Japanese American soldiers in Iraq, and the Spring Campaign

Vol. 144, No. 9, May 18, 2007. 12 pages. View this issue

Japanese American servicemembers were the subject of the cover story for Memorial Day. Caroline Aoyagi-Stom wrote about Lt. Col. George Ishikata, who asked to be deployed to Iraq after 23 years in the Army and now oversees the translation of captured documents in Baghdad. Inside, Larry Oda wrote about the leadership delegation to Japan, and Nelson Nagai made the case for the Spring Campaign, which supports the paper itself.

The issue also looked at the Terminal Islander Club, the dancer Ken Kanesaka and Colleen Shino’s bicycle ride along the Underground Railroad route, all by Lynda Lin. News pages covered the House passing a hate crimes bill, a feedlot application near the Minidoka monument, rallies for immigration reform and the removal of two radio hosts over Asian slurs. John Tateishi and Harry Honda wrote columns, and the sports pages followed Hideki Okajima and Yao Ming.

What’s in this issue

National

• JA Soldiers Making a Difference in Iraq and Abroad, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Lt. Col. George Ishikata volunteered for deployment to Iraq after 23 years in the Army so he could better understand what his soldiers experience, and now works long hours overseeing translation of captured documents in Baghdad. The article also profiles other JA servicemembers like Marine Lance Cpl. Alex and Cpl. Mitsuo Satoh, discussing their motivations for serving and views on the war and Lt. Ehren Watada’s refusal to deploy.
• Shock Jocks Dropped Over Asian Slurs, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 1. CBS Radio permanently pulled New York shock jocks Jeff Vandergrift and Dan Lay off the air following a prank call filled with offensive Asian stereotypes, weeks after Don Imus was fired for racist remarks. Asian American groups had lobbied for their firing, calling it a victory for communities targeted by racist programming.
• Are AA Males Unwilling Targets of Virginia Tech Fallout?, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Following the Virginia Tech shooting by Seung-Hui Cho, several Asian American young men have faced hate incidents, suspensions, and heightened scrutiny across the country. Cases include a hate beating at Auburn University, a student sent to a psychiatric hospital for a Facebook photo, and an Illinois student charged for a violent essay.
• APA Groups Object to Arizona Restaurant’s Use of ‘Chinaman’, by Associated Press, page 3. Six Asian Pacific American groups have asked Tucson restaurant Eggrolls Etc. to stop using racial slurs like ‘Chinaman’ in its fliers and menus, but owner Mike Reynolds has not responded to their letters. The restaurant’s menu defends its offensive humor, while groups including JACL and the Chinese American Citizens Alliance continue to press for change.
• Application Resubmitted for S. Idaho Feedlot Near Minidoka Monument, by Associated Press, page 3. Big Sky Farms resubmitted an application for an animal feedlot near the Minidoka Internment National Monument just ahead of a county vote on a moratorium for such facilities. Nearby residents and monument advocates worry about odors and reduced visitorship, though the new application proposes fewer animals than before.
• U.S. House Passes Hate Crimes Prevention Legislation, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. The U.S. House passed HR 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, expanding federal categories and resources to combat bias-motivated attacks, despite a White House veto threat. JACL and other civil rights groups lobbied for the bill, which now moves to the Senate for further debate.
• Asian Immigrants Say Visa Backlogs Hurting Families, by Associated Press, page 4. Asian immigrants in Ohio and elsewhere describe years-long waits for family reunification visas, particularly from the Philippines, India, and China, as the national immigration debate largely focuses on Latino immigration. Advocates like immigration lawyer Jayashree Bidari push for reform to reduce these lengthy backlogs and support family reunification.
• APAs Rally for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, by P.C. Staff, page 4. More than 500 Asian Pacific Americans rallied on Capitol Hill on May 1 to demand comprehensive immigration reform, chanting for legalization and family unity. Rep. Mike Honda and other leaders spoke in support of the STRIVE Act, which would reduce lengthy family immigration backlogs.
• Unique Wartime Stories Chronicled Online, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Library of Congress added eight digitized collections of APA veterans to its ‘Experiencing War’ Web series in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, with special emphasis on the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Featured stories include medic Jimmie Kanaya, naval aviator Gordon Nakagawa, and Iraq veteran Matthew Braiotta.
• Rep. Honda Calls for Investigation of Post-WWII Brothels for U.S. Troops in Japan, by Erica Werner, page 5. Rep. Mike Honda has asked the Congressional Research Service to investigate reports that American authorities permitted an official brothel system for U.S. soldiers occupying Japan after WWII. Honda, who also sponsors a resolution urging Japan to apologize for wartime sexual slavery, distinguished the two situations while calling for accountability.

Community

• Our Father’s Club: Terminal Islanders Face Fading Legacy, by Lynda Lin, page 1. The Terminal Islander Club, formed in 1971 by former residents of the once-thriving Japanese fishing village on Terminal Island, struggles to find new leadership as its aging Nisei membership dwindles. Club president Yukio Tatsumi and others reflect on the community’s history, its forced displacement after Pearl Harbor, and the challenge of engaging younger generations to keep traditions alive.
• JACL Credit Union Wins Utah Chamber Award, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The National JACL Credit Union was awarded the Utah Asian Chamber of Commerce Business Award, recognizing the success of Asian businesses in Utah. President Terrell T. Nagata accepted the award as the credit union celebrates 64 years of operation.
• Azuma Honored with First Annual Lotus Award, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Julie Azuma received the first annual Lotus Award from the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans for her dedication to the APA community. She started a business in 1994 providing learning products for children with autism after her daughter was diagnosed with the condition.
• APAs Snag Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Several APA writers and illustrators won this year’s Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards, including Amy Lee-Tai and Felicia Hoshino for younger children’s books and Cynthia Kadohata for older children’s books. The award, given since 1953, recognizes books promoting peace and justice.
• Sato Awarded Oregon’s IT Executive of the Year, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Dennis Sato, chief information officer for Salem Hospital Regional Health Services, was named IT Executive of the Year for Oregon and Southwest Washington by the Society of Information Management. He was recognized for implementing a hospital-wide clinical information system and his community service with the state Commission of Asian Affairs.
• Oto Appointed to California EPA, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Pamela Oto has been appointed special assistant for the California Environmental Protection Agency after serving as deputy legislative affairs secretary under Governors Schwarzenegger and Davis. She previously held various positions in the state senate and assembly.
• So Cal APAs Recognized as Local Heroes, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Three APA leaders, Kenneth K. Inouye and Mitsuye M. Yamada among them, were honored with the Local Hero of the Year Award for contributions to the arts and social services. The award is sponsored by Union Bank of California.
• Man Strives to Sustain Chinese Cemetery in Lovelock, by Associated Press, page 5. Larry De Leeuw is working to preserve the historic Chinese cemetery in Lovelock, Nevada, and locate descendants of those buried there. The city held its third annual Chinese Memorial Day event, Ching Ming, at the cemetery in April to honor ancestors and raise awareness.
• Monterey Chapter Hosts Teacher Training Workshop, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The JACL Monterey chapter sponsored a teacher training workshop on the Japanese American Experience in American History, featuring speakers Sandy Lydon and Mas Hashimoto. More than 80 educators and counselors attended the event, which covered internment history and JACL curriculum resources.

Arts & Entertainment

• Creating a Pan Asian Culture Through Classical Dance, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Ken Kanesaka, the first American to train in Japan’s kabuki world, has returned to Southern California to open dance studios and finish his college degree. He aims to bridge Japanese and American culture through classical dance and is developing a project fusing Chinese and Japanese dance traditions.
• Hirahara’s Third Mystery Novel Wins Edgar, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Naomi Hirahara’s novel ‘Snakeskin Shamisen,’ the third in her series featuring gardener detective Mas Arai, won the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. The award was presented at a banquet in New York on April 26.
• Ken Kanesaka Bridges Japan and America Through Classical Dance, by Lynda Lin, page 5. Continuing from the front page, this article details Ken Kanesaka’s journey from kabuki training in Japan to opening dance studios in California and Seattle. He discusses cultural readjustment, his critique of superficial teaching of Japanese classical dance in America, and his collaborative project fusing Chinese and Japanese dance traditions with Josephine Louie.
• The ‘Girliest’ Zombie Flick Ever, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Filmmaker Grace Lee, known for ‘The Grace Lee Project,’ has created ‘American Zombie,’ a mockumentary about zombies living ordinary lives in Los Angeles. The film reimagines zombies as sympathetic, marginalized characters and has sparked debate among zombie culture purists over its unconventional approach.

In-Depth

• Blazing a Trail on Two Wheels, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Sansei Colleen Shino is riding the inaugural Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, a 2,100-mile path retracing the journey of runaway slaves from Mobile, Alabama to Owen Sound, Canada. Motivated by family health history and a spirit of adventure, she describes the physical challenge and the historical resonance of the journey.
• Underground Railroad Bicycle Route: Riding for History and Justice, by P.C. Staff, page 12. This continuation profiles Colleen Shino’s UGRR bicycle journey in more detail, describing her training, family history of civil rights work in JACL’s Washington office, and the camaraderie among the 19 riders. The seven-week trip has drawn public attention along the route, with locals treating riders like celebrities.

Commentary

• A Memorable Experience: JA Leadership Delegation to Japan, by Larry Oda, page 2. JACL National President Larry Oda recounts his participation in the Japanese American Leadership Delegation, a weeklong trip to Japan sponsored by MOFA and the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership. He describes meetings with Japanese officials, cultural visits in Kyoto, and a poignant audience with an atomic bomb survivor in Hiroshima.
• Spring Campaign: Helping Pacific Citizen Reach Its Potential, by Nelson Nagai, page 2. Nelson Nagai argues that the Pacific Citizen’s unique JACL-controlled budget structure necessitates the Spring Campaign to fund equipment upgrades and staff. He contrasts the P.C.’s responsible journalism with controversies at other Asian American publications and urges readers to support the paper’s growth.
• Habeas Corpus and Watada, by Edith Kawamoto Prederich, page 2. A letter to the editor thanks John Tateishi for speaking out against Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez’s statements on habeas corpus exceptions. The writer urges JACL members to support Lt. Ehren Watada and uphold the organization’s civil rights legacy.
• Pete’s Editorial Cartoons Began Here 50 Years Ago, by Harry Honda, page 8. Harry Honda commemorates 50 years since cartoonist Pete Hironaka’s first editorial cartoon appeared in the Pacific Citizen, tracing Hironaka’s journey from Dayton JACL member to regular contributor. The column also recounts Hironaka’s survival of a 1969 tornado and his background as a Poston internee turned artist.
• Setting the Record Straight, by John Tateishi, page 8. John Tateishi reasserts his controversial claim that without JACL’s decision to pursue a commission bill, redress for Japanese American WWII internment would never have passed. He describes the unpopular decision, the political realities of the era, and the commission’s critical role in building the case for redress legislation.

JACL

• JACL’s ‘A Salute to Champions’ Gala Dinner in D.C. Set for Sept. 12, by P.C. Staff, page 4. JACL will hold its inaugural gala dinner in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 12, honoring Sen. Daniel K. Inouye with proceeds funding a Public Policy Fellowship in his name. Actor George Takei will narrate the event as JACL seeks to expand its presence and funding sources in the capital.

Sports

• 6-4 Japanese Forward Giving Minn. Thunder the Boom They Need, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 7. Japanese forward Keisuke Ota impressed the Minnesota Thunder soccer club at a tryout combine, earning a contract despite a significant language barrier. His height and soccer intelligence give the team a target player they’ve lacked since a previous player left the roster years ago.
• Okajima: Hardly a Dicey Deal for the Red Sox, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 7. Relief pitcher Hideki Okajima has quietly outperformed expectations for the Boston Red Sox, posting a streak of scoreless innings while easing teammate Daisuke Matsuzaka’s transition to MLB. His unconventional pitching motion and calm demeanor have surprised manager Terry Francona and opposing batters alike.
• NBA All-Star Plans Fitness Center in Homeland, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Yao Ming announced a partnership with 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide to open a fitness center chain in mainland China, opening in August. As an equity partner, Yao will appear in advertising and promotional appearances for the venture.

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