Surviving hard times, and honoring Nisei soldiers and students

Vol. 148, No. 10, June 5, 2009. 16 pages. View this issue

An in-depth feature by Lynda Lin set the tone for this 16-page issue: Asian Pacific American survivors of the Great Depression shared memories of hardship that gained new meaning in a recession. Stories from Aya Medrud, Misako Shigekawa, Tim Chang and Joanna Takahashi drew parallels between the two crises. Elsewhere, the House passed a bill granting the Congressional Gold Medal to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Lin reported on Proposition 8 and Meiko, an indie singer.

Colleges in Washington and California gave honorary degrees to former students whose schooling ended with Executive Order 9066. Heart Mountain could be studied as a National Historic Site, and teens sent paper cranes to the Topaz Museum. A Go For Broke Monument anniversary in Little Tokyo and a Memorial Day service at Arlington are also covered. Commentary came from John Tateishi, Emily Murase and Alan Nishi.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• NCWNP Applauds P.C.’s Coverage, by Alan Nishi, page 2. The NCWNP District Governor thanks the Pacific Citizen for its coverage of the Davis family, whose children faced racial slurs at school. He details the district’s involvement, including contacting the Asian Law Caucus and the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights to support the family.
• No Racism in ‘Last Airbender’, by Patrick Kito Monari, page 2. A reader responds to a previous article calling casting in ‘The Last Airbender’ movie ‘whitewashing,’ arguing that casting should be based solely on talent. He contends that JACL’s focus on racial casting issues makes the organization itself guilty of ‘racebending.’
• Women Leaders of California, by Emily Murase, page 2. The author describes her experience joining Leadership California, a professional development program for senior-level women, alongside fellow Japanese American women Lynn Matsuda and Kimberly Oka. She details sessions covering state budget issues, California history, and diversity training led by prominent leaders.
• Gay Marriage: From Tokyo to Los Angeles, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 8. The author reflects on her experience with gay friends in Japan, where gay marriage is unheard of, compared to California’s more progressive stance before Proposition 8 passed. She describes her disappointment at the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Prop. 8 and finds inspiration in teenagers publicly protesting against it.
• A Tortured Decision, by John Tateishi, page 8. The former JACL national director criticizes the Obama administration’s decision not to prosecute those responsible for Bush-era torture policies, arguing that a crime is a crime regardless of political convenience. He recalls that JACL and the ACLU were the only national organizations to publicly condemn the previous administration’s use of torture.

In-Depth

• From Depression to Recession: APA Survivor Stories Have New Significance, by Lynda Lin, page 3. Asian Pacific American survivors of the Great Depression share memories of hardship and resourcefulness that have gained new relevance amid today’s recession. Stories from Aya Medrud, Misako Shigekawa, and younger APAs like Tim Chang and Joanna Takahashi illustrate parallels between the two economic crises.

National

• Same-sex Couples Struggle to Find Meaning After Prop. 8 Decision, by Lynda Lin, page 4. Following the California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Proposition 8 while preserving the marriages of 18,000 same-sex couples, the state has effectively created two classes of couples. JACL leaders and affected couples like Eileen Ma, Suyapa Portillo, June Lagmay, and Rita Romero discuss the emotional and legal fallout.
• Facebook, Online Blogging Become Outlets for One APA Cancer Patient, by Melissa Chua, page 5. Jessica Lum, 21, diagnosed with stage four pheochromocytoma cancer, uses Facebook and a personal blog to share her experience with friends and family. Her openness reflects a generational shift among young cancer patients toward publicly discussing their illness.
• Mixed-race Patients Struggle to Find Marrow Donors, by Juliana Barbassa, page 6. Nick Glasgow, who is one-quarter Japanese, faces nearly impossible odds of finding a bone marrow match due to his mixed racial background. The National Marrow Donor Program is seeking more diverse donors as the number of multiracial Americans grows, though matches remain difficult due to genetic marker differences across ethnic groups.
• Teens Reach Goal for Paper Crane Peace Memorial, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Michelle Reed and Carly Gutzmann completed their goal of collecting 120,313 paper cranes to honor Japanese American internees from World War II. The cranes have been donated to the Topaz Museum in Utah.
• Ceded Lands Lawsuit Still Pending, by P.C. Staff, page 6. University of Hawaii professor Jonathan K. Osorio continues his lawsuit seeking a permanent ban on the sale of former Hawaiian monarchy lands, even as other parties near settlement. The case follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that sent the matter back to the Hawaii Supreme Court.
• Filipino Vets Get Checks for World War II Service, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Filipino American veterans are receiving $15,000 checks from the federal government compensating them for World War II military service. The fund, part of the federal stimulus package, addresses a decades-old congressional decision that stripped their promised veterans’ benefits.
• Site of the Former Chinatown is Safe For Now, by P.C. Staff, page 6. An appeals court denied a request to overturn a judge’s order halting development at the site of a former Chinatown near downtown Riverside, California. The Save Our Chinatown Committee continues to sue over the city’s approval of a medical office project on the historic site.
• Chu is Poised to be So. Cal’s Only APA in Congress, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Democrat Judy Chu topped a field of 12 candidates for a U.S. House seat in a predominantly Hispanic district, positioning her to become Southern California’s only APA in Congress. Her track record as mayor of Monterey Park and state Assembly member helped her draw broad support.
• Chen May Become No. Cal’s First APA Federal Judge, by P.C. Staff, page 7. San Francisco U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward Chen is in the final stages of White House vetting to become the first APA on the Northern California federal bench. Sen. Dianne Feinstein recently recommended Chen for one of two vacant judgeships in San Francisco.
• Heart Mountain Could be Considered for Historic Site, by Associated Press, page 7. A foundation is seeking a congressional study to determine whether the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp in Wyoming should become a National Historic Site managed by the National Park Service. Local officials and former internees are divided on whether National Park Service management is desirable, though supporters say a study would preserve the site’s history and boost the local economy.
• Freed Journalist Roxana Saberi Says Thanks for Support, by Associated Press, page 7. Journalist Roxana Saberi met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after being freed from four months in an Iranian prison, thanking supporters for their solidarity during her confinement. Meanwhile, North Korea announced it would put detained U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee on trial June 4.
• Democrats Stop Texas Voter ID Bill, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 10. Texas Democrats successfully filibustered a controversial voter ID bill that JACL had opposed, though the tactic killed hundreds of other bills in the process. JACL leaders praised the outcome as a victory for voting rights, arguing existing safeguards already prevent voter fraud.
• Multiracial People Become Fastest Growing U.S. Group, by Associated Press, page 10. Multiracial Americans have become the fastest growing demographic group, rising 3.4 percent to about 5.2 million people, driven partly by increased social acceptance and high-profile figures like Tiger Woods and Barack Obama. The trend complicates traditional notions of race amid ongoing debates over minority rights and legal protections.

Community

• Portland JACL Honors Local High School Scholars, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Portland JACL partnered with 10 other Nikkei organizations to honor 30 area high school graduates at the 62nd Annual Japanese American Graduation Banquet. Nearly $20,000 in scholarships were awarded, and each senior received a book by Oregon poet laureate Lawson Inada.
• Sugiyama is Selected for Emergency Medical Services’ Highest Honor, by P.C. Staff, page 7. William H. Sugiyama was named the Intermedix IAEMSC Harvard Fellow, the highest honor in emergency medical services, recognizing his longstanding contributions to the field. He will participate in a Harvard University summer program on policy issues.
• Sammy Lee, Olympic Diver, Gets His Own Star, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Dr. Sammy Lee became the 11th recipient of a star on the Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars, honoring his achievement as the first male diver to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 1948 and 1952. He later coached Olympian Greg Louganis to a silver medal in 1976.
• VisualizAsian.com Launches Online Empowerment Series, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Founders Gil Asakawa and Erin Yoshimura launched VisualizAsian.com, a website offering free teleconference interviews with prominent APA community leaders. The inaugural conversation featured former Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, with future guests including Yul Kwon and Tamlyn Tomita.
• Former WWII Internees Get Honorary Degrees, by Associated Press, page 12. The University of Puget Sound awarded 36 honorary degrees to former Japanese American students displaced by Executive Order 9066, including Michiko Kiyokawa, who attended the ceremony six decades after being forced to leave college. The university joins others like the University of Washington and Oregon State University in honoring these former students.
• College of San Mateo Honors Former JA Students, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The College of San Mateo presented honorary degrees to 45 former Japanese American students whose education was interrupted by World War II internment. State Assemblyman Jerry Hill was keynote speaker, discussing his bill AB 37 that calls on all California schools to similarly honor former JA students.
• Plans Underway for Seattle WWII Memorial, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 12. The Nisei Veterans Committee is leading a $1.2 million fundraising effort for a memorial wall in Seattle honoring Japanese Americans who were interned or served in the military during World War II. The wall will feature up to 4,000 bricks bearing names, with Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu expressing interest in the project.
• Group Marks 10th Anniversary of Go For Broke Monument, by P.C. Staff, page 13. World War II veterans and community leaders gathered to mark the 10th anniversary of the Go For Broke Monument in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo, also celebrating 20 years since the Go For Broke National Education Center’s founding. George Takei emceed the tribute, reprising his role from the original 1999 unveiling.
• SELANOCO JACL Accepting Applications for Ueha Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 13. The SELANOCO chapter of JACL is offering a $1,000 memorial scholarship honoring Hiromi Ueha, a former board member who died in 2006, to assist students facing challenges like single parenting. Applications are due June 30, with the recipient notified on Aug. 12, Hiromi’s birthday.
• Hosoda Family Honored at Idaho Memorial Day Services, by P.C. Staff, page 13. A ceremony at Idaho’s Emmett National Guard Armory unveiled a memorial wall honoring Max Hosoda Jr. and his brother Earl, both killed while serving in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during WWII. Idaho Lt. Governor Brad Little addressed attendees and read a letter from Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki.
• APA Women Gather to ‘Talk Story’, by P.C. Staff, page 14. An event called ‘Talking Story’ brought together Asian American authors Delphine Hirasuna, Janice Mirikitani, Marlene Shigekawa, and Gail Tsukiyama for an intimate conversation about their writing and inspirations. The event was held at the Northside Community Center in San Jose Japantown, co-hosted by Midori Kai and the Japanese American Museum San Jose.

Arts & Entertainment

• Meiko: From Small Town Georgia to Indie Music Success, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Singer/songwriter Meiko, who is one-quarter Japanese American, discusses her rise from a tiny Georgia town to indie music success, including exposure on ABC’s ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ She reflects on her difficult childhood, her estranged mother, and her ongoing search to connect with her Japanese heritage.

JACL

• House Passes Bill to Honor JA Soldiers with Gold Medal, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The House passed HR 347, granting the Congressional Gold Medal to the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their World War II service. JACL leaders praised the bill’s passage, noting the units’ record as the most decorated in U.S. military history for their size.
• JACL Announces Inouye and Masaoka Fellows, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Scott Sakakihara was awarded the Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship to work in Rep. Mazie Hirono’s office, while Shirley Tang was named the Daniel K. Inouye Fellow to work on health issues in JACL’s D.C. office. Both fellows bring strong academic and community service backgrounds to their new roles.
• JACL, Veterans’ Group Honor the Fallen at Memorial Day Event, by P.C. Staff, page 13. JACL and the Japanese American Veterans Association held their 61st annual Memorial Day service at Arlington National Cemetery, laying flowers at gravesites of 63 Japanese American and Caucasian soldiers. Major General Thomas Bostick keynoted the event, praising the heroics of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Battalion.
• JACL Receives APIA Health Forum Grant, by P.C. Staff, page 13. JACL received a $15,000 grant from the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum to support activities engaging members in health advocacy and health care reform. National Director Floyd Mori expressed gratitude for the partnership, which builds on JACL’s existing Daniel K. Inouye Fellowship focused on health issues.

Obituaries

• Claire Hifuko Fujishige Minami, page 15. Claire Hifuko Fujishige Minami, the first Japanese American school teacher in the Washington, D.C. school system, died at 94 following a stroke. She was interned at Gila River during WWII and later became a community leader, serving as JACL Washington D.C. chapter president and a charter member of the Washington Toho Koto Society.
• Marian Fusako (Morita) Kodama, page 15. Marian Fusako Kodama, 90, of Lodi, California, passed away peacefully after being interned at Manzanar during World War II. She later worked in Washington D.C., married Henry Kodama, and farmed with him in Yuba City while raising their family and remaining active in her community.
• Ronald Takaki, Pioneering Scholar of Ethnic Studies, Dies at 70, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Ronald Takaki, a UC Berkeley professor emeritus who established the nation’s first ethnic studies Ph.D. program, died by suicide after struggling with multiple sclerosis for nearly 20 years. He was known for his Pulitzer-nominated book ‘A Different Mirror’ and for advising President Clinton on race relations.
• Hiroshi ‘Charlie’ Hisamune, page 15. Hiroshi ‘Charlie’ Hisamune, 79, a Nisei veteran of the Korean Conflict, passed away peacefully at Keiro Nursing Home in Los Angeles. He is survived by his son Kevin and brothers Toshio and Masaru, with a celebration of life held at the Miyako Inn Banquet Room.

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