The 2003 Manzanar Pilgrimage, and a Congressman’s internment remarks

Vol. 136, No. 8, May 2, 2003. 12 pages. View this issue

The 34th annual Manzanar Pilgrimage opened this issue, with the Jerome and Poston camps recognized for the first time at the event. Martha Nakagawa reported on Joe Yamakido, the only known draft resister from Jerome, and on an NCRR committee working to keep Muslim and Arab Americans from facing what Japanese Americans did during World War II. JACL’s response to Congressman Howard Coble’s remarks supporting the World War II incarceration (often called internment) ran through the news and commentary pages, including California’s AJR 30 and John Tateishi’s column “Still Invisible?” Floyd Mori announced a Sept. 13 national dinner in Los Angeles, and Caroline Aoyagi covered JACL’s money troubles.

Elsewhere, Aoyagi profiled farmers Tad and Irene Kozuki, and Bill Marutani wrote about Justice William O. Douglas and the wartime cases. Harry K. Honda recalled Nisei nicknames at a Poston III reunion. Sports pages followed Kristi Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan and Keizo Yamada at the Boston Marathon. Page 12 reports on restoration work at Manzanar.

What’s in this issue

In-Depth

• 34th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage Recognizes Jerome, Poston Camps, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. At the 34th annual Manzanar Pilgrimage, the Jerome and Poston War Relocation Authority camps were recognized, honoring Jerome draft resister Joe Yamakido and Poston representative Ted Kobata. A representative from NCRR’s 9/11 committee also shared efforts to support Muslim and Arab Americans facing discrimination after Sept. 11.
• Manzanar Restoration Progress: Auditorium, Mess Hall, and Public Support, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The Manzanar National Historic Site continues restoration efforts including the auditorium renovation for a November grand opening and the relocation of an original mess hall building. Superintendent Frank Hays is forming a ‘Friends of Manzanar’ nonprofit and outlined funding priorities including mess hall restoration and guard tower reconstruction.

Community

• Sansei Farmer Hopeful Youth Will Return to Family Business, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Third-generation Japanese American farmer Tad Kozuki and his wife Irene discuss the challenges of keeping family farms running in California’s Central Valley as younger generations pursue careers elsewhere. Despite the hardships of farming, the Kozukis hope their children or other young people will eventually return to continue the family tradition.
• APAs in the News: Awards, Appointments, Announcements, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This roundup covers recent appointments including Sherrie M. Hayashi as director of Utah’s Antidiscrimination and Labor Division, Lono Lee as an Oahu District Court judge, and Jimmie R. Yee to California’s Seismic Safety Commission. Each honoree’s background and community involvement is detailed.
• Kozuki Feature Continued: Farming Life and Family Legacy, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 11. This continuation of the Kozuki farming family profile details the economic challenges of farming, including declining profit margins and disruptions from 9/11 and dockworker strikes. Tad and Irene Kozuki reflect on their own unexpected paths into farming and hope their children may someday return to continue the family legacy.

JACL

• Mori Memo: Save the Date: JACL’s Nat’l Dinner Set for Sept. 13, by Floyd Mori, page 1. JACL National President Floyd Mori announces a Sept. 13 gala dinner in Los Angeles honoring four prominent Japanese American national leaders: Norman Mineta, Daniel Inouye, Bob Matsui, and Mike Honda. The event, similar to a 1980 redress fundraiser, aims to both celebrate these leaders and raise funds for JACL.
• JACL Finances Focus of National Board Forum, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. At the CC/PSW/NCWNP tri-district conference, JACL’s financial struggles dominated discussion, with leaders acknowledging the organization is operating month to month. Board members and staff discussed budget cuts, fundraising efforts, and the need for increased membership recruitment to stabilize finances.
• Elder Issues and Membership Among Workshop Topics, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The CC/PSW/NCWNP tri-district conference featured workshops on aging and retirement issues, education about internment and current Muslim/Arab American experiences, community building, financial planning, and membership recruitment. Presenters included JACL leaders and outside experts covering topics from long-term care insurance to strategies for revitalizing local chapters.
• JACL and NJAMF to Host Nat’l Nikkei Golf Tournament July 14, by P.C. Staff, page 8. JACL and the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation are co-hosting the Inaugural National Nikkei Golf Tournament at Virginia’s Westfields Golf Club on July 14. Funds raised will support JACL operations and the maintenance of the Memorial to Patriotism in Washington, D.C., with a fundraising goal of $50,000.
• JACL Finances Continued: Board Discusses Fundraising Strategies, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 11. JACL leaders including Art Koga and Lucy Kishiue discussed the organization’s financial difficulties, including depleted trust funds and reduced staffing, along with efforts to secure corporate and foundation grants. Parlier chapter member Tad Kozuki urged the national board to prioritize fundraising and invest in staff to address the crisis.

National

• Calif. Assembly Debates AJR 30 Condemning Congressman Coble, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Assembly debated Assembly Joint Resolution 30 on May 1, which condemns Congressman Howard Coble’s statements supporting Japanese American internment during WWII. The resolution urges Coble to apologize and resign as chair of a House Judiciary subcommittee.
• JACL Wants to Stop Use of ‘Jap’ in Florida, by Associated Press, page 3. JACL is launching a campaign to eliminate the derogatory use of the word ‘Jap’ in Florida newspaper and telephone directory advertisements, particularly for auto repair shops. National Executive Director John Tateishi says the term is a painful reminder of WWII-era attitudes that led to internment, and notes rising anti-immigrant sentiment following recent terrorist attacks.
• Muslim Teen Files Suit Over Alleged Beating by Orange County Mob, by Associated Press, page 3. Rashid Alam, an 18-year-old Muslim teen allegedly beaten by a group of Orange County youths with bats and golf clubs while racial slurs were shouted, filed a civil rights lawsuit seeking damages. Alam suffered head injuries, a broken jaw, and stab wounds in the Feb. 22 attack, which his lawyer says was a hate crime.
• JACL Denounces Sen. Santorum’s Attack on Equality for Gays and Lesbians, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL condemned comments by Sen. Rick Santorum equating gay rights with bigamy, polygamy, incest and adultery, calling on Senate Republican leadership to repudiate his remarks. JACL leaders also criticized the White House’s silence on both Santorum’s comments and Congressman Coble’s internment remarks, contrasting it with swift rebukes of similar comments about other communities.
• National Newsbytes, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 4. A roundup of national news briefs covering topics including a call for investigation into FBI agent Katrina Leung’s political contributions, American Airlines facing racial discrimination charges, SARS rumors hurting New York’s Chinatown, rising discrimination complaints from Muslims and Middle Easterners, and other stories on hate crimes and civil rights issues nationwide. Additional items cover minority college graduation trends in Maryland, a new Laotian American support organization in Michigan, and Hawaii’s tourism marketing campaign in Japan.

Commentary

• JACL Must Face Reality, by Alice Taketa Naas, page 2. A letter writer reflects on JACL’s history of civil rights advocacy since the WWII incarceration era and questions whether younger generations of Japanese Americans remain interested in the organization. She cites declining membership numbers and an aging Nisei population as evidence that JACL may need to reassess its relevance.
• Spring Campaign: An Invaluable Resource, by Deni Uejima, page 2. PSW PC Editorial Board Representative Deni Uejima appeals for reader donations to support the Pacific Citizen during a financial crisis affecting national JACL. She describes the newspaper’s value as a resource for staying informed about the Japanese American community and urges readers to contribute and stay active on civil rights issues facing Muslims and Middle Easterners today.
• Still Invisible?, by John Tateishi, page 3. JACL National Director John Tateishi expresses outrage that the Republican leadership and White House have remained silent on Congressman Howard Coble’s endorsement of Japanese American internment, contrasting this with swift condemnation of similar remarks by Trent Lott and James Moran. He calls on JACL members to write to President Bush and Speaker Hastert demanding repudiation of Coble’s views and his removal from committee chairmanship.
• East Wind: Beholden to Presidents and Generals, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Columnist Bill Marutani examines Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas’s role in the WWII internment cases, including his concurring opinion in Hirabayashi and his later reaffirmation in Endo that the evacuation was justified. Marutani cites a new biography revealing Douglas’s personal ties to FDR and General DeWitt influenced his rulings, though he later expressed some regret.
• Very Truly Yours: Nickname Game for a Reunion Rumpus, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Columnist Harry Honda recounts the tradition of nicknames among Nisei at the Poston III camp reunion, sharing a list of over 75 nicknames and their real names compiled by Midori Koga. Honda also shares the origin of his own nickname ‘Harry’ from his childhood in his father’s shoe repair shop.
• From the Midwest: Harry Caray Struck Out, by Bill Yoshino, page 9. Midwest Regional Director Bill Yoshino recounts a history of confrontations with late sportscaster Harry Caray over his use of racial slurs against Japanese and Japanese Americans, including calling players ‘jap’ ballplayers and making a ‘slanty-eyed’ remark about Hideo Nomo. Yoshino reflects on Caray’s failure to fully acknowledge the harm of his comments despite public pressure and apologies from his employer.

Arts & Entertainment

• Lee Institute Brings Japanese Art to the Central Valley, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 5. Willard Clark has built an impressive collection of Japanese art since 1976, now housed at The Ruth & Sherman Institute for Japanese Art at the Clark Center near Hanford, California. Clark shared his collection with tri-district conference attendees and discussed his commitment to keeping the collection accessible in the Central Valley.
• MTV Films’ ‘Better Luck Tomorrow’ Has Amazing Opening Weekend, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Justin Lin’s film ‘Better Luck Tomorrow’ exceeded box office expectations during its opening weekend, marking the best-ever per-screen opening for MTV Films. The film, about four Asian American high schoolers caught up in criminal activity, expanded to over 100 markets after acclaim at Sundance.
• NAATA Announces National Programming for APA Heritage Month, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The National Asian American Telecommunications Association announced a lineup of public television programs for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May. Featured programs include documentaries on the making of ‘Better Luck Tomorrow,’ Chinese families, South Asians in New York, and artist Masami Teraoka.

Sports

• Yamaguchi, Hedican Expecting a Child, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Olympic gold medalist figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi announced she is expecting a child in October with husband Bret Hedican, a Carolina Hurricanes defenseman. Yamaguchi will continue her charitable foundation work and host a skating event in November after giving birth.
• Kwan U.S. Olympics’ ‘Athlete of the Month’, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Michelle Kwan was named the U.S. Olympic Committee’s athlete of the month after winning her fifth World Figure Skating Championship in March, tying a record for most world titles by an American. The men’s award went to fencer Keith Smart for his World Cup achievements.
• Yamada Runs Boston Marathon 50 Years After Victory, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Keizo Yamada, who won the 1953 Boston Marathon despite doctors saying he wasn’t fit to run, returned this year at age 75 to mark the 50th anniversary with a time of 4:10:11. Yamada has been a regular competitor in the senior division and plans to keep running for years to come.
• Daytona Cubs Player Injures Protected Osprey With Ball, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Minor league pitcher Jae-kuk Ryu faces possible animal cruelty charges after allegedly throwing baseballs at an osprey, seriously injuring its eye during pre-game practice. The Chicago Cubs organization is investigating the incident, and the team held a fundraiser for the injured bird’s care.
• NBA Star Yao Ming Plans to Play for China in Asian Championship, Official Says, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Houston Rockets center Yao Ming has assured Chinese officials he will play for the national team in the September Asian championships in Harbin. China must finish first or second to qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Obituaries

• Obituaries, by P.C. Staff, page 11. This edition’s obituary listings include tributes to several community members including John Asa, founder of Japan Camera in Canada, and James Cawley, a U.S. Marine killed in action in Iraq. Other obituaries note the passing of longtime community members with details of their backgrounds and survivors.

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