-Ai-Kai, Kimochi Inc., Seattle Keiro/Nikkei Concerns, and the American Association of Retired Persons. Each listing summarizes the services, programs, and contact information for seniors and caregivers.
- The Retirement Challenge, by Sharon Harada, page 10. This financial planning article urges early and careful retirement planning, discussing IRAs, balanced investment portfolios, and the limitations of Social Security as a sole income source. It emphasizes that retirement goals and risk tolerance should evolve over a person’s lifetime.
- Home Care for Elderly Nikkei Discussed, by Ford Kuramoto, page 12. Continuing his earlier piece, Kuramoto discusses national data on family caregivers of the elderly and the demands placed on them, citing a Los Angeles Times article on adult day care and chronic health issues among seniors. He encourages readers to contact JACL’s Aging and Retirement Committee for resources and invites them to complete a caregiving questionnaire.
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