Redress, Day of Remembrance and the ‘Sanga Moyu’ controversy

Vol. 98, No. 8, March 2, 1984. 12 pages. View this issue

Redress ran through this issue of March 2, 1984. California Democrats voted unanimously on Feb. 5 to support compensation for Japanese Americans interned during WW2, and Day of Remembrance events marked the 42nd anniversary of Executive Order 9066. About 350 people gathered in Los Angeles, and a memorial garden and plaque was dedicated in Salinas on Feb. 19. Former Washington state employees who received reparations for wrongful dismissal shared their awards, and William Hohri wrote a point-by-point rebuttal of a journalist’s challenge to the commission’s report. A related thread followed the Japanese series ‘Sanga Moyu,’ with its U.S. airing postponed and columns by William Wetherall and Barry Saiki on the novel behind it.

Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa questioned the pricey ads in the paper, Joy Kogawa wrote about the Japanese Canadian community, and Harry Honda looked back at early Little Tokyo. Plans for the 1984 national JACL convention in Honolulu were announced on page 7.

What’s in this issue

National

• California Democrats Support Redress at Feb. 5 Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Delegates to the California Democratic Party’s platform convention unanimously approved a platform supporting compensation to Japanese Americans interned during WW2. Assemblywoman Maxine Waters presented the equality of opportunity plank, and Asian/Pacific Democratic Caucus chair Tom Hsieh said the caucus’s influence was evident throughout the platform, especially on redress and bilingual education.
• NHK ‘Sanga Moyu’ Drama Becomes ‘Soapy’, by P.C. Staff, page 11. NHK’s ‘Sanga Moyu’ drama series has seen declining viewer interest in Japan after its January 8 premiere, going largely unnoticed for four weeks before picking up a soap-opera-style storyline involving marriage and family conflict. The article summarizes the plot of the sixth episode aired Feb. 12.
• Kazuyoshi Miura Case Attracts Japan’s Media to Little Tokyo, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Japanese authorities are investigating whether Kazuyoshi Miura played a role in the 1981 shooting death of his wife Kazumi in Los Angeles, after a tabloid alleged he took out a large insurance policy on her life before their honeymoon. LAPD officials say they have no evidence contradicting Miura’s status as a victim, despite intense Japanese media interest including a disappeared former lover’s case.
• Tokyo Police Aid Sought by LAPD Asian Task Force in Slaying of Tourist, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The LAPD’s Asian Task Force requested Japanese police assistance in solving the strangulation death of Tokyo businessman Hiroshi Eto, found in his Wilshire Blvd. hotel room. Japanese press identified Eto as co-owner of a Tokyo nightclub, and police sought to question his business partner.

Arts & Entertainment

• ‘Sanga Moyu’ in U.S. Postponed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. United Television Broadcasting System postponed indefinitely the U.S. airing of NHK’s dramatic series ‘Sanga Moyu,’ based on Toyoko Yamasaki’s novel, after objections from Japanese Americans and concerns raised by JACL leaders. National JACL president Floyd Shimomura had warned that the series could create misimpressions about Japanese American loyalty amid the ongoing redress campaign.

Incarceration & Redress

• Prewar UW Nisei Employees Given Reparations Share Awards, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Former Nisei employees of Washington state who received $2,500 in reparations for wrongful WW2-era dismissal have donated generously, including two former University of Washington employees who gave their entire awards to create the Henry S. Tatsumi Scholarship Fund. Professor Nobutaka Ike and his wife Tai Inui Ike donated their combined $10,000 award to the university in a gesture praised by UW president William Gerberding.
• Salinas Shows Plaque, Kinenhi Remembrance, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A memorial garden and plaque honoring the 3,600 Japanese Americans interned at the historic Salinas Rodeo Grounds was dedicated Feb. 19, unveiled by project coordinator Violet de Cristoforo. Speakers including Judge William Marutani and JACL redress chair Min Yasui emphasized the need to remember the wrongs of internment and remain vigilant against future injustice.
• Los Angeles Remembers Day of Remembrance, by P.C. Staff, page 1. About 350 people gathered at Los Angeles’s Higashi Honganji Plaza for a Day of Remembrance program commemorating the 42nd anniversary of Executive Order 9066. NCRR’s Bert Nakano gave the keynote address calling for coalition-building with other minorities and political engagement, while Mayor Tom Bradley issued a city proclamation marking the day.
• Just Cause (continued), by Joy Kogawa, page 8. This continuation of Kogawa’s address details the lack of adequate nursing homes for aging Issei across Canada and the bureaucratic failures that have left this vulnerable population without proper care. She calls for the Japanese Canadian community to set aside internal divisions and attend to the suffering of the Issei as a moral priority.
• Kinenhi: Civic Dignitaries Honor Salinas Dedication, by P.C. Staff, page 8. State Sen. Henry Mello presented a state legislative resolution at the Salinas Kinenhi dedication, resolving that the violation of constitutional rights during internment never be repeated. Similar resolutions came from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and Issei who had been held at the Salinas detention center sang ‘God Bless America’ in romaji.
• Generous Nisei: Reparations Donations Continue, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Twelve former Washington state employees who received reparations for wrongful WW2 dismissal have donated portions of their awards to redress organizations including the Washington Coalition on Redress and Seattle JACL Redress Committee. Of 40 potential claimants, 28 have received their first payment while others remain in process or unaccounted for.

Community

• Lions Club Fetes Susuki, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Takeo Susuki was honored as ‘Man of the Year’ by the West Los Angeles Lions Club for 34 years of community service as a UCLA museum scientist and geology lecturer. A WWII 442nd veteran, Susuki overcame postwar discrimination to build a long career at UCLA and remains active in numerous community organizations.
• Dave Nakagawa Heads Church Group, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dave Y. Nakagawa was selected moderator of the Japanese Presbyterian Conference at its 78th annual assembly in Garden Grove. The Pasadena JACLer retired in 1980 after 33 years in youth work and serves as an elder of Altadena First Presbyterian Church.
• Sugihara Heads Parade Committee, by P.C. Staff, page 2. June Sugihara was named chair of the 1984 Cherry Blossom Festival Parade Committee in San Francisco for the second consecutive year. The festival will run April 20-22 and 27-29, with the grand parade on April 29, and groups wishing to participate must submit applications by March 26.
• Fund-Raiser Planned for Community Center, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A fire of suspicious origin destroyed equipment belonging to Asian Services Outreach and the United Cannery Workers Service Center in Sacramento shortly after Christmas. Supporters organized a fund-raising party for March 3 featuring live music, dancing, and speakers including Assemblyman Phil Isenberg.
• Nikkei Animal Nutritionist Presented with Agricultural Achievement Award, by P.C. Staff, page 3. John K. Matsushima, who pioneered hot flaked grain feed for cattle in the 1960s, was awarded the Jerry Litton Memorial Award for agricultural achievement. He taught and researched at Colorado State University and the University of Nebraska for 35 years and also worked to encourage Japanese import of American beef.
• Hi-Tech Seminar to Explore Cooperation, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JETRO and the Conference Board will hold a seminar titled ‘Japan and U.S.—Cooperating in High Tech’ March 13-14 at San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel. Key industry leaders including David Packard and Akio Morita will discuss cooperative methods in advanced technology and research and development.
• Issei Names Sought in Orange County, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Special Issei Pioneer Selection Committee of the Japanese American Council is seeking information on Issei pioneers who settled in Orange County before 1930 for a Special Issei Tribute Dinner on March 31. The council has been collecting historical photographs and oral histories of pioneer Issei.
• Crab Feed to Benefit Issei Housing Project, by P.C. Staff, page 3. An all-you-can-eat crab feed will be held March 11 at the El Cerrito Community Center to benefit East Bay Issei Housing Inc. Proceeds will help complete a 100-unit studio and one-bedroom apartment housing project in Hayward, with about $40,000 still needed.
• New State Prison Won’t Be in Li’l Tokyo, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The California Dept. of Corrections selected a 500-acre site north of Lancaster in Antelope Valley to build a men’s prison, rather than a previously considered site near Little Tokyo on Vignes St. The decision came as a surprise move on Feb. 16.
• ‘Still a Lot to Do,’ State Senator Tells Seattle JACL at Installation, by P.C. Staff, page 6. State Sen. George Fleming was keynote speaker at Seattle JACL’s 62nd annual installation and awards banquet, warning that civil rights progress remains incomplete despite gains like compensation for state employees. Fourteen awards were presented, including to Cherry Kinoshita for the Dr. Minoru Masuda Community Service Award.

In-Depth

• Little Tokyo Life (No. 7): A Backward Glance, by Harry Honda, page 3. Harry Honda reviews historical photo books depicting early Little Tokyo and Los Angeles scenes from 1901-1915, including images of the Santa Fe Station used by internees in 1942. He also shares recollections from Issei readers Shisei Tsuneishi and Jin Konomi about early 1900s Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Commentary

• Japan’s Double Standards, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Bill Marutani reflects on perceived double standards in how Japanese people judge Japanese Americans’ cultural fluency compared to white Americans making similar mistakes in Japan. He describes personal experiences of being treated as ‘stupid’ for asking innocent questions in Japan despite trying to adapt to local customs.
• Redress Phase Five: New England and Eastern Seaboard, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This analysis examines the political landscape for redress legislation among New England and East Coast senators and representatives, noting supportive figures like Sen. Paul Tsongas and Sen. Edward Kennedy. It identifies key races and senators whose support or opposition could affect passage of redress bills S 2116 and related legislation.
• Is There a Just Cause?, by Joy Kogawa, page 4. Joy Kogawa reflects on the broken, divided state of the Japanese Canadian community and the moral complexity of seeking a ‘just cause’ amid uncertainty and vulnerability. She calls for compassion toward aging Issei who lack adequate nursing care and urges unity despite internal community conflicts over redress strategy.
• Putting Out Some Fires, Lighting Others, by Ozzie Imai, page 5. National JACL’s Ethnic Concerns Committee chair Ozzie Imai describes the committee’s mission to address civil rights issues affecting Nikkei, including complaints about use of the term ‘Jap’ in media and textbooks. The piece also discusses a dating advice column involving interethnic relationships and committee efforts to get Asian Americans onto state textbook review boards.
• Check Those Ads in PC, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa examines the high-end advertisements appearing in the Pacific Citizen, from expensive vacation tours to multimillion-dollar properties, questioning whether advertisers may be confusing Japanese Americans with wealthy Japanese nationals. He notes that most PC readers are middle-class and more concerned with everyday costs than big investments.
• Rebuttal to Kiyoaki Murata, by William Hohri, page 6. William Hohri systematically rebuts claims made by journalist Kiyoaki Murata in an Asahi Shimbun article that questioned the validity of the CWRIC report on Japanese American internment. Hohri addresses sixteen specific points, countering Murata’s assertions about military necessity, camp conditions, and the voluntary nature of relocation.
• Closing the ‘Gender Gap’ in Politics, by Irene Hirano, page 6. Irene Hirano discusses the growing involvement of women in national politics in 1984 and the historically low participation of Asian American women in mainstream women’s organizations like NOW. She highlights several Asian American women now in leadership roles within these organizations and lists contact information for groups JACL members can engage with.
• Letters: Documentary Novel Rebuttal, by William Wetherall, page 7. William Wetherall responds to a reader’s criticism defending his earlier critique of Toyoko Yamasaki’s novel ‘Futatsu no Sokoku,’ citing the author’s own statements that the work blends documentary background with fictional characters. He argues the novel is more concerned with raising questions about Japanese patriotism for a Japanese audience than accurately representing Japanese American experience.
• Letters: A ‘True’ Happening, by Lou Tomita, page 7. Lou Tomita recounts a touching incident from the 1982 JACL Convention in Gardena when Mrs. True Yasui offered her boxed lunch to him and his wife after a lunch shortage left them without food. He reflects on the gesture as emblematic of the supportive role Nisei women have played in the JACL organization.
• Nisei in Japan: Thoughts on Dual Loyalties, by Barry Saiki, page 9. Barry Saiki examines the controversy over the title of Toyoko Yamasaki’s novel ‘Futatsu no Sokoku’ (Two Fatherlands) and explores the complexity of loyalty for individuals with ties to two countries, such as Nisei, Kibei, and draft resisters. He argues that dual-cultural individuals can serve as valuable bridges between nations rather than being simply disloyal.
• Ofukuro no Aji, by Jin Konomi, page 9. Jin Konomi muses on why Japanese travelers abroad tend to seek out Japanese restaurants rather than sampling local cuisine, contrasting this with foreign visitors to Japan who eagerly try Japanese food. He references the term ‘yokomeshi’ and ‘ofukuro no aji’ to explain the deep attachment to home cooking and promises further discussion of this cultural puzzle in a future column.

JACL

• 1984 Convention Package, Tour Details Announced, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Brochures and registration forms for the 28th Biennial National JACL Convention, Aug. 12-17 in Honolulu, are being distributed, with the Pacific Beach Hotel as convention headquarters. The article details hotel packages, airfares, convention program events including the Aloha banquet, sunset luau, and Sayonara ball, and registration deadlines.
• Tatsumi Chosen for D.C. Presidential Classroom, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Masako Tatsumi has been chosen to represent the San Jose JACL Chapter in the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans program in Washington, D.C., March 10-17. The program brings together over 3,000 senior high school leaders from all 50 states.
• Carleton JACL Scholars, by David Nakayama, page 9. Youth Director David Nakayama highlights Carleton College’s top ranking among national liberal arts colleges and the JACL’s partnership program recruiting students there. Chapters are encouraged to nominate entering freshmen for grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study opportunities at the Minnesota college.

Sports

• Softball Team No. 1, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The San Diego Chapter men’s softball team took first place in the city’s softball league on Jan. 25. The team’s nickname referenced in the headline is ‘Who are those guys?’
• Japan Bags Silver at Sarajevo, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Yoshihiro Kitazawa won Japan’s only medal, a silver, in the men’s 500-meter speed skating at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics, finishing second behind Soviet skater Sergei Fokichev. He became the sixth Japanese athlete ever to win a winter Olympics medal, beating favorite teammate Akira Kuroiwa.

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