JACL’s ‘Jpn.’ campaign, hate-crime data and redress bills

Vol. 104, No. 7, February 20, 1987. 8 pages. View this issue

A campaign to replace “Jap.” with “Jpn.” as the abbreviation for Japan and Japanese led the front page. Japan’s Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone praised JACL’s efforts but stopped short of promising action. Nearby were Rep. Norman Mineta’s announcement of a reintroduced hate-crime statistics bill, two anti-Asian incidents in New York, and the Legislative Education Committee’s report on House and Senate redress bills, with Grayce Uyehara and Grant Ujifusa reporting progress and Sen. Steven Symms among the new Senate co-sponsors. Harry Honda reported on JACL treasurer Alan Nishi’s warning of deficits in 1987 and 1988.

Bill Hosokawa wrote his last “From the Frying Pan” column after 45 years, and Bill Marutani and Paul Shinkawa also contributed commentary. Garrett Hongo was profiled ahead of his poetry collection “The River of Heaven,” and his poem “Yellow Light” closed the issue on page 8. Also inside: Philip Kan Gotanda’s play “The Wash,” a testimonial for judo teacher Yosh Uchida, and the Spokane chapter’s awards banquet.

What’s in this issue

National

• Japan Government Responds to ‘Jpn.’ Effort, page 1. Japan’s Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone praised JACL’s campaign to promote ‘Jpn.’ as the official abbreviation for Japan/Japanese, following a congressional resolution introduced by Rep. Mike Lowry. However, Nakasone stopped short of committing the Japanese Diet to pass a similar resolution, while Ambassador Matsunaga promised to encourage the Foreign Ministry to promote the abbreviation’s use.
• ‘Hate Crimes’: Fight Goes on in Congress, on Streets – Bill Seeks More Data on Crimes, page 1. Rep. Barbara Kennelly reintroduced a bill requiring the Justice Department to record and publish statistics on crimes motivated by racial, religious and ethnic prejudice, announced Rep. Norman Mineta. The bill passed the House previously but died in the Senate, and Reagan Administration officials had argued that compiling such statistics would be too difficult.
• Asians Hurt in Two Incidents, page 1. Two anti-Asian violence incidents were reported in New York: Chinese American students were beaten by white students near New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn, and Chinese Americans in Manhattan allege police brutality during an arrest over cable TV service. Investigations and legal proceedings are underway in both cases.
• N.Y. Incidents, page 2. Continuation of the story detailing the Brooklyn beating of Chinese American students and the arrest of suspects, as well as the Manhattan police brutality case involving the Wong family. A joint investigation by the NYPD Bias Investigation Unit is underway in the Brooklyn case, while the Wongs seek suspension of the officers involved.
• Publications Acknowledge Omission of Asian Pacifics, page 3. The New York Times and Congressional Quarterly both corrected their omission of Asian Pacific Americans from racial breakdowns of the 100th Congress after Rep. Norman Mineta pointed out the error. Congressional Quarterly’s executive director apologized, acknowledging the oversight stemmed from years of insufficient recognition of these groups.
• N.Y. Incidents (continued), page 4. Further details on the alleged police brutality against the Wong family, including accounts of officers breaking down a door and using chokeholds. Captain John Regan of the 5th Precinct stated the two officers were also injured, and the Wongs’ attorney is seeking their suspension.
• ‘Jpn’ Campaign Continued – Party Leaders Contacted, page 5. Continuing coverage of the ‘Jpn.’ abbreviation campaign, detailing contacts made with leaders of Japan’s political parties including the LDP, Socialist Party, Komeito, and Democratic Socialist Party. JACL officials stressed the importance of educating the Japanese public about the derogatory nature of ‘Jap’ as a term.

JACL

• Progress Made on House, Senate Bills, LEC Reports, page 1. LEC executive director Grayce Uyehara and legislative chair Grant Ujifusa reported progress on redress bills in both the House and Senate during the JACL National Board meeting. Rep. Barney Frank pledged to move H.R. 442 to the full Judiciary Committee by April, while Senate co-sponsorship climbed to 40 with new support from Sens. Dole and Symms.
• JACL Treasurer Predicts Massive Deficits in ’87, ’88, by Harry Honda, page 1. National JACL secretary-treasurer Alan Nishi presented a grim budget projection at the National Board meeting, forecasting a $27,012 deficit in 1987 and $123,485 deficit in 1988 due to declining membership revenue. Nishi urged chapters to boost membership to offset the losses.
• Progress Made on House, Senate Bills, LEC Reports (continued), page 2. Continuing coverage of the redress bill progress, noting new Senate co-sponsors including conservative Sen. Steven Symms, credited to Intermountain District Gov. Hid Hasegawa. Uyehara urged JACLers to write thank-you letters and meet with representatives during the April district work period.
• JACL Treasurer Predicts Massive Deficits (continued) – Budget Details and Other Board Matters, page 3. Detailed budget figures show 1986 revenue of $1,146,555 against expected $1,187,000, attributed to a 4 percent membership decline. The board also discussed insurance costs, the Chapter Presidents’ Handbook, the 1988 Seattle convention plans, and other administrative matters including scholarship management and automated membership renewal.

Arts & Entertainment

• Hongo Offers a Poet’s View of JA Experience, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. Yonsei poet Garrett Hongo discusses his upcoming poetry collection ‘The River of Heaven,’ which explores prewar Japanese American history in Hawaii, the self-repression caused by wartime relocation, and the multicultural experience of growing up in Los Angeles. Hongo also reflects on regional identity, his teaching career, and plans to return to playwriting.
• Gotanda’s Play ‘The Wash’ to Premiere at S.F. Theater, page 7. Philip Kan Gotanda’s play ‘The Wash,’ exploring the changing role of the older generation within a Japanese American family, premieres March 4 at the Eureka Theatre in San Francisco. The cast includes Nobu McCarthy as Masi, and a $15,000 fundraising campaign is underway with support from prominent community figures including Rep. Norman Mineta.
• Yellow Light (Poem), by Garrett Kaoru Hongo, page 8. A poem by Garrett Kaoru Hongo depicting a woman’s walk home through a Los Angeles neighborhood carrying groceries, rich with sensory details of urban Japanese American life. The piece was reprinted from Hongo’s collection ‘Yellow Light,’ published in 1982 by Wesleyan University Press.

Community

• Violence in Bay Area Schools to Be Discussed, page 2. The Break the Silence Coalition will hold an educational program on anti-Asian school violence on Feb. 24 at JACL National Headquarters in San Francisco. Speakers will address student, parent, and school district responses, the criminal justice system’s role, and community solutions to reduce campus attacks.
• Student Union Holding Calif. Conference at UCSD, page 3. Asian Pacific Student Union will hold its annual statewide conference Feb. 28 at UC San Diego, themed ‘Living in America: Land of Opportunity?’ Keynote speakers include former Monterey Park mayor Lily Chen and community activist Samoa Koria, with workshops on immigrant experience and political empowerment.
• Spokane JACL Recognizes 325 Years of Service, by Denny Yasuhara, page 6. Eleven outstanding JACLers were honored at the Spokane Chapter’s installation/awards banquet, recognizing a combined 325 years of service to JACL and the community. Past accomplishments highlighted include construction of the Hifumi En housing project, the Asian American Studies Program at Washington State University, and the Spokane Interstate Fair food booth.

Commentary

• JACL’s Future Function, by Paul Shinkawa, page 4. The author reflects on continued American bigotry, citing examples like Forsyth County, Georgia and Texas counties with histories of racial terror, as well as a toy depicting a Middle Eastern ‘Savage’ character. He argues JACL has an ongoing role as a civil rights organization even after redress is achieved, since racial intolerance persists in society.
• Finale for the Fryer, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa reflects on the three eras of Japanese American history and announces that this will be his last ‘From the Frying Pan’ column after 45 years, started in a WWII assembly center. He thanks readers and credits editor Lynn Sakamoto with improving the Pacific Citizen, making space for new voices necessary for ending his long-running column.
• Sooner or Later…, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Marutani reflects on a conversation with his wife about the inevitability of becoming single through death, divorce, or choice, prompted by a JACL Singles Chapter letter. He contemplates the emotional and practical adjustments one would face losing a spouse, and notes the upcoming JACL Singles Committee national convention in September.
• Could Matsui Win the ’88 Senate Race?, page 5. The article examines Rep. Robert Matsui’s potential candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat held by Pete Wilson, discussing his fundraising position on the Ways and Means Committee and the challenges of competing against other potential Democratic candidates like Leo McCarthy and Dianne Feinstein. Political analysts debate whether Asian American voting unity and Matsui’s television presence could help him mount a viable statewide campaign.

Military & Veterans

• 442 Shoulder Patch, by National JA Historical Society, page 5. A letter responds to a previous inquiry about the design of the 442nd RCT shoulder patch, identifying T/Sgt Mich Miyamoto of Watsonville as the designer. The ‘liberty torch’ patch featured a silver arm and hand holding a torch against a blue field bordered in silver and red.

Sports

• Judo Teacher to Be Saluted, page 7. Yosh Uchida, assistant professor at San Jose State University and recipient of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, will be honored at a testimonial dinner March 15 in San Jose expecting 780 attendees. Rep. Ben Campbell, a former student of Uchida’s and 1964 Olympic judo team member, will serve as master of ceremonies.

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.