Redress, the Hirabayashi case and a Senate appropriation

Vol. 106, No. 3, January 22, 1988. 8 pages. View this issue

The front page carried a mix of national and redress news. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye drew criticism for an $8 million appropriation for religious education of North African Sephardic Jews in France, which he defended. Other front-page stories covered a reception honoring Rep. Barney Frank for his role in the Civil Liberties Act of 1987, and the coram nobis case of Gordon Hirabayashi, which may reach the Supreme Court. George Johnston and J.K. Yamamoto reported on the Hirabayashi case and on support for UCLA professor Don Nakanishi after he was denied tenure.

Inside are letters on Rep. Dan Lungren, Denny Yasuhara on JACL, Bork and redress, and Holly Yasui on her father Minoru Yasui’s coram nobis case. Bill Hosokawa’s Nikkei View looks at shopping bags and Japanese prosperity. The paper also listed deadlines for the 1988 National JACL Convention in Seattle and described a traveling exhibition of Japanese American photography from 1920 to 1940.

What’s in this issue

National

• Inouye Catches Flak for Appropriation, page 1. Sen. Daniel Inouye faced criticism for an $8 million appropriation supporting religious education of North African Sephardic Jews in France, attached to a stopgap spending bill. Inouye defended the measure as cost-effective compared to potential U.S. immigration costs and denied that a campaign contribution influenced his support.
• Northern California Leaders Support Nakanishi, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. UCLA professor Don Nakanishi, denied tenure despite strong faculty support, is receiving backing from Asian American community leaders who allege discriminatory practices in the university’s review process. Civil rights attorneys Dale Minami and Bill Lann Lee are leading a grievance alleging race-based bias, with support coming from numerous elected officials and scholars nationwide.
• Mineta Backs OCA’s Policy Statement, page 2. Rep. Norman Mineta endorsed the Organization of Chinese Americans’ policy statement opposing restrictive admissions quotas based on race or ethnicity. Mineta expressed concern over discriminatory college admissions practices affecting Asian American students.

Incarceration & Redress

• Frank to Be Saluted for Redress Efforts, page 1. The Southern California Friends for Redress is hosting a reception honoring Rep. Barney Frank for his role in passing H.R. 442, the Civil Liberties Act of 1987. The event will feature Rep. Norman Mineta, Grayce Uyehara, and emcee George Takei at the Yamato Restaurant in Century City.
• Hirabayashi Case May Go to High Court, by George Johnston, page 1. The coram nobis case of Gordon Hirabayashi may reach the Supreme Court if government attorneys pursue a writ of certiorari after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated his wartime conviction. Attorneys note uncertainty in the case’s outcome, while a victory could further bolster redress efforts by discrediting the wartime military necessity justification.

JACL

• Congressman Vouches for JACL’s Collaboration with Army in 1942, page 2. Rep. Don Edwards praised Mike Masaoka’s autobiography in the Congressional Record, defending JACL’s wartime cooperation with military evacuation orders as the only pragmatic choice at the time. Edwards also credited Masaoka’s decades of advocacy for Japanese Americans in Washington and his contributions to postwar U.S.-Japan relations.
• Seattle Arranging National JACL Golf Tournament, page 8. The Seattle JACL is organizing a 36-hole National JACL Golf Tournament preceding the 1988 National JACL Convention, sponsored by Miller Beer with substantial prizes for champions. Entry forms are due before March 1 through local chapter presidents.

Community

• Donors Receive Plates from JASEB, page 3. Japanese American Services of the East Bay is offering limited-edition Year of the Dragon plates by ceramicist Ikuzi Teraki as gifts for donations of $30 or more. The fundraiser supports JASEB’s social services for Japanese-speaking elderly and senior housing projects in the East Bay.
• NJAHS Members Enjoy Bonen-Kai, page 6. The National Japanese American Historical Society held its fourth annual Bonen-Kai year-end gathering in San Francisco, featuring traditional New Year foods and a review of 1987 achievements. Highlights included programs commemorating the Constitution’s bicentennial and the Smithsonian’s Japanese American exhibit opening in Washington, D.C.
• Community People Briefs, page 6. Several Japanese Americans were recognized for professional achievements, including Dr. Hideko Bannai’s appointment to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and Gerald H. Yamada’s EPA Gold Medal for Exceptional Service. Other honorees include Clayton Fong, Dale Fukamaki, Dr. Richard Ikeda, Kim Kanatani, Mike Murase, and Pete Newell for various civic and professional accomplishments.

Commentary

• Matchmaking Japanese-Style, by Yoko Itamoto, page 3. The director of a Japanese matchmaking agency describes the challenges of arranging marriages amid demanding jobs, overprotective parents, and changing sex roles. She shares stories of clients and meddling mothers, noting that about 20 percent of matched couples eventually marry.
• Editorial of the Pacific Citizen: Convention Deadlines – August, 1988, page 4. The editorial outlines upcoming deadlines for the 1988 National JACL Convention in Seattle, including chapter nominations for awards and requirements for chapters to be in good standing. It highlights key dates for resolutions, constitutional amendments, and delegate designations ahead of the August convention.
• Lungren Foes Wrong, by Cherry Ishimatsu, page 4. A letter writer defends Gov. Deukmejian’s nomination of Rep. Dan Lungren for state treasurer despite disagreement with his stance on individual redress payments. She argues his overall record and qualifications should be considered rather than a single issue.
• Letter in Support of Dan Lungren, by Jonathan T. Kaji, page 4. A letter writer praises Rep. Dan Lungren’s congressional record on immigration reform, refugee assistance, and civil rights, while acknowledging disagreement with his position on individual redress payments. He argues it is unfair to call Lungren insensitive given his record on the internment commission and apology efforts.
• Recovery Assured, by Eji Suyama, page 4. A letter writer responds to a previous Hosokawa column about a leg injury, offering a medical explanation involving the Plantaris muscle. He humorously commends Hosokawa for not seeking medical consultation and thus not burdening Medicare.
• JACL, Bork and Redress, by Denny Yasuhara, page 4. A National JACL Board member defends the decision to defer opposition to Judge Robert Bork’s Supreme Court nomination, arguing the primary obligation was to protect delicate redress negotiations with the White House. He criticizes younger members’ apparent indifference to redress and reflects on the sacrifices of Issei and Nisei generations.
• Case Over, but His Legacy Continues, by Holly Yasui, page 5. The daughter of Minoru Yasui reflects on the Supreme Court’s denial of her father’s coram nobis case, expressing frustration but resolve to continue the fight for justice. She describes her father’s broader legacy of fighting injustice beyond the legal case itself.
• Nikkei View: Shopping Bags and Japanese Prosperity, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa discusses misconceptions about Japanese economic prowess, debunking a rumor about paper batteries while describing Japan’s consumer culture symbolized by ubiquitous shopping bags. He suggests American manufacturers could tap into Japanese consumer demand if they offer quality, innovative products.
• Nikkei Voice: Taxi Service Japanese-Style, page 5. The columnist describes the cleanliness and professionalism of Japanese taxi services, contrasting them with American cabs. He highlights Kyoto’s MK Taxi company and its owner Sadao Aoki, who improved driver conditions and fought to lower fares for customers.

Arts & Entertainment

• Traveling Exhibition Scheduled, page 6. A traveling exhibition titled ‘Japanese Photography in America, 1920-1940’ will travel to several institutions including the Oakland Museum and Whitney Museum. The exhibit showcases rediscovered works by Japanese American art photographers whose contributions were lost or forgotten after WWII incarceration.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.