Redress deadline, Topaz site purchase and Nagano memories

Vol. 126, No. 4, February 20, 1998. 12 pages. View this issue

Redress and the memory of the World War II incarceration (often called internment) ran through the front page. Attorney General Janet Reno announced that more than 2,000 Japanese Americans had not yet filed claims, and the Office of Redress Administration urged them to file by April 10, 1998. The Topaz Museum Board bought more than 400 acres of the Topaz site in Utah, reported by Caroline Aoyagi. Rod Tatsuno wrote about his grandfather Shojiro Tatsuno and the family’s roots in Nagano as the Winter Olympics began there.

Other stories covered Sen. Daniel Inouye’s plan to seek a seventh term, the first hate e-mail conviction, and the Census Bureau’s meetings on Census 2000. Shiro Kashino’s court-martial was overturned after 52 years. Columns came from Bill Hosokawa, Harry K. Honda and Emily Murase. Chapter news includes Stockton’s 70th anniversary and Sacramento’s Day of Remembrance program, which marked ten years of the Civil Liberties Act.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Memories of Ojichan in Nagano, by Rod Tatsuno, page 1. Rod Tatsuno recalls his grandfather Shojiro Tatsuno, an immigrant from Nagano who founded the Nichi Bei Bussan mercantile business in San Francisco. He reflects on his grandfather’s hardships, including the family’s incarceration at Tanforan and Topaz during World War II.
• Tulelake Reunion VI, by Toko Fujii, page 3. An announcement and details about the planning of Tulelake Reunion VI, inviting former internees and friends to attend. Organizers are asking attendees to spread the word and gather participants for the reunion event.
• San Francisco Chapter Contributes to Nisei Baseball Research Project, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The JACL San Francisco Chapter donated $1,000 to the Nisei Baseball Research Project, which researches the hidden legacy of Japanese Americans in baseball. Project Director Kerry Yo Nakagawa praised the donation as connecting younger generations to the sacrifices of earlier generations.
• Blue Shield Low-Cost Plan, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Blue Shield of California announced a new low-cost preferred health plan exclusively for California JACL members, featuring a $1,000 deductible and 30-40% savings on premiums. The plan includes access to Blue Shield’s Lifepath program offering discounts on alternative health services.
• Houston Chapter to Host Caper Invitational Golf Classic, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The JACL Houston Chapter will host its 13th annual Houston Caper Invitational Golf Classic from March 21-27, drawing participants from the Midwest and Mountain Plains District Councils. The tournament will feature a Saturday reception with Cajun, Creole, Tex-Mex, and Japanese cuisine.
• Stockton JACL 70th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Stockton JACL Chapter celebrated its 70th anniversary on Feb. 21 at the Stockton Buddhist Temple with a photo display, dinner, and installation of the 1998 board and officers by Judge Bill Dozier. New officers include Dr. John Fujii as president.
• Sac’to DOR Program Set, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Sacramento’s Day of Remembrance program will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act with performances by singers Toru Saito and Bessie Masuda and a karaoke duo. The event will feature songs from the 1940s and a program honoring internment history.
• Marin JACL Installs Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The JACL Marin Chapter installed its 1998 board of directors at its 23rd annual installation dinner, with Dale Shimasaki as keynote speaker. Actor/playwright Hiroshi Kashiwagi read from his memoirs about his experiences at Tule Lake and the Japanese School in Penryn.
• Lake Washington Installs Rose Nohara Chapter President, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Lake Washington JACL installed Rose Nohara as its 1998 chapter president during a dinner event where former Lacey Mayor Gene Liddell spoke on Asian American women in politics. Japanese Consul General Yoshio Nomoto attended along with representatives from neighboring JACL chapters.
• Peach Grower Speaks at Livingston-Merced Inaugural, by Bob Taniguchi, page 4. Author and peach farmer David Masumoto spoke at the Livingston-Merced JACL installation dinner, reminiscing about his farming background and reading from his books Country Voices and Epitaph for a Peach. New chapter officers were also installed at the event.
• Sansei Legacy Project Announces ‘Legacies of Camp’ Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Sansei Legacy Project will host a weekend conference at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California exploring how WWII internment affected Sansei descendants. The conference will bring together 25 resource persons and conclude with a public panel discussion on healing strategies.

National

• Sen. Daniel Inouye Ready for a ‘Last Hurrah’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sen. Daniel Inouye plans to seek his seventh Senate term this fall, even as other longtime senators retire. The 442nd veteran remains focused on helping Hawaii despite critics calling him “Senator Pork.”
• Irvine Man Convicted in First-Ever Hate E-mail Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A federal jury in Santa Ana convicted former UC Irvine student Richard Machado of sending hate e-mail threatening Asian students on campus. The case marked the first-ever prosecution of a hate crime committed in cyberspace.
• Census Bureau Addresses APAs’ Concerns Over Census 2000, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. The U.S. Census Bureau held meetings in Monterey Park, Calif. to address Asian Pacific American concerns about Census 2000, including the new multiracial category option. AAPI organizations worry the changes could reduce official counts of their communities and affect funding and policy decisions.
• Tobacco Settlement Fails to Address AA Concerns, Say Community Leaders, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Asian American and Pacific Islander community leaders told Rep. Robert Underwood they oppose the tobacco settlement, arguing it could increase nicotine addiction rates among AAPI communities. Advocates cited inaccurate smoking rate statistics and called for research reflecting AAPI community diversity.
• Gov’t Wants FBI Sharpshooter Horiuchi’s Charge Dismissed, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The federal government filed a petition to dismiss a state manslaughter charge against FBI sharpshooter Ron Horiuchi for the Ruby Ridge shooting death of Randy Weaver’s wife. The Justice Department argues Horiuchi is protected under the supremacy clause of the Constitution for line-of-duty actions.
• Trie Pleads Not Guilty to All Counts, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Yah Lin “Charlie” Trie, a key figure in the Democratic Party fundraising controversy, pleaded not guilty to 15 counts including conspiracy, fraud, and election-law violations. He surrendered to FBI authorities before his court appearance.
• Igasaki Takes Helm of EEOC, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Paul Igasaki, former JACL Washington D.C. representative, assumed responsibilities as chair of the EEOC after receiving a recess appointment from President Clinton. He had previously served as vice chair of the commission for three years.
• Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Filed in Kao Killing, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A federal civil rights lawsuit was filed regarding the police killing of Kuan Chung Kao by a Rohnert Park officer. The Department of Justice had declined to file charges after a six-month review, prompting a civil rights hearing in Santa Rosa.
• Coalition of AAs Formed to Oppose Unz Initiative, by P.C. Staff, page 5. More than 70 Asian Pacific American organizations formed Asian Pacific Americans for Educational Equality to campaign against Ron Unz’s “English for the Children” initiative. The initiative had qualified for the June ballot.

Incarceration & Redress

• ORA Urges Claims Be Filed by April 10, by Lisa Johnson, page 1. Attorney General Janet Reno announced that more than 2,000 Japanese Americans interned during WWII still have not filed for redress compensation before the program closes. The Office of Redress Administration urges potential claimants to file by April 10, 1998 to allow time for review before the program ends in August 1998.
• Topaz Museum Buys Over 400 Acres of Topaz Site, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. The Topaz Museum Board purchased more than 400 acres of the former WWII internment camp site in Utah to prevent further development from erasing its history. The purchase followed years of fundraising after private landowners began building homes on the historic site.
• ‘Reclaiming Voices’ Looking for Participants, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The “Reclaiming Voices” oral history project seeks former WWII internees and others in the Philadelphia and Seabrook, N.J. areas to document and archive critical primary sources related to the internment experience. The project is funded by the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund and co-sponsored by several organizations.

Commentary

• P.C. Important for ‘Historic JACL Presence’ in So. Calif., by P.C. Staff, page 3. A feasibility study on moving the Pacific Citizen from Los Angeles to San Francisco found that potential savings were too slight to justify losing JACL’s historic presence in Southern California. The PC Board voted 7-0-1 in support of the paper remaining in the Los Angeles area.
• A Response to Nathan Balderrama’s Letter, by Hiromi Ueha, National Youth Council Chair; Nicole Inouye, National Youth Representative, page 3. JACL youth leaders Hiromi Ueha and Nicole Inouye respond to criticism about their focus on college students, explaining limited resources led them to target JA and AA campus clubs. They describe efforts to build youth membership foundations across districts despite the challenges.
• Why I Support the National Japanese American Memorial, by Maj. Gen. James H. Mukoyama, Jr. (ret.), page 6. Mukoyama explains the history and purpose of the National Japanese American Memorial being built in Washington, D.C., addressing criticisms about the project. He defends the memorial’s design and emphasizes the urgency of meeting fundraising goals before a 1999 deadline.
• A Connection of Sorts, by Akemi Kayleng, page 7. Akemi Kayleng reflects on her transition from academic physics to business, drawing parallels to the cultural transition experienced by Issei and Nisei generations. She describes gaining new empathy for older Nikkei’s resistance to change as she navigates her own uncertain career shift.
• Very Truly Yours, by Harry K. Honda, page 7. Harry Honda reflects on a 30-year-old Riverside JACL installation dinner featuring then-National JACL President Jerry Enomoto discussing major organizational issues. The column recounts historical JACL chapter developments and figures from three decades ago.
• From the Frying Pan: Olympic Reflections and The Rape of Nanking, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bill Hosokawa reflects on watching the Winter Olympics from Nagano while reading Iris Chang’s book “The Rape of Nanking,” contrasting the kindness of Japanese Olympic hosts with wartime atrocities. He questions who represents the “real” Japanese or American people given these historical contradictions.
• A Long Way to Go, by K. Ken Yabusaki, page 9. K. Ken Yabusaki criticizes anti-gay statements made by opponents of UC Regent Ward Connerly’s support for domestic partner benefits. He argues that discrimination against gays parallels racial discrimination and that homosexuality crosses all racial and religious boundaries.
• Letters to the Editor, page 9. Multiple letters address topics including objections to a Bill Hosokawa column quote taken out of context, thanks for support of a JACL campaign, a resolution to make internment camps National Historic Sites, and a request for information on Issei railroaders and WWII-era photographs.

Military & Veterans

• 442nd Combat Regiment Hero Shiro Kashino’s Honor Restored After 52 Years, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Shiro Kashino, a six-time Purple Heart recipient with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, had his unjust court-martial conviction overturned by the Army 52 years later. His wife, fellow veterans, and researchers spent years gathering evidence to clear his name, including a crucial affidavit from the MP involved in the original altercation.

In-Depth

• A Global Role for Nikkei, by Emily Murase, page 8. Emily Murase discusses her experience at the International Career Advancement Program, which addresses the underrepresentation of minorities in international careers and diplomacy. She highlights statistics showing low minority representation in the Foreign Service and encourages young Japanese Americans to pursue international careers.
• Topaz Museum Board Continues Fundraising Efforts, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The Topaz Museum Board continues raising funds to complete a museum honoring the WWII internment camp, needing approximately $125,000 more. A Salt Lake City JACL teacher became involved in preserving Topaz’s history after finding many students unfamiliar with the camp’s history.

Obituaries

• Hoichi ‘Bob’ Kubo, 78, Highest Decorated Nisei of the WWII Pacific War, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Hoichi “Bob” Kubo, who received the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism during the Battle of Saipan, died Feb. 1 after a long illness. He was honored for warning commanders of a planned Japanese suicide attack and for persuading armed soldiers to release hundreds of Okinawan civilian hostages.
• Alan Taniguchi, 75, Architect Renowned in Texas, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Alan Yamato Taniguchi, former dean of the University of Texas School of Architecture, died Jan. 14 after a sudden illness. He was known for his commitment to minority recruitment and received the AIA-Whitney M. Young Jr. Citation and the Llewelyn W. Pitts Award for his career achievements.
• George Ogawa, 79, Aerospace Engineer, Activist, by P.C. Staff, page 11. George Ogawa, an aerospace engineer who worked at North American Aviation, TRW, and Hughes, died Feb. 9 from complications of a car accident injury. He was active in numerous community organizations including the ACLU, Boy Scouts of America, and JACL.
• Yoshi Iwama Kikuchi, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Yoshi Iwama Kikuchi, 96, wife of pioneer Issei pastor Rev. Kenji Kikuchi, died Jan. 30 in Huntington Beach. She served alongside her husband at the Ocean View United Church of Christ in San Diego for 21 years before their ministry moved to Huntington Beach.

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