The 2005 holiday issue: P.C.’s Top Ten List

Vol. 141, No. 10, December 2005. 120 pages. View this issue

Top ten lists were the theme of this 120-page holiday issue, and writers took the format in every direction. Naomi Hirahara ranked ten Japanese American books for the home, Gil Asakawa listed ten stupid conversations JAs still endure, and Emily M. Murase named the ten Japanese Americans she respects most. Tom Ikeda chose historical photographs of the incarceration, and Yuki Llewellyn wrote about her visit to Manzanar, 59 years after she was photographed there as a child.

Other lists were lighter: toys, breakfast spots, Asian supermarket drinks, marriage lessons and ways to find love through JACL. Ted Namba gave ten reasons to attend the 2006 JACL national convention in Phoenix, including a Gila River rededication. About 66 of the issue’s pages carry holiday greetings.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• P.C.’s Top Ten List: Introducing the 2005 Holiday Issue, by Caroline Y. Aoyagi-Stom, page 4. The Executive Editor introduces the 2005 Holiday Issue’s theme, ‘P.C.’s Top Ten List,’ inspired by David Letterman’s format but with an Asian Pacific American flair. She thanks the writers, staff, chapters, and advertisers who made the 120-page issue possible and previews upcoming changes including the New Year’s Issue in January 2006.
• Top 10 Stupid Conversations JAs Still Have to Endure, by Gil Asakawa, page 6. Gil Asakawa recounts ten common ignorant or offensive comments Japanese Americans still face, from ‘You speak English so well!’ to being asked ‘Where are you from?’ repeatedly. He argues these encounters demonstrate why the JACL remains necessary to fight for civil rights.
• Funny Things Children Say, by Gail Tanaka, page 7. The author lists ten humorous quotes from her sister’s three children, then shares the moving story of her nephew Tyler Drake Chiou, who battled Neuroblastoma cancer for two and a half years before passing away in April 2005 at age five. The piece honors Tyler’s courage and the joy he brought to everyone around him.
• Keeping the Boys Sane from the Mundane, by David J. Kim, page 10. A lieutenant stationed in Kosovo on a peacekeeping mission shares the top ten ways U.S. soldiers pass their downtime, including video games, gym workouts, watching movies, teaching English to local children, and writing letters home. He reflects on how soldiers cope with ‘down time’ during deployment overseas.
• Top 10 Things I’ve Learned Since Being Married, by Joe Craig, page 13. A newlywed humorously lists lessons learned in the months since his September 2005 wedding, including always saying ‘Yes, dear’ and praising every outfit his wife wears. The lighthearted piece continues on a later page with more marriage survival tips like never comparing other women to his wife.
• Diary of a Journalist: Memorable Interviews and Assignments, by Lynda Lin, page 16. Assistant Editor Lynda Lin counts down her ten most memorable moments as a P.C. journalist, including learning of community pioneer Lily Okura’s death, investigating crooked immigration consultants, interviewing child prodigy Marc Yu, and confronting hate radio host Robin Bertolucci. Her number one moment was tracking down and meeting Yuki Llewellyn, the famous ‘little girl’ from the iconic Manzanar evacuation photograph.
• Marriage Survival Lessons Joe Has Learned, by Joe Craig, page 19. Continuing his list from page 13, the self-described ‘professional husband’ shares more comedic marriage lessons, such as needing approval for his schedule and learning that ‘no woman is as beautiful as your wife.’ He concludes that repeating the mantra ‘my wife is always right’ helps him sleep soundly at night.
• Top 10 Breakfast Joints, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 33. The Executive Editor shares her love of breakfast food and lists her top ten favorite breakfast restaurants across North America, including Mama’s on Washington Square in San Francisco and The Cottage in La Jolla. The list continues on a later page with additional spots like Doughboys Bakery and Toronto’s Sunset Grill.
• Top 10 Words from Grandma and Grandpa, by Tim Koide, page 38. A young Yonsei reflects on growing up with limited exposure to Japanese culture and shares ten Japanese words and phrases he learned from his Nisei grandparents, such as ‘shikata ga nai,’ ‘urusai,’ and ‘gohan.’ He describes how these words became a way to connect with his heritage despite living far from his grandparents.
• Top 10 Reasons to Marry a Haole, by Brandy Yamamoto, page 39. The founder of the Haole Hubby Club shares the origin story of the group, formed by women married to Caucasian men, and offers humorous benefits of intercultural marriage. The list continues on a later page with reasons like better odds of tall children and having help carrying extra luggage while traveling.
• Top 10 Things That Remind Me I’m Not in Seattle Anymore, by Maya Yamazaki, page 45. A JACL Mike Masaoka Congressional Fellow describes her move from Seattle to Washington, D.C., and lists cultural differences she’s noticed, including metal detectors everywhere, escalator etiquette, and the lack of good coffee shops. The list continues on a later page, ending with her starstruck encounters with politicians like Barack Obama and Donald Rumsfeld.
• APAs Who Inspire Me to Be Fully Who I Am, by Erin Yoshimura, page 51. Yoshimura lists ten Asian Pacific Americans who have inspired her personal journey of identity, including filmmaker Lee Mun Wah, activist Satsuki Ina, JACL’s John Tateishi, and actress Sandra Oh. She describes seeking out APA role models to counter a society dominated by white cultural norms.
• Top 10 Ways to Find Love Through JACL, by Peter Frandsen, page 53. A dental student and JACL member humorously lists ten tactics singles use to find romance at JACL events, from volunteering to read bingo balls to becoming Millennium Club members. He jokes that when all else fails, JACLers should let a Nisei arrange a match the old-fashioned way.
• You Know You’re an Asian Parent When …, by Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, page 57. The author humorously lists twelve signs of being an overachieving Asian American parent, including buying 100-pound sacks of rice, enrolling children in language school, and panicking over a 106 percent math grade. She reflects on how ‘model minority’ pressures shape Asian American parenting styles.
• Top 10 Ways to Experience Nikkei Culture Across Generations, by Sho Aoyagi and Tamara Doi, page 61. The founders of Fierce First Step, an empowerment coaching company, list ten actions Asian Americans can take to overcome the ‘nice and pleasant’ stereotype and feel more empowered in their lives. Suggestions include setting boundaries, voicing true feelings, and practicing compassion toward others.
• Top 10 Tips for Being Happier, by Ann Fujii Lindwall, page 66. Reflecting on turning 49, the author shares her philosophy of ‘less is more’ and lists eleven simple daily habits for happiness, including drinking water, getting enough sleep, and staying in touch with family. She emphasizes that small, consistent actions lead to greater life satisfaction as one ages.
• Top 10 Things to Do and See in the Golden State, by Matthew Komoto, page 71. Komoto lists ten favorite California experiences and destinations, including Disneyland on Christmas Eve, USC football games at the Coliseum, and the Irvine Spectrum shopping center. He also recommends mountain cabin getaways, nature parks, and visiting Berkeley’s college town atmosphere.
• Top 10 Wishes From 10 Top Wartime ‘Resorts’, by Ted Hirahara, page 80. In an illustrated satirical piece, the author imagines what internees at the ten WWII incarceration camps might wish for if given modern conveniences like computers, cellphones, and flat-screen TVs. The piece juxtaposes humor with the harsh realities of camp life, such as $16 monthly paychecks and sand-trap golf courses.

Arts & Entertainment

• Top 10 JA Books to Have in the House, by Naomi Hirahara, page 5. Mystery author Naomi Hirahara shares her personal list of ten essential Japanese American books every JA household should own, from Wakako Yamauchi’s short stories to Yoshiko Uchida’s children’s literature. She discusses her lifelong love of books and how JA literature has expanded dramatically since her childhood in the 1960s and ’70s.
• Hirahara’s Top 10 JA Books (continued), by Naomi Hirahara, page 20. The list continues with books ranked eight through one, including P.G. O’Neil’s ‘Japanese Names,’ Taro Yashima’s ‘Crow Boy,’ John Okada’s ‘No-No Boy,’ Hisaye Yamamoto’s short stories, and Michi Weglyn’s ‘Years of Infamy.’ Hirahara ranks Yoshiko Uchida’s ‘The Best Bad Thing’ as the number one must-have book for JA households.
• Top 10 Asian Pacific American Toys, by Loren R. Javier, page 32. A toy collector counts down his favorite Asian Pacific American-themed toys and action figures, including the Fisher Price Sonya Lee doll, a Star Trek Sulu figure, and the G.I. Joe 442nd Infantry Nisei Soldier figure. The list continues on a later page with entries like the Mulan Deluxe Warrior Training Set, the Kea multicultural rag doll, and the Star Wars character Nien Numb.
• Sip, Gulp or Spit? Exploring Asian Supermarket Drinks, by Mary Tam, page 42. The author humorously reviews ten unusual Asian beverages found in ethnic supermarkets, ranking them by category such as ‘Most Suspicious’ (Grass Jelly) and ‘Most Gross’ (Basil Seed Drink). She recounts childhood memories and taste-testing adventures with drinks like Thai Iced Tea, Ramune’s Hello Kitty soda, and Blue Hawaii Soda.

In-Depth

• Top 10 Japanese Americans I Respect Most, by Emily M. Murase, PhD, page 22. Murase profiles ten influential Japanese Americans she admires, ranking Senator Daniel K. Inouye number one for his heroic military service and decades in Congress, followed by Congresswoman Patsy Mink at number two. Other honorees include Yuri Kochiyama, Isamu Noguchi, Sox Kitashima, and Glen Fukushima.
• Kiss Me, I’m Okinawan, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 26. Sakugawa explores the distinct culture of Okinawa, explaining the historical differences between Okinawan and mainland Japanese identity dating back to the independent Ryukyu Kingdom. She lists ten things that make Okinawa special, including its beaches, the shisa guardian statues, Eisa dance, and the disproportionate number of famous Japanese entertainers who hail from the island.
• My Top Ten Historical Photographs, by Tom Ikeda, page 29. The founding executive director of Densho describes how he uses historical photographs to engage students in classroom discussions about the Japanese American incarceration experience. He walks through images depicting pre-war immigrant communities, FBI roundups after Pearl Harbor, evacuation notices, incarcerated children, the 442nd/100th soldiers, Heart Mountain draft resisters, postwar racism, and the 1988 signing of the Civil Liberties Act.
• Top 10 Realizations in My Visit to Manzanar, by Yuki Llewellyn, page 46. The woman famously photographed as a young child at the Manzanar Assembly Center in 1942 recounts her emotional pilgrimage back to the site 59 years later. She reflects on comparisons to Hurricane Katrina’s evacuation efforts, discovering her family’s hidden history, and a moving encounter with a stranger who apologized to her for the internment; the story continues on a later page.
• Looking at Nikkei in North & South America, by Harry K. Honda, page 50. The Editor Emeritus recalls ten memorable travel experiences visiting Nikkei communities across the Americas, including meetings with Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori and Brazilian Nisei WWII veterans. He also shares stories from Bolivia, Paraguay, Vancouver, and a historic 2001 gathering of Pan American Nikkei at the United Nations.
• Lost in Loyalty, by Mas Hashimoto, page 112. A short piece referencing the Japanese American WWII internment experience under the heading ‘The Japanese American Experience: The Internment,’ appearing in an advertisement context but containing a personal reflection byline. It appears as part of the Watsonville-Santa Cruz chapter section discussing wartime loyalty and identity.

Community

• The Original 101 Ways to Tell If You’re Japanese American, by Jenni Kuida and Tony Osumi, page 31. The authors revisit their popular decade-old list of cultural markers identifying Japanese Americans, updated with reflection on how younger generations of Yonsei and Gosei may relate differently. The piece continues with a lengthy list of shared JA experiences and touchstones on page 82.

JACL

• Visit Arizona for the 2006 JACL Biennial Convention, by Ted Namba, page 37. The 2006 Convention Chair lists ten reasons to attend the JACL National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, from June 21-24, 2006, highlighting the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort, a western-themed welcome mixer at Rawhide, and workshops focused on Native American and Japanese American history. The piece continues on a later page detailing the Gila River Monument rededication ceremony and the musical ‘Camp Dance.’
• Millennium Club Members Reflect on Supporting JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 41. This paid advertisement feature profiles numerous Millennium Club members explaining why they joined JACL and continue to support the organization financially at the $1,000 per year level. Members like Lily Okura, Helen Kawagoe, and Frank Chuman discuss JACL’s importance in civil rights advocacy and preserving Japanese American heritage.
• Top 10 Reasons for Youth to Join JACL, by Edwin Endow and Emily Teruya, page 56. National JACL leaders list ten humorous and sincere reasons young people should join JACL, including learning cultural roots, building leadership resumes, and meeting a future spouse. They cite historical JACL marriages and encourage readers to consider becoming Thousand Club or Millennium Club members.

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