Redress for Japanese Latin Americans, 57 years later

Vol. 126, No. 12, June 19, 1998. 12 pages. View this issue

A settlement for Japanese Latin Americans led the news. In Mochizuki vs. the U.S., the government agreed to an apology and a $5,000 redress payment to each surviving former internee or their immediate heirs. Caroline Aoyagi reported the bittersweet mood among plaintiffs, who noted the amount was far less than the $20,000 paid to Japanese Americans under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. John Tateishi described the negotiations behind the deal, and Bill Hosokawa wrote that the outcome showed the justice system works when people work at it. JACL President Helen Kawagoe also commended the Department of Justice.

Elsewhere, Harry K. Honda wrote about the Tule Lake pilgrimage and reunion, and Grayce Uehara previewed the JACL national convention in Philadelphia. Six scholarship dinners honored graduates, among them Portland, San Diego, Sacramento and San Jose. In the same issue, an in-depth piece looked at Shin-Issei, newer Japanese immigrants, and California primary results appeared on page 1.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Bittersweet Victory for Japanese Latin Americans, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. After 57 years, the U.S. government agreed to a settlement in Mochizuki vs. the U.S., providing a presidential apology and $5,000 redress payment to Japanese Latin Americans interned during WWII. Plaintiffs expressed both gratitude for the acknowledgment and disappointment that the payment was far less than the $20,000 given to Japanese Americans under the 1988 Civil Liberties Act.
• JACL applfamilies Finally win win Redress from Gov’t, page 3. The settlement in Mochizuki vs. the U.S. provides Japaneseesein an apology and $5,000 redress payment, though plaintiffs, thoughal internees, and describe the settlement as bittersweet given the disparity with JA compensation. The article details also of the process for filing claims and the timeline for payments to former internees.
• Opening Ceremony for Korean War Veterans Memorial Exhibit Set, page 9. Details were announced for the opening ceremony of the Japanese American Korean War Veterans Memorial Exhibit at the California state capitol, featuring 84 individual photographs of those who died in Korea and a replica memorial wall. The event, co-sponsored by JACL and Nisei VFW Post 8985, was scheduled for June 24 with elected officials confirmed to attend.

In-Depth

• Shin-Issei: The New JAs, page 1. The article explores the divide between the traditional Japanese American community and Shin-Issei, more recent Japanese immigrants who arrived after WWII. It examines the mutual apprehension between the two groups and questions whether the JA community can maintain a viable cultural presence without embracing these newer immigrants.

JACL

• Come to Philadelphia — the City That Loves You Back!, by Grayce Uehara, page 1. The article previews the JACL national convention taking place in Philadelphia, highlighting the city’s historical significance and connection to American democracy. It encourages JACL members to attend and celebrate Independence Day as the anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 approaches.
• ,, by wan governcongJACapplclacouncil, nationalACL national board, nationalACL nationalters have on the wsettlement/apology and, praising members andACL staff, particularly Patty Wada and Al Muratsuchi, for their their efforts to remedy the injustice against Japanese Latin Americans., page 3. National JACL President Helen Kawagoe commended the U.S. government and Department of Justice for finally recognizing the wrong done JLAs suffered decades earlier. She praised JACL’sff and network of chapters for their sustained efforts in achieving redress for Japanese Latin Americans.
• National Youth/Student Council Presents the Youth Luncheon and ID-4 Youth Day, page 5. The JACL National Youth/Student Council announces details for the Youth Luncheon featuring Rabbi Ed Rettig and the Hapa Issues Forum Vision Award, plus the ID-4 Youth Day conference featuring workshops on internships, resumes, and job interviews. Both events take place during the JACL national convention in Philadelphia.
• More Than 1,000 Attend Tulelake Reunion, by Toko Fujii, page 6. The sixth and possibly final Tulelake Reunion drew over 1,000 attendees to Sacramento’s Doubletree Hotel, featuring keynote speaker Congressman Robert Matsui who credited both leaders and rank-and-file Japanese Americans for the redress movement’s success. Harry K. Honda, editor emeritus of the Pacific Citizen, was honored with a service plaque for his 47 years of devotion to JACL and the Japanese American community.

National

• Matsui, Honda, and Fong Among Several APAs to Go on to November Elections, by P.C. Staff, page 1. In California’s June 2 primary elections, nine of 22 Asian Pacific American candidates advanced to the November general election, including incumbents Robert Matsui and Mike Honda. Matt Fong won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate and will face incumbent Barbara Boxer in November.
• Resounding Win for Prop. 227, Prop. 226 Loses by a Hair, by P.C. Staff, page 1. California voters passed Proposition 227, the anti-bilingual education measure, prompting civil rights groups to file a lawsuit to stop its implementation. Proposition 226, which would have restricted union political contributions, narrowly failed by about 365,000 votes.
• Arizona State University Opens APA Studies Program, page 4. Arizona State University’s College of Public Programs held a reception announcing its new Asian Pacific American Studies program, the first of its kind in the southwestern United States. University president Dr. Lattie Boor and program director Dr. Thomas Nakayama spoke about the university’s commitment to the new interdisciplinary undergraduate program, which begins classes in Fall 1998.
• National Study to Examine Long-Term Effects of Incarceration on Nisei, page 4. Researchers Dr. Setsuko Matsunaga Nishi and Dr. David T. Takeuchi are conducting a national study on how WWII incarceration affected Japanese Americans’ lives, families, and coping mechanisms. The study, funded mainly by the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund, seeks participation from randomly selected Nisei who were held in WRA camps during the war.

Community

• Japanese Railroad Worker Families Establish Scholarship, page 3. Families of Japanese railroad workers who were ruled ineligible for redress created a scholarship to thank JACL for its advocacy efforts on their behalf. The scholarship honors railroad workers fired by the federal government in 1941-42 and will be part of JACL’s National Scholarship Program.
• Banquet Honors Portland Area High School Graduates, by Ann Shintani, page 6. A group of 150 attendees gathered at the annual Japanese American graduation banquet in Portland to honor 20 graduating high school seniors with various scholarships. Keynote speaker Taro O’Sullivan, Executive Director of the Oregon Commission on Asian Affairs, spoke about the internment’s role in the civil rights movement and urged graduates to never forget the past.
• San Diego Honors 14 Area Scholars, page 6. The San Diego JACL Chapter awarded scholarships to 14 area students at its 41st annual scholarship banquet, with Kimm Groshong of Hilltop High School receiving the top $1,000 award. Keynote speaker Judge Dana Sabraw addressed the Japanese American experience and commended JACL’s work on redress while sharing his own experience growing up as a Hapa.
• Sacramento Scholars Honored at Annual Dinner, page 6. More than 200 people attended the Sacramento JACL scholarship dinner, one of the best in recent years, where more than $24,000 in awards was distributed to numerous students. Top scholarship winner Cari Takei gave a response on behalf of the recipients, and a memorial award recognized the late Frank Hiyama for his years of service to the scholarship program.
• Snake River Valley Honors Local Scholars at Annual Banquet, page 6. The Snake River Chapter held its 53rd annual graduation banquet honoring local high school graduates of Japanese descent, with Patrick Takasugi delivering the keynote address. Two $2,000 scholarships were awarded to Dana Slyter and Katie Moore, and additional graduates and delegates to Boys State/Girls State programs were recognized.
• 1998 Stockton JACL Scholarships, page 6. The Stockton JACL presented scholarship awards to 11 students at a luncheon, with recipients including Kimberlee Sakai, Louisa Bazett, and Heidi Okamoto among others. Various named scholarships were funded by the chapter and community sponsors including Anheuser-Busch and Union Bank of California.
• San Jose JACL Announces 1998 Scholarship Recipients, page 6. Seven high school seniors received a total of 11 scholarships at the San Jose JACL Chapter’s annual awards luncheon. Recipients included Melissa Kurimoto, Lynn Shintani, and Thomas Hamaguchi Hocker, honored with various named scholarships from community sponsors.

Commentary

• A Major Victory for JLAs, by John Tateishi, page 3. JACL’s redress consultant details the behind-the-scenes negotiations and internal DOJ debates that led to the settlement for Japanese Latin Americans, crediting Bill Lann Lee and Attorney General Janet Reno for pushing the issue forward. He argues the $5,000 settlement, while less than the JA redress amount, represents a major concession by the government and a significant victory for JLAs.
• From the Desk of Author James Oda, by James Oda, page 4. Author James Oda writes about a reader’s connection between his book’s subject matter and the teachings of the Sukyo-Mahikari religious sect, which holds that the origins of earth, mankind, and religion are all one. The piece describes the sect’s beliefs and its growth to one million followers in 75 countries with a shrine in Takayama, Gifu-ken, Japan.
• Remembering Walter Weglyn, by Sachi Seko, page 7. The author pays tribute to the late Walter Weglyn, husband of Michi Weglyn, describing his dedication to securing redress for railroad and mine workers and Japanese Latin American hostages until his death. The piece recounts the couple’s decade of volunteer work researching and advocating for redress, culminating in the discovery of key documentation that helped win recognition for these overlooked groups.
• Mother and the Single Girl, by Mika Tanner, page 8. In this personal column, the author reflects on her mother’s concerns about her single lifestyle and dating choices, and how she has come to appreciate her mother’s perspective on relationships. She describes finding a middle ground between her mother’s traditional advice and her own independent approach to love.
• Tule Lake Reunion VI: Is It a Last Hurrah…?, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Harry K. Honda recounts his experience at the Tule Lake Reunion VI, describing reunions with old friends and colleagues alongside pilgrimage visits to the former campsite. The piece includes historical details about the camp, health conditions during internment, and reflections from researchers studying the health consequences of Japanese American incarceration.
• A Triumph of Justice, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bill Hosokawa reflects on the history of JACL’s legal advocacy efforts, from the 1931 Cable Act amendment to naturalization rights in 1935 to the eventual passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. He argues that the recent redress settlement for Japanese Latin Americans demonstrates that the American justice system works, but only when people actively work to make it function.
• Letters to the Editor, page 9. Multiple letter writers respond to Stan Kanzaki’s call for a JACL membership plebiscite on the Resisters Issue, with one writer expressing pride in the WWII draft resisters who protested unconstitutional treatment. Another letter, signed by the National Coalition for Redress/Reparations successor group, praises UCLA students and supporters who silently protested at a fundraising dinner in solidarity with Asian American Studies advocates.

Obituaries

• Kei E. Kaneda, 75, New England Chapter JACLer, page 11. Kei E. Kaneda, who was interned at Rohwer Relocation Camp during WWII, died of cancer at age 75 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She had a major role in reactivating the New England JACL Chapter and arranged a CWRIC hearing in Boston focused on the internment’s constitutional issues.
• Aki Kurose, 73: Lifetime Activist for Peace, page 11. Aki Kurose, a posthumous JACL Japanese American of the Biennium awardee for Education, died at age 73 after a lifetime of peace activism and teaching in Seattle’s public schools. Interned at Minidoka during WWII, she later became a beloved teacher known for her work with impoverished children and was visited by mentor Floyd Schmoe shortly before her death.
• George K. Morishige, page 11. George Morishige, 83, of Evanston, Illinois, died June 1, born in Irvington, California. He is survived by his wife Mutsue, sons Kenny and Jerry, and grandchildren Dana Ann and Gregory Kenji, with a memorial service held at Buddhist Temple of Chicago.

Arts & Entertainment

• Cafe: Fusion Cuisine—What Emerges from the Merging?, by Mika Tanner, page 12. The author reviews RM Cafe in Santa Monica, a fusion restaurant blending Asian and Western cuisines, finding some dishes successful like the roasted duck breast and desserts while others like the grilled tuna and lobster salad felt overly complicated and disjointed. She concludes that fusion cuisine needs a clear purpose and focus to succeed, which RM Cafe often lacks despite its ambitious menu.

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