Redress lobbying and a Heart Mountain monument, January 1986

Vol. 102, No. 1, January 3, 1986. 24 pages. View this issue

Redress filled much of this 24-page issue. The front page announced a January 17 kick-off dinner for the JACL Legislative Education Committee honoring Sens. Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga and Reps. Norman Mineta and Robert Matsui. It also reported plans to dedicate a monument at the Heart Mountain camp site to the more than 600 incarcerated people who left to serve in the U.S. armed forces. Grayce Uyehara’s status report and a full list of co-sponsors showed where the redress bills stood, and Minoru Yasui wrote on why he called redress a patriotic act.

Also inside: a joint Intermountain and Pacific Northwest pilgrimage to Minidoka, a historical marker dedicated at the Crystal City, Texas camp site, and a Spokane fundraising drive for the LEC fund. Columns by Bill Hosokawa, Bill Marutani and Bob Shimabukuro appear on the commentary pages, and the issue closes with Manzen’s short story “Chikara Mochi.”

What’s in this issue

National

• Nikkei Senators, Reps to Be Honorees at LEC Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pacific Southwest District JACL will hold a national kick-off dinner January 17 at the Bonaventure Hotel to raise funds for the JACL Legislative Education Committee. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga and Reps. Norman Mineta and Robert Matsui will be honored for their leadership on redress, with KCBS-TV anchor Tritia Toyota serving as mistress of ceremonies.
• City Adopts ‘Official English’ Resolution, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Los Altos, California passed a resolution making English the city’s official language, while a similar effort in Monterey Park failed after a judge ruled the city acted legally in keeping the measure off the ballot. Opponents like Allan Seid of APAAOC argued the push could be used to end bilingual education and other services for non-English speakers.
• OCA Angry Over Chinese Loyalty Issue, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A New York Times article titled ‘Chinese in U.S.: Question of Loyalties’ drew protest from OCA president Andrew Chen for raising doubts about Chinese American loyalty following the arrest of alleged spy Larry Wu-Tai Chin. Chen argued the headline distorted an article whose content was actually more balanced, and worried it could harm Chinese Americans’ employment prospects in sensitive positions.
• Demos Retake Honolulu Council Seats, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Democrats regained three Honolulu city council seats in a special election after councilmen Toraki Matsumoto, Rudy Pacarro and George Akahane were recalled for switching to the Republican Party. Matsumoto and Pacarro are continuing legal challenges to run again, including appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• For the Record, by P.C. Staff, page 5. This correction notice addresses several errors from the Holiday Issue, including an incorrect typesetter fund total, a misquote in Velina Houston’s article, an incorrect Japanese name for a religious organization, and a misattributed letter writer’s name. The corrections clarify the accurate figures and proper names for readers.
• JACL Opposes Ed. Dept. Decision, by P.C. Staff, page 9. JACL national director Ron Wakabayashi and youth director David Nakayama protested Secretary of Education William Bennett’s decision to abolish the Office of Asian Pacific American Concerns in a December letter. They argued the move contradicts Bennett’s stated support for Asian American achievements given the community’s growing population.

Incarceration & Redress

• Monument Erected at WW2 Camp Site, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A monument honoring Japanese Americans interned at Heart Mountain who fought for the U.S. in WW2 will be formally dedicated this summer, according to former internee Bacon Sakatani. The plaque lists the names of 21 Nisei and a Caucasian teacher killed in action, and the camp site has become eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
• Crystal City Historical Marker Dedicated, by P.C. Staff, page 2. An unveiling ceremony was held November 16 for a historical marker at the site of the Crystal City, Texas internment camp, designed by architect Alan Taniguchi whose family was interned there. The camp was unique among Justice Department camps in allowing interned families to live together, including Japanese Peruvians who were also held there.
• Status Report, by Grayce Uyehara, page 6. As the first session of the 99th Congress ended, redress bills H.R. 442 and S. 1053 had gained significant co-sponsor support, with H.R. 442 reaching 120 co-sponsors and S. 1053 reaching 27. The report details which congressional subcommittees hold the bills and the additional votes needed to advance them.
• Redress Co-Sponsors, by P.C. Staff, page 6. This comprehensive list details all Senate and House co-sponsors of redress bills S. 1053 and H.R. 442 as of the end of 1985, organized by state. The Senate bill had 28 co-sponsors while the House bill had 120, with dates noted for those who joined after the bills’ initial introduction.
• Key Committee Members, by P.C. Staff, page 6. This article lists the members of the Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Civil Service and the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Law, which hold decision-making power over the redress bills. Co-sponsors of each respective bill are noted in italics within the listings.
• Districts Hold Joint Minidoka Trip, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Nearly 100 members of the Intermountain and Pacific Northwest district councils participated in a joint ‘Return to Minidoka’ pilgrimage to the former WW2 camp site in Idaho. Speakers included Idaho Governor John Evans and LEC chair Min Yasui, and a $1,000 LEC contribution was presented during the event.
• LEC Year-End Report, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Legislative Education Committee, incorporated in 1982 as JACL’s lobbying arm, became fully activated in 1985 after the National JACL Board transferred redress lobbying responsibilities to it. Despite funding challenges, interim director Grayce Uyehara and the LEC board made significant progress advancing redress bills through Congress.
• LEC Update, by Grayce Uyehara, page 8. This update details fundraising progress toward the LEC’s $100,000 operational goal, with over $80,000 raised through roughly 80 prime solicitors. The report notes the vote counts still needed in House and Senate committees to advance redress bills H.R. 442 and S. 1053 toward full floor votes.

Community

• Fujita Gets Negative Ruling from County, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pharmacist F. Carole Fujita’s sex discrimination complaint against Los Angeles County was rejected unanimously by the County Civil Service Commission, which found no discrimination against women in the County Health Services Dept. Fujita plans to challenge the finding further, as the story continues on the back page.
• Scholarships Open to Accounting Majors, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The American Society of Women Accountants will award four scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 to accounting majors who have completed required coursework. Applications are due January 15 and should be directed to co-chair Karen Kotake.
• Chapter Pulse, by P.C. Staff, page 9. This roundup covers numerous JACL chapter installation dinners and events across the country, including Seattle’s banquet on international trade impacts, Milwaukee’s event featuring Peter Irons, and various chapters’ new officer slates. Events span from San Francisco to Las Vegas with details on speakers, costs, and venues.
• Submissions Sought for Nikkei Anthology, by P.C. Staff, page 9. San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Department is seeking short stories, poetry, and graphics for Fusion-San, an annual anthology of Japanese American literature. Project director Jim Okutsu hopes the publication will encourage creative expression among Japanese Americans, with a March 31 submission deadline.

Commentary

• Magazine’s ‘Japs’ Statement Rebutted, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The New Republic printed a letter protesting its earlier claim that ‘Jap’ is not an ethnic slur, after JACL national director Ron Wakabayashi objected to a 1985 editorial titled ‘How to Gyp the Japs.’ A reader, Lisa Parola Moore, rebutted columnist TRB’s defense of the term by citing multiple dictionary definitions labeling it offensive.
• Winning in Losing, by Bill Marutani, page 4. In his East Wind column, Bill Marutani reflects on Nisei cultural reluctance to pursue causes without guaranteed success, applying this to the redress movement. He argues that even if redress efforts fail, trying is itself a form of winning, restoring dignity through the act of fighting for justice.
• Dress for Success, by Bob Shimabukuro, page 4. In his column, Bob Shimabukuro humorously discusses advice from JACL colleagues about his appearance and wardrobe choices while covering National Board meetings. He recounts friends’ suggestions ranging from imaginary shields to buying Levis, settling on wearing his old suit to the upcoming LEC dinner honoring Senators Inouye and Matsunaga.
• Asians and GOP, by William Kashiwagi, page 4. A letter to the editor expresses approval that Asian Americans are increasingly leaning conservative rather than liberal, crediting hard work and personal achievement for Nisei success despite wartime internment. The writer argues Asian immigrants who fled communism tend to favor conservative, anticommunist politics.
• Let’s Go For Broke, by Frank F. Sakamoto, page 4. A letter from the Redress Coordinator urges support for redress legislation seeking $20,000 compensation for each surviving internee, drawing parallels to Nisei WW2 military service and sacrifice. The writer notes growing support from conservative figures like Rep. Henry Hyde and calls for readers to contribute to the cause.
• Death of the Digest, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. In his From the Frying Pan column, Bill Hosokawa mourns the closure of the Japanese edition of Reader’s Digest after 40 years, due to labor problems at its parent company rather than any flaw in the magazine itself. He credits the publication with fostering mutual understanding between Japan and America through stories about Japanese Americans and U.S.-Japan relations.
• Letters to the Editor: Back of the Bus?, by Raymond Okamura, page 5. A letter writer criticizes the Holiday Issue for seemingly segregating articles about Caucasian-Japanese American families from those about Black-Japanese American families, with the latter relegated to a pullout section. An editor’s note clarifies that Velina Houston’s piece on mixed heritage actually received the preferred placement.
• Redress: A Patriotic Act, by Minoru Yasui, page 7. In his Redress Update column, Minoru Yasui argues that redress is fundamentally an American issue rooted in the nation’s principles of individual freedom and rule of law, quoting President Reagan’s own words on these values. He urges continued support for LEC’s lobbying efforts to pass redress legislation as a matter of moral and civic responsibility.
• Senator Recalls Lessons of Relocation, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Sen. Bob Packwood recalled in a Washington Post interview being taught by his father about the unfairness of Japanese American internment during WW2. Despite this personal history, Packwood has not co-sponsored redress bill S. 1053, unlike his Oregon colleague Mark Hatfield.

In-Depth

• Henry Hayase School Fund Established, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Yale University announced a campaign to establish the Henry K. Hayase Prizes in Asian American Studies, honoring the pioneering Asian American studies advocate who died in May 1985. Hayase’s research on Asian American admissions changed policies at Yale and other Ivy League schools, and he went on to work at Stanford’s U.S.-Japan Relations Program before his death.
• Chikara Mochi: A Short Story, by Manzen, page 24. This short story follows Tak Arai during a joyful community mochi-making event at his church, where he reflects on being repeatedly told he is ‘different’ from others despite his deep commitment to community service. The narrative explores his internal struggle with this label, which he experiences as a painful barrier separating him from genuine connection with others who share his values but excuse themselves from similar effort.

Arts & Entertainment

• New Velina Houston Play to Premiere, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian American Theater Company will present ‘Thirst,’ a new play by Velina Hasu Houston, opening January 17 in San Francisco. The drama examines the relationship between three daughters of a Japanese war bride who reunite after their mother’s death.

JACL

• PC Board’s Views of PC, by Clifford Uyeda, page 5. PC Board Chair Clifford Uyeda reports on a December 1985 survey of PC Board members assessing the newspaper’s performance, covering topics like front-page coverage, JACL news coverage, and columnist balance. Board members offered mixed feedback, with some praising the paper’s function as a news medium while others criticized insufficient JACL coverage and story prioritization.
• NCWNPDC Director’s Report, by George Kondo, page 8. The Northern California-Western Nevada-Pacific District Council reports steady activity including five chapters celebrating 50th anniversaries and strong quarterly meeting attendance. The district highlights investment in Sansei leadership development while noting ongoing challenges including an IRS audit and internal chapter issues.
• PSW Covers Wide Range of Activities, by Linda Hara, page 8. Pacific Southwest District Council’s fourth quarterly meeting in Las Vegas covered redress committee updates, a Women’s Concerns Committee workshop on Asian immigrant women’s issues, and the JAPSS hair salon protest campaign. The district also elected new officers for the upcoming biennium and passed a resolution demanding accounting of National JACL redress expenditures.
• MDC Governor’s Report, by Thomas I. Hara, page 8. The new Midwest District Council governor reports on redress funding efforts and announces a forthcoming district speech and forensic competition for JACL youth to be held in St. Louis. He expresses enthusiasm for his new role and invites ongoing communication from MDC members.
• Chevron to Fund Speech Contest, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Chevron USA announced it will sponsor the National JACL Speech & Forensic Competition, funding major portions including housing for contestants during the 1986 convention and cash awards for winners. The competition is open to JACL members ages 16-19 who qualify through district-level contests.

Military & Veterans

• Spokane JAs Donate to LEC Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Nearly 30% of Nikkei families in Spokane participated in a fundraising drive that achieved its $5,000 goal for the JACL-LEC fund, ultimately raising $5,057. Despite Spokane’s small Nikkei population and location outside the wartime exclusion zone, community members showed strong commitment to the redress cause.

Obituaries

• Necrology, by P.C. Staff, page 14. This necrology section lists numerous Japanese American community members who died during 1985, including Henry Hayase, Milton Eisenhower, Clarence Roy Hurlbert, and many others with details of their lives and community contributions. Entries range from JACL leaders and veterans to professionals and activists across the country.
• Denver-Area Community Leader Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 15. George Mitsuo Kaneko, 68, founder of an accounting firm and longtime JACL member, died unexpectedly December 1 while undergoing medical treatment in Estes Park, Colorado. Kaneko was known for his community involvement including civil rights advocacy during WW2 and his role in Denver’s Japanese American community as a popular, well-liked figure.

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.