Vol. 117, No. 6, August 27, 1993. 8 pages. View this issue
JACL asked officials in Concord, Calif., to fully examine possible racial motivation in the shooting death of Japanese exchange student Masakazu Kuriyama, while police said they had found no motive and spoke of a possible failed robbery. The Senate left money for the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund out of its 1994 appropriations bill, and the House and Senate versions went to a Conference Committee. Richard Suenaga reported on the Cleveland tri-district meeting, where Lillian Kimura spoke of preparing JACL for the 21st century.
Other items cover the 1994 national convention in Salt Lake City, the restructuring plan, and a debate in the letters over the Rising Sun controversy and the role of the Pacific Citizen. Bill Hosokawa wrote about Japan’s new prime minister, Morihiro Hosokawa. Nisei MIS veterans were to be honored by the Philippines, and a Taiwanese immigrant family’s home in Rowland Heights was vandalized with KKK letters.
What’s in this issue
National
- JACL Calls for Investigation in Shooting Death of Japanese Student, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL wrote to Concord, Calif. officials expressing concern about the shooting death of Japanese exchange student Masakazu Kuriyama, urging a full examination of possible racial motivation. Police said no motive has been found but speculated it may have been a failed robbery rather than a hate crime, since Kuriyama’s wallet, cash and Walkman were untouched.
- Senate Fails to Include Funds for Redress Education, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Senate did not include funding for the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund in its 1994 Department of Justice appropriations bill, despite President Clinton’s request of $5 million. The House version contains a provision the JACL says will not work, and both bills have been sent to a Conference Committee to resolve differences.
- KKK Burned Into L.A. Home, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A Taiwanese immigrant family’s Rowland Heights home was vandalized with KKK letters burned into the carpet, along with a swastika and pentagram, while they were on vacation. Investigators are treating it as a possible hate crime, though a stolen Nintendo set suggests the culprits may have been teenagers.
- Hate Crimes Literature Rising, Says JACL Official, by P.C. Staff, page 4. JACL Washington representative Karen Narasaki told tri-district conference members that anti-Asian violence is worsening and cited the movie Rising Sun as an example of bigotry contributing to hate violence. She urged JACL to meet with law enforcement, build coalitions, and support legislation for tougher hate crime sentencing.
- For the Record, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A correction clarifies wording in a previous Pacific Citizen editorial by Gwen Muranaka about publishing views and information. Another correction notes that Dale Shimasaki is the current chairperson of the JACL Education Committee, not identified correctly in a previous issue.
JACL
- ’94 Convention Countdown, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 1994 JACL national convention will be held in Salt Lake City, chaired by Floyd Mori, with a committee currently reviewing workshop topics and other plans. The opening social will be held Aug. 3 at the Salt Lake Hilton, followed by a golf tournament and business sessions.
- More Review on Reorganization, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL restructuring plan will be presented with updated concerns at the national board meeting in San Francisco, Sept. 24-26, incorporating input from the Eastern, Midwest and Mountain Plains District Councils tri-district meeting in Cleveland. After the board meeting, the plan will be mailed for a chapter referendum vote, hopefully completed by year’s end.
- Discussing the ‘Real World of Asians’, by Richard Suenaga, page 1. JACL members from the Eastern, Mountain Plains and Midwest Districts met in Cleveland Aug. 19-22 to discuss the ‘Real World of Asians,’ with National President Lillian Kimura’s opening address focused on preparing JACL for the 21st century. Kimura cited growing Asian American population figures while noting the group’s continued political insignificance, and outlined progress on the executive director search, 1996 convention site selection, and other biennium projects.
- Reviewing Resolutions, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Four resolutions were considered at the Cleveland tri-district conference on Aug. 22 to be recommended to the National Board’s Sept. 24-26 meeting. These included support for Philadelphia’s 1996 convention bid, a fund-raising effort for the Jap Road campaign in Beaumont, Texas, and recognition of the Cleveland Chapter for hosting the conference.
Military & Veterans
- Philippines to Honor Nisei MIS Vets Who Served in World War II, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Philippine Embassy notified JAVA that Nisei who served in the Philippines during WWII will be honored with medals at the MIS National Capital Reunion in Arlington, Va., Oct. 21-23, 1993. Several medal categories are outlined for veterans based on their service dates and campaigns, including the Philippine Defense Medal and Philippine Liberation Medal.
Community
- Sansei Turning Print Into TV, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Grant Ujifusa, former redress leader and Reader’s Digest senior editor, has worked with ABC to bring the magazine to primetime television in a new hour-long show debuting Sept. 7. Ujifusa, son of former Denver residents, is also co-author of the Almanac of American Politics and hopes a successful debut will lead to more episodes.
- JACL Member Honored by Clinton for His Help During Flood, by P.C. Staff, page 3. President Clinton presented St. Louis Chapter JACL member Art Towata with a certificate of commendation, calling him a ‘flood hero’ for turning his art gallery into a command post for emergency workers during the Great Flood of ’93. Towata said the recognition belonged to all the volunteer workers in Alton and hopes the experience leads to new artwork.
Commentary
- Get Involved in Political Process, Speaker Says, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Irene Natividad, first Asian American to head the National Women’s Political Caucus, told JACL tri-district conference attendees that the model minority myth persists despite Asian Americans’ political insignificance. She urged Asian Americans to register and vote, create their own political identity, and get involved by writing to politicians and media producers.
- Hosokawa on Hosokawa, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Columnist Bill Hosokawa discusses Japan’s new prime minister Morihiro Hosokawa’s connections to Montana through a sister-state relationship with Kumamoto Prefecture, recounting testimonials from former Montana governors and officials who met him. He also notes the historical irony of Hosokawa’s grandfather, Prince Fumimaro Konoye, who as prime minister tried to avert war with the U.S. in 1941.
- Says Disagreement Valid When Not an Official JACL Position, by Denny Yasuhara, page 6. A letter writer argues that the Rising Sun controversy between JACL’s Washington representative and a PC reporter raises questions about accountability versus editorial independence. He warns against national JACL asserting control over the Pacific Citizen, arguing the paper must remain objective rather than a propaganda instrument for leadership.
- More Rising Sun Views, Role of Pacific Citizen, page 6. A letter writer clarifies that a quoted column on Rising Sun was a personal opinion, not an official position of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans. The writer also discusses the proper role of the Pacific Citizen as a national newspaper versus a JACL newsletter, warning that ambiguity about its role fuels ongoing conflicts.
- Be Calm, But Print, by Wilshire Chapter, JACL member, page 8. A longtime JACL member with 57 years in the organization argues that recent controversies over Rising Sun and other issues have been overblown, drawing on historical precedents of past JACL conflicts. He urges tolerance and encourages open expression of differing views rather than attempts to control or restrict the Pacific Citizen’s editorial content.
Obituaries
- Teru Uno Nakamura Death Notice, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A death notice mentions services at Chapel Funeral Home in Belmont, with memorials requested to J.A.S.C. in lieu of flowers. Contact information for the funeral home is provided.
- John ‘Ty’ Saito, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Funeral services were held for John ‘Ty’ Saito, 84, a San Mateo-born Nisei resident of Los Angeles, a 1932 UCLA graduate and founder of Saito Realty since 1946. He passed away at a Los Angeles medical center.
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