Vol. 101, No. 13, September 27, 1985. 12 pages. View this issue
The front page of this 12-page issue covered a September 14 protest in West Hollywood, where about 50 people organized by the National Coalition for Redress/Reparations (NCRR) rallied outside the J.A.P.S.S. hair salon over its name. Katie Kaori Hayashi reported that co-owner Peter Nagai agreed to change the name after meeting with NCRR. Also on page one, Reps. Norman Mineta and Robert Matsui announced that Rep. Henry Hyde had agreed to co-sponsor redress bill HR 442, and the paper followed Jessie Furukawa’s discrimination hearing in Sacramento.
Inside are Dalton Tanonaka on racial maturity, Ron Wakabayashi on Assemblyman Gilbert Ferguson’s remarks about the Japanese American National Museum, and a report on the ‘Coming of Age in the Thirties’ conference on the prewar vernacular press. Travel pages carry Harry Honda’s visit to Sao Paulo and JATC tour features on Egypt, the Yucatan and Baja. Chapter news and arts notices fill the last pages.
What’s in this issue
National
- Protesters Picket JAPSS Hair Salon Over Name, by Katie Kaori Hayashi, page 1. About 50 protestors organized by NCRR rallied outside the J.A.P.S.S. hair salon in West Hollywood, demanding the owners change the name they consider a racial slur. Salon co-owner Peter Nagai said the name was an acronym of the owners’ names and agreed to change it after meeting with NCRR.
- Conservative Lawmaker Henry Hyde Backs Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Reps. Norman Mineta and Robert Matsui announced that conservative Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill) agreed to co-sponsor redress bill HR 442, a significant boost given his influence on the House Judiciary Committee. Hyde stated that imprisoning loyal American citizens because of their ethnicity was a grave injustice that redress seeks to address.
- Education Consultant Challenges Firing, by Carol Wong, East West, page 1. Nearly 150 Asian Pacific Americans attended a state personnel board hearing in Sacramento regarding discrimination charges filed by Jessie Furukawa against the State Dept. of Education, who claims she was demoted and fired in retaliation for advocating for Asian programs. State witnesses claimed her dismissal was due to poor performance, while her attorney argued she was unfairly targeted for being a vocal advocate for Asians in the department.
- JA Reps Air Views on Anti-Japan Sentiment in Congress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Reps. Norman Mineta and Robert Matsui were featured in a Wall Street Journal article expressing concern about anti-Japanese rhetoric in Congress related to trade tensions. Matsui noted colleagues making insensitive comments about ‘loaded bullets,’ while Rep. Don Edwards distributed the article to all House members.
- Taiwan Arrests Publisher of Chinese American Paper, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Lee Ya-ping, publisher of the International Daily News based in Monterey Park, was arrested in Taiwan for publishing articles allegedly promoting reunification with China. U.S. officials and congressmen condemned the arrest as an act of intimidation against a U.S. publisher.
- Furukawa Hearing Continues, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Following the personnel board hearing, Furukawa expressed appreciation for community support and said she wanted the hearing to be open so others facing similar situations would be aware. The hearing is scheduled to continue October 28 at the State Personnel Board Building.
Community
- Lee Withdraws From San Francisco Supervisor Race, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Civil service commissioner Louis Hop Lee dropped out of the race for S.F. Board of Supervisors, citing concerns about his delinquent property tax record becoming a campaign issue. Lee suggested only one Asian American candidate should run to avoid splitting community support.
- Kimochi Benefit Set for October 19, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sansei Live, a benefit concert for Kimochi Inc., a Japanese seniors service organization, will be held at the Gift Center Pavilion in San Francisco featuring Asian American performers including Nobuko Miyamoto and comedienne Amy Hill. The event will be emceed by Wendy Tokuda and Steve Nakajo, with honorary co-chairs Ken Kashiwahara and Janice Mirikitani.
- Egypt: An Awesome Journey Into 5,000 Years of History, by Alyce S. Komoto, page 5. JATC tour coordinator Alyce Komoto describes the wonders of touring Egypt, including the pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the Egyptian Museum’s treasures of King Tut. The article promotes an upcoming JATC tour package to Egypt highlighting ancient historical sites along the Nile.
- Mayaland-Yucatan Peninsula Shrouded in Magic Mystery, by Rafael Bouffard, page 6. The article explores the mysterious Mayan civilization in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, describing sites including Merida, Chichen Itza, and Uxmal with their ancient temples and pyramids. It promotes a six-day JATC tour package to the region.
- Tip of Baja: Where Fishing Is Uncrowded, by P.C. Staff, page 7. JATC announces a new fishing tour to Southern Baja California, led by an expert fisherman with 20 years experience in the region. The area around Cabo San Lucas is touted as the light-tackle-fishing capital of the world with excellent sportfishing year-round.
- A Pleasant Memory, by Meriko Mori, page 9. Over 150 singles from across the country gathered in San Jose for the 2nd National JACL Singles Convention, featuring workshops on relationships, communication, and coping with loneliness led by various psychologists and speakers. The event concluded with a positive atmosphere and plans announced for a 3rd convention in San Francisco in 1987.
- Assemblyman Ferguson Criticized, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The San Francisco Examiner and Japanese American community criticized Assemblyman Gilbert Ferguson for invoking Pearl Harbor while opposing state funding for the Japanese American National Museum. Ferguson responded that his remarks were about public funding policy, not opposition to the museum itself, and blamed incomplete media reporting for the controversy.
In-Depth
- Nisei Conference Examines 1930s, by P.C. Staff, page 3. More than 200 participants attended the ‘Coming of Age in the Thirties’ conference at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, examining the diversity of Nisei opinion before WW2 as reflected in the vernacular press. Speakers included Karl Yoneda, Togo Tanaka, and other editors and historians discussing prewar newspapers and their editorial stances.
Arts & Entertainment
- S.F. Theater Group Begins 12th Season, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian American Theater Company announced its 1985-86 season lineup including the West Coast premiere of ‘State Without Grace’ and new works by playwrights David Henry Hwang, Philip Gotanda, and Rick Shiomi. The season will run at Fort Mason Center’s Peoples Theater Coalition through June 1986.
- A/A Experience Focus of Arts Festival, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The first annual Asian American Visual and Performing Arts Event, ‘Roots to Reality: Asian America in Transition,’ will be presented in New York featuring works by over 30 Asian American artists of various ethnic backgrounds. The event includes visual art, music, dance, theater, poetry and film exploring Asian American cultural identity.
- Schedule Set for AVA Film Festival, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The Asian American International Film Festival will be held at UCLA’s Melnitz Theater in October, sponsored by UCLA Film Archives, Visual Communications, and Asian Cinevision. The festival will screen numerous films by Asian American directors including ‘Fine Line,’ ‘Hito Hata,’ and ‘Wataridori’.
JACL
- Honda, Kondo to Be Honored, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Northern California-Western Nevada-Pacific District Council will honor regional director George Kondo and Pacific Citizen general manager Harry Honda at a November 16 event at His Lordship’s Restaurant in Berkeley. The evening will feature a speech by Honda, a roast of Kondo, and dancing to a big band.
- Marina Chapter Hosts Fundraising Dance, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Marina chapter will hold ‘Crazy in the Night,’ a fundraising dance at the Hyatt Hotel near LAX to benefit the Asian Leadership Conference at UCLA’s Graduate School of Management. Conference participants will include news anchor Tritia Toyota and LA city councilman Michael Woo.
- Riverside Chapter Presents Sendai Festival, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Riverside JACL will present its 18th annual Sendai Festival at Canyon Crest Towne Centre, honoring Riverside’s sister city in Japan with origami, bonsai, koto music, and martial arts demonstrations. The festival is free and includes a variety of Japanese dishes.
- Downtown LA and Marina Chapters Plan Potluck Picnic, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Downtown Los Angeles and Marina chapters will co-sponsor a potluck picnic at Whittier Narrows Park featuring softball and games. The event is open to members and includes a raffle.
- West Valley Bridge Club Sponsors Annual Social, by P.C. Staff, page 10. West Valley JACL Bridge Club will host its annual bridge social at El Paseo Community Center in San Jose with duplicate sessions for various skill levels. Prizes and refreshments will be provided for all participants.
Commentary
- The Three R’s, page 4. The columnist laments rising school violence statistics and declining educational standards, citing poor spelling and basic math skills among college graduates and lawyers. He argues schools should prioritize learning above all else and criticizes society’s tolerance of declining standards.
- Racial Maturity, American Style, by Dalton Tanonaka, page 4. A Portland TV reporter recounts two incidents of racial insensitivity he experienced during a Fourth of July visit to Washington D.C., including being addressed in mock Asian accents by strangers. He reflects on how America’s racial maturity still has far to go despite outward displays of diversity and celebration.
- A Rebuttal From PC, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 4. PC responds to a letter from Ken Masugi accusing the paper of bias toward ‘radical politics’ for its coverage of Jesse Jackson. The author defends PC’s editorial choices as focused specifically on Asian American issues, noting that Masugi’s broader opposition to minority rights and redress reveals deeper disagreement with JACL’s mission.
- From Sandbox to the Assembly, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 9. The author recounts incidents of childhood racism experienced by his son and a colleague’s child, drawing a parallel to Assemblyman Gilbert Ferguson’s remarks invoking WW2 during a museum funding debate. He argues that such bigotry at high political levels has dangerous repercussions and must be publicly repudiated.
Military & Veterans
- South America Trip Visits Sao Paulo’s 750,000 Nikkei, by Harry Honda, page 5. Harry Honda recounts a visit to Sao Paulo, Brazil, home to the largest concentration of Japanese Brazilians, describing the historic Japanese neighborhood of Liberdade and local economic conditions including high inflation and unemployment. The piece offers travel tips for visitors regarding currency exchange and safety precautions amid Brazil’s economic struggles.
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