Feinstein’s bill on Japanese war crimes records and a 1999 news roundup

Vol. 129, No. 22, November 26, 1999. 8 pages. View this issue

Senator Dianne Feinstein’s bill to declassify U.S. government documents on Japanese war crimes during World War II led the news. It called for a federal interagency to review records from 1931 to 1948, and the story continued on page 8 with the Justice Department’s interest in expanding its watch list. In Honolulu, a rally remembered the seven Xerox shooting victims and urged tougher gun laws. The paper also reported FBI hate crime figures for 1998 and the decision not to file federal charges against Denny’s.

In the community pages, Mas Hashimoto previewed what to see near Monterey ahead of the 2000 JACL National Convention. Momoye Nagano, who learned weaving making camouflage nets at Manzanar, was chosen for a state Capitol exhibition. Kristine Minami was named JACL’s Washington, D.C. representative. Ken Yabusaki asked why the community has struggled to reconcile over the 1942 incarceration (often called internment), and Emily Murase wrote on the CEDAW treaty.

What’s in this issue

National

• Feinstein Wants Data on Japan War Crimes, page 1. Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced a bill seeking to declassify and release U.S. government documents dealing with Japanese war crimes during World War II, calling for a federal interagency to review documents from 1931 to 1948. Advocates say the effort is essential to identify perpetrators and support victims seeking legal recourse.
• Bell Tolls for Seven Xerox Shooting Victims at Rally for Tougher Gun Law, by Associated Press, page 1. A rally in Honolulu commemorated victims of the Xerox shooting as advocates called for stronger gun control laws following Byran Uyesugi’s indictment for killing seven co-workers. Speakers, including victims’ family members and a former police officer, urged Hawaii to take significant steps toward controlling handguns.
• China May Have Gotten Warhead Secrets From Contractors, by Associated Press, page 1. New evidence in the FBI’s espionage investigation suggests China may have stolen nuclear warhead information from private contractors rather than solely from Los Alamos National Laboratory. Errors in a Chinese intelligence document about the W-88 warhead have been traced to defense contractors who assemble nuclear weapons.
• FBI Reports Racial Prejudice Motivated Majority of 1998 Hate Crimes, page 1. The FBI reported that racial prejudice motivated more than half of the 7,755 hate crimes reported in 1998, continuing a trend from prior years. The data came from over 10,000 law enforcement agencies representing 80 percent of the U.S. population.
• No Federal Charges Will Be Filed Against Denny’s Restaurant, by Associated Press, page 1. Federal prosecutors announced they will not file criminal charges against Denny’s over a 1997 incident in which Asian American and Black students claimed racial discrimination and physical mistreatment. The decision followed an FBI investigation into the Syracuse, N.Y. incident, though a related civil rights lawsuit is ready to proceed.
• Court Upholds Order Keeping Honolulu Star-Bulletin Operating, by Associated Press, page 3. A federal appeals court refused to lift an order requiring the Honolulu Star-Bulletin to continue operating while a lawsuit challenging the closure of the joint operating agreement with the Honolulu Advertiser proceeds. The case is being watched closely amid similar disputes in San Francisco over newspaper joint operating agreements.
• Census Bureau Trying to Break Language Barriers, page 3. The Census Bureau is hiring multilingual and multicultural staff, including Cambodians and Somalians, to help ensure minority communities are accurately counted in the upcoming census. Community advocates say an accurate count will help ensure fair distribution of federal aid and services.
• Tritia Toyota Leaves KCBS-TV After 14 Years, page 3. Longtime KCBS-TV anchor Tritia Toyota has left the station after 14 years. The brief item notes her departure without further detail on her future plans.
• Black Politicians Denounce Bush’s Affirmative Action Plan, by Associated Press, page 3. Minority political leaders in Florida criticized Gov. Jeb Bush’s affirmative action plan, arguing it fails to serve African Americans, women, and other minorities. Critics urged minority voters to register their disapproval of the governor’s policies.
• Kristine Minami Named JACL’s Washington, D.C., Representative, page 8. Kristine Minami has been hired as JACL’s new Washington, D.C. representative, bringing a background in public policy and international affairs from Rutgers and Johns Hopkins. Interim National Director John Tateishi praised her as a dynamic leader who will help establish JACL’s presence in Washington, noting she has already been involved in efforts related to WWII internment camp sites.
• Foreigners Eager to Invest in China’s Internet, page 8. China’s promise to allow foreigners to own up to 50 percent of Chinese Internet ventures has sparked interest among foreign investors, though the government continues to restrict politically sensitive content. Private Chinese Internet firms, competing with foreign sites in entertainment and online sales, could be the biggest beneficiaries of the new policy.
• Feinstein Seeks Japan’s War Crime Data, page 8. This continuation piece details the Justice Department’s interest in Japanese war crimes data to expand its watch list of suspects, which currently contains far fewer Japanese names than Nazi-related entries. The Japanese government has resisted confirming details about suspects, arguing that legal proceedings are already settled under existing treaties.
• Federal Case Against Denny’s Dismissed, page 8. A federal judge dismissed criminal charges against Denny’s Inc. related to a 1997 discrimination incident, as the company argued it was not responsible for actions at an independently owned franchise. The franchise operator, NDI Foods Inc., has since gone bankrupt and denied any discrimination occurred, while a civil rights lawsuit remains pending.

Community

• So Much to Do and See: Monterey to Host 2000 JACL National Convention, by Mas Hashimoto, page 4. The article previews attractions near Monterey ahead of the 2000 JACL National Convention, highlighting Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Castroville, Hollister, San Juan Bautista, and Salinas, including Steinbeck landmarks and local Nikkei history. It provides details on hotel reservations at the Doubletree Hotel, the convention site, including negotiated room rates.
• Sac’to JACL Sets Recognition Dinner for Dec. 9, page 4. Sacramento JACL announced its 1999 Recognition Dinner will be held Dec. 9 at the Radisson Hotel, honoring community contributions including those of the Union Bank of California. Former Sacramento mayor Anne Radin was selected as the non-Nikkei honoree for her decades of community involvement.
• Koreanday.com Launches Bilingual Web Magazine for Global Korean Community, page 4. Koreanday.com, a division of the day.com companies, launched a bilingual Korean-English web magazine aimed at serving the global Korean community, including the roughly 69,000 Korean-owned businesses in America. CEO Glenn D. Slovenko and partner Jai V. Bae hope to reach an estimated 75 million Korean speakers worldwide with news and business content.
• Hazel Taniguchi to Run for Torrance City Council, page 5. Hazel Taniguchi announced her candidacy for Torrance City Council, citing her extensive community service record and endorsements from local leaders. She currently chairs the Community Services Commission and has received numerous volunteer and civic awards over the years.
• Artist Who Learned Her Craft at Internment Camp Selected for State Capitol Exhibition, page 5. State Sen. Adam B. Schiff announced that weaver Momoye Nagano, who developed her craft while making camouflage nets at Manzanar during World War II, has been selected for a year-long art exhibition at the state Capitol. Nagano, now 74, described how her wartime experience rekindled her lifelong passion for weaving decades later.
• California State Interscholastic Federation Honors Marie Sugiyama of Santa Rosa, page 5. Marie Sugiyama of Santa Rosa was recognized as part of a celebration honoring 25 years of girls’ athletics in the California Interscholastic Federation. Sugiyama, who had no high school sports opportunities as a girl, has spent much of her career ensuring future generations could compete athletically.

Commentary

• A Bridge Across the Pacific: Taking a Stand for Equality, by Emily Murase, page 6. Emily Murase discusses the decades-long stalling of the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in the U.S. Senate due to Sen. Jesse Helms, and highlights San Francisco’s local ordinance implementing CEDAW principles. She calls for readers to urge congressional ratification and local implementation of gender equality measures.
• Stranger Than Fiction: Come One, Come All, by Christina Shigemura, page 6. A brief item announces an upcoming program at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center scheduled for Friday, Dec. 3. Details of the event location are provided at 244 S. San Pedro St.
• Why Can’t the Community Reconcile?, by Ken Yabusaki, page 7. Ken Yabusaki reflects on the ongoing divisions within the Japanese American community over JACL’s leadership decisions during the 1942 internment, including debates over draft resisters and those who cooperated. He argues that reconciliation must begin within individuals, urging compassion over lingering feelings of betrayal so the community can heal and move forward.

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