Redress in the editorial pages, and the CWRIC hearings, in 1981

Vol. 93, No. 18, October 30, 1981. 8 pages. View this issue

Redress was the subject on the front page and inside. Peter Imamura surveyed newspaper editorials across the country on the question of redress for Japanese Americans held in World War II incarceration (often called internment), finding some columnists opposed and others calling it a shameful violation of civil rights. He also wrote a third installment on the CWRIC hearings, on JACL’s wartime role as witnesses saw it. Leland Barrows testified to the commission on the War Relocation Authority, and a Philadelphia JACL forum heard historian Daniels on redress.

Also in the issue: the Military Intelligence Service Language School’s 40th anniversary reunion at the Presidio of San Francisco, a cancelled ‘Jap’ trademark, and columns by Ron Wakabayashi, Bill Hosokawa and Bill Marutani. Henry Sakai and Dr. Yosh Nakashima wrote on JACL’s budget and headquarters location, and the House passed an extension of the Voting Rights Act, 389 to 24.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Redress: Lively Topic Editorially, Pro or Con, by Peter Imamura, page 1. A survey of newspaper editorials nationwide shows mixed reactions to the question of redress for Japanese Americans interned during WWII, with some columnists vehemently opposing reparations while others called the internment a shameful violation of civil rights. The article details specific editorial positions from newspapers in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, and other states regarding the CWRIC hearings and potential monetary compensation.
• Historian Daniels Addresses Phila. JACL Forum on Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An all-day forum in Philadelphia featured panelists discussing the negative effects of the evacuation on Japanese American ideals, parental authority, and families. The event included an exhibit of items handmade by internees and a screening of the documentary ‘Nisei: The Pride and the Shame.’
• Barrows Speaks on WRA to CWRIC, by P.C. Staff, page 2. War Relocation Authority administrative official Leland Barrows testified before the CWRIC about the recruitment of Japanese Americans into military service and the formation of the segregated combat team. He also described press attacks on WRA and congressional efforts to transfer WRA functions to the War Department.
• Low Point for JACL in ’42-’43 Recalled, by Peter Imamura, page 2. This third installment in a series examines testimony from CWRIC hearings where JACL faced criticism from both Nikkei critics and anti-redress advocates regarding its wartime role. Witnesses including Rafu Shimpo editor Dwight Chuman, playwright Frank Chin, and anti-redress figures Lillian Baker and S.I. Hayakawa raised questions about JACL’s cooperation with authorities and Mike Masaoka’s wartime statements.
• Colorado Nikkei Groups Support Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Japanese Assn. of Colorado contributed $220 to the National JACL Committee on Redress, bringing the total from metropolitan Denver residents to $1,320. JACL redress chairman Min Yasui expressed confidence that Japanese Americans nationwide would continue supporting the effort.

Military & Veterans

• MISLS to Celebrate Its 40th Anniversary Nov. 1, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Military Intelligence Service Language School marks its 40th anniversary with a weekend reunion at the Presidio of San Francisco, featuring a museum exhibit dedication, ceremonies, and a banquet. Keynote speakers include Judge Robert Thornton and Maj. Gen. Robert L. Fair, with hundreds of MIS veterans expected to attend honoring the original 60 students and instructors.

National

• ‘Jap’ Trademark Cancellation Wins, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S. trademark registration of ‘Jap’ sought by a Swiss corporation believed controlled by designer Kenzo Takada was cancelled, a victory noted by Washington JACL representative Ron Ikejiri. Legal assistance was provided by David T. Nikaido and Ronald Inouye with support from Nikkei members of Congress.
• Hawaii Judge Believes He Was Victim of Assault, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Circuit Judge Harold Shintaku is recovering from serious head and shoulder injuries sustained Oct. 7, which he believes were caused by an attack while sleeping at his beach house. Police are investigating, though a brain surgeon said the injuries were caused by blows rather than a fall, and Shintaku denied theories of attempted suicide.
• New York Nisei Lawyer Helps Bridge Gap at Shimoda Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 3. New York lawyer Jiro Murase participated in the Fifth Shimoda Conference, a session for Japanese and American officials concerned with U.S.-Japan relations. Murase discussed his work on steel import negotiations and the value of the conferences for personal contacts in bilateral negotiations.
• Hitachi Charged with Hiring Bias of Non-Asians, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing charged Hitachi Consumer Products of America with discriminating against blacks and other non-Asians in employment at its Compton facility. The company has fewer than 25% blacks among its 300 workers despite being located in a community that is 75% black.
• Voting Rights Act, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The House of Representatives passed an extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by a vote of 389-24, representing a major legislative victory for civil rights organizations. JACL worked with the LCCR to support the bill, which extends anti-discrimination protections and bilingual registration requirements.
• Nikkei Professor to Write of Hawaii’s Plantation Workers, by P.C. Staff, page 8. UC Berkeley Professor Ronald Takaki, the first ethnic studies professor to win tenure at the university, was appointed a 1981-82 Rockefeller Foundation Fellow to write about Hawaii’s plantation workers. His upcoming book ‘Pau Hana’ will examine the multi-ethnic experiences of plantation life in Hawaii.
• Japanese Professor Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Professor Kenichi Fukui of Kyoto University became Japan’s first Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, sharing the 1981 prize with Roald Hoffmann of Cornell University. Both scientists worked separately on theories predicting the course of chemical reactions based on quantum mechanics.
• Hawaii Consumer Attorney Disputes Traffic Ticket Plan, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Hawaii consumer protection attorney Lawrence Nakano disputes a traffic ticket scheme by Clarence Shak, who promises to pay legal fees and fines for drivers who fight tickets, claiming Shak failed to deliver on similar promises in Hawaii. Shak argues traffic tickets are unconstitutional, a claim no court has upheld.

JACL

• Intermountain DC Convention Theme on ‘Nisei Retirement’, by Tab Uno, page 1. The 21st biennial Intermountain District Council convention will be held Nov. 27-28 in Salt Lake City, honoring individuals who preserved Japanese American community life in the region. The convention theme is ‘Nisei and the Retirement Years’ with workshops on finance, housing, insurance, health and psychology.
• Realistic Budget, by Henry Sakai, page 4. In this By the Board column, the JACL Secretary-Treasurer reports the organization ended the fiscal year with a surplus for the first time in years, but only after two rounds of budget cuts. He outlines the need to increase the 1982 budget significantly to hire adequate staff and fund programs, suggesting various fundraising strategies including Life Membership and Wills & Trusts.
• To Move or Not to Move, by Dr. Yosh Nakashima, page 5. In this By the Board column, the author addresses ongoing debates about relocating JACL’s National Headquarters, outlining eight criteria a headquarters location should satisfy. Based on these criteria, he concludes San Francisco is the best location, with Washington D.C. as a second choice.
• CCDC Confab Set Nov. 14-15, by George S. Baba, page 6. The 32nd convention of the Central California District Council JACL will be held Nov. 14-15 at the Hacienda Inn in Fresno, with Secretary of State March Fong Eu as keynote speaker for the Sunday banquet. Pre-registration deadline is Nov. 2 through chapters or the regional office.

Community

• $5,000 Grant Given to Kimochi Home, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Ishiyama Foundation gave a $5,000 grant to Kimochi, Inc. toward construction of the Kimochi Board and Care Home project in San Francisco. The facility will combine 24-hour residential care, adult day care, and a senior center.
• Grocer Robbed, Loses Arm, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Nisei grocer Ralph Sugimoto, 63, lost his left arm after being accidentally shot during a robbery at his Walnut Grove store. He was airlifted to University Medical Center where he underwent surgery and recovered in the cardiac unit after possibly suffering a minor heart attack.
• Matsui to Keynote Placer Fete, by Roy Yoshida, page 6. Congressman Robert Matsui will be the guest speaker at Placer County JACL’s 41st annual Goodwill Dinner on Nov. 7 at the Placer Buddhist Church hall. Matsui has risen quickly in his second term to win a seat on the House Ways & Means Committee.
• Fowler JACL Backs APAAC in Principle, by Thomas Toyama, page 6. Fowler JACL endorsed the concept of Asian Pacific American Advocates of California but declined to provide financial support, citing their commitment to National JACL. The chapter also participated in the Fowler Fall Festival parade and is preparing entertainment for the upcoming CCDC convention.
• NCWN to Elect DC Officers Nov. 8, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Five vacancies on the No. Calif.-W. Nevada-Pacific JACL District Council executive board will be filled during the final quarterly session Nov. 8 at Concord Inn. Eight nominees are competing for two-year terms, with the session chaired by Governor Dr. Yosh Nakashima.
• Discount Program for Seniors Starts, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley announced the city’s participation in the Golden State Senior Citizen Discount Program, offering discounts to individuals 60 and older at participating businesses. More than 400,000 seniors in the city are eligible, with 75 merchants already committed to the program.
• Toyota Motors Backs South Bay Keiro, by P.C. Staff, page 6. South Bay Keiro Nursing Home Development Fund received a $5,000 donation from Toyota Motor Sales USA, bringing the total raised to $968,000. Other major contributors included John Yamane, Dr. Masashi Itano, and several other individuals and organizations donating $1,000 to $3,000 each.

Arts & Entertainment

• Shimomura Featured in UC Davis Law Newspaper, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Floyd Shimomura, a law professor at UC Davis and national JACL vice president, was profiled for his aggressive teaching philosophy encouraging students to take an ‘attack mentality’ toward their education. Shimomura, a former deputy state attorney, emphasizes teaching legal theory and encourages students to become involved in civil rights and community service.

Commentary

• Order & Ordeal, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 4. In this Musubi column, the author gives a behind-the-scenes account of the marathon JACL National Board Meeting in San Francisco, describing the grueling schedule, meals, and camaraderie among board and staff members. The piece highlights the dedication of volunteers like Jim Tsujimura who chaired the lengthy agenda despite physical discomfort.
• Nikkei from Peru, by Herbert V. Nicholson, page 4. A letter writer shares personal recollections of visiting Peruvian Japanese internees and relocation centers, offering a perspective that contrasts with other testimony about mistreatment. The writer agrees with Hayakawa’s skepticism about redress demands while expressing gratitude for lessons learned through the 442nd’s wartime record.
• Editorials Continued: Redress Coverage Roundup, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This continuation piece surveys additional newspaper editorials on redress from across the country, including Salt Lake City’s Deseret News, Denver’s Rocky Mountain News, and various California papers. Views ranged from support for apology and compensation to skepticism about whether Congress would actually provide monetary redress.
• The Naming of the Book About JACL, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. In this From the Frying Pan column, the author reports on reader submissions for titling his upcoming JACL history book, including suggestions like ‘JACL: In Quest of Justice’ and ‘JACL—A Lance of Justice.’ He shares humorous and thoughtful responses from readers including one hostile postcard and more considered suggestions from JACL members.
• Power of Advertising, by Bill Marutani, page 5. In this East Wind column, the author discusses the importance of patronizing and acknowledging Pacific Citizen advertisers, sharing an anecdote about a Philadelphia restaurant that comped his meal after a favorable newspaper mention. He encourages readers to support businesses that advertise in the publication and wonders why more merchants outside the West Coast don’t advertise.
• Model Minority, by John Saito, page 6. In this From Pacific Southwest column, the author reflects on the ‘model minority’ label applied to Japanese Americans and contrasts the community’s historical reluctance to discuss WWII internment with the Jewish community’s approach to remembering the Holocaust. He notes that the CWRIC hearings represented a shift toward speaking publicly about the injustices suffered during WWII.
• Georgia O’Keeffe and Japanese Culture, by Jin Konomi, page 8. In this Moshi-Moshi column, the author recalls discovering a Georgia O’Keeffe flower arrangement decades ago that reminded him of the Sogetsu Ryu school of Japanese flower arrangement. He reflects on the peculiarities of how Japanese arts like flower arrangement are taught, organized into competing schools, and the financial and pilgrimage obligations placed on teachers.

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