Immigration reform and Peru’s new president: August 3, 1990

Vol. 111, No. 3, August 3, 1990. 12 pages. View this issue

A House committee vote on legal immigration reform led the issue. The Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 4300 on Aug. 1 after weeks of lobbying by Asian American groups including the JACL, who argued for family unity as the basis of immigration policy. The same front page followed Alberto Fujimori, the son of an Issei immigrant, sworn in as Peru’s president. Harry K. Honda reported on his inauguration, the full text of his address, and a Mexico City panel on the ‘Fujimori phenomenon.’ Pan American Nikkei Association support of $70,000 was also covered.

Elsewhere in these 12 pages, Bill Hosokawa and Bill Marutani wrote columns, and Walt Woodward described teaching students about the World War II incarceration (often called internment) on Bainbridge Island. A bronze marker for New Helvetia Cemetery, Nisei Week plans in Little Tokyo, and reviews of David Mura’s poems and the Poston children’s book also appear.

What’s in this issue

National

• House Panel Votes to Widen Door to Immigration, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House Judiciary Committee passed a legal immigration reform bill, H.R. 4300, following weeks of lobbying by Asian American groups including JACL promoting family unity in immigration policy. The bill now heads to the House floor, where it faces a difficult path through conference with a more restrictive Senate version before reaching President Bush.
• Peru’s President Fujimori Pledges to Rebuild Inflation-Hit Nation, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. Alberto Fujimori, son of an Issei immigrant from Kumamoto, was sworn in as the 107th president of Peru on July 28, pledging to rebuild an economy ravaged by 2.2-million percent hyperinflation. He attacked government corruption and vowed to promote handicraft exports, encourage foreign investment, and restore Peru’s standing with the international financial community.
• Its Role in Racially Motivated Attack Recounted, by Karen Seriguchi, page 1. The La Crosse Tribune in Wisconsin gained national recognition for its coverage of a racially motivated attack on two Japanese students by a gang of white men in a Hmong refugee community. Editorial-page editor Ted Vollmer discussed how the paper’s consciousness on anti-Asian violence developed and the extensive editorial commentary that followed the beating.
• Actors Pan ‘Yellowface’ Casting on Broadway, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The musical ‘Miss Saigon’ has come under attack from Asian American actors because a Caucasian actor, Jonathan Pryce, was cast in the lead role of a Eurasian character. Producers say 18 months of auditions failed to find an Asian actor who could act and sing the part.
• Quayle Plans Trip to Tokyo, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Vice President Dan Quayle will attend the enthronement ceremonies for Emperor Akihito on November 12, the Japanese Foreign Ministry announced. Akihito became emperor in January 1989 upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito.
• National Peace Essay Contest Announced, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Fourth Annual National Peace Essay Contest, open to high school students, will run from Oct. 1, 1990 to Feb. 15, 1991, with the topic focused on U.S. government contributions to preventing or resolving violent international conflicts. Winners receive college scholarships, and the contest is sponsored by the U.S. Institute of Peace, established through the efforts of the late Senator Spark Matsunaga.
• Minority Publishers to Hold First National Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A first annual national conference on ‘Networking for Success’ will address critical issues affecting minority publishers, including marketing and distribution, at the Inn on the Park Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin. The conference is sponsored by the Minority Publishers Exchange and will serve as a showcase for outstanding books by minority publishers.
• Mineta Named to U.S. Delegation for Fujimori’s Inaugural, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Rep. Norman Y. Mineta was named by President Bush to the official U.S. delegation to attend Alberto Fujimori’s inauguration in Lima, though he later had to cancel due to scheduling conflicts. Mineta praised Fujimori’s ability to take pride in his heritage while being embraced by Peruvians as fully Peruvian.
• ‘Fujimori Phenomenon’ Panel Discussion in Mexico City, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. A special conference on the economic situation Fujimori inherits in Peru was held July 14 in Mexico City’s Japanese Cultural Center, co-sponsored by the Japanese Mexican Association and Pan American Nikkei Association. Panelists included Dr. Luis Baba, Dr. Arturo Iida, Carlos Kasuga, Jose Yoshida, and Dr. Rene Tanaka.
• PANA Contributes $70,000 in Support of Fujimori’s Presidency, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. Pan American Nikkei Association officials welcomed by the Japanese Peruvian community announced a $70,000 contribution supporting Fujimori’s presidency, including $10,000 for Fr. Luis Martinez’s social action organization MAS. The remaining funds would support micro-enterprises with matching funds, with details to be handled by PANA.

Community

• UC Berkeley Honors Japanese Consul General Yanai for Cultural Encouragement and Exchanges, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Consul General of Japan in San Francisco Shinji Yanai was honored by UC Berkeley for his continuing assistance to Cal Performances and other university programs, including support for visiting Japanese cultural groups. Berkeley’s Vice Chancellor John Heilbron presented the award on behalf of Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien.
• JCCCNC to Honor Five Bay Area Nikkei Leaders, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California will honor five Bay Area Nikkei leaders, including Clem Oyama, Enchi Yoshida, Cressey Nakagawa, Kanji Kuramoto and June-ko Nakagawa, at its fifth annual awards dinner on Aug. 18. The event will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Francisco with tickets ranging from $60 to $1,000.
• Nippon Airways Chairman Selected as Nisei Week Honorary Grand Marshal, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Tokuji Wakasa, chairman of All Nippon Airways, will serve as Honorary Grand Marshal of the 1990 50th Anniversary Nisei Week Festival in Little Tokyo. He is expected to participate in the Nisei Week Parade and other festivities despite his busy schedule as chairman of the eighth largest passenger carrier in the world.
• Sister Chapter Friendship Program Initiated, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Contra Costa JACL adopted a Sister Chapter Friendship Program aimed at fostering friendship and common interest between JACL chapters. A committee was formed to develop details and procedures, with no legal or financial bindings imposed without mutual agreement.
• Japanese Chefs Offer Suggestions on Hot Day, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Two Los Angeles Japanese chefs offered suggestions for hot weather dining after temperatures hit a record 112 degrees on June 26. Katsu recommended cold buckwheat noodles on crushed ice while Masayuki Ishikawa suggested cold salads, soups or pasta.
• Japanese American Museum Presents ‘Japanese in Hawaii’ Exhibit for Nisei Week, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Japanese American National Museum will present a free photo exhibit titled ‘Centennial Celebration: An Early Pictorial Record of Japanese Immigrants in Hawai’i’ during the 50th Nisei Week. The exhibit, originally developed by the Bishop Museum, consists of about 50 photographs depicting the early Issei period and marks its mainland U.S. debut.
• Salvador Dali Works Donated to Centenary, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Three paintings by Salvador Dali were donated by Ray and Dahlia Inouye to the Centenary United Methodist Church, along with a $50,000 gift. The three hand-signed works include etchings and a lithograph depicting religious themes.
• Little Tokyo Community Service Leaders, and AT&T Recognized at Gala Award Fete, by Harry K. Honda, page 3. The Little Tokyo Service Center honored three Nikkei community leaders—Mable Yoshizaki, Dr. Jack Fujimoto, and Ron Wakabayashi—along with corporate donor AT&T at its 11th annual awards dinner attended by about 400 people. Highlights included announcement of the LTSC Foundation to support programs such as low-cost housing in Little Tokyo.
• Berkeley Nissei Club’s 1990 Reunion Sept. 1-2 ‘May Be the Last’, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Berkeley Nissei Club, formed in 1925 by five athletes who played basketball with other Japanese American teams in the Bay Area, will hold what may be its last reunion over Labor Day weekend. The club has met every five years since 1965 and included members who played exhibition football and basketball championships.
• Las Vegas JACL, Sangha to Hold Obon Event, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Las Vegas Japanese American Citizens League and the Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha will sponsor their second annual obon celebration on Saturday, Aug. 11, from 12-6 p.m. at the Zelzah Shriners’ Hall. Japanese folk music, dancing and food will be featured at the event.

Incarceration & Redress

• New Helvetia Cemetery Dedication for Aug. 18, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A bronze memorial marker commemorating 700 unidentified remains of persons of Japanese ancestry will be dedicated on Aug. 18 at East Lawn Memorial Lawn in Sacramento. The remains were reinterred after the City of Sacramento excavated the New Helvetia Cemetery in 1956 to build what is now Sutter Middle School.
• In The Pacific Citizen 45 Years Ago, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Historical items from 45 years prior include a Fresno garage owned by a Rohwer evacuee being fired upon, Major Mitsuyoshi Fukuda becoming the first Nisei to command an infantry battalion, and the first train returning Topaz evacuees to San Francisco. Also noted is a Bakersfield case involving taxes on money buried before evacuation.
• Fujimori’s Inaugural Message, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The full text of Alberto Fujimori’s inaugural address as Peru’s president is reprinted, in which he pledges to fight corruption, restore ethics to politics, and rebuild Peru’s shattered economy through his ‘Honesty, Technology and Work’ platform. He also addresses drug trafficking, human rights, and the need for national unity to overcome subversive violence.
• View from Here: Teaching Kids About Internment on Bainbridge Island, by Walt Woodward, page 6. Woodward recounts accompanying Bainbridge Island Japanese American community members as they shared their internment experiences with Central Kitsap students, describing how the exhibit ‘Kodomo No Tame Ni’ toured schools. He reflects on the importance of educating youth about the Bill of Rights violations of WWII internment so such injustice never happens again.
• A Book-Tape Combination: ‘Through Innocent Eyes’, by Harry K. Honda, page 10. A review of ‘Through Innocent Eyes,’ a collection of writings and art from Poston I schoolchildren during Japanese American internment, edited by Vincent Tajiri with contributions from Yuji Ichioka and others. The accompanying 90-minute audio tape features George Takei’s introduction and readings by Sansei and Yonsei voices of the original student essays and poems.

Commentary

• Too Much a Lady?, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial discusses an incident where a Secret Service agent tried to remove Condoleezza Rice, senior director for Soviet affairs on the National Security Council, from a receiving line during Gorbachev’s visit, assuming she didn’t belong due to her race and gender. The piece argues that stereotypes remain an insidious form of discrimination that must be eliminated, drawing parallels to the experiences of Asian Americans.
• Seiko: Taking Notice of Our Newsmakers, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Hosokawa reflects on the popularity of the Newsmakers feature, which highlights Japanese Americans achieving success and recognition in American society. He questions whether this positive individual achievement or the community’s tendency toward internal bickering and a besieged mentality better represents the ‘real’ Japanese American community.
• ABA & the Abortion Issue, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Marutani examines the American Bar Association’s Resolution 106(c), which supports abortion rights and has caused controversy with over 1,000 members resigning in protest. He also recounts his own experience decades earlier when the ABA questioned his nationality during his membership application process.

Sports

• Take A Bow, by Frank F. Sakamoto, page 9. Sakamoto recaps the 1000 Club Whing Ding at the JACL convention in San Diego, highlighting anniversary celebrations for several longtime couples and a visit to Sea World featuring killer whales, dolphins and fireworks. He thanks Anheuser Busch for their donation and praises the enthusiasm of 1000 Club members.

JACL

• Florin JACL Honors ’90 Scholars, Welcomes 26 New Members, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The Florin JACL recognized new members and scholarship winners at its annual luncheon, with Washington JACL representative Paul Igasaki as guest speaker emphasizing ongoing issues of racial prejudice. Scholarship winners included Mark Asahara, Mark Honbo, Sharon Kojima, and Denise Okamoto.
• Downtown JACL Installs New President, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The Downtown Los Angeles JACL Chapter installed Gary Itano as its new president, succeeding Kathleen ‘Kitty’ Sankey, under whom the chapter won the 1990 Pacific Southwest District Council ‘Distinguished Chapter’ Award. Itano has been active in redress efforts, including representing his father as part of the DB Boys who testified before a Pentagon commission.

Arts & Entertainment

• Newsmakers, by P.C. Staff, page 9. This roundup profiles notable Japanese Americans including Okitami Komada, newly appointed President and CEO of Mitsui Fudosan USA; Curtis R. Namba, elected chair of the Sacramento County Civil Service Commission; and Yuki Iijima, who received Marriott Corporation’s highest employee recognition award. Each individual’s career achievements and community involvement are detailed.
• After We Lost Our Way: Poems by David Mura, by P.C. Staff, page 10. A review of David Mura’s poetry collection, selected for the National Poetry Series, explores his background as a Sansei examining Asian American identity through works addressing internment camps, the atomic bomb, and the Vietnam War. Fellow poet Garrett Hongo praised Mura’s ‘carnal exposé’ approach as psychically aggressive and postmodern.

In-Depth

• Family Recollections: To the Land of Bright Promise, by Harry K. Honda, page 10. A review of Chiyo Miton Shimamoto’s booklet chronicling her parents’ experience as pioneer Japanese truck farmers in Lodi’s San Joaquin Valley captures the joys and struggles common to many Issei families. The reviewer notes the book offers younger generations insight into the social environment that shaped their Issei grandparents.

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