Vol. 117, No. 17, November 12, 1993. 8 pages. View this issue
The Military Intelligence Service Language School and the Nisei who trained there ran through this eight-page issue. Harry K. Honda reported on the MIS Capital Reunion panels in Washington, D.C., and on Sen. Daniel Inouye’s keynote at the banquet. Barry Saiki described the monument dedicated at Crissy Field in the Presidio of San Francisco, where the first MIS Language School opened. Karen Narasaki wrote about attending the banquet.
In Sacramento, Gwen Muranaka reported the arrest of Richard Campos, 18, in connection with five racially motivated firebombings, including the one at the chapter’s JACL office. Michael A. Sawamura profiled chapter president Randy Imai. Elsewhere, a Friendship Foundation formed in memory of Yoshihiro Hattori, and a Johns Hopkins newsletter cartoon drew protest. Bill Hosokawa wrote on business in Japan, and Narasaki wrote on D.C. statehood.
What’s in this issue
National
- Japan-Louisiana Group Formed in Response to Hattori Tragedy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A new non-profit organization called the Friendship Foundation was created in memory of Yoshihiro Hattori, the Japanese exchange student shot to death in Baton Rouge in 1992. The group, backed by American and Japanese corporations, aims to improve understanding between Louisiana and Japan through initiatives like commemorative tree plantings at Hattori’s former school.
- University Newsletter’s Cartoon Called Racist, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A cartoon in Johns Hopkins University’s Newsletter depicting an Asian man using a racial slur sparked outrage among students and administrators. While defending the paper’s right to publish, officials criticized the poor editorial judgment, and the Student Council voted to withhold advertising for a month in protest.
- Arrest Made in Sacramento Firebombings, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Richard Campos, 18, was arrested in connection with five racially motivated firebombings including the attack on the Sacramento JACL chapter office, though FBI and police believe he may have had accomplices. The district attorney’s office plans to prosecute Campos as an adult to pursue maximum penalties under hate crime laws.
Military & Veterans
- Part Two: The MIS Story, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. This continuation piece covers the MIS Capital Reunion panel discussions in Washington, D.C., detailing how nearly 6,000 Nisei graduated from the Military Intelligence Service Language School during WWII. Panelists including Stanley Falk and Warren Tsuneishi discussed the MIS’s role in saving lives and shortening the Pacific War, despite facing discrimination in military promotions.
- Monument Placed at First MIS School Site, by Barry Saiki, page 3. A commemorative monument was dedicated at Crissy Field, Presidio of San Francisco, marking the site of the first MIS Language School which opened Nov. 1, 1941. The monument honors the 6,000 Japanese American soldier graduates who served during WWII, with Col. Thomas Sakamoto explaining the educational message intended for future generations.
- Sen. Daniel Inouye Salutes MIS Vets, by Harry K. Honda, page 3. Senator Daniel Inouye, a decorated 442nd veteran, delivered the keynote address at the MIS Capital Reunion banquet, calling MIS veterans the ‘real heroes’ of WWII for their unrecognized service. The event included the presentation of Philippine Liberation Medals and honored the five MIS clubs and the Japanese American Veterans Association.
- Video Captures 11 MIS Stories, by P.C. Staff, page 3. “Fifty Years of Silence,” a 50-minute video produced for MIS-Norcal and the National Japanese American History Society, features interviews with 11 MIS veterans and was directed by Sheryl Narahara. Narahara, a doctoral candidate at San Francisco State University, received a $1,000 scholarship from the Japanese American Veterans Association at the reunion banquet.
Obituaries
- JACL Pioneers Nakadoi, Nagao Die, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Em Masako Nakadoi, 76, a pioneer Omaha JACL member and longtime Pacific Citizen contributor, died Nov. 7, remembered for leading the chapter’s famed sukiyaki dinner fundraisers. Charles Nagao, 77, former Eastern District Council governor and charter Seabrook JACL member, died Oct. 30 after being active in scouting and community service in South Jersey.
Commentary
- Business in Japan””as Usual and Unusual, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. This column covers various Japan-related business topics including an automated breakfast-making device, expensive Nishijin neckties facing competition from cheaper Korean and Chinese imports, and Yaohan’s massive retail expansion plans in China. It also discusses Japan’s rice shortage crisis following a bad harvest, forcing officials to reconsider their resistance to importing American rice.
- MIS Event Stirs Personal Pride, by Karen Narasaki, page 6. The author reflects on attending the MIS Capital Reunion banquet, highlighting Sen. Inouye’s keynote speech and the presentation of American Patriot Awards to several MIS veterans. She also discusses the complicated but important relationship between Nisei veterans and JACL, and notes the still-untold story of Nisei veteran women.
- National Staff Needs to Serve Members, by Frank Sakai, page 6. A letter from a past National treasurer and PC Board chairman draws parallels between current JACL/PC disputes and problems in the mid-1970s when leaders tried to control editorial content. He argues the PC Board should determine fair subscription costs and that staff should be appreciated for their hard work, especially during Holiday Issue crunch times.
- PC Is Important But Let’s Respect Each Other, by Jack Yanagawa, page 6. The letter writer expresses support for the Pacific Citizen as essential reading for JACL members, referencing Karl Nobuyuki’s column on the Rising Sun film controversy. He praises National President Lillian Kimura and uses a parable about diversity to call for JACL members to accept their differences while maintaining unity.
- JACL’s True Heart and Soul, by Michael A. Sawamura, page 7. This article profiles Randy Imai, president of the Sacramento Chapter JACL, who handled the aftermath of the firebombing of the chapter office by the Aryan Liberation Front. Imai managed media relations, coordinated with law enforcement, and helped rebuild the chapter while continuing his volunteer work, exemplifying the dedication of local JACL members often overlooked amid national organizational disputes.
- On D.C. Statehood Legislation, by Karen Narasaki, page 7. JACL endorsed H.R. 51 for D.C. statehood, viewing it as a civil rights issue since District residents face taxation without full congressional representation. The author, a D.C. resident, explains the various ways Congress micromanages the District and argues that opposition to statehood may be partly motivated by partisan politics and racial neglect.
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