Vol. 114, No. 16, April 24, 1992. 8 pages. View this issue
Willie L. Williams was named L.A. police chief-designate, and Gwen Muranaka reported on what the choice meant for reform of the LAPD and for the city’s ethnic communities. Police Commission member Michael Yamaki described how the commission chose Williams and urged Asian Americans to make themselves known to him. Karen Narasaki, JACL’s new Washington representative, reported that the Civil Liberties Act Amendments, which carry additional redress funding, faced expected opposition in the Senate. JACL National Director Dennis Hayashi warned that up to 14,000 people might not receive redress checks if the amendments failed.
The JACL national convention in Denver, Aug. 3-8, drew a schedule of events and a list of deadlines, including a May 1 call for national officer nominations. A four-page In-Depth section turned to Asia: Korean hibakusha, Korean names in Japan, and a reopened Hiroshima museum. Columns by Bill Marutani and Lillian C. Kimura close out the commentary pages.
What’s in this issue
National
- Nikkeis Urged to Make Presence Known to New L.A. Police Chief, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Willie L. Williams was named L.A. police chief-designate, bringing hope for reform of the LAPD and questions about responsiveness to diverse ethnic communities. Police Commission member Michael Yamaki discusses the selection process and urges the Asian American community to make itself known to Williams.’
- Japan Woman Wins Harassment Suit, page 1. A Fukuoka District Court judge awarded $12,400 to a woman in a landmark ruling recognizing verbal sexual harassment as illegal in Japan, believed to be the country’s first sexual harassment suit. Hiroshi Kashiwagi of the Japan Pacific Resource Network hailed the decision as an opportunity to improve workplace environments for women in Japan.
- Suspects Reinvestigated in Arizona Murders, page 1. Maricopa County Sheriff Tom Agnos is reexamining evidence against four men arrested and later released in connection with the slaying of nine people at a Buddhist temple. New developments include a letter found in defendant Jonathan Doody’s cell referencing a ‘previous pact’ with co-defendant Alessandro Garcia.
- Check-Bouncing Politician Plays Up Japan-Bashing, page 1. Rep. Charles Wilson (D-Texas) received a warmer reception for his Japan-bashing rhetoric at the Redbud Festival than for his bounced checks at the House bank, which totaled 81 overdrafts. Local constituents in the timber industry pushed back, arguing that selling wood chips to Japan benefits their businesses.
- Japan to Maintain Peru Aid, page 1. Japanese Foreign Minister Michio Watanabe said Japan would continue channeling aid to Peru despite President Alberto Fujimori’s controversial actions, defending Fujimori’s steps to address national chaos. Columnist Georgie Anne Geyer noted the severity of Peru’s economic collapse, drug mafia influence, and the threat of Sendero Luminoso guerrillas.
- California’s Eu Supports Clinton, page 3. California Secretary of State March Fong Eu endorsed Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton’s presidential bid on April 15 in Los Angeles ahead of the state’s June 2 primary. Eu cited Clinton’s interest in Asian Pacific communities and his positions on the economy, education, and the Pacific Rim.
- Language Rights Bill Passes California Committee, page 5. The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee approved AB 2440, authored by Assemblyman Xavier Becerra, which prohibits employers from denying employees the right to speak a language other than English without business justification. The bill is supported by numerous civil rights organizations and awaits a hearing before the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.
JACL
- May 1 Deadline for Nominating National Officers, page 1. JACL is accepting nominations for national officer positions including president, vice presidents, and secretary treasurer, with a May 1 deadline for submission to the National Nominations Committee. Candidates must attend the JACL national convention in Denver, Aug. 3-8, and additional nominations after the deadline may only be taken from the floor at the convention.
- Reminders: Convention Deadlines, page 1. The article lists key deadlines for the 1992 JACL national convention including nominations, resolutions, awards, and credentials due by May 1 and June 15. All forms are to be sent to national JACL headquarters in San Francisco.
- Convention Highlights: Summertime in the Rockies, page 1. The 1992 JACL national convention will be held in Denver, opening with a delegate orientation and closing with the Sayonara Banquet on Aug. 8. The article outlines a schedule of events including golf and volleyball tournaments, business sessions, tours, and workshops throughout the week.
- Introducing New Washington Rep, page 1. Karen Narasaki, JACL’s new Washington D.C. representative, describes her whirlwind start meeting people and learning about issues facing the community. She expresses hope that Asian Americans can take a leadership role on civil rights issues, particularly regarding hate crimes funding.
Incarceration & Redress
- Senate May Oppose More Redress Funding, by Karen Narasaki, page 1. The Civil Liberties Act Amendments providing additional redress funding face expected opposition in the Senate, with the White House seeking to eliminate the public education component. JACL National Director Dennis Hayashi testified that education funds about the internment are essential, warning that up to 14,000 individuals may not receive redress checks if the amendments fail.
Community
- Asians Win Council Seats, page 3. April 14 primaries in Los Angeles County saw several Japanese American and Chinese American candidates run for city council seats, with mixed results across Gardena, Carson, South Pasadena, West Covina, and Monterey Park. Fundraising and campaign tactics among Chinese American candidates drew both success and negative publicity in several San Gabriel Valley cities.
- University to Inaugurate Bob Suzuki as President, page 3. Bob H. Suzuki will be inaugurated as president of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona on April 29, having previously served as vice president for academic affairs at California State University. Entertainer Bill Cosby, a friend of Suzuki’s from their student days, is scheduled to attend the inauguration.
- Conference to Discuss Language Rights Issues, page 5. The Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California is hosting its second Language Rights conference May 1-3 in Los Angeles, featuring workshops on topics including Native Hawaiian language preservation, bilingual ballots, and voting rights. Conference coordinator Jill Medina noted the expanded scope to include topics pertinent to communities of color.
In-Depth
- Chinese Malaysian Seeks Unpaid Wages, page 4. A Malaysian man of Chinese descent, recruited by the Japanese army during WWII to help build the Burma-Thailand railroad, is seeking compensation from Tokyo for unpaid wages and hardship. Group leader Soong Yit Koi visited Japan to relate his group’s plight, seeking ¥2-million per person in compensation.
- Korean Hibakusha Feel Neglect, page 4. An estimated 20,000 survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb live in South Korea, with about 4,000 belonging to the Korea A-Bomb Casualties Association led by Shin Young Soo. Soo, brought to Japan as a laborer during WWII, calls for accurate history teaching in Japan about Korean victims.
- Spreading Nihongo Language and Culture, page 4. Japanese teachers are being sent abroad to teach Japanese language and culture through the REX mutual understanding program, a joint effort by Japanese ministries begun in 1990. The 1991 class of 20 teachers were sent to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States for two-year stints.
- Many Koreans Use Fake Names in Japan, page 4. A survey found that two-thirds of 7,000 Korean students in Osaka schools are reluctant to use their Korean names due to bad experiences or unfamiliarity. The Foreigners Education Study Liaison Council called on the community to stop discriminating against Koreans and protect their ethnic identity.
- Iwojima Relics Point to Oceania Origins, page 4. Discovery of large-scale prehistoric relics on North Iwojima island last July may support the theory that Japanese people have origins in Oceania, according to the Tokyo board of education. The relics differ from those found on Japan’s main islands and suggest ties to the Maori people of New Zealand.
- Japan Opens Bureau for South Americans, page 4. With the number of Japanese workers coming from South America growing rapidly since June 1990, Japan’s Labor Ministry established a special information and employment center in Tokyo to protect workers from questionable employment brokers.
- Hiroshima Peace Museum Reopens with New Exhibits, page 4. After 16 months of renovation, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum reopened with roughly 400 new exhibit pieces and wax figures replacing old mannequins. Museum director Yoshitaka Kawamoto, a survivor himself, noted new language options including Tagalog, Thai, and Arabic added for foreign visitors.
Commentary
- The Hiroshima Countryside Today, page 6. The columnist describes visiting his cousin Michizume Fukuda’s ancestral farmhouse near Hiroshima, noting the area’s transformation from a traditional thatch-roofed home to a modernized dwelling with amenities. He laments that a wooded hill across the valley will soon be developed into houses, mirroring Japan’s broader trend of rural land development.
- War of Words and Phrases, by Bill Marutani, page 6. Marutani criticizes a NASDAQ ad depicting a menacing geisha and describes new derogatory Japanese slang terms like ‘busharu,’ ‘bu-bei,’ and ‘ken-bei’ that reflect growing anti-American sentiment in Japan. He calls for both nations to cool their rhetoric given their intertwined economic interests.
- A Stewardship Report, by Lillian C. Kimura, page 6. As she completes her second term as chair of the Pacific Citizen Board, Kimura reports on accomplishments including stabilizing editorial staff, streamlining production with computer technology, and relocating offices. She expresses hope for more diverse contributors, including Sansei/Yonsei writers, and thanks board members and staff for their service.
Obituaries
- Alice Y. Hashimoto, 75, page 8. Alice Y. Hashimoto, a longtime Brea, Calif. resident and accountant at Ann Arbor Osteopathic Hospital in Detroit for 30 years, died April 16 at age 75. She belonged to the Detroit Chapter JACL and is survived by her husband and children in California and family in Japan.
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