Vol. 114, No. 15, April 17, 1992. 8 pages. View this issue
Redress led the news in this eight-page issue. Robert K. Bratt left his post as executive director of the Office of Redress Administration to take a new job in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and his deputy Paul Suddes became acting director. Staff and JACL reports covered the change, and a later story gathered praise for Bratt from Norman Mineta, Robert Matsui and other JACL leaders. The front page also reported that the stone and bronze monument to Japanese Americans imprisoned at Topaz had been shot at by vandals.
Elsewhere, Gwen Muranaka reported on a USC panel about ‘Buy American’ campaigns, and Harry K. Honda wrote about his lecture at Notre Dame and about Peru under President Fujimori. Bill Hosokawa and Jin Konomi contributed columns, and a Heart Mountain story reported that Congress may help fund preservation of the campsite.
What’s in this issue
National
- Bob Bratt Leaves Redress Office for New Justice Department Post, by Staff and JACL reports, page 1. Robert K. Bratt, executive director of the Office of Redress Administration, left his post to become executive officer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. His deputy Paul Suddes took over as acting ORA director, pledging to continue the redress program with the same commitment.
- Some Say Fujimori Moved on Drug Traffic, page 1. A Los Angeles Times analysis suggested the U.S. supports Peruvian President Fujimori’s regime largely to preserve joint efforts against cocaine trafficking. Experts warned that if the U.S. and other nations isolate the new regime, they would lose leverage to press for a return to democracy.
- Paul Suddes Named Acting ORA Director, page 1. Paul Suddes, previously deputy administrator under Bob Bratt, was named acting director of the Office of Redress Administration. He vowed to ensure a smooth transition and continue funding efforts for the redress program.
- ‘Buy America’ Not Anti-Japan, Panel Says, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. A panel at USC discussed the economic and political implications of ‘Buy American’ campaigns, with panelists including L.A. Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky and auto executive Richard Recchia. Panelists argued the campaign is not anti-Japanese but reflects broader concerns about American manufacturing and labor policy.
- Miyazawa Misquoted on Americans, Reporter Says, page 1. San Francisco Chronicle writer Charles Burress argued that Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa’s remark about a lacking work ethic was mistranslated and taken out of context by the American press. Burress said Miyazawa was referring to speculative financial practices in both Japan and the U.S., not general American work ethic.
- Ex-Soccer Coach Seeks Reinstatement, page 3. Asian American soccer coach Pete Mehlert’s bid to regain his 20-year coaching position at American University was rejected. Mehlert alleges he was fired for helping colleagues file discrimination complaints against the school.
- Anti-Japan-Bashing Resolution Drafted, page 3. The Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission drafted a resolution opposing Japan-bashing and anti-Japanese hate crimes tied to ‘Buy American’ campaigns. The resolution calls on officials and community leaders to be thoughtful about characterizing local preference ballot measures.
- U.S.: Japan, 42 Others Guilty of Unfair Trade, page 3. A Bush administration report named Japan as leading a list of 43 countries and two trading blocs accused of erecting unfair trade barriers against American products. The administration plans to prioritize nations for intensive trade negotiations.
- Japanese Not Getting Fair Trials, Lawyer Says, page 3. Los Angeles trial lawyer Russell Iungerich claims Japanese national firms may not receive fair treatment in U.S. courts, alleging some American attorneys exploit Japanese reluctance to litigate. He said Japanese firms should more aggressively assert their legal rights.
- Asians, Hispanics Give More, Study Says, page 3. A University of San Francisco study found that Asians and Hispanics give more to charity than previously believed, often directing support to extended family and ethnic community members rather than mainstream charities. The study surveyed 200 members of five ethnic communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- ‘Buy America’ Debate Continues Over Manufacturing Jobs, page 4. Labor leader Bill Robertson argued that the loss of American manufacturing jobs stemmed from laissez-faire economic policies rather than Japanese competition. Auto executive Richard Recchia noted that ‘American-made’ is difficult to define given cross-national auto manufacturing.
- Fujimori’s Peru Faces International Scrutiny, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. Peruvian Consul General Raul Pinto told the Pacific Citizen that Peru’s image is improving under President Fujimori despite the controversial dissolution of Congress. Secretary of State James Baker warned there would be no business as usual with a Peru isolated from the international community, while Fujimori defended his actions as necessary to fight corruption and terrorism.
- Personally Speaking: Mineta Honored for Highway Safety Leadership, page 6. The Washington-based Advocates for Highway Safety honored Rep. Norman Mineta for his leadership on the 1991 highway bill. The six-year, $150-billion legislation included numerous safety measures such as air bags, anti-lock brakes, and encouragement of seat belt laws.
Incarceration & Redress
- Topaz Monument Vandalized, page 1. The stone and bronze monument honoring Japanese Americans imprisoned at Topaz, Utah, was shot at by vandals using high-powered guns. The Salt Lake Chapter JACL is considering building a larger memorial park at the site rather than continually repairing the vandalized marker.
- Congress May Help Heart Mountain Project, page 3. Following Manzanar’s recognition as a National Historic Site, Congress may fund preservation of the Heart Mountain campsite in Wyoming ahead of its 50th anniversary. Sen. Alan Simpson’s office plans to seek roughly $500,000, which would need to be matched by private funding.
- Bratt Praised by Lawmakers and JACL Leaders for Redress Work, page 4. JACL leaders and members of Congress including Norman Mineta and Robert Matsui praised Bob Bratt’s tenure leading the Office of Redress Administration. Assistant Attorney General John Dunne said Bratt was instrumental in building ORA into a functional, efficient federal program.
Community
- Aug. 2 Will Be Kristi’s Day in L.A., page 3. L.A. Supervisor Kenneth Hahn moved to declare Aug. 2 as ‘Kristi Yamaguchi Day’ in Los Angeles County to honor the figure skater’s Olympic and world championship performances. Yamaguchi will also serve as grand marshal of the Nisei Week Parade in Los Angeles.
- L.A. to Honor Nikkei Palos Verdes Farm, page 3. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors requested that a pioneer Japanese farm on the Palos Verdes Peninsula be designated a State Point of Historical Interest. The farm was started by Kumekichi Ishibashi and is now run by his son Mas Ishibashi.
- Personally Speaking: LTSC Housing Project Featured in L.A. Times, page 6. Little Tokyo Service Center’s refurbished San Pedro Firm Building housing project for elderly and low-income residents was featured on the front page of the Los Angeles Times Real Estate section. The building, purchased from the city in 1989, has been fully renovated and made earthquake-safe with all first-floor units handicap accessible.
- Personally Speaking: Agricultural Alliance Formed to Address Water Criticism, page 6. Fresno-based Nisei Farmers League president Harry Kubo is a steering member of the newly formed California Agricultural Alliance, created to counter criticism that California farmers waste water and harm the environment. Not all agricultural groups agreed with the alliance’s approach.
- Personally Speaking: Yamasaki, Ching Lead San Francisco and L.A. Commissions, page 6. George Yamasaki Jr. was elected president of the San Francisco Social Services Commission, marking his fourth term in that role since 1975. Deborah Ching of Chinatown Service Center became president of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Planning Council, succeeding Bong Hwan Kim.
Commentary
- Image of People in Japan Becoming Taller, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Hosokawa reflects on the increasing height and physical size of Japanese people, citing volleyball star Motoko Ohbayashi and his observations during a recent trip to Japan. He attributes the change to improved diet and economic prosperity compared to the malnourished wartime generation.
- The Japanese Revival of ‘Rubi’, by Jin Konomi, page 4. Konomi discusses the difficulty of mastering kanji in learning Japanese and describes the revival of ‘rubi,’ small hiragana notations that help readers pronounce kanji characters. He credits the Japanese translation of ‘Finnegan’s Wake’ with reigniting the practice, which benefits students of the language.
In-Depth
- Lecturing at Notre Dame: Asian Americans Are Taken for Japanese, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Harry Honda recounts his lecture at the University of Notre Dame on the topic ‘Japanese Americans: Who Are They?’ as part of a conference on U.S.-Japan relations. Other speakers included Dr. Francis Kobayashi, who shared his WWII internment experience, and scholars discussing U.S.-Japan security relations and Japan’s racial identity during the Occupation.
Sports
- Personally Speaking: Cincinnati JACLer Inducted into Handball Hall of Fame, page 6. Ralph Weil of Cincinnati JACL was installed in the Ohio Handball Hall of Fame after organizing the Cincinnati Handball Association and coaching at the University of Cincinnati. The university named him instructor when handball was added to its sports curriculum.
Arts & Entertainment
- Writer Hasu Houston Honored with Film Institute Award, page 6. Playwright Velina Hasu Houston was selected by Sidney Poitier and the American Film Institute as the first recipient of the Remy Martin New Vision Award. Houston is known for her trilogy of plays about her multiethnic family, including ‘Tea,’ and has received numerous other honors including a Rockefeller Foundation fellowship.
Military & Veterans
- In Memoriam: Nelson Yamamoto, page 8. Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Nelson Yamamoto, 26, was buried with more than 4,000 law enforcement officers, family and friends in attendance after dying from gunshot wounds while investigating a disturbance call. He is survived by his parents, both JACL members, a sister and a brother.
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.