Vol. 106, No. 4, January 29, 1988. 8 pages. View this issue
Redress was the main subject of this January 1988 issue. Grayce Uyehara reported on JACL-LEC lobbying in Washington, where Grant Ujifusa expressed cautious optimism about securing the needed vote as S.1009 neared a Senate vote. Rep. Robert Matsui, who urged House colleagues to support a census bill for counting Asian American ethnic subgroups in 1990, also spoke on redress progress at the New York chapter’s installation dinner. The front page also covered the SELANOCO JACL installation dinner, written by Harry K. Honda, where Rep. William Dannemeyer spoke on the national debt.
Elsewhere in the issue, a San Jose program planned a Day of Remembrance marking the signing of Executive Order 9066, and a short guide explained how to request War Relocation Authority files from the National Archives. The commentary pages carried Neal Taniguchi introducing himself as JACL’s new Administrative Director, Ron Wakabayashi on the model minority image, and Bill Marutani and Bill Hosokawa. Franklin Ng reviewed David Mas Masumoto’s Country Voices.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Selanoco JACL Installation Dedicated to Charter Members; Dannemeyer Focuses on U.S. Deficit, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. SELANOCO JACL celebrated its 22nd annual installation dinner honoring the charter members who founded the chapter in 1966, with Frances Hachiya re-elected as chapter president. Guest speaker Rep. William Dannemeyer discussed the national debt and called for budget cuts, while also addressing AIDS as a public health issue.
- NCCJ Offers Small Business Directory, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The National Conference of Christians and Jews released an Asian/Pacific American Small-Business Directory to assist business owners in obtaining vendor contracts and resources. The directory was developed in partnership with several organizations and is available through public officials and chambers of commerce.
- AAs in Higher Ed Confab, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A first-ever statewide conference, ‘Asian Americans in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities,’ will be held in Oakland to address issues facing Asian American students, faculty, and administrators. The conference will feature speakers including Assembly Speaker Willie Brown and will include panels with various state education officials.
- Chu Announces Candidacy for City Council, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. Judy Chu announced her candidacy for the Monterey Park City Council, citing her background as a clinical psychologist and current school board member. Chu aims to reduce traffic congestion, improve development quality, and heal community divisions.
- Community Notables, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A roundup of community achievements including Warren Kubota winning the Will Glickman Award for his play ‘Webster St. Blues,’ Rep. Norman Mineta receiving a Public Service Award from Air Transport World, and several individuals being appointed to boards and commissions. Also mentioned are donations to the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center and recognitions for community service.
- NOC Holding Day of Remembrance, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Nihonmachi Outreach Committee in San Jose will sponsor a Day of Remembrance program commemorating the signing of Executive Order 9066, featuring updates on redress legislation and entertainment by the San Jose Taiko Group. A reception will follow to celebrate the newly organized Japanese American Resource Center.
National
- Matsui Urges House Support for Census Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Robert Matsui urged House colleagues to co-sponsor legislation requiring the Census Bureau to provide a complete and timely count of Asian American ethnic subgroups in the 1990 Census. The bill, H.R. 3828, aims to ensure accurate data for federal assistance programs and would require timely publication of findings.
- Senator Pleased With Progress of Two Measures, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sen. Spark Matsunaga announced progress on legislation increasing outpatient mental health benefits under Medicare and praised the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act signed into law. Both measures address long-standing inadequacies in funding for elderly and mental health services.
- Procedure for Getting WRA Files, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The JACL-LEC office outlines the procedure for individuals to request copies of their War Relocation Authority files from the National Archives, including necessary identifying information. The article also explains costs and alternate contacts for verification of incarceration only.
Incarceration & Redress
- ‘Cautious Optimism’ on Passage of Redress Bill Seen This Year, by Grayce Uyehara, page 1. JACL-LEC lobbying efforts in Washington have made progress toward winning White House support for redress legislation, with legislative strategy chair Grant Ujifusa expressing cautious optimism about securing the needed vote. The article discusses strategies for overriding a potential presidential veto and urges continued letter-writing campaigns as S.1009 nears a Senate vote.
Commentary
- Pirating the Beatles in Japan, by Yoko Ono, page 2. Yoko Ono criticizes Japan’s short 20-year copyright protection for recordings, which allowed a Tokyo music company to legally release a CD of over 100 early Beatles songs without royalties. She argues this harms musicians who rely on royalties, especially those without ongoing hits, and calls for copyright law reform to match international standards.
- Introducing Neal Taniguchi, by Neal Taniguchi, page 4. New JACL Administrative Director Neal Taniguchi introduces himself, detailing his academic background at UC Berkeley and his experience in local government. He outlines his goals for improving communication, staff roles, and organizational support within JACL during a critical transitional period.
- Getting a Haircut in Japan Is Shear Indulgence, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Columnist Bill Hosokawa recounts an indulgent haircut experience at a Japanese barbershop, describing the attentive service including shampoo, massage, and grooming for a relatively modest price. He reflects on the contrast with typical American barbershop service and pricing.
- Harvard Symposium Revisited, by Ej Suyama, page 4. A letter writer recounts attending a Harvard symposium on Japanese American internment featuring Judge Marutani, Aiko Herzig, and Dale Minami discussing coram nobis cases and redress efforts. The writer reflects emotionally on personal experiences of internment and combat service, criticizing a congressman’s dismissal of the debate as overly emotional.
- ‘Gentlemen’s Agreement’, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. A letter writer clarifies that the three-proxy limit passed at the 1978 JACL National Convention was a formal constitutional amendment, not merely a ‘Gentlemen’s Agreement.’ He argues only a simple correction to the printed constitution is needed, not a new amendment.
- A Thought, by Russell Endo, page 4. A letter writer responds to an earlier editorial about an out-of-print manual, expressing interest in contributing to an updated version given his involvement with the original advisory council. He suggests that modern desktop publishing technology could reduce the cost of producing a new manual.
- Articles About Asian Americans May Be Misleading, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 5. Wakabayashi critiques media portrayals of Asian Americans as a ‘model minority,’ arguing that such narratives obscure struggles faced by less-educated immigrant groups like Hmong refugees. He warns that the 1990 Census’s failure to separately count Asian American ethnic subgroups could harm communities reliant on data-driven funding and advocacy.
- Coming or Going, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Marutani explores the dual challenges Japanese Americans face: being seen as ‘Japanese’ rather than American in the U.S., while also being viewed with disdain as inadequately Japanese when in Japan. He suggests AJAs need a bilateral approach to educate both Americans and Japanese about their unique identity.
In-Depth
- The Pacific Citizen Bookshelf: Japanese American Farm Life, by Franklin Ng, page 5. A book review of David Mas Masumoto’s ‘Country Voices,’ an oral history of a Japanese American farming community in Del Rey, California. The review praises the book’s focus on cultural change and everyday life, while noting some shortcomings in editing and historical framing.
- A ‘Must’ Guide on U.S. Politics, by Harry Honda, page 5. A review of ‘The Almanac of American Politics 1988,’ co-authored by Grant Ujifusa, highlighting its comprehensive profiles of Congress members and political data. The reviewer notes Ujifusa’s ties to JACL and the book’s growing reputation as an essential Washington reference.
JACL
- New York Chapter Hosts EDC Dinner, by Sumi Koide, page 8. The New York JACL chapter’s installation dinner featured a speech by Rep. Robert Matsui on redress legislation progress, along with a presentation of an original woodcut print by artist Henry Sugimoto. The day also included an Eastern District Council quarterly meeting with workshops on anti-Asian violence and intergenerational dialogue.
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