Vol. 100, No. 3, January 25, 1985. 12 pages. View this issue
A new redress bill, HR 442, the Civil Liberties Act of 1985, drew 99 co-sponsors in Congress, and the Pacific Citizen printed the full list by state. The front page also carried Helen Zia’s report from Michigan, where an ethnic Chinese refugee from Vietnam, Kiet Tien, was the target of an attempted break-in after years of harassment, and Robert Shimabukuro’s look at the NUMMI joint venture between Toyota and GM. Inside, Minoru Yasui wrote on why Japanese Americans need allies to win redress, and the paper reported that the Justice Department’s response to Gordon Hirabayashi’s coram nobis petition was due.
Other pages covered Philadelphia hearings on violence against Asian refugees and immigrants, congressional demands for action on the Henry Liu murder case, and Stan Shikuma’s commentary on apartheid. Rev. Seiichi Michael Yasutake wrote about his family’s former Seattle home, rebuilt as a replica of a church at Japan’s Meiji-mura museum. Bill Hosokawa and Bill Marutani contributed columns, and Harry K. Honda reported on the paper’s new typesetter.
What’s in this issue
National
- Midwest Community Rallies Behind Chinese Victim, by Helen Zia, page 1. In Grand Ledge, Mich., four white men were arraigned for attempting to break into the home of Kiet Tien, an ethnic Chinese refugee from Vietnam, with intent to commit murder, following years of racial harassment. Asian American organizations mobilized to support the Tien family, drawing parallels to the 1982 killing of Vincent Chin.
- Japanese, American Auto-Makers in New Relationship, by Robert Shimabukuro, page 1. The NUMMI joint venture between Toyota and GM in Fremont, Calif., combines Japanese management techniques with a largely unionized UAW workforce to produce the Nova. The article examines the strategic motivations of Toyota, objections from competitors, and broader implications for the U.S. and Japanese auto industries.
- New Redress Bill Attracts 100 Sponsors, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ninety-nine members of Congress have co-sponsored redress bill HR 442, the Civil Liberties Act of 1985, introduced by Rep. Jim Wright, with the bill essentially mirroring the earlier HR 4110. A full list of co-sponsors by state is provided, including several new backers not previously supportive.
- Government Response to Hirabayashi Due, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The U.S. Dept. of Justice is expected to file its pretrial order responding to Gordon Hirabayashi’s coram nobis petition alleging the government suppressed and destroyed evidence of Japanese American loyalty during WW2. A federal judge previously agreed to hold an evidentiary hearing on the matter.
- Elected Official Says He Didn’t Intend Slur, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Idaho State Sen. Walter Yarbrough said he did not mean to be degrading when he referred to Japanese as ‘slant-eyes’ during a legislative hearing about agricultural trade. A local JACL chapter president wrote a letter condemning the remark as an affront to Japanese Americans.
- Asians Encountering Black Hostility, by Hiroshi Uyehara, page 2. Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations hearings investigated violence against Asian refugees and immigrants, spurred by Councilwoman Joan Specter after the mayor downplayed racial motivations behind attacks. Testimony revealed racial slurs, brutal beatings of Vietnamese and Hmong residents, and tensions with Black residents in affected neighborhoods.
- Congress Demands Action on Liu Case, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Members of Congress, including Reps. Norman Mineta and Tom Lantos, criticized the Reagan Administration’s response to the murder of journalist Henry Liu, allegedly linked to Taiwan government officials. Rep. Stephen Solarz announced hearings on whether the killing violated a law against foreign government harassment of U.S. citizens.
- Hearings on Anti-Asian Violence Continue in Philadelphia, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Continued coverage of Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations hearings details testimony about violence against Asian refugees, including accounts from Chinese Resource Center and Asian American Council representatives blaming anti-import campaigns. Black residents expressed resentment over selective attention to Asian victims, and the chapter offered recommendations for addressing racism and community tensions.
- Liu Murder Case Deepens Political Scandal in Taiwan, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The murder investigation of journalist Henry Liu implicates Taiwanese military intelligence officials, with suspects Chen Chi-li and Wu Tun confessing and naming government connections. Congressional hearings may affect U.S. arms sales to Taiwan as officials investigate the scandal further.
- NUMMI and the Future of Japanese Management, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The article continues analysis of NUMMI and Japanese industrial strategy, citing critiques that Japan’s ‘lifetime employment’ system discriminates against women and the elderly, and discussing the Equal Opportunity Bill debated in the Diet. It also covers increasing competition from Korea and Taiwan and questions whether U.S. companies will invest in their own workforce development.
Military & Veterans
- Veterans Help Rebuild Torched Buddhist Temple, by P.C. Staff, page 2. After three angry Vietnam veterans burned down a Buddhist temple in Hawley, Mass., other veterans from around the country helped rebuild a larger temple for the mostly white congregation. The arsonists said they acted to protest a lack of services for Vietnam veterans.
- Hiring of Southeast Asian Protested, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The director of Willamette National Cemetery reinstated a work program with Portland Community College after a local veterans group objected to the hiring of a Vietnamese student. The Veterans Administration’s memorial affairs director backed the cemetery director’s decision.
Community
- Arizona to Put On 3-Month Japanese Exposition, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Phoenix’s ‘Behind the Mask: A Cultural Exposition of Japan’ launches with a Matsuri festival featuring exhibits, performances, and demonstrations across more than 10 locations over three months. The exposition includes film series, panel discussions on Japanese American experiences, and performances by various dance and theater groups.
- Foundation to Train Asian/Pacific Leaders, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Coro Foundation is accepting applications for a public affairs training program for East Bay Asian/Pacific community leaders, running March 2 to April 19. The program offers hands-on training in public affairs decision-making for 12 selected individuals.
- Woo to Try for City Seat, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mike Woo announced his candidacy for the Los Angeles City Council’s 13th District seat, seeking a rematch against Councilwoman Peggy Stevenson. If elected, Woo would become L.A.’s first Asian American city councilman.
Arts & Entertainment
- Asian Performing Arts Series Opens, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Japan America Theatre’s 1985 winter/spring series opened with Korean dance-drummers Samul-Nori and continues with Kodo taiko drummers and various Asian American dance performances. The series also includes works by Saeko Ichinohe, Kei Takei, and a finale performance by sitarist Ravi Shankar.
Commentary
- East Wind: Of Swordsmen and VCR Tapes, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Marutani reminisces about his love of Japanese samurai films and recounts a humorous story about a legendary swordsman demonstration, as well as his wife’s tape-renting discoveries and VCR format mishaps. The column reflects on the challenges of enjoying Japanese cinema while living on the East Coast.
- Labeling Ourselves, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa traces the evolving terminology used to describe Japanese Americans, from ‘Nisei’ to ‘Sansei’ and ‘Nikkei,’ noting objections to ‘Nikkei’ raised by attorney Glen Fukushima. He questions whether a better, more accurate term exists to describe Japanese Americans that balances ethnicity and citizenship.
- South Africa’s ‘Crime Against Humanity’, by Stan Shikuma, page 9. Shikuma, arrested for protesting apartheid outside the South African consulate in Seattle, details the history and mechanics of apartheid, including pass laws, Bantustans, and township segregation. He draws connections between apartheid and the WW2 incarceration of Japanese Americans and calls for Asian American involvement in anti-apartheid efforts.
- Apartheid’s Economic Underpinnings, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The article continues examining apartheid, detailing the history of Black liberation movements like the ANC and PAC, and recent international reactions including Bishop Desmond Tutu’s Nobel Peace Prize and U.S. protests. William Garling argues that ‘constructive engagement’ primarily benefits American corporations rather than promoting genuine reform.
JACL
- New Typesetter Is Here, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. The Pacific Citizen office received and began installing a new CRTonic 200 digital typesetter and Diablo 630 printer purchased through the PC typesetter fund. The fund drive has reached its halfway mark of $21,000 toward its $40,000 goal since starting in July 1984.
- Takasugi Responds Judiciously, by P.C. Staff, page 6. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Takasugi fielded audience questions at the East Los Angeles JACL installation dinner instead of delivering a prepared speech, discussing the DeLorean case and his experiences on the federal bench. Douglas K. Masuda was re-elected to his seventh term as chapter president, and scholarship winners were honored.
- Redress Supporters Honored at Yasui Fete, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Eighty members of the Redress Committee of Pacific Southwest District JACL honored Mabel Ota, Don and Betty Yamaoka, and Khan Komai for contributions to the redress campaign at a dinner with Min Yasui. Yasui discussed the status of redress bills HR 442 and S 100 and the need for intensified lobbying.
In-Depth
- A Tonosama Story, by Jin Konomi, page 5. Konomi retells the classic rakugo story ‘Tonosama no Samma,’ about a lord who discovers delicious grilled samma fish and later misunderstands why a cook’s refined version disappoints his friend. The piece explores the cultural significance and seasonal appeal of samma in Japanese cuisine and personal memory.
Incarceration & Redress
- Redress Update: Support From Others, by Minoru Yasui, page 5. Yasui discusses Dr. Arthur Flemming’s view that Japanese Americans must build coalitions with non-Nikkei groups to achieve redress, since their small population cannot accomplish it alone. Examples are given of successful advocacy efforts, including resolutions passed by teachers’ groups, the California State Bar, and the National League of Cities.
- Reflections on a Former Home, by Rev. Seiichi Michael Yasutake, page 7. The author recounts his family’s former Seattle home, which was relocated to Japan’s Meiji-mura museum and dedicated as a replica of the Japanese Evangelical Church, with ceremonies attended by family members and Japanese officials. The piece reflects on wartime memories of FBI agents arresting his father and includes a poem by his sister Mitsuye Yamada about the house.
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