The 2009 holiday issue: 80 years of the Pacific Citizen

Vol. 149, No. 11, December 2009. 120 pages. View this issue

The Pacific Citizen’s 80th anniversary shaped this December 2009 issue. Executive Editor Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reflected on the paper’s role, and Harry K. Honda traced its wartime history. Much of the issue looked back through reprinted articles: Mike Masaoka’s 1943 reasons for volunteering, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team’s rescue of the Lost Battalion, A.L. Wirin on the Korematsu case, the 1948 Oyama decision, and Harry Honda’s 1988 report on Reagan signing the Redress bill. Katie Nakano covered a 2009 reenactment of the Korematsu arguments, and Soji Kashiwagi wrote about the Tule Lake Pilgrimage.

Other pages followed civil rights topics: same-sex marriage, Dan Choi and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Paul Igasaki on job bias, and a campaign to rename Jap Road in Texas. Velina Hasu Houston wrote on Hapa culture. Lynda Lin examined immigration fraud. About 60 of its 120 pages carry holiday greetings from chapters and community groups.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• 8 Decades of APA News, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 5. The Executive Editor reflects on the Pacific Citizen’s 80th anniversary and the newspaper’s continued role covering the Asian Pacific American community amid the decline of other APA news outlets. She discusses the paper’s transition to online content and thanks JACL chapters, advertisers, and readers for their support.
• The Next Step: Electing the First APA President, by Jessica Miyeko Kawamura, page 6. The author reflects on the significance of Obama’s election for the AAPI community, noting the record number of APAs serving in his administration including three cabinet secretaries. She offers suggestions for how the community can work toward electing the first AAPI president, including political involvement, fostering local leadership, and mentorship.
• Why I Volunteered, by Mike Masaoka, page 18. In this 1943 message, JACL National Secretary Mike Masaoka explains his reasons for volunteering for the newly formed Japanese American combat unit despite internment of his community. He argues that military service was necessary to prove loyalty, refute charges against JACL leadership, and secure future rights for Japanese Americans.
• Legacy of Courage, by Judge Vincent Okamoto, page 26. A Vietnam War veteran and Distinguished Service Cross recipient reflects on how the courage and sacrifice of Nisei WWII soldiers set a standard that inspired later generations of Japanese Americans who served in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He argues that the values of loyalty, courage, and self-sacrifice demonstrated by JA veterans remain an enduring legacy for younger generations.
• Same-sex Marriage is a Civil Rights Issue of the 21st Century, by Lynda Lin, Assistant Editor, page 51. This article examines the aftermath of California’s Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage, through the story of a Chinese American man and his husband, alongside broader discussion of APA voting patterns on the measure. It explores parallels between the fight for marriage equality and historical APA civil rights struggles, including anti-miscegenation laws.
• Tackling Job Bias: Stronger Tools and Elusive Equality, by Paul Igasaki, page 53. The author traces the evolution of civil rights law and enforcement from the largely voluntary compliance era of the 1950s through the passage of the Civil Rights Act and subsequent amendments giving it real enforcement power. He argues that despite decades of progress, APAs still face significant job bias, particularly a glass ceiling limiting advancement to leadership positions.
• That August 28 March, by Mike Masaoka, page 57. In this 1963 column, Mike Masaoka describes JACL’s participation in the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom alongside over 200,000 other demonstrators. He reflects on the dignified, disciplined conduct of the marchers and the significance of JACL joining the civil rights movement’s demand for equality.
• Shaping the Contours of the Civil Rights Landscape, by John Tateishi, page 60. The former JACL Redress director and national director reflects on the organization’s eight decades of civil rights achievements, from overturning the Walter-McCarran Act veto to leading the Redress campaign. He argues that JACL’s advocacy played a significant role in improving conditions for Japanese Americans and Asian Pacific Americans more broadly.
• Kenzo for JAP: Protests Stream, by P.C. Staff, page 64. This 1971 article describes the controversy sparked by a Bonwit Teller department store advertisement for a ‘Kenzo for JAP’ boutique, which drew complaints and protests from the Japanese American community in New York. Organizations including the New York JACL and Asian Americans for Action demanded the store remove the offensive term from signage and advertising.
• Tackling Job Bias: Continued, by Paul Igasaki, page 69. This continuation of Igasaki’s essay discusses the ongoing challenges of proving discrimination and the evolution of affirmative action as a tool to address underrepresentation. He emphasizes that despite legal progress, the tools developed for civil rights enforcement remain necessary for current and future challenges facing Asian Pacific Americans.
• That August 28 March: Continued, by Mike Masaoka, page 69. This continuation describes the atmosphere and conduct of marchers at the 1963 March on Washington, emphasizing the disciplined, dignified nature of the massive civil rights demonstration. Masaoka reflects on the historic significance of the march and JACL’s pride in participating alongside other civil rights organizations.
• On Becoming Hapa-Wise, by Peter Shigeki Frandsen, page 110. The author reflects on the birth of his first son and the challenge of cultivating a Hapa identity in the next generation amid an increasingly diverse but potentially homogenizing society. He argues that JACL and the broader Hapa community need to create meaningful experiences and emotional connections to engage younger generations in carrying forward Japanese American culture.

National

• U.S. Court Asked to Ban Nisei Citizens, by P.C. Staff, page 8. This 1942 article reports on former California Attorney General U.S. Webb’s federal court attempt to strip citizenship from Japanese Americans, arguing that only whites and American Negroes were eligible for citizenship. Opposing lawyers, including representatives of the National Lawyers’ Guild, compared Webb’s arguments to Hitler’s Mein Kampf and Nazi ideology.
• JACL to Press Efforts for Hawaii Statehood, by P.C. Staff, page 44. This 1955 article reports on JACL’s continued advocacy for Hawaii statehood despite the House’s recommittal of a combined Hawaii-Alaska statehood bill. It details the political maneuvering around the legislation, including opposition based on anti-communist sentiment and the efforts of Hawaii’s congressional delegate Mrs. Joseph Farrington.
• Hawaii Statehood: A Timeline, by P.C. Staff, page 45. This detailed timeline traces the decades-long path to Hawaii statehood from the 1900 Hawaii Organic Act through President Eisenhower’s 1959 proclamation making Hawaii the 50th state. It highlights key milestones including congressional hearings, the impact of WWII and Pearl Harbor, and the political strategy that finally secured statehood.
• Akaka Bill Stirs Public Opinion, by Nalea J. Ko, Reporter, page 46. This article examines the contentious debate over the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act (Akaka Bill), which would establish a form of self-governance for Native Hawaiians, tracing its origins to the Rice v. Cayetano Supreme Court decision. It presents both supporters who see the bill as addressing historical injustices and opponents who argue it creates unfair race-based entitlements.
• Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Interracial Marriage, by P.C. Staff, page 50. This 1955 article reports on the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision upholding the state’s ban on interracial marriage in the Naim v. Naim case involving a Chinese immigrant and his Caucasian wife. The case, which JACL’s Washington office assisted with, later served as an important legal foundation for the 1967 Loving v. Virginia decision that struck down anti-miscegenation laws nationwide.
• JACL Moves to Alleviate Job Bias Against Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 52. This 1950 article reports on JACL’s cooperation with the U.S. Employment Service to combat job discrimination against Japanese Americans through information sharing and advisory partnerships. Mike Masaoka noted that the primary postwar problem for Nisei was not unemployment but underemployment in jobs below their qualifications.
• Renaming ‘Jap Road’ and ‘Jap Lane’ in Texas, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, Executive Editor, page 65. This article details the decade-long campaign by activists Sandra Tanamachi and Thomas Kuwahara to rename racially offensive road names in Jefferson and Orange Counties, Texas, including a federal civil rights complaint filed against the county. While Jefferson County’s ‘Jap Road’ remained unchanged, Orange County passed a resolution to rename a nearby highway ‘Kishi Road’ honoring a pioneering Japanese farmer.
• Gays in the Military: Civil Rights on Trial?, by Gwen Muranaka, page 102. This 1993 article examines the debate over President Clinton’s proposal to lift the ban on gays in the military, drawing parallels to the historical experience of Japanese Americans fighting for their country while facing discrimination. It features perspectives from JACL officials, LGBT rights activists, and Bruce Yamashita, who sued the Marine Corps over racial discrimination.
• APA Iraq Veteran Takes on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, by P.C. Staff, page 103. This article profiles 1st Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran who publicly came out as gay on national television, becoming a prominent voice challenging the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy. Choi’s case highlights the tension between military service requirements and personal honesty, drawing connections to JACL’s history of civil rights advocacy for LGBT service members.

In-Depth

• The Price of Becoming American, by Lynda Lin, Assistant Editor, page 12. This investigative piece examines immigration fraud committed by unqualified consultants posing as legal experts, focusing on the case of Yoshiyuki Noyori who lost years pursuing a green card due to a fraudulent attorney’s office. The article explores the pervasiveness of immigration fraud in Asian communities and the difficulty of prosecuting unlicensed practitioners of law.
• A Japanese American on Dec. 7, by Vincent T. Tajiri, page 16. Originally written a week after Pearl Harbor and published a year later, this piece by then-Army private Vincent Tajiri chronicles the emotional turmoil of a young Nisei soldier during the first days of America’s involvement in WWII. Tajiri recounts hearing about the attack while on the rifle range and the sudden transformation of his unit’s daily life under wartime conditions.
• Words I Can Live By, by Soji Kashiwagi, page 19. The author reflects on attending the 17th Tule Lake Pilgrimage and hearing the stories of those labeled ‘disloyal’ for answering ‘No-No’ on the wartime loyalty questionnaire. He argues that these individuals, often shamed into silence, should instead be remembered for their courage in protesting injustice and civil rights violations.
• Japanese Americans Rescue ‘Lost Battalion’, by P.C. Staff, page 21. This 1944 article details how the 442nd Regimental Combat Team broke through German lines to rescue the trapped ‘Lost Battalion’ of the 36th Texas Division after the Texans had gone five days without food. Members of the rescued battalion praised the 442nd, with some proposing that its Japanese American soldiers be made ‘honorary Texans.’
• A Stamp of Honor, by Wayne Osako, page 24. The article describes the grassroots campaign started by three Nisei women in 2004 to secure a U.S. postage stamp honoring Japanese American WWII veterans, which has since gained support from state legislatures, Congress, and international campaigns in France. The author, campaign coordinator, argues the stamp would help preserve the legacy of the highly decorated 100th/442nd and MIS veterans.
• ‘Lost Battalion’ Rescue: A Timeline, by P.C. Staff, page 27. This timeline details the day-by-day events of the 442nd RCT’s rescue of the trapped ‘Lost Battalion’ in the Vosges Mountains of France in October 1944. It describes the heavy casualties suffered by the 442nd, including over 50 killed and 286 wounded, in the successful effort to save 211 trapped Texan soldiers.
• Legality of Army Evacuation Orders to Be Tested Soon, by A.L. Wirin, page 30. This 1944 article by JACL special counsel A.L. Wirin discusses the petition filed on behalf of Fred Korematsu challenging the constitutionality of military evacuation orders against Japanese Americans. The piece details the legal arguments made by the ACLU that the exclusion orders violated citizens’ constitutional rights and constituted an unconstitutional bill of attainder.
• A Year of Remembrance, by Katie Nakano, page 34. The article covers a 2009 reenactment of the Korematsu v. United States oral arguments at the California Fourth District Court of Appeals, commemorating the 65th anniversary of the landmark case. It includes reflections from Fred Korematsu’s daughter, Karen Korematsu-Haigh, and discusses the 1984 coram nobis case that vacated Korematsu’s conviction.
• Oyama Case Decision Upholds Nisei Rights, by Tosuke Yamasaki, page 38. This 1948 article reports on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in Oyama v. California, which found that California’s Alien Land Law had been unconstitutionally applied against Nisei landowner Fred Oyama. While the court did not strike down the entire statute, several justices wrote strongly worded concurrences condemning the law’s racist underpinnings.
• Ordinary Family, Extraordinary Legacy, by P.C. Staff, page 40. This article revisits the story of the Oyama family, whose fight against California’s Alien Land Law led to a landmark 1948 Supreme Court decision, and notes that Florida’s legislature was considering repealing its own similar law 60 years later. Fred Oyama’s family reflects on the significance of the case and its role in setting precedent for later civil rights victories.
• The Road to Evacuation, by P.C. Staff, page 41. This chronological record, originally published in 1942, details the month-by-month events leading to the forced removal of over 100,000 Japanese Americans from the West Coast, from early pressure group demands in January through the establishment of relocation centers by year’s end. It covers key events including Executive Order 9066, the creation of the WRA, and disturbances at various assembly and relocation centers.
• A Year of Remembrance: Continued Updates on Same-Sex Marriage, by Lynda Lin, page 68. This continuation piece discusses APA community reactions to same-sex marriage ballot measures across multiple states following the 2008 election, including efforts by religious leaders to express support for LGBT rights. It also follows up on the Jefferson County ‘Jap Road’ controversy, detailing local resident opposition to changing the name.
• Reagan Signs Redress Bill, by Harry Honda, page 80. This 1988 article covers President Reagan’s historic signing of H.R. 442, which provided a formal apology and $20,000 compensation to Japanese Americans interned during WWII. The piece includes reactions from congressional leaders like Norman Mineta and Robert Matsui, as well as details on the compensation process and Reagan’s reference to a Pacific Citizen article in his remarks.
• Redress Compensation Checks Leave Lasting Impression, by Nalea J. Ko and Leslie K. Tamura, page 82. Twenty years after Redress payments began, this article examines how former internees used their $20,000 compensation checks, from donations to civil rights organizations to college funds for grandchildren. It also revisits the difficult internal debate within the JA community over whether to pursue monetary Redress at all, as recounted by former Redress Committee head John Tateishi.
• The Wartime Role of the Pacific Citizen, by Harry K. Honda, page 101. This history piece traces the Pacific Citizen’s origins from 1929 through its wartime relocation to Salt Lake City and its role as a vital news source for incarcerated Japanese Americans during WWII. It highlights the contributions of editors including Larry Tajiri, who chronicled the sacrifices of Nisei soldiers and advocated for the community during a period of intense prejudice.
• Hapa Culture in the New Millennium, by Velina Hasu Houston, page 106. The playwright reflects on the evolution of multiracial and Hapa identity and community organizing since the late 1970s, including her own experience co-founding The Amerasian League. She discusses the challenges Hapas have faced being fully accepted within monoracial ethnic communities and the growing recognition of multiracial identity following the 2000 Census.

Arts & Entertainment

• JACL, Asians Protest Use of Epithet in New York Ad, by P.C. Staff, page 64. This 1971 article reports on protests by the New York JACL and Asian Americans for Action against a Bonwit Teller boutique named ‘Kenzo for JAP.’ Store officials eventually agreed to a meeting with community representatives after facing a picket line and demands from attorney Moonray Kojima.
• New York Coalition Protests ‘Rising Sun’, by P.C. Staff, page 84. This 1993 article reports on a coalition of over 20 Asian Pacific American organizations protesting the film ‘Rising Sun’ for its stereotypical and negative portrayals of Asians. JACL President Lillian Kimura and other leaders criticized the film’s producers for exercising a lack of sensitivity toward the APA community.
• Paramount Apologizes for Racial Slur in ‘The Goods’, by P.C. Staff, page 85. This article reports on JACL and MANAA’s protest against a racially insensitive scene in the film ‘The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard’ that used a racial slur and referenced Pearl Harbor in a scene with actor Ken Jeong. Paramount issued an apology and later met with JACL leaders including Floyd Mori to discuss ongoing dialogue about the studio’s practices.

Obituaries

• Komayo Kay (Nakagawara) Hara, by P.C. Staff, page 116. This tribute honors Komayo Kay Hara, who passed away at 91, detailing her life from being sent to Japan as a child, her incarceration at Minidoka during WWII, and her career as a fashion designer in New York City. The piece describes her devotion to family and community, including her support for the Japanese American community after her husband George’s death.

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