Coram nobis petitions and redress news, January 1983

Vol. 96, No. 3, January 28, 1983. 8 pages. View this issue

Fred Korematsu, Min Yasui and Gordon Hirabayashi announced plans to seek reversals of their World War II Supreme Court cases, and the front page reported their coram nobis petitions. The petitions charge that the government suppressed and destroyed evidence that could have prevented their convictions. Redress news filled the front page too: San Francisco passed an ordinance providing reparations to former city employees, and a Washington state bill sought $5,000 for dismissed state workers. Dr. Peter Irons wrote on the ethics of government lawyers during the incarceration (often called internment), and Bill Marutani looked at Issei farmers and Tule Lake.

Elsewhere, President Reagan and Prime Minister Nakasone met on U.S.-Japan trade, and a Day of Remembrance candlelight march was planned for Feb. 19. A conference in Utah on relocation and redress included a visit to Topaz. Jane Kaihatsu reviewed a Chicago show, and JACL chapter news fills the later pages.

What’s in this issue

National

• U.S.-Japan Trade: No Easy Answers for This Highly Complex Issue, by P.C. Staff, page 1. President Reagan and Japan’s Prime Minister Nakasone met to discuss ongoing trade frictions, with Reagan pledging to fight protectionism and Nakasone promising further market-opening measures. Despite Japan’s new import measures, the article notes the persistent $20 billion trade surplus and conflicting views on who bears responsibility for the imbalance.
• Mansfield May Retire in March, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Mansfield, U.S. ambassador to Japan and former Senate Democratic leader, is expected to resign in mid-March after a six-year tour under two administrations. David Abshire, president of Georgetown University’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, is reportedly in line to succeed him.
• Juvenile Is Guilty of Torching Issei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A 13-year-old boy, Scott Morris, was found guilty of two felonies for setting fire to an 81-year-old Issei woman, Shina Shigemura, who suffered third-degree burns. A playmate testified that Morris asked if he wanted to throw a lit match on her before doing so.
• Hayakawa Does Quiet Fadeout, Leaves Puzzling Legacy Behind, by P.C. Staff, page 1. S.I. Hayakawa completed his six-year term as U.S. senator from California with few legislative accomplishments, remembered mostly for controversial statements and a weak staff. Former aides describe him as unable to transition from academia to politics, though he showed occasional sensitivity on issues like pardons for Iva Toguri and Patty Hearst.

Incarceration & Redress

• Nikkei of WW2 Supreme Court Cases Seek Reversal of Decisions, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Gordon Hirabayashi, Fred Korematsu and Min Yasui filed petitions for a Writ of Error Coram Nobis, charging that the U.S. government suppressed and destroyed evidence that could have prevented their wartime convictions. Attorneys allege the Justice Department and War Department knew of reports from Naval Intelligence, the FBI and FCC refuting claims of espionage and disloyalty among Japanese Americans.
• S.F. Bill Passes, by P.C. Staff, page 1. San Francisco’s board of supervisors unanimously passed an ordinance providing reparations to former city employees who lost wages due to World War II internment. The measure, introduced by Supervisor Quentin Kopp, provides up to $5,000 for 16 identified former employees.
• Washington State Employee Bill Urged, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Washington state Sen. George Fleming introduced a bill calling for $5,000 compensation to Japanese American former state employees dismissed due to World War II evacuation. The bill is supported by several community organizations including Seattle JACL and the Washington Coalition on Redress.
• JACL, NCRR Plan ‘Remembrance’ Day, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The JACL Pacific Southwest District and Southern California NCRR will hold a candlelight march on Feb. 19 as part of Day of Remembrance activities under the theme ‘United for Justice—Remember the Issei.’ Speakers will include Gardena Councilman Mas Fukai and Rep. Mervyn Dymally.
• ‘Relocation and Redress’ Confab Planned for Utah, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A three-day conference exploring relocation and internment of Japanese Americans will be held at the University of Utah March 10-12, gathering 42 scholars and organizational representatives. Discussions will cover topics including intermountain camps, economic losses, the redress movement, and will include a visit to the former Topaz Relocation Center.

Community

• Chol Soo Lee’s 2nd Charge Overturned, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A Korean immigrant’s second murder conviction was overturned by the Third District Court of Appeals, following his earlier acquittal on retrial of a first murder charge. His attorney called the development amazing, noting the rarity of winning both a retrial and an appeal.
• ILWU Leader Who Helped Nisei Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Louis Goldblatt, a longtime leader of the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union, died at age 72. He was noted for his outspoken opposition to the WWII internment of Japanese Americans and for organizing Hawaii’s sugar and pineapple workers in 1946.
• Asian Counseling Ctr. Opens in N.Y., by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Japanese American Counseling Center (JACC) in New York announced it is now operational with two newly hired bilingual staff members, offering counseling, outreach and referral services. The center is part of a larger Asian American Mental Health Demonstration Project funded by New York State.
• Urban Fellows Seeking Applicants, by P.C. Staff, page 3. National Urban Fellows, Inc. is seeking applicants, particularly minority group members, for 30 mid-career fellowships in urban administration carrying grants of $13,000 to $15,000. Fellows will complete a residential semester at Baruch College followed by nine-month mentorships with urban administrators.
• ESL Exams Offered by Cross Culture Ctr., by P.C. Staff, page 3. The U.S.-Japan Cross Culture Center will administer qualifying examinations for certifying ESL teachers for native Japanese speakers. Exams will be held three times this year for a $20 fee.
• Rental Referrals Offered by LTSC, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Little Tokyo Service Center launched a new Housing Information and Referral Exchange Service (HIRES) to match available rental units with people seeking housing. The service responds to current economic conditions and housing shortages.
• Oshogatsu Festival Set for Jan. 29, by P.C. Staff, page 3. San Francisco Japantown’s twelfth annual Oshogatsu Festival will be held at the Morning Star School and Buddhist Church. The New Year’s festival will feature traditional Asian foods, mochi-making, entertainment, arts and sumo wrestling.
• Former Seabrook Nikkei Plan Reunion, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Former residents of the Seabrook, N.J. farming community, which employed hundreds of Japanese Americans during WWII, are organizing a reunion for March 27 at the New Otani Hotel in Little Tokyo. Mas Yamanaka was named chairman with Fuju Sasaki serving as advisor for the event.
• Study Looks at Canadian Aging, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A national study directed by Professors K. Victor Ujimoto and Harry K. Nishio is examining how aging Issei and Nisei in Canada are spending their retirement years. The study will use questionnaires to explore how wartime evacuation and internment experiences influenced their post-retirement lives.
• Library Gets Grant, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Friends of the Little Tokyo Public Library System received a $500 grant from JACL’s Pacific Southwest District Council through the Hollywood JACL to purchase Japanese books for the LT Bookmobile. PSWDC Regional Director John Saito presented the check to library representatives.
• Heart Mountain Reunion Attendees, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Organizers of the April 1982 Heart Mountain Reunion are seeking attendees who were photographed but have not yet received their free photo album, as one roll of film was lost. Limited albums and souvenir booklets remain available for $4 each including postage.
• Ventura to Host PSWDC Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Ventura County JACL will host the PSWDC quarterly meeting on Feb. 20 at the Girl’s Club of Oxnard. Delegates were asked to send registration fees to the Ventura Chapter by Feb. 13.

Commentary

• Evacuation Impact on Law & the Courts, by Dr. Peter Irons, page 4. In testimony presented to the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, Dr. Peter Irons examines how government lawyers faced serious ethical failures during the internment program, including suppression of evidence and withholding of DeWitt’s Final Report from the Justice Department. Irons argues the internment was justified through demonstrably false claims and draws parallels to other historical instances of government legal misconduct during wartime.
• Letters: ‘Offensive Stupidity’, by Donald H. Estes, page 4. Donald H. Estes responds to James S. Oda’s observations about his earlier article on JACL activities in the 1930s, clarifying that his piece was written for the Journal of San Diego History and focused on Mr. Abe’s role in the area. He notes he did not intend to suggest Abe acted alone and cites supporting evidence from Assembly debates regarding Sam Yorty’s bill.
• Vantage Point: Making the Deserts Bloom, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Bill Marutani reflects on how retired Issei farmers, who successfully cultivated marginal lands, could have helped developing nations with food shortages through their agricultural expertise. He recalls witnessing abundant harvests at Tule Lake internment camp and suggests Nisei farmers with modern equipment might similarly aid countries like Tanzania.

JACL

• Lithographs on Sale for JACL’s Redress Campaign, by P.C. Staff, page 6. National JACL Headquarters announced a limited-edition lithograph titled ‘An American Nightmare’ by artist Roger Leyonmark will be offered to donors contributing $50 or more to the National Redress campaign. The artwork will be unveiled at a Day of Remembrance commemoration on Feb. 19.
• Japan Chapter Holds Fundraiser, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Japan JACL Chapter held its third consecutive annual buffet reception fundraiser in Tokyo, drawing over 300 members and friends with entertainment, raffles and prizes. Proceeds covered the chapter’s 1983 Redress assessments and donations to local charities.
• 1983 JACL Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 6. New officers were installed for several JACL chapters including Ft. Lupton, West Valley, and East L.A., with Hirato Uno, James Y. Sakamoto, and Douglas K. Masuda elected as chapter presidents respectively. The listing includes names of vice presidents, secretaries, treasurers and board members for each chapter.
• Credit Union to Hold Board Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 8. National JACL Credit Union Board Chairman Nobe Iwamoto announced the Annual Meeting will be held Feb. 19 at the Ramada Inn in Salt Lake City, including a business meeting to elect two board members. Despite economic conditions, the Credit Union had a successful year with nearly $280,000 credited to members’ accounts.
• Yasui to Speak at Pasadena Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 8. National JACL Redress Committee Chair Min Yasui will be the guest speaker at the Pasadena JACL’s Installation Dinner on Feb. 6 at the Velvet Turtle Restaurant in Los Angeles’ Chinatown. Reservation contacts were provided for interested attendees.

Arts & Entertainment

• ‘Fast Lane’ a Hit in Chicago, by Jane Kaihatsu, page 8. Over 400 people attended Chicago premiere performances of ‘Life in the Fast Lane—Requiem for a Sansei Poet’ starring Lane Kiyomi Nishikawa, sponsored by the Chicago Chapter JACL. The show’s dynamic poetry about Japanese American experiences, including racism and the evacuation, received enthusiastic responses from both Nikkei and non-Nikkei audiences, prompting consideration of a return engagement.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.