Redress eligibility rules and the Central California conference

Vol. 108, No. 23, June 16, 1989. 12 pages. View this issue

The June 16, 1989 issue led with redress. The Justice Department issued proposed regulations on eligibility for the $20,000 payments to Japanese Americans interned during World War II, and Sen. Matsunaga, Sen. Inouye and Reps. Akaka, Matsui, Mineta and Saiki praised them while urging funding for fiscal year 1990. Ken Yokota and Marlene Kubota reported on the Central California District Council’s spring conference in Kingsburg, where National President Cressey Nakagawa proposed a Nikkei summit on anti-Asian violence and ‘Japan-bashing.’ The front page also noted a JACL plan for a 30-minute documentary on the redress movement.

Elsewhere, the editorial page took up a burning cross near Sweetwater, Tennessee, and Bill Hosokawa wrote on Nikkei humor. Community pages covered the JACCC’s ninth anniversary dinner, a tenure celebration for Don Nakanishi and a dinner for Judge Charles C. Kobayashi. Harry K. Honda reviewed two books, and the front page reported Michael Chang’s French Open win.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Central Cal DC Spring Conference: ‘Nikkei Summit’ on Minorities, Community Issues Proposed, by Ken Yokota & Marlene Kubota, page 1. The Central California District Council held a spring conference in Kingsburg where speakers discussed redress monitoring and the Legislative Education Committee’s role. National President Cressey Nakagawa proposed a Nikkei summit to address anti-Asian violence and ‘Japan-bashing,’ as well as the need for more Japanese American elected officials.
• Text: Proposed Redress Provisions – U.S. Attorney General’s Proposals for Eligibility Viewed as ‘Liberal’; Appeal Process Included, page 1. The Justice Department issued proposed regulations establishing eligibility requirements for $20,000 redress payments to Japanese Americans interned during WWII, including those who ‘voluntarily’ evacuated. Members of Congress including Sen. Matsunaga, Sen. Inouye, and Reps. Akaka, Matsui, Mineta and Saiki praised the regulations while urging congressional funding for fiscal year 1990.
• Sacramentans to Meet on ORA Regulations, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Bob Bratt, administrator of the Office of Redress Administration, will visit Sacramento to explain and receive comments on proposed redress eligibility regulations. Jerry Enomoto of JACL-LEC will lead the meeting, with the National JACL-LEC also meeting in San Francisco.
• 30-Minute Documentary on Redress Movement to Be Produced by Nat’l JACL, page 1. The JACL national board approved production of a videotape documenting the organization’s 20-year role in the redress movement, to be produced by Visual Communications in Los Angeles. The project, supervised by veteran filmmaker John Esaki, will cost $30,000 and seeks materials from JACL members documenting redress activities nationwide.
• Central California Japanese American Community Leadership Transition Discussed at Conference Panel, page 12. A panel discussion at a Central California conference featured community leaders including Don Kanesaki, Mary Nishioka, Rev. Roger Morimoto, March Masumoto, and Dr. Izumi Taniguchi discussing challenges facing the Japanese American community. Panelists noted that many Sansei have left the agriculturally-based Central Valley for opportunities elsewhere, creating a leadership transition gap from Nisei to Sansei generations.

National

• Tennis Star Michael Chang Wins French Open, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Michael Chang of Placentia, Calif., defeated Sweden’s Stefan Edberg to win the French Open men’s singles championship. The 17-year-old became the first American since 1954 to win the tournament.
• Rose Ochi Loses L.A. Community College Runoff, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rose Ochi, an executive assistant to Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, lost the runoff election for a seat on the Los Angeles Community College District Board. Victor Pat Owens received 52.01% of the vote compared to Ochi’s 47.98%.

JACL

• PSWDC JACL Holding Reception for Ron Wakabayashi, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL’s Pacific Southwest District Council Board is holding a welcome back reception for Ron Wakabayashi, former national JACL director. Wakabayashi, an Angeleno who spent most of the decade in San Francisco, is now an executive at United Way in Los Angeles.

Commentary

• Sick Joke Not Appreciated, page 4. This editorial discusses how Japanese Americans were treated as ‘honorary Whites’ in WWII-era Arkansas camps but were recently targeted with a burning cross near Sweetwater, Tennessee at a school for children of Japanese businessmen. The editorial condemns the incident as a ‘sick prank’ that nonetheless places Japanese Americans in the company of other victims of Klan intolerance.
• Nikkei Humor Revisited, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. In this From the Frying Pan column, Hosokawa reminisces about old ‘knock-knock’ jokes and racist ‘Confucius say’ jokes from his youth, tracing the real Confucius’s teachings on education and family values. He relates a conversation with a Taiwanese educator about whether American education could benefit from Confucian values.
• Editorials Wag Finger Over Possible Loss of Reparations, by P.C. Staff, page 5. This brief notes editorial commentary concerning the potential loss of reparations payments for Japanese Americans. It references continuing advocacy work tied to the redress movement.
• ‘Rating System’ Indicative of Deeper Problem, by Joe Soong, NLA Chapter President, page 5. In this Grassroots Forum column, Soong discusses how many Asian American men use a double standard or ‘Asian scale’ versus ‘regular scale’ when rating women’s attractiveness, reflecting internalized feelings of being second-class citizens. He argues for self-awareness, embracing the term ‘Asian’ over ‘Oriental,’ and parental influence in building cultural pride.

Community

• Associate Professor Nakanishi Honored with Tenure Celebration, page 5. A celebration was held at Centenary United Methodist Church in Los Angeles for Don Nakanishi’s newly-won tenure at UCLA. The event was attended by his wife Marsha Nakanishi and California State Sen. Art Torres.
• Topics Will Abound at Convention, by Kaz Mayemura, page 5. The Fourth National JACL Singles Convention will be held over Labor Day weekend at the Torrance Marriott Hotel, featuring seminars like ‘Man Talk/Women Talk’ and ‘3040-50-60 Something’ addressing changing gender roles and aging. Other workshop topics include divorce, rejection, and dating in different decades, aimed at Asian Americans of all ages.
• San Francisco Mayor’s Office Grants JCCCNC $50,000 for Hall-Gym, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California received a $50,000 Community Development block grant from the San Francisco Mayor’s Office toward construction of its Phase II Community Hall/Gymnasium. The Mayor’s office has now contributed a total of $250,000 to the project, which will include a gymnasium, art gallery, and silkscreen facility.
• Sac’to JACL Toasts Judge Kobayashi, by Toko Fujii, page 9. Sacramento JACL hosted a dinner for more than 150 people honoring newly appointed Judge Charles C. Kobayashi of the Sacramento Municipal Court. Speakers included Nancy Lee of the Asian Bar Association and representatives from Rep. Robert Matsui’s office, with Judge Kobayashi responding by praising Japanese American community contributions.
• Five Seniors, 63-77, Earn H.S. Diplomas, page 9. Five Nikkei grandmothers, ranging in age from 63 to 77, received their high school diplomas at Neal Blaisdell Center after graduating from Oahu’s Community School for Adults at Waipahu. The women expressed pride and relief at completing their studies later in life.
• Midsummer’s Obon Service Season Here, Memorial Rites, Festivities Slated in July, page 9. The Orange County Buddhist Church in Anaheim will hold Obon services in Japanese and English in July, along with a festive Odori dance and bazaar-carnival. The article explains the Buddhist origins of Obon and notes dance practice schedules led by Rev. Satoshi Hirata.
• Fowler JACL Picnic Harbinger of Summer, page 9. The Fowler JACL community picnic at Woodward Park drew 100 grandparents, parents and children in cool, balmy weather. Chapter president Art Fujikawa was assisted by George Hashimoto and Aiko Kamine in organizing the event, which marked the last gathering before the busy harvest season.
• Important Role of JACCC Recalled by Many at Its 9th Anniversary Celebration, page 10. Close to 750 people attended the ninth anniversary dinner of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center at the Century Plaza Hotel, honoring Fujiko Ushiba and AT&T with Pacific Pioneer Awards and tea instructors Sohwa Hitomi and Sosei Matsumoto with President’s Awards. Mayor Tom Bradley gave the keynote address recalling the center’s founding by George J. Doizaki.
• The Newsmakers, page 10. This roundup column profiles various notable Japanese Americans including HUD official William Nishimura, playwright Nikki Nojima Louis, Navy Commander Dean Nakayama, Yu-Ai Kai executive director May Fujii Foo, New Mexico award recipient Satoye Ruth Yamada Hashimoto, chemistry professor Dr. Kensaku Nakayama, pharmaceutical executive George H. Ohye, beauty queen Akiko Mitsui, and novelist Cynthia Kadohata. Each entry briefly describes their achievements and backgrounds.
• Butte H.S. ’45 Grad to Gather for Reunion, page 12. A reunion of former Butte High School (Gila River Relocation Center) class of 1945 is planned for Oct. 6 and 7 in Torrance, Calif. The event includes a Friday mixer and Saturday banquet with optional golf and Sunday breakfast, with information contacts listed by region.
• New York’s AALDEF Summer Event Slated, page 12. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund will hold its annual summer fundraiser at Club Mars in New York on July 12. The event targets attorneys, summer associates, and interns as a social fundraising opportunity for the organization.
• San Jose JACL Bridge Tournament Results Told, page 12. Winners of the San Jose JACL bridge tournament held at Wesley United Methodist Church received prizes from local sponsors including Sumitomo Bank and Union Bank. Winners were listed in Junior, Intermediate, and Major divisions.

Arts & Entertainment

• Books to P.C., by Harry K. Honda, page 10. This book review column covers ‘Tsunami’ by Walter C. Dudley and Min Lee about the devastating 1946 tsunami that struck Hawaii, and ‘Saltwater City’ by Paul Yee, an illustrated history of Chinese immigrants in Vancouver. Both books are praised for their historical depth and personal storytelling.

Obituaries

• Shiro Ebihara, 100, Former Machinist, page 12. Shiro Ebihara, 100, of Los Angeles died May 24 at Keiro Nursing Home. The Tokyo native worked as a machinist until his 1972 retirement, having settled in New Mexico before moving to Cleveland in 1946 and spending his final years in Los Angeles.
• Shogo Joseph Myaida, 92, Distinguished Landscaper, page 12. Shogo Joseph Myaida, 92, a distinguished landscaper to estates on Long Island and elsewhere, died of cancer May 20 at his home in Hendersonville, N.C. A native of Kagawa-ken who came to the U.S. in 1922, he supervised construction of the Japan exhibit at the 1939 New York World’s Fair and designed landscapes for Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Bresnay College, and Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Japanese garden in Washington.

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