The 1985 redress lobbying drive and a White House briefing for Asian Pacific women

Vol. 100, No. 22, June 7, 1985. 16 pages. View this issue

The Pacific Citizen reported on two efforts this issue: the Legislative Education Committee’s plan to win congressional votes on redress, and a White House briefing for about 250 Asian and Pacific Island women. Minoru Yasui and Harry Kajihara described the committee’s three-year timeline and its $1.5 million fund drive for HR442 and S1053, and Shig Wakamatsu urged the community to give. Mei Nakano covered the Washington briefing and the National Network of Asian and Pacific Women conference that surrounded it. Gordon Hirabayashi also spoke in Los Angeles about his coming evidentiary hearing in Seattle.

A run of pieces on fathers fills the middle pages: a short story by Shima, a poem by Lawson Fusao Inada, and columns by Bob Shimabukuro and Richard Oyama. Elsewhere, Frank Sato wrote about laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day, and chapters announced their 1985 scholarship recipients.

What’s in this issue

National

• A/P Women Briefed at White House, by Mei Nakano, page 1. Approximately 250 Asian and Pacific Island women gathered in Washington for a two-day conference organized by the National Network of Asian and Pacific Women, culminating in a White House briefing on employment, policy-making, and family issues. JACL Women’s Concerns Committee members participated, discussing topics like mail-order bride catalogues, the ‘100-hour rule’ affecting refugees, and rising anti-Japan sentiment with Reps. Matsui and Mineta.
• Trible Responds to Protests, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sen. Paul Trible responded to protests from Asian American organizations, including JACL, after being quoted saying Asians have no value for life. He claimed his comments were taken out of context and were specifically about North Vietnamese wartime conduct, not Asians generally.
• White House Briefing Explores Refugee and Family Issues, by Mei Nakano, page 6. Continuing coverage of the White House briefing for Asian and Pacific women details discussion of the ‘100-hour rule’ affecting Hmong refugees on welfare, the exploitation of women through mail-order bride catalogs, and Administration speakers’ views on family policy and poverty. Speakers included Anna Chennault and Bruce Chapman, with attendees noting the Administration’s insensitivity to women of color.
• Kimura Pleads Innocent at Arraignment, by Katie Kaori Hayashi, page 16. Fumiko Kimura, a Japanese national who attempted parent-child suicide at Santa Monica Beach resulting in her children’s deaths, pleaded not guilty to murder and child endangering charges. A support committee formed to ensure her fair trial and educate Americans about the cultural practice of shinju, while a pretrial hearing was set for June 14.

Incarceration & Redress

• Hirabayashi Confident of Court Victory, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. Gordon Hirabayashi expressed confidence about an upcoming evidentiary hearing in Seattle re-examining his 1943 Supreme Court case, at a Los Angeles reception raising funds for the trial. He discussed his legal team, expected witnesses including Edward Ennis and Peter Irons, and the government’s reluctance to call key wartime officials McCloy and Bendetsen.
• California Official Gives to LEC Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 3. California Secretary of State March Fong Eu presented a $1,000 check to Harry Kajihara, PSW District Governor and LEC finance chairman, supporting the legislative drive for Japanese American redress. Minoru Yasui praised the contribution as highlighting broader American concern over the wartime injustices.
• City Council Endorses Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Roseville City Council unanimously adopted a resolution supporting redress for Japanese Americans interned during WW2, citing Commission findings of no military necessity. The resolution urged Congress to enact the Civil Liberties Act of 1983 through passage of S1053 and HR442.
• LEC Timetable Announced, by Harry Kajihara, page 7. The Legislative Education Committee outlined its three-year timeline for securing congressional support votes for redress bills HR442 and S1053, needing 218 House and 51 Senate yes votes. The plan tracks fundraising and vote-counting milestones through December 1987 to reach 100% of needed support.
• LEC Fund Drive Campaign Gets Underway, by Harry Kajihara, page 7. LEC aims to raise $1.5 million over three years by recruiting 200 Prime Solicitors across JACL districts to each raise a minimum of $2,000 annually. The piece details the budget needs, district keypersons responsible for coordination, and fundraising targets to reach $150,000 by October 1985.
• LEC Is on Its Way, by Minoru Yasui, page 8. The LEC received approval from the National JACL Board to begin lobbying for redress bills HR442 and S1053, governed by a 15-member board chaired by Minoru Yasui. The column identifies key House and Senate subcommittee members whose votes are needed and outlines the path bills must take through committee before reaching the floor.
• A Time to Give, by Shig Wakamatsu, page 8. Shig Wakamatsu calls on the Japanese American community to unite behind the LEC’s $1.5 million fundraising drive for redress lobbying, presenting a detailed three-year budget for Washington D.C. office operations and grassroots efforts. He urges even modest donations from camp survivors, framing redress as repayment of a personal debt owed to all who suffered the injustice.

Commentary

• Matsui Urges Political Involvement, by Mei Nakano, page 2. Rep. Robert Matsui addressed the National Network of Asian Pacific Women’s Conference, urging Asian Pacific women to aspire to leadership roles and emphasizing that redress is an American issue, not just a Japanese American one. He also criticized the Reagan Administration’s budget priorities and civil rights record while urging greater political networking.
• Some Big Shoes to Fill, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Bill Marutani pays tribute to Mary Chiyoko Nagao, a longtime dedicated JACL member from the Seabrook Chapter who died unexpectedly, recalling her decades of service to the chapter and community. He reflects on her funeral and the impact she had across generations and racial lines in the Seabrook area.
• ‘Nichibei Futoboru’, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa shares reader recollections of the 1936 Japan-U.S. all-star football game in Los Angeles and historical accounts from Paul Rusch’s book about bringing football to Japan in the 1930s. The column includes firsthand memories from Beans Sogioka and details from Rev. Andrew Otani about the early Japan-America football exchanges.
• Ad Not Bad, by Christine Froechtenigt, page 5. A letter writer defends Hyster’s 1984 ad campaign featuring kabuki and sumo imagery, arguing the ads are powerful and not racially offensive in their business context. She distinguishes this from Hyster’s separate anti-Japanese trade rhetoric, which she says deserves more criticism.
• Thank You, Karen, by Violet K. de Cristoforo, page 5. A letter from the Salinas Valley Chapter’s redress chair bids farewell to outgoing Pacific Citizen editor Karen Seriguchi, praising her dedication and professionalism. The writer expresses appreciation for Seriguchi’s support of the chapter’s redress efforts.
• A Good Question, by Alex Yorichi, page 5. A letter writer from Japan questions who is educating the American mass public about Nikkei, praising the PC’s role in educating Nikkei in America. The editor responds that PC is distributed to non-Nikkei groups and suggests gift subscriptions as a way to educate others.
• The Other Side of Beauty Contest, by Mei Nakano, page 6. Mei Nakano responds to a previous column about a JACL beauty contest workshop, arguing it mischaracterized the debate and downplayed the civil rights concerns about contest rules requiring Japanese ancestry. She outlines arguments for and against JACL sponsorship of beauty contests and explains why a resolution to end the practice was ultimately not brought to a vote.
• Father Knows Best, by Bob Shimabukuro, page 11. Bob Shimabukuro recounts his father’s humorous experiences attending citizenship school classes, where his father challenged a teacher’s textbook answers about American history with his own well-researched rebuttals. The column affectionately portrays his father’s wit and independent thinking.
• My Dad, the Writer, by Richard Oyama, page 11. Richard Oyama reflects on his father Joe Oyama’s writing for the Pacific Citizen, admiring its simplicity, honesty, and evocative detail in recounting memories of camp life, travels, and judo practice with his own strict Issei father. He highlights passages that reveal complex father-son relationships across generations.

Community

• JCCCNC Receives $20,000 Pledge, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Japanese Benevolent Society (Jikei Kai) approved a $20,000 pledge to the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, helping launch the second phase of its Vision 80’s Campaign. The organization presented an initial $1,000 installment check during a visit to the construction site.
• ‘Not My Fault’ to Perform at Ohana, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The improvisational comedy group ‘Not My Fault’ from the Asian American Theater Company will perform at Oakland’s Ohana Cultural Center in mid-June. The group’s material pokes fun at Asian stereotypes, and AATC will also offer a six-week playwriting and acting class taught by Dom Magwili.
• Utah JA Runs for Democratic State Chair, page 3. Randy Horiuchi, 31, announced his bid for Utah Democratic state chair, emphasizing the need for new generational leadership and grassroots rebuilding. Attorney James McConkie is a prospective rival for the position to be decided at the state convention.
• AA Endowment Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Asian American Endowment Fund, a project of the United Methodist Church, is set to make its first grants in June for recruitment and education of Asian American clergy. Rev. Jonah Chang called it a significant milestone for a fund that was only a dream a few years prior.
• Coalition Honors Sacramento Journalist, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Korean American Coalition honored Kyung Won Lee, investigative reporter for the Sacramento Union, for his dedication and inspiration. Lee founded the all-English ‘Koreatown’ newspaper in 1979 and has worked for three dailies and one wire service.
• Placer County JACL Scholarship Dinner Planned, by Roy Yoshida, page 12. Placer County JACL’s annual scholarship fundraising dinner will feature chicken teriyaki and present three chapter scholarships including the JACL-Thomas M. Yego Sr. Award. Four finalists from Placer Union and Del Oro High Schools will be introduced as recipients at the event.
• Focus on Your Future Program Set at University of Washington, by P.C. Staff, page 12. JACL-JAYS created the ‘Focus on Your Future’ program featuring a panel of community members discussing experiences as minorities in school and the workplace. Workshops on public speaking, stress management, and studying skills will also be offered at the University of Washington event.
• Chapter Scholarships Awarded, by P.C. Staff, page 14. Multiple JACL chapters including Stockton, Seattle, Tri-Valley, and Portland announced their 1985 scholarship recipients, honoring graduating high school students for academic and extracurricular achievements. Recipients plan to attend various universities majoring in fields from biological sciences to pre-medicine.
• AA Woman Appointed H.S. Principal, by P.C. Staff, page 16. Carol Ogawa was appointed principal of Reseda High School, becoming the first Asian American woman to serve as a senior high school principal in the Los Angeles Unified School District. A USC graduate, she advocates for participatory management involving administrators, faculty, parents, and students in school decisions.

Arts & Entertainment

• Angel Island Comes to Life in Television Drama, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 3. PBS will broadcast ‘Paper Angels,’ a drama depicting Chinese immigrants detained on Angel Island in the early 20th century, adapted by Genny Lim from her stage play. Cast and crew, including Beulah Quo and James Hong, praised KCET for tackling the heavy subject and giving voice to Asian American history.
• My Father and Myself Facing the Sun, by Lawson Fusao Inada, page 10. A poem by Lawson Fusao Inada reflects on his relationship with his father, dentist Fusaji Inada, through imagery of facing the sun together and fishing at dusk. The poem explores generational connection and identity against a landscape backdrop.
• February Third, by Mira Shimabukuro, page 10. A short story by seventh-grader Mira Shimabukuro follows Sharon, a girl living temporarily with her aunt and uncle, as she celebrates her birthday with a surprise party arranged by her friend Lucy. Her father, who had moved to Boston, surprises her by attending the party, delighting Sharon.

Military & Veterans

• Memorial Day, 1985, by Frank Sato, page 4. JACL National President Frank Sato describes laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on behalf of JACL, accompanied by representatives of three armed services. He honors the 30 Japanese American servicemen buried at Arlington and credits the Washington D.C. chapter’s decades-long commitment to the annual memorial service.

JACL

• Odds and Ends, by Miki Himeno, page 5. The National JACL Board focused on insurance issues related to Sequoia chapter’s 501(c)(3) status and the LEC changeover during its May meeting. The column also highlights scholarship awards, the Women’s Concerns Committee joining the National Network of Asian and Pacific Women, and recognition of Mika Hiramatsu’s graduate scholarship.
• Plan for Action, by Sandi Kawasaki, page 6. The PSWDC Women’s Concerns Committee seeks to help JACL become more active in community and civil rights projects by training members in leadership skills. The committee invites members to a potluck dinner meeting to discuss workshop topics like abuse, harassment, and discrimination.

In-Depth

• Crossroads of the Far East, by Barry Saiki, page 5. Barry Saiki discusses Tokyo’s growing role as a crossroads for international visitors, from VIPs and business leaders to more personal educational and cultural visitors. He highlights visits by author John Toland researching a historical novel about Japan and Key Kobayashi, who taught Little League umpiring in Japan.
• Father Knows Best (short story), by Shima, page 9. A short story follows Kato visiting his family at an internment camp in Wyoming before reporting for U.S. Army induction, depicting the harsh conditions and his family’s resilience. His father’s declaration that government injustice does not relieve one’s responsibilities to country reveals a profound sense of duty despite the family’s wartime losses.

Obituaries

• Bob Okazaki, 83, by P.C. Staff, page 13. Bob Okazaki, a raconteur, actor, journalist, and Tokyo-born son of a pioneer Seattle Baptist preacher, died May 28 in Los Angeles following a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife Toshi, stepson Lt. Col. Curtis Higuchi, and other family members.

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