Vol. 101, No. 24, December 13, 1985. 8 pages. View this issue
A West Hollywood hair salon called J.A.P.S.S. was the subject of the front page. J.K. Yamamoto reported on a Dec. 5 city council hearing on a request, brought by Japanese Americans, that the city prohibit businesses from using racial slurs. The salon’s attorney defended the name, while NCRR representatives and JACL leaders argued that the term is a historically offensive slur. The front page also reported that Sen. Rudy Boschwitz of Minnesota became a new co-sponsor of the Senate redress bill, S 1053, and that the House kept Asian Americans classified as a minority group in the Higher Education Act reauthorization.
The commentary pages carried Bill Marutani on travel in Kyoto, Bob Shimabukuro on affirmative action, and Bill Hosokawa on being praised for speaking English, with a contest for readers’ best replies. Inside are also a United Way report on Asian Pacific communities in Los Angeles County, the new JACL-Blue Shield contract, three Legislative Education Committee board members elected, and news of a Salt Lake City chapter building purchase.
What’s in this issue
Community
- City Holds Hearing on JAPSS Dispute, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. The West Hollywood City Council held a public hearing on a request by Japanese Americans to prohibit businesses from using racial slurs, targeting a hair salon named J.A.P.S.S. The salon’s attorney defended the name as not racist while NCRR representatives and JACL leaders argued the term ‘Jap’ is a historically offensive slur that should be changed immediately.
- United Way Releases Study on Asian Pacifics, page 1. The Asian Pacific Research & Development Council of United Way released a detailed report, ‘Pacific Rim Profiles,’ documenting the characteristics and needs of Los Angeles County’s diverse Asian Pacific communities. The report highlighted disparities among groups and made recommendations on language, employment, immigration, health, mental health, domestic violence, and intergroup relations services.
- JA Receives Award from Japanese Gov’t, page 6. Andrew Kuroda was awarded the Third Class Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Japanese ambassador in recognition of his 35 years of contributions to Japanese studies at the Library of Congress. Kuroda, a naturalized citizen and former Methodist minister, was evacuated during WW2 and later served the U.S. government, remaining active in the Washington D.C. Japanese American community.
- Six Gardena Valley JACI Pioneer Leaders Honored, page 6. The Gardena Valley Japanese American Cultural Institute honored six pioneer leaders, four posthumously, at its annual endowment dinner for their past contributions and support. Family members accepted plaques on behalf of honorees including Lloyd Yamauchi, John Yamane, Yoshio Kobata, Toshinori, Paul Koga, and Kay Kaei Kamiya.
- Salt Lake City Chapter Purchases Former Spencer Library, page 7. The Salt Lake City JACL chapter purchased the former Spencer library building to establish a permanent chapter office and community center for Nikkei residents. The down payment was funded through chapter contributions and individual donations, with volunteer professionals providing landscaping and interior work.
National
- Asian Students Retain Minority Status, page 1. The House of Representatives passed the Higher Education Act Reauthorization including an amendment by Rep. Sala Burton that keeps Asian Americans classified as a minority group eligible for special funding. Reps. Norman Mineta and Robert Matsui had pushed for the inclusion, citing the needs of Asian American students and warning against eroding minority status designations.
JACL
- New Co-Sponsor for Senate Redress Bill, page 1. Senate redress bill S 1053 gained Sen. Rudy Boschwitz of Minnesota as a new co-sponsor. Boschwitz serves on several key Senate committees including Budget, Veterans’ Affairs, and Foreign Relations.
- JACL-Blue Shield Gets New Contract, page 6. The Northern California-Western Nevada-Pacific District JACL-California Blue Shield Health Plan completed a 1986 contract with improved dental and maternity benefits aimed at attracting younger JACL members. Other improvements include a higher dental maximum, increased lifetime maximum coverage, and a $100 cash bonus for using preferred hospitals, with dues rising about 5%.
- Three LEC Board Members Elected, page 6. Minoru Yasui and James Tsujimura were re-elected to the Legislative Education Committee Board, while Jerry Enomoto, past National JACL president, was newly elected in the November mail ballot. Dr. Kaz Mayeda and Mollie Fujioka were also nominated and approved to fill another board vacancy.
Commentary
- Kyoto and Elsewhere, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Marutani reflects on his travels in Japan, describing Kyoto’s charm, traffic safety statistics, accommodations for the blind, train travel tips, and cultural observations about public restrooms and cigars. He shares practical travel advice gained from his experiences navigating Japan as a visitor.
- One Thing Leads to Another, by Bob Shimabukuro, page 4. Shimabukuro critiques Assistant Attorney General William Bradford Reynolds’ redefinition of affirmative action and the Reagan administration’s efforts to dismantle quota systems. He argues that affirmative action has succeeded in sports but has not been seriously applied to other fields, and that removing quotas undermines accountability for equal opportunity.
- Speakee Englishie?, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa discusses the common and irritating experience of Japanese Americans being complimented on their English skills by white people who assume they are foreign-born. He shares witty retorts from figures like Wellington Koo and Norman Mineta, and announces a contest for readers to submit their best comebacks to such comments.
Obituaries
- Muraye Ando, 86, page 7. Muraye Ando died November 15 at her home in Morgan Hill, California, after a life of community service including opening her San Jose home to Japanese Americans in need of housing after WW2. She was active in the San Jose Buddhist Church and was named Mother of the Year at the 1973 Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco, and is survived by her children and grandchildren.
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