The 2012 holiday issue: a year in review and Nisei veterans honored

Vol. 155, No. 11, December 14, 2012. 72 pages. View this issue

Looking back on 2012 was the thread of this 72-page holiday issue. Allison Haramoto, the interim executive editor, reflected on the year’s defining news, and John Tateishi reviewed a year dominated by politics. A national JACL recap noted that Priscilla Ouchida became national director and David Lin became national president. District recaps from the Northern California, Midwest and Pacific Southwest chapters followed, with reports on Congressional Gold Medal ceremonies for Nisei veterans in Loomis, Portland and Salt Lake City, and the Day of Remembrance event in Clovis.

Elsewhere, Connie K. Ho covered a Manzanar gathering where former internees shared their stories, and George T. Johnston profiled turret gunner Ben Kuroki. The 2012 National JACL Scholarship winners were announced, and Gil Asakawa wrote on ties between Colorado and Japan. About 41 of the pages carry holiday greetings from chapters and communities such as Portland, Berkeley, Sonoma County, San Diego and Riverside.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Reflecting on 2012 and Looking Ahead to 2013, by Allison Haramoto, page 5. The interim executive editor reflects on the defining news events of 2012, from JACL historic firsts to the Japan earthquake anniversary, before the tragedy in Newtown, Conn. put everything into perspective. She thanks readers, editorial board members, chapters, and staff for supporting the Pacific Citizen through a year of changes.
• For the Record: A Year Dominated by Politics, by John Tateishi, page 28. John Tateishi reviews 2012 as a year dominated by partisan politics, from Republican primary debates and filibustering to the presidential election and Supreme Court decisions. He expresses concern about the extremism on both sides of the political spectrum while remaining hopeful for compromise in the coming year.

In-Depth

• ‘Speaking of Camps…’ Brings Together Collective Voices, by Connie K. Ho, page 16. An event jointly sponsored by the Friends of Manzanar and the Manzanar Committee brought together former internees to share their stories at the Maryknoll/St. Francis Xavier Japanese Catholic Center in Los Angeles. Attendees like Mas Okui, Charlie Hamasaki, and others recounted their experiences at Manzanar and other internment camps, while a new Block 14 exhibit at the Manzanar National Historic Site aims to preserve these memories.
• Turret Gunner Ben Kuroki Took Aim at Germany, Japan, by George T. Johnston, page 22. Ben Kuroki, a Nebraska-born Nisei, overcame discrimination to fly 58 combat missions as a turret gunner during WWII, becoming the only Japanese American to bomb both Germany and Japan. Despite facing prejudice from his own military and countrymen, Kuroki received numerous honors including the Distinguished Flying Cross and later the Distinguished Service Medal from President George W. Bush.
• Ties Between Colorado and Japan Were Strengthened in 2012, by Gil Asakawa, page 56. Consul General Ikuhiko Ono made concerted efforts to strengthen ties between Colorado’s Japanese American community and Japan throughout 2012, including commemorations of the March 11 earthquake anniversary and cherry blossom tree centennial plantings. Numerous local leaders including Kimiko Side, Bill Higuchi, and others received prestigious Japanese government commendations for their community contributions.

National

• National JACL Highlights, by P.C. Staff, page 34. JACL underwent historic leadership changes in 2012, with Priscilla Ouchida becoming the first woman national director and David Lin becoming the first American of Chinese heritage elected national president. The organization continued its civil rights advocacy while helping preserve Japanese American cultural heritage.
• National Director Attends Northern California Meet & Greet, by P.C. Staff, page 35. JACL National Director Priscilla Ouchida attended a meet and greet event with several JACL chapters in Northern California in November. Chapter representatives from Diablo Valley, Berkeley, and Contra Costa attended the gathering.
• JACL Responds to Sikh Temple Shooting, by P.C. Staff, page 35. Six people were killed and three wounded on Aug. 5 when a gunman opened fire at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin. JACL teamed up with the OCA to create a fund supporting victims, and JACLer Greg Marutani attended a candlelight vigil in San Francisco in support of the Sikh community.
• JACL Condemns D.C. Councilman’s Remarks About Asian Business Owners, by P.C. Staff, page 35. JACL issued a statement on April 25 condemning Washington, D.C. Councilman Marion Barry’s disparaging remarks about Asian American business owners in the city. The organization joined many Asian Pacific American groups demanding an apology from the councilman.
• JACL Praises Obama’s Support for Same-Sex Marriage, by P.C. Staff, page 35. When President Barack Obama publicly announced his support for same-sex marriage in an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, JACL praised the commander in chief for his historic stance.
• 2012 National JACL Scholarship Winners Announced, by P.C. Staff, page 46. The National JACL Scholarship Program awarded a total of $61,000 to 25 deserving applicants across various categories this year. Student applicants were asked to address whether their generation believes in civil rights without feeling the need to join organizations like JACL.

Community

• P.C. Salutes JACL Chapters Honoring War Veterans, by P.C. Staff, page 36. Nearly 500 people gathered on Nov. 10 in Loomis, Calif. for the Placer County Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony honoring Nisei who served in the military between 1941 and 1946, including the awarding of 14 posthumous Bronze Stars. More than 80 Gold Medals were awarded that day to living veterans or their family members.
• NCWNP District Recap: Honoring Nisei Veterans and Historic Milestones, by David Unruhe, page 36. The Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District, the largest JACL district, saw increased national presence with Priscilla Ouchida named JACL national director and Miko Sawamura as VP for general operations. Many NCWNP chapters held local Gold Medal ceremonies honoring Nisei WWII veterans, and the Placer County Chapter unveiled a statue honoring the 442nd RCT and the Rescue of the Lost Texas Battalion.
• Central Valley Nisei Veterans Honored with Congressional Gold Medals, by P.C. Staff, page 37. A tribute to heroic Nisei veterans from the Central Valley was held on Feb. 19 at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building, with replica Congressional Gold Medals given at the Day of Remembrance event. Organizers wanted to honor local veterans who could not travel to Washington, D.C. for the national ceremony.
• Oregon Nisei WWII Veterans Presented Congressional Gold Medals, by P.C. Staff, page 37. Twenty Nisei World War II veterans were presented with Congressional Gold Medals at a ceremony held Feb. 26, organized by the Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Oregon Nisei Veterans. More than 450 people attended the event at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland to honor soldiers of the 442nd Regiment, 100th Battalion and Military Intelligence Service.
• Midwest District Chapters Active in Community and Culture, by Colleen Morimoto and William Yoshino, page 42. Midwestern District JACL chapters remained active raising awareness of Japanese culture and heritage, educating the public, and sponsoring scholarships throughout the year. Highlights included the Nikkei World War II Veterans Tribute in Illinois recognizing Nisei veterans ineligible for the Congressional Gold Medal, and Wisconsin JACL’s recognition ceremony with Mayor Tom Barrett and Consul General Yoshifumi Okamura.
• Arizona JACL Honors Veterans at Japanese Senior Center, by P.C. Staff, page 42. The JACL Arizona Chapter Japanese Senior Center celebrated Veterans Day in October by honoring veterans who served in various branches of the U.S. military. The veterans were given awards and recognition for their dedicated years of service.
• Idaho and Utah Honor Nisei Veterans with Gold Medal Ceremonies, by P.C. Staff, page 43. Idaho Gov. Butch Otter hosted a Day of Remembrance proclamation signing ceremony on Feb. 20 for 65 attendees including Nisei veterans who recently received Congressional Gold Medals. In Salt Lake City, more than 1,000 people gathered to honor Nisei soldiers with 141 replica Congressional Gold Medals awarded to surviving veterans and families of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd RCT, and Military Intelligence Service.
• Washington, D.C. Chapter Hosts Gala, Attends Obama Remarks, by P.C. Staff, page 43. The Washington, D.C. chapter held its sixth annual JACL Gala ‘A Salute to Champions’ in September, honoring Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki among others. National Director Priscilla Ouchida also attended President Obama’s first public remarks since his re-election, and the chapter is planning the 2013 JACL Convention set for Washington, D.C.
• PSW District Launches Intergenerational Programs, by Eri Kameyama, page 43. The Pacific Southwest District thanked chapters for supporting JACL’s civil rights mission and launched its first intergenerational program, Katarou Histories, in the San Fernando Valley. The district also continued the Collegiate Japanese American Internship program and participated in Camp Musubi and Bridging Communities programs for youth.

Obituaries

• A Community Loses Its ‘Big Sister’: Honoring Frances Hashimoto, by M. J. Nomura, page 64. Frances Hashimoto, the influential CEO of Mikawaya and longtime Little Tokyo community leader, died Nov. 4 at age 69 after a battle with lung cancer, shortly before a plaza was dedicated in her honor. Hashimoto transformed her family’s century-old confectionery business by inventing mochi ice cream and served as a tireless advocate for U.S.-Japan relations and Little Tokyo’s preservation, earning the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government.
• James Akira Hirabayashi, Ethnic Studies Pioneer, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 68. James Akira Hirabayashi, brother of civil rights leader Gordon Hirabayashi, died in San Francisco on May 23 at age 85, four months after his brother’s death. He played an integral role in creating the first ethnic studies program in 1968 at San Francisco State University, later becoming dean of the school.
• Elaine Reiko Akagi, Seattle JACL Co-President, Passes Away, by P.C. Staff, page 68. Elaine Reiko Akagi, Seattle JACL co-president, passed away on Oct. 13 in Silver Spring, Md. Born in Detroit, she began her JACL involvement with the Detroit Chapter youth council and later moved to Seattle, where she was presented the JACLer of the Biennium Award at this year’s National Convention.
• John Hiro Saito, Former JACL PSW Regional Director, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 68. John Saito, born and raised in Los Angeles, was interned at Poston during WWII and later served in the U.S. Army before spending 25 years with L.A. County. He began a second career with JACL in 1979, becoming PSW’s regional director during the redress campaign, and is survived by his wife Carol Ann and their children.
• Col. (ret.) Ko S. Sameshima Remembered, by P.C. Staff, page 69. Ko Stanley Sameshima, 90, of Fairfield, Calif., passed away Nov. 23, 2012, after a military career spanning 32 years including service in Japan Occupation and the Korean War. His education at Caltech was interrupted by his family’s internment at Amache, but he completed his studies at the University of Texas and is survived by his wife Sumie and their children.
• James Murakami, Redress Movement Leader, Dies at 85, by P.C. Staff, page 69. James Murakami, who helped lead the Redress Movement while serving as national JACL president from 1976-78, died April 28 at age 85. His family’s incarceration at Amache during WWII fueled his later efforts that helped secure the 1988 legislation providing apology and redress for Japanese Americans.
• Lillian Yuriko Tateishi Passes Away, by P.C. Staff, page 69. Lillian Yuriko Tateishi passed away peacefully on Jan. 24 in Culver City, Calif. from complications of a stroke, surrounded by three generations of her family. Her family was incarcerated at Manzanar during WWII, and she dedicated much of her life to service at the West Los Angeles United Methodist Church.

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