Mineta bill to revisit the Korematsu, Yasui and Hirabayashi cases

Vol. 107, No. 8, September 23, 1988. 8 pages. View this issue

Rep. Norman Mineta planned to introduce a bill requiring the Supreme Court to review its wartime decisions in the cases of Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi and the late Minoru Yasui, who each violated Executive Order 9066. JACL National President Cressey Nakagawa announced the plan at the National Board meeting, after talking with Mike Masaoka. The front page also reported on the Justice Department’s new redress hotline and P.O. box under the Civil Liberties Act of 1987, and on the National Board’s decision to begin the search for a new national director.

Elsewhere in the issue, Shig Wakamatsu filed the final JACL-LEC treasurer’s report on redress, and Neal Taniguchi wrote about the JACL National Scholarship Program. Bill Hosokawa and Bill Marutani had columns on page 4. The paper also followed Sanrio’s response to complaints over its ‘Little Black Sambo’ products and the new JACL Visa card from Sumitomo Bank of California.

What’s in this issue

National

• Mineta Bill Would Review WW2 Cases, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Norman Mineta plans to introduce a bill requiring the Supreme Court to review its WW2-era decisions against Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi and the late Minoru Yasui. JACL National President Cressey Nakagawa announced the plan at the National Board meeting after discussing it with Mike Masaoka.
• Census Bill Cleared for House Vote, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A bill reversing the Census Bureau’s plan to count Asian and Pacific Island Americans via a sample-based write-in format was approved by committee and cleared for a House floor vote. Rep. Robert Matsui, the bill’s sponsor, said an accurate count is essential for delivery of federal and local services to Asian American communities.
• No More Offensive Products, Firm Assures U.S. Reps., by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sanrio Co. CEO Shintaro Tsuji responded to complaints from Reps. Matsui, Mineta and Dixon about the company’s ‘Little Black Sambo’ toy line, promising not to deal in products that could offend any group. The congressmen had also requested a meeting with Sanrio officials to discuss minority relations.
• Hayes Nominated for Calif. State Treasurer, by P.C. Staff, page 1. State Auditor General Thomas W. Hayes was nominated by Gov. George Deukmejian for California state treasurer, filling the post vacated by the late Jesse Unruh. Hayes, described as a longtime respected legislative employee, is expected to win easy confirmation after an earlier nominee was rejected by the state Senate and Supreme Court.
• Firm Assures (Continued): Hallmark Also Acts on Offensive Cards, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Following the Sanrio controversy, Hallmark Cards Inc. moved to ensure cards bearing its logo in Japan do not offend minority groups, after Rep. Matsui raised concerns about a postcard featuring stereotypical Black characters distributed in Japan under the Hallmark logo. The cards had been distributed by Sanrio Co.
• EEOC Sues Hyster for Anti-Japanese Ad Campaign, Use of Racial Slurs, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The EEOC filed suit against lift-truck manufacturer Hyster alleging national origin discrimination against employee Max K. Ozawa, citing racially objectionable ad depictions of Japanese characters and use of anti-Japanese slurs in the workplace. Ozawa resigned after a 20-year career citing stress-related health problems, and the EEOC is seeking back pay and injunctive relief under Title VII.

JACL

• Uyehara Resigning, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL-LEC’s executive director is resigning effective Sept. 30, nearly three years after taking the post from John Tateishi. She played a major role organizing grassroots letter-writing campaigns and other redress efforts.
• National Director Search to Begin Soon, by George Johnston, page 1. The JACL National Board met for the first time under new President Cressey Nakagawa and decided to begin advertising for a new national director in mid-October. The meeting also addressed the ‘No No Boys’ resolution committee, a new program for action, the JACL/Sumitomo Visa card, public affairs issues, and alarming membership decline figures.
• JACL-LEC Treasurer’s Report: Mission Accomplished!, by Shig Wakamatsu, JACL-LEC Treasurer, page 5. Wakamatsu reports on JACL-LEC’s final fiscal year financial statement following the signing of H.R. 442, reflecting on Harry Kajihara’s accurate three-year redress timeline prediction. The detailed treasurer’s report covers receipts, expenditures and various committee accounts for the 1987-88 fiscal year.
• New JACL Visa Card Available October 1, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Sumitomo Bank of California, in conjunction with JACL, will begin issuing the JACL Visa credit card on Oct. 1, offering special terms to JACL members. Credit Card Department manager Stan Takemoto said qualified applicants would receive cards within a week of approval.
• National Board Meeting Continued: Membership and Budget Concerns, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The JACL National Board discussed the 1000 Club status quo, lifetime membership dues deadlines, and alarming membership decline figures, with totals down significantly from December 1987. Treasurer Nishi reported JACL is roughly $35,000 behind pace on memberships and anticipates needing to borrow funds again this year.

Incarceration & Redress

• Office of Reparations Administration Establishes Redress Hotline, P.O. Box, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Justice Department created a toll-free number and P.O. box to handle eligibility questions about compensation under the Civil Liberties Act of 1987. Rep. Norman Mineta announced the new Office of Reparations Administration, which will coordinate with the National Archives to verify eligibility for the approximately 60,000 eligible Japanese Americans.

Arts & Entertainment

• Fantasticks, 3 World Premieres Included in EW Players Fall Lineup, by P.C. Staff, page 2. East West Players opens its 1988-89 season with The Fantasticks, co-directed by Mako and Glen Chin, followed by three world premieres from Asian American playwrights including Hiroshi Kashiwagi and the late Warren Sumio Kubota. The lineup also features Origami and a performance piece by Karen Yamashita exploring Western perceptions of Japanese women.
• AAPAA Accepting Award Submissions, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Association of Asian/Pacific American Artists is accepting film and TV submissions for its fifth annual Media Awards scheduled for March 1989. Only productions released in 1988 are eligible, with a submission deadline of Dec. 31, 1988.

Community

• Exhibit Committee Seeks Information on Omoto Photos, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Women’s Exhibit Committee of the National Japanese American Historical Society is seeking photographs of Nikkei women and information about the work of deceased amateur photographer Akira Omoto. Omoto was known for documenting daily Issei and Nisei life in pre-war San Francisco’s Japantown.
• Business League to Hold Forum on U.S.-Japan Trade, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Asian Business League will present its Pacific Rim Trade Forum on Sept. 27 at the Sheraton Grande Hotel, part of Japan Week L.A. 1988. The forum will feature keynote speaker Yoshihiro Nakamura and a panel discussing U.S.-Japan trade imbalance issues.
• Holiday Issue Kits Distributed to Chapters, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The 1988 Pacific Citizen Holiday Issue advertising kits were mailed to all JACL chapters. Advertising rates and deadlines for bulk space reservations and submissions were outlined, with a final deadline of Nov. 30.
• Redress Concerns in Chicago, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The JACL Midwest district regional office has been deluged with calls about redress applications following President Reagan’s signing of the bill, prompting a series of question-and-answer meetings. The first meeting is set for Heiwa Terrace residents, with a second public meeting at the Japanese American Service Committee in Chicago.

Commentary

• Games Show Korea’s Vitality, by P.C. Staff, page 4. An editorial praises the Seoul Olympics’ opening ceremonies as a display of Korean vitality, imagination and pride, noting the nation’s resilience after Japanese colonization and the devastating Korean War. The piece credits Korean immigrants, enabled by the Walter-McCarran Act, with contributing to American diversity and success.
• Some of My Best Friends ‘R’…, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Columnist Bill Marutani recounts attending a Republican fund-raiser where Gov. Tom Kean was guest of honor, describing the unfamiliar political crowd and feeling somewhat isolated as an out-of-state attendee. He reflects on the event raising millions of dollars and notes he met some genuinely likable people despite the partisan setting.
• The Limited Future of Nisei Leadership, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa reflects on reunions with aging Nisei friends, noting the physical signs of aging and conversations increasingly dominated by health concerns rather than old memories. He muses on the limited remaining years of Nisei leadership and the importance of Sansei and Yonsei stepping forward to retain Japanese American identity.
• Program Is an Investment in Community’s Future, by Neal Taniguchi, page 4. Taniguchi highlights the 42-year history of the JACL National Scholarship Program, noting its growth to an endowment exceeding $500,000 and over a quarter million dollars awarded since 1983. He emphasizes the program’s unique support for diverse disciplines, including a new judo scholarship dedicated to the late Yutaka Nakazawa, and calls for continued contributions.

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