Hayakawa’s death and a federal report on bias against Asian Americans

Vol. 114, No. 9, March 6, 1992. 12 pages. View this issue

The death of former U.S. Senator S.I. Hayakawa at age 85 and a new federal report on bias against Asian Americans shared the news. Harry K. Honda looked back at Hayakawa’s feuds with JACL, including his opposition to redress. Rep. Norman Mineta called him a pioneer. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report found widespread discrimination and violence, and the paper ran its summary across three pages, with JACL National Director Dennis Hayashi among those responding.

Other pages covered the attack on two Japanese students in San Diego and the unsolved murder of Yasuo Kato. Hayashi reported from Washington on funding for the final phase of redress and the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Bill Hosokawa wrote about a letter from a 442nd Regiment soldier found at an estate sale, and the design contest for the Go for Broke monument was reopened.

What’s in this issue

Obituaries

• S.I. Hayakawa, Controversial but Helpful Senator, Feuded with JACL, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. Former U.S. Senator S.I. Hayakawa died Feb. 27 at age 85, remembered for his contentious relationship with JACL over the Walter-McCarran Immigration and Nationality Act and his opposition to redress. Despite disagreements, he helped urge President Ford to pardon Iva Toguri and voted for the creation of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians.
• Frances Saito, page 10. Frances Saito, 78, passed away Feb. 28, 1992, in Boulder, Colo., with services held March 2 in Lakewood, Colo. Memorial contributions were suggested to the Boulder Community Hospital Foundation’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Group.

National

• Two Japanese Students Attacked in San Diego, page 1. Two Japanese exchange students were attacked in San Diego on Feb. 22 in what police are treating as a possible hate crime. One student suffered a swollen eye and cracked bone after being repeatedly kicked during the attack.’
• Discrimination Widespread Against Asian Americans, In-Depth Report Reveals Many Misconceptions, page 1. A two-year study by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found pervasive bigotry, discrimination and violence against Asian Americans, with Japan-bashing contributing to the problem. The 233-page report outlines 44 recommendations to address issues facing the nation’s roughly 7.3 million Asian Americans, citing stereotypes, cultural and language barriers, and inadequate political access as key contributors.
• JACL, Law Caucus Approve of Study, page 1. JACL and the Asian Law Caucus praised the Feb. 28 release of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report as an important step, highlighting the link between Japan-bashing and rising anti-Asian prejudice. JACL National Director Dennis Hayashi called for continued coalition-building among Asian Pacific Americans to address civil rights issues raised in the report.
• Commission’s Executive Summary, page 1. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ statutory report presents results of a broad-based investigation into civil rights issues facing Asian Americans, following a series of 1989 roundtable conferences. The summary outlines findings on stereotypes, barriers to political participation, and other systemic issues.
• Murder of Japanese Man Remains Mystery: Hate Crime or Yakuza?, page 1. The murder of Japanese real estate investor Yasuo Kato has sparked fears of a hate crime, though investigators have not confirmed a racial motive. Community leaders and JACL officials met with law enforcement to seek information and monitor the investigation’s progress.
• Senate Hears Testimony on Voting Rights, page 3. A U.S. Senate subcommittee completed testimony on reauthorizing Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which provides bilingual ballot assistance for language minority citizens and expires Aug. 6, 1992. A survey found that a majority of Asian and Pacific Islander respondents said bilingual ballots or verbal language assistance would make them more likely to vote.
• Mineta: ‘He Was a Pioneer’, page 4. Rep. Norman Mineta expressed sorrow at the death of former Sen. S.I. Hayakawa, calling his service in Congress pioneering for Japanese Americans despite their many disagreements. Mineta said both shared a belief in inclusive participation in government regardless of ethnic background.
• Hotline Announced for Asian Pacific Disabled, page 5. Los Angeles Councilman Michael Woo launched a new toll-free language hotline to help Asian Pacific disabled people learn about their rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act. The hotline also assists property owners and employers in complying with new access requirements.
• Summary Continued: Admissions Discrimination and Employment Barriers, page 7. This continuation of the Commission’s report details admissions discrimination controversies at Brown, Berkeley, and Harvard, plus employment discrimination faced by Asian Americans including glass ceiling barriers and language-based discrimination. It also discusses issues with the Immigration Reform and Control Act’s employer sanctions provisions disproportionately affecting Asian American workers.
• Summary Continued: Health Care, Judicial Access, and Political Leadership, page 9. This continuation of the Commission’s report addresses barriers to health care and judicial access for limited English proficient Asian Americans, including shortages of trained interpreters. It also discusses underrepresentation of Asian Americans in media and the need for stronger moral and political leadership on civil rights issues.

Community

• L.A. Councilman Answers Charges of Japan-Bashing, page 3. Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky defended himself against accusations of Japan-bashing stemming from his role in rescinding the Sumitomo Metro Green Line contract, saying his opposition was about cost, not nationality. He addressed criticism from Mas Fukai and Mayor Tom Bradley, and described receiving hostile letters, including one referencing the murder of Yasuo Kato.
• Youths to Participate in Asian Pacific Conference, page 4. Fifty-one California high school students will participate in the second annual Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Conference, designed to build leadership skills and cultural awareness. More than 800 students applied for the three-day, all-expenses-paid conference.
• Officially Speaking, page 5. The Wisconsin Chapter of JACL held its inaugural event featuring guest speaker Judge Lynne Kawamoto, the first Asian judge in Illinois. Several chapter officers and board members were pictured at the event.
• Asian Americans to Be Honored, page 6. The 1992 Excellence 2000 Awards will honor outstanding Asian Americans, including Winston Chen, Myung Wha Chung, Josie Cruz Natori, George Takei, and Chang-Lin Tien, at an event in Washington, D.C. on May 8. Proceeds from the banquet support the Asian American Scholarship Fund.
• Legacy Fund Acknowledgements and Appointments, page 6. This roundup covers various community appointments including Paul M. Igasaki succeeding Peggy Saika as executive director of the Asian Law Caucus, and Jan Kumasaka being promoted to chair Washington state’s human rights commission. It also notes community service honors and a hockey player’s college decision.

Commentary

• Redress Funding Still Needs More Support, by Dennis Hayashi, page 3. JACL National Director Dennis Hayashi reports on his trip to Washington, D.C. to discuss the status of redress payments and proposed amendments to the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. He warns that funding shortfalls and proposed changes, including elimination of the Public Education Fund, threaten the final phase of the redress program and urges community support.
• A Letter From Camp Shelby, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Columnist Bill Hosokawa recounts how a Denver man named Jim Remsen found a decades-old letter from a 442nd Regiment soldier, Sgt. Kenji Sugawara, among items purchased at an estate sale. Sugawara was later found to have been killed in action in France in 1944, and Remsen is seeking descendants of the family to deliver the letter.
• Boro-Jidosha, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Columnist Bill Marutani explores why Japan’s roads have so few old, worn-out cars, attributing it to Japan’s strict and costly vehicle inspection system (shaken) that incentivizes owners to replace cars frequently. He notes that many used Japanese cars are exported to countries like Cambodia despite import taxes and right-hand-drive mismatches.
• Wants to Know if Redress Is Taxable, by A Satisfied Subscriber, page 8. A reader praises the Pacific Citizen’s helpful articles and asks whether redress payments must be reported as taxable income. The editor clarifies that redress money itself is not taxed, but interest generated from it is taxable.
• Remembering His Accomplishments, page 8. A reader pays tribute to the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa, recalling a personal visit to his home and reflecting on his accomplishments as a senator, university president, syndicated columnist, and semantics expert. The writer argues Hayakawa’s achievements are unmatched among Nisei despite disagreements over his redress stance.
• Cheers for Olympic Medal Winner Kristi, page 8. A reader from Arizona expresses pride in Kristi Yamaguchi’s Olympic gold medal win in figure skating. The writer praises media coverage referring to her as the first American woman champion.

JACL

• James Clavell Writing Contest Open, page 4. Submissions are being accepted for the James Clavell American Japanese National Literary Award, open to Japanese Americans writing about the Japanese American experience. The first-place winner receives $1,000 and will be recognized at the Nikkei Foundation Dinner in July.
• Masaoka Internship Deadline Extended, page 6. The deadline for applications to the Mike Masaoka Congressional Internship has been extended to June 1, 1992. The internship places a U.S. citizen college student in a Washington, D.C. congressional office for about three and a half months, honoring Masaoka’s legacy as JACL’s national legislative director and Washington representative.

Military & Veterans

• ‘Go For Broke’ Monument Design Contest Reopened, page 4. The design competition for a national monument honoring Japanese American WWII veterans in Washington, D.C. has been reopened with a new deadline of Oct. 15, 1992. The monument will honor the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Military Intelligence Service veterans.

Arts & Entertainment

• East West Players Present ‘Very Funny People’, page 7. East West Players will host an evening of comedy titled ‘Very Funny People’ featuring Dennis Dun, Amy Hill, Dan Kwong, Jude Narita, Lauren Tom, and Gedde Watanabe on March 8. The event, emceed by George Takei, supports the nation’s oldest Asian American theater.

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.