Radiation survivors, anti-Asian violence and a JACL election season

Vol. 99, No. 17, October 26, 1984. 12 pages. View this issue

The front page carried the First Radiation Survivors Congress in San Francisco, where Brenda Paik Sunoo of East West reported that more than 160 delegates, including Japanese American hibakusha, Marshallese Islanders, downwinders and atomic veterans, met to share experiences and plan strategy. Page 9 continued the story with testimony and proposals for compensation. Also on page 1, newscaster Tritia Toyota and actress Rosalind Chao spoke to UCLA students about careers and stereotyped roles, and Canada’s multiculturalism minister said Japanese Canadians could expect an apology and consideration of compensation for wartime internment.

Inside are columns on JACL election conduct by Henry Sakai, William Marutani and Jane B. Kaihatsu, and Ron Wakabayashi’s piece on anti-Asian violence. The redress campaign appears in a donation from Dr. Yoshiye Togasaki and in a Central California District program. Readers will also find a Tule Lake reunion planned for 1985, an Amache monument pilgrimage, and a report on elderly Issei in Brazil.

What’s in this issue

Arts & Entertainment

• Toyota, Chao Advise Assertiveness, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. Newscaster Tritia Toyota and actress Rosalind Chao spoke to a mostly Asian American student crowd at UCLA about the obstacles they faced in their careers. Both encouraged aspiring Asian American professionals to be assertive and not accept stereotyped or limited roles.
• ‘Unfinished Business’ to Screen in New York, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund will kick off its tenth anniversary celebration with a screening of ‘Unfinished Business: Three Men Who Fought the Japanese American Internment’ at Lincoln Center. Fred Korematsu will make his first East Coast appearance at the event.

National

• Survivors of U.S. Atomic Bombs Seek Information, Aid, by Brenda Paik Sunoo, East West, page 1. More than a million Americans, including Japanese American hibakusha, Marshallese Islanders, uranium miners, downwinders and atomic veterans, have survived U.S. atomic bomb production, testing and use since the 1940s. The First Radiation Survivors Congress held in San Francisco Oct. 12-14 brought together over 160 delegates to share experiences and formulate strategies against the nuclear establishment.
• Court Backs Vote Count, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Sacramento superior court denied a motion by a coalition of Asians, Hispanics and others to prevent the counting of votes on Proposition 38. The proposition urges the federal government to change Voting Rights Act provisions requiring bilingual election materials.
• Canada Will Apologize, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Canadian Multiculturalism Minister Jack Murta said Japanese Canadians can expect an apology and consideration of compensation for wartime internment. The National Assn. of Japanese Canadians welcomed the promise from the new Progressive Conservative government after previous opposition from former PM Pierre Trudeau.
• ‘I Will Not Plead Guilty’, by Kaori Kitai, Mainichi Daily News, page 6. Kim Myong Gwan, a North Korean resident of Japan and college instructor, is fighting fingerprinting requirements under Japan’s Alien Registration Law in court, arguing it reflects official discrimination against Korean residents. He discusses the historical treatment of Koreans and other foreign nationals in Japan and vows to go to jail rather than comply.
• Issei in Brazil Face Difficult Old Age, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Nearly eight decades after Japanese emigration to Brazil began, tens of thousands of elderly Japanese Brazilians face poor living conditions, loneliness, and inadequate nursing facilities. Despite appeals, Japan’s Foreign Ministry and JICA have provided limited assistance, and the Health and Welfare Ministry has resisted calls for overseas pensions.

Community

• Suspected Killer Caught, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Wai Chiu ‘Tony’ Ng, the third suspect in the 1983 Wah Mee Club mass slaying, was apprehended in Calgary’s Chinatown. Two other men were previously convicted of the murders of 12 men and one woman at the gambling club.
• Mui New OCA Director, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Organization of Chinese Americans has selected Henry K. Mui, a licensed social worker, as its new national executive director, replacing Laura Chin. OCA is a nonprofit civil rights organization established in 1973 with more than 4,000 members.
• Candidate’s Postwar Years in South Central L.A. Recalled, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Republican congressional candidate Echo Goto, running against incumbent Augustus Hawkins in the 29th District, has a long record of community service and business achievement in south central Los Angeles. Her campaign materials detail her civic involvement and numerous awards over three decades in the area.
• Moriguchi Given Honor, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Seattle business leaders honored International District businessman Tomio Moriguchi, president of Uwajimaya, for his contributions to cultural understanding and international trade. Moriguchi, a past national JACL treasurer, was cited for establishing business exchanges with the Pacific Rim.
• State Legislator Expresses Education Concerns, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Hawaii Rep. Ken Kiyabu, head of the House Finance Committee, said the state’s educational system needs restructuring, not just more funding, suggesting reassigning resource teachers and emphasizing vocational education. He and Rep. Robert Bunda expressed concern that many parents aren’t engaged in their children’s education.
• Asian Role Models Feted, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Asian Community Mental Health Services held its 10th anniversary celebration in Oakland, honoring individuals who served as positive mental health role models, including student Bradley Wong, baseball player Atlee Hammaker, and Assemblyman Tom Bates.

Military & Veterans

• Curator Saul to Speak at Nisei Veterans Exhibit, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Eric Saul, curator of the Presidio Army Museum, will speak about Nisei soldiers of WW2 at a Fresno reception honoring veterans. The Fresno Metropolitan Museum is also displaying the Go For Broke and MIS photo exhibits along with Ansel Adams’ Manzanar photographs.

JACL

• Fellowships Available, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The American Sociological Assn. Minority Fellowship Program announced doctoral fellowships in sociology for 1985-86, aimed at recruiting people with diverse perspectives on mental health issues affecting minorities. Applications are due Feb. 1, 1985.
• On Board Members’ Endorsements of Candidates, by Henry Sakai, page 5. PC Board Chair Henry Sakai responds to criticism that he used his position to endorse Frank Sato for JACL president and allegedly made a deal for reappointment. He denies any deal, explains his reasoning for supporting Sato over Min Yasui, and discusses the propriety of national officers endorsing candidates.
• Salinas Valley to Host District Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Acting Governor Mollie Fujioka will call to order the fourth quarterly meeting of the N. Calif.-W. Nevada-Pacific District Council on Nov. 4, hosted by the Salinas Valley Chapter. The agenda includes reports and election of the 1985-86 district board.
• Midwest District to Meet Nov. 16-18, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Midwest District Council’s fall meeting will be hosted by the Detroit Chapter, with agenda items including district redress programs, budget, human rights and membership recruitment. Governor George Sakaguchi announced the meeting.
• PSW Contest Still On, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Chapters in the Pacific Southwest District still have time to enter the district’s membership contest, which ends Dec. 31, with chapters earning money for each new member recruited. PSW previously received $855 in the National JACL membership drive for increasing membership by 171.
• New Member Rebate for Year-End Offered, by P.C. Staff, page 8. National JACL announced a one-time $10 rebate to chapters for new members recruited between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 1984, up from the usual $2 incentive. Vice president Rose Ochi said the incentive aims to stimulate end-of-year membership recruitment.
• Membership at 97%, by P.C. Staff, page 8. As of Sept. 30, national JACL membership stood at 97% of last year’s comparable total, according to membership coordinator Emily Ishida. The 1983 calendar total was 26,420.
• Central Calif. to Focus on Redress, Education, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Central California District Council convention will feature a program titled ‘Redress—Do We Ask Too Much?’ with Congressman Charles Pashayan speaking against full monetary redress and National JACL redress director John Tateishi presenting the case for the CWRIC recommendations. The convention also includes officer elections and workshops co-sponsored with the state education department.
• Sato Sketches Goals and Objectives for 1984-86 at Nat’l Board Meeting, by Harry Honda, page 8. National JACL President Frank Sato presented a ‘Goals and Objectives’ document to the National Board during its Oct. 19-21 meeting in San Francisco, outlining plans for the 1984-86 biennium including redress legislation, membership growth, and leadership development. Sato also announced numerous committee chair appointments with board consent.
• National JACL Leaders Draft Goals Statement for Next Biennium, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 10. A detailed summary document compiles comments from National JACL officers and committee members on goals to strengthen the organization and specific program goals for 1984-86, covering areas such as aging, scholarships, singles concerns, veterans affairs, and student aid. Contributors included Minoru Yasui, Cherry Kinoshita, and several district governors.

Incarceration & Redress

• Reunion of Tule Lake Internees Slated for ’85, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Tule Lake Reunion ’85 will be held in Sacramento in May 1985, featuring tours, golf, picnics, music, dancing and historical exhibits. Registration forms will be available early in 1985.
• Former L.A. Employee Donates Award to JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. Yoshiye Togasaki, one of the first Nisei women to practice medicine, contributed $5,000 to the National JACL redress campaign, from funds she received from the City of Los Angeles for wrongful WWII termination. She hoped her action would inspire others to support the redress campaign.

Commentary

• Oyaji Syndrome, by William Marutani, page 4. The columnist discusses a lingering mental pattern among some Nikkei, particularly Nisei, of unquestioning subservience to authority figures, which he calls the ‘Oyaji Syndrome.’ He argues this deference, rooted in Issei teachings of respect, becomes degrading when applied to injustice such as wartime incarceration, and urges Japanese Americans to think and act as the Americans they are.
• Saiki Responds, by Barry Saiki, page 4. Responding to a reader’s criticism, the writer clarifies his view that expertise on Japan is never fully attainable, even by the Japanese themselves, using Lafcadio Hearn as an example. He also discusses the differences between physical and social sciences and the ongoing challenge of eliminating discrimination.
• Kawasaki Update, by David C. Moore, page 4. The writer clarifies a mix-up regarding a previous letter about a Mrs. Kawasaki, noting he spoke by phone with Mrs. Rachel Kawasaki and determined she was not the same person he knew in Poston as ‘Rita’ Kawasaki. The two agreed to disagree amicably.
• Is This the New Japan?, by William Shimasaki, page 4. The writer recounts helping a young Japanese honeymoon couple injured in a car accident, and a Japanese exchange student, neither of whom ever expressed thanks afterward. He contrasts this with the gratitude shown by two ‘Up With People’ group members he hosted, questioning whether manners have declined in modern Japan.
• Japanese American Methodists and Charity, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. At the centennial celebration of Pine United Methodist Church, members discussed a proposed $5 million Asian American Endowment Fund meant to support various Asian ethnic churches’ needs. Despite their own financial struggles, Japanese American Methodists voted to support the broader fund rather than keep resources for themselves, reflecting charitable commitment.
• Time to Address Violence, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 7. The JACL national director discusses patterns in anti-Asian violence, noting that newcomers and immigrants are often more frequent victims than American-born Nikkei due to differing life experiences and awareness of racism. He argues violence is the most visible indicator of a broader rise in anti-Asian sentiment that JACL must address as a priority.
• His Lordship: Tonosama (1), by Jin Konomi, page 7. The columnist begins a historical exploration of the tonosama, or feudal lords, who served as vassals to the Tokugawa shogun, explaining the han system and how the shogunate deliberately kept daimyos financially drained. The piece sets up further installments about anecdotes and stories involving these feudal lords.
• Amache Monument, by Nobuo Furuiye, page 7. The writer describes the ongoing maintenance of a monument at the Amache Relocation Center, including spring and fall pilgrimages by former internees and supporters to clean the site and honor those who suffered there. Forty people made the 240-mile trip from Denver for the October pilgrimage.
• More on Endorsements, by Jane B. Kaihatsu, page 7. The writer commends Judge William Marutani for clarifying the rules governing national officers’ conduct during JACL elections. She expresses hope the organization is now more sensitive to proper conduct for national officers.

In-Depth

• Catch Up (2), by Harry K. Honda, page 8. This Bookshelf column reviews three recent University of Hawaii Press books: an updated edition of ‘Japanese Culture’ by H. Paul Varley, an oral history anthology ‘Hanahana’ about Hawaii’s plantation workers, and notes the earlier bestseller ‘Uchinanchu: A History of Okinawans in Hawaii.’ The reviewer highlights notable individual stories captured in the Hawaii oral history project.
• Atomic Bomb Survivors Face Government Resistance, Seek Compensation, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Continuing coverage of the First Radiation Survivors Congress details testimonies from hibakusha, atomic veterans, and ‘atomic parents’ about genetic damage, lost medical records, and the Feres Rule barring servicemember lawsuits. Advocates proposed congressional hearings, an omnibus compensation bill, and a 1985 worldwide peace conference in Hiroshima to mark the 40th anniversary of the bombings.
• Unique Adventures in Brazil: Yogurt and Farming in Sao Paulo, by Misao Sakamoto, page 12. The writer recounts visiting the 5,000-acre Fazenda Yakult farm outside Sao Paulo, learning about the history of Yakult yogurt developed by Dr. Minoru Shirota and its expansion into Brazilian dairy and fruit farming. She also describes Japanese Brazilian immigrants’ success in agriculture, including strawberries, apples, and produce markets around Sao Paulo.

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