Hate crimes, Bill Lann Lee and JACL’s push for members

Vol. 125, No. 10, November 21, 1997. 12 pages. View this issue

The White House Conference on Hate Crimes and the stalled nomination of Bill Lann Lee ran through this 12-page issue. JACL National President Helen Kawagoe wrote about attending the hate crimes conference hosted by Attorney General Janet Reno. Yasuo G. Tokita asked whether JACL should care about the fight over Lee’s confirmation to the nation’s top civil rights post, and Caroline Aoyagi reported that the National JACL Board made his confirmation a top priority and asked districts to write letters. A rally in Salt Lake City urged Senator Orrin Hatch to end his opposition.

Elsewhere, Japanese Latin American redress campaigners met the press in Tokyo, and Amache and Manzanar each had a story, as did plans for a Topaz ’98 reunion. Several Nikkei won local elections, among them Karyl Matsumoto in South San Francisco. Bill Hosokawa’s column looked at his own snap judgment, and Harry K. Honda reviewed Hosokawa’s new book on Shinji Sogo and the bullet train.

What’s in this issue

National

• White House Conference on Hate Crimes Draws JACL Leaders, by Helen Kawagoe, page 1. JACL National President Helen Kawagoe attended the White House Conference on Hate Crimes hosted by Attorney General Janet Reno, joining civil rights leaders to discuss diversity and tolerance education programs. President Clinton endorsed legislation expanding the federal definition of hate crimes and plans were made to establish a national hate crime network.
• Hawaii Nikkei Confirmed for Federal Post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Jeanette Takamura of Hawaii was confirmed as assistant secretary for aging at the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Her confirmation was praised by senior citizen advocates who called her sensitive and qualified.
• Rep. Eshoo Condemns Anti-Asian Pacific Bias, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Anna Eshoo condemned discrimination against Asian and Pacific Americans in a House resolution, responding to a 1996 audit showing a 17 percent rise in anti-Asian incidents. Several other members of Congress co-signed the resolution.
• New FCC Chair Appoints Nikkei Chief of Staff, by P.C. Staff, page 5. New FCC chairman William Kennard announced staff appointments including John Nakahata as chief of staff. Nakahata, an active Washington DC JACLer, previously served in several roles at the FCC including special assistant and associate general counsel.
• Minorities Urge Hatch to Confirm Bill Lann Lee, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A rally was held at the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in Salt Lake City urging Senator Orrin Hatch to end his opposition to Bill Lann Lee’s nomination. NAACP and JACL officials spoke out, with JACL’s Yas Tokita noting it has become common to attack Asian Americans in the political climate.
• Clinton Nominates Tanoue to Chair FDIC, by P.C. Staff, page 7. President Clinton nominated Lee A. Tanoue of Honolulu as chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Tanoue, a law partner specializing in banking and real estate finance, would succeed a chair who served for over two years.

Commentary

• Should JACL Care What Happens to Bill Lann Lee?, by Yasuo G. Tokita, page 1. JACL Intermountain District Governor Yasuo Tokita argues that Bill Lann Lee’s stalled confirmation for the nation’s top civil rights job is affected by racial politics and hysteria over affirmative action. He details Lee’s background and the attacks by Newt Gingrich and Senator Orrin Hatch against his nomination.
• Marketing JACL Without Being Pushy, by Carol Kawase, page 4. Sonoma County JACL President Carol Kawase reflects on lessons learned from starting a new toy store business and applies them to JACL membership marketing. She emphasizes the importance of word-of-mouth marketing, long-term planning, and enthusiasm among members to grow the organization.
• From the Frying Pan: I Made My Confession, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Columnist Bill Hosokawa confesses to making an unfair snap judgment about a black medical technician’s competence based on skin color during a hospital visit. He reflects on his own hypocrisy despite having fought against such stereotyping throughout his life.
• State of Utah Honors Achievers from Nine Asian Communities, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Senior Judge Raymond Uno received the Golden Service Award for extensive volunteer work on behalf of minorities in Utah at an all-Asian community affair. Japanese American achievers Shake Ushio, Ida Tateoka and Hide Fujikawa were also honored for their community contributions.
• Letters: Racial Environment in Orange County, by Michael, Selanoco JACLer, page 8. A letter writer reflects on the murder of Thien Minh Ly, an Asian Pacific American killed by racists in Orange County, connecting the tragedy to broader scapegoating of minorities and immigrants. The writer criticizes propositions like 187 and 209 for fueling intolerance and hate crimes.
• Letters: Affirmative Action Revisited, page 8. A letter writer argues against affirmative action, suggesting individuals should be judged on their own merits rather than through group-based policies. The writer contends that Proposition 209 and similar measures are divisive rather than helpful to society.
• Preserving Home in a New Word, by Akemi Kayleng, page 9. Columnist Akemi Kayleng reflects on why she continues to study physics despite leaving the field professionally, drawing parallels to universal human experiences of growth and disorientation. She discusses how the Japanese American community maintains comfortable old routines even while embracing change.

Community

• Ex-Interim National JACL Director Elected in Her First Bid for Council, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Karyl Matsumoto, former JACL interim national director, was elected to the South San Francisco City Council in her first bid for public office. She focused her campaign on planned growth and civic issues rather than her Asian American identity to appeal broadly to voters.
• Ownership Issue of J-town YWCA in Court, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The fate of the Japantown YWCA building in San Francisco was placed before superior court over an ownership dispute dating back to 1920 when Issei raised funds to buy the property. Nihonmachi leaders allege the YWCA violated a trust, though YWCA spokesperson Paige Bradley said the building is no longer for sale.
• Blue Shield 65 Health Plan for Seniors, by Toko Fujii, page 3. A public meeting sponsored by Sacramento JACL on the Blue Shield 65 Health program drew 30 interested members to learn about senior health insurance options. The seminar featured presentations from JACL Blue Shield office and Blue Shield representatives.
• Five-Chapter CLPEF Funded OHP Underway, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Stockton received a $5,000 start-up grant from the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund for an oral history project. The project involves five chapters working together on the initiative.
• Northwest Nikkei Elected to School Board, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Three Nikkei candidates won seats on local school boards in the Seattle area at the Nov. 4 elections, including Jan Kumasaka for Seattle School Board and Aaron Iwada for North Thurston School District. Wayne Tanaka was unopposed for the Bellevue School District board.
• Half Moon Bay Re-elects Nikkei to Fourth Term, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Naomi Patridge won her fourth term as Half Moon Bay city councilwoman on Nov. 4, receiving the top vote count in a five-way race. She has served as mayor twice and is active in numerous civic and business organizations including San Mateo County JACL.
• Torrance School Board Member Retains His Post, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Gary Kuwahara led a four-way race for three seats on the Torrance Unified School District board with 14,186 votes. A certified public accountant and JACLer, he became active in city politics after being appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
• South Bay YAG ’98 Workshop Aims at College Grads, by P.C. Staff, page 4. South Bay JACL’s Young Adult Group is planning a career planning conference titled ‘Nikkei for the Future’ featuring workshops on leadership, financial management and job market topics. The event is scheduled for June 20, ahead of the National JACL Convention in Philadelphia.
• Twin Cities Chapter Video Tapes on Japanese Cooking Selling, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Twin Cities JACL and Perfect Host Catering produced videotapes on traditional Japanese cooking that sold out at a Tri-District Conference. The tapes, based on JACL-sponsored cooking classes taught by Kimi Hara, aim to preserve traditional Japanese food preparation knowledge for younger generations.
• Citizenship Video Distributed Nationwide, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging announced distribution of an Emmy Award-winning instructional video on becoming a U.S. citizen to Blockbusters and public libraries nationwide. The program aims to donate 3,000 copies to help ease immigrants’ uncertainty about the citizenship process.
• Newsletter Call for Ethnic Unity Stirs Controversy, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A Chinese-language newsletter urging voters to support Chinese American candidates in Hacienda Heights area elections drew front-page attention and controversy. Candidates mentioned in the newsletter, including York Lee and Wen Chang, distanced themselves from the ethnic-based appeal, saying they represent all constituents.
• Very Truly Yours: Dinners: 150-100-40-150, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Columnist Harry Honda describes fundraising dinners in Southern California’s Nikkei community, highlighting the Japanese American Historical Society of Southern California’s traditional dinner program honoring community organizations and individuals. He recounts the history of JAHSSC’s founding in 1979 by Nisei and Sansei educators.
• Listening to Students Pays Off for Principal, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Kailua High School principal Mary Murakami gained state and national recognition after canceling classes to let students run a conference on improving their school. She was named 1997 Hawaii Principal of the Year and is now researching education reform nationally.
• Unusual Query to Locate Remains of Great-Great Grandfather Answered, by Harry K. Honda, page 9. Bob Corella, a Glendale art teacher with a deep interest in Japanese culture, located the gravesite of Koku Urasaki, who died in Phoenix in 1912, at the request of a descendant in Virginia. Corella’s decades of studying Japanese martial arts and swordsmanship led to his involvement in the search.
• CLPEF ‘E-mail Listserv’ Established for Grantees, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The Civil Liberties Public Education Fund announced an e-mail listserv to facilitate communication among grant recipients and interested parties. The listserv, created by Gary Otake, aims to help organizations share resources and collaborate on CLPEF-funded projects.
• ‘Go for Broke’ Casino Night Fundraiser Set, by P.C. Staff, page 9. A casino night fundraiser has been organized for Jan. 24 at the Renaissance Hotel as the last fundraising effort before a scheduled groundbreaking in Little Tokyo in June 1998. The newly-organized group seeks Rokusei generation members to help develop the foundation’s oral history project.
• ‘Enman no Tomo’ Publishes Cookbook, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Sonoma County JACL released the long-awaited cookbook Enman no Tomo, Favorite Recipes, featuring dishes shared at community potluck banquets. The three-ring binder cookbook, priced at $10, includes recipes ranging from simple to complex Asian dishes.
• Asian Law Caucus Rallies for Kao of Sonoma County, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The Asian Law Caucus and supporters participated in a ‘March Against Brutality’ rally to commemorate the killing of Kao Kuan Ching by Rohnert Park peace officers. About 300 people attended the rally at San Francisco City Hall.
• Arizona Chapter JACL Taiko Group Prepares for ’98 Events, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The Arizona Chapter JACL taiko group is recruiting new members ranging from age 5 to adult as they prepare for public performances beginning February 1998. The group is led by instructor Eugene Nomura and chief instructor Chuck Matsumoto.
• Topaz ’98 Reunion Calls Evacuees from Canada, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The Topaz ’98 Reunion Committee is extending invitations to Japanese Canadian evacuees to attend the May 29-31 reunion in San Jose. The event will include a forum focusing on internment’s impact on later generations, plus a dinner-dance and Sunday brunch.
• Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Pocatello Reunion Slated, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Former residents of Pocatello, Blackfoot, Rexburg and Idaho Falls are being reminded of the 1998 ‘Tri-City Reunion’ at Cactus Pete’s Resort Casino in Jackpot, Nevada. This will be the second such reunion since the first was held in 1992 and attended by about 300 Japanese Americans.

Incarceration & Redress

• Japanese Latin American Campaign Reaches Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japanese Latin American campaigners for U.S. redress, led by attorney Robin S. Toma, met with Japanese press in Tokyo as part of a two-week speaking tour. Approximately 1,700 Japanese were deported to Japan after WWII, having been arrested and interned in U.S. enemy alien camps.
• Florin JACL Names Scholarship for ‘Hakujin’ Teacher at Tule Lake, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Florin JACL established the Margaret Gunderson scholarship fund, honoring an ‘unsung hero’ teacher who taught English, history and speech at Tule Lake. Gunderson was recognized for her dedication to internees during World War II.
• ‘Behind Barbed Wire’ to Be Shown Feb. 29, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A special showing of Behind Barbed Wire, a documentary film on Nisei soldiers during World War II, has been scheduled at Idaho State University during a Day of Remembrance observance. The event is sponsored by Pocatello-Blackfoot JACL.
• Amache Evacuees to Plan Trip-Reunion in June 1998, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Amache Historical Society is planning a ‘Return to Amache’ trip-reunion from Colorado Springs in June 1998, allowing former internees to return to the camp nearly 53 years after its closure. Granada High School students have been working to memorialize Amache through research and a museum exhibit.
• Historic Marker Installed at Lamar, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A frame for the Amache WRA Camp historic marker was installed by the Colorado Historical Society near the WWII concentration campsite. A dedicatory service for the eight-foot marker is expected next spring.
• Lone Tour Guide Offers Walking Tour of Manzanar National Historic Site, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Richard Stewart, a local Paiute Indian with an interest in Japanese culture, began work as the lone tour guide at Manzanar National Historic Site, leading visitors on walking tours exploring the area’s history. The tours cover Indian history, water wars with Los Angeles, and the WWII internment of Japanese Americans.

JACL

• JACL National Board Urges Bill Lann Lee Confirmation, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. The National JACL Board made Bill Lann Lee’s stalled nomination for the nation’s top civil rights post a top priority at its Nov. 14-15 meeting, calling on districts to write letters supporting his confirmation. JACL Washington Representative Bob Sakaniwa praised Lee’s qualifications amid opposition from Senator Orrin Hatch.
• Bytes and Bytes: A Membership Idea from Seattle, by Yas Tokita, page 3. IDC Governor Yas Tokita discusses a membership growth idea from Seattle chapter president Jeff Hattori, urging JACL to pursue a Herculean membership drive around Day of Remembrance 1998. He reflects on the Program for Action’s goal of a 10 percent membership increase and praises longtime P.C. staffer Harry Honda’s decades of service.
• Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellow Candidates Sought, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Applications are being sought for the 1998-99 Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellowship term, offering a $7,500 stipend for a 3.5 month fellowship. Candidates must be U.S. citizens with strong communication skills and commitment to Asian American community issues.
• Kawagoe to Speak at Mile-Hi Inaugural, by P.C. Staff, page 3. National JACL president Helen Kawagoe will be the guest speaker at the 1998 Mile-Hi JACL installation dinner in Denver on Jan. 17. The event will be held at the Renaissance hotel.
• Presidential Commissioner Angela Oh to Address San Fernando JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Los Angeles attorney Angela Oh will serve as keynote speaker for the 56th annual San Fernando Valley JACL installation banquet in January. Oh was appointed to the President’s Commission on Racial Reconciliation and serves on several other civic and legal boards.
• Gala 70th Anniversary Feb. 21 Launches 1998 Calendar of Events, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Stockton JACL chapter will celebrate its 70th anniversary on Feb. 21 at the Stockton Buddhist Church Social Hall, with chapter archives dating activities to 1928. Chapter president Aeko Fenelon hopes to revive past programs including a summer children’s program and fashion show fundraiser.
• Summary of National JACL Board Actions, Nov. 15-16, 1997, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The National JACL Board approved multiple resolutions during its November meeting, including support for the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, opposition to Washington State’s Civil Rights Initiative 200, and budget guidelines for 1999-2000. The board also addressed membership growth strategies and health insurance options for non-California members.
• Internships, Fellowship Open in Washington, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Institute announced applications for the 1998-99 Anheuser-Busch/Frank Horton Fellowship and a summer internship program in Washington D.C. Both programs target college graduates and students interested in public policy careers related to the APA community.

Arts & Entertainment

• JANM’s Fall Dinner Attracts 1,000; Ann Curry, Jon Nakamatsu Feted, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Japanese American National Museum’s fall dinner honored Ann Curry and Jon Nakamatsu before an audience of 1,000 attendees. Past JANM board chair Henry Ota recalled founder Yamakoshi’s vision for the museum during the event.
• Surfing the Internet: AJA Data on ‘Nikkei Heritage’, by Stephanie Lai, page 10. The National Japanese American Historical Society launched a website featuring information on NJAHS projects and numerous links to other Japanese American sites. The article surveys various Japanese American and Asian American websites covering history, culture, and community resources.
• Wing Luke Museum Issues Docu-Video, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The Wing Luke Asian Museum released its first documentary video on Seattle’s Chinatown, Finding Home in Chinatown: the Kong Yick Buildings. The 58-minute production tells the story of businesses and residents in two historic buildings over 80 years.
• P.C. Bookshelf: Old Man Thunder: Father of the Bullet Train, by Harry K. Honda, page 10. Bill Hosokawa’s new book profiles Shinji Sogo, known as ‘Old Man Thunder,’ who engineered Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train system as president of Japan National Railways from 1955-1963. The book details the train’s development and its transformative impact on Japanese transportation.
• Visual Communication Calls for ’98 Festival Entries by Jan. 16, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Visual Communications announced a Jan. 16 deadline for entries in the 13th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film & Video Festival, scheduled for May 14-21. The festival has grown from a two-weekend event with a dozen films to a week-long showcase of about 100 productions.
• Widow Campaigns for Bruce Lee Stamp by ‘Year of Dragon’, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Linda Lee Cadwell has launched a national campaign to have her late husband Bruce Lee featured on a U.S. postage stamp, timed to coincide with the Year of the Dragon in 2000. Fans are signing petitions to Congress in support of the campaign, submitted to the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee.

Sports

• Wally Yonamine Honored by JACLers in Tokyo, for His Pro-Baseball Fame, by James M. Minamoto, page 3. The JACL Japan Chapter honored Wally Yonamine, the first foreigner to play in Japanese professional baseball after WWII, at a dinner in Tokyo. Yonamine’s 38-year career as player, coach and manager culminated in his 1994 induction into the Japan Professional Baseball Hall of Fame, and he is credited with introducing American-style aggressive baseball tactics to Japan.
• Nikkei’s ‘Diamonds in the Rough’ Exhibit Invited by National Baseball Hall of Fame, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The National Baseball Hall of Fame expressed interest in hosting ‘Diamonds in the Rough,’ a Nisei Baseball Research Project exhibit about Japanese American baseball history. Founder Kerry Nakagawa said donations are being sought to ship the exhibit to Cooperstown, New York.
• Former Teammates Now Coach Rival Volleyball Programs, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Stephanie Shota and Toni Nishida-Chock, former teammates on championship Pearl City High and University of Hawaii volleyball teams, are now coaching rival high school programs in Hawaii. Their former coach Bruce Hisanaga praised their natural coaching abilities as they work to rebuild their respective programs.

Military & Veterans

• Four Reunite After 53 Years at Exhibit Saluting 442nd RCT, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Four Nisei veterans who appeared in a famous 1944 photo after the rescue of the Lost Battalion were reunited for the first time in 53 years at a photo exhibit dedication at the Army Museum at Fort DeRussy in Honolulu. The men recalled the harrowing four-day battle and expressed gratitude that they were all still alive to be reunited.

Obituaries

• Larry Shinoda, 63, Automotive and Graphic Designer, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Larry Shinoda, a prominent automotive and graphic designer for over 30 years, died at his home in Novi, Michigan on Nov. 13. He remained productive in his studio despite being on dialysis for kidney failure until his final hour.
• Mary Ishimoto Watanabe, 76, Educator and Devoted Volunteer, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Mary Ishimoto Watanabe, an educator and 40-year volunteer with Philadelphia JACL and Asian American causes, died of cancer at her home in Center City. She earned graduate degrees at Harvard after being relocated during WWII through the National Student Relocation Council program.

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