Congress passes redress funding, and a Bay Area earthquake

Vol. 109, No. 14, November 3, 1989. 8 pages. View this issue

Congress passed redress entitlement funding on the front page of this issue. The Senate approved by voice vote a conference report that clears the final congressional hurdle before the bill goes to President Bush, with payments to roughly 60,000 eligible Japanese Americans starting in fiscal year 1991. The paper also reported that some Latin American Japanese brought to the U.S. during the World War II incarceration (often called internment) may qualify, and an editorial, “Redress: One Year Away,” weighed whether the President would sign. The front page also covered the 1989 Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference for twelve young JACL members, and a House bill granting temporary refuge to Chinese and Central American refugees.

Elsewhere, Japan’s government and companies donated $7.2 million for earthquake relief, and an editorial reflected on the Loma Prieta earthquake and San Francisco’s Japantown. JACL testified on immigration reform, Bill Hosokawa described a road trip through rural Japan, and Patti Adachi reviewed the play F.O.B. The 1992 national convention site in Denver was announced.

What’s in this issue

JACL

  • 1989 Class of Washington D.C. Leadership Conference: Key Issues Facing Japanese Americans Discussed by JACLers with Government, Nikkei Leaders, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Twelve young JACL members from around the country participated in the 1989 Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference, meeting with Nikkei members of Congress including Sen. Inouye, Sen. Matsunaga, and Reps. Mineta, Matsui and Saiki. The program included panel discussions on legislative staff roles, civil rights, immigration, and anti-Asian violence, plus tours of the Smithsonian and Capitol.
  • Masamori Kojima Journalism Award for Asian Understanding Established, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Friends of the late Masamori Kojima established a journalism fellowship administered by the Asian American Journalists Association to fund reporters traveling to Asia to foster understanding. Kojima, a former executive assistant to L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley and journalist, died in December 1988; organizers hope to raise $100,000 for the endowment.
  • Site of ’92 Nat’l JACL Confab in Denver Picked, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The 1992 National JACL Convention, to be hosted by Mile-Hi JACL, will be held at the Sheraton’s Denver Tech Center, announced chairman Ed Imatani. Denver will also host the 1991 JACL National Singles Convention over Labor Day weekend.

National

  • Congress Passes Money Bill for Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Senate approved by voice vote a conference report including redress entitlement funding for Japanese Americans interned during WWII, the final congressional hurdle before the bill goes to President Bush. The entitlement program will pay roughly 60,000 eligible Japanese Americans beginning in fiscal year 1991, with payments totaling up to $1.25 billion over several years.
  • Temporary Refugee Bill Passes House, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House of Representatives passed a bill granting temporary refuge to an estimated 45,000 Chinese and 1,000,000 Central American refugees fearing persecution. The measure suspends deportation for three years for aliens from China, El Salvador and Nicaragua who register with the INS within nine months.
  • JACL Supports Various Reforms on New U.S. Immigration Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL testified in support of Rep. Howard Berman’s Legal Immigration Reform Act of 1989, citing its preservation of family unity and shortened naturalization waiting periods. JACL Washington Representative Paul Igasaki and National Director Bill Yoshino emphasized the organization’s historic commitment to fair immigration policy.

Incarceration & Redress

  • Certain Latin Americans May Qualify, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Department of Justice’s Office of Redress Administration announced that some Latin American Japanese who remained in the U.S. after internment may be eligible for redress if they obtained retroactive permanent resident status. About 2,300 Japanese Latin Americans were brought to the U.S. during WWII, with roughly 300 remaining afterward as illegal aliens until their status was resolved.
  • High School Diplomas Received 47 Years Late, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A group of Japanese American seniors from Los Angeles High School who were denied diplomas in 1942 due to WWII internment finally received them 47 years later. Shishino, one of the former students, initiated the effort by contacting school board member Warren Furutani to correct the injustice.
  • Redress Administration Details Eligibility for Latin American Japanese, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The article elaborates on ORA’s findings that Latin American Japanese internees may qualify for redress if their permanent resident status was granted retroactively, explaining the distinction between retroactive and non-retroactive legal status methods. Bratt noted that over 80 percent of those who remained in the U.S. were granted retroactive status and encouraged eligible individuals to submit Voluntary Information Forms.

Community

  • Connie Chung to Speak at 1990 AAJA Banquet in New York City Gala, by P.C. Staff, page 2. CBS correspondent Connie Chung will be the keynote speaker at the scholarship banquet of the 1990 Asian American Journalists Association convention in New York. The convention, themed ‘Challenges of the Nineties,’ will also include a job fair and panels.
  • Rep. Matsui to Host Seminar on Defense Contract Market, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Rep. Robert T. Matsui will host a seminar to inform local businesses about entering the Defense Department contract market. Rear Adm. James E. Miller, a 33-year Navy veteran, will speak on defense contracting.
  • Japan Government, Firms Donate $7.2 Million for Earthquake Relief, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Japanese government and numerous Japanese companies donated a total of $7.2 million to help victims of the Loma Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area. Contributors included Toyota, Sony, Sumitomo Bank, Mitsubishi Bank, and the cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama, reflecting close ties between Japan and the Bay Area’s Japanese community.
  • Cincinnati International Festival JACL Booth to Feature Lafcadio Hearn, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The JACL culture booth at the Cincinnati International Festival will feature Lafcadio Hearn, a journalist who became a Japanese citizen and introduced Japanese myths to the Western world. Hearn’s surviving grandchild and family visited Cincinnati last year to prepare for celebrating the 100th anniversary of his arrival in Japan.
  • Sac’to ‘Dragon Run’ for Mental Health Slated, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian Pacific Community Counseling announced the fourth annual ‘Dragon Run’ walkathon fundraiser set for March 31, 1990, in Sacramento. The event raises funds for the agency’s scholarship awards for Asians and Pacific Islanders.
  • Police Commissioner in Richmond a JACLer, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Shigeki J. Sugiyama, a Richmond police commissioner and past national JACL president, urged approval of Measure C, a drug tax proposal on the Nov. 7 ballot. The measure would fund increased police personnel and the Richmond Youth Project.
  • CCDC Convention Slates Jan Yanehiro as Dinner Speaker, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Central California JACL District Council’s 40th annual banquet will feature TV host Jan Yanehiro of San Francisco’s KPIX Evening Magazine as keynote speaker. The event includes dinner, installation of new chapter officers, and entertainment.
  • The Newsmakers, by P.C. Staff, page 6. This roundup column highlights achievements and activities of community members, including Fred Katsumi Kawahara’s fellowship honors, Alisa Tanaka’s volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, the LeCroix family’s farewell gathering in Cincinnati, and Betty Kozasa’s selection for a women’s leadership mission to Israel.
  • Milwaukee JACL Folk Fair Coming Up Nov. 17-19, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The annual Holiday Folk Fair in Milwaukee remains the Milwaukee JACL chapter’s major fundraiser, featuring sales, exhibit and food booths. Handicraft items for sale include ribbon fishes, bonsai, Chiyogami dolls, umbrellas and earrings.
  • San Diego Installation to Feature Speaker on New Friendship Garden, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The San Diego JACL’s installation of 1990 officers will feature Larry Marshall, president of the San Diego Friendship Garden Society, speaking about a new Japanese garden being built in Balboa Park. Past national JACL president Harry Kajihara will serve as installing officer and update attendees on the redress program.
  • CRA Project Manager to Address West LA JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Gloria Uchida, newly appointed manager of the CRA Little Tokyo Redevelopment Project, will speak at the West Los Angeles JACL Chapter and Auxiliary’s annual luncheon. The chapter also plans a clothing drive for the Asian Pacific Homeless Project and a Christmas dinner in December.

Sports

  • San Francisco Bay Area to Host ’90 JANBA Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The San Francisco Bay Area JANBA will host the 1990 Japanese American National Bowling Association Tournament at Japantown Bowl. A contingent of 30 bowlers from Kobe, Japan is expected to participate.

Military & Veterans

  • Fort Sam Houston AJA Vets Reunion in ’90 Set, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Fort Sam Houston, Texas AJA veterans are planning a second reunion in June 1990 at the Sundowner Casino Hotel in Reno to commemorate their 45th anniversary. Paul Kawasaki and Hide Nakamura will co-chair the event.

Commentary

  • Northern California’s Earthquake, by P.C. Staff, page 4. An editorial reflects on the Loma Prieta earthquake’s relatively low death toll but extensive property damage, noting parallels to the 1906 earthquake that pushed Issei to relocate to Los Angeles. The piece highlights that San Francisco’s Japantown was largely spared and notes damage to the JACL headquarters building and widespread relief contributions.
  • Redress: One Year Away, by P.C. Staff, page 4. An editorial celebrates Congress’s passage of the redress entitlement provision, noting both House and Senate approval represent the final congressional hurdle. The piece expresses cautious optimism that President Bush, despite lukewarm enthusiasm, will sign the bill into law.
  • Letters to the Editor, by Various, page 4. Multiple letters address topics including a correction about the writer’s academic record at Caltech, a clarification of Min Yasui’s views on draft resisters, a rebuke of Assemblyman Gil Ferguson for using the term ‘American Japs,’ and a note about the Japanese word for redress. Letters come from Holly Yasui, the 442nd Memorial Association, Christine Ann Nishihira, and others.
  • Japan’s Best and Worst Traffic Scenes, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa recounts a road trip through rural Japan from Tokyo to Yamagata and Sendai, contrasting the beautiful countryside and well-maintained highways with the extreme traffic congestion near Tokyo. He reflects on toll costs and compares the congestion to Los Angeles traffic problems.
  • One Talent Admission, by Jin Konomi, page 4. Jin Konomi describes a new ‘one talent admission’ policy at Waseda University and similar programs at Rikkyo University that admit students with exceptional talents outside academics, such as champion athletes and a kyogen actor. The piece explores the grueling ‘Examination Hell’ faced by Japanese students and how these alternative admission policies aim to counter rote test-taking culture.

In-Depth

  • America’s Enterprising Farmers, page 5. A press translation piece compares Japanese agricultural cooperatives, which handle nearly all aspects of farming for members, to the more entrepreneurial and market-driven American farming system. The author, a former trade representative, describes American farmers’ aggressive, profit-oriented approach and growing Japanese investment interest in California agriculture.

Arts & Entertainment

  • ‘F.O.B.’ Premiered by New Midwest Group, by Patti Adachi, page 5. Angel Island, a new Chicago Asian American theatre company, debuted with the Midwest premiere of David Henry Hwang’s play F.O.B., exploring tensions between American-born and newly immigrated Chinese Americans. The review praises the cast’s performances, particularly Russell Kuzuhara’s portrayal of Steve/Gwan Gung, and the play’s complex layered storytelling blending contemporary L.A. with mythical China.

Obituaries

  • Akira Kikukawa, Founder-Music Director of Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Akira Kikukawa, 57, an Osaka-born resident of Gardena and founder of the Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra of Los Angeles, died of a heart condition. He introduced Japanese instruments into orchestral works and had been on kidney dialysis for over a decade.
  • Thomas E. Crowley, 442nd RCT Captain, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Thomas E. Crowley, 71, an attorney and captain with the 442nd RCT in Europe, died at his home in Glenview, Illinois. He won the Bronze Star and Purple Heart and participated in four campaigns.
  • Susumu Yamashita, Former Mitsubishi Executive, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Susumu Yamashita, 84, who was held at the Topaz WRA Center during WWII, died of cardiac arrest in Mendham, New Jersey. He later became a director and corporate secretary at Mitsubishi Corp. and chief executive of Yusen Air & Sea Shipping Service.

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