Vol. 104, No. 3, January 23, 1987. 12 pages. View this issue
Redress and the wider fight against bigotry ran through the January 23, 1987 issue. Lynn Sakamoto reported on Grant Ujifusa’s call at a Selanoco Chapter dinner for renewed effort on redress bills in the 100th Congress, and a Central California district meeting heard him as well. A California bill against hate crimes and a Wall Street Journal report by Jan Wong on anti-Asian violence covered the same worry. Marshall Sumida and Mei Nakano compared Iran-Contra disinformation with the wartime claims behind the World War II incarceration (often called internment).
Other pages looked at who held office and who did not: Dennis Nishikawa’s board appointment, two candidates for a Los Angeles council seat, Warren Furutani’s school board run, and a Supreme Court list with no Asian Americans. William Hohri reviewed a book on Dillon Myer, Denice Kumagai talked about her role on Night Court, and Evelyn Nakano Glenn discussed her research on Japanese American women.
What’s in this issue
National
- LEC Chair Urges Concerted Effort on New Redress Bills, by Lynn Sakamoto, page 1. JACL-LEC strategist Grant Ujifusa spoke at the Selanoco Chapter installation dinner, calling for renewed Japanese American commitment to passage of redress legislation in the 100th Congress. He cited the twin obstacles of budget and trade deficits as major challenges, likening the fight for redress to the ethical commitment made by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
- JA Declines to Run for Office, Opts for Board Appointment, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. Mayor Tom Bradley nominated Dennis Nishikawa, an aide to former Councilman David Cunningham, to the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, marking the first Asian appointment to the board. Nishikawa had been considered a candidate for the 10th District council seat but chose the appointment instead, citing family considerations.
- State Bill Introduced to Fight Crimes Motivated by Bigotry, page 1. California Attorney General John Van de Kamp announced a State Assembly bill imposing stronger penalties for hate crimes, citing sharp increases in religiously and racially motivated violence. The bill would upgrade certain misdemeanors to felonies and empower officials to seek restraining orders against threatened hate crimes.
- Asians Seeking Representation on Rights Panel, page 1. The National Democratic Council of Asian and Pacific Americans urged President Reagan to appoint an Asian American to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, calling such representation long overdue. JACL national director Ron Wakabayashi and others, including William Marutani, were mentioned as possible candidates, though Marutani was skeptical of his chances.
- First-Time Congresswoman Finds Day One ‘Sobering’, page 2. Rep. Patricia Saiki (R-Hawaii), the first Republican to represent Hawaii in the House, described her first day in the 100th Congress as a sobering experience. She outlined her priorities including repealing tax provisions affecting government worker retirement benefits and addressing the trade deficit.
- Program to Commemorate Onizuka’s Accomplishments, page 3. The Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Committee planned a space lecture series, memorial service and luau on Feb. 7 to mark the first anniversary of Onizuka’s death in the Challenger explosion. Onizuka’s wife Lorna and fellow astronauts were set to appear at the event in Los Angeles.
- Civil Rights Commission Controversy Continues, page 3. The article details ongoing controversy surrounding the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, including criticism of chairman Clarence Pendleton and budget cuts imposed by Congress. It also explores various Asian American candidates considered for an appointment to the commission, including Ron Takaki and William Marutani, who expressed doubt about being selected.
- Furutani Now Official School Bd. Candidate, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 8. Warren Furutani formally filed as a candidate for the Los Angeles School Board’s 7th District seat, challenging incumbent John Greenwood. Furutani emphasized the lack of Asian American representation on the board and his ability to bring diverse groups together.
- Rhetoric, Resentment Can Be Deadly Combination for Asians, by Jan Wong, page 9. This Wall Street Journal report examines the rise in anti-Asian violence across the U.S., driven by economic rivalry with Asia and resentment toward immigrants, including deadly attacks in Boston and elsewhere. The article cites statistics showing dramatic increases in anti-Asian hate crimes and explores inflammatory rhetoric from business leaders that some say fuels the violence.
- Scholarship Awarded to Torrance Student, page 10. Douglas Yoshida, a graduating senior at West High School in Torrance, was named one of 22 seniors to receive a $500 scholarship from the American Society of Newspaper Editors Foundation.
- No Asian on Governor’s List of Supreme Court Nominees, page 12. California Gov. George Deukmejian’s list of candidates for three California Supreme Court vacancies did not include any Asian Americans, disappointing advocates who had pushed for the appointment of Court of Appeal Justice Harry Low. Outgoing Chief Justice Rose Bird and Secretary of State March Fong Eu both expressed disappointment at the omission.
Arts & Entertainment
- Nikkei Actress Gets Her Day in ‘Night Court’, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. Denice Kumagai discusses her recurring role as Quon Le on NBC’s ‘Night Court,’ a part she got after being spotted in a stage comedy. She also discusses her work with the improv group Cold Tofu, which she helped found to create comedy opportunities for Asian American performers.
- ‘Fool’s Dance’ Film on Aging Wins Golden Eagle Award, page 7. The film ‘Fool’s Dance,’ written by Karen Ishizuka and directed by Robert Nakamura, received the Golden Eagle Award at the Council on International Nontheatrical Events’ annual ceremony. The film, starring Mako as a Buddhist in a convalescent home, has also received a National Media Award and is airing on PBS.
Community
- Two Asians in Race for L.A. Council Seat, page 2. Paul Da Yung Moore and Leland Wong, two Asian American candidates, are competing in the special election for Los Angeles City Council’s newly created 1st District seat. Moore has proposed a self-imposed $50,000 campaign spending limit and criticized opponents’ outside endorsements.
- JA Serving as News Director of San Francisco TV Station, page 2. Dianne Fukami began serving as acting news director of KPIX-TV Eyewitness News in San Francisco, having risen through the ranks since joining the station in 1977. She serves on the board of the Bay Area chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association.
- ’86 Donations Help JACCC Toward Fund Drive Goal, page 6. Fifteen donors gave $10,000 or more each to the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center’s ‘Challenge Countdown!’ capital campaign in 1986, nearly clearing the mortgage on the facility. Major donors included George and Sakaye Aratani and various corporate and community contributors.
- Network Offers Free Legal Aid, page 6. The Labor Defense Network in Los Angeles provides free legal advice and representation to unemployed persons denied benefits, unpaid workers, and victims of workplace sexual harassment. The nonprofit clinic also offers referrals for employment discrimination and workplace safety complaints at several Los Angeles-area sites.
- Seattle Reunion Set for ’37 Grads, page 6. The 50th reunion of Franklin High School’s class of 1937 is scheduled for June 27 in Seattle. Class members are asked to contact organizers for inclusion in a class directory.
- JA’s Decade of Service to Los Angeles Recognized by Mayor, page 7. Sue Kunitomi Embrey received a 10-year service pin from Mayor Tom Bradley for her services to the city, where she teaches vocational ESL. She has also served as president of the Commission on the Status of Women and as a consultant to the Smithsonian Institution.
- San Diego Is Site of Newest AAJA Branch, page 8. San Diego journalists announced plans to form a chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association, with Jeannie Wong serving as interim president. The chapter aims to increase Asian American representation in local news media and provide scholarships for aspiring journalists.
- Student Chosen for D.C. Program, page 8. Michele Horio, a senior at Leigh High School, will attend the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans in Washington, D.C., under the sponsorship of the San Jose JACL Chapter. She is the daughter of Mike and Mae Horio.
- Opportunities for Work in Japan Offered, page 10. The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program is accepting applications for 1987 employment opportunities in Japan, including assisting with international activities and English language instruction. Applications and information are available through the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles.
- Drugs Topic of Speech Contest, page 10. The Nikkei Lions Club is sponsoring a student speech contest themed ‘Drug Abuse — What Is the Solution?’ for students in grades nine through 12 in San Francisco. The top winner will receive a $4,000 scholarship.
Military & Veterans
- Inouye Named as Recipient of VFW Award, page 3. Sen. Daniel Inouye was named to receive the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ 24th annual Congressional Award for outstanding service to the nation. The article recounts his 27 years in Congress and his WW2 service with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, where he lost his right arm.
Commentary
- ‘Disinformation’ Is Nothing New to Internees, by Marshall Sumida and Mei Nakano, page 4. The authors compare the Reagan Administration’s Iran-Contra disinformation campaign to the government’s wartime propaganda used to justify the internment of Japanese Americans during WW2. They detail Navy Secretary Frank Knox’s false claims about Japanese American subversion in Hawaii that fueled anti-Japanese sentiment on the West Coast.
- For Koreans, It’s Apartheid in Japan, by Stanley Kanzaki, page 4. The column examines Japan’s Alien Registration Law, which requires Korean residents, including those born in Japan, to be fingerprinted and carry ID cards, likening it to South African apartheid. It discusses the history of Korean immigration to Japan, ongoing protests against the law, and calls for Japanese Americans to write letters of protest.
In-Depth
- New Book Revises Image of Dillon Myer, by William Hohri, page 5. A review of Richard Drinnon’s book ‘Keeper of Concentration Camps: Dillon S. Myer and American Racism,’ which portrays WRA director Dillon Myer as complicit in bureaucratic racism against both Japanese Americans and Native Americans. The review details Myer’s actions against draft resisters, his handling of Tule Lake internees, and his later career destroying Native American rights at the BIA.
- Author Discusses Research on JA Women, page 10. Evelyn Nakano Glenn presented her new book ‘Issei, Nisei, War Bride’ at a New England JACL Chapter meeting, discussing her research on three generations of Japanese American women who worked as domestics. The book has received praise from scholars including Edwin Reischauer and Ronald Takaki for its combination of personal narratives and sociological analysis.
JACL
- 8 Chapters Plan Mass Installation, page 7. Eight Southern California JACL chapters, led by the South Bay Chapter, will hold their second annual mass installation dinner-dance on Feb. 21 at the Hyatt Wilshire. Participating chapters include Marina, Torrance, Pasadena, Wilshire, Latin American, Orange County and Venice-Culver.
- Central Calif. District Discusses Redress, Honors Old-Timers, page 7. The Central California District Council JACL held its first quarterly meeting in Visalia, featuring a discussion of redress by Grant Ujifusa and honors for longtime JACL members Tom Shimasaki and Fred Hirasuna. The council also discussed donations to the Nikkei Service Center and upcoming district business.
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