Redress bill H.R. 442 gains a co-sponsor ahead of the April 28 hearing

Vol. 102, No. 17, May 2, 1986. 12 pages. View this issue

Redress was the lead story of this issue. Rep. Matthew McHugh (D-N.Y.) became a co-sponsor of House bill H.R. 442, announced by LEC director Grayce Uyehara, with praise from Reps. Robert Matsui and Norman Mineta. The paper also reported on the April 28 House subcommittee hearing, where about 160 people attended, the Reagan Administration’s Justice Dept. opposed the bill, and Setsuko Nishi testified about the long-term effects of internment on Nisei. Also on the front page, Sen. Jake Garn promised to stop using the term “slanted eyes,” and poet Lawson Inada spoke about Japanese American literature.

The commentary pages carry columns by Bill Marutani, Bob Shimabukuro and Jin Konomi, along with reader letters. JACL news includes a Fund Drive update from Harry Kajihara, a call for Japanese American of the Biennium nominations from Lily A. Okura, and the career of Shigeo Wakamatsu. The Military & Veterans pages cover the “Yankee Samurai” exhibit and film about Go For Broke veterans of the 442nd.

What’s in this issue

National

  • N.Y. Rep. Becomes Latest Co-Sponsor, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Matthew McHugh (D-N.Y.) signed on as a co-sponsor of House redress bill H.R. 442, announced by LEC director Grayce Uyehara. Reps. Robert Matsui and Norman Mineta praised McHugh’s support, noting the bill now has 126 House co-sponsors.
  • Garn Will End Use of ‘Slanted Eyes’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sen. Jake Garn promised to stop using the term ‘slanted eyes’ after Rep. Norman Mineta objected to remarks Garn made about viewing people from the space shuttle. Garn called Mineta to apologize, assuring him no offense was intended.

Incarceration & Redress

  • House Panel Hears Opposing Sides in Redress Issue, page 1. A U.S. House subcommittee heard testimony both supporting and opposing redress legislation H.R. 442 at an April 28 hearing attended by about 160 people. The Reagan Administration’s Justice Dept. formally opposed the bill, while sociologist Setsuko Nishi testified about long-term psychological effects of internment on Nisei.

Arts & Entertainment

  • Inada: The Joys of JA Literature, by Edna Ikeda, page 1. Sansei poet Lawson Inada spoke to a UC San Diego Asian American studies class about Japanese American literature, discussing his own work and anthologies like Aiieeeee!. He read selections from authors including Toshio Mori and John Okada, and encouraged students to support Asian American writers.

JACL

  • JACL, OCA Get Grant from Coors, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Houston JACL and the Organization of Chinese Americans received a $4,200 grant from Adolph Coors Co. for a summer dance fundraiser. The grant will support a joint dance in August and future collaborative projects between the two groups.
  • Wakamatsu Named ‘Outstanding Senior’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Shigeo Wakamatsu, JACL-LEC treasurer and former national JACL president, was selected as one of Chicago’s 25 outstanding senior citizens by the Chicago Senior Citizen Advisory Council. The award recognizes his decades of work with JACL, JARP, and other community organizations.
  • Fund Drive Update, by Harry Kajihara, page 6. Harry Kajihara reports that the JACL-LEC Fund Drive has raised $164,450.21 in its first ten months, with detailed financial statements included. He thanks volunteer prime solicitors and acknowledges donated services that saved the LEC significant costs in fund drive administration.
  • Nominate Now! Japanese American of the Biennium Award, by Lily A. Okura, page 7. Lily Okura, chair of the JA of the Biennium Committee, urges chapters to submit nominations by the May 10 deadline for JACL’s highest public award. The award recognizes Japanese Americans whose achievements have made significant impact in fields such as arts, business, education, medicine, politics, and sports.
  • PSW Speech Contest May 10, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Pacific Southwest District JACL will hold its Speech & Forensic Competition on May 10 at the LA Airport Hyatt, featuring eleven student participants competing on Asian American issues. Winners will advance to the National JACL Speech & Forensic Competition at the Chicago convention.
  • Wakamatsu’s Career Highlighted by Decades of Service, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Continuing from the front page, this article details Shigeo Wakamatsu’s long record of JACL leadership, including his role in passing key postwar legislation like the Evacuation Claims Act and Walter-McCarran Act. He later chaired JARP, which produced major historical works on Japanese Americans, and was nominated for his award by the Chicago JACL chapter.

Military & Veterans

  • ‘Yankee Samurai’ to Be Seen at MacArthur Memorial, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The ‘Yankee Samurai’ exhibit honoring Go For Broke veterans will be dedicated May 9 at the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Va. Judge William Marutani, an MIS veteran, will deliver the keynote address detailing the contributions of Nisei translators to MacArthur’s Pacific campaign.
  • Film on 442nd to Be Shown in Fresno, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The documentary ‘Yankee Samurai,’ about the bond between a French town and its Japanese American WW2 liberators, will be shown at the Fresno Convention Center on May 29. Proceeds will help fund the Smithsonian Institute’s Japanese American exhibit planned for 1987.

Community

  • Reunion for Prewar Florin Residents Set, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Planning is underway for the Florin Area Japanese Community Reunion for prewar residents, to be held Aug. 29-31 in Sacramento. About 500 people have already registered, following a 1981 reunion that drew over 1,000 attendees.
  • Denver Community Starts Onizuka Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Denver Japanese American community established a memorial trust honoring astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who died in the Challenger explosion. The Ellison Onizuka Memorial Trust will provide scholarships at the Japanese Community Graduates Banquet.
  • Bay Area Scholarship Fund Established in Memory of Reporter/Columnist Wong, page 3. The Bay Area chapter of Asian American Journalists Assn. established a memorial fund honoring Ken Wong, a San Francisco Examiner reporter who died of pneumonia at age 60. The scholarship will support Bay Area Asian American students pursuing print journalism.
  • Exhibit on JAs Aimed at Children, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Children’s Museum in Los Angeles will celebrate the grand opening of a new Japanese American installation on May 9, part of its ‘Ethnic L.A.’ series for children. The exhibit was developed by a volunteer Japanese American Advisory Committee over more than a year.
  • Chicago to Celebrate AA Heritage Week, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Chicago will host a series of events for Asian American Heritage Week from May 3-10, including dance, music, theater, martial arts demonstrations, films, and a panel on community issues. Events will take place at various venues including the State of Illinois Center and Truman College.
  • Snake River Chapter Holds Graduation Banquet, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Snake River Chapter JACL will hold its 41st annual Graduation Banquet on May 10 in Ontario, Ore., honoring graduating seniors with scholarships. Guest speaker Lori Matsukawa of KING-TV Seattle will address attendees, drawing on her extensive broadcast journalism career and community involvement.
  • Selanoco Chapter Fundraiser Dinner/Dance Scheduled, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Selanoco JACL chapter will hold its annual fundraiser dinner/dance on May 17 at the Norwalk Japanese Community Center. Proceeds from the event will benefit the chapter’s building center fund.
  • Tulare County JACL Holds Festival of Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Tulare County JACL’s first annual Festival of Japan took place April 26 at Sons of Italy Hall in Visalia, described as the chapter’s biggest undertaking in 30 years. The event featured displays, art exhibitions, food, and performances including San Jose Taiko and kendo demonstrations.
  • Credit Union Reports Good Year, page 10. Dudley Yatabe was reelected president of the Chicago JACL Federal Credit Union, which reported record highs in shares, assets, and income for the year. The annual meeting also mourned the loss of longtime director Thomas Masuda, who passed away shortly after the meeting.
  • Health Plan Seeks New Subscribers, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The JACL Blue Shield of California Health Plan is campaigning to attract new subscribers following numerous inquiries. Chairman John Yasumoto said the goal is to ensure JACL members and their friends have adequate health coverage.

Commentary

  • Nenda-Hori, by Bill Marutani, page 4. In his East Wind column, Bill Marutani reflects on the Japanese concept of gossip (nenda-hori) and his lifelong distaste for rumor-mongering. He recounts rumors spread about his own health and retirement plans, contrasting them with the admirable restraint of an Issei couple he knew as a child.
  • Number Two Mom, by Bob Shimabukuro, page 4. Bob Shimabukuro recalls a childhood incident at the dinner table involving a sarcastic remark to his father about needing a hearing aid, and the discipline enforced by his older sister Toki’s toe-pinching under the table. He reflects on how older sisters in large Nisei families often served as surrogate mothers, and dedicates the piece to his sister Toki for Mother’s Day.
  • Reader’s Query, by Eiko Kikuchi, page 4. A reader from Columbia Station, Ohio requests reprints of a National Geographic article on Japanese Americans to use for educational purposes. The editor responds with ordering information for the magazine.
  • More on Holiday Issue, by Nikki Louis, page 4. A reader from Seattle praises the Pacific Citizen’s special holiday issue on interracial families and Bob Shimabukuro’s contributions, prompting her to subscribe. She encourages the paper to continue broadening its scope on contemporary issues.
  • The Source of the Quote, by Kiku Funabiki, page 5. A reader from San Francisco corrects a previous Pacific Citizen article, clarifying that a quote about Nisei losing their cool should be credited to a national JACL official rather than herself. She reflects on Issei teachings about respecting authority versus deferring to it in an equal society.
  • Love in Old Japan, by Jin Konomi, page 5. In his Moshi Moshi column, Jin Konomi responds to a previous article comparing a comic strip affair to ‘Japanese style’ love, arguing that open attitudes toward romance predate Confucian influence in Japan. He cites examples from the Kojiki and classical Japanese literature showing women as active initiators of romantic relationships in earlier eras.

In-Depth

  • Thumbnail Sketches of Nisei Achievers, page 5. This column profiles several accomplished Nisei professionals, including Bob Horiuchi’s tax advisory work in Afghanistan and East Africa, Bill Shimasaki’s international engineering projects, and Chihiro Kikuchi’s pioneering ruby maser research. Also featured are business leaders Fred Oshima and Robert Hosokawa, who rose to high positions in major American corporations.

Sports

  • San Jose JACL to Host Junior Olympics, by P.C. Staff, page 6. San Jose JACL will host the 39th annual JACL Junior Olympics track and field event on June 8 at Chabot College, having won the team championship for the third straight year. The all-day event includes age divisions from 10-and-under to masters, with entries due by May 15.

Obituaries

  • Thomas Masuda: 1905-1986, page 10. Thomas Masuda, 80, a prominent Chicago attorney and community leader, died April 4 after a long illness. He was a founding member of the Japanese American Service Committee and helped establish the Japanese American Council, receiving numerous honors for his philanthropic and diplomatic contributions.

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