Remembering Bill Hosokawa, and the Watada court-martial ruling

Vol. 145, No. 10, November 16, 2007. 16 pages. View this issue

The death of journalist Bill Hosokawa at 92 ran through this issue. Gil Asakawa’s obituary traced his more than 50 years of writing the “Out of the Frying Pan” column, Raymond Uno recalled a 40-year friendship that began at Heart Mountain, and Harry Honda revisited a 1993 interview with him. The front page also reported a federal judge’s ruling that the Army cannot hold a second court-martial for Iraq war objector Ehren Watada until his double jeopardy claim is resolved.

Elsewhere, Lynda Lin reported on JACL’s budget shortfall and falling membership, and Gary Mayeda covered the Tri-District conference in Reno, including a session on preserving California’s remaining Japantowns. Teachers visited Tule Lake, the Manzanar Committee weighed in on preserving confinement sites, and a farm once owned by a Japanese American family was added to Washington’s heritage barn register. Caroline Aoyagi-Stom profiled adult Korean adoptees in Minnesota, and Grace Park and Mirai Nagasu appeared in the arts and sports pages.

What’s in this issue

National

• U.S. Judge Blocks Army’s Second Court-Martial of Iraq War Objector Watada, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 1. A federal judge ruled that the Army cannot hold a second court-martial for 1st Lt. Ehren Watada until his double jeopardy claim is resolved, finding the military judge likely abused his discretion in declaring a mistrial in the first trial. Watada, who refused deployment to Iraq calling the war illegal, faces charges including conduct unbecoming an officer and could face six years in prison if convicted.
• Once JA-Owned Farm Now First on Washington Historic Barn Register, by Elaine Low, page 3. The Nakashima farm in Snohomish County, Washington, once spanning over 1,000 acres, has been placed on the state’s Heritage Barn Register, commemorating a history that includes forced sale of the land after Pearl Harbor. Local preservationists hope to restore the historic barn and possibly rename the site Nakashima Park in honor of the family.
• South Idaho Feedlot Opponents Irked by Commission Document, by Associated Press, page 3. Opponents of a proposed 13,000-animal feedlot near the Minidoka Internment National Monument in Idaho accuse a commissioner who voted for the project of trying to undercut the commission’s rejection of the plan. The dispute centers on a formal denial document signed without a third commissioner’s input, which opponents say is weak enough to support an appeal.
• Hispanics See TV Hiring Progress; Asians Still Lag Behind, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 4. An eighth annual diversity survey found Hispanics made incremental hiring progress at major TV networks while Asian Pacific Americans and American Indians continued to lag behind in on- and off-camera employment. The report highlighted standout shows featuring APA actors like Sandra Oh and Masi Oka, but noted overall stagnant or declining numbers for AA writers, producers and directors.
• Manzanar Committee: Grant Monies Should be Used to Preserve All Confinement Sites, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Manzanar Committee announced support for Public Law 109-441, which authorizes up to $38 million for preservation of WWII Japanese American confinement sites, urging funds be used broadly across camps and assembly centers. Committee co-chair Bruce Embrey emphasized both developing existing National Park Service facilities and supporting site-specific preservation projects.
• National Newsbytes, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 4. This roundup covers several national stories: an Arizona ballot initiative against affirmative action, LAPD’s controversial plan to map Muslim communities, housing discrimination against Micronesians in Hawaii, a Cornell resolution on APA mental health services, and former ‘comfort women’ appealing to the European Parliament for a Japanese apology.
• PPALM Aims to Grow Asian American Officers Ranks, by Michelle Tan, Courtesy of Army Times, page 6. A group of retired officers launched the Pan Pacific American Leaders and Mentors Organization (PPALM) on Veterans Day to support the Army careers of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, backed by former Army Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki. The group aims to address disparities in promotion rates and leadership positions for AAPI officers.
• AK Connection Brings Together Minnesota’s Adult Adopted Koreans (continued), by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 11. This continuation follows adoptees Melissa Brown and Lisa Ellingson as they reunite with birth family members in South Korea, and explores the emotional complexity of searching for biological parents. The piece highlights how AK Connection provides adoptees a sense of belonging and shared understanding.
• Watada’s Second Court-Martial Blocked, Debate Continues, by P.C. Staff, page 13. This continuation details that Watada’s military term ended in December but legal proceedings have delayed his discharge, while the JACL national board reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring he receives fair treatment. Supporters are organizing recurring vigils in California, New York, and Washington to urge the Army to drop all charges.

In-Depth

• AK Connection Brings Together Minnesota’s Adult Adopted Koreans, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Minnesota, home to the largest population of Korean adoptees in the U.S., has given rise to support groups like AK Connection that help adult adoptees build community and share experiences. The article follows several adoptees, including Kimberly Therres and Lisa Medici, as they navigate identity, birth family searches, and belonging.
• Woman Collects Heart Mountain Internment Camp Artifacts, by Associated Press, page 3. For the past decade, a woman named Zall has dedicated herself to collecting and preserving artifacts from the Heart Mountain relocation camp in Wyoming, including a granite rock inscribed with haiku by a Japanese American internee. She has met hundreds of camp survivors and their families, working to ensure their stories are preserved.

Obituaries

• Pioneering Journalist Bill Hosokawa Passes at 92, by Gil Asakawa, page 1. Journalist, author and diplomat Bill Hosokawa, who wrote the Pacific Citizen’s ‘Out of the Frying Pan’ column for over 50 years, died Nov. 9 in Sequim, Washington at age 92. He authored several landmark books on Japanese American history and served as Honorary Consul General for Japan for decades.
• Bill Hosokawa’s Journalism Legacy Detailed, by P.C. Staff, page 12. This continuation of the Hosokawa obituary details his career path from being discouraged from journalism at the University of Washington to becoming editorial page editor of the Denver Post. The JACL National Board passed a unanimous resolution honoring Hosokawa’s contributions at its Nov. 10 meeting.
• Paul Tibbets, Pilot of Plane that Dropped Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Dies at 92, by Associated Press, page 15. Paul Tibbets, who piloted the Enola Gay that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, died Nov. 1 at his Columbus, Ohio home after a decline in health. He maintained until his death that he had no regrets about the mission, which killed 70,000 to 100,000 people and helped end World War II.
• Ruth Chinn, Bank Empire Pioneer, Dies at 92, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Ruth Chinn, who with her husband Robert founded the first Asian-owned bank in the U.S., died in her Seattle home Oct. 21 at age 92. She was active in the Asian Pacific American community, serving on boards including the Wing Luke Asian Museum and co-founding the Asian Resource Center.
• Ray Isamu Kitayama Death Notice, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Ray Isamu Kitayama, born on Bainbridge Island, Washington, passed away Sept. 29 after a lengthy illness, having built a career in the flower and nursery business including Kitayama Brothers Inc. and Greenleaf Wholesale Florists. He was interned at Manzanar during WWII and is survived by his wife Kimi and four children.

JACL

• Despite Current Budget Shortfall, JACL is Expected to Pull Ahead by Year’s End, by Lynda Lin, page 1. The JACL is currently running a deficit budget but expects to end the year with a surplus of about $41,000 due to fundraising efforts and delayed staff hiring, national board members reported at the Nov. 10 quarterly meeting. Membership numbers are down over 1,000 members, prompting leaders to call for increased focus on revenue generation going forward.
• Tri-District Tackles Civil Rights, Community Issues, by Gary Mayeda, page 6. The NCWNP, Central California, and Pacific Southwest JACL districts held their Tri-District conference in Reno, featuring workshops on the Watada case, Constitutional rights, and preserving California’s remaining Japantowns. National Director Floyd Mori urged members to focus on what benefits the organization as a whole rather than individual chapters or districts.
• National JACL Board Q&A, by Gary Mayeda, page 6. National JACL board members fielded audience questions at the Tri-District Conference regarding youth programs, civil rights stances, budget deficits, convention planning, and headquarters location. Officials including Larry Oda, Mark Kobayashi, and Elaine Akagi addressed concerns about membership decline and organizational strategy.
• JACL Budget Update: Membership Decline Continues, by P.C. Staff, page 12. JACL’s membership is down over 1,000 members compared to last year, attributed to a $5 dues increase and staff turnover, potentially costing the organization $70,000 in revenue. Officials including Edwin Endow and Larry Oda discussed strategies to boost corporate and foundation funding to offset the shortfall.

Commentary

• Bill Hosokawa: Well-Respected Journalist and Gentleman, by Raymond Uno, page 2. Former National JACL President Raymond Uno pays tribute to Bill Hosokawa, recalling their 40-year friendship and shared internment experience at Heart Mountain. Uno praises Hosokawa as a dignified, fair-minded voice for the Japanese American community who will be greatly missed.
• Offensive T-shirts, by Shigeki Sugiyama, page 2. A reader recounts enjoying comedian Paul Ogata’s routine at a show but expresses dismay upon discovering Ogata continues to market offensive t-shirts on his website. The letter criticizes the continued sale of these items.
• Re: ‘EKO House’, by Roy Otsuji, page 2. A reader responds to a previous column about EKO Haus in Dusseldorf, Germany, providing background on its founding by the Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai and Rev. Dr. Yehan Numata to promote Buddhism worldwide. The letter explains the significance of the Joya-e New Year service and encourages further inquiry into the center’s history.
• National Staff: The Lifeblood of JACL, by Floyd Mori, page 2. JACL National Director Floyd Mori highlights the contributions of national JACL staff members across various regional offices, crediting their work on issues from redress to youth leadership development. He emphasizes that while members are the heart of the organization, staff are the lifeblood that carries out its programs and objectives.
• In Closing — Bill Hosokawa’s ‘Out of the Frying Pan’, by Harry Honda, page 8. Harry Honda revisits a 1993 Q&A interview with Bill Hosokawa, touching on his views on JACL leadership, Redress, and the legacy of figures like Mike Masaoka and Min Yasui. The column closes with Hosokawa’s hope that he would be remembered simply as someone who ‘cared.’
• Children of Camp Internees, by Cheryl Watamura Martinez, page 8. The columnist draws parallels between efforts by Holocaust survivors’ descendants in Israel to seek psychological treatment funding from Germany and the largely unaddressed trauma passed down to children of Japanese American internees. She questions why the JA camp experience has received so little attention compared to Holocaust reparations discussions in Germany.

Community

• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. This roundup covers APA achievements nationwide: Ken Miyagishima sworn in as mayor of Las Cruces, NM; Lisa Wong elected as Fitchburg, Massachusetts’ first APA mayor; Santa Clara honors six APA community leaders; three community leaders receive the California Peace Prize; and Japanese rock group B’z is inducted into Hollywood’s RockWalk.
• Teachers Get First Hand Glimpse of Tule Lake Internment Camp History, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Nearly 30 educators from Northern California and Southern Oregon gathered at Tulelake High School for a workshop featuring lectures, panels, and firsthand testimony from former internees like Jimi Yamaichi and Hiroshi Kashiwagi about the Tule Lake Segregation Camp. Organizers hoped to equip teachers to better educate students about the Japanese American incarceration and preserve the site’s history.
• JACL Praises Vets on Veterans Day, by P.C. Staff, page 5. On Veterans Day, JACL issued a statement honoring veterans, with special recognition of Nisei soldiers from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 100th Battalion, and Military Intelligence Service. National Director Floyd Mori credited these WWII veterans’ sacrifices for the acceptance and assimilation Japanese Americans enjoy today.
• JAHSSC Seeks Writers for Fourth Installment of ‘Nanka Nikkei Voices’, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The Japanese American Historical Society of Southern California is soliciting submissions for the fourth volume of ‘Nanka Nikkei Voices,’ themed ‘Living JA: The Japanese American Family.’ Stories should focus on specific aspects of JA family life and values such as gaman and enryo, with Naomi Hirahara serving as guest editor.
• Arizona JACL Hosts Military Tribute, by P.C. Staff, page 13. The JACL Arizona chapter hosted a Military Tribute on Nov. 4 at the Glendale Civic Center, attended by over 180 guests including 56 veterans from WWII through Operation Iraqi Freedom. Medal of Honor recipient Hiroshi ‘Hershey’ Miyamura presented awards to the veterans in attendance.

Arts & Entertainment

• Gracefully Heading Towards a Galactic End, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Actress Grace Park discusses the bittersweet final season of ‘Battlestar Galactica,’ her Korean American identity, and her expanding career including roles in ‘The Cleaner’ and the film ‘West 32nd.’ She reflects on being seen as an Asian Pacific American role model without feeling burdened by the label.

Sports

• Figure Skating Phenom is on Track for Olympic Glory, by Lynda Lin, page 10. 14-year-old figure skater Mirai Nagasu, the reigning U.S. junior ladies champion, balances rigorous training with a desire for a normal teenage life, refusing home schooling despite her rising fame. Coaches and observers see her as a strong contender for the 2010 Winter Olympics, though Nagasu remains focused on simply enjoying skating.

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