Remembering Sen. Spark Matsunaga, and the 1990 San Diego convention

Vol. 110, No. 17, May 4, 1990. 12 pages. View this issue

Tributes to Senator Spark Matsunaga filled the front pages and ran on three more. Mike M. Masaoka traced his wartime service with the 100th Infantry Battalion, his career in Congress and his central role in passing redress legislation. Grayce Uyehara recalled working with him and Rep. Barney Frank on reconciling the House and Senate bills in 1988. The front page also announced the 31st Biennial National JACL Convention, June 17 to 23 at the San Diego Princess Resort, with Robert P. Ito describing the Beach Party, Welcome Reception and Father’s Day picnic.

Elsewhere in this 12-page issue: a symposium at the Oakland Museum where women of three generations shared their wartime incarceration experiences, JACL’s brief supporting Vietnamese American fishermen, and a Minidoka memorial plaque that grew to 73 names. Bill Hosokawa wrote about service and cultural misunderstandings, and Harry K. Honda reviewed Tom Ige’s memoir and a thesis on the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.

What’s in this issue

JACL

  • Beach Party, Welcome Reception on Tap as San Diego Openers June 17, by Robert P. Ito, page 1. The 31st Biennial National JACL Convention will be held June 17-23 at the San Diego Princess Resort, with the San Diego Convention Planning Committee organizing a Beach Party, Welcome Reception, and picnic on Father’s Day. The article details convention events including workshops, award banquets, a golf tournament, a bowling night, and a deep sea fishing trip, and calls for community volunteers to help make the convention successful.
  • JACL Pulse: Chapter News and Events, by P.C. Staff, page 9. This roundup covers various JACL chapter events including a Delano Nisei Reunion, Florin JACL talent show, Minidoka Relocation Camp dedication, and Downtown LA Mother of the Year luncheon. It also lists events for South Bay, Stockton, and Ventura County chapters including redress filing procedure meetings.

Military & Veterans

  • In Tribute to Sen. Spark Matsunaga: ‘Initiated Probably More Statutes of Benefit to Those of Japanese Ancestry’, by Mike M. Masaoka, page 1. Mike Masaoka pays extensive tribute to the late Senator Spark Matsunaga, recounting his wartime service with the 100th Infantry Battalion and MIS, his decades-long political career, and his central role in passing redress legislation. The piece details Matsunaga’s personal history, legislative achievements including immigration reform and repeal of Title II of the Internal Security Act, and his vision for peace institutes and space cooperation.
  • True Hero: Medal of Honor Recipient Miyamura Joins WWII Memorial Foundation Board, page 3. Hiroshi ‘Hersey’ Miyamura, a 100th Battalion veteran and Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War, announced his acceptance as a Board of Trustees member of the newly formed 100th/442nd/MIS World War II Memorial Foundation. He was in Los Angeles being interviewed for a TV series on Medal of Honor winners.
  • Matsunaga Continued: Legislative Legacy and Peace Advocacy, by Mike M. Masaoka, page 6. This continuation of the Matsunaga tribute details his congressional career including his work on the Rules Committee, authorship of ‘Rulemakers of the House,’ and leadership on immigration reform eliminating racial quotas. It also covers his role in repealing Title II of the Internal Security Act, his redress legislation efforts, and his vision for peace institutes and Mars exploration cooperation with the Soviet Union.
  • Matsunaga Tribute Concludes: Senate Honors, Committee Assignments, and Family, by Mike M. Masaoka, page 7. The concluding portion of Masaoka’s tribute lists Matsunaga’s Senate committee assignments and other leadership roles, and describes the Senate and House resolutions honoring him after his death, including President Bush ordering the flag flown at half-mast. The article notes the Matsunaga Peace Foundation as a suggested memorial and lists his surviving family members.
  • Matsunaga Tribute: Funeral Committee and Memorial Foundation, page 9. This section details the House funeral committee appointed for Senator Matsunaga, including Congressman Daniel Akaka, Congresswoman Patricia Saiki, and Congressman Norman Mineta. It also describes the Matsunaga Peace Foundation as the suggested memorial recipient and lists his surviving family members in detail.

Incarceration & Redress

  • Remembering Sparky in Action: That Day in Conference June 14, 1988, Reconciling the House-Senate Bills, by Grayce Uyehara, page 1. Grayce Uyehara recalls working with Senator Spark Matsunaga and Rep. Barney Frank on reconciling House and Senate redress bills in 1988, describing Matsunaga’s emotional floor speech about his camp experience. She reflects on his legacy as a legislator who prioritized peace and public service.
  • JACL Minidoka Project Memorial to List 73 Names of Nisei War Dead, page 3. The JACL Intermountain-Idaho Centennial Minidoka Relocation Project added 20 more names to its memorial plaque honoring Nisei GIs from the Minidoka camp who died in WWII, bringing the total to 73 names to be dedicated May 26. The updated honor roll resulted from research and reader responses following a December 1989 Pacific Citizen article that had listed 54 names.

Community

  • JACL Chicago Chapter Supports American Indian Rights, by Patti Adachi, page 2. The Chicago JACL Chapter passed resolutions supporting American Indian civil rights issues, including opposition to the University of Illinois’ Native American mascot and support for Chippewa treaty fishing rights in Wisconsin. Chapter board members serve as witnesses for nonviolence to protect Chippewa spearfishermen from violent anti-treaty protesters, and the chapter plans to present a resolution at the National JACL Convention.
  • Asian Attorneys to Hold First Midwest Conference, page 2. Midwestern Asian Pacific American attorneys will hold their first conference May 4-6 in Minneapolis, cosponsored by NAPABA’s Minnesota chapter and the Asian American Bar Association of Chicago. Panel discussions will cover diversity in the Asian Pacific American community, civil rights agenda for the 1990s, and the glass ceiling for women and minorities.
  • Peace Corps to Focus on Asian American Recruits, page 3. The Peace Corps announced it will focus recruitment efforts on minority groups, especially Asian Americans, according to national director Paul D. Coverdell. About 2,000 Asian American volunteers have served in developing nations since 1961, with roughly 150 currently among 6,300 volunteers worldwide.
  • Southeast Asians to Get Scholarships from Nisei Student Relocation Fund, page 3. Ten Southeast Asian students will be awarded $1,000 college scholarships in Philadelphia from the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund, an organization continuing the spirit of the wartime National Japanese American Student Relocation Council. The wartime council, founded by the American Friends Service Committee, helped more than 3,500 Nisei students continue their educations after being displaced by evacuation.
  • Placer JACL Offers Local Redress Hotline, page 3. The Placer County Chapter of JACL is offering a special hotline for residents needing help filling out redress forms, staffed by volunteer Hike Yego at the JACL office in Penryn every Monday afternoon. The office can also be reached by phone for assistance.
  • Workshop Offered for Caretakers of Elderly, page 3. A workshop titled ‘Caring for Your Aging Parents’ will be held on Saturdays from May 12 through June 2 in Los Angeles, addressing caretaker burnout and family issues related to aging parents. The sessions are led by Lorraine Yamamura, Ph.D., and sponsored by the Assistance League of Southern California’s Asian Pacific Agency.
  • Remembering Sparky in Action (continued), by Grayce Uyehara, page 8. Uyehara continues her reflection on Senator Matsunaga’s legacy, describing a PBS interview about her work with the senator and his impact on the Japanese American community. She emphasizes his dedication to peace legislation and public service.
  • San Jose’s Resource Center Slide Show on Nihonmachi Centennial to Be Shown, page 8. The Santa Clara Valley Japanese American Resource Center will feature a slide presentation on the 100th anniversary of San Jose’s Nihonmachi at a fundraising barbecue on May 19. The event includes a barbecue dinner served by the Nisei VFW and a performance by San Jose Taiko.
  • Downtown L.A. JACL, Nanka Nikkei Fujinkai Mothers of the Year to Be Honored, page 8. Four women—Kinuko Ito, Kame Kanashiro, Yoneko Kato, and Sally Sayano Tsuneishi—will be honored at the 28th Annual Mothers of the Year luncheon in Little Tokyo for their community contributions and nurturing roles. Each woman’s background and volunteer work, including camp experiences and cultural preservation efforts, are detailed.
  • Woman of the Year: Mary Furutani Honored by 53rd Assembly District, page 10. Mary Furutani of Gardena was honored as the 53rd Assembly District’s Woman of the Year for her two decades of work providing social services to Japanese American senior citizens as a founding member of the Gardena Pioneer Project. She is bilingual in Japanese and provides case management services for the community.
  • Utah University Nikkei Hopeful for Miss America Crown in 1990, page 10. Stephanie Kunie Sato, Miss Asia of Utah for 1989, is preparing to compete in the Miss Utah Pageant while pursuing a health education degree and career in physical therapy. She credits her grandmothers, longtime JACL members, for teaching her about Japanese American wartime hardships and the importance of preserving Japanese traditions.
  • Asian Career Women Topic for May 5 Panel, page 10. The Pacific Asian American Women, Bay Area Coalition will present a free panel discussion on Asian Pacific American career women in media, entrepreneurship, white collar careers, and the arts on May 5 in San Francisco. Panelists include Janice Gin, Chinga Pan, Caridad C. Vallangca, and June Uyenoyama.
  • Media Group to Examine Race Relations Coverage, page 10. The Asian American Journalists Association will sponsor a roundtable discussion on media coverage of race relations in the 1990s as part of Asian Pacific Heritage Week in Los Angeles. Panelists include journalists, editors, and community advocates who will critique the accuracy and depth of coverage of Los Angeles’ multiethnic communities.
  • ‘Asian Law Day’ Talk Slated in Little Tokyo, page 10. Attorney Bert Kawahara will speak on wills at this year’s Asian Law Day event in Little Tokyo, which will also present updated information on obtaining redress payments. The free event is sponsored by several Japanese American and Asian Pacific legal and community organizations.

National

  • U.S. Supreme Court Rules: Foreign Accent by Asians Can Be Civil Service Job Barrier, page 2. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from a Filipino man denied a job with Hawaii’s DMV due to his accent, effectively allowing employers to deny jobs based on accent. Advocates for immigrant communities criticized the ruling, warning it could be used to discriminate against those with accents employers simply dislike.
  • JACL Brief in Vietnam Fishing Case, Says ‘Don’t Repeat Mistakes’ of 1948, page 2. JACL filed an amicus brief supporting Vietnamese American fishermen prosecuted under a 200-year-old statute barring non-citizens from operating commercial fishing vessels, arguing the law discriminates similarly to past laws targeting Japanese American fishermen. The brief cites the 1948 Takahashi v. Fish & Game Commission case and urges the court to avoid repeating the injustices of Japanese American incarceration.

Sports

  • No. Calif. Athletes to Compete in 1990 PSW Nisei Relays, page 3. A Northern California contingent is expected to participate in the 39th annual JACL Nisei Relays on June 24 at Rancho Santiago College in Santa Ana, reviving a North-South series that began in 1978 and ended in 1981 due to travel costs. Entry deadline is June 9 with a fee of $8 per athlete.
  • Sansei Co-Captains NCAA Gymnastics Women’s Team Champs at Univ. of Utah, by Yas Tokita, page 5. Kris Takahashi, co-captain of the University of Utah gymnastics team, helped her team win the NCAA women’s gymnastics championship despite competing with tendonitis and a torn cartilage in her shoulder. The 22-year-old, daughter of Salt Lake City JACL members Fred and Grace Takahashi, plans to pursue a business management degree and will need shoulder and ankle surgery.

Commentary

  • A JACL View on U.S.-Japan Trade, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This editorial discusses JACL President Cressey Nakagawa’s candid address to Japanese diplomatic and business officials in Atlanta about the need for Japan to be more sensitive to Japanese American concerns amid U.S.-Japan trade tensions. It highlights the positive reaction to Nakagawa’s speech and calls for continued dialogue between Japanese officials and Japanese Americans.
  • Mi Casa No Consul!, by Riyeko Muratani, page 4. A letter to the editor comments on the historical significance of the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and warns against repeating anti-Japanese sentiment amid current U.S.-Japan trade tensions. The writer draws parallels between the wartime threat rhetoric and contemporary Japan-bashing.
  • Point of Clarification, by John J. Kumpf, page 4. A letter responds to a previous critic who accused the writer of Japan-bashing, clarifying that the writer never intended to suggest Nikkei shouldn’t be asked about their heritage. The writer discusses the wartime internment of Japanese Americans compared to the lack of internment for German and Italian Americans.
  • Food for Thought at a Restaurant, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. In this column, Bill Hosokawa contrasts American and Japanese cultural attitudes toward service mistakes, using an anecdote about a dirty fork at a restaurant to illustrate differing expectations of apology and courtesy. He also discusses cross-cultural misunderstandings, citing an example of a Japanese teenager whose polite request in Japanese translated as a rude demand in English.

In-Depth

  • Japanese American Women Recall Camp-Related Experiences, page 5. A standing-room-only crowd of over 500 heard five Japanese American women from three generations share their wartime incarceration experiences at an Oakland Museum symposium tied to the exhibit ‘Strength and Diversity.’ Panelists Hisako Hibi, Phyllis Mizuhara, Kiku Funabiki, Mei Nakano, Margene Fudenna, and Diana Akiyama shared stories ranging from camp hardships and medical care shortages to the silence and shame that affected later generations.

Obituaries

  • Kenichi Nishimoto, 76, ex-HEW Official, page 8. Kenichi Nishimoto, a decorated 442nd veteran and former HEW official, died in Takoma Park, Maryland after being engaged in research in Japan. He later directed Indian Health Services and taught for 10 years at the University of the District of Columbia, also serving on the Takoma Park City Council from 1970-1978.

Arts & Entertainment

  • Okinawan MIS Veteran, Educator, Sen. Inouye’s Aide Tells His Story, by Harry K. Honda, page 10. A review of Tom Ige’s autobiography ‘Boy from Kahaluu’ details his upbringing in Okinawa Town, Hawaii, his WWII MIS service, and his academic career, including his time as administrative assistant to newly elected Senator Daniel Inouye in 1963-64. The book includes his eyewitness account of the March on Washington and a 1942 published exchange defending Japanese Americans in Hawaii against calls for evacuation.
  • The Civil Liberties Act of 1988: A Study of Congressional Bill H.R. 442, by Harry K. Honda, page 10. A brief review discusses David H. Eun’s Harvard senior honors thesis chronicling the 18-year effort to pass the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and secure redress payments. The reviewer notes the thesis is well-researched and readable, though its final chapter on appropriations might have been more optimistic given later legislative developments.

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