Vol. 114, No. 24, June 19, 1992. 8 pages. View this issue
Two stories from JACL’s national leadership led this eight-page issue. Gwen Muranaka reported that JACL National President Cressey Nakagawa’s comments to the Japan Times drew criticism from members of the JACL Japan Chapter, while Nakagawa said he spoke as a private citizen. Karen Narasaki reported that the Civil Liberties Act Amendments of 1992, H.R. 4551, had sat in the House Judiciary Committee for more than two months, and she urged members to press for a vote. JACL also welcomed the sale of the Seattle Mariners.
Also inside: Harry Honda covered a Military Intelligence Service reunion in Minneapolis, with Rep. Norman Mineta as banquet speaker. The Legacy Fund received nine grant proposals, and the national convention in Denver announced a sweepstakes and a volleyball tournament. Sue Kunitomi Embrey of the Manzanar Committee was among those honored by the Little Tokyo Service Center. Columns by Bill Hosokawa and Bill Marutani appear on page 6, along with letters.
What’s in this issue
National
- Controversy Hits JACL President’s Japan Trip, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. JACL National President Cressey Nakagawa’s recent trip to Japan and comments he made to the Japan Times drew criticism from JACL Japan Chapter members who felt they were not notified of his visit. Nakagawa maintained he was speaking as a private citizen, not as JACL president, when he discussed hate crimes, Japan-bashing, and reparations.
- Redress Amendment Stalls in Committee, by Karen Narasaki, page 1. The Civil Liberties Act Amendments of 1992, H.R. 4551, has been stalled in the House Judiciary Committee for over two months despite being voted out of subcommittee. JACL members are urged to contact committee members to push for a full committee vote before the legislative session runs out of time.
- Asian American Groups to Honor Memory of Vincent Chin, page 1. Asian American groups nationwide plan to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Vincent Chin’s death, a Chinese American killed in a racially motivated beating in Detroit in 1982. Events in San Francisco and other cities will include rallies, a cultural program, and educational forums addressing rising anti-Asian violence.
- Controversy (continued): Nakagawa Defends Japan Trip Comments, page 5. JACL Japan Chapter President Caroline Kawashima expressed outrage that Nakagawa did not consult chapter members before his interview, while Nakagawa insisted the trip was personal and self-funded. Critics including Glen Fukushima warned the comments could cause needless antagonism, but Nakagawa defended the right of Japanese Americans to speak frankly on international issues.
JACL
- JACL Applauds Seattle Mariners Purchase, page 1. JACL officials welcomed the approval of the sale of the Seattle Mariners to a group led by the chairman of Nintendo Co. Ltd., calling it the ‘right decision’ by Commissioner Fay Vincent. JACL had been involved since February when it challenged an apparent racial double standard regarding foreign ownership of baseball teams.
- Sweepstakes Announced, page 3. National JACL announced its 1992 Sweepstakes offering a grand prize of two round-trip airline tickets plus $1,500 cash, held in conjunction with the national convention. A $25 contribution to the JACL support fund entitles contributors to one entry, with winners drawn at the Sayonara Banquet in Denver.
- Volleyball Tourney Set for Convention, page 3. A coed volleyball tournament will be held Aug. 4-5 during the JACL national convention in Denver, organized by the Mile-Hi Chapter. Four-person teams from chapters and districts will compete in a round-robin format with prizes awarded.
- Legacy Fund Grant Proposals Submitted, page 3. Nine districts and chapters submitted proposals for JACL Legacy Fund grants, with selections to be made by July 20, 1992 by a Grants Committee chaired by Bill Kaneko. The program provides funding for chapter and district projects, with a maximum grant of $2,500 per project.
- Fresno Chapter, JACL Scholarship Recipients for 1992, page 5. The Fresno Chapter JACL announced its 1992 scholarship recipients including Susan Sugako Kato, Akiko Nakatani, David Yokota, Kathy Momoko Nishikawa, Tamon Norimoto, and Amy Miyoshi. The students, honored at a May 17 dinner, plan to pursue fields including humanities, chemistry, pharmacy, and biology at various universities.
- San Mateo Chapter, JACL, 1992 High School Senior Scholarships, page 5. The San Mateo JACL Chapter awarded scholarships to several graduating seniors including Audrey Rei Mimoto and Gregory Chew Chung Sue, along with additional $100 scholarships to five other students. The awards were presented at the Community Family Potluck at the San Mateo Senior Center.
Military & Veterans
- MIS Remembers Twin Cities, by Harry Honda, page 3. The 50th anniversary of the Military Intelligence Service Language School was celebrated at a reunion in Minneapolis, honoring the wartime hospitality of Savage, Minneapolis and St. Paul to Nisei soldiers. Rep. Norman Mineta, a former MI officer, was the featured banquet speaker, and veteran George Kanegai recalled the history behind the site’s selection.
Community
- Pacific Citizen Offices Burglarized, page 3. The Pacific Citizen offices were burglarized the weekend of June 13-14, with two Mac computers, a fax machine, a camera, and other equipment stolen. The theft caused delays in production of the newspaper.
- L.A. Area Nikkei Honored for Community Service, page 4. Sue Kunitomi Embrey, Mas Fukai, and Tim Manaka Jr. will receive Japanese American Community Service Awards from the Little Tokyo Service Center on July 17. Embrey co-founded the Manzanar Committee and helped achieve national historic site status for Manzanar, while Fukai has served on the Gardena City Council and Manaka has led fundraising and charity efforts.
Commentary
- On the Comeback: Okagesama De, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Columnist Bill Hosokawa updates readers on his grandson Jon Harveson’s recovery from a spinal tumor, describing his triumphant high school graduation and return to competitive swimming. Hosokawa reflects on Jon’s resilience and gratitude, expressing thanks to those who supported the family through the ordeal.
- Gai-jins and O-furo, by Bill Marutani, page 6. Marutani discusses the difficulties faced by foreign residents in Japan, including bureaucratic obstacles with residency registration, banking, and housing due to being non-Japanese. He also reflects humorously on the Japanese cultural tradition of the nightly o-furo bath, noting the likely strain on a hotel’s hot water system during a large MIS veterans reunion.
- Takes Exception to Perot’s Comments, by V. Tanida, page 6. A letter writer criticizes Ross Perot for a comment made on ABC’s 20/20 regarding Japanese loans to Russia, questioning whether his use of a stereotypical phrase revealed racist attitudes. The writer questions whether Perot’s remarks reflect a broader habit of racial jokes and generalizations about Asians.
- In Defense of JACL National Staff, by Les Hata and Beth Fenge, page 6. Two JACL leaders respond to a committee report on organizational structure, defending the professionalism and dedication of JACL’s national staff against implications that the organization serves merely as a ‘training ground’ for inexperienced workers. They note JACL’s limited budget compared to other civil rights organizations and praise the Select Committee’s efforts while urging balanced criticism.
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