JACL chapters and districts at work, plus Asian American community news

Vol. 109, No. 19, December 8, 1989. 8 pages. View this issue

JACL business ran through this eight-page issue. The Central California District Council re-elected governor Dale Ikeda at its 40th annual banquet in Fresno, where anchorwoman Jan Yanehiro spoke, in a report by Marlene Kubota. The Pacific Southwest District Council elected officers in Las Vegas and discussed the 1990 National JACL Convention in San Diego, which Priscilla Ouchida previewed in her column. The Selanoco Chapter announced its installation dinner with keynote speaker Sen Nishiyama of Tokyo. Elsewhere on the front page were the sentencing in the Westwood shooting death of Karen Toshima and a Florin JACL forum on anti-Asian racism.

Columns by George Johnston and Bill Hosokawa and a translated commentary on Sony’s purchase of Columbia Pictures fill the inside pages. Velina Hasu Houston reviewed Kim Miyori in a one-woman play about Madame Mao. Page 8 gathers four community cookbooks and a book by Ronald Takaki.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Sen Nishiyama of Tokyo to Address Selanoco JACL Fete, page 1. The Selanoco Chapter of the JACL will hold its installation dinner Jan. 20, 1990 at the Buena Park Hotel with keynote speaker Sen Nishiyama of Tokyo. Nishiyama is an accomplished interpreter, author and lecturer currently writing a book on Nikkei Americans’ influence on U.S.-Japan relations.
• Florin JACL Forum Responds to ‘New Yellow Peril’ Racism, page 1. Over 80 people attended a Nov. 18 community forum in Sacramento addressing anti-Asian racism, featuring the documentary ‘The New Yellow Peril’ and speakers Saundra Gin Yep and Professor George Kagiwada. The Florin Chapter of the JACL sponsored the event in response to recent anti-Asian incidents including an attack on an elderly Chinese American woman and the Stockton schoolyard murders.
• Japan Business Assn. Women Bazaar Successful, page 1. The Japan Business Association’s Women’s Committee presented a $5,000 check to the JACCC from proceeds of their successful annual bazaar held Oct. 15. A major portion of this year’s proceeds was donated for earthquake relief in San Francisco.
• L.A.’s Councilman Woo Examines Disco-rimination, page 2. Los Angeles Councilman Michael Woo and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center are demanding an explanation of allegedly racist admission policies at the Florentine Gardens disco in Hollywood after Asian students from Occidental College were denied entry. Woo directed the students to the Legal Center, which is now acting on their behalf.
• JACCC Announces ‘Early Bird’ Winners, page 7. Winners were announced for the ‘Once Upon a Wonderland’ Holiday Gift Package drawing held as part of the ‘Early Bird’ attraction for the JACCC’s Cultural festival on Nov. 28. Sakai of Montebello, Calif. won a package for two at the Ritz.
• Stockton Women Publish ‘Favorite Cookbook II’, page 8. The Stockton Buddhist Women’s Association published Our Friends’ Favorite Recipes Cookbook II, available by mail order for $7 plus shipping. Proceeds fund the organization’s philanthropic projects.
• JASEB’s Asian Cookbook Now in Second Printing, page 8. The Japanese American Services of the East Bay has released a second printing of its 431-page Asian Cookbook, calling it a great holiday gift. Proceeds from the $15 cookbook support special services for the elderly.
• San Jose Yu-Ai Kai Publishes Its Cookbook, page 8. Seventy supporters attended a book party celebrating the publication of Yu-Ai Kai’s first cookbook, Beyond Teriyaki, featuring 521 recipes from 91 contributors including a low-sodium diabetic section. Proceeds from the $12.50 cookbook support senior programs.
• CSU Long Beach Expands Library on Asian Books With Four Donations, page 8. California State University, Long Beach received donations of more than 1,740 books in four collections during a reception for the Western Conference of the Association for Asian Studies, including a massive 1,500-volume Chinese encyclopedia and a 100-volume collection on Japanese Kabuki from actor Onoe Kuroemon II. Dr. San-Pao Li of CSULB’s Asian American Studies Department expressed hope the university will eventually have a designated area for Asian books.

JACL

• CCDC Gov. Dale Ikeda Re-elected; CSU Fresno Grad Jan Yanehiro Returns to Address CCDC JACL, by Marlene Kubota, page 1. Over 250 people attended the 40th annual CCDC JACL banquet in Fresno, featuring keynote speaker and anchorwoman Jan Yanehiro, who discussed television’s impact on society and the lack of Asian American representation in TV news. Dale Ikeda was re-elected as CCDC governor for a second term along with his cabinet.
• PSWDC Elects New Officers, Board, page 1. The Pacific Southwest District Council of the JACL elected officers for the next biennium at its quarterly meeting in Las Vegas, with J.D. Hokoyama continuing as district governor. The council also endorsed support for Caltech Professor Mark Tanouye in his tenure dispute and discussed plans for the 1990 National JACL Convention in San Diego.

National

• Gang Member Sentenced to 27 Years to Life for Westwood Shooting Death of Karen Toshima, page 1. Durrell DeWitt Collins was sentenced to 27 years to life in prison for the 1988 shooting death of Karen Toshima in Westwood, a killing that shocked Los Angeles over gang violence spreading to affluent areas. The judge made the two life terms concurrent, making Collins eligible for parole in about 14 years despite objections from Toshima’s family and the prosecutor.
• Frank Iwama Elected to Board of Governors for California State Bar, page 3. Sacramento attorney Frank A. Iwama became the first Asian American elected to the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California, taking his oath of office in September. Active in JACL leadership roles for years, Iwama is a senior partner at a Sacramento law firm specializing in business, real estate and international law.

Arts & Entertainment

• Miyori Makes Mark in Madame Mao’s Memories, by Velina Hasu Houston, page 2. Kim Miyori stars in Henry Ong’s one-woman play about Jiang Qing, widow of Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, portraying her journey from a young actress to a woman convicted of orchestrating political murders. The reviewer praises Miyori’s performance and director Robin McKee’s work in exploring the complex, contradictory character of Jiang Qing.
• ‘AJA V’ Exhibition Showcases Women Artists at JACCC Doizaki Gallery, page 2. Five Japanese American women artists—Margaret Honda, Michiko Itatani, Laurie Jiobu, Akiko Kotani and Mari Omori—are featured in ‘AJA V,’ an exhibition opening at the JACCC’s Doizaki Gallery. The exhibit, fifth in a periodic series, highlights emerging artists working within contemporary American art while incorporating their cultural heritage.

Military & Veterans

• Harry Taketa First Japanese American Appointed to Cleveland Community Relations Board, page 3. Harry Taketa of Cleveland became the first Japanese American appointed to the Cleveland Community Relations Board as a result of the Mayor’s Advisory Council. The appointment was recognized by Mayor George V. Voinovich and local JACL and city officials.
• Fort Sam Houston Nisei Vets Updating Its Roster for 1990 Reunion in Reno, page 3. The Ft. Sam Houston AJA Reunion organizing committee is seeking assistance to update its mailing list ahead of the next reunion scheduled for June 1990 in Reno. The committee is trying to locate soldiers who served at Fort Sam Houston, Texas between March 1943 and December 1945.

Commentary

• U.S. Asks, Japan Answers, page 4. This editorial discusses a new development in U.S.-Japan relations where American negotiators asked Japan for specific recommendations on reducing the trade deficit, and Japan responded with a detailed set of suggestions for American reform. The piece argues this frank exchange between equals is healthy and that Japan’s recommendations, covering savings, education and industrial policy, deserve serious study.
• A New Group, by George Johnston, page 4. The columnist proposes creating a non-profit Asian American Media Watch organization to monitor mass media for inaccurate or offensive portrayals of Asian Americans. The group would have paid staff to track TV, radio, movies and advertisements, working with civil rights groups and advising producers to prevent problems before production.
• What’s New in New York, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Hosokawa recounts his observations of high prices and Japanese presence during a visit to Manhattan, noting Japanese guests at the Hilton, Japanese ownership of Rockefeller Center, and an elegant Japanese restaurant frequented by Japanese business leaders. He reflects on how Manhattan is changing while also encountering its persistent urban problems.
• Wave of the Future, by Priscilla Ouchida, National JACL V.P., Operations, page 4. Ouchida previews the 1990 National JACL Convention at the San Diego Princess resort, describing its amenities including cottages, pools, tennis courts, and nearby attractions like Sea World. She details convention logistics including registration costs, workshops on membership and community topics, and travel discounts for attendees.

In-Depth

• An American Dream for Sony, by Yoshimi Ishikawa, page 5. This translated commentary from Mainichi Shinbun examines American reactions to Sony’s $3.4 billion purchase of Columbia Pictures, arguing that the deal struck a nerve because Hollywood represents an American cultural and spiritual symbol, not just a business asset. The author urges Sony to invest fully in American filmmaking talent rather than remaining a passive, distant owner.
• Takaki’s Latest Book Cited ‘Ground Breaking’, page 8. Strangers from a Different Shore, a sweeping history of the Asian American experience by UC Berkeley Professor Ronald Takaki, is now available through the Japanese American Library in San Francisco. Proceeds from sales support development of the library’s collection.

Sports

• To the Bridge! Fourth Annual Conquer the Bridge 10K Run, page 5. The 4th Annual Conquer the Bridge 10K Run across the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro was co-hosted by several PSWDC JACL chapters on Nov. 19, with the theme of fighting illiteracy. An estimated 3,000 runners participated this year, a 1,000-person increase over the previous year.

Obituaries

• Jeffrey Mark Kudo Earns Eagle Scout Award Aboard USS Missouri, page 6. Jeffrey Mark Kudo, 17, of Orange County Buddhist Church Troop 578 was conferred the Eagle Award in ceremonies held aboard the battleship USS Missouri, one of about two percent of Boy Scouts to attain the rank. For his Eagle project, Kudo repainted a graffiti-covered wall in his community and is a varsity swimmer at Westminster High pursuing a career in physical therapy.

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