Vol. 106, No. 2, January 15, 1988. 8 pages. View this issue
Redress ran through the front page and the pages behind it. William Marutani answered a White House form letter that claimed the 1948 Evacuation Claims Act had already settled wartime losses, and he urged the president to sign the redress legislation. Grayce Uyehara’s LEC update reported that redress bill S. 1009 was postponed to the second session of Congress. Rep. Norman Mineta told Congress about 1,400 letters sent from Bruyeres, France, and Stephen Nakashima weighed Dan Lungren’s nomination for state treasurer. Harry K. Honda covered the Pacific Southwest District Council’s first recognitions luncheon, held Dec. 6.
Other pages carry an editorial on the death of John F. Aiso, a letters exchange with Bill Hosokawa over a reprinted Frank Chin review of Mike Masaoka’s autobiography, and Rep. Robert Matsui’s census bill. Laurie Mochidome reviewed Edward Sakamoto’s play Stew Rice, and a notice announced a Florin Day of Remembrance on Feb. 20. Page 8 closes with the Seattle chapter’s installation and awards banquet.
What’s in this issue
Community
- PSWDC Holds First Recognitions Luncheon Dec. 6, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. The Pacific Southwest District Council held its first recognitions luncheon at Sambi’s restaurant on Dec. 6, honoring about 50 JACLers and the Selanoco JACL chapter with various awards including Lifetime Achievement Awards. Dr. Roy Nishikawa and incoming leader J.D. Hokoyama spoke about the future of JACL and unfinished redress business.
- Project to Aid Battered Women, page 2. The Asian Women’s Shelter Project in San Francisco is working to open the first Bay Area shelter for Asian battered women by summer 1988 and is hosting a fundraising event called ‘Shedding Silence’ on Feb. 13. The event will feature Judge LaDoris Cordell and testimony from formerly battered Asian women.
- Florin Holds Day of Remembrance, page 3. The Greater Florin Area Japanese Community will hold its 4th Annual Time of Remembrance on Feb. 20 at the Florin JA Hall with the theme ‘Florin at the Smithsonian: Justice on the Horizon.’ Dr. Thomas Crouch of the Smithsonian Institution will be the guest speaker.
- Directory Available From UCLA, page 3. The Asian Pacific Community Directory of Organizations in Greater Los Angeles, listing over 550 organizations, is now available through the UCLA Asian American Studies Center. The updated directory includes new listings for Orange County services and an index by subject and ethnic group.
- Entries Being Accepted for Film Fest, page 6. The 1988 Los Angeles Asian American International Film Festival, sponsored by Visual Communications and UCLA, is accepting entries for its April event showcasing films about Asian Pacific culture and history. The festival aims to expand programming and highlight both international and regional filmmakers, with a submission deadline of Jan. 31.
- Newsmakers, page 6. This roundup covers community members’ achievements, including Bob Mizukami being honored for 30 years of public service as mayor of Fife, K. Patrick Okura participating in a Japanese psychiatric conference, and several other Japanese Americans receiving appointments and honors including Eleanor K. Chow, Frank F. Chuman, Denny Suzuki, Ming W. Chin, and Dr. Akira Yoshida. Ken Nishihara was also featured by KNBC-TV for his wrestling achievements as a 1987 national champion.
- Workshop Slated for Jan. 30 on San Diego Nikkei Community, page 7. A half-day community workshop titled ‘The San Diego Nikkei Community: Where Has It Been? Where Is It Now? What Is Its Future?’ will be held Jan. 30 at the Lauderback Community Center in Chula Vista. The event, sponsored by San Diego JACL and the Union of Pan Asian Communities, will feature speakers on history and current issues facing the community, followed by discussion groups and a tour of Kiku Gardens.
Incarceration & Redress
- Marutani Responds: Letter Dismisses Need for Redress, page 1. William Marutani received a form letter from White House aide Anne Higgins claiming that the 1948 Evacuation Claims Act had already redressed wartime losses, and he wrote a detailed rebuttal. Marutani argued the $37 million paid in 1958 dollars was grossly inadequate compared to over $400 million in actual 1942 losses, and urged the president to sign the redress legislation.
- Mineta Commends French Citizens for Their Redress Efforts, page 3. Rep. Norman Mineta told Congress about citizens of Bruyeres, France, who sent 1,400 letters to President Reagan urging him to sign the redress bill, in honor of the 100th/442nd’s wartime contributions. Mineta entered the Nichi Bei Times article about the campaign into the Congressional Record and thanked the French organizers personally.
National
- Matsui Seeks Census Breakdown of Asian Groups for 1990 Report, page 1. Rep. Robert Matsui introduced legislation requiring the Census Bureau to provide separate ethnic breakdowns of Asian Americans in the 1990 census, joined by several other members of Congress. Matsui criticized the bureau’s reliance on a limited sample questionnaire and noted that 1980 census data on Asian Americans still had not been released.
- Saiki Supports Lungren Nomination, page 3. Rep. Patricia Saiki announced her support for Dan Lungren’s nomination as California state treasurer despite his opposition to monetary redress, citing his other contributions on the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. Lungren faced a 19-member Assembly committee reviewing his nomination, defending his position by comparing criticism of his stance to criticism of FDR’s Executive Order 9066.
Commentary
- LEC Update: Congress Goes Home After Long First Session, by Grayce Uyehara, page 1. Grayce Uyehara reports on the first session of the 100th Congress ending with a budget compromise, and notes that the redress bill S. 1009 was postponed to the second session. She also discusses the Senate’s new five-day work week schedule and ongoing JACL-LEC lobbying efforts with the White House and Justice Department.
- Breaking Up Japan, Inc., by Masayoshi Takemura, page 2. A member of Japan’s Parliament proposes ‘Project Heart,’ a plan to relocate the Japanese government to a new capital city 90 to 150 miles from Tokyo to address overcrowding and symbolize Japan’s role as an economic superpower. The ambitious project would cost about ¥20 trillion and take decades to complete.
- Editorial: John Fujio Aiso, R.I.P., page 4. The Pacific Citizen editorial pays tribute to John F. Aiso, who died Dec. 30 after being injured in a robbery attempt, highlighting his pioneering role as chief instructor of the Military Intelligence Service Language School. Drawing on a eulogy by Shigeya Kihara, the editorial recounts Aiso’s critical contributions to proving Nisei loyalty and capability during WW2.
- Articles from the Japanese Press, page 4. The Pacific Citizen announces it will begin regularly publishing translated articles from the Japanese press provided by the Asia Foundation’s Translation Service Center. The piece describes the center’s mission and advisory committee, which includes figures familiar to P.C. readers such as William Hosokawa and Frank Gibney.
- Reprint Is Puzzling, by Herbert Horikawa, page 4. A reader criticizes the Pacific Citizen for reprinting Frank Chin’s critical review of Mike Masaoka’s autobiography without editorial balance, arguing it unfairly attacked Masaoka’s legacy and JACL. The letter defends Masaoka’s strategic leadership during a difficult era and argues the reprint gave Chin’s distorted claims unwarranted credibility.
- Letter from Bill Hosokawa Questions Chin Reprint, with Editors’ Response, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Longtime columnist Bill Hosokawa questions why the Pacific Citizen printed Frank Chin’s unattributed, critical essay on Mike Masaoka without a balancing review of the autobiography, suggesting it may reflect poorly on the paper’s loyalty to JACL. The editors respond, defending the decision as upholding journalistic independence and explaining the delay in reviewing the book was due to timing issues with the holiday issues.
- Thoughts of a Nisei: Weighing the Lungren Nomination, by Stephen Nakashima, page 5. The author reflects on Dan Lungren’s nomination for state treasurer, acknowledging community opposition over his stance on redress compensation but arguing Lungren is otherwise highly qualified and deserves support. He draws a parallel to his own experience as a Japanese American being judged by a single factor and urges the community not to let Lungren’s redress position overshadow his broader qualifications.
- From the Frying Pan: Defenders Deserve Recognition, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa recounts a conversation at Tokyo’s Foreign Correspondents Club about books on the Japanese American experience, including a suggestion from Sen Nishiyama that a book be written honoring non-Japanese Americans who defended JAs during WW2. He highlights the recent death of Barron Beshoar, a newspaperman who worked tirelessly for fair treatment of evacuees in Colorado’s job market.
Military & Veterans
- ‘Color of Honor’ Premieres at Film Festival, by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, page 2. Loni Ding’s documentary ‘Color of Honor,’ about the Military Intelligence Service, Nisei draft resisters, and the 442nd, premiered at the Hawaii International Film Festival to standing ovations. The film explores the difficult choices made by Nisei soldiers and resisters during WW2, including the MIS, Heart Mountain draft resisters, and the ‘D.B. Boys.’
Obituaries
- East Wind: A Gentle Soul, page 5. A tribute to Rev. Dr. Yam Tong Hoh, a Chinese American pastor and educator who died at age 89, recounting his life from China to Stanford and Columbia, and his decades of service to the Chinese Christian Church in Philadelphia. The piece recalls his humility, humor, and a memorable story of guiding a colleague through snow to a community meeting.
Arts & Entertainment
- ‘Stew Rice’ on Run at E/W Playhouse, by Laurie Mochidome, page 6. Edward Sakamoto’s play ‘Stew Rice,’ opening Jan. 7 at the East West Playhouse, tells the story of three Hawaii friends who reunite years later after cultural differences have grown between them. The review praises the play’s nostalgic humor but critiques an abrupt shift into melodrama in the second act regarding themes of cultural identity.
- Review: ‘Stew Rice’ Continued – Exploration of Cultural Identity, by Laurie Mochidome, page 7. The continuation of the ‘Stew Rice’ review describes the play’s second act, where Ben confronts Zippy about assimilation and cultural identity, a moment the reviewer feels is underdeveloped. The review concludes that despite this flaw, the Dana Lee-directed, Mako-produced play provides an enjoyable evening at the East West Playhouse through Jan. 24.
JACL
- Seattle Holds Annual Awards Banquet, page 8. The Seattle Chapter JACL held its 66th annual installation and awards banquet on Dec. 16, 1987, at the Bush Garden restaurant, honoring Wayne Kimura, Kazzie and Mitts Katayama, and Taku Kasuya with certificates of appreciation. New chapter officers were sworn in, including Roger Shimizu as the incoming president, succeeding May Sasaki.
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