Vol. 103, No. 4, July 25, 1986. 8 pages. View this issue
Redress led the July 25, 1986 issue. The front page reported that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously for a resolution backing redress bills H.R. 442 and S. 1053, and a Seattle JACL letter-writing campaign asked President Reagan for support. The paper also followed the Los Angeles redistricting plan that could cost Councilman Mike Woo his seat. Rep. Norman Mineta and a coalition of Asian American groups spoke against it, and JACL national director Ron Wakabayashi called it an unnecessary conflict. Mineta also called for a halt to the Navajo-Hopi relocation, and Patsy Takemoto Mink announced her run for governor of Hawaii.
Inside are Bill Hosokawa’s column on Dr. Walter Higa of JPL, Sachi Seko’s essay on her dog Nicholas, and Kathy Aoki’s piece on the Japanese American History Room. Chapter news covers scholarships, the JACL Junior Olympics, and a pageant honoring the late astronaut Ellison Onizuka. Two readers also wrote seeking lost friends and a poem’s author from the Poston camp.
What’s in this issue
National
- San Mateo Supervisors Back Redress Bills, page 1. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution supporting redress bills H.R. 442 and S. 1053. Local JACL members and community leaders testified before the board, urging swift passage given the dwindling number of surviving internees.
- Mineta Calls for Halt to Navajo-Hopi Relocation, page 1. Rep. Norman Mineta called for a moratorium on the relocation of Navajos and Hopis in Arizona pending a complete government review. He is co-sponsoring H.R. 4872 to mandate the moratorium, drawing parallels to the pain caused by Japanese American relocation.
- Los Angeles Redistricting Proposal Could Threaten Woo’s Future as Councilman, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Woo is fighting a redistricting plan by Councilman Richard Alatorre that would make his district predominantly Hispanic, potentially costing him reelection. Asian American community groups have rallied behind Woo, while the council narrowly approved Alatorre’s plan despite alternative proposals from Woo and Council President Pat Russell.
- Mink Formally Announces Candidacy for ’86 Gubernatorial Race in Hawaii, page 1. Patsy Takemoto Mink announced her candidacy for Hawaii governor, giving up her City Council seat to join a crowded Democratic field. She pledged an aggressive grassroots campaign focused on education and economic development issues.
- Calif. Coalition Supports Woo, page 3. Rep. Norman Mineta and a coalition of Asian American organizations spoke out against the Los Angeles redistricting plan that threatens Councilman Mike Woo’s seat. JACL national director Ron Wakabayashi called the plan an unnecessary conflict between Asians and Hispanics, and the coalition urged Mayor Bradley to veto it.
- Work of ‘Crossword Activist’ Lauded, page 3. Rep. Norman Mineta praised Amy Chihara of Highland, Ind., whose letter-writing campaign persuaded the Chicago Tribune to reconsider using ‘Jap’ as an abbreviation in crossword puzzles. The Tribune responded that it would be more sensitive in future issues after Mineta, JACL officials, and Chihara all wrote letters of protest.
- Letter-Writing to President Started, page 4. Seattle JACL launched a letter-writing campaign urging President Reagan to support redress bills H.R. 442 and S. 1053 following Justice Department opposition. The campaign follows earlier efforts targeting Washington state congressmen who declined to co-sponsor the legislation.
Community
- Anti-Bigotry Campaign Launched, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 2. The National Conference of Christians & Jews unveiled a campaign to counter anti-Asian bigotry, coordinated with Councilman Mike Woo and community leaders through the NCCJ Asian/Pacific American Focus Program. The program includes three task forces addressing multicultural issues, employment, and media image in response to rising anti-Asian violence reports.
- Fowler JACL Honors Top Graduate Yumi Sera, by Thomas Toyama, page 6. Yumi Sera, salutatorian at Fowler High School, was honored with scholarships totaling $1,900 from multiple organizations including Fowler JACL. She served as student body president and yearbook editor and plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
- South Bay JACL Honors Nisei Week Candidate and New Judge, page 6. South Bay JACL held a reception for Nisei Week Queen candidate Debora Nakamura and later honored member Fumiko Hachiya Wasserman’s appointment to a municipal court judgeship by Gov. Deukmejian. U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter spoke at Wasserman’s swearing-in, recounting her family’s WWII internment experience.
- Placer County JACL Awards Scholarships to Graduates, by Roy Yoshida, page 6. Placer County JACL awarded scholarships to graduates Corine Buckley and Lynn Marie Nishimura, recognizing their academic and extracurricular achievements. The chapter also presented Okei Memorial Achievement Awards to elementary school graduates at its annual scholarship dinner.
In-Depth
- History Room Offers Wealth of Data, by Kathy Aoki, Nichi Bei Times, page 3. Seizo Oka, director of California First Bank’s Japanese American History Room, discusses the room’s new location at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California and its mission to preserve Japanese American history. Oka, a historian rather than librarian, has helped students and researchers access historical documents, artifacts, and photographs for decades.
Commentary
- West Coast Welcome, by Rev. Lloyd H. Uyeki, page 4. A letter writer reflects on the Statue of Liberty centennial celebrations, noting with sadness that no such welcoming symbol greeted his Japanese immigrant parents and grandparents. He suggests the Japanese or Chinese governments could donate a comparable statue to honor Asian immigrants.
- In Search Of… Ruth Tanaka, by Thomas James, page 4. A letter writer seeks help locating Ruth Tanaka, a former Poston internee who wrote a poem titled ‘Saga of a People’ about the Issei generation. He found the poem in the National Archives and wishes to quote it in a book.
- In Search Of… College Friends, by Maryann Mahaffey, page 4. A Detroit City Council member writes seeking to locate two college friends, Yoko Tada and May Ideta, whom she met in Iowa during WWII. She credits them with educating her about the injustices of the internment camps and hopes for a reunion.
- An Interplanetary Feat, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Columnist Bill Hosokawa profiles Dr. Walter Higa, a Japanese American scientist at JPL who led development of communication systems enabling planetary space probe missions. Higa’s maser technology made possible the transmission of stunning images from Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus back to Earth.
- The Last Nicholas Story, by Sachi Seko, page 5. Writer Sachi Seko recounts the final days and euthanasia of her beloved German shepherd Nicholas, who suffered from genetic immune deficiency. The deeply personal essay describes the family’s painful decision-making process and the emotional bond they shared with the dog over eight years.
Incarceration & Redress
- WWII Incarceration Becomes Popular Topic for National History Day, page 4. Several student projects about Japanese American WWII internment won awards at the National History Day Contest, including entries from California, Texas, Massachusetts, and Kansas students. Topics included Japanese American soldiers and the internment experience, with students citing interviews with figures like Min Yasui.
Sports
- San Jose Wins Fourth Straight Team Championship at JACL Junior Olympics, page 6. San Jose claimed its fourth consecutive team championship at the 34th Annual Junior Olympics held at Chabot College, with Ellen Sasaki and Kurt Akabori named outstanding athletes. A new perpetual trophy donated by Transamerica Life Companies was presented after San Jose’s previous trophy was retired following three straight wins.
Arts & Entertainment
- Onizuka to Be Honored by Pageant, page 7. The late astronaut Ellison Onizuka will posthumously receive the Outstanding American Award at the Miss Nikkei California Pageant at the Beverly Hilton. His widow Lorna and daughters will attend, along with pageant finalists and past contestants performing in dance and fashion segments.
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