Vol. 101, No. 2, July 12, 1985. 8 pages. View this issue
The front page turned to the reopened Hirabayashi case. J.K. Yamamoto reported that witnesses Jack Herzig and Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga said the U.S. government did a poor job of defending itself in last month’s hearing of the coram nobis case, citing missed deadlines and weak evidence such as the “Magic” cables. Gordon Hirabayashi was convicted of violating curfew and internment orders, and his attorneys now say government officials suppressed reports showing the mass incarceration (often called internment) of Japanese Americans to be unnecessary. The same front page covered Thomas Hsieh and Sandy Mori’s appointments to the Democratic National Committee and the fate of its Asian Pacific Caucus.
On the commentary pages, Bill Marutani wrote about a Jewish funeral, Bill Hosokawa about humor, and John Tateishi about the LEC directorship. Henry S. Sakai questioned the direction of JACL’s U.S.-Japan relations program. Inside are a Japanese American Experience exhibit opening in Philadelphia, with traveling exhibits on the 442nd and Manzanar, a Southwest Omatsuri in Albuquerque, and chapter news.
What’s in this issue
Incarceration & Redress
- Gov’t Case Was Badly Prepared, Witnesses Say, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. Witnesses Jack Herzig and Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga criticized the U.S. government’s poorly prepared defense in the reopened Hirabayashi coram nobis case, citing missed deadlines and weak evidence like the ‘Magic’ cables. They also noted the difficulty of accessing government archives and expressed confidence that Judge Voorhees would rule favorably for Hirabayashi.
National
- Asians Appointed to DNC; Caucus Status in Doubt, page 1. Thomas Hsieh and Sandy Mori were appointed to positions on the Democratic National Committee amid controversy over the apparent elimination of the DNC’s Asian Pacific Caucus. Asian American Democrats welcomed the appointments but vowed to continue fighting for formal recognition of the caucus in party bylaws.
- Life Term for Robbery, page 2. Wai-Chiu (Tony) Ng was sentenced to 13 life terms for the 1983 robbery and murder of 13 people at a Seattle Chinatown gambling club, though he was acquitted of murder charges. Two other defendants in the case had previously been convicted, with one receiving a death sentence.
Community
- Business Name May Not Be Permanent, page 1. West Hollywood Mayor Valerie Terrigno said she would investigate whether a hair salon named ‘JAPSS’ could be forced to change its name after complaints from NCRR and other groups. The salon’s owners have defended the name, which comes from the initials of its five co-owners’ first names.
- Ito Begins Campaign for School Board Seat, page 2. Ann Ito, a member of San Mateo’s Human Relations Commission, announced her candidacy for the City School District Board of Trustees. She cited poor communication between trustees and the community as her motivation for running.
- Southwest ‘Omatsuri’ Draws 20,000, page 2. An estimated 20,000 people attended the fourth annual Japanese American Omatsuri sponsored by New Mexico JACL in Albuquerque, marking the 40th anniversary of camp closures and 95 years of Japanese American history in New Mexico. The event honored local internees and non-Japanese Americans who had assisted them during WW2.
- Christians to Gather in So. California, page 2. The World Congress on Japanese Evangelization will bring roughly 500 Japanese Christian participants from around the world to USC for a four-day conference on evangelism strategy. The event will feature speakers, seminars, an outdoor rally in Little Tokyo, and a closing banquet.
- Editors to Examine Community Media, page 3. The Asian American Journalists Assn. will hold a panel discussion titled ‘The Role of the Ethnic Media’ featuring editors from several Asian ethnic publications. The panel will discuss issues facing ethnic media including political influence and community service.
- Denver to Celebrate Asian Art and Culture, page 3. The third annual Festival of Asian Arts and Culture will be held at the Denver Botanic Gardens, featuring food, entertainment, art, and educational activities, with Colorado’s governor proclaiming an Asian American Heritage Week. Oscar winner Dr. Haing Ngor will open a special lecture series, with proceeds benefiting the Asian Pacific Development Center.
- Chapter Pulses, page 5. Brief updates on JACL chapter activities including French Camp’s annual bazaar, Salinas Valley’s scholarship award winners, a San Pedro marina cruise event, and a Cleveland theater outing. Various chapters are organizing fundraisers and social events.
- Kuramoto to Be Feted for Volunteerism, page 6. George Kuramoto was named ‘Volunteer of the Month’ by the Denver Community Volunteer Awards committee for 32 years of service as a judo instructor and community leader. The award ceremony will precede the Tri-State Buddhist Temple’s annual O-Bon festival, with grant money distributed to local organizations per Kuramoto’s wishes.
- JACL Staffer Honored by Local Government, page 6. JACL Midwest Office Assistant Alice Esaki was named one of 12 recipients of the 1985 Superior Public Service Award for her work as a guidance clerk serving limited English speaking students. She was honored at a luncheon at the Palmer House in Chicago.
Arts & Entertainment
- Liu Murder Subject of KQED Special, page 1. KQED will broadcast an investigative report on the 1984 murder of Chinese American journalist Henry Liu, a critic of the Taiwan government. The report covers new developments linking the murder to the head of Taiwan’s military intelligence agency.
In-Depth
- ‘Japanese American Experience’ Opens in East Coast Showing, page 3. Rep. Norman Mineta attended the opening of the ‘Japanese American Experience’ exhibit at the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies in Philadelphia, which chronicles Japanese American history from immigration through internment and resettlement. The exhibit includes works by artists Henry Sugimoto, Mine Okubo, Ben Kamihira, and Roger Shimomura alongside traveling exhibits on the 442nd and Manzanar.
Commentary
- The Yarmulke, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Bill Marutani reflects on attending a Jewish funeral for Ethel Sporkin and compares funeral customs across religions, recalling his own experience learning the etiquette of wearing a yarmulke. He muses on faith and the idea that different religious paths lead to the same place.
- Sheroes of Herstory, by Carole Hayashino and Lia Shigemura, page 4. Responding to Bob Shimabukuro’s articles on heroes, the authors examine the gendered origins and use of the word ‘hero’ and argue for more inclusive language like ‘sheroes’ and ‘herstory’. They contend that language shapes identity and that new terms can better reflect women’s experiences.
- Search for Acceptance, by Bill Fukuba, page 4. A letter writer responds to Bill Hosokawa’s column questioning whether emphasis on ethnic culture hinders Japanese American assimilation, rejecting a return to pre-WW2 assimilationist teachings. The writer argues that full acceptance of minorities is a shared societal responsibility requiring patience and education.
- Directorship of LEC, by John Tateishi, page 4. John Tateishi clarifies that he was not overlooked for the LEC executive director position, but rather declined due to family hardship involved in relocating to Washington, D.C. He expresses full confidence in Min Yasui and the LEC’s leadership of the redress campaign.
- U.S.-Japan Relations: What’s the Plan?, by Henry S. Sakai, page 5. A former JACL national treasurer raises concerns about the lack of clear direction in JACL’s U.S.-Japan relations program, questioning trips funded by Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party and the absence of a concrete proposal since 1981. He argues JACL should decide whether to fully engage with Japanese funding or lower the program’s priority to cultural exchange.
- We’re Not Kidding Around, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa recalls his father’s gift for humorous storytelling and laments that Nisei generally lack this trait, appearing overly serious in the Japanese American press. He argues that despite pressing issues like redress and racism, there should be room for laughter and joy in life.
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