Immigration reform, redress and JACL’s meeting with Prime Minister Nakasone

Vol. 97, No. 24, December 9, 1983. 12 pages. View this issue

Immigration reform and redress led the front page. House Speaker Thomas O’Neill said he would allow a vote on an immigration bill after the January recess, while disputes over employer sanctions and amnesty cutoff dates remained. Karen Seriguchi reported that presidential candidate Walter Mondale pledged support for monetary redress at a Beverly Hills gathering. The cover photo and Floyd Shimomura’s President’s Corner described JACL’s visit with Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone in Tokyo, where they discussed U.S.-Japan relations and redress.

Elsewhere in the 12 pages, Bill Marutani wrote about a trip to Hiroshima, Harry Honda traced the history of the Inagaki Prize, and Misao K. Sakamoto continued her account of visiting Nikkei families in Lima, Peru. Readers will also find a report on a new JACL committee reviewing California textbooks, a profile of Rose Honda, who was incarcerated at Manzanar as a child, and a call for a stone lantern for a Salinas Assembly Center monument to be dedicated on February 19, 1984.

What’s in this issue

National

• House May Pass Immigration Bill Soon, by P.C. Staff, page 1. House Speaker Thomas O’Neill says he will allow a vote on immigration reform legislation in 1984 after the House recess. The bill faces disputes over employer sanctions and amnesty cutoff dates, with Hispanic caucus members split on strategy.
• Mondale Endorses Monetary Redress, by Karen Seriguchi, page 1. Presidential candidate Walter Mondale pledged support for monetary compensation for Japanese Americans interned during WWII at a Beverly Hills gathering of Asian and Pacific Americans. He praised Rep. Norman Mineta’s role in guiding the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians to its conclusions.
• Rights Commission Safe From Tampering, by P.C. Staff, page 1. President Reagan signed a compromise measure expanding the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to eight members, protecting it from political tampering just before it was set to expire. Latinos and other minorities fear employer sanctions in immigration bills could lead to discrimination against foreign-looking job applicants.
• Judge Grants 1,056 Motorcyclists Right to Race, by P.C. Staff, page 1. U.S. District Court Judge A. Wallace Tashima allowed a controversial Barstow-to-Las Vegas desert motorcycle race to proceed despite environmental group objections. About 200 riders took a wrong turn during the race, and the extent of environmental damage has not yet been determined.
• Only 3% of New Yorkers Know the Name of Japanese Prime Minister, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A poll of 100 Manhattan residents found only 3% could correctly name Yasuhiro Nakasone as Japan’s prime minister, with 91% having no idea. Most respondents described U.S.-Japan friction as an economic issue related to products like automobiles and televisions.
• Nikkei Heavy Drinkers, California Study Says, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Research presented at a California alcoholism conference found that a significant percentage of Japanese Americans are heavy drinkers compared to other Asian groups and whites. Foreign-born Asian males showed much higher rates of heavy drinking than U.S.-born males.
• Bill Would Give Hawaii Milk Control Exemption, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Senate passed legislation that would exempt Hawaii and other noncontiguous U.S. territories from federal milk price support programs for six months. Sen. Spark Matsunaga said the exemption represents a compromise, though the bill faces a possible presidential veto.
• Matsunaga Bill to Hike Informal Import Entry Approved by Committee, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Senate Finance Committee accepted Sen. Spark Matsunaga’s amendment raising the informal entry limitation for imported goods from $250 to $1,000. Matsunaga noted that inflation since 1953 had eroded the value of the original limit, burdening small businesses with excess paperwork.
• Peacetime Deficit Hurting Economy, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Sen. Spark Matsunaga disputed Treasury Secretary Donald Regan’s claim that no link exists between high interest rates and federal deficits. Matsunaga called for balanced policy on import protections that promotes productivity rather than simple trade barriers.
• Inconspicuous Consumption Preferred, by P.C. Staff, page 9. A survey of 20,000 Japanese found that most people strive to conform to their neighbors in dress, work, diet, and lifestyle rather than stand out. Researcher Mariko Kuno Fujiwara said this ‘hitonami’ concept of keeping up with others remains strong in Japanese society despite modernization.
• Foreign Teachers in Public Schools Urged, by P.C. Staff, page 10. A committee of Japanese lawyers and legal scholars urged Japan’s Education Ministry not to exclude foreign teachers from public schools under new guidelines. The group noted Japanese law allows teacher certificates to be issued regardless of nationality.
• World’s Biggest Rice Farm Being Formed, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Japan and Paraguay are converting hundreds of thousands of acres of marshland into what is described as the world’s largest rice paddy. Japanese technicians and farmers are expected to emigrate to help construct a dam and establish a modernized farming system.
• Japanese Farm in Baja Calif. Desert, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Japanese sand dune researchers from Tottori University successfully cultivated vegetables in the desert near Guerrero Negro, Baja California, using a specially constructed wall system and irrigation. The experiment demonstrated techniques for farming in arid desert conditions.
• C-Study Funded, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The Japan-Hawaii Cancer Study at Kuakini Medical Center received a five-year multi-million dollar grant, with Dr. Abraham Nomura directing the program. The brief item notes the funding source and project leadership.
• Part-Time Women Workers Keep Japan Economy Strong, Growing, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Millions of Japanese women work as part-time employees who are called upon only when demand rises, helping companies fine-tune labor costs and flexibility. Experts say this system holds down wages and may be part of Japan’s international economic strategy, with some union officials believing it undermines union power.

Obituaries

• Postwar Rafu Shimpo Publisher Akira Komai Succumbs at 75, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Akira Komai, publisher of The Rafu Shimpo newspaper since 1950, died at UCLA Medical Center following complications from a stroke. He took over the publication after his father’s death and played a key role in computerizing the paper’s operations and coordinating Nisei and Sansei athletic leagues.

Community

• Pioneers in Kamaboko Business Believe in Personal Touch, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Tatsuo Goto, president of Red and White fish cake company in Honolulu, still prefers making kamaboko by hand despite having modern equipment, believing it produces better texture. The article profiles several Hawaii kamaboko manufacturers who have shifted from fresh fish to frozen cod due to mercury contamination concerns.
• Mink Says She Isn’t Seeking New Office, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Honolulu City Councilwoman Patsy Mink denied rumors that a recent fundraiser signaled plans to run for mayor against Eileen Anderson next year. Mink stated she intends to serve out her four-year council term.
• Chinese American Woman Installed as Mayor of So. California City, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Lily Lee Chen was sworn in as the first Chinese American woman mayor of Monterey Park by Judge Robert Takasugi. Chen, born in Tianjin, China, overcame early electoral setbacks before winning a city council seat with a record vote total in a city evenly split among Asian, Latino, and white residents.
• Census to Provide Neighborhood Stats, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The U.S. Census Bureau announced a new Neighborhood Statistics program that will provide 1980 census data to eight Los Angeles County communities with notable Asian/Pacific American populations. Officials say the data will help plan locations for schools, senior centers, and businesses.
• No. Calif. Advocacy Group Celebrates 10 Years of Battles Fought for Civil Rights, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian Americans for Community Involvement marked its tenth anniversary at a banquet honoring founder Allan Seid and Rep. Norman Mineta. The organization has grown from a dozen individuals to over 300 active members advocating for Asian and Pacific American rights and services.
• Another Little Tokyo Structure Due, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A new four-story commercial development called Little Tokyo Plaza is set to begin construction on E. 2nd St. in Los Angeles, with former tenants given priority for relocation. The project, developed by a limited partnership, is expected to be completed in late 1984.
• Idaho Roof Gabled With Dedication, by Paul Okamura, page 6. The Pocatello-Blackfoot JACL Memorial Building underwent a costly roof replacement after its original flat roof caused repeated problems, with members raising funds for a new gabled roof. The hall serves as a center for Japanese American community activities in the area.
• South Bay Jrs. to Hold Pizza Night, by P.C. Staff, page 6. South Bay youth group is hosting a pizza night fundraiser in Torrance, open to friends, relatives, and neighbors. The group previously learned about Richstone Center for Abused Children and attended a Cal State Dominguez Hills basketball game.
• Appointed Head of Manhattan JACC, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Fumi Matsuki Raith was appointed program supervisor of the Japanese American Counseling Center by Hamilton-Madison House. Raith, originally from Hokkaido, Japan, completed social work studies at NYU and is active in Japanese American community services for the elderly.
• L.A. Port Office in Tokyo Marks 25th Yr., by P.C. Staff, page 8. Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley hosted a reception in Tokyo marking the 25th anniversary of the Port of Los Angeles office there. Bradley also attended the 17th U.S.-Japan mayors conference in Hiroshima focused on improving urban environments.

In-Depth

• Morikami Museum Curator Reviews Difficult Years of Its Issei Founder, by Hiro Hayataka, page 3. George Morikami emigrated to Florida as part of the Yamato Colony settlement in 1906 and remained after the colony’s pineapple crop was devastated by blight in 1908. He became wealthy through farming and eventually donated land that became the Morikami Museum of Japanese Culture, which now draws tens of thousands of visitors annually.
• State of Arkansas Witnesses Another Generation of Japanese, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Sanyo’s takeover of a failing Whirlpool plant in Forrest City, Arkansas, revitalized the local economy and created positive labor relations between Japanese management and American workers, including many Black employees. The company’s management philosophy, which de-emphasizes hierarchy, has been credited with turning around production quality and morale.
• Teacher’s Teacher Passes on Lessons of Love to Children, by Haru Nakata, page 8. Rose Honda, director of the John Adams Child Development Center in Santa Monica, is profiled as a dedicated early childhood educator whose family was interned at Manzanar during WWII. After the war, Honda pursued child development studies at several institutions before leading the center for 23 years.
• New JACL Committee to Study California Textbooks, by P.C. Staff, page 9. A JACL committee is working on reviewing educational materials for accuracy regarding Japanese American history as part of California’s textbook adoption process. The article explains the state screening process through the Curriculum Development Commission and State Board of Education, and lists committee members to contact.
• Japanese TV Shows Short Life of Issei Artist, by P.C. Staff, page 10. A Japanese television drama depicted the life of photographer Frank Sakae Matsura, who emigrated to the U.S. in 1901 and opened a studio in Washington State’s Okanogan Valley. His photographs, documenting pioneer and Native American life, were later compiled into a book by JoAnn Roe.
• Tsukemono Tale, Part 2, by P.C. Staff, page 10. A nostalgic personal essay recounts the author’s father’s years as a struggling student in Tokyo in the 1890s, including a humorous anecdote about secretly pickling vegetables in his landlady’s tsukemono tub. The landlady eventually discovered his scheme but kindly allowed it to continue before teaching him to make his own pickles.
• Unique Adventures in Lima Peru (2): Family Visits and Personal Contacts, by Misao K. Sakamoto, page 12. The author recounts visiting Japanese Peruvian families in Lima during a Nikkei conference, describing warm hospitality, cultural blending of Japanese and Peruvian traditions, and discovering unexpected connections through shared ancestral hometowns in Japan. The piece highlights the emotional bonds formed through the ‘tokoro no mono’ (same hometown) connection among Nikkei across different countries.

Commentary

• East Wind: Kogyan Suke, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Columnist Bill Marutani recounts observations from a visit to Hiroshima, Japan, including traffic patterns, taxi customs, and local dialect reminiscent of his boyhood. He reflects on changes in the city and humorous cultural differences encountered during his trip.
• Mediation for the Sake of Peace, by Yasumasa Kuroda, page 4. The Honolulu JACL co-sponsored a program on mediation featuring awards to Sen. Spark Matsunaga and two diplomats involved in negotiating the release of American hostages in Iran. A panel discussed Japanese versus American approaches to conflict resolution and the role of lawyers in each society.
• ‘The Day After’ Pale by Comparison, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The author compares the ABC television movie about nuclear war to the real history and lingering trauma witnessed at the Hiroshima atomic bomb museum, arguing the fictional drama falls short of historical reality. The piece calls for a summit meeting between world leaders at the Hiroshima museum to confront the consequences of nuclear war.
• A Pierce to the Heart, page 7. A letter writer reflects on the death of a Sansei soldier during the invasion of Grenada, recalling a WWII comrade from the 442nd and drawing parallels between historical and contemporary military actions. The writer questions the pain and paradox of continued military sacrifice by Japanese Americans.
• We Earned the Right, by E.H. Taniguchi, page 7. A Sansei letter writer objects to a previous editorial’s framing of a soldier’s death in Grenada as proof of Japanese American loyalty. The writer argues Japanese Americans have already earned the right to dissent and need not prove patriotism through military sacrifice.
• CQ: R.S. Hashima, by Pete T. Suzuki, Ph.D, page 7. A professor seeks information on the whereabouts of Robert Seido Hashima, formerly of Manzanar, who worked with Ruth Benedict at the Office of War Information. The letter requests help locating this individual for research purposes.
• Pots and Pans, by Mary Tani, page 7. A brief letter criticizes those who accuse writers and businesses in Japan of limited understanding of Japanese Americans, suggesting hypocrisy. The writer keeps her point concise due to space limitations.

JACL

• President’s Corner: Meeting with Prime Minister Nakasone, by Floyd Shimomura, page 4. JACL National President Floyd Shimomura describes a private meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone in Tokyo, during which they discussed U.S.-Japan relations, redress, and American political views. Nakasone asked detailed questions about Japanese American perspectives on President Reagan and the redress campaign.
• The Inagaki Prize, by Harry Honda, page 5. PC Focus columnist Harry Honda traces the history of the JACL-George J. Inagaki Chapter of the Biennium Citizenship Awards since 1970, detailing past winning chapters’ community activities. The piece notes proposed changes to prize distribution and highlights Las Vegas JACL’s ambitions to win the award.
• By the Board: U.S.-Japan Relations, by Mills Himeno, page 5. The Pacific Southwest District Council held its annual meeting in Las Vegas, featuring a keynote address by Japanese Consul General Yoshifumi Matsuda on U.S.-Japan trade friction. Matsuda emphasized the role Japanese Americans can play as a communications link between the two countries.
• Okura Recovering, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Longtime JACLer Lily Okura is recovering well after a 10-day hospitalization following major surgery, according to her husband Pat Okura. The brief item informed readers of her condition.

Military & Veterans

• JACL Runner to Carry Olympic Relay Torch, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Yoshitaka Sakazaki will carry the Olympic torch for one kilometer under sponsorship of Ventura County JACL, benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Camarillo. The relay involves thousands of runners covering 19,000 kilometers across the U.S. before the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Incarceration & Redress

• CCDC Counteracting Pilipino Anti-Redress Resolution, by P.C. Staff, page 7. JACL’s Central California District Convention addressed an anti-redress resolution from a Filipino American veterans group by reaching out to Asian Pacific American Advocates of California. Leaders agreed to encourage Filipino American community members to write in support of redress rather than seek a retraction from the resolution’s authors.
• Stone Lantern Sought, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Salinas Assembly Center Kinenhi monument committee is seeking a donated stone lantern for a Japanese garden commemorating wartime detention of Monterey Bay-area residents. The dedication ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 19, 1984, and organizers prefer an already-weathered Yukimi Doro lantern.

Arts & Entertainment

• Anthology’s Price to Go Up First of Year, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Young Pine Press announced the price of its anthology ‘Shadows Into Light: Art and Culture of the Northwest’s Early Asian/Pacific Community’ will increase after Jan. 1. The book features historic photographs documenting early Asian Pacific communities in the region.

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