Names, a yo-yo champion and a changed White House AAPI order

Vol. 138, No. 9, May 21, 2004. 12 pages. View this issue

Names ran through the front page of this 12-page issue. Lynda Lin profiled 22-year-old world champion yo-yo player Hironori Mii, and her In-Depth piece asked why some Asian Pacific Americans take Western-sounding names. Buddhists protested the use of Bodhisattva images on swimwear, and on page 3 AAPI leaders including Christine Chen and Karen Narasaki criticized President Bush’s order narrowing the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. JACL President Floyd Mori invited members to the 75th Anniversary National Convention in Honolulu.

Letters from Marty Higgins, commander of the Texas ‘Lost Battalion,’ and others backed renaming ‘Jap Road’ and ‘Jap Lane’ in honor of the 442nd. Page 7 follows women’s golf, with Se Ri Pak, Grace Park and Michelle Wie. Paul Igasaki wrote on workplace harassment, and Ryan Chin reported on JACL membership.

What’s in this issue

Arts & Entertainment

• Yo-Yo Master Has World on a String, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Hironori Mii, a 22-year-old world champion yo-yo player known for his ‘off string’ technique, has become one of the most respected figures in competitive yo-yoing since debuting his signature move at the 1999 World Yo-Yo Contest in Honolulu. Now working for a yo-yo distribution company in Tokyo while studying business administration in Chico, California, Mii continues to promote the sport he loves.
• This Is How We Live: Film Review, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Three short documentaries about forced labor and displacement of ethnic Burmese people under the military junta premiered at the Amnesty International Film Festival, featuring firsthand testimonies from victims. Witness program manager Sam Gregory explains how the films aim to raise awareness of human rights abuses in Burma without sensationalizing violence.
• Yo-Yo Master Has World on a String: Q&A with Hironori Mii, page 12. In an extended interview, world champion yo-yo player Hironori Mii discusses his path to becoming a top competitor, his signature off-string technique, and his advice for aspiring yo-yoists. Mii shares insights about balancing yo-yoing with his business studies and work for a yo-yo distribution company in Japan.

Commentary

• What Inspires Me?, by Alayne Yonemoto, page 1. PSWD PC Board Rep Alayne Yonemoto reflects on finding inspiration in the people around her and how the Pacific Citizen serves as a vital outlet for highlighting accomplishments within the JACL community. She urges readers to support the PC Spring Campaign to help sustain the publication’s operating budget.
• An Invitation to Paradise, by Floyd Mori, page 1. National JACL President Floyd Mori encourages members to attend the upcoming National JACL Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, noting the Hawaii chapter’s extensive planning efforts. He highlights the convention as an opportunity for generational connection and renewing JACL friendships.
• Letters to the Editor: Honoring the 442nd, by Marty Higgins, page 2. A letter from Marty Higgins, commander of the WWII ‘Lost Battalion,’ urges Texas commissioners to rename ‘Jap Road’ and ‘Jap Lane’ to ‘442nd Road’ and ‘442nd Lane’ in honor of the Japanese American soldiers who rescued his trapped unit in 1944. He describes the horrors of being surrounded for seven days and credits the 442nd with saving his men despite suffering heavy casualties.
• Re: Efforts to Rename ‘Jap Road’ and ‘Jap Lane’, by John F. Masac, page 2. A reader writes in response to coverage of efforts to rename ‘Jap Road’ and ‘Jap Lane’ in Texas, expressing hope that Texans connected to the ‘Lost Battalion’ would support the renaming campaign. The letter reminds readers that 200 Japanese American soldiers died and 600 were wounded rescuing 211 Texan soldiers.
• Thank You and An Ode for an Odious Name, by Vicki Kawakami, page 2. A letter commends JACL activists Sandra Tanamachi, Thomas Kuwahara, and Sharon Seymour for their persistence in the difficult campaign to rename ‘Jap Road’ and ‘Jap Lane,’ urging JACLers to send contributions and support letters. The letter includes an original poem condemning the offensive place names as an overdue insult requiring correction.
• Lifeline, page 2. A reader from Salt Lake City explains that despite financial constraints as a senior, Maya Yamazaki’s column convinced her to renew her Pacific Citizen subscription. She describes the paper as a vital ‘lifeline’ connecting her to the Asian American community’s stories.
• Addicted to JACL, by Emily Teruya, page 5. In this Youth Forum column, Emily Teruya humorously describes her growing ‘addiction’ to JACL involvement, from board meetings to district council gatherings. She reflects on the personal growth, friendships, and unexpected feedback she’s gained through her three years of JACL participation.
• Racial and Ethnic Harassment in the Workplace: A Need to Continue Efforts, by Paul Igasaki, page 8. Former EEOC vice chair Paul Igasaki discusses the troubling rise in racial and ethnic workplace harassment he witnessed during his tenure, including an increase in noose incidents and post-9/11 backlash against Arab and Muslim Americans. He explains employers’ legal responsibilities to prevent and respond quickly to harassment to avoid liability.
• Swimwear Controversy Continues as Companies Respond, page 12. Victoria’s Secret and OndadeMar issued statements regarding the Buddha-image swimwear controversy, with Victoria’s Secret denying the image depicted Buddha while shifting blame to manufacturer OndadeMar. Buddhist advocates and JACL’s Ken Inouye say the companies’ responses fall short of a genuine apology and are calling for a formal recall and policy change.

National

• Buddhists Decry Use of Bodhisattva Images on Swimwear, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Buddhists worldwide launched a coordinated campaign against swimwear company OndadeMar and Victoria’s Secret for using Buddhist Bodhisattva images on bikinis and tankinis, demanding removal, a recall, and a formal apology. Though both companies removed the items from their websites and catalogues, Buddhist advocates say this response is insufficient and are continuing to press for accountability.
• National AAPI Leaders Denounce Bush’s Changes to Historic Executive Order, page 3. AAPI community leaders criticized President Bush’s executive order that narrowed the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, moving it from Health and Human Services to the Commerce Department and focusing solely on business development. Critics including Christine Chen and Karen Narasaki argue the change ignores broader community needs in education, health, and housing that the original 1999 Clinton order addressed.
• Ex-FBI Handler of Alleged Chinese Double Agent Pleads Guilty, by Linda Deutsch, page 3. Former FBI agent James J. Smith pleaded guilty to lying about his sexual relationship with Katrina Leung, an alleged Chinese double agent he had handled for the FBI for 20 years. Smith could face up to five years in prison but is expected to serve far less, while Leung’s separate trial on charges of stealing classified documents remains pending.
• Affirmative Action Foe Promises Michigan Vote on Ban, by James Prichard, page 3. Ward Connerly, chairman of the American Civil Rights Coalition, vowed that Michigan voters will eventually get to vote on a ballot initiative banning racial preferences, even if it takes until 2006. His speech at Kalamazoo College sparked a demonstration by affirmative action supporters, including NAACP youth director Elrico Hurley.
• Police Create Board to Hear Muslim Concerns, by Associated Press, page 3. The Phoenix Police Department created Arizona’s first Muslim Community Advisory Board to address hate crimes, threats, and workplace discrimination affecting the Muslim community. The move comes as Arizona saw a 584 percent jump in reported anti-Muslim incidents in 2003, though Tucson has seen a decrease in such incidents.
• Anti-Muslim Incidents Increase Nationwide, page 4. A report by the Council on American Islamic Relations found that nationwide bias complaints against Muslims, Arabs, and South Asians rose from 602 in 2002 to 1,019 in 2003, with sharp increases in New York, New Jersey, and California. The group attributed the rise partly to increased regional offices allowing more cases to be documented, as well as continued post-9/11 fear and misapplication of the USA Patriot Act.
• Ukulele Virtuoso Helps Promote Hawaii Tourism in Japan, page 4. Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro was paid $88,000 to promote Hawaii tourism in Japan through commuter train posters, TV spots, and performances. The campaign comes as Japanese tourism to Hawaii shows signs of rebounding after six years of decline.
• Business Boom Caters to Asians in Northwest Florida, page 4. Asian supermarkets, restaurants, and other businesses are proliferating in Northwest Florida due to the region’s growing Asian population, which made up about 2.5 percent of Okaloosa County residents in 2000 Census figures. The Census Bureau projects the Asian population will more than triple nationwide over the next 50 years.
• WWII Veterans to be Honored in New Postal Stamp, page 4. The U.S. Postal Service will honor WWII veterans with a 37-cent commemorative stamp featuring a computer-generated image of the WWII War Memorial on the National Mall. The stamp goes on sale May 29, the same day as the memorial’s formal dedication ceremonies.
• Piano Student Faces Murder Charges for Slaying Teacher, page 4. Jackson Fan Chun Ngai, a 22-year-old pianist, is accused of killing his disabled piano teacher, a University of Texas professor with multiple sclerosis, with a meat cleaver and leaving a bizarre note on her body. He is being held on $1 million bail while a psychiatric evaluation determines his competency to stand trial.
• University of Virginia Hiring More Women, Minority Faculty, page 4. The University of Virginia’s College of Arts and Sciences hired 36 new full-time faculty members this spring, including 19 women, three African Americans, and five Asian or Asian Americans. The hiring follows a diversity goal set by the Board of Visitors after complaints about stagnant representation over five years.

In-Depth

• What’s in a Name?, by Lynda Lin, page 1. The article explores the phenomenon of Asian Pacific Americans changing their given names to more Western-sounding ones, tracing the practice back to early immigration history and ongoing identity struggles. Experts and individuals share personal stories about the complex relationship between names, assimilation, and cultural identity across generations.

Community

• APAs in the News, page 4. Tomio Moriguchi was elected chairman of the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation board, while Kim Ng of the LA Dodgers received the Anti-Defamation League’s Deborah Award. Kimi Hara received the 2003 Mondale Award and Denise Lee was named director of APIA Outreach for the Democratic National Party.
• Town Hall Event to Highlight APA Issues, page 4. A national town hall forum titled ‘Power of Our Voices’ will be held May 22 at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles to gather public input on immigration, civil rights, and health care issues facing the AAPI community. Rep. Mike Honda, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said the event will help shape CAPAC’s policy agenda ahead of the November elections.
• Groundbreaking Campaign Demands Equality, page 4. Asian Pacific Islanders for Human Rights launched a statewide California API LGBT Equality Campaign to combat homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia within Asian communities. The multimedia campaign features openly LGBT Asians and targets South Asian, Chinese, Filipino, and Thai communities to build tolerance and acceptance.
• Far East Building Wins Preservation Award, page 5. The Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation’s historic rehabilitation of the Far East Building received a 2004 Preservation Award from the Los Angeles Conservancy. The award was presented at a ceremony attended by California State Senator John Burton and actress Diane Keaton.
• ‘Lost Battalion’ Commander to Thank 442nd Vets at D.C. Reunion, page 5. Marty Higgins, commander of the WWII Texas ‘Lost Battalion,’ will express gratitude to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team at the National WWII Memorial Reunion in Washington, D.C. on May 27, commemorating the 442nd’s 1944 rescue of his trapped unit in the Vosges Mountains.
• Arizona Hosts Annual Sara Hutchings Clardy Scholarship Luncheon, page 5. More than 150 guests attended the JACL Arizona chapter’s 43rd Annual Sara Hutchings Clardy Scholarship Luncheon, where Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon delivered the keynote address. Scholarship recipients included students from several area high schools.
• Masaji Inoshita Awarded DAR Medal of Honor, page 5. The Arizona Anasazi Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented the DAR Medal of Honor to Masaji Inoshita, a WWII Military Intelligence Service veteran, at their 102nd state conference. Inoshita regularly lectures students and community groups about the Japanese American WWII experience, including his time at the Gila River Relocation Center.

JACL

• State Sen. Mee Moua to Keynote Hawaiian Luau, by David M. Forman, page 6. Minnesota State Senator Mee Moua, the first person of Hmong ancestry elected to a U.S. state legislature, will keynote the Hawaiian Luau at the JACL 75th Anniversary National Convention in Honolulu. Moua, who immigrated from Laos in 1978, has championed civil rights, affordable housing, and crime victim funding in her home state.
• Membership Update from the Board, by Ryan Chin, page 8. National VP of Membership Ryan Chin reports that after exceeding fundraising goals in 2003, JACL membership revenue has dropped significantly in 2004, threatening a budgetary deficit. He highlights JACL’s Anti-Hate Campaign and civil liberties advocacy, including an amicus brief in the Jose Padilla case, as key value propositions for members.

Sports

• Lily Kahumoku Scheduled to Stand Trial, page 7. Former University of Hawaii volleyball star Lily Kahumoku will stand trial June 23 on a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from an incident with her then-boyfriend, UH volleyball player Jose Delgado. Kahumoku waived her right to a jury trial and will be tried before a judge.
• Avalanche Could be in for Changes After Another Early Exit, page 7. The Colorado Avalanche face major roster changes after losing to San Jose in the playoffs, with stars Peter Forsberg, Teemu Selanne, and Paul Kariya’s futures uncertain. A potential NHL salary cap could force the team to restructure its high-priced roster after a season plagued by injuries.
• Pak Comes From Behind to Win at Kingsmill, page 7. Se Ri Pak overcame a four-stroke deficit to win the Michelob Ultra Open by two shots, earning enough points to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame. The South Korean golfer, who won on Mother’s Day with her mother in the gallery, called it the best day of her life.
• Park Finding Fun, Success Go Hand in Hand, page 7. Golfer Grace Park describes how rededicating herself to hard work and enjoying the game has led to recent success, including her first major championship win at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. At 25, Park is considered a rising contender to challenge Annika Sorenstam as the sport’s best player.
• Wie Wins Laureus Award, page 7. Fourteen-year-old golf phenom Michelle Wie was honored as Newcomer of the Year by the Laureus World Sports Academy, becoming the youngest athlete to win one of the awards. Wie made history as the youngest winner of a USGA event for adults at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links.
• Chinese Making Small Inroads in Golf, page 7. Chinese golfers are beginning to break into professional golf, with Zhang Lian-Wei becoming the first Chinese player at the Masters and Hong Mei Yang winning a Futures Tour event in the U.S. The successes could bolster golf’s bid to become an Olympic sport for the 2008 Beijing Games.

Obituaries

• Mary Miyashita, Fundraiser for Democratic Party, Passes Away at 83, page 11. Mary Miyashita, a longtime Democratic Party fundraiser and civil rights activist who was interned at Gila Bend, Arizona during WWII, died April 27 in Whittier, California after battling cancer. She was a close friend of the Kennedy family and campaigned for Robert F. Kennedy, later defending John Huang during the 1996 campaign finance scandal.

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