JACL apologizes to the Nisei resisters of conscience

Vol. 134, No. 9, May 17, 2002. 12 pages. View this issue

On May 11, 2002, the JACL held a public ceremony in San Francisco to apologize to the Nisei resisters of conscience, men who refused military service during World War II until the civil rights of Japanese Americans were restored. Martha Nakagawa reported on the apology by National President Floyd Mori, on Joe Yamakido, believed to be the only draft resister from Jerome, and on the challenge Frank Emi and Yosh Kuromiya put to the organization afterward. Letters on page 2 took different sides of the decision.

Elsewhere, Caroline Aoyagi followed Asian American groups’ complaints about eBay listings that use the word ‘Jap,’ and John Tateishi previewed the national convention in Las Vegas. Harry K. Honda’s column profiled historians of Japanese American heritage, and page 9 gathers sports news on Ichiro Suzuki, Hideo Nomo and Lindsey Yamasaki.

What’s in this issue

National

• Historic Apology Marks First Step in Reconciliation Between JACL and Resisters, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. The JACL held a public ceremony in San Francisco on May 11 apologizing to Nisei resisters of conscience who refused military service during WWII until civil rights were restored to Japanese Americans. National JACL President Floyd Mori delivered an emotional apology while honoring the contributions of Nisei soldiers as well, calling for reconciliation between the two groups.
• eBay Still Using ‘Jap’ on Auction Site, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Nearly a year after Asian American groups protested eBay’s use of the term ‘Jap’ in auction listings, the number of such listings has grown from 2,600 to over 8,200. JACL officials and Asian American leaders criticize eBay’s inaction as rooted in racism and arrogance despite ongoing complaints.
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A roundup of national news briefs including a guilty verdict against a man who attacked Asian American women in Chicago, Hmong veterans seeking military funeral honors, a Seattle Go Center honoring Hiroshima survivors, California voters’ views on a ‘Racial Privacy Initiative,’ insurance policies on slaves and Chinese laborers, Vietnamese history curriculum in California schools, and a discrimination lawsuit against a Saipan hotel.
• Maryland School Named After Spark Matsunaga, by Associated Press, page 3. A new school in Germantown, Maryland, was dedicated May 5 in honor of the late Hawaii Sen. Spark Matsunaga, marking the first school in the country named for an Asian American. Matsunaga’s family expressed gratitude that the county board chose to honor him and highlighted the recognition of Asian American contributions.
• More Minorities Graduating from Maryland Colleges, by Associated Press, page 4. A report found that minorities earned 62 percent more college degrees in Maryland in 2001 than in 1992, with Asian Americans, Hispanics, blacks and American Indians combined earning 6,760 bachelor’s degrees. The number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Asian Americans nearly doubled during that period.
• Weapons Lab Candidate Withdraws After Link with Lee Revealed, by Associated Press, page 5. Ray Juzaitis, the leading candidate to direct Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, withdrew his candidacy due to unwarranted linking of his name to the Wen Ho Lee espionage controversy. Juzaitis had once supervised Lee, whose case collapsed after he was held in solitary confinement for nine months on charges that were eventually reduced to one count.
• eBay Response Continues to Frustrate JA Community Leaders, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 8. Continuing coverage details how Assemblyman George Nakano personally contacted eBay founder Steve Westley about the site’s use of ‘Jap,’ receiving promises of a pop-up warning system that was never implemented. JACL leaders note the contrast with eBay’s quick response to Abercrombie & Fitch’s racist T-shirts, attributing the inaction to lack of political clout among Asian Americans.

JACL

• JACL Jr. Olympics to Celebrate Golden Anniversary, by Tracy Uba, page 1. The 50th annual JACL Junior Olympics will be held June 2 at Chabot College in Hayward, honoring past record holders including Brian Motooka, who will compete again alongside his son. The event, which began in 1953 as the San Francisco JACL Nisei Olympics, has seen over 18,000 youth participants but has experienced declining participation in recent decades.
• Final Countdown to Las Vegas, by John Tateishi, page 2. JACL National Executive Director John Tateishi previews the upcoming national convention in Las Vegas, highlighting a special Friday night tribute dinner honoring WWII JACL leaders including Mike Masaoka. He urges members to register soon and book rooms at the Riviera Hotel before the block is released.
• JA Veterans Groups to Hold Memorial Day Service, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The Japanese American Korean War Veterans, Vietnam War Veterans, and the Americans of Japanese Ancestry WWII Memorial Alliance will hold their annual joint Memorial Day service on May 27 at the Japanese American Community and Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The service honors the 819 JAs killed in WWII, 247 in Korea, and 115 in Vietnam, along with all Medal of Honor recipients.

In-Depth

• Sole Resister From Jerome Attends Historic JACL Ceremony, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. Joe Yamakido, 80, believed to be the only draft resister from the Jerome camp, attended his first-ever JACL function at the May 11 ceremony. He recounted his mistreatment by the FBI, a farcical trial, and violent attacks he endured in federal prison for resisting the draft.
• JACL Ceremony Brings Challenge to Confront Wartime Legacy, by Martha Nakagawa, page 6. Following the May 11 apology ceremony, resister representatives Frank Emi and Yosh Kuromiya challenged JACL to go further by publicly addressing the organization’s wartime activities, including findings from the Lim Report about JACL leaders acting as government informants. Sen. Daniel Inouye sent a videotaped message calling for healing between veterans and resisters, while National Director John Tateishi discussed the significance of the ceremony and an upcoming tribute to wartime JACL leaders.

Commentary

• Japanese Schools, by Noriko Asato, page 2. A letter writer researching a book on Japanese language schools between the world wars asks Pacific Citizen readers to share memories and images of their experiences at Nihongo Gakko. She seeks details on curriculum, community reactions, and how students’ views of the schools changed over time.
• Tribute to WWII Leaders Should Include Larry Tajiri, by Sachi Seko, page 2. A letter writer argues that Larry Tajiri, who served as a voice for Japanese Americans during WWII through his journalism, deserves recognition alongside other wartime leaders being honored at the JACL convention. The writer calls for a place of honor for Tajiri given his intellectual integrity and support of evacuees during their darkest days.
• A Response to Prof. Muller, page 2. A letter writer disputes the JACL’s decision to apologize to resisters, describing personal experiences in camp with pro-Japan sentiment among some resisters and defending wartime JACL leaders’ actions as the best available option at the time. The writer suggests JACL rescind its apology and argues that any apology owed should come from other parties who persecuted Japanese Americans during the war.
• Hark, the Historians of Japanese American Heritage, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Columnist Harry Honda profiles several historians preserving Japanese American heritage, including Sandy Lydon’s work on Monterey Bay Japanese communities, Dr. Priscilla Wegers’ research on Idaho’s Kooskia Internment Camp, and Bill Fujita’s extensive scrapbooks documenting Nisei sports and Topaz camp life. The column highlights rare artifacts including Chiura Obata watercolors and camp postmarks preserved by Fujita.

Community

• YWCA, JA Churches Settle Dispute Rooted in California History, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A long-running dispute over a landmark Japantown building was settled when the YWCA sold the property to Nihonmachi Little Friends daycare center for $733,000. The lawsuit stemmed from a promise the YWCA allegedly made to Japanese immigrant women in the 1920s who had raised money for the building at a time when Asian immigrants were barred from owning land.
• Twin Cities JACL to Commemorate 60th Anniversary of Camp Savage, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Twin Cities JACL will co-sponsor a commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Camp Savage, site of the Army’s Military Intelligence Service Language School, featuring a screening of the documentary ‘Uncommon Courage’ and a panel of MIS veterans. The event will be held June 1 at the Minnesota History Center.
• Sacramento Assembly Dedication for WWII Nisei Veterans, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Assemblymember George Nakano and the California State Assembly are inviting WWII Nisei veterans and spouses to a special dedication at the state Capitol on June 24, the first formal recognition of their gallantry by the Assembly. The event includes a breakfast, Capitol tour, floor dedication, and screening of the documentary ‘A Tradition of Honor.’
• San Diego Hosts 45th Annual Scholarship Luncheon, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The San Diego JACL chapter honored 14 high school scholars at its annual scholarship luncheon on May 5, with keynote speaker John Tateishi discussing JACL’s redress campaign and post-9/11 civil rights concerns. Naoko Kozuki received the top $1,000 scholarship and will attend Yale in the fall.
• University Seeks Former U.S. Navy Japanese Language School Instructors, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The University of Colorado at Boulder is planning a 60th anniversary reunion honoring teachers and graduates of the U.S. Navy Japanese/Oriental Language School that operated on campus from 1942 to 1946. The Archives Department is seeking to locate former instructors and has published an extensive list of teacher names from that era.
• Arizona JACL Hosts Luncheon for JA Flower Growers, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Over 200 guests attended a tribute luncheon sponsored by the Arizona JACL chapter honoring seven local Japanese American families who raised flowers on Baseline Road in South Phoenix for 60 years. The flower growers’ gardens were featured in publications including Arizona Highways and National Geographic during their heyday from 1950 to 1975.

Arts & Entertainment

• Asian CineVision Seeks Film Submissions, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Asian CineVision is seeking works-in-progress Asian American films for a workshop at the 25th Asian American International Film Festival taking place July 20 in New York City. The workshop, moderated by filmmaker Greg Pak, will give participants feedback from a live audience of fellow filmmakers.
• L.A. Asian Pacific Film Festival Runs Through May 23, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The 17th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film & Video Festival, the largest Asian American film festival in the country, features works across all genres including Bertha Bay-Sa Pan’s ‘Face’ starring Bai Ling. The festival includes seminars, panel discussions, and will present the Golden Reel Award on its closing night.
• NAATA to Feature JA Stories for APA Heritage Month, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The National Asian American Telecommunications Association is presenting eight Japanese American-themed programs on public television for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May. Featured works include documentaries on Hawaii Nisei veterans, Lily Mariye’s short film ‘Shangri-la Cafe,’ and a documentary on an artist’s encounter with American culture during Japan’s occupation.
• Book and Film Reviews Cover Asian American History and Culture, by P.C. Staff, page 12. A roundup of new book releases includes Terrence Cheng’s novel imagining the story of the Tiananmen Square ‘tank man,’ a collection of translated Vietnamese war poetry, and Hyung-ju Ahn’s historical study of Korean interpreters at Japanese internment detention centers. Also featured is Akira Boch’s documentary film exploring his Japanese American family roots in Hawaii.

Sports

• Yamasaki to Play First Pro Game with Miami May 30, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Lindsey Yamasaki, a Stanford standout and 2002 All Pac-10 Team pick, became the first Japanese American woman to go pro after being selected by the Miami Sol in the WNBA draft. She finished her Stanford career with 1,497 points and will play her first West Coast game against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 30.
• Wang Adjusting to American, NBA Culture, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Wang Zhizhi, the first Asian player in the NBA, has struggled with limited playing time and a language barrier during the Dallas Mavericks’ playoff run. His coaches remain confident in his potential despite the adjustment challenges he faces learning NBA-style basketball.
• Maruyama Defeats Woods, Top Players to Win Nelson Classic, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Shigeki Maruyama won the Byron Nelson Classic, surviving a late charge from Tiger Woods to become the first Asian golfer with multiple PGA Tour victories. This marked the second consecutive week an Asian golfer won on tour, following K.J. Choi’s historic win in New Orleans.
• Sasaki Signs Contract Extension, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Seattle Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki signed a two-year contract extension through the 2004 season with a third-year option. Sasaki has been dominant this season, posting eight saves and no earned runs allowed through his appearances.
• Suzuki Extends Hitting Streak, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Ichiro Suzuki went 3-for-4 to raise his batting average to .360 as the Mariners defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-1. Pitcher John Halama limited Boston to five hits over his outing before the bullpen closed out the win.
• Marlins Defeat Nomo Again, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The Florida Marlins beat Hideo Nomo for the 10th consecutive time, with backup catcher Mike Redmond homering and scoring four runs in an 11-3 victory. Nomo fell to 2-10 in his career against the Marlins and has not beaten them since 1996.
• Komine Makes First Appearance After Injury, by P.C. Staff, page 9. University of Nebraska All-American pitcher Shane Komine made his first appearance in over a month after recovering from a sprained pitching arm muscle, helping the Huskers beat Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 7-3. Komine held the Mustangs to one hit in three innings of relief.
• Shinjo Makes Big Play as Giants Defeat Expos, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Tsuyoshi Shinjo made a sensational relay throw from right field to nail a runner at the plate, helping the San Francisco Giants defeat the Montreal Expos 3-2. The play was praised by both his own catcher and the opposing manager as textbook outfield execution.

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