Jackie Chan’s new cartoon, Bob Bratt’s farewell and the Wen Ho Lee case

Vol. 131, No. 12, September 8, 2000. 8 pages. View this issue

Jackie Chan’s animated series, “Jackie Chan Adventures,” led the September 8, 2000 issue, with Guy Aoki of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans commenting on how Asian characters are portrayed. The front page also reported that Bob Bratt left the Office of Redress Administration after 25 years of administering the Civil Liberties Act, and that an appeals court delayed the release of jailed scientist Wen Ho Lee. Bratt drew tributes from Sen. Daniel Inouye, Helen Kawagoe, Grayce Uyehara and others, and Martha Nakagawa wrote the front-page story.

Elsewhere in these eight pages, Ryan Chin urged JACL members to write in support of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Bill Marutani described the student relocation scholarships that grew out of the Nisei Student Relocation Council, and Larry Schectman wrote about JACL’s resolution on the separation of church and state. A Census Bureau study on Asian and Pacific Islander voters, chapter scholarships and a planned KCTS documentary series on Japanese American history also appeared.

What’s in this issue

Arts & Entertainment

• Jackie Chan Gets Animated in New Television Series, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Jackie Chan’s new animated series ‘Jackie Chan Adventures’ premieres on Kids’ WB! network, marking the first animated TV series based on a live Asian American actor. The show follows Jackie and his niece Jade as they search for magical talismans while battling an evil organization, with Media Action Network for Asian Americans spokesman Guy Aoki commenting on the significance of diverse representation.
• Asian Art Museum Presents 18th Asian American Jazz Festival, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Asian Art Museum and Oakland Asian Cultural Center will host ‘Asian American Jazz 2000,’ featuring over 15 musicians across three generations including DJ QBert and Zakir Hussain. The festival will conclude with a tribute to late pianist/composer Glenn Horiuchi featuring performances by longtime colleagues Francis Wong and William Roper.
• The 2000 APEX-NAAAP National Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Asian Professional Exchange and National Association of Asian American Professionals will host ‘Imagine…,’ their national convention featuring panels on politics, culture and commerce plus a career fair. Speakers include actors Rosalind Chao and George Takei, along with the ‘Ammy Awards’ honoring nominees like Lucy Liu and Jackie Chan.

National

• Bob Bratt Leaves Office of Redress Administration After 25 Years, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. Bob Bratt, who administered the Civil Liberties Act through the Office of Redress Administration, left the Department of Justice after 25 years of service. Sen. Daniel Inouye and numerous community leaders praised Bratt’s dedication in ensuring over 81,000 unjustly interned Japanese Americans received redress payments.
• Wen Ho Lee’s Release Delayed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An appeals court halted the release of jailed Los Alamos scientist Wen Ho Lee just before his scheduled release deadline, after prosecutors cited national security concerns. The delay came despite a federal judge’s plan to release Lee under strict conditions including electronic monitoring and surveillance cameras.
• Number of APIs Casting Ballots Up ‘Significantly,’ Census Study Says, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A new Census Bureau analysis shows the number of Asian and Pacific Islander voters increased from 2.6 million in 1994 to 4.3 million in 1998, even as overall national voter turnout declined. The report, co-authored by Jennifer Day, highlights this notable trend against the national pattern of decreasing voter participation.
• California Gov. Davis Names Nikkei to Gambling Commission, by P.C. Staff, page 3. California Gov. Gray Davis appointed four commissioners to the state’s gambling commission, including Japanese American J.K. Sasaki. The commission holds broad enforcement power over card rooms and discretion over Indian casinos, with commissioners requiring state senate confirmation.
• Doris Matsui Appointed to Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, by P.C. Staff, page 3. President Clinton announced his intent to appoint Doris Matsui to the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Matsui, a lifelong Californian, has an extensive background in public policy advocacy and previously served as deputy assistant to President Clinton.
• Lee to Remain in Jail Pending Appeal, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Continuing coverage details the legal battle over Wen Ho Lee’s release, including the FBI’s search of his home and the government’s last-minute appeal to delay his release. Judge Parker had planned to release Lee under strict conditions including electronic monitoring, but the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals intervened before the deadline.
• Gore Names Sandra S. King National Director for APA Outreach, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Al Gore announced Sandra S. King has joined the Gore/Lieberman 2000 campaign as national director for Asian and Pacific Islander American outreach. King, a native of American Samoa, previously served as deputy director of the Office of Insular Affairs at the Department of Interior.

Commentary

• Hate Crimes Prevention Act Needs YOUR Help, by Ryan Chin, page 3. JACL Vice President of Public Affairs Ryan Chin urges members to write letters supporting the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which passed the Senate but faces trouble in the House. He argues this legislation presents an opportunity for JACL to reestablish itself as an influential civil rights organization.
• Wall Street Journal Condemns Lawsuit Seeking Wartime Compensation, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Wall Street Journal published an editorial criticizing a class action lawsuit filed by nine Chinese plaintiffs against Mitsui and Mitsubishi groups seeking compensation for WWII forced labor. The paper questioned the feasibility of such lawsuits decades after the events and warned against using historical injustices for litigation purposes.
• Ohn-Gaeshi, by Bill Marutani, page 6. Bill Marutani reflects on the National Japanese American Student Relocation Council’s wartime program that helped Nisei students continue their college education outside internment camps. He describes the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund, established as an act of ohn-gaeshi (repayment for kindness), which has awarded nearly $210,000 in scholarships to Southeast Asian students over 20 years.
• In Law We Trust, by Larry Schectman, page 6. Larry Schectman writes about JACL’s resolution defending the separation of church and state, noting the national council’s overwhelming vote to oppose school prayer initiatives. He warns that Asian Americans of non-Christian faiths would be particularly vulnerable if such measures succeed in various states.
• Reader Reflects on Nisei Soldiers and Wartime Civil Rights, by Yoshimi R. Pracka, page 7. A reader writes about the lack of constitutional rights experienced by Japanese Americans during WWII, noting that Nisei of draft age were classified as enemy aliens despite serving in the military. The letter emphasizes that the accomplishments of Nisei soldiers proved their Americanism despite this injustice.
• Tribute to Veterans, by Gua Shimasaki, page 7. A reader expresses gratitude for tributes to Japanese American veterans, emphasizing the debt owed to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The letter calls for continued recognition of war heroes and their families.
• Reader Wants Apology from Japanese Government, page 7. A reader argues that the Japanese government should apologize to the Issei who migrated to Hawaii and the mainland United States for economic reasons. The writer shares a personal family history of a great-grandfather who left Japan near Nagasaki intending to earn money and return, illustrating the hardships faced by early immigrants.

JACL

• Community Leaders to Be Honored at Sept. 16 PSWD Awards Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Pacific Southwest District of JACL will honor several community leaders including Helen Kawagoe, Col. Young Oak Kim, Dr. Harry Kitano, Sgt. Brian Moriguchi and his legal team, and Miyo Senzaki at its annual awards dinner. California Appointments Secretary Michael Yamaki will deliver the keynote address, with proceeds supporting JACL’s leadership training efforts.
• Bratt Honored by Community for Redress Work, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Continuing coverage of Bob Bratt’s departure from the Office of Redress Administration includes tributes from Helen Kawagoe, Grayce Uyehara, Tsuyako ‘Sox’ Kitashima, and Kay Ochi of NCRR. Colleagues and community activists praised Bratt’s compassion and diligence in processing redress claims, including pursuing difficult special circumstance cases.

Community

• Snake River Chapter Awards Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Snake River chapter held its annual graduation banquet honoring high school students of Japanese descent, with keynote speaker Lori Matsukawa of KING 5 TV Seattle. Scholarships and leadership grants were awarded to several students including Eric Lantz, Joe Schaffer, Randy Saito and Matt Kitamura.
• Patrick Okura: Recipient of Asian American Psychological Association Lifetime Achievement Award, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Patrick Okura received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of work in Asian American mental health at the Asian American Psychological Association’s annual convention. Okura, who worked at the National Institute of Mental Health and founded the National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse, was also previously awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan.
• Salt Lake Awards Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Salt Lake JACL chapter held its annual scholarship dinner, awarding a $1,000 scholarship to Suzanne Haruko Itami, daughter of longtime JACLers Jeff and Linda Itami. Itami is a freshman at Arizona State University and the 1998 JACL Min Yasui National Oratorical Contest winner.
• Lori Matsukawa to Keynote Nikkei Concerns’ 25th Gala in Seattle, by P.C. Staff, page 5. KING 5 news anchor Lori Matsukawa will keynote Nikkei Concerns’ 25th anniversary gala celebration in Seattle. Nikkei Concerns is a nonprofit providing services ranging from elder care to day-care programs, and Matsukawa has received numerous broadcasting awards throughout her career.
• Congresswoman Mink to Address Fuji Festival, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Rep. Patsy Takemoto Mink will be the keynote speaker at the 30th annual Fuji Festival in Chicago, presented by the Japanese American Service Committee. Mink, the first Asian American woman elected to Congress, will address attendees at the benefit dinner supporting JASC’s social services programs.

Sports

• Glen Takahashi, 2000 H.S. Wrestling Coach of the Year, by Lyndsey Shinoda, page 8. Glen Takahashi was named California Coaches Association High School Wrestling Coach of the Year and inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. A former successful wrestler himself who earned a scholarship to Brigham Young University, Takahashi has coached numerous state champion wrestlers throughout his career at Monte Vista and other high schools.

In-Depth

• KCTS/Seattle to Develop Series on Japanese American History, by P.C. Staff, page 8. KCTS Seattle Public Television is developing a major new documentary series titled ‘The Japanese American Saga,’ which will consist of three one-hour episodes exploring Japanese American history from immigration through internment to contemporary experiences. The Japan-United States Friendship Commission awarded KCTS a planning grant, with Dr. Franklin Odo of the Smithsonian serving as principal content advisor for the project slated to begin production in 2001.

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