CWRIC hearings in Seattle and the debate over JACL’s future

Vol. 93, No. 13, September 25, 1981. 8 pages. View this issue

The Pacific Citizen’s front page covered the second session of the CWRIC hearings in Seattle, where redress proposals for Japanese Americans and Aleuts were presented. Peter Imamura reported on three basic types of redress, including individual payments and a charitable foundation. Inside, Issei witnesses described wartime property loss and family hardship, and National President Jim Tsujimura urged chapters to keep funding the Redress program as its treasury ran low.

On the commentary pages, Mike Masaoka asked whether JACL has a future and proposed moving its headquarters to Washington, D.C. Letters and a Chiaroscuro column answered him. Bill Marutani described the “Go for Broke” exhibit honoring the 442nd Regimental Combat Team at The Presidio, and Bill Hosokawa reviewed the children’s book The Crane Wife. Page 8 reported the JACL-Tom Hayashi Law School Award and California’s unitary tax as a trade issue with Japan.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Three Basic Types of Redress Proposed at Seattle CWRIC Hearings, by Peter Imamura, page 1. At the second session of CWRIC hearings in Seattle, the Seattle Asian Law Association and Nikkei redress committees presented proposals for compensating Japanese Americans and Aleuts affected by WWII internment, including individual payments and a charitable foundation. A separate tax allocation plan proposed by Henry Miyatake and Charles Kato would fund redress through a voluntary tax limited to those of Japanese or Aleut ancestry.
• Issei Testify to CWRIC, page 2. Issei witnesses including Masao Takahashi, Kusunosuke Kino, and Yoshiaki Sako testified before the CWRIC about their wartime hardships, including property loss and family tragedy. Commissioner William Marutani responded to a POW organization representative’s opposition to redress, distinguishing between POW treatment and the internment of American civilians.
• How Pearl Harbor Doomed an Atlanta Issei, page 2. The story of the late Sadajiro Yoshinuma, an Atlanta Issei restaurateur arrested after Pearl Harbor, is recounted through his widow Grace Higginbotham, who eventually joined him at the Crystal City, Texas internment camp. The family received no government compensation after the war despite losing their restaurant and assets.
• Evacuation Still Irritates Nisei Back in Juneau, page 2. Seattle-born Sam Taguchi of Juneau, Alaska recalls being rounded up by Army Captain Verbeck during WWII and given short notice to board a troopship, an experience that still troubles him. Taguchi, who runs City Cafe founded in 1912, returned to Juneau in 1950 to help manage the restaurant for 442nd veteran John Tanaka.

National

• Social Security Reform of Interest to JACL, by Ron Ikejiri, page 1. Congress returned to Washington in September to address social security, farm, defense and other budget issues, with appropriations bills being considered under continuing resolutions. Changes under consideration include raising the retirement age from 65 to 68 and limiting educational loans and grants for students.
• National JACL to Host Goodwill Disabled Group from Japan, page 8. National JACL hosted a reception for a goodwill group of 25 disabled young persons from Japan, sponsored by the Prime Minister’s Office, as the final stop of their U.S. tour marking the International Year of the Disabled. The delegation’s itinerary included visits to the United Nations, the White House, NASA, and the Berkeley Center for Independent Living.
• Japan Extends Free Care for Its Aging, page 8. Starting Oct. 1, Japan’s Health & Welfare Ministry will provide a week of care for elderly people suffering from senile dementia at homes for the aged when family members cannot provide care due to illness or special occasions.
• Calif. Unitary Tax Looms as Trade Issue, page 8. A unitary tax imposed by California on subsidiaries of Japanese firms has become a major trade issue between the U.S. and Japan, discussed during talks led by William Brock with representatives of 80 Japanese companies. The companies, including Hitachi, Sony, and Toyota, have filed complaints seeking abolition of the tax system.
• U.S. Takes Full Blame on Submarine Case, page 8. U.S. Ambassador Mike Mansfield delivered a final report admitting inadequate command supervision caused the April 9 collision in which a U.S. submarine struck and sank a Japanese freighter, killing the captain and first mate. The incident became a major controversy because the submarine left the scene without attempting rescue.

JACL

• Call Out for ’82 Applicants: JACL Chapters Sponsor 22 Youth to PCYA Program, page 1. Twenty-two Japanese American high school students sponsored by 15 JACL chapters attended the 1981 Presidential Classroom for Young Americans, spending a week in Washington D.C. meeting government leaders and visiting institutions. The program, founded in 1968, is directed by a 15-member board including former JACL executive director David Ushio.
• Commitment and Completion, by Dr. Jim Tsujimura, page 1. JACL National President Jim Tsujimura writes about the importance of completing the Redress program despite dwindling funds, noting that the Redress treasury may only last through January 1982. He urges chapters and members to contribute financially, highlighting Chicago and Salinas Valley chapters’ significant contributions.
• McVey Scholarships Awarded at Gila River Reunion, page 6. Scholarships named in honor of the late J.P. McVey, principal of Canal High School at Gila River Relocation Center, were awarded to six students including Lonny H. Matsuda and Todd T. Tsuchiya. The trust fund supporting the scholarships was established through donations from camp alumni.
• Japan-Born Texan Selected for JACL-Tom Hayashi Law School Award, page 8. A Houston-area student was named winner of the JACL-Tom Hayashi Law School Award after a tie in initial balloting required an outside judge to determine the winner. The scholarship, named for New York Nisei attorney Thomas T. Hayashi, provides up to $2,100 over three years to encourage Japanese Americans to enter law for public service.

Commentary

• Divide and Be Conquered, page 3. An editorial reprinted from the Los Angeles Herald Examiner discusses the fragile and politically weak coalition represented by the term ‘Asian Pacifics,’ noting persistent disunity among Asian ethnic groups. The piece argues that further fragmentation would be counterproductive and that Asian communities need to speak up more loudly to access available aid.
• Letterbox: Memorial to 442nd, by Arnold B. Larson, page 4. A letter writer argues that JACL should call the CWRIC’s attention to the fact that the 100th Infantry and 442nd Regimental Combat Team have not been properly honored with a monument in the nation’s capital, unlike the Iwo Jima flag-raising statue. The editor notes a question about who funded that statue.
• Letterbox: Young vs. Old, by Eji Suyama, page 4. A letter responds to Bill Marutani’s earlier column on redress, discussing generational tensions between Nisei and younger generations regarding engagement with camp history and redress. The writer argues both camps share blame for shortcomings in confronting the past.
• Letterbox: JACL Headquarters Location, by Dr. Frank F. Sakamoto, page 4. National 1000 Club Chairman Dr. Frank Sakamoto writes agreeing with Mike Masaoka’s analysis that JACL needs more input in Washington, D.C., arguing that most legislative decisions are made there and that is where public relations with Congress must be built.
• If We Live to Be 84, by Sachi Seko, page 4. A column from Salt Lake City reflects on an 84-year-old friend’s declining health after an accidental fall, and the friend’s lifelong meticulousness and fear of becoming a burden to others. The piece explores themes of aging, independence, and mortality through their decades-long friendship.
• Washington Wrap-Up: Arts 1981-82 Search, by Ron Ikejiri, page 4. JACL is seeking help identifying talented 17 and 18-year-olds for the national ARTS Recognition and Talent Search program sponsored by Educational Testing Service, with scholarships and apprenticeships available. The program includes an affirmative action component ensuring participation by minority and disabled youth, with registration deadlines in late September and October 1981.
• From Happy Valley, by Sachi Seko, page 4. This appears to be a cartoon/column titled ‘From Happy Valley’ by Sachi Seko referencing the Golden Gate Bridge in old paintings. It is a light commentary piece accompanying editorial content on the page.
• Is There a Future for the Japanese American Citizens League?, by Mike Masaoka, page 5. In this reprinted essay, Mike Masaoka examines whether JACL has outlived its usefulness amid questions about membership, leadership, and funding, concluding that JACL remains the most representative national organization for Japanese Americans despite criticism. He proposes restructuring JACL with a centralized Washington D.C. headquarters focused on lobbying and national campaigns, while regional and local programs address community-specific needs.
• East Wind: ‘Go for Broke’, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Bill Marutani describes visiting the ‘Go For Broke’ exhibit at The Presidio in San Francisco honoring the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, including photos, medals, and a diorama made by Arizona junior high students depicting the rescue of the Lost Texas Battalion. He reflects on the extraordinary physical stature and spirit of the Nisei soldiers and anticipates a future exhibit honoring Nisei who fought in the Pacific.
• Concrete Cast, by John Saito, page 6. John Saito recounts the saga of correcting a misspelled ‘PEDRO’ engraved in concrete on the railing of the Japanese American Community and Cultural Center building in Little Tokyo, requiring multiple rounds of jackhammering and repair. The piece offers a humorous look at building maintenance mishaps at the Pacific Citizen’s headquarters location.
• Chiaroscuro: A Proposal – Move Headquarters, page 6. A JACL leader responds to Mike Masaoka’s proposal to relocate JACL’s national headquarters to Washington, D.C., recalling the debates that led to establishing the current San Francisco headquarters a decade earlier. The author outlines a plan for restructuring JACL operations between Washington D.C., district offices, and the San Francisco building as an informational and educational resource center.

Arts & Entertainment

• Gerald Ford to Keynote L.A. Confab on U.S.-Japan Trade, page 3. Former President Gerald R. Ford will be the keynote speaker at a conference exploring U.S.-Japan trade and Pacific Basin business issues, hosted at the Century Plaza Hotel. The conference, co-sponsored by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and the L.A. Junior Chamber of Commerce, includes panel discussions and a special luncheon for visiting dignitaries.
• Book Party Set for Nikkei Anthology, ‘Ayumi’, page 3. A book party celebrating the Japanese American anthology ‘Ayumi,’ edited by Janice Mirikitani after a three-year effort, was held at Amerasia Bookstore in Los Angeles. The anthology features four generations of creative writing and graphics, with proceeds supporting a planned Japanese translation.
• A Japanese Folk Tale: ‘The Crane Wife’, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa reviews a children’s book, ‘The Crane Wife,’ a Japanese folk tale about a peasant who marries a crane transformed into a woman, translated by Katherine Paterson and illustrated by Suekichi Akaba. He recounts reading the book aloud to his grandsons Matt and Jon, who were already familiar with the story from a movie.

Community

• Extra Night Added for Redress Play, page 3. Due to sellout ticket sales for ‘The Truth of the Matter,’ a one-act play by Karen Ishizuka about the effects of the concentration camp experience, an additional performance was scheduled for Oct. 4 at CSU LA’s Music Hall Theater. The play, directed by Bob Nakamura, portrays characters confronting an Issei spirit and examining their identities.
• Gardena Valley JACL Hosts Wine-Tasting Event, page 3. The Gardena Valley JACL held a wine tasting party at the Hyatt House Hotel Penthouse near LAX, with proceeds benefiting the 1982 Convention Fund. The venue will also host the 1982 JACL convention scheduled for Aug. 8-14.
• Japanese Cookbook Sales Strong for Matao Uwate, page 7. Matao Uwate’s Japanese cookbook series has proven very popular among Sansei and Caucasian readers, with Book I (AJI) selling more than 8,400 copies and other volumes in the series also selling well. The cookbooks cover sushi and other Japanese cooking topics.
• School Board Candidates File for November Elections, page 7. Richard Tanaka of East Side Union High School District and Vic Nakamoto of Alum Rock School District in San Jose have filed as candidates for the Nov. 3 school district elections.
• Business, Awards, Medicine, Travel and Government Briefs, page 7. A roundup of community news includes California First Bank naming Kenneth Hayashi as manager of its Santa Monica office, UC Irvine researcher Dr. Ruth Sugiyama receiving a Leukemia Society fellowship, and UCLA immunologist Dr. Paul Terasaki performing a successful kidney transplant in Japan. Also noted are Columbia University Alumni Association’s scholarship award and cellist Thalia Moore’s upcoming Carnegie Hall recital.

Military & Veterans

• New VA Inspector General Seeks Employee Input-Advice, page 3. VA Administrator Robert P. Nimmo announced the formation of inspector general advisory councils to review agency programs and address vulnerability to fraud and abuse. New Inspector General Frank S. Sato, former DOT inspector general confirmed by the Senate, said the program offers employees a chance to contribute solutions.

Sports

• Canadian Sansei Harada Wins Radio-TV Fitness Challenge, page 7. A Canadian Sansei radio personality named Harada competed in the Gillette Challenge fitness contest at Toronto’s CN Tower, winning the stair climb event in record time of 4 minutes 57 seconds and finishing first in four of six events overall.
• Jr. BANGA Golf Tournament Results at Laguna Seca, page 7. Takumi Taoyama of San Jose scored a one-stroke victory over Kevin Matsuo of Sacramento for the Jr. BANGA low gross honors at an Aug. 29 match at Laguna Seca in Monterey. Various other winners were noted in different flights and the best ball competition.

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