Davao’s Little Tokyo, the Furuya legacy and the Korematsu, Yasui and Hirabayashi families

Vol. 144, No. 7, April 20, 2007. 12 pages. View this issue

A Little Tokyo in the Philippines led the issue. Lynda Lin wrote about Davaokuo, the Japanese enclave in Davao before World War II, and the descendants who are tracing their identities. Closer to home, Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reported on students working to keep the Aikido Center of Los Angeles going after the death of Rev. Kensho Furuya, as it moved from Little Tokyo to Chinatown. Lin also covered Karen Korematsu-Haigh, Holly Yasui and Jay Hirabayashi, who filed an amicus brief in a case over the detention of Muslim immigrants after 9/11. Floyd Mori’s first column as JACL National Director appeared on page 2.

Also inside: the Topaz camp in Utah was named a National Historic Landmark, and Heart Mountain planned its own dedication ceremony. Reports covered JACL’s response to the Virginia Tech shooting and the firing of Don Imus. John Tateishi wrote about habeas corpus and the incarceration, and Lin reviewed the film American Pastime.

What’s in this issue

National

• A Little Tokyo Rooted in the Philippines, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Davao, a city on the Philippines’ island of Mindanao, was once home to a thriving Japanese enclave known as Davaokuo before WWII. The article explores the legacy of Japanese settlers, their descendants known as Philippine Nikkei-jin, and ongoing efforts to trace their identities.
• Sansei Descendants of Korematsu, Yasui and Hirabayashi File Amicus Brief, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Karen Korematsu-Haigh, Holly Yasui and Jay Hirabayashi, children of the famous WWII internment resisters, filed an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit alleging racial profiling and wrongful detainment of Muslim immigrants after 9/11. They argue the case echoes the wartime injustices suffered by their Issei grandparents and Nisei fathers.
• AA Community Mourns Virginia Tech Tragedy, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom and Lynda Lin, page 1. After the Virginia Tech shooting was linked to South Korean national Cho Seung-Hui, Asian American groups expressed grief while warning against a backlash against the broader ethnic community. JACL and other leaders called for calm and cautioned media against overemphasizing the shooter’s ethnicity.
• In Music City, Lawmakers Push for ‘English-First’ Chorus, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Nashville’s debate over making English its official language has drawn national attention after the mayor vetoed such a measure, with proponents planning a 2008 ballot initiative. Asian Pacific Americans in the growing immigrant city offer mixed views on the necessity and impact of English-only laws.
• Two Offensive Ads, Two Very Different Responses, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. A Tucson Chinese restaurant owner refused to stop distributing a racially offensive flier despite community complaints, while a Salt Lake City car dealership quickly pulled a similarly offensive commercial after backlash. JACL and other Asian American groups pressured both businesses to address the racist content.
• JACL Applauds Firing of Don Imus, Calls for Consistent Media Accountability, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. JACL and other Asian American groups praised CBS and NBC for firing radio host Don Imus over racist remarks about the Rutgers women’s basketball team. JACL leaders also criticized the media for failing to hold figures like Rosie O’Donnell accountable for anti-Asian remarks.
• JACL and ACLU Applaud Introduction of Hate Crimes Prevention Bill in Senate, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. The JACL and ACLU praised the introduction of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 in the Senate, which would help prosecute bias-motivated crimes based on sexual orientation, gender, and disability. JACL leaders emphasized the long history of hate crimes against Asian Americans and urged quick passage of the bill.
• Korean American Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Spying, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. A South Korean court convicted naturalized American Jang Min-ho of spying for North Korea and sentenced him to nine years in prison. He was found to have delivered national secrets to North Korean agents and coordinated meetings with other convicted spies.
• AA Leaders Announce Overwhelming Opposition to Anti-Family Immigration Proposal, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. Asian American leaders strongly criticized a Republican-backed immigration proposal that would shift the system toward corporate sponsorship while curtailing family reunification visas. Leaders argued the plan would harm the more than 1.5 million Asians waiting to join family members already in the backlog.
• JACL Supports Legislation for Filipino War Veterans, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. JACL is backing the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, which would restore full benefits to Filipino soldiers who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII but were stripped of veteran status in 1946. The bill has been introduced in both the Senate and House.
• Utah WWII Camp Gets Federal Designation, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 5. The Topaz internment camp in Utah was declared a National Historic Landmark by the federal government, joining Tule Lake, Amache, and Heart Mountain. JACL National Director Floyd Mori spoke about the emotional significance of visiting the site where over 8,000 people were confined.

Community

• Continuing the Tradition of Aikido, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Following the death of Rev. Kensho Furuya, longtime students are working to continue operating the Aikido Center of Los Angeles as it relocates from Little Tokyo to Chinatown. Students formed the Rev. Kensho Furuya Foundation to preserve his teachings and legacy.
• Four Women of the Year to be Honored by Downtown JACL, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. The Downtown Los Angeles JACL and Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California selected four women as 2007 Women of the Year. They will be honored at a May 6 luncheon at the New Otani Hotel & Garden.
• Nitao, Kinoshita Receive Agricultural Society Award, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. Itaru Nitao and Katsumi Kinoshita received the Agricultural Society of Japan’s Green and White Award for their landscape gardening achievements. The award was presented at the San Francisco residence of Consul General Makoto Yamanaka.
• UCLA Appoints Architect Abe as Professor and Chair, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. Hitoshi Abe was appointed professor and chair of UCLA’s Department of Architecture and Urban Design. He is internationally recognized for his structurally innovative work, including the Miyagi Stadium design.
• Sugiyama Receives Diversity Award from UW, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. Alan Sugiyama, founder of the Center for Career Alternatives, will receive the University of Washington’s highest diversity achievement award. The Charles E. Odegaard Award will be presented at the 37th Annual Friends of the Educational Opportunity Celebration.
• New NOAA Fisheries Vessel Named After Shimada, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. Students from Marina High School won a contest to name NOAA’s new fisheries survey vessel after Bell M. Shimada, an eminent fisheries scientist specializing in Pacific tropical tuna stocks. The 208-foot vessel is under construction in Mississippi.
• Heart Mountain Foundation to Host NHL Ceremony, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. The Heart Mountain, Wyoming Foundation will host a dedication ceremony on June 23 celebrating the site’s designation as a National Historic Landmark. Former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, who was interned there, will attend and speak.

Commentary

• A Hate Incident Brought Her to JACL, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Patricia Ikeda-Nash was traumatized by a racist flier targeting ‘Japs’ left near her Berkeley workplace, but found her coworkers indifferent to her distress. She eventually turned to the Berkeley JACL chapter for support, which led her to become an active JACL member.
• Filling Some Big Shoes, by Floyd Mori, page 2. Floyd Mori reflects on succeeding John Tateishi as JACL National Director and honors Tateishi’s years of service to the organization. He outlines his plans to work primarily from Washington, D.C. and discusses upcoming JACL initiatives including a gala event and efforts to grow membership.
• Dreaming Big …, by Lisa Hanasono, page 2. A JACL youth member describes how the Pacific Citizen helped her feel connected to the Japanese American community while growing up isolated in the Midwest. She urges readers to donate to the paper’s Spring Campaign to support its continued operation and website.
• Teaching Children Their National Identity, by Harry Honda, page 8. Harry Honda examines how various nations, including Japan, Ireland, Australia, Russia, and South Africa, are reshaping how they teach national history to children. He also discusses efforts by Japanese American organizations to preserve and teach the story of WWII internment to future generations.
• The Shame of a Nation, by John Tateishi, page 8. John Tateishi criticizes the Bush Administration’s erosion of habeas corpus rights through the Military Commissions Act, drawing parallels to the wrongful WWII internment of Japanese Americans. He argues that the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo echoes the same rhetoric of ‘military necessity’ used to justify internment in 1942.

In-Depth

• Aikido Center of Los Angeles Community Reflects on Kensho Furuya’s Legacy, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 6. Students of the late Rev. Kensho Furuya share personal tributes to their teacher’s impact on their lives and the traditional practice of Aikido. As the dojo relocates to Chinatown, students including David Ito, Maria Murakawa, and Ken Watanabe are committed to preserving his teachings for future generations.

Arts & Entertainment

• This ‘Pastime’ Triumphs on Both Sides of the Fence, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Desmond Nakano’s film ‘American Pastime’ explores the WWII internment experience through baseball, focusing on the Nomura family at the Topaz camp and a guard’s family on the other side of the fence. The film is praised for its nuanced depiction of both internees and camp guards, avoiding one-dimensional stereotypes.

Obituaries

• Entertainer Don Ho, Known for Song ‘Tiny Bubbles,’ Dies at 76, by Jaymes Song, Associated Press Writer, page 11. Legendary Hawaiian entertainer Don Ho, famous for his signature song ‘Tiny Bubbles,’ died of heart failure at age 76. He entertained Hollywood stars and tourists for four decades with his iconic Waikiki show.
• Tosiwo Nakayama, Micronesia’s First President, Dies in Honolulu, by Associated Press, page 11. Tosiwo Nakayama, who served as the first president of the Federated States of Micronesia and helped the nation transition from U.S. trust territory status, died at age 74 in Honolulu. He served two terms as president from 1979 to 1987 during the country’s path to independence.

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