Bomb threat and racist graffiti ahead of the 1992 Day of Remembrance

Vol. 114, No. 3, January 24, 1992. 8 pages. View this issue

A bomb threat against the Pacific Southwest District office of JACL led the issue. The caller promised attacks at Day of Remembrance events, and Los Angeles police and JACL officials treated the threat seriously. Gwen Muranaka reported on racist graffiti that hit Asian American businesses in South Central Los Angeles, and Jimmy Tokeshi spoke about what the incidents said about rising anti-Asian violence. Tritia Toyota urged Asian Pacific Americans to stand up to threats.

The arts pages turned to R.A. Shiomi’s play Uncle Tadao, about the Japanese Canadian internment and redress, with a review and an interview. Ralph Lazo, a Mexican American who entered Manzanar with his friends, was remembered. Bill Marutani wrote about tree rings and earthquakes, an inspiring Nisei couple, and a trip through Japan. Letters debated a veterans monument.

What’s in this issue

National

• PSW Gets Bomb Threat: Woman Promises Attacks on Day of Remembrance, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Southwest District office of JACL received a bomb threat on its answering machine in mid-January, with the caller referencing Pearl Harbor and threatening bombs at Day of Remembrance events. JACL officials and Los Angeles police are treating the threat seriously and coordinating security, though this marked the first bomb threat since redress payments began in 1990.
• More Hate Crimes: Asian American Businesses Hit With Racist Graffiti, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Several Asian American-owned businesses in South Central Los Angeles, including Ramco Liquor Mart, were vandalized with racist graffiti referencing Latasha Harlins and anti-Asian sentiment. JACL officials expressed concern about escalating tensions and hate crimes tied to the upcoming Day of Remembrance events.
• Graffiti Incidents Reveal Escalation of Anti-Asian Violence, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Jimmy Tokeshi, regional director of the Pacific Southwest District of JACL, discussed the recent string of racial vandalism incidents as evidence of escalating anti-Asian violence tied to Korean-black tensions. Tokeshi called for frank community discussion and government action to address problems in America’s inner cities before the situation worsens.

Community

• L.A. Official Wants Investigation of Beating of Thai Woman, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Supervisor Kenneth Hahn called for an investigation into the beating of a Thai woman in Compton who was mistaken for Korean, an incident that occurred when men smashed her car window and dragged her out. Hahn said the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved his motion for the county Human Relations Commission to investigate the attack.
• Stand Up to Threats, Newscaster Says, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. KCBS-TV anchor Tritia Toyota spoke at the 26th annual Selanoco JACL installation dinner, addressing the bomb threat made against the PSWDC JACL office and urging Asian Pacific Americans to remain vigilant and united. She also discussed Nielsen ratings and encouraged viewers to give feedback on media coverage of Asian American issues.
• Bank CEO to Be Honored, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Jiro Ishizaka, chairman of the board of Union Bank, will be honored with the human relations award of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Jewish Committee. Ishizaka is recognized for his leadership in civic and cultural activities and his efforts to build bridges of mutual understanding between communities.
• San Diego Japan Festival Scores, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Japan Festival ’92, a week-long series of events in San Diego focusing on Japanese business and culture, was deemed a success by organizers with attendance beyond expectations. Highlights included a keynote address by Asahi Shimbun editorial board member Yutkio Matsuyama and a calligraphy exhibit, with plans already underway for Japan Festival ’93.
• New Securities Firm Started, by P.C. Staff, page 6. I. Beth Renge created Renge Securities & Co., Inc., one of the nation’s first 100 percent Asian American and woman-owned municipal investment banking firms, headquartered in San Francisco. Renge, a 10-year veteran of the securities industry, emphasized the importance of Asian American representation in municipal financial services.
• Former Steel Executive Joins Keiro Services, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Teisei ‘Ted’ Kurahashi, after a 32-year career in the steel industry including as executive vice president of Nippon Steel USA, became the new chief executive officer of Los Angeles Keiro Services. Kurahashi expressed gratitude toward the Issei and Nisei generations and outlined his goals to strengthen Keiro’s organizational structure and community engagement.

Incarceration & Redress

• Mexican American Who Was Interned Dies at 67, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ralph Lazo, a Mexican American who voluntarily entered Manzanar with his Japanese American friends in 1942 and stayed until 1944, died of liver disease at age 67. He was remembered by Sue Kunitomo Embrey of the Manzanar Committee for his lifelong ties to the Japanese American community and his service in the South Pacific during WWII.

Arts & Entertainment

• Japanese Canadians Come to Life on Stage, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Playwright R.A. Shiomi discusses his new play ‘Uncle Tadao,’ which explores the Japanese Canadian internment and redress experience through the story of the Uchida family. The play, commissioned by the Redress Implementation Committee, is having its world premiere at East West Players in Los Angeles as part of 1992 Day of Remembrance activities.
• Play Shows Another Side of Internment Experience, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. A review of ‘Uncle Tadao’ highlights the powerful performances, particularly by Sab Shimono as George Uchida, in depicting the Japanese Canadian internment experience through a family drama. The review praises the ensemble cast and Phillip Kan Gotanda’s direction while noting the play’s rushed conclusion after its emotional climax.
• Uncle Tadao: A Peculiar Mirror for Japanese Americans, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Playwright R.A. Shiomi elaborates on the differences between Japanese Canadian and Japanese American internment experiences, noting Canadian internees faced harsher restrictions and were not allowed to return to coastal areas until 1949. Shiomi discusses his interviews with Issei and Nisei, his collaboration with director Phillip Kan Gotanda, and his plans to explore Sansei experiences in future works.

Commentary

• Tree Rings and Big Earthquakes: A Connection, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Columnist Bill Marutani writes about Sansei scientist Dr. David K. Yamaguchi, a dendrochronologist who studies tree rings to learn about historical earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, including a major earthquake that hit the Washington coast roughly 300 years ago. Marutani also profiles Legion Post 185 in Denver and its first female Nisei post commander, Dr. Florence Uyeda-Miyahara.
• Critical of Hosokawa MIS Column, by Paul H. Tsuneishi, page 4. A letter writer criticizes Bill Hosokawa for allegedly disparaging Joseph D. Harrington’s book ‘Yankee Samurai’ about Nisei MIS soldiers while now writing about the MIS himself. The writer also corrects a factual error regarding the fourth Japanese language instructor of the MIS in 1941.
• East Wind: An Inspiring Pair, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Continuing his column, Bill Marutani details the biography of Dr. Florence Uyeda-Miyahara, who served as a nurse and later pediatrician after being interned at Tanforan and Topaz, and her husband Ben, a pathologist. The column recounts an anecdote about her tenure as commander of an all-Nisei American Legion post and their later missionary work in the Philippines.
• Here Are Some Good Tips to Protect Your Credit Status, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Union Bank offers consumers a list of tips to protect their credit rating, including paying bills promptly, avoiding impulse spending, and contacting creditors proactively if facing financial difficulty. The article also notes resources like the nonprofit Consumer Credit Counseling Service for those in financial crisis.

Military & Veterans

• More Controversy on Veterans Monument, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A letter to the editor discusses the controversial 100/442/MIS World War II Memorial Foundation’s plan to honor living veterans alongside war dead, which has created a rift in the Japanese American community. The writer proposes a compromise where the memorial would honor only those who made the supreme sacrifice, with a separate Veterans Honor Roll for all veterans.

In-Depth

• Observations Traveling Through Japan, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Bill Marutani shares detailed observations from a recent trip to Japan, covering practical tips like identifying restroom kanji characters, locating emergency exits in hotels, understanding elevator button kanji, and taxi cab etiquette. He also recounts humorous anecdotes about vending machines, crowded sidewalks, and the challenge of meeting his wife at a crowded train station.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.