Vol. 112, No. 21, May 31, 1991. 12 pages. View this issue
Redress and health policy shared the front page of this 12-page issue. The Office of Redress Administration scheduled one-on-one assistance workshops in Honolulu in June, and a report covered a bill meant to protect redress payment funds, which met opposition. Rep. Norman Y. Mineta urged a House subcommittee to fund minority health programs more fully, and Rep. Robert T. Matsui withdrew from the California Senate race. Page 4, by Harry K. Honda, described a Poston exhibit in San Diego that drew about 3,000 visitors.
Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa analyzed a joint press conference of President Bush and Prime Minister Kaifu, and Bill Marutani wrote about Japan’s labor shortage and the “three K” traits job seekers avoid. A travel section by Tyler Tanaka and Richard Suenaga covered new hotels in Japan, Japanese-style cruises and Canada. Page 3 included Honda’s report on Asian population growth in California and a skating exhibition item.
What’s in this issue
National
- Loo Trial Postponed, page 1. A federal jury trial related to a civil rights violation case was postponed, with the law noted as lacking provisions for the charge in question. Asian American civil rights groups including the Asian Law Caucus and JACL had called for prosecution in the matter involving Lloyd Piche’s sentence.
- Mineta: More Funds for Minority Health, page 1. Rep. Norman Y. Mineta urged a House subcommittee to support more funding for minority health programs, saying current funding under the Disadvantaged Minority Health Improvement Act of 1990 was insufficient. He cited barriers to health care access for Asian Pacific Americans and Hispanic Americans, including lack of culturally appropriate services and data.
- Matsui Quits Senate Race, page 1. Rep. Robert T. Matsui withdrew from the California Senate race, citing his father’s declining health as the reason. He announced he would instead campaign for re-election to the House of Representatives, having already raised $1.2 million for the Senate bid.
- Bill to Protect Redress Money Hits Opposition, page 1. A bill intended to protect redress payment funds encountered opposition. Details of the specific provisions and opposing parties were referenced in connection with ongoing redress implementation efforts.
- Mineta Continued: Minority Health Funding Insufficient, page 3. Continuing coverage of Mineta’s testimony, the article details how underfunding of the Office of Minority Health hampered efforts to track health data for Asian Pacific American and Hispanic communities. It notes that Asian Pacific Americans, roughly 10% of California’s population, accounted for a disproportionate share of measles cases during a recent epidemic.
- Fujimori’s Reception of Nikkei Confirmed, page 5. Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori confirmed he would receive a delegation of Nikkei community representatives. The article also references PANA-USA’s fundraising efforts for Peru’s poor communities affected by issues including a lack of clean water and cooked food, with contributions being collected through July 16.
Community
- Hawaii Workshops Scheduled by Office of Redress Administration, page 1. The Office of Redress Administration scheduled one-on-one assistance workshops in Hawaii in June. Sessions were planned at the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Honolulu on multiple dates.
- Asian Growth Big in California, Small for Japanese, by Harry K. Honda, page 3. Citing 1990 Census data reported in the Los Angeles Times, this piece notes the Asian-Pacific Islander population in California grew 127% during the 1980s. Koreans had the highest growth rate at 155%, followed by Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese populations, the last showing only 16% growth.
Sports
- Matched Pair: Kuchiki and Sand to Perform in Skating Exhibition, page 3. Natasha Kuchiki and Todd Sand, the 1991 U.S. national pairs figure skating champions, are scheduled to perform at a champions exhibition at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The pair also recently won a bronze medal at the World Figure Skating Championships in Munich.
Incarceration & Redress
- Poston Exhibit Evokes Memories, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. An exhibit on the Poston III internment camp drew about 3,000 visitors to the Holiday Inn by the Bay in San Diego over a weekend, featuring photographs, letters, artifacts, and a replica of a camp barrack room. The reunion honored former camp teacher Leo Owashi and librarian Clare Breed, who maintained correspondence with internees, and organizers donated $1,000 checks to the Japanese American National Museum in her honor.
- Seeks Book on Internment Experience, page 10. A brief item notes a call for personal accounts or manuscripts related to the World War II internment experience for a planned book project. It solicits contributions from those who lived through camp incarceration.
In-Depth
- Tokyo is 6th in Traveler Costs, page 5. A Japan National Tourist Organization survey found Tokyo ranked sixth in travel costs among 22 major cities worldwide, down from fifth the previous year. London topped the list as most expensive, followed by Paris, New York, Frankfurt and Geneva, with the ranking shift attributed to currency fluctuations.
- 60 New Hotels Scheduled for Japan Through 1996, by Tyler Tanaka, page 5. The Japan National Tourist Organization reported that 60 new hotels providing over 11,800 rooms are scheduled to open in Japan between 1991 and 1996. The new properties include airport, resort, convention, and business hotels located throughout the country, with Yokohama hosting both the largest and smallest new properties.
- Take a Cruise—Japanese Style, by Tyler Tanaka, page 5. The article describes Japanese-style cruise offerings praised by industry experts as among the most luxurious in the world. It highlights onboard amenities including both Western and Japanese dining rooms and notes cruises are accessible to elderly and wheelchair-bound travelers.
- Canada: Big Enough for Every Traveler, by Richard Suenaga, page 9. This travel feature surveys Canada’s diverse regions and attractions, from Vancouver and the Rockies to Quebec’s Old World charm and Nova Scotia’s maritime villages. It highlights cities including Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, and Edmonton, noting cultural institutions, shopping, and natural scenery across the provinces.
Commentary
- Analysis of a Press Conference, by Bill Hosokawa, page 10. Bill Hosokawa analyzes a joint press conference between President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Kaifu, examining how the U.S. press covered issues involving Japan. He notes Bush’s praise of reduced trade deficits and Kaifu’s remarks on U.S.-Japan cooperation during the Gulf crisis, while questioning media bias in framing U.S.-Japan relations as adversarial.
- Double Triple ‘K’s, by Bill Marutani, page 10. Bill Marutani discusses Japan’s labor shortage and its effect on corporate hiring, describing how Japanese job seekers now avoid companies characterized by the ‘K’ traits: kitanai (dirty), kitsui (demanding), and kiken (dangerous). He also outlines a more favorable second set of ‘K’ criteria—kankyo, kaiteki, and kyuka—related to environmental responsibility, working conditions, and vacation time that top-ranked companies now emphasize to attract graduates.
Military & Veterans
- This War Hero Gets Proper Burial, page 10. The article references Grant Ujifusa’s address in Seattle, which included a tribute to a war hero and touched on a historical Winchell broadcast. It highlights the recognition finally given to a veteran whose story had gone largely untold.
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