Vol. 114, No. 5, February 7, 1992. 8 pages. View this issue
Redress and remembrance led this 8-page issue. Bush administration officials Patricia Saiki and Elaine Chao were described as influential in White House policy on Asian Americans, including the $250 million budget request for redress payments. A front-page story marked the 50th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 and listed Day of Remembrance events planned across the country, while JACL put out a call for national officer nominations ahead of the Denver convention.
Other stories looked at a Buy America dispute over BART rail cars, a study of minority roles on television, and the murders at a Phoenix Buddhist temple. Bill Hosokawa wrote about the Thousand Club’s Whing Ding parties, and Robert Wada called for a coalition to build a Japanese American veterans’ memorial. Martha Nakagawa profiled the band B.B. Chung King and the Screaming Buddah Heads, and Harry Honda reported from the San Gabriel Japanese Community Center.
What’s in this issue
National
- Redress Roles: Patricia Saiki and Elaine Chao Instrumental in White House Asian American Policies, page 1. Bush administration officials Patricia Saiki and Elaine Chao have influenced White House policies on Asian Americans, including the $250 million redress budget request. Saiki, who heads the Small Business Administration, confirmed she consulted with the White House on ensuring redress payments continue as quickly as possible amid budget pressures.’
- ‘Buy America’ Controversy Hits San Francisco’s BART System, page 1. Following a similar controversy in Los Angeles, San Francisco’s BART rail system faces pressure over whether to favor American company Morrison Knudsen over Japanese bidders for new rail cars. BART officials note federal funding requirements mandate at least 60 percent American-made content, complicating the decision between domestic and Japanese-partnered bids.
- Murders at Phoenix Buddhist Temple Started Out as Military Game, Teen Says, page 1. A 17-year-old charged with nine counts of first-degree murder in the killing of nine people at a Phoenix Buddhist temple told police the incident began as a robbery game that went downhill. Defense attorney Peter Balkan claims the teen was coerced into confessing during police interrogation, and a 16-year-old co-defendant awaits a hearing to determine if he will be tried as an adult.
- Study: Few Television Roles for Minorities, page 1. A study by the Media Image Coalition of Minorities and Women found that minorities, including Asians, Latinos, Native Americans, and people with disabilities, are nearly invisible on prime time network television. The coalition called on network executives to increase representation reflecting the true diversity of the American population.
JACL
- JACL Announces Call for Nominations for National Officer Positions, page 1. Looking ahead to the Denver national convention, JACL announced a call for nominations for several national positions including vice president roles. The convention will be held under the theme ‘JACL: Solid as the Rockies.’
- Convention Awards to Be Given Out in Denver, page 3. JACL’s national convention in Denver will present several awards including the Edison Uno Memorial Civil Rights Award and JACLer of the Biennium Award, honoring individuals and organizations for contributions to civil rights and the organization. Nomination criteria and deadlines were detailed, with the Japanese American of the Biennium Award being the highest public honor given to those whose achievements have gained regional, national or international recognition.
Incarceration & Redress
- 1992 Marks 50th Anniversary of Executive Order 9066; Events Planned Nationwide, page 1. JACL and other organizations have scheduled a variety of Day of Remembrance events, exhibits, symposia and entertainment throughout 1992 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which forced over 120,000 Japanese Americans into internment camps. Pacific Citizen provides a partial calendar of Nikkei and non-Nikkei organizations sponsoring various DOR programs across the country.
Commentary
- Thousand Club ‘Whing Dings’ Deserve Revival, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Columnist Bill Hosokawa recounts the history of JACL’s Thousand Club, founded in 1950 to secure financial support for the organization, and the festive ‘Whing Ding’ parties held at national conventions. He supports Frank Sakamoto’s campaign to bring back these lively, food-and-music filled gatherings that once brought levity to serious JACL business.
- Freedom on Trial: America’s Moral Deterioration, by Yukio Matsuyama, page 4. In this guest editorial, a former Asahi Shimbun editorial board chairman and Harvard visiting fellow argues that American society shows signs of moral decline, citing rising crime, self-indulgence, and a faltering work ethic. He warns that excessive liberty without corresponding responsibility could tempt Americans toward repression, while cautioning that Japan also faces troubling generational and political challenges.
- Praise for Honor Roll and Call for Japanese American Veterans Memorial Coalition, by Robert Wada, page 4. Robert Wada, chairman of the NVCC Memorial Committee and Concerned JA Korean War Vets, praises Pacific Citizen and JACL for publishing the 100/442nd/MIS Memorial Foundation’s ‘Vets Honor Roll’ and clarifies the distinction between an honor roll and a memorial. He calls for a coalition of organizations to develop funding and construction of a Japanese American Veterans’ Memorial in cooperation with the City of Los Angeles and other stakeholders.
Arts & Entertainment
- B.B. Chung King—Risin’ and Rockin’, by Martha Nakagawa, page 5. The band B.B. Chung King and the Screaming Buddah Heads is gaining celebrity fans and media attention, with songs featured in film soundtracks and a music video featuring Lou Diamond Phillips. Lead vocalist Alan Mirikitani discusses his songwriting process, including ‘Government Man,’ a song addressing Japanese American internment and encouraging Sansei to seek answers about the camp experience.
- Sailing in Style on a Japanese Cruise Ship, by Tanaka, page 8. The writer reviews the Crystal Harmony, a new state-of-the-art cruise ship completed in 1990 for Japan’s NYK Line, praising its spacious cabins, excellent service, diverse entertainment, and superb dining options including Japanese and Italian restaurants. Despite minor issues like small bathrooms and noticeable vibration at high speed, the reviewer recommends cruising as a worthwhile experience for 1992, noting discounts available through travel agents.
Community
- Nikkei Story Recounted at San Gabriel Center Meeting, by Harry Honda, page 5. At the San Gabriel Japanese Community Center’s annual installation meeting, Nisei pioneer Yoshio Sogioka reflected on the history of the center, including the contributions of Hazel Roberts and Kinu Yamashita, and recalled the prewar Baldwin Park Japanese Language School. The article also discusses the history of Santa Anita and Pomona as temporary detention centers for Japanese Americans in 1942, and current center president Dr. Roy Takeda’s call for expanded facilities.
- Nichols at (714) 779-7067: Chicago-Nisei Post Correction, page 7. A letter from Chicago-Nisei Post No. 1183 addresses a prior article about the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, noting that due to publishing deadlines and page limitations, the writer did not have time to incorporate all details into the broader context of the MIS 50th Anniversary panel discussion. The writer clarifies their intent and notes agreement to work on a Japanese American history project.
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