Candidates for JACL national office, and the final redress claim workshops

Vol. 126, No. 9, May 1, 1998. 12 pages. View this issue

Seven current National Board members, all of whom had applied for national JACL office, led the news in this issue, with Helen Kawagoe seeking the presidency. The paper also covered preparations for the 35th Biennial JACL National Convention in Philadelphia, set for June 30 to July 5, with Herb Horikawa writing on the plans. Redress was in the news as well: the Office of Redress Administration announced its last claimant workshops before the program closed on August 10, and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors backed redress for Japanese Latin Americans.

Caroline Aoyagi reported on the Asian Pacific American Community Research Roundtable at USC, on gangs, identity and inclusiveness, and on the A3M bone marrow gala. Columns by Bill Hosokawa, Bill Marutani, Emily Murase and Harry K. Honda appear on pages 7 and 8, and a Tule Lake reunion and the Topaz Reunion ’98 were announced. Page 9 carries readers’ letters.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Seven Candidates Announced for National JACL Office, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seven JACL members, all current National Board members, have submitted applications for national JACL offices ahead of the July convention. Candidates include Helen Kawagoe for president and others running unopposed for various vice president and council positions, with nominations from the floor still possible.
• A Review of the Biennium, by Hiromi Ueha, Nicole Inouye, page 3. The outgoing National Youth/Student Council chair and representative reflect on their two-year term, highlighting successful conferences and Seed Money Grants awarded to chapters including Cleveland, Pocatello-Blackfoot, Twin Cities, and Seattle. They propose creating a national youth/student director position to help sustain momentum in youth programming going forward.
• Preparations for Convention Underway, by Herb Horikawa, page 4. The 35th Biennial JACL National Convention will be held June 30-July 5 at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel in Philadelphia, themed “Striving For a More Perfect Union.” The convention will feature a keynote address by Bill Lann Lee and recognize individuals instrumental in the redress campaign and Japanese American relocation history.
• National JACL Convention Workshops Announced, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Convention delegates will have the opportunity to attend workshops on topics including internment legacy, internet basics, public policy, diversity attitudes, and financial planning during two time slots on July 4. Additional afternoon sessions cover Japanese American identity, Asian influence on American culture, oral history methods, successful JACL chapters, and mentoring.

Community

• A3M’s “Starnight … Starbright” Brings Out Celebs and Community, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Danny Hsieh, diagnosed with fatal blood disease aplastic anemia, found a bone marrow match through the National Bone Marrow Registry, highlighting the difficulty APAs face given only 4 percent representation on the registry. Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M) held a star-studded gala fundraiser at the Japan America Theatre to raise awareness and funds amid federal funding cuts.
• Asian Gangs in America: Raising Awareness at APA Community Roundtable, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. At the ninth annual Asian Pacific American Community Research Roundtable at USC, law enforcement and mental health experts discussed the growing second generation of Asian gangs in America, noting increasingly Westernized and violent behavior. Panelists described the organized structure of Asian gangs, victims’ reluctance to report crimes, and early warning signs parents and communities should watch for.
• PSW YA/SC Speakers Series Attracts Both Young and Old, by Kaleigh Komatsu, page 3. The newly formed Young Adult/Student Council of the Pacific Southwest District JACL launched its first district-wide speakers series featuring Diane Ujiye-Matarazzo of the Asian American Drug Abuse Program and other community leaders. The event drew a diverse audience for presentations and discussion on community issues affecting Asian Pacific Americans.
• New PSAs Promote HIV/AIDS Awareness in Asian Pacific Islander Communities, by P.C. Staff, page 5. New public service announcements feature Rob Lai, who has lived with HIV since 1986, and Al and Jane Nakatani, who lost two sons to AIDS, aiming to dispel myths that Asians cannot get AIDS. The PSAs are part of an effort by the API Wellness Center to provide culturally sensitive HIV/AIDS education across diverse Asian Pacific Islander communities.
• Albuquerque, N.M., Teachers Learn Lessons of the Internment, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The New Mexico Chapter JACL hosted two education workshops for Albuquerque teachers on March 20 and 21, including a presentation by photographer Patrick Nagatani on the ten internment camps. More than 25 teachers used the JACL Curriculum and Resource Guide during the sessions, which continued into a second mini-workshop tied to a national teachers conference.
• APA Community Roundtable: Asian Gangs in America, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Continuing coverage of the Asian gangs panel details how gangs are becoming more Westernized while maintaining organized-crime-like hierarchies, with victims often reluctant to report crimes due to fear and distrust. Experts stressed the importance of strong family structures and early intervention to prevent at-risk youth from joining gangs.
• A3M Gala Raises Funds and Awareness, by P.C. Staff, page 10. A3M co-founder Sharon Sugiyama noted that APA registration in the National Bone Marrow Registry has grown from 5,000 in 1991 to over 177,000 today, though APAs still face lower odds of finding a match than the general population. Producers Jude Narita, Kageyama, and Yuji Okumoto organized the star-studded fundraiser after being moved by young volunteers affected by friends’ deaths from blood diseases.

Incarceration & Redress

• Last Round of ORA Claimant Workshops, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Office of Redress Administration will hold its final claimant workshops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Honolulu before the redress program closes August 10. Claimants with unresolved claims are encouraged to attend to submit corrections or have one-on-one case discussions with ORA representatives.
• International Panelists, Producer, Enrich Topaz’s Reunion Program, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Topaz Reunion ’98 in San Jose will feature panelists from Canada, Mexico, Peru, the U.S. and Australia discussing the lasting effects of WWII internment on Nikkei worldwide. Documentary filmmaker Diane Fukami will speak at the Saturday evening banquet about her work on Japanese American redress history.
• San Fran. Board of Supervisors Supports Japanese Latin Americans’ Fight for Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution on April 20 urging the U.S. government to issue an official apology and restitution to Japanese Latin Americans who were interned during WWII. Grace Shimizu of the Campaign for Justice was present and thanked the board for its support.
• Tule Lake Reunion to Feature Health Symposium, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The sixth Tule Lake Reunion in Sacramento will feature a symposium combining research by Dr. Gwen Jensen on the long-term health consequences of internment and Dr. Satsuki Ina’s documentary work on children of the camps. Jensen’s dissertation examined health consequences of Japanese American internment based on oral histories and testimony.

National

• Identity Focus of APA Community Roundtable, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. More than 150 people gathered at USC’s ninth annual Asian Pacific American Community Research Roundtable to discuss multicultural diversity and inclusiveness within the APA community. The conference was sponsored by several organizations including APAHE, A3PCON, LEAP and the U.S. Census Bureau.
• Clinton Opposes Prop. 227, by Mika Tanner, page 1. The Clinton administration has formally decided to oppose California’s Proposition 227, which seeks to eliminate bilingual education programs in favor of a one-year English immersion approach. While civil rights activists welcome the administration’s stance, some object to a proposed three-year limit on bilingual program participation under consideration by the White House.
• AB 1915 Clears Assembly Education Committee, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Legislation to create a California Civil Liberties Public Education Board cleared the Assembly Education Committee on a 12-4 vote. AB 1915 would appropriate $5 million annually to educate K-12 and community college students about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII.
• Proposition 227 Debate Continues Over Bilingual Education, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The Clinton administration opposes Prop. 227 as an extreme approach that could harm students’ ability to learn English and other subjects, while also acknowledging weaknesses in the current bilingual education system. White House officials are considering tougher federal monitoring and accountability measures for bilingual programs going forward.
• Art Miki Appointed Citizenship Judge, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Arthur K. Miki of Winnipeg, a past president of the National Association of Japanese Canadians and member of the Order of Canada, was appointed as a citizenship judge in Manitoba by Canada’s Citizenship-Immigration Minister. Miki will serve for one year overseeing citizenship applications and presiding over oath ceremonies for new citizens.

Commentary

• What’s Happening in PSW: Regional, by Al Muratsuchi, page 3. Departing PSW Regional Director Al Muratsuchi reflects on his tenure with JACL, praising the organization’s dedicated members while criticizing its lack of clear focus and tendency toward indecisive committee-based governance. He is returning to practicing law as a Los Angeles County prosecutor but plans to remain involved with JACL as a volunteer.
• What More Does It Take to See the P.C. Go Weekly?, by Harry K. Honda, page 7. Harry Honda traces the history of the Pacific Citizen’s publication schedule, from a 52-week weekly paper to its current 12-page semi-monthly format following 1988 budget constraints. He calls for the JACL Finance Committee to seriously study returning the P.C. to weekly publication, citing over $20,000 raised through P.C. SAVE contributions and support from 75 chapters.
• Hollywood Closet Hapas, Let Them Stay There, by Mika Tanner, page 7. Mika Tanner examines the practice of claiming celebrities of mixed Asian descent as Hapa role models even when they show no connection to Asian American identity or community. She argues that Asian American identity should be based on cultural connection rather than race alone, and that outing reluctant celebrities does the community no favors.
• Who Belongs in Our Community?, by Emily Murase, page 7. Emily Murase reflects on a family gathering that included multiracial relatives and friends of diverse backgrounds, questioning traditional definitions of Japanese American community belonging based on appearance and blood. She argues the community must expand its definition of membership to be inclusive of biracial, multiracial, and other individuals who wish to participate.
• What’s in a Name?, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bill Hosokawa observes how naming trends among Japanese American children have shifted over generations, from Americanized names like George, John, and Mary among Nisei to more varied contemporary names like Barton, Kendra, and Ryan among Yonsei. He shares examples from his own family and community newsletters illustrating this evolution.
• Some No-No Folks, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Bill Marutani discusses the wartime “Loyalty Questionnaire” imposed on incarcerated Japanese Americans and defends the “No-No Boys” who answered negatively, comparing their stance to the celebrated defiance of Gordon Hirabayashi, Minoru Yasui, and Fred Korematsu. He calls for Nikkei veterans and community members to set aside past bitterness and embrace those who also stood by their convictions.
• On Letting Go, by Akemi Kayleng, page 8. Akemi Kayleng writes about the difficulty of breaking with tradition, from switching calendar planners to replacing the community center’s broken ice cream machine at an Obon festival. She reflects on how resistance to change, while understandable, can hinder necessary progress into the future.
• A Cry for Justice, page 9. A letter writer draws parallels between Clinton’s trip to Africa acknowledging historical wrongs and the ongoing plight of Japanese Latin Americans denied redress despite support from over 80 members of Congress. The writer urges Clinton to use executive authority to adjust their wartime immigration status and grant redress before the Civil Liberties Act program closes in August.
• No Footnote Required, page 9. A letter writer disputes the notion that Jewish Americans own exclusive rights to the term “concentration camp,” citing dictionary definitions that support its use for Japanese American internment camps. The writer argues that a JA exhibit about the camps does not require footnotes referencing Jewish history.
• Was Odoi Letter on Evacuation, by Was Odoi, page 9. A reader from Renton, Wash., argues that the WWII evacuation of Japanese Americans, while a mistake, does not diminish the overall American success story of the community. The writer urges Japanese Americans to celebrate positive achievements rather than remain fixated on historical grievances.
• Reader Stands by Bill Hosokawa, page 9. A letter responds to criticism of columnist Bill Hosokawa, defending his views and questioning comparisons made between wartime draft evasion cases and figures like Rosa Parks and Anne Frank. The writer argues Gordon Hirabayashi would have been a more fitting choice for recognition than the case being discussed.

In-Depth

• USC APA Community Roundtable Discussions, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 6. At USC’s ninth annual APA Community Research Roundtable, panelists discussed the need for inclusiveness of Southeast Asians, Pacific Islanders, and other underrepresented groups within the broader APA identity. Additional panels addressed multiracial identity issues, with Hapa Issues Forum members and others discussing the complexity of mixed-race identity and community belonging.

Military & Veterans

• AJA WWII Memorial Alliance Sets May 9 for War Memorial Presentation, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Americans of Japanese Ancestry WWII Memorial Alliance will hold a Memorial Wall presentation reception on May 9 at the JACCC in Little Tokyo, with Tritia Toyota as mistress of ceremonies. The memorial honoring Japanese Americans who died during WWII is scheduled for dedication on Veterans Day 1999, joining existing monuments for Korean and Vietnam War casualties.

Obituaries

• Harry S. Iida, Salinas JACL Leader, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Harry S. Iida, 77, dubbed “Mr. JACL” for his 50 years of involvement in Salinas Valley JACL circles, died after a lengthy illness. He served as Salinas Valley JACL president in 1972 and helped bridge communication gaps between post-war immigrants and the agricultural community in the Salinas Valley.
• Hideo Shima, Developer of the Shinkansen, Dies at 96, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Hideo Shima, who developed Japan’s bullet train Shinkansen network connecting Tokyo and Osaka, passed away March 18 in Tokyo. He later led Japan’s National Space Development Agency and was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit by the Japanese government in 1994.

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