Reactions to the CWRIC report, and a fundraiser for the coram nobis cases

Vol. 96, No. 10, March 18, 1983. 12 pages. View this issue

The Pacific Citizen devoted most of this issue to the findings of the CWRIC, the federal commission that studied the World War II incarceration (often called internment) of Japanese Americans. The front page carried editorials from Japan’s Mainichi and Yomiuri on the report, plus a roundup of newspaper responses across the United States. Inside, an excerpt on economic loss, Bill Marutani’s column and letters from Walter Sakai and Sue Kunitomi Embrey weighed what the report did and did not add. JACL’s legislative guidelines for redress ran across pages 9 and 10, and Marin JACL president Bruce Shimizu answered S.I. Hayakawa’s remarks on redress.

Also in this issue: a March 31 Los Angeles reception to support Gordon Hirabayashi, Fred Korematsu and Minoru Yasui in their coram nobis cases, and the Puyallup Fair Board’s decision to approve a monument by George Tsutakawa. JACL news covered San Jose’s 60th anniversary banquet, Mayor Tom Bradley’s coming talk to the Pacific Southwest District Council and the Thomas T. Hayashi Law Scholarship.

What’s in this issue

National

• Japan Press Relates CWRIC’s Work to U.S.-Japan Relations, page 1. Japanese newspapers the Mainichi and Yomiuri published editorials on the CWRIC’s findings regarding the World War II internment of Japanese Americans. Both papers suggested the Commission’s work could contribute to improved U.S.-Japan relations by addressing issues of racial discrimination and wartime hysteria.
• Editorials on CWRIC: Steering Public Opinion?, page 1. Newspapers across the country published editorials responding to the CWRIC’s report ‘Personal Justice Denied,’ largely acknowledging that a grave injustice was done to Japanese Americans during WWII. Few offered concrete recommendations on reparations, though many felt some form of redress was warranted.
• U.S.-Asia Institute Probes Media Topics, page 5. A conference titled ‘The Communications Revolution: Key to U.S.-Asia Relations’ will be held April 28, co-sponsored by the U.S. Asia Institute and the Department of State. Speakers will include Secretary of State George Shultz and other government officials discussing U.S.-Asia communications policy.

Incarceration & Redress

• Fund Raiser Slated for Coram Nobis Petitioners, page 1. A Los Angeles community reception on March 31 will honor Gordon Hirabayashi, Fred Korematsu and Minoru Yasui for their coram nobis petitions challenging their WWII convictions. The event, sponsored by several Japanese American organizations, aims to raise funds for ongoing litigation costs.
• CWRIC Report: Economic Loss (Part II) – The Impact of Evacuation, page 2. This excerpt from the CWRIC report details the devastating economic losses suffered by Japanese American farmers, fishermen and nursery owners who were forced to abandon their livelihoods with little notice during the WWII evacuation. Testimonies describe lost crops, undervalued property sales, and exploitation by caretakers during the forced removal.
• Puyallup Fair Will Get Monument, page 2. The Puyallup Fair Board reversed its decision and approved placing a memorial sculpture by artist George Tsutakawa within the fairgrounds to commemorate Japanese Americans interned there in 1942. The decision came after opposition from the American Legion, which claimed internment was voluntary, was overridden amid national publicity and support from Nisei advocates.
• Fundraiser Continued: Committee to Reverse the Japanese American Wartime Cases, page 2. A group of attorneys from several West Coast cities formed a committee to represent Hirabayashi, Korematsu and Yasui in their coram nobis cases, with costs projected to reach tens of thousands of dollars. The Asian Law Caucus is authorized to raise and disburse funds for the litigation, with contribution details provided for donors in various regions.
• Editorials Continued: California and National Newspapers Respond to CWRIC, page 4. Additional editorial responses from newspapers including the Salt Lake Tribune, Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury are detailed, with varying opinions on reparations and the lessons of the internment. The San Jose Mercury specifically called for substantial monetary compensation to survivors.
• Editorials Continued: Japan Times and Asahi Evening News on CWRIC Report, page 5. The Japan Times praised the CWRIC report as offering a valuable lesson to Japan’s leaders while noting the commission wisely avoided recommending specific monetary compensation. The article also covers additional Southern California and Pacific Northwest newspaper editorials on reparations and the internment’s legacy.
• JACL’s Legislative Guidelines for Redress, page 9. The article presents JACL’s detailed legislative guidelines for redress approved at the 1982 National Convention, calling for congressional findings of wrongdoing and monetary compensation to individuals affected by Executive Order 9066. The guidelines propose creating federally chartered foundations for Alaskan Aleuts and Japanese Americans to administer reparations.
• JACL Guidelines Continued: Alaskan Aleuts Foundation and Japanese American Foundation, page 10. This continuation details the proposed creation of two federally chartered foundations to administer redress payments to Alaskan Aleuts and Japanese Americans affected by WWII internment. The guidelines specify priority payment schedules based on age at time of internment and outline foundation governance structure.

Military & Veterans

• Controversial Judge Shintaku in Hawaii Resigns, page 4. Honolulu Circuit Judge Harold Shintaku resigned after being mysteriously injured 17 months earlier, citing permanent physical disability. Shintaku had faced controversy over a drunken driving arrest and a contested acquittal, with police unable to determine how he was injured.

Commentary

• Letters to the Editor: CWRIC Report, by Walter Sakai, page 6. A reader from Portland argues that the CWRIC report’s significance lies in being the first official federal investigation into the internment, carrying more weight than prior publications. He states it will serve as a key reference for historians and textbooks.
• Letters to the Editor: However…, by Sue Kunitomi Embrey, page 6. A Los Angeles reader compares the CWRIC report’s conclusions to a 1973 Manzanar memorial plaque that already stated the internment resulted from hysteria, racism and economic exploitation. She questions what new information the report actually provides.
• Common Knowledge, by Marc Narasaki, page 6. A social worker examines factors contributing to drug abuse among youth, focusing on the influence of significant others and peer pressure. He advocates for family therapy combined with residential treatment as an effective intervention approach for Nikkei families dealing with youth substance abuse.
• Lifting the Stigma of ‘Disloyalty’, by Bill Marutani, page 7. Judge Bill Marutani discusses the CWRIC report’s conclusion that race prejudice, war hysteria and failed political leadership caused the WWII internment, emphasizing the report’s unique credibility as an official government investigation. He notes the report violated the American principle of innocent until proven guilty and calls for reversal of the Supreme Court’s wartime rulings.
• San Jose: Then and Now, by Bill Marutani, page 7. Marutani reflects on visiting San Jose’s Japantown three years apart, noting the growth of Vietnamese businesses and a new Japanese fast-food restaurant called Happi House. He describes the historic Issei Memorial Building and nearby churches as evidence of the community’s enduring presence.
• Marin JACL President Raps Hayakawa on Redress Views, page 9. Former Senator S.I. Hayakawa reiterated controversial claims that WWII internment benefited Japanese Americans by accelerating their assimilation, dismissing reparations as unnecessary given the 442nd’s wartime service. Marin JACL president Bruce Shimizu rebutted Hayakawa’s comments, stating he does not speak for the Japanese American community and was never interned himself.
• Why Should Anyone Join JACL?, by Dr. Yosh Nakashima, page 10. The author discusses JACL’s mission statement and argues the organization should focus on civil rights advocacy at the national level while chapters address local community needs. He calls for members to move past internal personality conflicts and unite to strengthen JACL’s role as a national civil rights organization.

JACL

• San Jose Fetes Its 60th Year, by Phil Matsumura, page 8. Over 900 people attended a banquet celebrating the 60th anniversary of the San Jose JACL Chapter, featuring keynote speaker Judge William Marutani discussing WWII internment testimony. The event included recognition of 24 past chapter presidents and a $3,000 contribution to the national redress campaign.
• L.A. Mayor to Address PSWDC, page 8. Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley will speak at a special JACL Pacific Southwest District Council meeting on March 25 about the role of Japanese Americans in city government. The West Los Angeles JACL Chapter is sponsoring the event, which will include a buffet dinner and Q&A session.
• Hayashi Scholarships Offered, page 8. Applications are being accepted for the annual JACL Thomas T. Hayashi Law Scholarship, open to university graduates entering law school in fall 1983. The scholarship, administered by the Eastern District Council, awards $700 annually for three years based on academic merit and financial need.
• Yoshino, Harano Named to Ill. Panel, page 9. Illinois Governor James Thompson appointed JACL Midwest Regional Director William Yoshino and former Chicago JACL president Ross Harano to the state’s Asian American Advisory Council. The council facilitates communication between state government and the Asian American community on issues of civic participation.
• Sansei Turnout at Chicago Brunch, page 12. Over 30 people attended the Chicago JACL Chapter’s Orientation Brunch, with 90% of attendees being Sansei specifically targeted for recruitment. The chapter has a long history of Sansei leadership, with its current 1983 Board of Directors composed of 12 Sansei out of 15 total members.

Community

• Psychological Impact Forum on Camp’s Impact on JAs, page 9. A follow-up community meeting on the psychological impact of WWII evacuation experiences was scheduled for March 18 at Little Tokyo Towers in Los Angeles. The session will include discussion of forming local support groups and will show videotape from earlier Redress Hearing testimony.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.