Women’s voices in the community: the 1988 Women’s Concerns Committee issue

Vol. 106, No. 9, March 4, 1988. 12 pages. View this issue

The Pacific Citizen gave pages 7 through 10 to articles from the JACL Women’s Concerns Committee. Peggy Saika wrote on Japanese American women today, Mei Nakano on the Cherry Blossom Festival’s end of its Queen Pageant, and Chizu Iiyama on the women’s movement in Japan. The front page honored Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga, June Kuramoto, Marguerite Archie-Hudson and Beulah Quo at the Asian Pacific Women’s Network’s Woman Warrior Awards dinner, and also followed the California treasurer confirmation fight over Rep. Daniel Lungren.

Elsewhere in the issue, Shigeya Kihara wrote a two-part tribute to John Aiso and the Military Intelligence Service Language School, and William Hohri and Bill Hosokawa each wrote about Mike Masaoka’s autobiography. Gene Takamine made his case for a permanent JACL legal counsel, and George Johnston reviewed Loni Ding’s film The Color of Honor. Several pieces touch on the World War II incarceration (often called internment).

What’s in this issue

Community

• Four Honored With ‘Women Warrior’ Awards, by Laurie Mochidome, page 1. The Asian Pacific Women’s Network honored Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga, June Kuramoto, Marguerite Archie-Hudson and Beulah Quo at its seventh annual Woman Warrior Awards dinner in Los Angeles. Herzig-Yoshinaga spoke of her research uncovering government documents proving the WWII internment was racially motivated, while Kuramoto dedicated her award to her recently deceased mother.
• Ishimine, Machado to MC AAPAA Awards, page 1. Joanne Ishimine and Mario Machado will co-host the fourth annual AAPAA Media Awards dinner in Beverly Hills on March 21. Numerous celebrity presenters are scheduled to appear at the event.
• Arco Offers Aiso Scholarship, page 2. Arco announced a $5,000 grant to a scholarship foundation established in memory of former Justice John F. Aiso, who died from injuries sustained in a robbery attempt in December 1987. Arco and the LA County Board of Supervisors have each offered $25,000 rewards for information leading to the arrest of Aiso’s attacker.
• Wash. State Governor Remarks Jolt Minorities, page 2. Washington Gov. Booth Gardner drew criticism for comments suggesting minorities need to work 10-12 hour days to advance, made during an affirmative action committee meeting. Officials including his press secretary said his remarks were misinterpreted and that he was actually concerned about the lack of minorities in management positions.
• Kitagawa, Itatani, Kaji Named to Honors and Positions, page 6. Keith Kitagawa received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, Tim Itatani became the first Yonsei general chairman of the Nisei Week Festival, and Jonathan Kaji announced his candidacy for treasurer of Gardena. All three are noted for their JACL chapter involvement and community leadership.
• Auditions for ‘Tea’ Still Open, page 11. The IFCC Theatre in Portland announced open auditions for Velina Hasu Houston’s play Tea, about Japanese war brides, to be performed April 22 through May 22. Five actresses are needed for the production, which explores the varied experiences of women who married men of different ethnicities in America.

National

• Legislature Splits in Confirmation Vote, Lungren Nomination Still Uncertain, page 1. California Rep. Daniel Lungren’s nomination as state treasurer became uncertain after the state Senate rejected his confirmation while the Assembly approved it, creating a constitutional ambiguity. Lungren, former chair of the Commission on Wartime Internment, faces a choice between pursuing the treasurer post through the courts or running again for his House seat given a March 11 filing deadline.
• Matsui Joins Platform Committee, page 1. Rep. Robert Matsui was selected by Democratic National Chairman Paul Kirk Jr. to be a permanent member of the 1988 National Democratic Convention Platform Committee. The committee, chaired by Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard, will draft the party’s platform with additional members selected at the state level.
• ACJ Opens Office, page 1. American Citizens for Justice opened a new office, the Asian Center for Justice, in Detroit under Director David Fukuzawa. The office will continue monitoring anti-Asian violence and sentiment while pursuing human rights advocacy and leadership development initiatives.
• PICHTR to Receive Another Grant from Japan This Year, page 3. Sen. Spark Matsunaga announced Hawaii’s Pacific International Center for High Technology Research will receive another $1 million grant from the Japanese government. The contribution continues a 1986 agreement between the U.S. and Japan to pursue joint high technology research in the Pacific region.

Arts & Entertainment

• ‘Color of Honor’ Looks at the Overlooked, by George Johnston, page 2. Loni Ding’s documentary film The Color of Honor examines the Nisei men of the Military Intelligence Service and their role as linguists and interrogators during WWII, as well as the internment that preceded their service. The film also covers the lesser-known story of draft resisters who refused service over constitutional objections to the internment.
• ‘Three Generations’ Premieres in Philly, page 2. Jazz pianist Sumi Tonooka and filmmaker Lise Yasui premiered original works inspired by their families’ WWII internment experiences at the International House in Philadelphia. The program included Tonooka’s three-movement musical piece and Yasui’s 30-minute documentary film about her grandparents.
• Samurai Comic the Latest Japanese Import, by George Johnston, page 5. This review examines Lone Wolf and Cub, a Japanese manga series newly translated and published in the U.S. by First Publishing, telling the story of samurai assassin Itto Ogami and his infant son Daigoro. The reviewer praises the cinematic storytelling and artwork while warning of its graphic violence.
• Masaoka Book Offers a Selective History, by William Hohri, page 5. Hohri critiques Mike Masaoka’s autobiography They Call Me Moses Masaoka, arguing it misrepresents history by downplaying JACL’s informant role and diminishing the significance of draft resisters’ constitutional stand. He contends Masaoka’s self-promotion and selective account fail to adequately credit other key figures and organizations in the redress movement.

In-Depth

• Japanese Farmers’ Winter of Discontent, by Shigeru Kimura, Mainichi Shimbun, page 3. Hokkaido farmers fear ruin as Japan faces GATT pressure to liberalize agricultural import restrictions on dairy and starch products that are mainstays of the island’s economy. Farmers and consumers alike worry about the impact of liberalization on local agriculture and food security.
• The Joy of Business, by Mae Takahashi, page 9. Takahashi recounts her journey from a farm upbringing in Clovis, California to building a successful pharmacy business, describing distinct phases of preparation, risk, prosperity, and eventual financial comfort. She reflects on how her family’s internment experience and strong work ethic shaped her resilience and business success.
• A Nikkei Looks at the Japanese Women’s Movement (continued), by Chizu Iiyama, page 10. Continuing coverage details the Hiroshima Delta group’s grassroots activism against a nuclear recycling plant and the work of the Asian Women’s Association opposing sexual exploitation of Asian women by Japanese sex tour operators. The piece also discusses rising numbers of women in Japanese higher education and the labor force despite continued wage and workplace inequality.

Commentary

• San Diego’s House of Japan, page 4. This editorial describes the 25th annual luncheon of San Diego’s House of Japan, honoring its history since 1963 and recognizing historian Donald Estes and the late honorary consul general Will Hippen Jr. The piece also notes plans for an 11-acre Japanese garden to be dedicated in Balboa Park.
• JACL Legal Counsel’s Idea, by Gene Takamine, page 4. The outgoing JACL legal counsel argues the organization should hire a permanent, paid legal counsel rather than relying solely on volunteer attorneys to handle civil rights cases, amicus briefs, and legislative review. He praises the team of volunteer attorneys who served but contends a full-time Washington-based lawyer would better serve JACL’s civil rights mission.
• K.A.L. 858, by Bill Marutani, page 4. This column discusses the 1987 bombing of Korean Air Lines Flight 858 by North Korean agents using forged Japanese passports, and Japan’s subsequent investigation and sanctions against North Korea. The author reflects on the bizarre details of the case and potential implications for how Asians might be scrutinized at border crossings.
• All but a Handful Accepted Mike’s Recommendation, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa defends Mike Masaoka’s wartime decision to recommend JACL cooperation with evacuation, arguing critics unfairly focus on a few weeks in 1942 while ignoring his broader postwar civil rights achievements. He urges readers to evaluate Masaoka’s autobiography and legacy without letting the past dominate present-day perspectives.
• On the Wall… JA Women Today: The Personal the Political, by Peggy Saika, page 7. Saika reflects on her career in community activism since 1970, discussing how racism against Asian Americans, including violent incidents like the murder of Vincent Chin, continues to shape the community’s experience. She emphasizes that Asian American women’s consciousness has been shaped by both racism and sexism, and calls for coalition-building to address these intersecting issues.
• Women and the Courts, by Peggy Liggett, page 7. Liggett reviews legal progress for women’s rights over the past twenty years, citing landmark cases on sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and pregnancy leave. She notes over one hundred pending cases continue to test the status of women’s legal protections in the courts.
• Queen Pageant Debate: Is All This Necessary?, by Mei Nakano, page 7. Nakano discusses the controversial decision by San Francisco’s Cherry Blossom Festival to eliminate its Queen Pageant in favor of co-educational scholarships, detailing the long-running debate over beauty contests within the JA community. She argues JACL’s continued involvement in beauty pageants conflicts with its civil rights mission and perpetuates discriminatory and shallow values.
• Caring for the Caregiver, page 8. This article discusses the growing challenges families face in caring for elderly relatives as the senior population increases, emphasizing the role women typically play as caregivers. It offers practical advice on preparing for caregiving, understanding aging-related changes, and seeking support to avoid caregiver burnout.
• A Nikkei Looks at the Japanese Women’s Movement, by Chizu Iiyama, page 8. Iiyama explores the state of feminism in Japan, noting the absence of a broad unified women’s movement comparable to NOW but highlighting grassroots activism on issues like nuclear waste, political representation, and labor rights. She profiles women like Takako Doi and local activists fighting for change despite strong cultural sexism.
• The Changing Nikkei Family, by Alice Nakahata, page 8. Nakahata examines the challenges facing contemporary Sansei and Yonsei parents, including decisions about working mothers, childcare, and identity in increasingly inter-ethnic families. She notes the rise of single-parent families and the lack of adequate childcare resources as ongoing concerns for young Nikkei families.
• Requiem, by Barry Saiki, page 12. Saiki reflects on aging and the increasing frequency of losing friends and colleagues, naming numerous Japan Chapter JACL members and military veterans who have recently passed away. He finds comfort in new relationships formed with younger Sansei and Yonsei board members who carry forward the chapter’s legacy.

Military & Veterans

• Army Intelligence Relied on Nisei, by Shigeya Kihara, page 4. Part two of a tribute to John Aiso details his leadership as Director of Training for the Military Intelligence Service Language School, where he recruited and trained thousands of Nisei and Kibei linguists despite immense administrative and political pressures. By the war’s end, Aiso had trained 6,000 military intelligence specialists who served throughout the Pacific theater.
• Army Intelligence Relied on Nisei (continued), by Shigeya Kihara, page 10. The conclusion of the tribute to John Aiso details his postwar career, including his commission as Major under General Willoughby in occupied Japan and subsequent appointments as a judge and California Appellate Court Justice. The article credits Aiso’s MIS graduates with shortening the Pacific War by two years and saving a million casualties.

JACL

• PSWD Joins APAVP to Help Get Out the Vote in L.A., page 12. The Pacific Southwest District of JACL joined a coalition of Asian Pacific American organizations called the Asian Pacific American Voter’s Project to increase voter participation in Los Angeles. The non-partisan coalition aims to help Asian Pacific American voters become an influential voting bloc on local, state, and national issues.

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