Vol. 148, No. 1, January 16, 2009. 20 pages. View this issue
As the Pacific Citizen marked its 80th anniversary, this New Year’s issue gave JACL’s national officers and district governors space to look back at 2008 and ahead to 2009. Floyd Mori reviewed the year, Larry Oda wrote about the Redress campaign and the Civil Liberties Act, and Josh Spry celebrated the growing number of young people on the national board. Caroline Aoyagi-Stom described plans for a redesigned Web site with a searchable archive, and Ryan Chin wrote about his work to reverse falling membership.
Other pages carry reports from the districts, including Marcia Chung’s invitation to a Day of Remembrance conference with a panel on the coram nobis cases. Kristine M. Minami profiled Grayce and Hiroshi Uyehara, and a long In Memoriam list for 2008 closes the issue. Five of its 20 pages carry New Year’s greetings.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- Bringing Our Community Together, by Margie Yamamoto, page 2. Yamamoto reflects on how her family’s Oshogatsu tradition grew into a large multicultural celebration and connects this to the Pacific Citizen’s role in uniting Japanese Americans nationwide. She discusses joining the PC editorial board and the newspaper’s importance as a continuous chronicle of JACL and Japanese American history.
- An 80-Year Legacy, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 2. As the Pacific Citizen marks its 80th anniversary, Aoyagi-Stom describes plans to launch a redesigned Web site in February offering downloadable PDFs, photo galleries, a searchable archive, and a ‘My PC. Contributor’ section. She explains that the paper aims to serve both traditional print readers and tech-savvy members while maintaining its print edition alongside new online features.
- 2008: The Year in Review, by Floyd Mori, page 3. Mori reviews major changes of 2008 including Obama’s election and reflects on JACL’s own transformations, including falling membership and a shift from biennial to annual conventions. He highlights new staff focus on youth and health programs and expresses optimism about the organization’s future despite economic challenges.
- Happy New Year 2009, by Larry Oda, page 3. Oda reflects on the 30th and 20th anniversaries of the Redress campaign’s beginning and its culmination with HR 442’s signing, calling it a phenomenal civil rights achievement. He warns that post-9/11 laws like the USA Patriot Act threaten civil liberties and urges continued vigilance to protect against government overreach targeting ethnic groups.
- Falling Average Ages Makes Your Secretary/Treasurer Smile, by Josh Spry, page 4. Spry celebrates the growing number of young people under 25 serving on JACL’s national board and in chapter leadership positions. He credits diverse programming in cultural preservation, civil rights, and career networking for engaging youth and hopes this trend continues into future bienniums.
- A New Year’s Resolution for All of Us, by Sheldon Arakaki, page 4. Arakaki outlines the Program for Action passed at the national convention, urging chapters and districts to implement community outreach, coalition-building, and membership recruitment activities. He suggests specific ideas like voter education forums, workshops on immigrant rights, and partnerships with other civil rights organizations.
- East Bay Eden, by Tim Koide, page 5. Koide describes his visit with the Eden Township chapter’s youth group (EYG), highlighting their community service activities and annual trips that build friendship and civic engagement. He argues that JACL should create more youth groups with autonomy to channel young people’s desire to serve their communities.
- A Movement to Revitalize the JACL, by Ryan Chin, page 5. Chin describes his efforts as newly appointed vice president of membership to reverse declining JACL membership through grassroots empowerment and communication with chapter presidents. He details the creation of a Membership Center website with downloadable tools, brochures, and resources for chapters.
- Paving the Road to Opportunity, page 5. This article details JACL’s new membership kits and booth kits available to chapters, including brochures, banners, and free copies of the 75th anniversary book for new members while supplies last. It explains how chapters can request these materials from national JACL to boost recruitment efforts.
- New Year, New Progress in 2009, by David Kawamoto, page 6. Kawamoto reports on JACL scholarship program improvements, the successful 2008 Washington D.C. Gala honoring young public servants, and the ongoing JACL/OCA Leadership Conference sponsored by State Farm. He also mentions planned giving efforts and thanks volunteers for sustaining programs despite the financial recession.
- Change Is in the Air: Unique Opportunities for JACL, by Ron Katsuyama, page 6. Katsuyama observes growing political and community activism, particularly among youth, following the 2008 election and economic downturn. He argues this climate creates unique opportunities for JACL to expand its civil rights and service programs by building on its nationwide network of chapters.
- Just Getting Started: A New Beginning, by Kimberly Shintaku and Brandon Mita, page 7. The authors discuss strategies to attract young people to JACL leadership, citing the four board members under 25 as evidence of progress. They highlight the upcoming 2009 JACL National Youth Conference in Minnesota and stress personal outreach to scholarship recipients as key to retention.
- Amazing Grayce and Hiroshi, by Kristine M. Minami, page 7. Minami profiles longtime JACL leaders Grayce and Hiroshi Uyehara, highlighting Grayce’s pivotal role leading the Redress campaign’s lobbying efforts in Washington D.C. The Eastern District Council has established a legislative internship program in their honor, funded partly by a $10,000 EDC pledge, to inspire future community organizers.
- Greetings from the Pacific Northwest District!, by Elaine Akagi, page 8. Akagi describes harsh winter weather in the Pacific Northwest and the economic challenges facing JACL nonprofit funding. She discusses the district’s Strategic Plan initiative to grow membership and reflects on the historic significance of Obama’s election for the nation’s future.
- The Importance of Asking the Right Questions, by Brian Morishita, page 8. Morishita draws parallels between the struggles of the American auto industry and Swiss watchmakers to JACL’s declining membership, arguing that both failed to adapt to changing market needs. He calls for JACL leaders to first assess member needs through feedback before launching into strategic planning.
- Happy New Year from the Midwest District Council!, by Leilani Savitt, page 13. Savitt outlines MDC’s 2009 plans including the Oral History Project documenting Japanese Americans who resettled in the Midwest, a new district website, and hosting the JACL National Youth Conference in Minnesota. She also mentions efforts to establish JACL chapters on college campuses like Notre Dame.
- Growing With the PSW JACL, by Alayne Yonemoto, page 14. Yonemoto recaps PSW’s 2008 achievements including the Project: Community! youth leadership program, a successful Open House, and a membership campaign that raised over 100 memberships. She introduces new staff members and interns joining the district office for 2009 programming.
- Focusing on Membership Goals in the New Year, by Alan Nishi, page 14. Nishi emphasizes membership as NCWNP’s top priority for 2009 and highlights the new young professionals group ‘Nakayoshi’ that has held numerous social and volunteer events since 2008. He also pays tribute to the late Edwin Endow, a longtime JACL membership leader who recently passed away.
Commentary
- Celebrating a Legacy, by Marcia Chung, page 13. Chung introduces herself as the new CCDC governor, honoring her predecessor Bobbi Hanada and her late father’s JACL legacy. She invites readers to the Day of Remembrance/Tri-District Conference in February featuring panel discussions on the coram nobis cases and the dedication of the Pinedale Memorial.
- Chin (continued), by Ryan Chin, page 15. Continuing his membership piece, Chin explains he was unexpectedly asked by President Oda to serve as vice president of membership despite being away from JACL for two years. He calls on members to work together to reverse declining membership trends through dedicated, cohesive leadership.
- Koide (continued), by Tim Koide, page 15. Koide concludes his piece urging chapters to create youth groups with autonomy to channel young people’s energy into community service and national JACL programs. He argues that meeting youth’s desire to serve will naturally build membership and strengthen the organization’s community ties.
- Yonemoto (continued), by Alayne Yonemoto, page 15. Yonemoto continues describing new PSW staff including fellow Tracy Huang and regional director Craig Ishii, crediting her board for strong volunteer support during her tenure as governor. She encourages continued volunteer engagement to sustain JACL’s civil rights and cultural preservation efforts amid financial difficulty.
Obituaries
- In Memoriam – 2008, by P.C. Staff, page 17. This extensive obituary listing commemorates Japanese Americans and community figures who died in 2008, including many WWII veterans of the 442nd and MIS, as well as notable figures like Cherry Kinoshita, Rocky Aoki, and Dith Pran. Each entry notes the deceased’s age, hometown, date of death, and notable affiliations or achievements.
- Kanji Nishijima, page 17. Kanji Nishijima, a lifelong Sacramento resident who was interned at Tule Lake and Crystal City during WWII, passed away peacefully at home at age 86. He owned L&M Co., a TV/appliance store, for forty-five years and is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandson.
- Kiyo Nishiyama Finucane, page 17. Kiyo Nishiyama Finucane, interned at Heart Mountain during WWII, later became a social worker and raised six sons in Washington D.C. before her death at age 91 from cancer. She is remembered for her straight talk, wise counsel, and caring influence across three generations of family and friends.
- Alice (Kubota) Nagano, page 17. Alice Kubota Nagano, who left Poston II internment camp in 1943 to resume nursing studies in Detroit, passed away peacefully at age 91. She worked as a registered nurse at Henry Ford Hospital for decades, retiring in 1980 as head nurse of the ophthalmology clinic.
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