Vol. 115, No. 6, September 4, 1992. 12 pages. View this issue
Coverage of the JACL national convention in Denver filled this 12-page issue. Harry Honda reported on a panel about U.S.-Japan relations that opened with remarks from Japanese Ambassador Takakazu Kuriyama, and Bill Hosokawa returned to that workshop in his commentary. Gwen Muranaka wrote about the needs of bi-racial children, and Fred Y. Hoshiyama covered a session on cultural taboos facing gay and lesbian Japanese Americans. Karen Narasaki, JACL’s Washington D.C. representative, listed the bills the organization was backing before the congressional recess, and described the coalition support for amending the Civil Liberties Act.
Also inside: Ken and Ann Yabusaki on three Sansei artists, Harry K. Honda on the psychological legacy of the World War II incarceration (often called internment), and a new video and teacher guide about Gordon Hirabayashi. Bill Marutani wrote about Tokyo University graduates in Japan’s elite, and a reader’s letter took issue with Lillian Baker.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- On the Legislative Fronts, by Karen Narasaki, page 1. JACL’s Washington D.C. representative summarizes bills the organization is supporting as Congress rushes toward recess, including the Family and Medical Leave Act and an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act’s battered spouse waiver provision. The article urges members to contact legislators and the White House to support these measures.
- Trying to Uncomplicate the Complicated: U.S.-Japan Relations, by Harry Honda, page 1. A panel including Bill Hosokawa, Sen Nishiyama, Cressey Nakagawa, and Dick Yamashita tackled the complex subject of U.S.-Japan relations at a seminar during the JACL national biennial convention in Denver. Japanese Ambassador Takakazu Kuriyama opened the discussion, emphasizing the need for the U.S. and Japan to assume greater global responsibility.
- Understanding Needs of Bi-Racial Children, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. At a JACL Convention workshop, Dr. Jerry Hashimoto and Dr. Richard Onizuka discussed the unique struggles bi-racial and bi-cultural children face navigating both invisible cultural attributes and visible physical characteristics. The psychologists emphasized that parents and grandparents play a crucial role in helping these children explore and accept their multiple identities.
- Cultural Taboos Are Tough on Asian Gays, by Fred Y. Hoshiyama, page 1. A JACL convention workshop addressed the difficulties faced by gay and lesbian Japanese Americans due to traditional cultural taboos that hinder self-acceptance and coming out. Panelists Vicki Taniwaki, her mother Marge Yamada Taniwaki, and Martin Hiraga of the Asian Task Force shared personal experiences with the audience.
- Redress Amendment Effort Gets Helping Hands, by Karen Narasaki, page 1. Numerous civil rights and religious organizations have supported JACL’s advocacy efforts for the Civil Liberties Act amendments through letters, calls, and other assistance. The article lists numerous coalition partners and urges local civic and religious groups to send letters of support.
- Artists Seek Self-Identity in Their Work, by Ken & Ann Yabusaki, page 3. Three Sansei artists—playwright Philip Gotanda, writer/actress Amy Hill, and poet Dr. Lawson Inada—shared their creative work and discussed how their art was part of a search for self-identity shaped by growing up Japanese American. The panel, facilitated by Nancy Araki, engaged in discussion about whether creative talent is innate.
Community
- Hirabayashi Video Is Now Available, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A 30-minute videotape and teacher guide for grades 6-12 about Gordon Hirabayashi has been released in San Francisco. The educational material is intended for classroom use.
Incarceration & Redress
- The Psychological Side of Internment, by Harry K. Honda, page 3. A JACL convention workshop moderated by Dr. Joyce Kobayashi explored the lasting psychological impact of internment on Nisei who were young adults during WWII, with panelists sharing their personal camp experiences. The session also examined legal scholar Erik K. Yamamoto’s paper on the social meanings and criticisms of redress payments.
Commentary
- JACL’s Provocative U.S.-Japan Workshop, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa reflects on the JACL convention workshop on U.S.-Japan relations, recalling how Nisei silence about Japanese aggression in the 1930s contributed to wartime suspicion, and argues Japanese Americans should speak out today while ensuring they understand the facts. He notes panelist Sen Nishiyama’s caution that criticism of Japan must be well-informed, and discusses the complexity of U.S.-Japan trade issues with input from Glen Fukushima.
- Tokyo (Imperial) University, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Marutani examines the outsized influence of Tokyo University (Todai) graduates in Japan’s government and business elite, noting that some ministries are staffed 70-90% by Todai alumni. He describes efforts by Prime Minister Miyazawa and other officials to reduce this concentration amid concerns about an unhealthy “old boy network.”
- Takes Exception to Illogic of Lillian Baker, by Phill Coleman, page 8. A letter writer responds to correspondence with Lillian Baker and Ralph Willis, arguing that Baker is not a credible historian but an
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