Vol. 116, No. 18, May 7, 1993. 12 pages. View this issue
Asian Pacific American leaders pressed for representation in the Clinton administration in this 12-page issue. A group met in Washington, D.C., with Phillip Diehl, counselor to the Treasury Secretary, about the lack of Asian American appointments there. Rep. Robert Matsui announced he would lead a Congressional group working to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement, and Rep. Norman Mineta voted for an extension of unemployment compensation. Masaki Saito, Japanese Consul General in Seattle, spoke on U.S.-Japan relations at Whitman College.
Books for young readers filled several pages. Polychrome Publishing released four Asian American children’s titles for Heritage Month, including Marlene Shigekawa’s book about the Japanese American incarceration. Gwen Muranaka reported that the Smithsonian’s exhibit on Japanese Americans and the Constitution remains on view, now with a section on redress. JACL news includes the Legacy Fund passing $4 million and a column by Patricia Ikeda Carper on discrimination against Asian Americans.
What’s in this issue
National
- Asian Pacific Americans Meet With Treasury Official Over Lack of Appointments, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A group of Asian Pacific American leaders met in Washington, D.C. with Treasury counselor Phillip Diehl to discuss the absence of Asian American appointments in the department. Diehl said unfilled positions remain and asked for help finding candidates.
- Japanese Consul General Speaks Optimistically on U.S.-Japan Relations, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Masaki Saito, Japanese Consul General in Seattle, gave a talk at Whitman College praising President Clinton’s efforts to fix America’s economy as key to better U.S.-Japan relations. He emphasized the need for grassroots understanding between Japanese and Americans, citing exchange teacher programs.
- Rep. Matsui to Head Congressional Group on NAFTA, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Robert Matsui announced he will lead a Congressional group working to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement in the House. The group, announced with Dan Rostenkowski and Mickey Kantor, will promote the argument that NAFTA creates jobs and new markets.
- Mineta Votes for Unemployment Compensation Extension, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Norman Mineta voted for an extension of unemployment compensation, the only surviving portion of Clinton’s economic stimulus plan after a Republican Senate filibuster. Mineta criticized the filibuster as undemocratic given the weak economy and high unemployment.
Arts & Entertainment
- Four New Asian American Children’s Books Debut for Heritage Month, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Polychrome Publishing Corporation is releasing four new Asian American children’s books for Asian American Heritage Month, including ‘Blue Jay In The Desert’ about Japanese American internment, written by Marlene Shigekawa and illustrated by Isao Kikuchi. The books aim to fill a gap in authentic Asian American representation in children’s literature.
- Polychrome Publishing Fills Gap in Asian American Children’s Literature, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Polychrome Publishing, one of few publishers dedicated to Asian American children’s books, released titles including ‘Almond Cookies & Dragon Well Tea’ and ‘Nene and the Horrible Math Monster’ addressing themes like friendship and the model minority myth. Publisher Sandra Yamate emphasized the need for authentic stories reflecting the Asian American experience.
- Authors and Illustrators to Make Appearances for New Books, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Several Asian American children’s book authors and illustrators will appear at Chicago-area events including a benefit for Asian Human Services and booksignings at local bookstores. Events include readings by Marie Villanueva and Jennifer L. Chan of their newly published works.
Commentary
- Small Kid Time, by Gwen Muranaka, page 2. A cartoon-style commentary column titled ‘Small Kid Time’ by Gwen Muranaka appears with an illustration referencing political opposition.
Incarceration & Redress
- Smithsonian’s Japanese American Exhibit Remains on View Indefinitely, by Gwen Muranaka, page 3. The Smithsonian’s exhibit ‘A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the United States Constitution’ continues to run with no end date, according to curator Tom Crouch, well past its original five-year run. A new section, ‘The End of the Story,’ has been added detailing redress and subsequent court cases.
Community
- Big Winner: Central California District JACL Conference Grand Prize, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Larry Ishimoto, governor of JACL Central California District, presented two tickets to Japan to Mits Shiroyama of Hanford as the grand prize at a joint PSW-CCDC-NCWNPD conference held in Costa Mesa. The event took place April 2-4.
- Off to the Races: San Gabriel Valley JACL Scholarship Benefit, by P.C. Staff, page 4. San Gabriel Valley JACL members held a benefit day at Santa Anita Park to raise scholarship funds. Pictured attendees included Berbers Shirota, Kathy Chong, Deni Usjima, Marvel Miyata and Toshi Ito.
- Personally Speaking: Awards and Honors Around the Community, by P.C. Staff, page 5. This roundup column highlights community members’ achievements, including Hamline University professor Joseph Norio Uemura’s teaching award, Las Vegas educator Wayne Tanaka’s recognition, and Westinghouse Science Talent Search scholarship winners of Asian American descent. It also notes USC Asian Pacific American Support Group scholarship recipients.
- Scouts’ Honors: Local Teens Achieve Eagle Scout Rank, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Ryan Narasaki and Wayne Motoyasu, both from Gardena-area high schools, completed six years with their Boy Scout troop to become Eagle Scouts. Their projects included refurbishing playground equipment and clearing debris at local parks.
JACL
- JACL Legacy Fund Surpasses $4 Million Mark, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The JACL National Board and Legacy Fund Campaign Committee acknowledged numerous contributors whose donations helped the Legacy Fund surpass $4 million. The article lists donors by district who contributed between December 1992 and January 1993.
- Range of Infringements Against Asian Americans Persists, by Patricia Ikeda Carper, page 6. Cincinnati Chapter JACL president Patricia Ikeda Carper writes about the continuum of discrimination against Asian Americans, from verbal slurs to violence, and criticizes enrollment restrictions tied to the
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