Astronaut Daniel Tani returns, and JACL looks at redress and membership

Vol. 146, No. 6, April 4, 2008. 16 pages. View this issue

Sansei astronaut Daniel Tani came home after about 120 days on the International Space Station, and Lynda Lin told his story across pages 1 and 11, including the death of his mother, Rose, while he was in orbit. Elsewhere on the front page, Sansei JACL members Dale Ikeda and Ken Yokota looked back on the Redress campaign, and on page 8 John Tateishi wrote about the 20th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act. A Fairfax County project to record Asian Pacific American history and a Philadelphia cheesesteak shop’s blocked new location also made page 1.

JACL’s own future ran through the issue: Floyd Mori and Larry Grant wrote about membership, Craig Ishii’s youth programs were profiled, and convention workshops in Salt Lake City were previewed. Readers will also find 442nd and 100th Battalion veterans flying on the Spirit of Go For Broke, Sho Dozono’s run for mayor of Portland, and debate over the casting of the film 21.

What’s in this issue

National

• Astronaut Daniel Tani Returns to Earth After Losing Mother in Orbit, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Sansei astronaut Daniel Tani returned from a 120-day mission on the International Space Station, becoming the first astronaut to lose a parent while in orbit when his 90-year-old mother Rose died in a car-train crash during his mission. Now back home in Illinois, Tani reflects on his rehabilitation, his mission’s accomplishments, and his mother’s influence on his connection to the Japanese American community.
• Philly’s ‘Chink’s Steaks’ is Stopped from Opening Up Its New Location, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 1. A new high-profile location for the controversial ‘Chink’s Steaks’ cheesesteak shop in Philadelphia will not open after the Port Authority reportedly blocked it, a small victory for Asian Pacific American civil rights advocates. Meanwhile, a city panel ruled that ‘Speak English’ signs at rival Geno’s Steaks do not violate anti-discrimination ordinances.
• APA Groups Accuse Sony Executives of ‘White-Washing’ the Cast of ’21’, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian American watchdog groups criticized Sony Pictures for casting a non-APA actor as the lead in ’21,’ a film based on the true story of mostly APA MIT students who beat Las Vegas casinos at blackjack. Despite calls for a boycott, the film debuted as the top box office earner during its opening weekend.
• WWII Vets Fly on ‘Spirit of Go For Broke’, by Tech. Sgt. Tom Czerwinski, page 4. Forty surviving veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Infantry Battalion took a historic flight aboard the C-17 ‘Spirit of Go For Broke’ at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The flight included a special father-son moment between Chief Master Sgt. Irvin Yoshino and his father, WWII veteran George Yoshino.
• Salt Lake City Officials Approve Plans to Build a New Chinatown, by P.C. Staff, page 4. South Salt Lake City has approved a $20 million Chinatown development project by a Hong Kong-based real estate company, set to become the only Chinatown in the Intermountain West. The new development joins a historic area already designated ‘Japantown Street’ by the city council.
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. This roundup covers several national stories: a California workshop on Cambodian genocide healing, a Hmong-led protest against alleged Milwaukee police brutality, a postponed hearing in a Japanese businessman’s murder case, three men accused of stealing a Sikh truck driver’s turban, and protests over an allegedly racist rezoning plan in New York’s Chinatown.
• APA Educators Win Cash Awards in the ‘Oscars of Teaching’, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. Three APA teachers — Aaron Chung, John Nguyen, and Daniel Uyechi — were among 75 national honorees to receive $25,000 Milken Educator Awards at a Los Angeles ceremony. The awards represent the largest teacher recognition program in the United States.
• Comedian Apologizes For On-Air Use of Racial Slur, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Former ‘Saturday Night Live’ cast member Norm MacDonald apologized to the Media Action Network for Asian Americans after using the slur ‘gooks’ on ‘The Adam Carolla Show.’ MacDonald said the comment was thoughtless and expressed regret for any pain it caused.
• Activists Want Olympic Torch Route to Plan San Francisco Protests, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 6. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said protesters have the right to voice grievances against China during the Olympic torch’s only North American stop on April 9, while ensuring a peaceful procession. The torch route will likely skip Chinatown due to concerns about narrow streets, despite the neighborhood’s symbolic significance.
• Dan Tani Continued: A Bittersweet Journey, by Lynda Lin, page 11. This continuation of the Daniel Tani profile details his path to becoming an astronaut, his record five spacewalks on this mission, and the emotional toll of losing his mother while in orbit. Family members recall Tani’s mother Rose, a Nisei who instilled in him strong Japanese American values despite her wartime internment experience.
• APA Groups Continue Criticism of ’21’ Casting, by P.C. Staff, page 13. Continuing coverage of the ’21’ casting controversy includes cast member Jeff Ma’s defense of the film and warnings from APA bloggers like Jenn Fang that such whitewashing will persist without support for Asian American cinema. Critics argue the trend perpetuates harmful stereotypes about APA men.

In-Depth

• APAs in Fairfax County, Virginia Strive to Tell Their Stories, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. The Fairfax County Asian American History Project aims to document the largely unrecorded history of the county’s Asian Pacific American community, the largest minority group there. Led by Cora Foley and supported by community members like Ken Nakamura, the project plans to produce a book, video and website by May 2010.
• Vindication: Sansei Reflect on the Redress Movement, by Elaine Low, page 1. Sansei JACL members Dale Ikeda and Ken Yokota recall their roles in the decade-long Redress campaign and what it meant to witness the government’s formal apology and compensation to internment survivors. Both described the ceremony, including a moment when an Assistant Attorney General knelt to present a check to a 106-year-old survivor, as a bittersweet but proud milestone.

Sports

• Matsui Gets Hitched, by P.C. Staff, page 1. New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui surprised teammates by secretly marrying and simultaneously winning a bet with Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu over who would wed first. Matsui flew to New York on an off day to get married, catching his teammates off guard.
• Adams State College Pitcher is Selected as Player of the Week, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. Courtney Lani-Takako Davis, a junior pitcher and designated player at Adams State College, was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Week. She hit .682 with 15 hits and 11 RBIs as her team went 6-2 and swept Nebraska-Kearney for the first time in school history.
• Nomo to Rehab Injury After Comeback Bid, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Hideo Nomo’s comeback attempt with the Kansas City Royals has been put on hold due to a groin strain, though the 39-year-old pitcher remains optimistic about continuing his return to Major League Baseball. Royals manager Trey Hillman said the team would likely give Nomo another chance if his rehab goes well.
• Exodus of Japanese Players to Major Leagues Not Slowing, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Following the success of stars like Daisuke Matsuzaka and Ichiro Suzuki, more Japanese baseball players are expected to move to Major League Baseball, straining Japan’s domestic leagues. Chiba Lotte Marines manager Bobby Valentine acknowledged the negative effect on Japanese professional baseball even as top talent continues signing with MLB teams.

Commentary

• Mixed Impressions on Ralph Carr, by Ed Suguro, page 2. A letter writer examines the legacy of Colorado Gov. Ralph Carr, who allowed Japanese Americans to relocate to his state during WWII but also made statements referring to them as ‘unwelcome guests.’ The writer concludes Carr deserves credit for his stance but likely acted out of a sense of patriotic duty rather than pure altruism.
• Is the Iraq War Illegal?, by H. Quintus Sakai, page 2. A letter responds to a previous article about Lt. Ehren Watada’s refusal to serve in Iraq, criticizing the author for ignoring the moral and legal grounding of the Nuremberg Code. The writer invokes Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes to argue about the flexible use of legal principles in such debates.
• JACL Values Heroic JA Veterans, by Floyd Mori, page 2. JACL National Director Floyd Mori responds to a veteran’s letter, affirming the organization’s deep appreciation for the 442nd/100th Regimental Combat Team and other JA veterans. He also addresses membership concerns, suggesting members recruit family members to boost JACL’s numbers.
• Watada is Not a Coward, by Richard T. Schultz, page 2. A combat veteran defends Lt. Ehren Watada against accusations of cowardice, citing his prior service and the JACL’s historic support of Nisei soldiers despite wartime prejudice. The writer argues Americans have an obligation to challenge their government when it is wrong, even within the military.
• Lifting JACL Out of Its Membership Crisis, by Larry Grant, page 2. New JACL National VP of Membership Larry Grant shares his personal journey into JACL leadership and discusses the organization’s ongoing membership decline, particularly among aging members. He calls on each chapter to recruit at least one new member per month and to re-engage lapsed members.
• A Hallmark Achievement, by John Tateishi, page 8. Former JACL National Director John Tateishi reflects on the 20th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act, recounting the strategic decisions behind the Redress campaign launched in 1978. He credits the campaign’s success to focusing public debate on constitutional arguments and coordinated grassroots lobbying efforts.
• Racial Neurotics, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 8. Yumi Sakugawa reflects on America’s obsession with race and identity while living in Japan, discussing how her multiracial upbringing shaped her understanding of loyalty and identity. She connects her personal experience to the complex, contradictory history of Japanese Americans navigating dual national identities.

Community

• Dozono Hopes to Become Portland’s First Minority Mayor, by Lynda Lin, page 3. Sho Dozono, head of Azumano Travel and a longtime JACL member, is running for mayor of Portland, Oregon, hoping to become the city’s first minority mayor. Inspired by Sen. Daniel Inouye’s challenge to Sansei leaders, Dozono has overcome campaign finance setbacks and old allegations to remain a frontrunner in the race.
• Fresno Parents Push for a Hmong Charter School, by Lynda Lin, page 3. Hmong community leaders and parents in Fresno are advocating for a charter school designed to preserve Hmong language and culture amid concerns about cultural disconnect between generations. After facing pushback from the school board, supporters withdrew their petition to refine their proposal and plan to resubmit it in June.
• Downtown JACL, Women’s Society to Honor Four Community Leaders, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. The Downtown Los Angeles JACL and Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California will honor four Japanese American women — Tsuruko Iwohara, Nancy Natsuko Nakaya, Hiroko Seki, and Hazel Taniguchi — as their 2008 Women of the Year. The honorees have made significant contributions to arts, music, taiko, and community service.
• USC’s APA Alumni Association to Honor Former Wartime Nisei Students, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association will honor former Nisei students whose education was disrupted by WWII internment at its April 25 scholarship gala. The event will also recognize honorees including ‘Mythbusters’ star Grant Imahara and USC athletic director Michael Garrett.
• Yolo County to Honor JA WWII Veterans, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Davis VFW Post 6949 and Yolo County Supervisor Mariko Yamada are seeking to identify and honor Japanese American WWII veterans at a Memorial Day ceremony on May 26. Organizers hope to recognize the added stress these soldiers faced while their own families were incarcerated during the war.
• Hmong School Effort Continues Amid Cultural Concerns, by Lynda Lin, page 12. Fresno Hmong community leaders continue pushing for a charter school to address cultural disconnect and educational gaps, despite setbacks and disagreements over strategy. Experts and supporters debate whether a culturally specific school can balance heritage preservation with broader educational and social needs.
• Sho Dozono Overcomes Adversity in Mayoral Race, by P.C. Staff, page 13. Continuing coverage of Sho Dozono’s Portland mayoral campaign details his public financing setback and resurfaced allegations regarding a trust fund controversy from six years earlier. Despite the challenges, Dozono received strong support from backers and remains committed to the race, emphasizing his history of unifying diverse communities.

Arts & Entertainment

• JabbaWockeeZ Named America’s Best Dance Crew, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. The mostly APA dance crew JabbaWockeeZ from California and Arizona won MTV’s ‘America’s Best Dance Crew’ competition and a $100,000 cash prize. Members include Jeff Nguyen, Rynan Shawn Paguio, Ben Chung, Phil Tayag and Chris Gatdula.
• Don’t Sweat the Technique, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Korean American filmmaker Benson Lee discusses his documentary ‘Planet B-Boy,’ which explores international breakdancing culture through six dance crews competing at Germany’s ‘Battle of the Year.’ Lee reflects on his winding path to filmmaking and hopes the film sparks renewed interest in b-boy culture in America.

JACL

• A Youthful Energy Boost, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 5. PSW Regional Director Craig Ishii, one of JACL’s youngest-ever regional directors, has launched new initiatives like ‘Project: Community’ and ‘Project: Campus Leadership’ to engage APA youth. Ishii and program coordinator Sen Sugano aim to make JACL more relevant to younger generations amid ongoing membership challenges.
• Something for Everyone at the Convention Workshops, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The 2008 JACL Biennial Convention in Salt Lake City will feature workshops covering topics from preserving family histories and financial education to civic engagement and youth issues. Organizers designed the sessions to address membership needs and encourage more active participation, especially among younger JACLers.
• Youthful Energy Boost Continued: Not Your Grandparents’ JACL, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 13. This continuation details JACL’s new youth programs, including ‘Project: Community’ and ‘Project: Campus Leadership,’ inspired by Craig Ishii’s experience at the JACL Washington D.C. Leadership Conference. District governor Alayne Yonemoto praises the initiatives as evidence JACL is evolving beyond its traditional image.

Obituaries

• Cambodian ‘Killing Fields’ Survivor Dith Pran Dies of Cancer, by Associated Press, page 15. Dith Pran, the Cambodian journalist whose survival story inspired the film ‘The Killing Fields,’ died of pancreatic cancer at age 65 in New Jersey. After escaping the Khmer Rouge regime, he became a UN goodwill ambassador and founded an awareness project about the Cambodian genocide.
• Decorated WWII Veteran Kashiwagi Passes, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Robert Kashiwagi, a decorated WWII veteran of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and former internee, died March 21 in Sacramento at age 89. Featured in Ken Burns’ documentary ‘The War,’ Kashiwagi spent his later years sharing his wartime experiences with schools and civic groups.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.