JACL convention elections and the case for Aleut redress

Vol. 103, No. 5, August 1, 1986. 8 pages. View this issue

The front page carried a House subcommittee hearing on redress for Aleuts relocated by the U.S. government during World War II, with testimony from 10 witnesses, including attorney John Kirtland. Page 8 continued the story with Rochelle Wandzura’s report on Aleut witnesses and Arthur Flemming’s support for redress. The paper also reported the National JACL Convention elections in Chicago, where Harry Kajihara narrowly defeated Rose Ochi for national president. Two more congressmen co-sponsored redress bill H.R. 442, and the Council rejected the Legal Education Committee’s request for a $200,000 Endowment Fund grant.

Elsewhere in the issue: a luau fundraiser for the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial, the Sunnyvale Air Force Station to be named for Onizuka, and Nisei Week events in Little Tokyo. Chapter news ran on page 6, and the commentary pages included columns by Bob Shimabukuro and Thomas Hara.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Case for Aleut Redress Presented, page 1. A House Judiciary subcommittee heard testimony from 10 witnesses urging redress for Aleuts relocated by the U.S. government during WW2. Attorney John Kirtland described inadequate conditions in camps where evacuees were housed, noting over 10% died, and argued precedent favors restitution.
• Aleuts Speak Out Before House Subcommittee, by Rochelle Wandzura, page 8. Continuing coverage of the House subcommittee hearing detailed testimony from Aleut witnesses including Adrian Melovidov and Agafon Krukoff describing wartime internment conditions and loss of Attu Island. Arthur Flemming of the former Commission on Wartime Relocation supported redress for both Aleuts and Japanese Americans, criticizing the Justice Department’s opposition.

National

• Woo to Run in New Council District, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. A compromise redistricting plan adopted by the Los Angeles City Council will force Councilmen Mike Woo and John Ferraro to run against each other in a new district in 1987. The plan followed a contentious battle over Hispanic representation and a veto by Mayor Tom Bradley of an earlier version.
• Two Congressmen Co-Sponsor Redress Bill, page 1. Reps. Jim Weaver and Doug Walgren have become co-sponsors of redress bill H.R. 442, LEC executive director Grayce Uyehara announced at the first meeting of the new JACL National Board. Both congressmen serve on committees relevant to the bill’s progress.
• House Passes ‘Jpn’ Resolution, page 3. The House passed a resolution by voice vote calling for use of the abbreviation ‘Jpn.’ instead of the offensive ‘Jap.’ for Japan or Japanese. Rep. Norman Mineta thanked Seattle JACL member Ken Nakano and other congressmen for their roles in passing the measure.
• Asian Running for Chicago Council, page 3. John Lee Bingham, a third-generation Korean American, announced his candidacy for 40th Ward alderman in Chicago, where he would be the city’s first Asian elected official if successful. He pledges to advocate for fair city contracts, education, and fighting anti-Asian violence as an independent candidate.
• Woo Redistricting Plan Reaches Final Approval Stage, page 8. A continuation of the front-page story details the alternative redistricting plan adopted 13-2 by the LA City Council, placing Woo’s residence in Ferraro’s 4th District for a direct electoral matchup. Both councilmen expressed mixed feelings about the compromise, which awaits final approval before submission to federal court.

JACL

• Kajihara Narrowly Defeats Ochi, by Robert Shimabukuro, page 1. Harry Kajihara narrowly defeated Rose Ochi for National JACL President, while Cherry Kinoshita won a runoff for Vice President for Public Affairs over Mike Suzuki at the National JACL Convention elections in Chicago. Other races included Alan Nishi defeating Gene Takamine for Secretary-Treasurer and Mary Nishimoto holding off Judy Niizawa for VP Membership; the Council also rejected an LEC request for a $200,000 Endowment Fund grant in favor of a modified continuation plan.
• New York, page 6. New York JACL honored chapter scholarship winners at a dinner held June 14 at the Warwick Hotel, including James Kumpel and Evangeline Kamitsuka Foster. The Lucille Nakamura Memorial award is named after a respected social worker in the Japanese American community.
• Playwright Wins JACL Award, page 6. Akemi Kikumura of Woodland Hills, Calif. won the first Ruby Yoshino Schaar Playwright Award and its $1,000 cash prize for her play ‘The Gambling Den,’ which dramatizes an immigrant family’s intergenerational conflicts. The award honors former New York JACL chapter leader Ruby Yoshino Schaar and aims to encourage Nikkei storytelling.

Community

• JCCCNC Officially Opens Doors, page 1. More than 400 visitors attended the formal opening of the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California, with Mayor Dianne Feinstein performing the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Speakers praised community fundraising efforts, and officials announced plans to raise additional funds for a second-phase community hall and gymnasium.
• Nisei Week Events Scheduled, page 2. The 46th annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival will feature a variety of events in Little Tokyo including a Prince and Princess Pageant, fashion show, Coronation Ball, Grand Parade, Carnival, and closing ceremony. Events run from August 2 through August 17.
• Women’s Conference Planned, page 2. The NCWNP-Pacific District JACL Women’s Concerns Committee will hold its second conference, ‘Japanese American Women in Transition ’86,’ on Sept. 13 at Laney College in Oakland. Organizers planned workshops on topics like bicultural parenting, assertiveness training, and coping with loss following enthusiastic response to last year’s event.
• Scholarship Fund Receives Donation, page 3. Anheuser-Busch donated funds to the Union of Pan Asian Communities scholarship fund for Asian American students. The organization also operates various services including elderly in-home care, mental health programs, and refugee training.
• New Mexico, page 6. New Mexico JACL held its sixth annual Omatsuri festival on June 28, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Albuquerque-Sasebo sister city relationship. The event featured koto music, taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, and drew an estimated crowd of over 17,000.
• San Fernando Valley, page 6. High school seniors received cash awards for outstanding scholastic achievement at the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center on June 6. Yoshi Honkawa of Cedars-Sinai served as guest speaker at the event.
• Berkeley, page 6. Berkeley JACL awarded $1,200 through its Endowment Fund to help fund Japanese American Services of the East Bay’s senior nutrition program. The grant supports the Monday lunch program serving Japanese-style vegetarian meals at Berkeley United Methodist Church.
• Carson, page 6. Carson JACL chapter scholarships will be awarded during a meeting at Mercury Savings & Loan on Sept. 3, along with a potluck dinner and bingo. Awards go to students planning to enter college.
• West Los Angeles, page 6. West LA JACL will hold its Steak Dinner and Fun Night scholarship fundraiser on Aug. 23 at West LA Buddhist Church. Tickets must be reserved in advance and will not be sold at the door.
• Ventura County, page 6. Ventura JACL Singles will carpool to see the Nisei Week Parade in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo on Aug. 10. Members will meet for lunch and a general meeting beforehand.
• Watsonville, page 6. Watsonville JACL awarded scholarships to several local students, including Jennifer Ura who also received a $1,000 National JACL scholarship. The chapter also honored senior citizens with a spaghetti dinner and will host its annual family picnic on Aug. 10.
• West Valley, page 6. The ninth annual Daruma Folk Festival, a benefit for senior citizens, takes place Aug. 16 at the Saratoga Lanes parking lot in San Jose. The event features drummers, singers, dancers, and folk crafts sponsored by West Valley JACL and Senior Club.
• Fresno Community Figure Feted, page 7. A testimonial dinner was held June 29 for Dr. Kikuo Taira, recipient of the Fifth Class Order of the Sacred Treasure from the Japanese government for his lifetime of service to the Japanese American community. Taira practiced medicine in Fresno since 1938, except during WW2 when he served internees at Jerome and Rohwer camps.

Military & Veterans

• Air Force Station to Be Named After Astronaut Onizuka, page 2. Rep. Norman Mineta announced during the JACL National Convention that Sunnyvale Air Force Station in California will be named after Lt. Col. Ellison Onizuka, the first Japanese American astronaut killed in the Challenger explosion. The announcement came during the Sayonara Banquet where Lorna Onizuka accepted the Japanese American of the Biennium award on his behalf.
• ‘Samurai’ to Be Shown in 3 Cities, page 3. The documentary ‘Yankee Samurai,’ about the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team, will be shown in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose as benefits for various Japanese American organizations. The film, directed by Israeli filmmaker Katriel Schory, recounts the Nisei soldiers’ exploits in Europe from the French perspective.
• Mile-Hi, page 6. Mile-Hi JACL president Bob Sakaguchi announced plans for a public display of the Go For Broke exhibit and a ceremony honoring Nisei WW2 veterans, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 11. Minoru Yasui will chair the event, which will include a screening of ‘Yankee Samurai.’

Arts & Entertainment

• New Anthology of Nikkei Literature and Art Available, page 2. The Hawk’s Well, a new anthology of Japanese American art and literature published by Asian American Art Projects, features works by Jim Mitsui, Janice Mirikitani, Yoshiko Uchida, and others. Editor Jerrold Hiura reports the 200-page book has already sold 20% of its run, with a second volume in progress.
• Screening of ‘Big Trouble’ Benefits Community Groups, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 3. The makers of ‘Big Trouble in Little China’ held a benefit screening at 20th Century Fox studios to establish good relations with the Asian American community, with proceeds going to East West Players and other groups. Activist James Yee noted the film showed some improvement over ‘Year of the Dragon’ though it remained a typical Hollywood film centered on a Caucasian lead.

Commentary

• Shades of Internment, page 4. This editorial warns about California’s Proposition 64, the ‘Prevent AIDS Now Initiative,’ which calls for quarantine of AIDS patients, drawing parallels to the fear-driven logic behind WW2 internment. The piece cites a San Mateo supervisor’s observation about how such initiatives could lead to history repeating itself.
• One Thing Leads to Another, by Bob Shimabukuro, page 4. A personal column reflecting on impressions of Chicago during the JACL convention, including observations about brick architecture, the scarcity of Japanese cars, and a visit to the Todai-ji exhibit. The author also praises the convention newsletter team and reflects on dressing up for a week.
• Wartime Labels, by Peter T. Suzuki, page 4. A letter responding to Raymond Okamura’s earlier piece about the Smithsonian exhibit, criticizing the use of divisive labels like ‘betrayers’ and ‘real patriots.’ The author also challenges Karl Yoneda’s letter, asserting the Communist Party backed the evacuation and that Yoneda informed on fellow Manzanar inmates to Military Intelligence.
• The Question Answered, by Thomas Hara, page 4. Midwest District Governor Thomas Hara reports that the JACL National Council voted down the LEC’s resolution for emergency grants of up to $200,000 from the Endowment Fund. He discusses the implications for LEC’s lobbying funding and the need for chapters to continue fundraising efforts outside the balance sheet.
• Paper Examines Trade Issue, page 5. The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan will release its 1986 Trade White Paper addressing the U.S.-Japan trade relationship and the growing trade deficit. The paper, from the perspective of American businessmen in Japan, discusses market access issues and recommendations to improve bilateral trade relations.
• Why Not Official English?, page 5. A letter writer, a Kibei whose children faced early difficulties with English, argues in favor of making English the official language of America. He draws on his own family’s experience and the phrase ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’ to support his position.

In-Depth

• Longmont’s Tower of Compassion, page 5. A feature on Longmont, Colorado, describes how Jim Kanemoto, a former vegetable farmer, donated land that became Kanemoto Park, home to a five-story pagoda called the Tower of Compassion. The piece explains the Buddhist-inspired meaning behind the tower’s five stories representing love, empathy, understanding, gratitude, and giving.

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