Nikkei judges on family incarceration, and JACL’s money troubles

Vol. 120, No. 10, May 19, 1995. 12 pages. View this issue

Five Japanese American judges, including Lance Ito, who presided over the O.J. Simpson trial, spoke about how the World War II incarceration (often called internment) touched their own families. The May 11 panel in Little Tokyo was sponsored by the Jewish Federation and the Japanese American National Museum. The same front page reported JACL’s protest, led by Gwen Muranaka’s reporting, over racist cartoons of Judge Ito in a parody book. Much of the rest of the issue turned to JACL’s finances. Cynthia Campbell’s report to the National Board, Harry Kajihara’s ten recommendations, and rebuttals from Patti Paganini and George Kodama made up an open argument over how to fix the organization.

The National Board also reaffirmed support for affirmative action, approved a Lambda JACL chapter, and opposed cuts in benefits for legal immigrants. Bill Hosokawa wrote about Bill Yoshino, Leigh-Ann Miyasato about immigration, and Bill Marutani about postwar Japan. Readers also argued over Heart Mountain draft resisters in letters, and the paper announced its PC-SAVE campaign.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Nikkei Judges Recall Family Internment Days, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Five Japanese American judges, including O.J. Simpson trial judge Lance Ito, shared personal family stories of wartime incarceration at a panel discussion in Little Tokyo sponsored by the Jewish Federation and Japanese American National Museum. Judges Tashima, Takasugi, Fujisaki, Ito and Wasserman discussed how the camps affected their families and drew parallels to modern anti-immigrant sentiment.

National

• JACL Protests Racist Cartoons Depicting Judge Ito in O.J.’s Legal Pad, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. JACL and other Asian American groups protested a parody book published by Villard Books/Random House that depicted Judge Lance Ito as a kamikaze pilot and included racist cartoons referencing Hiroshima and Nagasaki. JACL leaders demanded the publisher cease publication and pull the book from shelves, comparing the imagery to WWII-era anti-Japanese propaganda.

JACL

• Board Reaffirms Support of Affirmative Action, by Leigh-Ann Miyasato, page 1. At its May 6-7 meeting, the JACL National Board reaffirmed strong support for affirmative action and voted to oppose legislation that would eliminate such programs. The vote came amid growing national and California debate over affirmative action policies.
• Lambda JACL Chapter Charter Okayed by National Board, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National Board approved the charter of the Asian Pacific Islander Lambda JACL Chapter, the organization’s first chapter devoted to gays and lesbians, with only one abstention. The action followed the 1994 National Convention’s vote against withdrawing the board’s earlier support of same-sex marriage.
• More Cuts Needed, Says Finance Expert, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Cynthia Campbell, president of Professional Exchange Service Corporation, presented a detailed financial report to the National Board outlining discrepancies in JACL’s accounting records and warning that tough decisions remain to resolve the organization’s financial problems. She recommended aggressive management strategies and full disclosure of financial information to board members.
• Kaji Outlines Fund-Raising Needs, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Jonathan Kaji, representing four board members who had called for President Yasuhara’s resignation, presented suggestions to raise JACL revenue including national fundraising events and a membership dues increase. He did not provide the financial confirmation he had previously promised regarding a claimed 1994 surplus.
• Plan for Albuquerque Tri-District Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The EDC-MPDC-MDC tri-district conference themed ‘A World of Diversity’ will be held July 20-23 in Albuquerque, hosted by the New Mexico Chapter. The conference will feature workshops on chapter management, multiculturalism, and a keynote speech by Glenda Joe, plus tours and a golf tournament.
• ‘PC-SAVE’ Is Name of Fund-Raising Campaign, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Pacific Citizen’s fund-raising campaign has been named PC-SAVE (Support and Assist Volunteer Effort), aimed at supporting the semimonthly publication and eventually returning it to weekly status. The winning name was submitted by Yas Tokita of the Mt. Olympus Chapter, whose background and career are profiled.
• Questionnaire Response Sought by JACL Education Committee, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The JACL Education Committee is requesting chapter responses to an April 19 questionnaire about use of its Curriculum and Resource Guide in schools and community settings. The committee also announced discounted video purchases available through June 30, 1995.
• PSW to Discuss Affirmative Action at May 21 District Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Pacific Southwest District will hold a workshop on affirmative action at its May 21 district meeting in Pacoima, California, featuring panelists including UCLA instructor Jeff Chang and public affairs consultant Ronald W. Wong. The panel will be moderated by Ron Osajima, founder of Asian Americans for Affirmative Action.
• New Staff Appointments Announced by Yoshino, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Bill Yoshino, in charge of staff during the reorganization, announced several new hires including Leigh-Ann Miyasato as interim Washington representative, Amy Yamashiro as membership director, and Emily Nishi as administrative assistant. Yamashiro gave an update on membership renewal processes and computer system difficulties.
• Mae Takahashi Named PC Chair, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Mae Takahashi of the Clovis Chapter was unanimously approved as chair of the Pacific Citizen Editorial Board, taking over from Cherry Kinoshita who resigned due to family illness. The board also approved other committee appointments including co-chairs of the Legacy Fund Grants Committee.
• Volunteers Recognized for Assistance, by P.C. Staff, page 4. JACL National President Denny Yasuhara recognized volunteers who have assisted national staff with data entry, filing, accounting and technical support during the organization’s staffing crisis. Office administrator Karyl Matsumoto said additional volunteers of any skill level are welcome.
• San Jose Prepares for ’96 Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Tom Shigemasa of the San Jose Chapter reported to the National Board that planning is well underway for the 1996 convention at the Fairmont Hotel, themed ‘Kodomo no tame.’ The chapter has proceeded largely without national staff help due to the reorganization, though several other Northern California chapters have volunteered assistance.
• Asian American Studies Supported by National Board, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The National Board passed a motion supporting Northwestern University students demanding Asian American studies, also recognizing protests at Princeton and Stanford. A coalition including JACL sent a letter to Northwestern’s president calling for a meeting to discuss the issue.
• JACL Opposes Cuts in Benefits for Legal Immigrants, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The JACL National Board voted to oppose H.R. 4, the Personal Responsibility Act, and other welfare reform legislation that would deny legal immigrants access to SSI, Medicaid, food stamps and AFDC. National President Denny Yasuhara and acting Washington representative Leigh-Ann Miyasato both criticized the proposals as discriminatory toward legal immigrants.

Community

• Funds Sought for Memorial to Colorado Governor, Internees, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Colorado Bar Association is raising funds for a memorial at the Colorado State Capitol honoring Gov. Ralph L. Carr and commemorating Japanese American internees of the Amache camp and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Donations are being sought to complete a low wall as part of the monument design.
• Denver Leader Named to Redress Education Board, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Leo K. Goto, a Denver businessman and civic leader, has been nominated by President Clinton to the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund Board of Directors. Goto is involved with numerous civic organizations and will help sponsor research and public education on the Japanese American internment.

Commentary

• Getting JACL’s Financial House in Order, by Cynthia Campbell, page 7. Following a National Board request, Cynthia Campbell compiled detailed recommendations for restoring JACL’s fiscal and operational health, covering finance and accounting, personnel administration, membership systems, and general administration. Key suggestions include installing computerized accounting systems, deferring hiring of a national director, and improving records management.
• A Good Man at the Right Time, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa praises Bill Yoshino for stepping in as acting national director during JACL’s financial crisis, noting how volunteers and remaining staff have kept operations running. He traces JACL’s history from an all-volunteer organization to a professional bureaucracy, arguing that returning control to the membership is an encouraging development.
• ‘See-Eye-See’ in Post-War Japan, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Marutani recounts his experiences serving in the 9th Counter Intelligence Corps in post-war Japan, including investigating rumors of a plot to assassinate General MacArthur and a hidden treasure hoard. He also describes chauffeuring Soviet journalists and briefly meeting Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida.
• Leadership Attendees Call for JACL to Refocus, by Robert Taniguchi, Eileen Namba Otsuji, et al., page 8. Participants of the 1995 JACL Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. issued a joint statement reaffirming commitment to JACL’s core principles and urging the organization to refocus on civil rights advocacy, political empowerment, and youth programs. They called on members to move past internal turmoil and unite around shared goals.
• JACL Fiscal Health, by Harry Kajihara, page 9. Former JACL national president Harry Kajihara offers a detailed financial analysis and ten recommendations for restoring JACL’s fiscal health, including income ceiling projections, membership dues increases, and possible decentralization of the organization. He also addresses funding needs for the Pacific Citizen, proposing an allotment increase to be considered at the 1996 convention.
• Immigration Under Increasing Attacks, by Leigh-Ann Miyasato, page 9. Miyasato outlines three fronts of attack on immigration in Congress: denial of benefits to legal immigrants under the Personal Responsibility Act, proposals to slash legal immigration numbers, and a proposed national worker registry system. She warns these measures would have a devastating impact on the Asian Pacific American community and urges JACL members to oppose them.
• Campbell Report Inaccurate, by Patti Paganini, page 10. Former JACL business manager Patti Paganini rebuts numerous allegations in the Campbell Report point by point, arguing that discrepancies were due to oversight or lack of consultation with staff who could have clarified records. She contends the investigators failed to seek proper assistance and that all financial documents were available at headquarters.
• Stop Scapegoating the Former National Business Manager, by George Kodama, page 10. Former JACL national treasurer George Kodama criticizes the Campbell Report and the National Ad Hoc Budget Committee Report as flawed, politically motivated documents that unfairly targeted former staff. He argues JACL’s deeper problems stem from leadership failures rather than accounting issues, and questions whether the organization can reinvent itself.
• Draft Resisters Made Contributions, by Yae Hachimonji, page 11. A letter writer disputes columnist Karl Nobuyuki’s characterization of Heart Mountain draft resisters, arguing they made significant contributions to the Japanese American community despite serving prison time. The writer calls Nobuyuki’s accusations that resisters attacked JACL leaders false and misleading, urging reconciliation instead of division.
• Nobuyuki Column Full of Falsehoods, by Frauke Emé, page 11. A former Heart Mountain resister strongly refutes Karl Nobuyuki’s claims that draft resisters were involved in violent attacks on JACL leadership, calling the allegations unsubstantiated lies. The writer explains the resisters’ constitutional motivations and notes many later served honorably in the Korean War.
• Leadership Lacking in JACL Crisis, by P.C. Staff, page 11. A letter writer argues that the controversy over JACL’s finances reflects a deeper leadership failure and inability to adapt, citing declining membership and donations alongside rising investment and fundraising expenditures. The writer contends that the real issue is lack of purposeful direction rather than accounting discrepancies.

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