Vol. 119, No. 4, August 1994. 12 pages. View this issue
The JACL national convention in Salt Lake City filled the August 1994 issue. Denny Yasuhara of the Spokane Chapter was elected national president over Michael Sawamura, 70.5 to 42.5, as reported by Gwen Muranaka. Delegates defeated a resolution to withdraw the National Board’s support for same-sex marriage after Rep. Norm Mineta urged them to uphold it as a matter of civil rights, then passed a domestic partners resolution. They also adopted a 1995 budget with no dues increase, and Pacific Citizen was to go monthly.
Elsewhere are columns by Bill Hosokawa, Bill Marutani, Barry Saiki and Karen Narasaki on redress education. Harry K. Honda reported on the awards luncheon and the Old-timers event, including the donation of the Mike M. Masaoka Papers. Also covered: a proposed national ID system, the Sacramento firebombing trial, redress for Phoenix-area Japanese Americans, and Nisei Week.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- Yasuhara Elected JACL President, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Denny Yasuhara of the Spokane Chapter was elected national JACL president, defeating Michael Sawamura 70.5 to 42.5 votes at the JACL national convention in Salt Lake City. Yasuhara, a retired schoolteacher active in JACL for 36 years, called for stability and unity as the organization faces critical challenges.
- Mineta Makes Plea to Support Board Decision, page 1. A resolution to withdraw the National Board’s decision supporting same-sex marriages was defeated 38-50 with 11 abstentions at the National Council meeting. Rep. Norm Mineta made a forceful speech urging delegates to uphold the board’s decision as a matter of civil rights principle.
- Domestic Partners Resolution Passes, page 1. Immediately after the same-sex marriage resolution was defeated, a broader emergency resolution on domestic partners was passed with strong approval from the National Council. The resolution supports domestic partner legislation giving unmarried couples similar rights and benefits as married couples, and establishes a subcommittee to study the legal ramifications.
- ’95-Only Budget Okayed; No Dues Increase, page 1. The National Council voted late Saturday night to adopt a 1995 budget with no dues increase, after rejecting an earlier biennial budget proposal that included across-the-board dues increases. The approved budget cuts national operations expenditures and significantly reduces Pacific Citizen’s budget by $82,705, while a new committee will develop the 1996 budget.
- PC to Go Monthly, page 1. Pacific Citizen will become a monthly publication following National Council decisions that did not resolve the paper’s ongoing financial problems. PC Board chair Ron Ohata had reported a significant projected deficit, prompting the shift from weekly to monthly publication to address the shortfall.
- Outstanding JACL Members Honored at Awards Luncheon, by Harry K. Honda, page 9. At the JACL convention awards luncheon, Bruce Yamashita and his supporters known as the ‘Inner Circle’ won JACLer of the Biennium for his fight against Marine Corps discrimination, while Honolulu and Houston chapters won Chapter of the Biennium awards. Other honors included the Mike Masaoka Congressional Fellowship to Karen Markreel, Edison Uno Civil Rights Awards to Glenda K. Joe and State Sen. Patrick Johnston, and the JACL Ruby Pin to longtime member Shigeki ‘Shake’ Ushio.
- JACL President Denny Yasuhara’s Inaugural Remarks to the National Council, by Denny Yasuhara, page 9. In his inaugural address, Yasuhara reflected on JACL’s achievement of redress four years earlier and expressed concern over declining membership and organizational turmoil. He called for wisdom, patience, and unity as JACL navigates a generational transition without a single dominating civil rights issue to rally around.
National
- JACL Applauds Appointment of Height to Civil Rights Group, page 4. JACL applauded the selection of Dr. Dorothy Height as Chairperson of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, making her the first woman to chair the nation’s oldest civil rights coalition. Height has been a lifelong civil rights advocate, helping organize the 1964 March on Washington and championing self-help initiatives as president of the National Council of Negro Women.
- JACL Condemns National ID System Proposal, page 5. JACL joined the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium and other civil rights organizations in condemning a Commission on Immigration Reform proposal to establish a national identification registry. JACL National Director Randy Senzaki warned the system could cost taxpayers millions without solving illegal immigration, citing historical misuse of census data during WWII to identify Japanese Americans for internment.
- Teenager Goes on Trial Aug. 8 for Sacramento Firebombings, page 5. Richard Campos, 18, went on trial for a string of 1993 firebombings in Sacramento, including an attack on the JACL Sacramento Chapter office, facing charges including attempted murder and arson. Evidence includes a typewriter matching a letter from the Aryan Liberation Front and towel fragments linking Campos to multiple crime scenes, while community groups rallied for justice outside the trial.
- National Council Debates Budget Amid Dues Increase Concerns, page 11. National Council delegates expressed strong opposition to raising dues and cutting district allocations, particularly from Intermountain and Mountain Plains districts who felt unfairly targeted by proposed cuts. Ross Harano and others emphasized the need for JACL to pursue serious fundraising efforts rather than relying on unproven revenue projections.
Incarceration & Redress
- JAs Living in Phoenix-Area During WWII May Be Eligible for Redress, page 5. The U.S. Department of Justice announced that 56 Japanese Americans whose business and personal activities in the Phoenix area were restricted during WWII may be eligible for redress payments. The Office of Redress Administration concluded that those affected by a mandatory exclusion zone in southern Arizona suffered losses of liberty or property qualifying them under the law.
Community
- Nisei Week Concludes, page 5. Nisei Week festivities in Los Angeles concluded with the Ondo held on First Street for the first time since WWII, capping a week of events. Kimi Jean Tokuda-Evans was crowned 1994 Nisei Week Queen, and community leaders were honored at the Awards Dinner including Frank Kay Omatsu and Rinban Shoki Mohri.
Commentary
- What’s What?, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa criticizes Pacific Citizen for failing to publish timely coverage of the JACL convention, noting members had to rely on phone calls for basic information like the election results. He argues that not publishing on schedule has become a habit due to funding disputes between headquarters and the newspaper, leaving members feeling cheated of essential information.
- Our Nikkei Culture, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Marutani reflects on a poignant story from the 100th/442nd Newsletter about a Nisei son’s difficult relationship with his emotionally distant father, drawing parallels to his own upbringing with his mother. He recounts a rare moment of physical affection with his own mother before her death from cancer in Japan, illustrating generational patterns of restrained affection in Japanese American culture.
- With Same-Sex Decision Made, Education Must Follow, by Barry Saiki, page 9. Newly elected JACL vice president Barry Saiki writes that despite personally supporting the resolution to rescind the same-sex marriage decision, he now must inform chapters that JACL is committed to supporting same-sex marriage legally. He urges members and chapters to understand the changing values of society and follow the National Council’s majority decision.
- The Redress Education Fund—A Legacy of Generations, by Karen Narasaki, page 9. Narasaki recounts being contacted by the South African Embassy seeking copies of Personal Justice Denied to help document apartheid’s injustices, illustrating the international impact of JACL’s redress work. She emphasizes that JACL’s mission continues through the Redress Education Fund and curriculum guide, which serve as models for civil rights education worldwide, including in a Florida Rosewood Massacre compensation case.
Military & Veterans
- Old-timers to Lunch Again at San Jose, page 10. More than 180 JACL old-timers gathered for the Old-timer’s Luncheon and Mike Masaoka Tribute at the Salt Lake City convention, reminiscing about past conventions and JACL history. Nine past national presidents attended, and longtime members like Shigeki Ushio and the Hayashidas were recognized for decades of contributions to the organization.
In-Depth
- Masaoka Papers, Memory Highlight Old-Timers Event, by Harry K. Honda, page 10. Dr. Gregory Thompson of the University of Utah acknowledged the donation of the Mike M. Masaoka Papers (1931-1991) by widow Etsu Masaoka, a 36.5 linear-foot collection now available for research. Bill Hosokawa paid tribute to Masaoka as an extraordinary figure who fought anti-Japanese laws and held JACL together after Pearl Harbor.
- Tribute to Some Old-timers, by Harry K. Honda, page 11. Harry Honda profiles numerous longtime JACL members at the convention, including Ichiro Nishida, Dr. James Taguchi, Lillian Kimura, and others who have served chapters for decades. The piece highlights the deep institutional history and multi-generational involvement within JACL chapters nationwide.
Obituaries
- James Itaru Hoshi, page 12. James Itaru Hoshi died in Hayward, California on July 20, 1994, survived by his wife Michiko and daughter Patricia. He was a veteran of the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion and an active member of Oakland Lakepark United Methodist Church, with funeral services held at the church and interment at Chapel of the Chimes.
Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.