Vol. 154, No. 8, May 4, 2012. 20 pages. View this issue
Profiles of Asian Pacific Americans filled this 20-page special issue. Nalea J. Ko wrote about animator Willie Ito, who spent 45 years at Disney after his family’s wartime incarceration (often called internment) at Topaz, and about retired NFL player Hines Ward. Other pieces followed Goodwin Liu, appointed to the California Supreme Court, Assemblyman Mike Eng, and organic farmer David Mas Masumoto. Fumiko Hayashida, 101, was remembered for her photograph taken before she was sent to Manzanar, and Lillian Kimura and Marion Hori were profiled in the JACL pages.
The issue also looked ahead to the 2012 National JACL Convention in Bellevue, with workshop details, May 7 deadlines and its theme, Inform, Transform, Perform. Gil Asakawa’s column urged support for the P.C. beyond the Spring Campaign, and Priscilla Ouchida previewed the Seattle-area gathering. Congressional Gold Medals for Nisei veterans of the 442nd Regiment and 100th Battalion were also covered.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- Support for the P.C. Is Needed Beyond the Spring Campaign, by Gil Asakawa, page 2. Gil Asakawa recounts the growth of Pacific Citizen’s Spring Campaign fundraising and warns that a proposed JACL national budget cut would eliminate the assistant editor position starting in 2014. He urges readers to voice support to their chapters, districts and board representatives to preserve P.C. staffing and quality journalism.
- Returning to Seattle, by Priscilla Ouchida, page 2. Priscilla Ouchida previews the 2012 National JACL Convention in Bellevue, Washington, highlighting local attractions, sponsorships, and a Wellness Fair. She invites delegates to bring family and looks forward to stepping into her new role as JACL national director.
- 2012 Convention Theme: Inform, Transform, Perform… Embracing JACL in an Era of Transformation, page 17. This piece explains the meaning behind the 2012 JACL National Convention theme, addressing how the organization can share its history, adapt to change, and improve performance. It poses guiding questions about JACL’s identity, direction, and strategic goals for the future.
Arts & Entertainment
- How Willie Ito Found the Happiest Place on Earth, by Nalea J. Ko, Reporter, page 3. Animator Willie Ito, who began his 45-year Disney career working on ‘Lady and the Tramp,’ recounts his childhood love of cartoons, his family’s wartime incarceration at Topaz, and his lifelong friendship with fellow author Shig Yabu. Together they created Yabitoon Books and published ‘Hello Maggie’ and ‘A Boy of Heart Mountain’ drawing on their WWII experiences.
- Jubilee Project Founders Make Doing Good Contagious, by Nalea J. Ko, Reporter, page 5. Jason Y. Lee, Eddie Lee and Eric Lu created the Jubilee Project in 2010, producing videos that have raised over $30,000 for various nonprofits and racked up nearly four million YouTube views. Their latest project, the medium-length film ‘Dear Daniel,’ addresses depression among young people and premiered on a recent college tour.
- ‘Lil Tokyo Reporter’ Crew Brings Sei Fujii’s Story to Life, page 10. Director Jeffrey Gee Chin, actor Chris Tashima and executive producer Fumiko Carole Fujita are working to complete the narrative short film ‘Lil Tokyo Reporter’ about newspaperman Sei Fujii by summer. The team discusses internal creative conflicts during production and Fujii’s legacy as a civil rights pioneer who became a U.S. citizen shortly before his death.
Sports
- Two-Time Super Bowl Champ Hines Ward Is an Extraordinary Overachiever, by Nalea J. Ko, Reporter, page 4. Retired NFL star Hines Ward discusses his record-setting Pittsburgh Steelers career, his charitable Helping Hands Foundation fighting biracial discrimination in South Korea, and his role on President Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. He also reflects on being teased for being biracial and shares thoughts on Jeremy Lin’s rise in the NBA.
JACL
- From Health to Power of Words, Workshops Offer Diverse Topics, by National JACL Convention Planning Committee, page 6. The 2012 National JACL Convention in Bellevue will feature a range of workshops on July 7 covering topics from health and finance to civil rights and Japanese American history. Featured sessions include discussions on Santa Fe’s DOJ camp, environmental justice, the power of words, and preserving community treasures.
- Important Convention Deadlines Coming Up, by Gail Sueki, page 6. Gail Sueki outlines key May 7 deadlines for the 2012 National JACL Convention, including constitution amendments, resolutions, credentials, and award nominations. She also notes that convention committees will meet July 5 prior to delegate orientation.
- Lillian Kimura Continues to Inspire Youth, page 13. Lillian Kimura, the first female national JACL president elected in 1992, reflects on her tenure including JACL’s affirmation of support for same-sex marriage. She discusses mentoring youth, her career at the YWCA, and the challenges women face in JACL leadership roles.
- Her Passion Is Education: Sharon Ishii-Jordan, page 13. Sharon Ishii-Jordan, associate dean at Creighton University and former Midwest JACL governor, has dedicated her career to teaching the lessons of the WWII Japanese American incarceration to educators. She recently helped ensure Skokie, Illinois teachers would incorporate this history into their curriculum.
- The Legendary Marion Hori, page 15. Marion Hori, former president of the Wasatch Front North JACL chapter, tripled its membership during the 1990s through persistent recruiting efforts. Nearly her entire family has served as chapter president, and she credits persistence and family involvement as keys to sustaining the organization.
- Leading JACL to Its First Annual National Convention, page 16. Gary Mayeda chaired JACL’s first annual national convention in Los Angeles in 2011, overcoming a short planning window and a last-minute venue change. He discusses collaborating with the California Japanese American Community Leadership Council and reflects on the convention’s financial and organizational successes.
National
- Michael Lin Makes an Impact, page 7. Biomedical scientist Michael Lin, chair of the 1882 Project, helped secure a Senate resolution expressing regret for the Chinese Exclusion Laws in October 2011. Lin, a longtime OCA leader, discusses the significance of the resolution and the ongoing effort to pass a companion House resolution and educate the public about this history.
- Justice Goodwin Liu Gives California Supreme Court Its First APA Majority, page 7. After withdrawing his nomination to the Ninth Circuit last year, Goodwin Liu was appointed to the California Supreme Court by Gov. Jerry Brown, joining Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye and other justices to give the court its first APA majority. Liu, a Yale Law graduate and former UC Berkeley associate dean, says more progress is needed for APAs in the legal field.
- 12 Congressional Gold Medals Latest Honor for WWII Nisei Vets, page 8. Following the November 2011 Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring the 442nd Regiment, 100th Battalion and Military Intelligence Service, Nisei WWII veterans continue to be celebrated in regional events. The Pacific Citizen asked several recipients what the medal personally means to them, and their reflections on sacrifice, loyalty and recognition are shared.
- Asm. Mike Eng Brings Community to Politics, page 11. California State Assemblyman Mike Eng discusses his advocacy for a Day of Remembrance holiday and a commemorative stamp honoring Nisei WWII veterans through Assembly Joint Resolution 33. Eng also reflects on the growing APA population in the San Gabriel Valley and his marriage to Rep. Judy Chu.
Community
- Shin Fujiyama Dreams Big, page 9. Shin Fujiyama co-founded Students Helping Honduras in 2007, a nonprofit that has raised over $1 million and built a village and multiple schools for underprivileged Honduran children. Fujiyama discusses his goal of building 1,000 schools by 2020 and the personal growth he’s gained from running the organization.
- Jennifer Linh Vu Helps Those in Need, page 11. Jennifer Linh Vu, daughter of Vietnamese refugees, worked directly with Vietnamese Americans on the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 BP oil spill. She now serves as president of the Gulf Coast Asian Pacific Islander JACL chapter, ratified in 2011.
- Scout’s Honor: Emily Isakari Educates on Nisei Veteran’s Legacy, page 12. Davis High School student Emily Isakari created a project honoring late Nisei veteran George Y. Komure to fulfill her Girl Scouts’ Gold Award requirement, following a previous project that earned her the Silver Award. She discusses the importance of preserving Nisei stories and her experience with JACL’s Bridging Communities program.
In-Depth
- David Mas Masumoto: The Power of the Peach, page 12. Sansei organic farmer David Mas Masumoto discusses his decades of environmentally responsible farming on his 80-acre Del Rey, Calif. farm and how internment shattered his family’s earlier dreams of farm ownership. He also reflects on his dual identity as a writer and farmer and his daughter Nikiko’s role continuing the family farm.
- At 101, Hayashida’s Life Chronicles the History of JAs from Bainbridge Island, page 14. Fumiko Hayashida, 101, the oldest living survivor of the WWII incarceration from Bainbridge Island, is famous for the iconic photo of her holding her infant daughter before being sent to Manzanar. She has long supported the Bainbridge Island Memorial and reflects on the importance of remembering this history for future generations.
Obituaries
- Franklin Aizo Hijikata, page 18. Franklin A. Hijikata, 89, died March 1 in Baltimore after a career spanning over 25 years as executive director of the Neighborhood House in St. Paul, MN. Born in Tokyo, he was incarcerated at Tule Lake during WWII before pursuing education and ministry work, and is survived by his wife of 61 years and three daughters.
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.