The 1984 election and Asian Pacific voters, with redress on the ballot

Vol. 99, No. 18, November 2, 1984. 12 pages. View this issue

The 1984 election ran through this issue. The front page followed campaign stops: Sen. Ted Kennedy before Asian Pacific Democrats in Los Angeles, Rep. Mervyn Dymally at a fundraising dinner in Gardena, and Vice President George Bush in San Francisco’s Chinatown. It also reported on Rep. Dan Lungren, who served on the CWRIC and opposed its redress recommendations, and his race against challenger Mary Lou Brophy. J.K. Yamamoto’s commentary looked at how Asian Pacific Americans were divided between the two parties, and Elizabeth Lu wrote about a study of Chinese American voting patterns.

Other pages include Marutani’s column on tensions between mainland and Hawaiian Nisei in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team at Camp Shelby, Bill Hosokawa’s tribute to Associated Press editor Kay Tateishi, and Harry Honda’s Little Tokyo Life series on prewar Japanese American communities west of Hollywood. Henry Sakai reported on a good financial year for the Pacific Citizen, and a review of Studs Terkel’s ‘The Good War’ appeared on page 8. The last page covered the murder of journalist Henry Liu.

What’s in this issue

National

• Former CWRIC Member Lungren, Redress Foe, Challenged for House, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Dan Lungren, who dissented from the CWRIC’s redress recommendations, faces Democratic challenger Mary Lou Brophy in the 42nd district race. Brophy argues the government must be held accountable for the WW2 internment, while Lungren contends redress payments would set a bad precedent and are not fiscally justified.
• Kennedy: Mondale Committed to Asian Pacific Issues, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. Sen. Edward Kennedy campaigned for Walter Mondale before Asian Pacific Democrats in Los Angeles, criticizing the Simpson-Mazzoli immigration bill and Reagan’s civil rights record. He praised Mondale’s commitment to redress for Japanese Americans and highlighted his own record on immigration and bilingual education legislation.
• Dymally Promises Next Term Will See Active Legislating, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Mervyn Dymally was honored at a fundraising dinner sponsored by the Asian/Pacific Committee for Dymally in Gardena. He discussed his early support for redress legislation, opposition to the Simpson-Mazzoli bill, and other legislation benefiting Pilipino veterans and Samoan residents.
• Bush Tours Chinatown, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Vice President George Bush praised San Francisco’s Chinatown during an Oct. 17 campaign swing that included a reception at a local restaurant. He referenced his past ambassadorship to China and claimed improved US-China relations without damaging ties to Taiwan.
• Inouye to Speak in L.A., by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii was scheduled to speak on behalf of the Democratic presidential ticket at a reception sponsored by California Asian/Pacifics for Mondale-Ferraro. The event was held at Miriwa Restaurant in Chinatown with $25 admission.
• Political Motive Suspected in Slaying of Journalist, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Journalist Henry Liu was murdered at his Daly City home, prompting speculation that pro-Taiwan individuals angered by his critical biography of President Chiang Ching-Kuo were responsible. Both the PRC consulate and Taipei’s Coordinating Council have condemned the murder, and civil rights groups have requested FBI investigation.

Commentary

• Asians Drawn to Both Candidates, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 2. The article examines increasing political engagement among Asian Pacific Americans in the 1984 election, noting divided opinions between Democratic and Republican platforms on issues like redress and bilingual education. It discusses how economic and foreign policy views split Asian American voters along party lines despite Democratic advantages on community-specific issues.
• Buddaheads and Kotonks, by Marutani, page 4. The columnist recounts a screening of the film ‘Nisei Soldier’ and subsequent discussion with veterans about tensions between mainland Nisei (kotonks) and Hawaiian Nisei (buddaheads) in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team at Camp Shelby. He describes how initial friction gave way to mutual respect and legendary battlefield performance, despite discriminatory discrepancies in medal awards compared to white units.
• An Irreplaceable Newsman, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa pays tribute to Kay Tateishi, retiring Tokyo supervising editor of the Associated Press, who stayed in Japan through WW2 after being told there was no danger of war. He reflects on the valuable but likely irreplaceable role Nisei ‘strandees’ like Tateishi played in bridging US-Japan relations after the war.
• Letters, by M. Yamanaka, Richard K. Hayashi, John and Haruko Hirohata, page 6. Readers respond to a previous column on Hawaii experiences and the origin of the word ‘bakappei’ (lottery ticket), tracing its roots to Chinese gambling terminology adapted by Issei. A third letter from Arizona thanks the Pacific Citizen staff and includes a donation toward typesetting equipment.
• Asian Voting Patterns Studied, by Elizabeth Lu, page 6. Graduate researcher Grant Din’s in-depth statistical study challenges assumptions about Chinese American voting behavior, finding that precincts with higher Chinese American populations often supported more liberal candidates and causes than previously assumed. The study refutes claims by columnist Guy Wright that Chinese voters favored eliminating bilingual ballots, and reveals low voter registration rates and lack of pan-Asian political unity.

Military & Veterans

• Nisei Post Receives Veterans Day Honor, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Nisei Post 1183’s color guard and rifle squad were invited to participate in Chicago’s annual Veterans Day program after being singled out from over 300 American Legion posts. The honor followed the post’s resolution acknowledging the injustice of WW2 Japanese American internment, later adopted at the Legion’s national convention.

Community

• Senior Legislators Set Priorities for Next Session, by Mabel Ota, page 3. California Senior Legislature held its fourth annual session in Sacramento, with Asian representatives Alice Tsou and Mabel Ota among the 120 senior legislators. The group prioritized ten state and four federal legislative bills addressing elder health care, housing, transportation and abuse protections.
• Legal Center Offering Bilingual Services, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California announced fall programs offering free bilingual legal services in housing, immigration, employment discrimination and senior benefits. The center is also pursuing advocacy work including monitoring anti-Asian violence and negotiating with Universal Studios over stereotyped portrayals in film.
• Foundation Trains New Leaders for Asian Pacific Community, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Fourteen Asian/Pacific individuals were selected for Coro Foundation’s inaugural public affairs course designed to build leadership skills for bridging communities. The seven-week program includes more than 70 hours of training conducted from centers including Los Angeles.
• Local Redress Chair to Review Textbooks, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Violet de Cristoforo, chair of the Salinas Valley JACL redress committee and former internee, will review McGraw-Hill social studies textbooks for accuracy regarding Japanese American internment. She urged other JACL chapters to make similar contacts with publishers and state education departments.
• Photos of Prewar Life Being Compiled, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A Seattle photo exhibit titled ‘The Way It Was: Northwest Issei and Nisei Before 1942’ will open in March 1985, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Nippon Kan Theatre. Organizers are seeking community help locating prewar photographs of Japanese American life in Seattle for the exhibit.

JACL

• A Good Year for the PC, by Henry Sakai, page 4. Outgoing PC board chairperson Henry Sakai reported that 1984 was a strong financial year for the Pacific Citizen, exceeding projected income and resulting in a net gain. He discussed plans for new typesetting equipment, a possible office move, and the addition of assistant editor Robert Shimabukuro.
• JACL-Calif. Blue Shield Holds Line on Cost Increases, by P.C. Staff, page 5. For the first time in years, no rate increase will be required for the JACL-California Blue Shield health plan in 1985, due to improved claims utilization and economic conditions. The plan, which began in 1965, serves roughly 4,700 subscribers across several JACL district councils.

In-Depth

• Two Japanese Teachers, by Jin Konomi, page 7. The column profiles Satoru and Junko Semitsu, Japanese-born teachers who came to Hanford, California in the 1960s amid a shortage of math and science teachers, and later co-authored a book on American high school education for Japanese readers. The piece discusses their transformation into celebrated American teachers and their observations comparing US and Japanese education systems.
• Little Tokyo Life (No. 39): And West of Hollywood (2), by Harry Honda, page 10. Harry Honda continues his historical series on Japanese American communities west of Hollywood, detailing the prewar Santa Monica, West Los Angeles (Sawtelle), and Venice-Culver neighborhoods. He describes businesses, community institutions, and the JACL chapters that served these areas before WW2 internment dispersed the communities.

Arts & Entertainment

• ‘The Good War’, by Jane B. Kaihatsu, page 8. A review of Studs Terkel’s oral history ‘The Good War,’ which includes interviews with Japanese Americans about internment and wartime experiences alongside accounts from soldiers, civilians and others. The reviewer highlights Terkel’s longstanding sympathy for Japanese Americans and his support for redress, including testimony before the CWRIC.
• Catch Up: Prehistory of Japan and Other New Books, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A roundup of new book releases including ‘Prehistory of Japan’ by C. Melvin Aikens and Takayasu Higuchi, and ‘Within the Barbed Wire Fence,’ Takeo Ujo Nakano’s account of internment in Canada. Also mentioned are Joy Kogawa’s novel ‘Obasan’ and the poetry anthology ‘Poets Behind Barbed Wires’ featuring Hawaiian Issei internees.

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