Redress hearings, the Vincent Chin sentencing and a post-convention JACL

Vol. 99, No. 13, September 28, 1984. 12 pages. View this issue

The front page carried the sentencing of Ronald Ebens to 25 years in prison for violating Vincent Chin’s civil rights, and the testimony of Karl Bendetsen at a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on redress bills. Bendetsen argued that Executive Order 9066 did not compel the World War II incarceration (often called internment), and page 6 continued his testimony along with that of Edward Ennis. Page 2 reported on a Gardena fundraiser where John Tateishi, Rep. Norman Mineta and Col. Young Oak Kim spoke about redress efforts in Congress and the courts.

Readers will also find letters reacting to the JACL national convention, a Bill Hosokawa column on The Karate Kid, an interview with actress Kim Miyori by J.K. Yamamoto, and a Frank Abe report on diabetes among Nisei. A page 7 piece by Lorraine Bannai covered the coram nobis cases of Korematsu, Yasui and Hirabayashi.

What’s in this issue

National

• Ebens Receives Stiff Sentence in Chin Slaying, page 1. Ronald Ebens was sentenced to 25 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor for violating Vincent Chin’s civil rights, though he was allowed to remain free on bond for 30 days. Lily Chin’s representative Helen Zia said the sentence sends a message against attacks on Asian people, while further legal battles, including appeals and a civil suit, remain pending.
• Racism Implicated in Fatal Stabbing of Student, page 1. James Pierman is on trial for the fatal stabbing of Vietnamese student Thong Hy Huynh in 1983 at Davis High School, with testimony describing weeks of racial taunts before the killing. The defense claims Huynh accidentally fell on the knife, while witnesses testified Pierman used racial slurs and waved the knife before the stabbing.
• Michigan Asians Protest Racial Caricature, page 2. American Citizens for Justice protested a racially caricatured poster at Six Flags Auto World in Flint, Michigan, calling it similar to WW2 propaganda art and linked to the climate that led to Vincent Chin’s killing. Auto World’s public relations manager defended the display, saying it pokes fun at many groups and isn’t meant to be offensive.
• Former POWs Oppose Aleut Compensation, page 2. Two former American POWs testified against a Senate bill that would compensate Aleuts interned during WW2, calling it a “giveaway” and complaining they weren’t properly notified of the hearings. Sen. Ted Stevens defended the hearing process, saying notices had been published in local newspapers.
• Woo Wins in Delaware Primary, page 3. Dr. S.B. Woo won the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor of Delaware, beating Nancy Cook by more than 3,500 votes. Woo, a physics professor born in Shanghai, will face Republican Battle Robinson in the November election.
• Study Shows Nisei Have ‘Alarmingly High’ Diabetes Rate, by Frank Abe, page 12. A University of Washington study led by Dr. Wilfred Fujimoto found Nisei men and women have much higher diabetes rates than Japanese in Japan or white Americans, which he theorizes may be linked to the chronic stress of wartime incarceration and its economic aftermath. Fujimoto plans further research into whether Sansei show similar elevated rates as they age.

Incarceration & Redress

• Bendetsen Claims U.S. Internment Camps Were Not Compulsory, page 1. At a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on redress bills, former Provost Marshal General official Karl Bendetsen testified that Executive Order 9066 did not compel internment and that evacuees were free to relocate elsewhere with government assistance. He argued that the Commission on Wartime Relocation’s findings were irresponsible and libelous, citing MAGIC cables as evidence of disloyalty among some Japanese Americans.
• Redress Leaders Give Good News, Bad News on Efforts in Congress and the Courts, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 2. At a Gardena fundraiser, JACL redress director John Tateishi described a tense Sept. 12 congressional hearing while Rep. Norman Mineta stressed the difficulty of passing redress legislation. NCRR’s Bert Nakano and NCJAR’s Joyce Okinaka also spoke about their organizations’ efforts, and veteran Col. Young Oak Kim voiced support for redress among Nisei veterans.
• Hearing Testimony Continued: Bendetsen and Ennis, page 6. This continuation of front-page testimony includes further remarks by Karl Bendetsen defending the government’s WW2 actions and testimony from Edward Ennis, former director of the Alien Enemy Control Unit, who described how Attorney General Biddle and the FBI found no evidence justifying internment. Ennis detailed the political and economic pressures from farmer organizations and war officials that led to Executive Order 9066 despite objections from the Justice Department.
• Redress Program Continued: Coram Nobis Cases Discussed, page 7. This continuation details attorney Lorraine Bannai’s discussion of the coram nobis cases of Korematsu, Yasui, and Hirabayashi, noting different outcomes in each case. Minoru Yasui also spoke about his willingness to appeal to the Supreme Court and recounted the heroism of the 442nd during the Gothic Line campaign.

Arts & Entertainment

• Documentary of Nisei’s ‘Unfinished Business’ to Be Screened, page 2. Steven Okazaki’s documentary “Unfinished Business,” about the coram nobis cases of Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Minoru Yasui, will have its Southern California debut Oct. 6 in Gardena as a fundraiser. The event will feature attorneys Dale Minami and Lorraine Bannai and be hosted by actress Kim Miyori.
• Miyori Mourns Her Death in ‘St. Elsewhere’, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 3. Actress Kim Miyori discusses the sudden death of her character Dr. Wendy Armstrong on NBC’s “St. Elsewhere” and the lack of opportunities for Asian actors in mainstream roles. She reflects on stereotyped roles she’s played, her father’s internment at Gila River, and her hopes for more Asian role models in entertainment.
• East West Players to Open 19th Season with Gotanda Play, page 3. East West Players, under director Mako, announced its 19th season lineup including Philip Kan Gotanda’s “A Song for a Nisei Fisherman” and works by Karen Yamashita, Karen Huie, Akemi Kikumura, and Velina Houston. The season’s theme is “Still Growing, Still Going Strong.”

Commentary

• The Voice from Central Cal, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Columnist Bill Marutani discusses a letter from Fred Hirasuna criticizing a JACL national president’s partisan electioneering in a nominating speech for a candidate. Marutani argues that organizational presidents should remain impartial per Robert’s Rules of Order and warns against the dangers of entrenched power within JACL.
• Only Skin Deep, by Brenda Hayashi, page 4. In a letter to the editor, Brenda Hayashi criticizes beauty contests for emphasizing physical attractiveness over other qualities despite claims about poise and charm. She questions whether JACL should promote such contests given the troubling values they perpetuate.
• Kiss Off!, by Name Withheld by Request, page 4. A letter writer expresses outrage over an article describing a “Thousand Club Kiss” incident involving women providing incentives for club memberships at a JACL convention. The writer calls the organization in need of remedial help regarding women’s issues.
• A Downer, by Chiye Tomihiro, page 4. Chiye Tomihiro writes in support of Robert Shimabukuro’s critical convention article, expressing her own disappointment and discouragement with the JACL convention’s lack of leadership and vision. She encourages Shimabukuro to remain involved, calling him a potential leader.
• Army Intelligence, by Katsumi Yagura, page 4. Katsumi Yagura’s letter disputes claims that WW2 evacuation was a military necessity, arguing it was driven by the avarice of neighbors who plundered Japanese American property. He also notes that the internment denied the Army access to needed Japanese linguists during the war.
• Voting, by Yas Abiko, page 4. Yas Abiko questions discrepancies in JACL convention vote totals that exceeded the number of chapters, raising concerns about voting procedures. An editor’s note clarifies that District Youth Council chairs also have votes in the National Council.
• Response on Nominating Speeches, by Sandi Kawasaki, page 4. Sandi Kawasaki responds to Fred Hirasuna’s letter, defending national officers’ right to endorse candidates based on their working relationships, while acknowledging only chapter delegates can vote. She explains her own voting process considered trusted endorsements alongside candidate presentations.
• The Karate Kid’s Mentor, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa reviews “The Karate Kid,” praising Pat Morita’s performance as Mr. Miyagi despite some historical inconsistencies about his WW2 backstory. He reflects on how Morita’s portrayal, while stereotypical in some ways, reminds him fondly of Issei he has known.
• Happy Valley Lost, by Jin Konomi, page 5. Jin Konomi reflects on racist incidents in Monterey Park, contrasting them with his fond memories of working there in the 1920s as a young nursery worker and student. He recounts his frugal student life, teaching at a Saturday gakuen, and a nostalgic afternoon with children on a hillside, mourning how the town has changed.
• Nisei Aging Project Credit Dispute, by Hana Masuda, page 5. Hana Masuda writes to correct the record on the “Nisei Aging Project,” clarifying that Dr. Donna Leonetti carried out the in-depth study after her husband Dr. Minoru Masuda fell ill, and that the PC’s convention coverage failed to credit her properly. She stresses the importance of crediting researchers accurately for community understanding.
• Typesetting Fund Contributions, page 5. Several readers and JACL chapters wrote brief notes accompanying their donations to the Pacific Citizen’s typesetting equipment fund. Contributors included Howard Imazeki, Budd Fukei, Salinas Valley JACL, and others expressing support for the paper’s press freedom efforts.
• ‘Bakappei’, by Yasuo Ishida, page 5. Yasuo Ishida writes to offer an etymological explanation of the term “bakappei” referenced in a previous East Wind column. He breaks down the term’s roots as combining words for a country bumpkin and foolish person.

Community

• ‘Search’ Completed, by Jane R. Farrell, page 4. Jane R. Farrell thanks the Pacific Citizen for help locating William Makino through a letters section search request. The successful search led to an exchange of letters and reconnection with old family friends.
• Convention Whing Ding: Gila River II Reunion, by Dr. Frank F. Sakamoto, page 5. Dr. Frank Sakamoto describes the Hawaiian-themed Whing-Ding event at the JACL convention in Honolulu, featuring entertainment, food, and a simultaneous Gila River Camp II reunion. He thanks the host committee and hopes attendees can reunite again in Chicago in 1986.
• It’s Worth It!! Ayumi-no-Ato Project, by Harry Honda, page 7. Harry Honda writes about the late Masami Sasaki, the “chili pepper king,” whose obituary came from a long-dormant Little Tokyo writing project called “Ayumi-no-Ato,” started by the late Paul C. Takeda. He calls for volunteers, particularly Sansei, to help complete an English translation of the project’s Issei vignettes.
• Time Capsule Deposit Forms Available, page 7. Little Tokyo Centennial’s time capsule, to be buried near the Japan America Theatre, is accepting deposit items representative of 1984 Little Tokyo. Capsule chair Frank K. Omatsu explained the submission process and noted the capsule’s funding came from donations by longtime Little Tokyoites.

JACL

• Five PSW Goals for ’85, by Harry Kajihara, page 7. PSW District Governor Harry Kajihara outlines five goals for the district including increasing membership to 9,000 and fully meeting the redress pledge apportionment through 1986. He details membership trends and redress fundraising progress across PSWD chapters, praising chapters like San Fernando Valley and Santa Barbara for their contributions.
• Convention Workshop Focuses on Discrimination, by Chizu Iiyama, page 9. At the JACL national convention’s Ethnic Concerns workshop, panelists John Saito and Chuck Kubokawa discussed ongoing racism against Asian Americans, including covert employment discrimination and media incidents. Professor Franklin Odo gave a historical overview of Japanese Americans’ rise in Hawaii’s political and economic life, while warning of new economic pressures.
• PC Bylaw Amendment Passed at Convention, page 9. The only constitutional amendment passed at the National JACL Convention clarified that the Pacific Citizen and its staff are responsible to the National President, Board, and Council through the PC Board, with PC subscription funds to be clearly identified and disbursed to the Pacific Citizen. Other proposed amendments, including centralizing membership renewal, failed to pass.
• Crumpton Awarded JACL Hayashi Law Scholarship, page 9. Cynthia P. Crumpton, a first-year student at Willamette University Law School, was awarded the National JACL Thomas T. Hayashi Law Scholarship, becoming the first Eurasian American to receive the honor. The $2,100 scholarship, now in its tenth year, supports students pursuing law careers in civil rights and international fields.

In-Depth

• Unique Adventures in Brazil: Personal Contacts and Family Visits, by Misao Sakamoto, page 8. Misao Sakamoto recounts her travels in Brazil, meeting prominent Japanese Brazilian businessman Mr. Kamata and her own relatives the Sakugawa family who had labored on banana plantations after immigrating from Okinawa. She reflects on the different assimilation experience of Japanese immigrants in Brazil compared to North America, noting the absence of wartime internment there and the fluent use of Portuguese among the younger generation.

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