Igasaki at the EEOC, JACL’s money troubles and the Bruyeres anniversary

Vol. 119, No. 6, October 1994. 20 pages. View this issue

Paul Igasaki’s Senate confirmation as vice chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission led the October 1994 issue. JACL’s own future ran through much of the rest: National President Denny Yasuhara described a projected $135,000 cash deficit, National Director Randy Senzaki argued for including hapa members, and George Kodama called for an austerity plan. A Fresno panel looked at the move from Nisei to Sansei leadership.

Redress news included a meeting with Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick and a new administrator at the Office of Redress Administration. Harry Honda wrote about the 50th anniversary of Bruyeres and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Bill Marutani described a Tule Lake pilgrimage, and Bill Hosokawa traced Japanese place names in Alaska. The issue also carried the 1994 JACL National Scholarship winners, and commentary on Proposition 187 from Karen Narasaki and Mei Nakano.

What’s in this issue

National

• Paul Igasaki Confirmed as EEOC Vice Chairman, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Paul M. Igasaki, executive director of the Asian Law Caucus, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as vice chairman of the EEOC, resigning his position after nearly three years. Rep. Norman Mineta praised Igasaki’s career and integrity, and Angelo Ancheta was selected as the new ALC executive director.
• Minorities Showing Gains in Purchasing Power, Report Says, page 1. A report shows minorities are gaining influence in business purchasing decisions, with minority representation among buyers, engineers and purchasing agents increasing since 1983. The report highlights growing purchasing power among minority women and men in the marketplace.
• Japan’s Peacekeeping Role Discussed by Nisei, by Ted Shigeno, page 1. A group of 16 Nisei visitors in Japan audited a TV discussion on Japan’s potential permanent UN Security Council membership and peacekeeping operations. The visitors were asked their views as Japanese Americans on Japan sending self-defense forces for peacekeeping, amid ongoing debate about Japan’s constitutional restrictions on military forces.
• APA Civil Rights Groups Laud Committee Passage of Wards Cove Bill, Criticize Republican Shut-Out, page 4. The Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee passed the Justice for Wards Cove Workers Act along party lines, with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing. APA civil rights leaders including Karen Narasaki and Daphne Kwok criticized Republican senators for partisan politics on an issue of equal justice for Asian Pacific American workers.
• VP Al Gore Meets with APIA Leaders, page 5. Vice President Al Gore met with 30 Asian Pacific Islander American leaders in San Francisco to discuss immigration and welfare issues affecting their communities. JACL National Director Randy Senzaki expressed concerns about a proposed national identification registry and recommended tougher labor law enforcement instead of employer sanctions.
• Wards Cove Bill Passage Praised, Republican Opposition Criticized, page 6. The Justice for Wards Cove Workers Act passed committee along party lines, drawing praise from Senators Kennedy and Simon and criticism of Republican opposition from APA organizations. The bill would restore protections for Asian Pacific American and Alaskan workers under the 1991 Civil Rights Act.

Obituaries

• Longtime JACLer Mari Michener Dies, by Staff reports, page 1. Mari Yoriko Sabusawa Michener, wife of novelist James Michener and longtime JACL leader, died Sept. 25 at age 74 from pancreatic cancer. She was the first woman to serve on the JACL National Board and established the Mari and James Michener JACL Scholarship.

Commentary

• Transition: JA Panel Examines the Imminent Change from Nisei to Sansei Leadership, page 1. A panel at Cal State Fresno titled ‘Waiting in the Wings: From Nisei to Sansei Leadership, Organization, and Community’ examined generational leadership transitions in the Japanese American community. Panelists included Steve Fugita, Rita Takahashi, David Mas Masumoto, and Fred Hirasuna, discussing sources of conflict and the future direction of JACL.
• Small Kid Time, by Gwen Muranaka, page 2. A column reflecting on personal or community themes related to Japanese American identity. The piece continues from the front section discussing small kid time perspectives.
• Hapas and the Future of JACL, by Randy Senzaki, page 3. JACL National Director Randy Senzaki writes about his personal experience growing up as an Asian American in a mostly white community and argues that JACL must pursue inclusion of hapa, disabled, and LGBT members. He discusses the historical role of JACL in fighting anti-miscegenation laws and the growing importance of multiracial Japanese Americans to the community’s future.
• More Than Ever, Voting Is Critical, by Karen Narasaki, page 4. Karen Narasaki writes about the contrast between Nelson Mandela’s inspiring democratic victory in South Africa and the cynical, anti-immigrant politics in America including Proposition 187. She urges Asian Pacific Americans to vote, arguing their political influence depends on turnout in upcoming elections.
• Transition Panel Continued: Rita Takahashi and Mas Masumoto Perspectives, page 6. Rita Takahashi discussed reluctance to deal with conflict and insufficient leadership on issues facing women within the Japanese American community. Mas Masumoto humorously outlined generational tensions between Nisei and Sansei regarding money, activism, and cultural assimilation.
• U.S.-Japan Relations: Ambassador Mondale on Trade and Security, page 7. Ambassador Mondale discussed ongoing framework talks on U.S.-Japan trade relations and emphasized the importance of American military presence in Asia for regional stability. He stressed the need for continued efforts to open Japan’s markets and maintain security cooperation.
• Letters: Concern with Attempts to Control PC, Monthly Schedule, by NCWNP Women’s Concerns members, page 14. Members of NCWNP District’s Women’s Concerns express alarm over attempts by the National Board to control the Pacific Citizen’s editorial and financial independence. They also criticize the reduction of PC’s publication schedule to monthly, arguing it undermines the paper’s role as a vital communication tool for JACL members nationwide.
• Save Our State from ‘Save Our State’, by Mei Nakano, page 15. Mei Nakano criticizes California’s Proposition 187 and Governor Wilson’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, arguing the measure appeals to prejudice and fear rather than addressing real immigration issues. She praises JACL’s resolution opposing the measure and highlights the human impact on families like her friend Maria’s.
• Nagasaki: The Horror Still Hits Home, by Makoto Kurata, page 15. Nagasaki Mayor Hitoshi Motoshima, in an interview, calls for balanced historical context in atomic bomb museums, including displays about Pearl Harbor and Japan’s wartime aggression. He discusses compensation for atomic bomb survivors and Japan’s responsibility to acknowledge its full wartime history.
• The Legacy of the Enola Gay, by Gwen Muranaka, page 15. Gwen Muranaka examines the controversial Smithsonian exhibit of the Enola Gay, noting that pressure from veterans groups led to the removal of displays depicting atomic bomb victims’ personal effects. She reflects on how the exhibit’s incomplete narrative fails to fully convey the bombing’s human consequences and historical complexity.
• Help!?, by Takako Taga, page 15. Takako Taga humorously describes her husband’s newfound enthusiasm for cooking and household chores, detailing his methodical yet chaotic approach to grocery shopping and preparing meals. She reflects on adapting to this role reversal and encouraging his continued efforts through praise.
• Post-Convention Assessment—Part 2, by Peter Harris, page 16. Peter Harris continues his critique of JACL’s membership challenges, arguing that National headquarters needs to provide better recruitment materials and address why younger generations aren’t joining. He suggests JACL needs a positive mission beyond redress and should reach out to non-Japanese American members and youth to secure its future.
• Read My Lips—No New Spending, by George Kodama, page 16. George Kodama warns that JACL’s 1995 budget adopted at the National Convention is actually a deficit budget and calls for a ten-step austerity plan. He recommends freezing spending, reconstituting the National Finance Committee with emergency powers, and scaling back future conventions to address a projected $75,000 cash shortfall.

JACL

• JACL’s Budget and Financial Outlook, by Denny Yasuhara, page 3. JACL National President Denny Yasuhara details a serious financial crisis facing the organization, with a projected cash deficit of $135,000 on top of a $75,000 deficit from 1993. He outlines steps being taken including freezing travel and unnecessary expenditures, and promises decisions on major budget cuts by the December National Board meeting.
• JACL Critical of Gov. Wilson Veto of California Domestic Partners Act, page 5. JACL criticized California Governor Wilson for vetoing domestic partnership legislation that would have created a statewide registry and hospital visitation rights for unmarried couples. National Director Randy Senzaki said the veto ignored the needs of over 500,000 unmarried couples in the state.
• JACL Opposes Pilot Identification Registry System, by From JACL staff, page 6. JACL strongly opposes a national identification registry system, arguing it would increase discrimination against Asian Americans and Hispanics without stopping illegal immigration. The organization criticizes employer sanctions as a failed policy and calls for stronger labor law enforcement instead.
• Curriculum Guide Makes TV Link Through KQED Learning Link, page 7. The JACL Curriculum Guide will be part of the KQED Learning Link online service after being discovered by education researchers collecting resources for a history project. The Education Committee provided a disk version including the introduction, historical overview and resource sections to reach a wider audience.
• Resource Packets to Aid Chapter Efforts to Promote Education Guide, page 7. JACL has compiled resource packets containing resolutions from school boards and government proclamations to help chapters promote the JACL education program on internment history. The packet includes documents from President Ford, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, and various California legislative resolutions supporting accurate curriculum on Japanese American internment.
• Upcoming Local Education Projects, page 7. The San Mateo Chapter scheduled a teacher workshop for Oct. 26 featuring the JACL curriculum guide and videos, while the Lodi Chapter works on incorporating the guide into school district curriculum. The Florin Chapter is expected to sponsor another teacher workshop in February 1995 based on positive feedback from an earlier session.
• 1994 National JACL Scholarship Awards Announced, page 10. The National JACL announced the 1994 recipients of its Scholarship Awards Program, recognizing 41 entering freshmen, undergraduates, and graduate students with special awards for creative arts and financial aid. Committee chairs Joyce Higashida and Joy St. Germain praised the accomplishments of this year’s competitive applicant pool.
• Speech Contest Focus of Youth Activities, by Kimi Yoshino, page 17. The Minoru Yasui Oratorical Speech Contest and National Youth Council Luncheon highlighted youth events at the National Convention, with Owen Kikuta winning the speech competition and $500 scholarship. Capt. Bruce Yamashita spoke about his legal battle against the Marine Corps, and the Nakatani family received the National Youth Council Vision Award for their resilience through personal tragedies.
• CCDC Announces Installation Event, page 19. The Central California District Council will hold its installation banquet on Nov. 19 at the Centre Plaza Holiday Inn in Fresno, featuring a keynote address by JACL National President Denny Yasuhara. An education workshop on the JACL curriculum guide is also planned for local social studies instructors.
• National Youth Council Sets Goals for Next Biennium, page 19. Following the National Convention, the National Youth Council adopted goals including establishing a fully functional council, recruiting youth and student members, and outreaching to other Asian American youth organizations. The council also adopted its 1994-96 Program for Action themed ‘Faces of the Future.’

Incarceration & Redress

• JACL Meets with Assistant Attorney General on Remaining Redress Eligibility Cases, page 5. JACL representatives met with Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick and new ORA Administrator DeDe Green to discuss unresolved redress eligibility cases. Issues discussed included children born in internment camps, Hawaii cases, Japanese Peruvians, and children born to language instructors at the military language school.
• Justice Department Appoints New Administrator for the Office of Redress Administration, page 6. Irva ‘DeDe’ Greene has become the new Administrator of the Office of Redress Administration, replacing Deserene Worsley. Under the Civil Liberties Act, ORA has already paid $1.59 billion to 79,343 eligible individuals, and Bob Bratt was selected for a newly created Counselor position.
• Redress Meeting Details Additional Cases Discussed, page 6. San Francisco JACL representatives Sox Kitashima and Jeff Adachi made pleas on behalf of children born in Boulder, Colorado to Naval language school instructors during the war. Former Honolulu JACL president Bill Kaneko expressed pleasure with the Assistant Attorney General’s decision to review Hawaii redress cases.
• Tule Lake Pilgrimage: 1994, by Bill Marutani, page 14. Bill Marutani recounts his return to the Tule Lake concentration camp site 50 years after his internment there, describing the physical remains including a stockade structure and wall writings from former internees. He reflects on his personal motivations for the pilgrimage and plans to bring soil from Tule Lake to a Washington D.C. monument.
• Lim Report Panel Addresses JACL’s Wartime Role Controversy, by Staff reports, page 17. Frank Emi, Mits Koshiyama, Cressey Nakagawa and Dr. Sandra Taylor discussed the controversial Lim Report on JACL’s wartime activities and treatment of Heart Mountain draft resisters at the National JACL Council meeting. The panel debated whether JACL’s wartime leadership was justified in supporting internment compliance versus the resisters’ fight for constitutional rights.

Military & Veterans

• Nisei Vet Sculpts ‘Friendship Knot’ to Honor Town, by Harry Honda, page 8. Sculptor Shinkichi Tajiri, a 442nd veteran, created the ‘Friendship Knot’ sculpture to be donated to the French town of Bruyeres, commemorating 50 years since its liberation by the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team. The sculpture also honors the town’s support for JACL’s 1988 redress campaign, when Bruyeres residents sent 1,500 signatures to President Reagan.
• More Than 600 Nisei Expected to Attend Bruyeres 50th Anniversary, by Harry Honda, page 8. Some 600 Japanese Americans were expected to attend the 50th anniversary commemoration of the liberation of Bruyeres, France by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. French President Mitterand, who was wounded and hospitalized in Bruyeres in 1940, was hoped to attend, and JACL National President Denny Yasuhara planned to speak at the ceremony.
• JACL’s Plaque and the History of Bruyeres Commemoration, by Harry Honda, page 9. The late Pacific Citizen editor Larry Tajiri initiated the JACL plaque honoring the 442nd’s rescue of the Lost Battalion, dedicated in October 1947 in Bruyeres. The article details the historical timeline of the 442nd’s WWII campaign through news dispatches from 1944, including casualty reports and the famous rescue operation.

In-Depth

• Japonski: The Story of Alaska’s Japanese Place Names, by Bill Hosokawa, page 14. Bill Hosokawa explores the history of Japonski Island near Sitka, Alaska, named after shipwrecked Japanese sailors found there in 1809, along with other Japanese-named landmarks throughout Alaska. He poses questions about whether a new Anchorage JACL chapter should pursue renaming obscure sites with offensive names like ‘Jap Creek’ and ‘Jap Gap.’

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