Vol. 118, No. 13, April 8, 1994. 8 pages. View this issue
Three subjects ran through the 8 pages of this issue. The Pacific Southwest District Council of JACL voted to support the concept of same-sex civil marriage, as reported by District Gov. Ruth Mizobe. The exhibit “Strength and Diversity: Japanese American Women, 1885-1990” opened at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in Los Angeles, and panels with Masaye Nagao Nakamura, Sue Kunitomi Embrey and Mei Nakano covered life in the camps. Karen Narasaki reported on the first joint JACL and OCA leadership conference in Washington, D.C., where participants met with Rep. Norman Mineta and other lawmakers.
Also on the front page, Los Angeles police arrested two men in the shooting deaths of Japanese students Takuma Ito and Go Matsuura in San Pedro. The commentary pages include Bill Hosokawa on a classified ad, Bill Marutani on the caning case in Singapore, and Geoffrey Tani on what the leadership conference meant to him.
What’s in this issue
National
- Two Men Arrested in Murder of Japanese Students, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles police arrested Raymond Oscar Butler and Alberto V. Reygoza in connection with the shooting deaths of Japanese students Takuma Ito and Go Matsuura in San Pedro, Calif. Butler was identified as the lone triggerman and faces murder charges with special circumstances including the death penalty, while Reygoza faces lesser charges of receiving stolen property and being an accessory.
Community
- PSW Votes to Support Same-Sex Marriage, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Southwest District Council of JACL voted to support the concept of same-sex civil marriage, according to District Gov. Ruth Mizobe. The issue was raised by Civil Rights Caucus Chair Trisha Murakawa, who cited the Honolulu Chapter’s earlier support and a Hawaii Supreme Court case as context for the vote.
In-Depth
- JA Women Is Focus of Museum Exhibit, by Staff report, page 1. The exhibit ‘Strength and Diversity: Japanese American Women, 1885-1990’ opened at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in Los Angeles, curated with input from Michael Duchemin and originally developed by the Women’s Exhibit Committee of the National Japanese American Historical Society. The exhibit traces three generations of Japanese American women from the picture-bride era through the WWII camp experience to the present.
- JA Women: Then and Now, by P.C. Staff, page 4. At the opening of the ‘Strength and Diversity’ exhibit, Nisei women Masaye Nagao Nakamura, Sue Kunitomi Embrey, and Mei Nakano shared personal stories of camp life, from leaving camp on scholarship to organizing camp newspapers to raising a baby amid inadequate medical care. A second panel discussed the collaborative museum process behind creating the exhibit.
- Women (Continued): Collaboration Behind the Exhibit, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Rosalyn Tonai, Carey Caldwell, Karin Higa, and Michael Duchemin discussed the collaborative process of developing the ‘Strength and Diversity’ exhibit between museums and community organizations. They emphasized how such partnerships broaden museum audiences and preserve rare artifacts and stories for future display in cities including Seattle, Chicago, and New York.
JACL
- 1st JACL-OCA Leadership Conference Focuses on Networking, D.C. Politics, by Karen Narasaki, page 1. Twenty-seven participants from JACL and OCA attended the first joint leadership training program in Washington, D.C., from Feb. 27-March 2, 1994, meeting with congressmen, civil rights leaders, and administration officials. Participants praised the collaborative effort between the two organizations and gained insights into legislative advocacy, media relations, and civil rights issues facing Asian Pacific Americans.
- Leadership Conference Continued: Redress History, Media Training, and Congressional Meetings, by Karen Narasaki, page 3. Conference participants heard from redress historian Leslie Hatamiya and civil rights leaders including Ralph Neas, Wade Henderson, and Charles Kamasaki about challenges facing Americans in the 1990s. The day concluded with a reception honoring Clinton Administration Asian Pacific American appointees, featuring remarks from Rep. Norman Mineta and OCA President Ginny Gong.
- Leadership Conference Continued: Media Training, Capitol Tour, and Meetings with Lawmakers, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Participants received media training from journalists Leona Hiraoka, Peter Hong, and Shari Macias, and met with Reps. Mineta, Matsui, Jay Kim, and Sen. Akaka. The group also toured the Capitol, encountered senators debating immigration and civil rights legislation, and visited the Office of Redress Administration.
Commentary
- Critical Views on a PC Ad, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Hosokawa responds to a reader’s criticism of a classified ad seeking correspondence with a ‘Japanese female,’ comparing it to exploitative practices in matchmaking. He reflects on the broader ethical questions newspapers face regarding controversial advertising and free speech versus editorial responsibility.
- Six Lashes, by Bill Marutani, page 6. Marutani examines the case of an American teenager sentenced to caning in Singapore for vandalism, discussing the country’s strict laws and President Clinton’s failed intervention. He contrasts this with U.S. constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment and speculates on how Japanese Americans might view such punishment.
- Importance of Pronouncing Names Correctly, by Mitsuko Osaki Green, page 6. A reader praises Bill Hosokawa’s column on name pronunciation, recounting her frustration with PBS moderator Paul Duke’s mocking of Gen. Shalikashvili’s name. She commends broadcasters who make an effort to correctly pronounce unfamiliar names, citing CBS’s Winter Olympics coverage as a positive example.
- Wants Facts on Tariffs in U.S.-Japan Articles, by William Tsumeta, page 6. A reader criticizes a Pacific Citizen article on U.S.-Japan trade friction for echoing media hype rather than providing factual information. He requests a follow-up article detailing actual tariffs, trade balances including professional services, and public works restrictions in both countries.
- Reflections on JACL Leadership Conference, by Geoffrey Tani, page 7. Chicago JACL board member Geoffrey Tani reflects on his experience at the 1994 Leadership Conference, describing how it matured his political outlook and connected him with Asian Pacific American leaders. He encourages younger JACL members to attend future conferences to help guide the organization through leadership transitions.
Obituaries
- Dr. Steven Katsumi Omi, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Dr. Steven Katsumi Omi, an accomplished athlete and forest scientist, passed away of cancer on March 21. He earned his PhD in tree seedling physiology from Oregon State University and established a research program at the USDA Forest Service before his illness, and is survived by his father, sisters, and brothers.
- William T. Utsumi, by P.C. Staff, page 8. William T. Utsumi, a native of Oakland who worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad and was an active member of the Lake Park United Methodist Church and JACL, died at Rossmoor in Walnut Creek. He is survived by his wife Mary Ann, brother Etsuo, daughter Jody Ouye, and two grandsons.
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