The 2010 holiday issue: a history of JACL national conventions

Vol. 151, No. 11, December 17, 2010. 120 pages. View this issue

JACL’s national conventions, from 1929 to 2010, filled this 120-page issue. Harry K. Honda wrote a timeline of every convention from the founding in San Francisco to Chicago in 2010. Gary Mayeda, the 2011 convention chair, spoke about the move to annual conventions with Los Angeles as host, and Lynda Lin told how the vote to change was won in 2008. Redress had a large place: Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reported on the Civil Liberties Act panel and the 10th anniversary celebration, Jerry Enomoto wrote on the work after passage, and Wayne D. Kimura described watching President Reagan sign the bill.

Other convention stories reached back to 1938, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1950, 1954 and 1964. Bill Hosokawa and Edison Uno reported on the 1970 Chicago convention, and Martha Nakagawa covered the 2000 apology to draft resisters. Delegates also voted against Arizona’s immigration law in 2010. About 55 of the issue’s pages carry holiday greetings from chapters and families.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Looking Forward to Los Angeles, JACL’s First Annual Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 7. In an interview, 2011 convention chair Gary Mayeda discusses the shift from JACL’s 80-year tradition of biennial conventions to an annual gathering, with Los Angeles hosting the first annual convention. Mayeda highlights new events like a Hollywood studio reception and joint programming with the California Japanese American Community Leadership Council.
• JACL Makes a Historic Move to an Annual National Convention, by Lynda Lin, page 8. At the 2008 Salt Lake City convention, JACL’s national council voted 57-24 to change from biennial to annual conventions, a measure that had failed twice before. Supporters cited benefits like increased corporate partnerships and youth engagement, while critics worried about the financial burden of annual travel for smaller chapters.
• JACL National Convention Awards, page 88. This retrospective feature lists recipients of JACL’s Japanese American of the Biennium Award, JACLer of the Biennium Award, Chapter of the Biennium Award, Edison Uno Civil Rights Award, and Ruby Yoshino Schaar Playwright Award from their inception through 2010. The awards recognize individuals and chapters for civil rights leadership, community service, and artistic contributions to telling the Nikkei story.

National

• JAs Stand Against Arizona’s Immigration Law, by Nalea J. Ko, page 12. At the 2010 Chicago convention, JACL delegates voted 80 to 1 to oppose Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration law, comparing the potential for racial profiling to the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. The resolution came days before the Department of Justice filed its own lawsuit against the law’s constitutionality.
• ‘Unification’ of Asians in U.S. is Urged, by Bill Marutani, page 41. At the 1972 Washington D.C. convention, a commission on pan-Asianism was proposed to study unifying various Asian American groups, an idea championed by Bill Marutani who suggested renaming JACL to include broader Asian American membership. Bay Area JACL leader Ron Lai argued that a unified Asian American organization could become a more powerful political force.

In-Depth

• Coming Full Circle: A Celebration of Redress, 30 Years Later, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 16. At the 2008 Salt Lake City convention, a panel featuring John Tateishi, Richard Foltin, and Muzaffar Chishti reflected on the 20th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act and drew parallels between the WWII Japanese American internment and post-9/11 treatment of Muslim Americans. Tateishi recalled the difficult and divisive early days of the redress campaign within the JA community.
• Tribute Dinner Honors Japanese American Veterans of All Wars, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 18. At the 2000 national convention in Monterey, over 500 people attended a tribute dinner honoring Japanese American veterans of WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, featuring keynote speaker Gen. Eric Shinseki. The event included the presentation of a presidential unit citation to the Military Intelligence Service and speeches from veterans of each conflict.
• JACL National Council Approves Apology to Resisters of Conscience, by Martha Nakagawa, page 21. At the 2000 Monterey convention, JACL’s national council voted 64-32 to adopt a resolution apologizing to WWII Nisei draft resisters of conscience, sparking a generational divide among delegates. Some veterans walked out in protest while others, including Gordon Hirabayashi, welcomed the reconciliation.
• 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Civil Liberties Act, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 24. At the 1998 Philadelphia convention, JACL celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act, honoring Norman Mineta, Robert Matsui, and others involved in the redress movement. The convention also discussed the more recent settlement for Japanese Latin American internees, which provided a lower payment amount than Japanese Americans received.
• Reversal of Same-Sex Resolution Defeated, Broader Version OKed, by Gwen Muranaka, page 26. At the 1994 Salt Lake City convention, a resolution to withdraw JACL’s national board decision supporting same-sex marriage was defeated 38-50, making JACL the first non-gay organization after the ACLU to support the cause. The debate was emotional, with Norman Mineta speaking against the resolution and gay and lesbian JACL members sharing personal testimony.
• JACL-LEC: Post Passage, by Jerry Enomoto, page 30. Following the signing of H.R. 442 in 1988, Jerry Enomoto reflects on the historic redress victory and credits key figures including Grayce Uyehara, Grant Ujifusa, and Congressional leaders for the successful campaign. He outlines JACL-LEC’s continuing work to ensure timely appropriation of redress funds and protection of payments from taxation.
• The President Signs the Redress Bill, by Wayne D. Kimura, page 34. A young JACL member recounts his firsthand experience witnessing President Reagan sign the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 in Washington, D.C., traveling overnight from the Seattle convention with prominent JACL leaders. He describes the emotional signing ceremony and celebratory events that followed with Congressional supporters of redress.
• Murder Stuns Convention, Youth Maintains Calm, by Edison Uno and Raymond Okamura, page 44. At the 1970 Chicago convention, 18-year-old Jr. JACLer Evelynn Okubo was murdered in her hotel room while another young delegate was seriously injured, but young JACL members calmly organized security and support before authorities arrived. The tragedy shocked the convention, with young adults taking charge of securing the building and caring for victims.
• Triumphant Night Spoiled, by Bill Hosokawa, page 45. Journalist Bill Hosokawa recounts the shocking transition from a triumphant testimonial banquet honoring Mike Masaoka to the horror of learning a young Jr. JACLer had been murdered at the 1970 Chicago convention hotel. He describes the shock, grief, and even callous behavior from hotel security amid the tragedy.
• National Junior JACL Formally Organized, by Alan Kumamoto, page 46. At the 1966 San Diego convention, the National Jr. JACL was formally established after years of preparation, with a new constitution ratified and a national youth council elected. The article also discusses emerging concerns about how young adults aged 21-30 should be integrated into the broader JACL organization.
• JACL Honors Americans Who Fought For Civil Rights of Nisei, page 50. At the 1964 Detroit convention, JACL honored six distinguished Americans, including Dr. Clarence Pickett, Roger Baldwin, and Norman Thomas, who supported fair treatment of Japanese Americans during WWII. War hero Ben Kuroki was also honored for his role fighting prejudice on the home front after his combat service.
• Fitting Climax to Convention: Wilkins’ Challenge to Nisei, page 51. At the 1964 Detroit convention, NAACP executive secretary Roy Wilkins delivered a keynote address on the convention’s theme of ‘Human Dignity,’ having just witnessed President Johnson sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Wilkins urged JACL and its members to translate constitutional principles into everyday action to combat prejudice.
• Persons Who Aided Japanese During Evacuation Period Honored by JACL, page 52. At the 1954 Los Angeles convention, JACL honored Sgt. Hiroshi Miyamura, Congressional Medal of Honor winner, as guest of honor at a luncheon attended by delegates from 71 of the organization’s 87 chapters. The event featured introductions of national JACL leadership and delegates from across the country.
• Keynote Speaker Dore Schary Urges Nisei Not to Lose Diversity, Urges JACL to Act with Strength, page 53. At the 1954 Los Angeles convention, MGM executive Dore Schary, producer of the film ‘Go For Broke,’ urged Nisei attendees to maintain their cultural diversity while contributing to American society. Schary also encouraged JACL to continue speaking out forcefully on civil rights issues.
• JACL May Ask Lump Sum Indemnity for Evacuees, page 57. At the 1950 Chicago convention, JACL proposed changes to the Evacuation Claims Act of 1948, including a lump sum indemnity of $500 for adult evacuees and a 25 percent advance payment system to speed up the slow claims process. The committee reported that $131 million in claims had been filed by 24,000 wartime evacuees under the existing act.
• JACL National Convention Urges Citizenship for Issei, page 60. At the 1946 Denver convention, JACL delegates elected Hito Okada as national president and adopted a program to win naturalization rights for Issei of demonstrated loyalty to the United States. The convention also supported evacuation compensation claims and opposed discrimination in employment, housing, and civil service.
• Wartime, Post-War Problems of Japanese American Group Discussed at JACL Confab, page 61. Close to 100 delegates gathered at the 1944 Salt Lake City conference to discuss farm problems, evacuee resettlement, and the prohibited return to the West Coast. Speakers included representatives from civil liberties organizations and government agencies addressing post-war reintegration issues.
• Improvement of West Coast Attitudes Toward Evacuees Told at JACL Conference, by Joe Grant Masaoka, page 64. At the 1944 Salt Lake City conference, delegates heard reports on improving West Coast attitudes toward returning evacuees from organizations like the Committee on American Principles and Fair Play. The conference also passed a constitutional amendment allowing all Americans, regardless of race, to become active JACL members.
• Democracy in Action: JACL Leaders Discuss Problems, page 68. At the 1942 Salt Lake City conference, 50 delegates from war relocation centers and free-zone chapters gathered to develop overall JACL policy amid wartime dislocation. National secretary Mike Masaoka described JACL as the ‘only real outlet’ for those in relocation centers and urged reinstatement of Selective Service for Nisei.
• League Delegates at Session Adopt Concrete Program, page 80. At the 1938 Los Angeles convention, JACL elected Walter Tsukamoto as national president and adopted seven key resolutions including constitutional revisions and an expanded endowment fund. President James Sakamoto emphasized loyalty to American institutions and cooperation with veterans organizations against subversive elements.
• Tsukamoto Named as League Leader, page 82. Walter T. Tsukamoto, a Sacramento attorney, was elected president of JACL at the 1938 national convention in Los Angeles, with Portland, Oregon selected as the site for the 1940 convention. The article details other elected officers and the national board structure established at the time.
• A Brief History of the New American Citizens League, page 84. This article traces JACL’s origins to the New American Citizens’ League founded in San Francisco in 1928, detailing the organization’s first convention in 1929 where the name ‘Japanese American Citizens League’ was formally adopted. Key early figures included Saburo Kido as first president and speakers like Clarence Arai who advocated for a national federated structure.
• JACL National Convention Timeline, by Harry K. Honda, page 106. This comprehensive timeline chronicles JACL’s national conventions from the founding convention in 1929 San Francisco through the 41st biennial convention in 2010 Chicago. It highlights major milestones including WWII-era policy decisions, the redress campaign, civil rights actions, and organizational changes across more than eight decades of JACL history.

Obituaries

• Harry Hiroyuki Shibata, page 116. Harry Shibata, born in 1926 in Los Angeles, passed away unexpectedly on November 4, 2010 in San Francisco after a career as an engineer at Lockheed Aerospace and later at United Airlines. A WWII internee at Poston, Arizona, he was known for his lifelong love of flying and travel with his wife Yuri throughout their marriage.
• Osamu ‘Sam’ Honda, page 116. Sam Honda, 83, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, passed away November 24, 2010 after a six-month battle with cancer. He was active in JACL as a past president of the Twin Cities chapter and treasurer of the Midwest District, and was heavily involved in organizing events honoring Japanese American veterans and seniors.
• Yoshiye Nishioki Osaka, page 116. Yoshi Osaka, 82, the youngest of eight children raised in Sanger, CA, passed away August 31, 2010. She was a retired middle school special education teacher survived by her husband Walter, daughters, and grandchildren.

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