Citizenship, redress deadlines and JACL news in early 1997

Vol. 124, No. 4, February 21, 1997. 12 pages. View this issue

Citizenship and redress were the main subjects of this 12-page issue. Rep. Patsy Mink introduced HR 574 to speed up naturalization for elderly, veteran and long-term legal immigrants, and JACL and the Little Tokyo Service Center set up citizenship workshops in Los Angeles for elderly Issei. Caroline Aoyagi reported on that effort, while Bob Sakinawa and Patty Wada wrote that the Office of Redress Administration must close by August 1998, with 3,100 eligible people still unlocated. Herbert Yamanishi’s column looked at Executive Order 9066 and the revised JACL Curriculum and Resource Guide.

Other pages cover the 442nd Regimental Combat Team through Martin Snapp’s tribute to Tad Masaoka and his brothers, a Go for Broke fund campaign logo, and President Clinton’s nomination of Judge Anthony Ishii to the federal bench. Michi Nishimura Weglyn argued for redress for Japanese American railroad workers. Columns by Bill Hosokawa and Bill Marutani, news of a new hapa group, and chapter notes from across JACL fill the rest.

What’s in this issue

National

• Mink Introduces Expedited Citizenship Bill, page 1. Rep. Patsy Mink introduced HR 574 on Feb. 4 to speed up naturalization for elderly, veteran, and long-term legal immigrants amid anti-immigrant sentiment in Congress. The bill would waive literacy and civics test requirements for certain categories while retaining moral character and constitutional loyalty standards.
• Clinton Nominates Judge Ishii to Federal Bench, page 1. President Clinton, on Sen. Barbara Boxer’s recommendation, will nominate Anthony Ishii, a Fresno municipal court judge and active JACL member, to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Ishii is a 1973 Boalt Hall graduate who has served in various judicial and legal roles in California.
• Wanted: Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Data, page 5. The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium is collecting data on anti-Asian hate crimes for its 1996 annual audit and is requesting community members submit documented incidents by March 10, 1997. NAPALC executive director Karen Narasaki emphasized the importance of reporting hate crimes to inform policymakers and law enforcement.
• JACL Slaps Unwarranted Use of ‘J’ Word in Film, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. JACL criticized the film ‘Fierce Creatures’ for a derogatory reference to Japanese people, with National JACL VP Lori Fujimoto writing to MCA/Universal Studios demanding an apology and recall of offensive references. Contra Costa JACL past president Don Delcollo also called for an end to racial slurs and stereotypes in media.
• Greenlining Institute’s Rhetoric Against Sumitomo Bank Bothers Nikkei Community, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 6. Japanese American community leaders signed a letter expressing concern that the Greenlining Institute’s complaints against Sumitomo Bank of California over discriminatory lending and hiring could stir racial division and backlash. While agreeing Sumitomo should improve diversity, the leaders argued Greenlining’s tactics were exaggerated and counterproductive given the bank’s historical support of Japanese Americans.

Incarceration & Redress

• ORA Must Close Its Door by Law on Aug. 10, 1998, by Bob Sakinawa and Patty Wada, page 1. The Office of Redress Administration, established after the 1988 Civil Liberties Act, must close by August 1998, with 3,100 eligible individuals still unlocated. Staff are attending internment camp reunions and community events to find remaining claimants before funds and time run out.
• Redress Plea Made for Japanese American Railroaders, et al., by Michi Nishimura Weglyn, page 9. Michi Weglyn argues for redress for Japanese American railroad and mine workers who were summarily fired and evicted from company housing in the days before Executive Order 9066, presenting historical documents showing official government sanction of the dismissals. She calls for a presidential executive order to resolve these long-denied claims alongside those of Japanese Peruvians.
• Redress Categories Explained: A Redress Update, by Patty Wada and Bob Sakinawa, page 10. The article details seven categories of redress claimants still being processed by ORA, including Ishida Cases, Minor Children, Crystal City Internees, Hawaii Cases, Phoenix Cases, Railroad and Mining Cases, and Japanese Latin Americans. It explains eligibility criteria, ongoing legal disputes, and the Campaign for Justice’s lawsuit seeking redress for Japanese Latin Americans.

Community

• JACL and Little Tokyo Service Center to Host Citizenship Workshops, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. JACL Pacific Southwest District and Little Tokyo Service Center set up citizenship workshops in Los Angeles after federal welfare reform threatened benefits for legal immigrants, drawing over 100 sign-ups. Volunteers and several JACL chapters are working to help elderly Issei complete citizenship applications before an August deadline cuts their benefits.
• Hapa, Amerasian Group Attracts JACL Chapter’s Attention, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. A new Southern California group, currently called Marina/SCAN Hapa, formed to create community and discussion for multiracial and multicultural Asian Americans. About 20 people attended the first meeting in Marina del Rey, founded by Wayne Nagata, Jeff Yoshimi, and Steven Ropp.
• PSW District Council Meets in Arizona to Focus on Civil Rights, Welfare Reform, Youth Leadership, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 4. The PSWD quarterly session in Phoenix addressed welfare reform’s impact on Shin-Issei, the Campaign for Justice for Japanese Latin Americans, the aftermath of Proposition 209, and Arizona’s new hate crimes bill. The council also discussed youth leadership initiatives, budget surplus, and new board appointments.
• NCWNP District to Host State Leadership Conference, page 4. The NCWNP District Council of JACL is hosting a California Legislative Leadership Conference in Sacramento, April 20-22, to give JACL leaders insight into the legislative process. Confirmed speakers include Assembly Members Mike Honda and Nao Takasugi, plus tours of the Capitol and legislative sessions.
• New Mexico JACL Gathers Oral Histories of Japanese Americans, page 6. New Mexico JACL’s Oral History Project, chaired by Jennifer Y. Yazawa, is collecting personal stories of Japanese Americans in and out of the state. The committee is requesting information from other chapters running similar oral history projects to share resources and avoid duplication.
• Hapa Group Seeks to Educate Community on Multiracial Identity, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 10. Continuing coverage of Marina/SCAN Hapa describes founders’ motivations and testimonials from attendees like Sadako Matsuura, her daughter Lisa, and Mika Tanner about embracing multicultural identity. The Hapa Issues Forum, a related Berkeley-based nonprofit, will hold its annual conference April 26 at UC Berkeley.

JACL

• Remembering, by Herbert Yamanishi, page 3. National JACL Director Herbert Yamanishi discusses the significance of Executive Order 9066 and JACL’s continued commitment to educating the public through the newly revised Curriculum and Resource Guide. He also reports on membership drive results, new staff, and educational program partnerships including workshops with American Express Financial.
• New Membership Administrator Coming on Board, by Karen Liane-Shiba, page 3. Karen Liane-Shiba reports on the hiring of new Membership/Fund Raiser Administrator Donna Okubo and rising 1996 year-end and January 1997 membership numbers. She also previews upcoming JACL events including the Tri-District Conference, National Youth/Student Conference, and the 1000 Club’s 50th anniversary reunion.
• JACL Curriculum and Resource Guide Released, page 5. National JACL President Helen Kawagoe announced the release of the updated JACL Curriculum and Resource Guide, priced at $15 per copy, featuring new content on the Japanese Latin American experience and updated resources. The guide, partly funded by United Parcel Service, is being distributed to all 112 JACL chapter presidents to promote education in classrooms.
• Salinas Valley, Monterey Peninsula JACL Install Board, by Fred Oshima, page 6. National JACL President Helen Kawagoe keynoted the joint Salinas Valley-Monterey Peninsula chapter installation dinner, urging generational unity and forward-thinking leadership. New board members for both chapters were announced, including officers and directors for Monterey Peninsula and Salinas Valley chapters.
• Search Opens for Sixth Masaoka Fellow to Serve Sen. Inouye, page 7. The Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship Fund is seeking applicants for its sixth Congressional Fellow Program to serve in Sen. Daniel Inouye’s office, offering a $7,500 stipend for a roughly 15-week term. Candidates must be U.S. citizens with strong academic standing and demonstrated commitment to Japanese American community issues.
• Sacramento JACL Scholarships Top $20,000, page 7. Sacramento JACL’s annual scholarship program now exceeds $20,000 in awards, second only to National JACL awards, with the annual dinner scheduled for May 22 at the Red Lion Hotel. Application forms have been distributed to area high school counselors.
• A 30-Year Volunteer Honored at 34th JACL Biennial, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Natsuko Irei of Contra Costa JACL received a Special Service Award recognizing decades of volunteer work including fundraisers, membership directories, and leadership roles in chapter events. The article details her extensive record of service including PANA convention attendance and community organization involvement.

Commentary

• I’m Betting on the Future!, by Grace Kimoto, page 4. Central California District Governor Grace Kimoto expresses optimism about JACL’s future, citing National Director Herb Yamanishi’s positive membership data. She promotes the upcoming Tri-District Conference in Las Vegas and a chartered bus trip for CCDC members.
• Linking Together, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Bill Marutani highlights a resurgence of anti-Japanese American racism through several incidents, including discriminatory remarks, refusal to rename offensive place names, and opposition to redress from some veterans groups. He credits the Go For Broke National Veterans Association for pushing back against these incidents and stresses the importance of Nikkei veterans banding together.
• Year-End Listings of ‘Most’ and ‘Best’, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bill Hosokawa reviews year-end ‘most influential Asians’ lists published by A. Magazine and Avenue Asia, noting the inclusion of figures like Jerry Yang, Gary Locke, and several Japanese Americans such as Scott Sassa and Patsy Mink. He reflects on how such lists might affect perceptions about the ‘glass ceiling’ facing Asian Americans.
• A Rivalry Between OWI and OSS, by Jin Konomi, page 9. Jin Konomi recounts wartime propaganda work at OSS’s Pacific operations, describing tensions over depicting Emperor Hirohito and the leadership of Joe Koide in shifting strategy from black to white propaganda. He reflects on Koide’s influence in shaping OSS policy toward promoting Japan’s postwar democratic reconstruction.
• Orange County’s Vietnamese Voters, page 9. A letter to the editor argues that national media overlooked the Vietnamese American community’s role in Loretta Sanchez’s victory over Robert Dornan in the 46th Congressional District. The writer cites exit polling showing many Vietnamese Americans voted against Prop. 209 and for Sanchez despite traditional Republican leanings.
• ‘JAs in Utah’ Back in Print, page 9. A letter writer expresses interest in obtaining a copy of the book Japanese Americans in Utah after reading a review noting the first printing sold out. The writer cites family ties to Utah and interest in the historical photographs and letters included in the book.
• The New Ethnic Power… of the ’90s, by Akemi Kayleng, page 12. San Fernando Valley JACL chapter president Akemi Kayleng contrasts 1960s confrontational ethnic pride with a more subtle 1990s approach that quietly retains cultural traditions while persuading others through calm, persistent assertion rather than defiance. She illustrates this with an example of a Japanese American professional influencing a colleague’s decision-making through steady logic rather than confrontation.

Military & Veterans

• An American Hero: Tad Masaoka and His Brothers’ Legacy, by Martin Snapp, page 5. The article memorializes Tad Masaoka, who died at 72, the last surviving of five Masaoka brothers who all served in WWII, four in the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team. It recounts their heroics including the rescue of the Lost Battalion, the death of brother Ben, and their postwar struggles against discrimination and fight for reparations.
• Sac’to Hits $9,000 for Korean War Memorial, page 7. The Greater Sacramento Valley Region’s fundraising drive for a Korean War memorial honoring 246 Japanese American soldiers has raised $9,000 of its $12,000 goal. Coordinator Toko Fujii expects to meet the goal by April, ahead of a planned dedication in late May at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center.
• 7-Day Internship at White House Applications Due, page 7. The Okura Mental Health Leadership Foundation is accepting applications, due March 29, for a one-week White House internship in April for young Asian Pacific American leaders aged 26-39. The program covers travel, lodging and meals for candidates in social work, psychology, nursing and related fields.
• Logo Unveiled for ‘Go for Broke’ Fund Campaign, page 7. The 100th-442nd-MIS WWII Memorial Foundation unveiled a new logo for its $2.5 million fundraising campaign, designed by Teresa Woo-Murray to reflect dual Nisei cultures and wartime sacrifice. Foundation chairman Col. Young O. Kim and executive director Debra Nishinaka-Skelton described the symbolism behind the torch and brush strokes.

In-Depth

• Good News: ‘JAs in Utah’ History to be Reprinted, by Harry K. Honda, page 12. The Utah JA Centennial History Committee announced reprints of Japanese Americans in Utah are now available for $40 plus shipping after the original sold out. The reprint includes a new 32-page addendum covering the JA Centennial Celebration held in August, with proceeds supporting distribution of copies to schools and libraries.

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