Redress hearing set, and a Seattle seminar for teachers

Vol. 104, No. 23, June 12, 1987. 12 pages. View this issue

Redress ran through the front page and much of the issue. In Seattle, the JACL chapter and the Seattle Public Schools held a redress seminar for local educators, with Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Vernon Pearson as keynote speaker. The Pacific Citizen also reported that a Senate subcommittee would hold a hearing on redress bill S. 1009 on June 17, and it set out who would qualify for payments under the Senate bill. Commentary pages include Roy Nishikawa’s message to the JACL National Board and a Memorial Day speech honoring Japanese American veterans.

Other pages cover an Amache Memorial Day pilgrimage, plans for 442nd veterans and former incarcerees to gather in Washington, D.C., and the Little Tokyo Service Center’s three honorees. The issue also carries 1987 JACL scholarship recipients from several chapters, along with the Wakamatsu colony’s Okei grave site, Mexico’s 90th anniversary of Japanese immigration, and Bill Marutani’s column on Japanese idioms.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Teachers Get Lesson About WW2 Camps, by Ed Suguro, page 1. Seattle JACL and Seattle Public Schools co-sponsored a redress education seminar for local educators featuring Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Vernon Pearson and former internees sharing their camp experiences. The event included a plaque presentation commemorating Nikkei school district employees forced to resign during WW2 and a film screening on the coram nobis cases.”},{
• Senate Subcommittee Will Hold Hearing on Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee will hold a hearing on redress bill S. 1009 on June 17, chaired by Sen. David Pryor, with testimony planned from JACL officials, NCJAR’s William Hohri, and other civil rights representatives. JACL-LEC director Grayce Uyehara expressed optimism about the bill’s progress and urged supporters to contact their senators.
• Who Receives Redress? Bill Gives List of Prerequisites, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The article details the eligibility requirements for redress payments under the Senate bill, including definitions of who qualifies based on WW2-era confinement or exclusion orders. It also notes that the proposed trust fund was reduced from $1.5 billion to $1.3 billion and explains a new clause on extinguishment of claims after ten years.
• Chain Barrier Built Around Camp Marker, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A Denver Central Optimist work team built a protective chain barrier around the Amache Memorial at the former internment camp site, and 41 people later joined the annual Memorial Day pilgrimage there. The memorial honors Japanese Americans who died in WW2 service and those who died while relocated at Amache.

National

• President de la Madrid Credits Japanese Nikkei With Strengthening Japan-Mexico Relationship, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. Mexican President Miguel de la Madrid praised Japanese immigrants and their descendants for strengthening ties between Mexico and Japan during ceremonies marking the 90th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Mexico. Japan’s Prince Takamado and Nichi Boku Kaikan chairman Carlos Kasuga also spoke at the event celebrating the dedication of a new House of Culture.
• Medical Examinations for U.S. Hibakusha Planned in 4 Cities, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A Japanese medical team will provide free examinations funded by the Japanese government to American survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings in four U.S. cities. Advocates noted the irony of receiving aid from Japan while the U.S. government has done little for these survivors, who face ongoing health and insurance challenges.
• ‘Official English’ Bills in N.Y. Legislature Get Negative Vote, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Bills to declare English the official language of New York State were voted down by the Assembly Education Subcommittee, a victory for the Committee for a Multilingual New York. Opponents argued the real goal of such legislation is to eliminate bilingual government services.
• Tragedy Brings Black, Asian Merchants Closer Together, page 10. After Korean American store owner Mo Yi was shot and killed in Washington D.C., Black and Korean merchant associations joined together to offer a reward for information leading to his killer’s capture. The collaboration marks a new spirit of cooperation between the two communities following a string of violence against Korean merchants in the area.
• Turkish Group Opposes Bill to Fund Films, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The American-Turkish Association of Southern California expressed opposition to AB 1375, a bill proposing state funding for educational films about both the Japanese American internment and the Armenian genocide. The group argued the two historical events are not comparable and accused Armenian advocates of using the internment issue for their own cause.
• JAs Participate in American-Soviet Walk, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 12. Judy Imai, representing Asian Pacific Americans for Nuclear Awareness, is participating in the American Soviet Walk from Leningrad to Moscow, carrying a lantern with the Hiroshima Peace Flame. Hiroshima survivor Kaz Suyeishi and others took part in a lantern-lighting ceremony before Imai’s departure to promote the message of nuclear disarmament.
• Man Kills Mail-Order Bride, page 12. Robert Krug was sentenced to life in prison for murdering and dismembering his wife, Helen Mendoza Krug, whom he met through a mail-order bride catalog. The judge expressed hope that Krug would remain imprisoned for the rest of his life given the brutality of the crime witnessed by their young son.

Community

• JA Taking Part in Coro Program, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Eddie Uyekawa, former coordinator of the Berkeley Asian Youth Center, was selected as one of nine finalists for the Coro Foundation’s Public Affairs Leadership Training Program for the Asian/Pacific Community. He holds leadership roles in Berkeley JACL and local community organizations.
• Workshop to Look at Family, Man-Woman Relationships, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition is hosting an all-day workshop on relationships, covering topics such as partner fulfillment, biracial families, and caring for aging parents. The event features multiple panel discussions with professionals and community members.
• New Network for Singles, by Meriko Mori, page 5. Southern California Nikkei singles organizations held an initial meeting to form a coalition for sharing information, calendars, and resources. The newly formed Southern California Nikkei Singles Coalition plans to participate in the National JACL Singles Convention and an all-singles picnic.
• Yearly Trek to Okei’s Grave Site Continues, page 6. Since 1969, Japanese Americans have gathered each spring to maintain the isolated grave site of Okei, a young woman who died in 1871 as part of the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony near Gold Hill, California. The colony represents the earliest organized Japanese immigrant community in the U.S., and researchers like Henry Taketa have documented its history.
• Letters to the Editor (continued), by Jimmy Tokeshi, page 6. This is a continuation of the satirical “Mean Mr. Karma” letter mocking the attribution of WW2 internment to karma rather than human decision-making. The author humorously compares the concept to historical atrocities and politicians like President Roosevelt.
• 1987 JACL Scholarship Recipients, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Multiple JACL chapters including Central California District, Fresno, Tulare County, Sacramento, and San Diego announced their 1987 scholarship recipients among graduating high school seniors. The article lists award names, amounts, and recipients across these chapters.
• Service Center to Honor 3 for Contributions to Little Tokyo, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Little Tokyo Service Center will honor Frances Hashimoto, Akemi Kikumura, and Frank Kagiwada at its seventh annual awards banquet for their service to the Nikkei community. Each honoree’s background and community contributions, from business leadership to anthropology to Issei advocacy, are detailed.
• Drug Program Shows Off Renovated Facility, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Asian American Drug Abuse Program celebrated the completion of its building renovation project with an open house attended by about 200 supporters. City officials including Council President Pat Russell presented certificates recognizing the project’s completion.
• Nikkei Newsmakers, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Alan Tomiyama was named director of public relations for St. Mary’s Hospital and Medical Center in San Francisco, and Makoto Nakayama was appointed executive director of San Gabriel Valley Medical Center. Both hold advanced degrees and prior experience in healthcare administration.
• Wu Wins L.A. Community College Board Race, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 10. Julia Wu became the first Asian American elected to the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees, defeating incumbent Marguerite Archie-Hudson. Wu received broad bipartisan support and pledged to continue backing the district’s Asian studies and nursing programs.
• Women’s Scholarships Offered, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Asian Pacific Women’s Network-Los Angeles is offering four $1,000 scholarships to Asian Pacific women pursuing education, particularly immigrants and refugees. Applicants must demonstrate enrollment in an academic or vocational program and reside in one of several Southern California counties.
• AP Gay/Lesbian Conference Set, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The first Southern California conference for gay and lesbian Asian and Pacific Islanders, themed “Breaking Silence: Beginning the Dialogue,” will be held in Los Angeles. The conference will include workshops on homosexuality within Asian families, AIDS, and coming out, with keynote speaker Trinity Ordona.
• Social Worker Honored in Ore., by P.C. Staff, page 11. Sue Sakai, director of the Department of Social Work at Good Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center in Portland, was named Social Worker of the Year by the Oregon Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. She serves on numerous hospital task forces and committees.
• Appointment, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Ruth Watanabe, a partner with Video Action, was appointed by Governor George Deukmejian to the California Council on the Humanities. She is active with several Japanese American cultural and educational organizations.
• Employment Agency Gets Grant, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment received a $5,000 general support grant from General Telephone to help fund its programs serving immigrants and senior citizens. The grant was presented during a luncheon at the New Otani Hotel in Los Angeles.
• JAL Gives JCCCNC $10,000, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Japan Air Lines donated $10,000 toward construction of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, bringing the building fund total to over $2.2 million. The donation supports ongoing construction of a second building that will house youth and cultural programs.
• Valley Reunion, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Prewar Japanese American residents of San Gabriel Valley are planning a reunion in October at East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center. The event will honor pioneers and former Japanese language instructors and include a slide show of prewar community life.

Military & Veterans

• Ex-Internees, Vets to Hold D.C. Reunions, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The National Japanese American Historical Society announced that veteran groups and former internees plan reunions in Washington D.C. around the October opening of the Smithsonian’s Japanese American exhibit. Groups include 442nd veterans and Topaz High School alumni, with a memorial service planned at Arlington National Cemetery.
• Best of the Vets, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Torrance Councilman George Nakano presented a trophy for Best Veterans Group at the 28th annual Armed Forces Day Parade to the 100th/442nd Veterans Association. This marked the second consecutive year Nisei veterans participated in the nation’s largest civilian-sponsored Armed Forces Day parade.

Commentary

• Lies and Half-Truths, page 4. The author refutes claims made by S.I. Hayakawa, David Lowman, and Edgar Doleman in a letter to Congress opposing redress, using statistics from the official WRA report to correct distortions about internment numbers, loyalty assessments, and military service. The piece concludes by invoking President Truman’s praise for the 100th/442nd to argue redress is a matter of constitutional justice.
• Message to Board, by Roy Nishikawa, page 4. Former National JACL President Roy Nishikawa writes to express concern over the handling of a controversial revised personnel manual and the resulting public confusion within the organization. He urges the National Board to resolve internal personnel issues quickly and transparently to restore trust and focus on JACL’s core mission.
• Mean Mr. Karma, by Jimmy Tokeshi, page 4. In this satirical letter, the author mocks a previous letter writer’s claim that the WW2 internment was simply a matter of “karma.” He sarcastically compares the concept of karma to historical human-caused atrocities, arguing that attributing internment to karma absolves the real people responsible.
• Lest We Forget: Thoughts on Memorial Day, page 5. A past National JACL President’s Memorial Day speech, delivered at Golden Gate National Cemetery, honors Japanese American veterans of WW2, Korea, and Vietnam who proved their loyalty through sacrifice. The speech reflects on progress in Japanese American acceptance and ties it to hopes for passage of redress legislation.
• A Measure of Gratitude, page 5. The columnist reflects on Denver’s 41st annual Memorial Day service honoring Nisei veterans of three wars at Fairmount Cemetery, noting the enduring gratitude of the Japanese American community toward those who served. He also describes a visit to the grave of newspaperman Larry Tajiri, where fresh flowers are mysteriously left by unknown admirers.
• Body Language, by Bill Marutani, page 5. In this installment of his East Wind column, Marutani explores Japanese idioms involving the word “koshi” (hip/waist), explaining various expressions related to pride, humility, diligence, and being fired from a job. He adds humor by comparing these idioms to American slang equivalents.
• Your Financial Fitness, by Kay Iwata, page 9. This financial advice column addresses a reader’s concerns about losses in Ginnie Mae fund investments as interest rates fell, explaining the relationship between mortgage refinancing and fund yields. It also discusses the benefits of personal liability umbrella insurance policies for protecting assets.

Arts & Entertainment

• Amerasia Has Filipino Focus, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The latest issue of Amerasia Journal focuses on Filipino Americans, covering topics such as socioeconomic status, prewar land rights struggles, and the role of Filipino Americans in the overthrow of Marcos. The special double-size issue is available through UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center.

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