The 1992 elections: how Asian Americans fared at the polls

Vol. 115, No. 16, November 13, 1992. 12 pages. View this issue

The Nov. 3 general election dominated this 12-page issue. Harry K. Honda reported on Jay C. Kim’s win as the first Korean-born congressman from California, and on Mark Takano’s recount fight against Ken Calvert. Re-elected incumbents Robert Matsui, Norman Mineta and Patsy Mink were noted too. P.C. Staff asked JACL leaders Lillian Kimura, Dennis Hayashi and Karen Narasaki how President-elect Bill Clinton’s administration might affect Japanese Americans, including redress legislation and civil rights bills. Coverage continued with results from California, Washington State and Hawaii, where Sen. Daniel Inouye won a sixth term.

Elsewhere are Bill Hosokawa on top vegetable growers and Bill Marutani on Kibei and Koreans. Harry K. Honda covered MIS veterans returning to Fort Snelling and Camp Savage. A UCLA exhibit of art made in the incarceration camps (often called internment) is previewed, and Estelle Ishigo’s “Lone Heart Mountain” appeared in a Japanese translation. Lillian Kimura wrote about a possible new Atlanta JACL chapter.

What’s in this issue

National

• How Some Asian Americans Fared in Politics, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. In the Nov. 3 general election, Asian Americans gained a U.S. congressional seat with the election of Jay C. Kim, the first Korean-born congressman, while Yonsei teacher Mark Takano was locked in a recount battle against Ken Calvert. The article also notes re-elected incumbents Robert Matsui, Norman Mineta, and Patsy Mink, alongside defeated candidates S.B. Woo and Gloria Ochoa.
• Clinton’s Victory: JACL Leaders Weigh In, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pacific Citizen asked JACL leaders Lillian Kimura, Dennis Hayashi, and Karen Narasaki for their views on how President-elect Bill Clinton’s administration might affect Japanese Americans. They discussed potential appointments, civil rights legislation like Wards Cove, and increased sensitivity to Asian Pacific American issues.
• Familiar and New Names Fill Ballots, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. A review of Nov. 3 election results across Southern California counties shows several Nisei and Asian American candidates in city council and school board races, including Toru Miyoshi in Santa Maria and Ho Young Chung in Garden Grove. The article also covers college and school board races including Richard Tanaka, Tom Masamoto, and George Shirakawa Jr.
• Election Coverage Continued: Kim and Takano Races, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. Continuing election coverage details Jay Kim’s win in the new 41st Congressional District, noting his background as a Korean immigrant and businessman, and his opponent Bob Baker’s criticism of ethnicity-based support. The piece also follows Mark Takano’s nail-biting apparent narrow win over Calvert in the 43rd district amid an ongoing vote count.
• Election Roundup Continued: Clinton’s Impact on Judiciary and JACL Preparations, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The article details Clinton’s stated commitment to diversifying the federal judiciary and supporting redress legislation, contrasting with Bush’s record of appointments. It also outlines JACL’s ongoing efforts to prepare for the new administration and Congress, including meeting with transition teams and potential Asian Pacific American appointees like Norman Mineta and Robert Matsui.
• California and Washington State Election Results, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. The article reviews California assembly races involving Asian American candidates including Lon Hatamiya and Sophie Wong, plus the victory of JACL member Patrick Johnston in a state senate race. It also covers Washington State races, highlighting wins by Gary Locke, Art Wang, Nancy Rust, Paull Shinn, and Velma Veloria.
• Sen. Inouye Easily Captures His Sixth Term, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Sen. Daniel Inouye won a sixth term in Hawaii despite allegations from opponent Rick Reed, with the results seen as a rebuke of the accusations. The article also lists numerous other winning Nikkei candidates in Hawaii’s state senate and house races.
• Election Roundup: Hawaii Races Continued, by Allan Beekman, page 11. Continued Hawaii election results show Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi winning a sixth term by a narrow margin, along with wins for Steve Yamashiro as Hawaii mayor and several Nikkei candidates for county councils and the state board of education. Voters also approved term limits for the mayor and city council.
• Saiki Soon Jobless, Weighs Options, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Patricia Saiki, appointed head of the Small Business Administration by President Bush, will soon be out of a job and has not yet decided her next move. The brief article notes she is considering her options following the change in administration.

Community

• Miyagishima Gets Commissioner Post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ken Miyagishima, 29, ran unopposed as Dona Ana County commissioner in Las Cruces, New Mexico, becoming the first Japanese American to hold public office in the state since statehood in 1912. He previously won his party primary with a large majority.
• Community Notables Honored for Achievements, by Harry Honda, page 7. This roundup covers various Japanese American professionals receiving honors, including Eunice Sato’s nomination to a national education council, Dawna Saito’s Annie Glenn Award, and Emily Sano’s appointment as deputy director of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Also featured are honors for Paul Nakazato, James Okazaki’s chairmanship of Nisei Week, Hisami Kaneko’s engineering award, and Jiro Ishizaka’s International Citizen of the Year award.

Arts & Entertainment

• Camp Art Exhibit Opens at UCLA’s Wight Art Gallery, by P.C. Staff, page 5. “The View From Within: Japanese American Art from the Internment Camps, 1942-1945” features more than 100 works by over 30 Japanese American artists, exploring the impact of internment on artistic production. The exhibit, curated by Karin M. Higa, runs through Dec. 6 at UCLA.
• Disney Dusts Off Carpet in ‘Aladdin’, by Gwen Muranaka, page 10. Disney’s animated feature “Aladdin” is praised for its fast-paced humor, with Robin Williams’ voicing of the Genie singled out as particularly inspired. The review also highlights Lea Salonga’s vocals for Princess Jasmine and the film’s visual and musical achievements despite lyricist Howard Ashman’s death.

Commentary

• Small Kid Time: What? Ume Too Sour?, by Gwen Muranaka, page 6. A short humorous column piece referencing childhood memories involving ume (pickled plum). The piece is a brief, personal reflection typical of the Small Kid Time column.
• Tops in Crops, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bill Hosokawa’s column examines the rankings of top vegetable growers in the U.S., highlighting Japanese American-operated farms like Tanimura and Antle, Higashi Farms, and Sakata Farms. He also discusses Masakazu Iwata’s newly published history of Issei agriculture, “Planted in Good Soil.”
• Kibei and Koreans, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Bill Marutani reflects on a theory that Kibei, Japanese Americans educated in Japan, often succeeded more readily in American society than mainland-educated Nisei due to a stronger sense of self. He draws parallels with newly arrived Korean immigrants’ self-assurance and cites Sidney Poitier’s comments on the source of personal dignity.
• How I Built the Bomb, by Jin Konomi, page 8. Jin Konomi recounts a humorous personal anecdote from his youth at Santa Maria Junior College, where he created makeshift “sodium bombs” from chemistry lab supplies with friends. The story concludes with an unusual interview with the dean who seemed more curious than punitive.
• Keeping a Soft Heart in Hard Times, by Osamu Fujiwara, page 9. This editorial examines how Japan’s economic recession is causing corporate executives to cut back on charitable donations, arguing that philanthropy should be institutionalized through independent foundations rather than left to fluctuating corporate goodwill. The piece contrasts Japanese and American approaches to corporate giving and the cultural pressures behind Japanese donation practices.
• Maybe He Needs a Music Advisor, by Gwen Muranaka, page 9. Gwen Muranaka critiques President-elect Clinton’s use of Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” as his campaign anthem, suggesting instead songs by Japanese American artists like Alan Mirikitani’s B.B. Chung King and the Screaming Buddah Heads that better reflect multiculturalism. She argues music can help unite the country amid ongoing racial tensions.
• Japan Philanthropy Piece Continued, by Osamu Fujiwara, page 11. The continuation of the editorial on Japanese corporate philanthropy discusses the Keidanren’s One Percent Club and how Japanese companies are establishing foundations like the Panasonic Foundation to sustain charitable giving independent of economic cycles. It argues that institutionalizing philanthropy through foundations is the best solution to maintain consistent corporate giving.

JACL

• Insight: Atlanta JACL Chapter Forming, by Lillian C. Kimura, page 9. JACL National President Lillian Kimura describes attending a meeting of Nikkei in Atlanta interested in forming a new JACL chapter, noting the diverse mix of attendees from young adults to retirees. She expresses hope that the group will become JACL’s newest chapter south of the Mason-Dixon line.
• On the Plus Side, by Jonathan Kaji, page 9. JACL National Secretary/Treasurer Jonathan Kaji discusses the organization’s positive financial position amid difficult economic times, while cautioning about future challenges including membership dues reliance and the need for grants. He outlines plans for a full financial audit and greater budget accountability for JACL committees.

Military & Veterans

• Sentimental Journey But…, by Harry K. Honda, page 9. MIS veterans returned after 50 years for a “Sentimental Journey” reunion to Fort Snelling and Camp Savage, finding the sites largely unrecognizable with barracks and classrooms long gone. The article describes the group’s reflections on the changes and efforts to preserve MIS history through museum displays and memorials.
• Journey Continued: MIS Reunion Reflections, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Continuing coverage of the MIS Sentimental Journey reunion describes gifts of appreciation given to local supporters and reflections from Twin Cities JACL chapter president Mark Honda on the underrecognized history of the Military Intelligence Service Language School. The piece notes ongoing efforts to document and celebrate the 50th anniversary of MISLS.

In-Depth

• Ishigo Book Now Out in Japanese, by Harry Honda, page 10. Estelle Ishigo’s memoir “Lone Heart Mountain,” documenting her internment camp experiences through sketches and writing, has been translated into Japanese by Haruo Furukawa. Bacon Sakatani of West Covina was instrumental in reviving the translation project that Ishigo had desired before her death in 1990.
• Nikkei Among Top Job-Finders, by Harry Honda, page 10. John Sibbald’s book “The Career Makers” profiles top executive recruiters, including William H. “Mo” Marumoto, chairman of The Interface Group, as the sole Asian face among 150 top headhunters. Marumoto placed notable figures and previously served as special assistant to the President from 1970-1973.
• First Update Out on J.A. History, by Harry Honda, page 10. A revised edition of “Japanese Americans: From Relocation to Redress” by Roger Daniels, Sandra Taylor, and Harry Kitano has been published, adding a new section on redress achievement. The article recounts the 1981 conference at the University of Utah that inspired the original book and lists numerous scholars who contributed to it.

Obituaries

• Community Obituaries, by P.C. Staff, page 11. This section lists numerous obituaries of Japanese Americans who passed away, including detailed biographical information about their birthplaces, survivors, and community roles. Notable entries include Dr. Robert Watanabe, a UCLA sprinter and orthopedic surgeon, and Charley Takeguchi, the first fire chief of Japanese ancestry on Hawaii’s Big Island.

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