Inouye defends Sen. Williams; redress debate and Salinas Valley JACL’s 50 years

Vol. 94, No. 10, March 12, 1982. 12 pages. View this issue

Sen. Daniel Inouye led the front page, defending New Jersey Sen. Harrison Williams against expulsion over the Abscam allegations. Inouye argued that the Senate has expelled members only for treason or disloyalty to the Union. Also on page one: Nisei businessman Kaytaro Sugahara’s $10 billion plan to create U.S. jobs, the Seattle JACL’s brief supporting school desegregation, and a Heart Mountain camp reunion expecting close to 1,000. Floyd Shimomura announced his bid for National JACL president.

On page 2, John Tateishi answered critics of his redress foundation proposal, and M.M. Sumida wrote about Executive Order 9066 and the long silence that followed it. Page 8 traces the Salinas Valley JACL’s history for its Golden Jubilee, from the 1932 founding through the World War II incarceration (often called internment) and the postwar rebuilding. Other pages carry chapter installations, Ron Wakabayashi’s first-year assessment as national director, and a drive to rebuild the memorial at Rohwer.

What’s in this issue

National

• Sen. Inouye a Chief Defender of New Jersey Solon Hit by Abscam, page 1. Sen. Daniel Inouye took up the defense of New Jersey Sen. Harrison Williams, who faced expulsion from the Senate over Abscam allegations, arguing expulsion has historically been reserved only for treason or disloyalty to the Union. Inouye called the FBI’s Abscam operation a ‘trap’ and raised concerns about separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.
• Sugahara’s ‘Foreign Aid’ Plan Puzzles U.S.-Japan, page 1. Nisei businessman Kaytaro Sugahara continues to push his $10 billion plan for Japanese investment in U.S. jobs projects despite denials of knowledge from Japanese officials. He has asked U.S. governors to submit project ideas by March 25 so he can present them to Japan’s ‘power structure’ amid ongoing trade friction between the two countries.
• Seattle JACL Files Supporting Brief on Desegregating Schools, by Special to the Pacific Citizen, page 1. Seattle JACL filed an amicus curiae brief supporting the Seattle School District’s voluntary desegregation plan ahead of Supreme Court oral arguments on Initiative 350, an anti-busing measure. Legal counsel Rod Kawakami explained JACL’s involvement was meant to represent Asian community support for equal educational opportunity amid claims that Asians opposed busing over bilingual education concerns.
• Congress Hears More Trade Protectionism Talk, page 1. Japan specialist Robert Scalapino testified before a House subcommittee that protectionist trade legislation against Japan has a reasonable chance in Congress if U.S.-Japan trade relations do not improve. He suggested forming a joint government-business-labor commission to address market access issues, while former ambassador U. Alexis Johnson warned against 1930s-style protectionism.
• LCCR’s Critical Report on Rights Called ‘Inflammatory’, page 10. Attorney General William French Smith criticized a Leadership Conference on Civil Rights report alleging the Justice Department was not enforcing civil rights laws, calling it inflammatory and inaccurate. The LCCR Fund announced an 18-month project to monitor federal civil rights enforcement, and JACL, a founding LCCR member, voted to honor the organization and co-founders Roy Wilkins and Arnold Aronson.
• 1.2 Million Japanese Visited U.S. in ’81, page 12. A Commerce Department report indicated 1.2 million Japanese tourists visited the United States last year, part of 23.4 million total overseas visitors that exceeded the number of Americans traveling abroad. For the first time, foreign tourists spent as much in the U.S. as Americans spent abroad.
• Antitrust Suit Against Gift Shops Filed, page 12. Steve Conn, owner of two gift shops, filed an $8 million antitrust lawsuit against 19 similar stores, tour operators and a bus service catering to Japanese tourists in northern California. The suit follows a similar case filed last year by Dolphin Tours, reportedly backed financially by Conn.
• Losses Uncertain from Japan’s Boycott of Medfly-Hit Fruits, page 12. Conflicting estimates emerged on California farmers’ losses from the medfly outbreak, with the state Food and Agriculture Department citing $16.4 million in damage while county agricultural commissioners estimated $73 million. The losses stemmed from Japan’s boycott of state produce and consumer reaction to the medfly scare, particularly affecting orange, lemon, melon and strawberry growers.
• ‘Hotel Bandit’ Robs More Japan Tourists, page 12. A honeymoon couple from Japan, Katsuo and Yoko Kunishima, were robbed of $500 by a man dubbed the ‘hotel bandit’ who followed them into an elevator at a San Francisco hotel. The suspect has targeted Asian tourists in at least eight similar incidents since last spring, prompting a $30,000 reward from Mayor Dianne Feinstein and the Hotel Employees Assn.

Community

• Heart Mountain Camp Reunion Expecting 1,000, page 1. A Heart Mountain camp reunion at the Hyatt Regency is expected to draw close to 1,000 attendees, organized by general chairman Shig Honda. The event will feature an exhibit of Heart Mountain memorabilia and activities planned by various community groups, with possible special rates for Disneyland’s Festival Japan.
• Floyd Mori Quits State Trade Post, page 1. Former assemblyman Floyd Mori resigned as director of California’s State Office of International Trade. The resignation was announced by a Department of Economic and Business Development spokesman.
• Nisei Grower to Run for Seat in Sac’to, page 1. Westley grower Mamoru ‘Mum’ Yamaichi announced he will seek the 27th Assembly District seat being vacated by John Thurman. Yamaichi, who previously made an unsuccessful bid for the GOP nomination in 1980, may face Stanislaus County supervisor Gary Condit in November.
• No Racism Found on Gardena Buddhist Church Arson Attacks, page 3. An investigation by the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission into three arson attacks on the Gardena Buddhist Church concluded the motive was not racial or religious discrimination. Investigator Borden Olive said he remains mystified about the cause after interviewing 30 residents and businessmen, while community members offered a $22,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
• JWRO Marches Against Reagan Cuts, page 3. Carol Ono of the Japanese Welfare Rights Organization joined about 250 demonstrators protesting President Reagan’s economic and foreign policies during his visit to Los Angeles. Ono criticized Reagan’s ‘new federalism’ plan for shifting social services from federal to local levels as burdensome to the poor.
• Nikkei Shot at Home in Silver Lake Area, page 3. Stanley Kobayashi, a 30-something Nikkei man, was shot by an unknown assailant outside his Silver Lake area home and wounded in the chest and shoulder by shotgun pellets. He was taken to Presbyterian Hospital in stable condition, and police had not found a suspect.
• Nisei Judge Rules Refunds Were Due from Airport Towing Suit, page 3. U.S. District Judge Robert M. Takasugi’s 1980 ruling resulted in over 2,000 plaintiffs receiving $50,000 in refunds from a class-action suit against LAX over an unconstitutional parking ordinance. Takasugi found the ordinance violated due process because it provided no hearing for motorists to contest towing and storage charges.
• Japanese Charge Doctor with Fraud, page 3. Podiatrist Dr. John C. Yoon was charged with multiple counts of fraud, extortion and grand theft for allegedly swindling Japanese aliens by falsely diagnosing venereal diseases and threatening to report their immigration status. LAPD’s Asian Task Force had received complaints about Yoon since 1978, and his medical license has since been revoked.
• Nat’l JACL Board News / Notes, by Harry Honda, page 4. Harry Honda reports on additional highlights from the National JACL Board meeting, including Herb Okamoto’s update on the Personnel Manual, discussion of JACL’s technological needs including a word processor, and Clifford Uyeda’s announcement of the Golden State-Sanwa Bank’s donation to the Student Aid Fund. The piece also covers PC guidelines discussion and efforts regarding a 100-442-MIS Museum Project plaque at Arlington National Cemetery.
• New Leaders, by George Kondo, page 6. George Kondo reports that over half the chapters in the No. Cal.-W. Nev.-Pacific District Council elected new leaders this year, a sign of organizational vitality. The district also raised over $10,000 for the Redress fund and is planning its second quarterly session in Reno on May 14-15.
• Riverside JACL Installs Mac Niven, page 6. The Riverside JACL installed Cliff Mac Niven as president at a Feb. 20 banquet, with Sumi Harada receiving the JACL Silver Pin for her years of service. Keynote speaker Dr. Mary S. Oda discussed the ‘positive fallout’ of racial prejudice from her experience testifying at Commission hearings.
• Santa Barbara Installs Mike Hide, page 6. The Santa Barbara JACL held its 1982 officer installation dinner Feb. 13 at the Montecito Country Club, installing Mike Hide as chapter chairman. Honored guests included Mayor John Fukasawa and PSWDC officials.
• Chicago JACL Joins Buying Service, page 6. Chicago JACL has signed on with the United Buying Service, joining other organizations that offer members discounts and advantages. Brochures outlining the benefits were sent to members in January.
• Issei Get-Together Planned at Egg Hunt, page 6. Orange County JACL added an Issei get-together to its traditional Easter egg hunt event under new chapter president Warren Nagano. Organizers are seeking a count of Issei attendees to plan appropriately.
• White River Valley Civic League Installs Officers, page 6. The White River Valley Civic League of JACL held its 1982 installation dinner Jan. 30 at Andy’s Station in Auburn, Washington, installing Joe Nishimoto as the new president. Newly-elected Auburn Mayor Bob Roegner served as guest speaker.
• Ventura County JACL ‘Reactivated’, page 7. Ventura County JACL held an installation dinner Jan. 30 marking the reactivation of the chapter after a 17-year hiatus, with Harry Kajihara installed as president. National Director Ron Wakabayashi was guest speaker, and Ida Yasutake was honored for her 17-year service as membership chair.
• Tulare Library Files Chapter Newsletters, page 9. The Tulare County Library has placed all 75 copies of the Tulare County JACL’s newsletters on file in its Historical Room, recognizing their historical importance. The announcement was made Feb. 26 by a longtime chapter member.
• Placer County JACL Seeks Help in Landscaping, page 9. The Placer County JACL is sponsoring a ground improvement program for the new Loomis Library Drive and is seeking volunteers for a cleanup before construction equipment begins heavy work. Interested persons were asked to contact Dr. Michael Hatashita or Alfred Nitta.
• Boise Valley-Snake River in Joint Fete, page 10. The Boise Valley and Snake River Valley JACL chapters held their annual joint installation dinner Jan. 23 in Ontario, Oregon, installing Stan Eto and Russ Murata as chapter presidents respectively. Boise Valley presented eight JACL Silver Pins to longtime chapter stalwarts, two posthumously, and honored Mas Yamashita for 40 years with the Boise Valley Judo Club.
• Sac’to to Honor Percy & Gladys Masaki, page 10. Longtime JACLers Percy and Gladys Masaki will be honored by friends and the Sacramento JACL at a retirement dinner on March 27 at Wong’s Islander Restaurant. Tickets are available from several local sponsors.
• WLA Auxiliary Maps Program for ’82, page 10. The West Los Angeles JACL Auxiliary, led by president Yuki Sato, is planning activities for the year including seeking a Nisei Week Festival queen candidate and an 11th annual benefit wine tasting afternoon in May. The group also announced a scholarship awards dinner in June and continues selling two cookbooks.
• Placer County’s PCYA Scholar, page 10. Kent Sasaki, a Roseville High School senior sponsored by Placer County JACL, participated in the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans in Washington, D.C. from Feb. 20-27. He was selected for his leadership and academic excellence.
• Berkeley Youth Center Seeking Volunteers, page 10. The Berkeley Asian Youth Center is seeking community volunteers to help with its English as a Second Language program, Day Camp, recreational services and other academic programs. Interested persons were asked to contact the center directly.
• B.C. Museum Seeks Nikkei Material, page 12. The Cumberland District Historical Society in British Columbia is seeking historical documentation and artifacts related to Japanese Canadians, including prewar material and stories from former residents. The museum’s current collection includes a Japanese vase, textbooks, old letters and War Custodian posters.

JACL

• Golden State Sanwa Bank Gives $2,000 to JACL Student Aid, page 1. Golden State Sanwa Bank President Teruyoshi Yasufuku pledged $2,000 over four years as the first corporate donation to the JACL National Student Aid Program’s new components. The expanded program includes the Abe and Esther Hagiwara Awards and individually- and corporately-funded awards, with applications due July 31.
• Floyd Shimomura Bids for Top Post, page 1. Floyd Shimomura, a UC Davis Law School professor and national JACL vice president for public affairs, announced his candidacy for National JACL president for the 1982-84 biennium. His announcement is the first from a JACLer bidding for a national elective post, with pre-convention nominations closing April 30.
• A Personal, First Year Assessment of Nat’l JACL, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 5. National JACL Director Ron Wakabayashi reflects on his first year, emphasizing the importance of the JACL chapter network and the organization’s financial constraints limiting staff and modernization efforts. He discusses ideas for improving membership processing efficiency, such as switching to an anniversary-based membership system and better supporting Thousand Club donors.
• CWRIC’s MacBeth on Tap at Phila. Fete, page 6. Angus MacBeth, legal counsel and executive director of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, will be keynote speaker at the Philadelphia JACL installation dinner dance on April 3. High school and college graduates of JACL-member families will be honored guests.

Incarceration & Redress

• Redress Phase 4, by John Tateishi, page 2. John Tateishi responds to Kathryn Bannai’s criticism of his proposed foundation concept for distributing redress compensation, clarifying that JACL has not abandoned individual compensation as a policy goal. He argues that a foundation-type mechanism is the most practical way to achieve individual compensation given political realities in Congress, while keeping residual funds within the Japanese American community rather than reverting to the U.S. Treasury.
• Silence: A 40-Year Cover-Up Conspiracy?, by M.M. Sumida, page 2. M.M. Sumida argues that Executive Order 9066, signed 40 years ago, created an unconstitutional dual governing system that allowed the military to violate civil rights of Japanese Americans without declaring martial law. The piece contends the government’s long silence about the illegality of these actions amounts to a conspiracy to let the matter rest, and argues all affected Japanese Americans are entitled to compensation.
• Rohwer Memorial Fund Drive Underway, page 10. A campaign led by Sam Yada aims to raise $15,000 to rebuild the Nisei war memorial monument erected in 1945 at the Rohwer camp. Any funds beyond the goal would be retained for continued upkeep, and tax-exempt contributions can be sent to a designated fund in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Commentary

• Right to Know, by Dr. Clifford Uyeda, page 4. Clifford Uyeda discusses the importance of the Freedom of Information Act and citizens’ right to know what government is doing, tying it to the Commission investigating the WWII eviction of Japanese Americans. He criticizes the Reagan administration’s proposed ‘Freedom of Information Improvement Act’ as a step backward that would make it easier for government to withhold information from the public.
• Letterbox: Nikkei Marks in Gardena, by Mas Odoi, page 4. A letter from Mas Odoi of Torrance praises Gardena as a model city showing Japanese American progress from poverty after WWII evacuation to success, citing community institutions like the Ken Nakaoka Community Center. He suggests the National JACL Convention, to be hosted by Gardena Valley Chapter, should recognize these public service organizations and the whole Japanese American community’s achievements.
• Blessing in Disguise?, by Mike Hoshiko, page 4. Mike Hoshiko challenges the theory that WWII forced evacuation was a ‘blessing in disguise’ that led to Japanese American success, noting that Japanese Americans in Hawaii and unrestricted zones achieved similar success without being evacuated. He argues the postwar era’s broad prosperity, GI Bill education, and social changes benefited many groups, not just those who were interned.
• When Are Asian Americans Not a Minority, page 5. A Ford Foundation-funded study of underrepresented minorities in higher education excluded Asian Americans because they don’t fit the pattern of educational underachievement seen in other minority groups. The columnist suggests researchers should instead study why Asian Americans succeed educationally rather than only focusing on continued problems of other minorities.
• Seattle, Revisited, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Bill Marutani recalls his boyhood fascination with Seattle’s Smith Tower and recently fulfilled a long-held wish to visit the top during an early morning trip through the city’s International District. He reflects on how the area has changed over the decades while retaining its diverse ethnic character.
• Bad Press for L.A., by Mas Manbo, page 12. Mas Manbo, writing from Japan, describes how Los Angeles has received extensive negative media coverage in Japan following the shooting of a Japanese tourist couple and other crime incidents, with Japanese outlets dubbing L.A. the ‘rape capital of the world’ and ‘Criminal City.’ He notes Japanese authorities have warned tourists to avoid carrying cash, and reflects on his relief at living in Japan’s stricter gun-control environment.

In-Depth

• Service to Community Undermines Bias: Salinas Valley JACL’s Golden Jubilee, page 8. A detailed history traces the Salinas Valley JACL chapter’s founding in 1932 to combat discrimination against Japanese Americans, describing pre-war bias in housing, employment, insurance and the courts, as well as wartime internment and the chapter’s postwar rebuilding efforts. The piece also describes the postwar arrival of flower-growing immigrant families from Kagoshima who built a major floral industry and revitalized Japanese American cultural life in Salinas.

Arts & Entertainment

• Classical, Hawaiian Music Slated at EWP, page 10. The East West Players’ theater is hosting a series of classical soloists including flautist Lisa Joe and celloist Masatoshi Mitsumoto, plus an Old Time Hawaiian Music and Dance Concert on April 11. The performances take place in March and April at the Santa Monica Blvd. theater.

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