Remarks about Cambodian immigrants and a month of chapter news

Vol. 110, No. 7, February 23, 1990. 8 pages. View this issue

Immigrant leaders in Boston demanded an apology from gubernatorial candidate John Silber, who had called Massachusetts a “welfare magnet” for Cambodians and other immigrants. The front page also reported that Chang-Lin Tien was named chancellor of UC Berkeley, that Kristi Yamaguchi and Rudi Galindo won the pairs title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and that Rep. Norman Mineta keynoted Chicago’s Lunar New Year banquet and drew lessons from the Redress movement.

Opinion pages carried Bill Yoshino on JACL’s support for affirmative action, Bill Hosokawa on ethnic stereotyping, and a reader’s alarm at Japan-bashing in the press. Alan Nishi explained the proposed 1991-92 JACL budget. Installation dinners from San Jose, Placer County and Washington, D.C. fill the community pages. The 8 pages also include a history of Japanese farmers in Texas and a note on the Minidoka Project dedication.

What’s in this issue

National

• Remarks Outrage Cambodian Americans: Gubernatorial Candidate Asked to Apologize, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Immigrant leaders in Boston demanded that gubernatorial candidate John Silber apologize for remarks calling Massachusetts a ‘welfare magnet’ for Cambodians and other immigrants. Community representatives, including Dan M. Lam and Cambodian immigrant Yem, criticized the comments as ignorant and inaccurate given actual welfare recipient demographics.’
• Chang-Lin Tien Named UC Berkeley Chancellor, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Chang-Lin Tien was named the new chancellor of UC Berkeley, becoming the first Asian American to head a UC campus. Tien, a mechanical engineering professor with a doctorate from Princeton, will succeed Michael Heyman on July 1.’
• California’s Roberti Compiles Legislation of Interest to Asian Pacific Islander Americans, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A compilation of 169 bills and joint resolutions from the 1989-1990 California legislative session relevant to Asian Pacific Islander communities was prepared by Georgette Imura and Maeley Tom of Senate Pro-tem David Roberti’s office. Several bills specifically addressed Japanese American reparations and correcting racial slurs on birth certificates.’
• HSST Rail Proposal for L.A.-Orange County Made, by P.C. Staff, page 3. HSST Corp., a Japanese firm, proposed to state Senate committees that it would pay for a magnetically levitated commuter rail linking Los Angeles, Orange County and San Fernando Valley in exchange for rights of way and exclusive operating rights. A five-mile demonstration project in Orange County could be operational within 18 months of approval.’
• Discrepancy Among Nikkei, Caucasian and Japanese Male Diabetes Rates under Study, by P.C. Staff, page 3. University of Washington researchers are investigating why Nisei men have diabetes rates four times higher than Japanese men in Japan and twice that of White Americans in a $2.3 million NIH-funded study. Preliminary findings suggest genetic susceptibility combined with a fattier American diet, along with childhood nurturing environment and education levels, may play roles in the disparity.’
• Mineta Urges New Law to Safeguard against Future Oil Spills, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Rep. Norman Mineta cited the offshore oil spill near Huntington Beach as urgent evidence for enacting the Oil Pollution Prevention, Response, Liability and Compensation Act of 1989. Mineta was named to the House-Senate conference reconciling differences between House and Senate versions of the bill requiring double-hulled tankers.’
• Jokes and Anger in Wake of Rockefeller Center Deal, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Mitsubishi Estate Co.’s $846 million purchase of a majority interest in Rockefeller Center sparked jokes and anti-Japanese sentiment in New York, as reported in the New York Times. Civil liberties advocates like Norman Siegel criticized the xenophobic reactions as un-American, while experts noted Japanese investment in the U.S. is far less than commonly perceived.’
• Cracking the Japanese Market, by Kenji Takeuchi, page 5. Foreign corporations like W.R. Grace, ICI, and Amway are successfully penetrating the Japanese market despite structural trade barriers, with companies adapting their strategies to compete directly with Japanese firms. Amway Japan has become particularly successful using direct-sales methods that bypass expensive middlemen.’

Community

• L.A. School Named after Morris Hamasaki, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Los Angeles School Board voted to rename Riggin Elementary School to Morris K. Hamasaki Elementary School in honor of its longtime former principal who died last July. Hamasaki, who served the school for 11 years, was known for his dedication to students and parents.’
• Mineta Keynotes Chicago’s Lunar New Year Banquet, by Patti Adachi, page 1. Chicago’s Asian American community hosted its seventh annual Lunar New Year Banquet with over 1,100 attendees, featuring keynote speaker Rep. Norman Mineta discussing unity among diverse communities. Mineta drew lessons from the WWII evacuation and Redress movement, and Arthur Morimitsu received a community award for his veterans advocacy work.’
• Sheridan Tatsuno Addresses West Valley JACL Installation, by May Yanagita, page 1. The West Valley JACL Chapter held its installation dinner with David Muraoka becoming the new president, followed by a talk from author Sheridan Tatsuno on U.S.-Japan relations and Japan’s technological advances. Tatsuno warned of rising anti-Japanese sentiment and urged JACL to remain vigilant amid growing U.S.-Japan tensions.’
• San Jose JACL Installs New Officers and Board, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The San Jose Chapter of JACL installed new officers led by incoming president Tom Shigemasa, the 40th president of the chapter, at the Issei Memorial Building. Outgoing president Leon Kimura was honored for his service, and board member Yosh Morimoto was recognized for 10 years of service.’
• Carlos Kasuga Urges PANA-USA Nikkei to Keep Faith with Issei Spirit and Values, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Carlos Kasuga of Mexico City, PANA International president, spoke at the PANA-USA New Year dinner about maintaining Issei cultural values of duty and perseverance among Nikkei generations across the Americas. Other speakers included PANA-USA President Noritoshi Kanai and community leaders discussing upcoming PANA conventions in Paraguay and Canada.’
• Placer County Installs 1990 Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 2. About 50 people attended the installation dinner of the Placer County JACL, where Chester Yamada was installed as the new president. Fifth district supervisor Mike Fluty spoke about county issues at the event chaired by E. Ken Tokutomi.’
• Hollywood School in Seattle Was Gakuen, by P.C. Staff, page 2. An old schoolhouse called ‘Hollywood’ near Seattle, built in 1912, was used as a Japanese language school in the late 1930s until World War II. The two-story structure is now an official state landmark.’
• D.C. JACL Chapter Holds 44th Installation, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Washington, D.C. JACL Chapter held its 44th annual installation dinner featuring guest speaker Dr. Jin Kinoshita of the National Eye Institute. Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Sens. Inouye and Matsunaga and Reps. Mineta, Matsui, and Saiki for their work on Redress legislation.’
• Snake River Valley JACL to Host IDC Board Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Snake River JACL chapter will host the Intermountain District Council board meeting in Ontario, Oregon, discussing the Minidoka Project dedication and a proposed Japanese American Cultural Center. A Casino Night fundraiser will follow the meeting.’
• San Jose JACL Holds Inventory to Raise Funds, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A volunteer crew of 25 JACLers conducted a semi-annual store inventory at Emporium Valley Fair to raise funds for the San Jose chapter. The chapter thanked store management for inviting them to participate in the fundraising effort.’
• Gardena Valley JACL Seeking Queen Candidates, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Gardena Valley JACL chapter is seeking candidates for its 1990 Miss Gardena Valley JACL Queen Contest to be held in April. The winner will represent the chapter in the annual Nisei Week Queen Pageant in August.’

Sports

• Yamaguchi Wins First in Pairs, Second in Singles, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kristi Yamaguchi and Rudi Galindo won the pairs competition for the second straight year at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Yamaguchi also placed second in the women’s singles finals despite falling twice, and will compete in next month’s World Championships.’

JACL

• Deadline for Nat’l JACL Scholarships Announced, by P.C. Staff, page 1. All freshman scholarship applications for the 1990 JACL National Scholarship and Awards Program are due to local chapter scholarship chairpersons by March 1. Applications and brochures are available from local chapters, regional offices, or National Headquarters.’
• Back in Black, by Alan Nishi, page 4. National JACL Treasurer Alan Nishi reports on the proposed 1991-92 biennial budget featuring no dues increase, relying instead on outside revenue from fundraising events and the VISA affinity card program. He also reports preliminary 1989 budget results showing an $80,000 surplus, up from $10,000 in 1988, achieved through reduced expenditures and increased outside revenue.’
• Ralph M. Parsons Gives JACCC $20,000 for Programs, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center received a $20,000 grant from the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation for community programs including Oshogatsu, Children’s Day, and concert series. The funds will support staff and promotional materials for the programs begun in October.’

Commentary

• Affirmative Action: A Clarification, by Bill Yoshino, page 4. JACL National Director Bill Yoshino responds to a previous Pacific Citizen editorial on affirmative action, clarifying that JACL supports affirmative action programs despite concerns about anti-Asian discrimination in admissions. Yoshino argues that quotas are illegal and that admissions discrimination against Asians stems from other methods, not affirmative action for other minorities.’
• Newsweek’s Japan-bashing, by Andrew Nob Okumoto, page 4. A reader expresses alarm at rising anti-Japanese sentiment fueled by media ‘Japan-bashing,’ citing a Newsweek cover depicting a kimono-clad woman as the Statue of Liberty regarding the Sony-Columbia deal. The writer cancelled his Newsweek subscription in protest and found others who felt similarly.’
• Useful and Not So Real, page 4. A brief letter notes that Bill Hosokawa’s article on dead watch batteries could be useful for readers with time management issues. The letter references a specific February Pacific Citizen column.’
• Sensitivity the Key to Avoiding Insults, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa’s column examines ethnic stereotyping through examples like an Italian-mimicking TV commercial and questions how Japanese Americans would react to similar stereotyping. He explores the complexities of ethnic labels and terms, from ‘Finlander’ to ‘Jap,’ noting how context and history determine which terms are offensive.’
• de Cristoforo Slighted, by Wilfred H. de Cristoforo, page 7. A letter writer disputes a previous Pacific Citizen article’s account of the Salinas Chapter JACL’s Kinenhi memorial construction, arguing that credit was misattributed to certain individuals rather than the true organizers. The writer details the actual history of who secured approvals, selected the site, and arranged for the memorial plaque.’

In-Depth

• First Japanese Texans Contribute to State’s Farm Industry, by Masakazu Iwata, page 5. This continuing historical series covers Japanese immigrant agricultural contributions in Texas, including rice cultivation in the Rio Grande Valley and El Paso area agricultural enterprises dating back to the early 1900s. The article details specific pioneers like Kametaro Takahashi and the Saibara family’s rice farming operations that introduced superior Japanese rice strains to Texas.’

Obituaries

• Naruhiko Higashikuni, 102, Former Japan Prince, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Naruhiko Higashikuni, Japan’s first postwar prime minister and the only imperial family member to head a cabinet, died in Tokyo. He served briefly as prime minister in 1945, supervised the peaceful disbanding of Japan’s armed forces, and renounced his imperial family membership in 1947.’
• Rev. Kakusho Izumi, 88, Buddhist Minister, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Rev. Kakusho Izumi, ordained in 1926 and originally from Hiroshima, died in Honolulu. He served various Buddhist churches in Hawaii, was interned during WWII, and later led the Hongwanji Radio Hour before retiring in 1965.’
• Ed Nakano, 49, School Superintendent, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Ed Nakano, appointed Leeward District superintendent in Hawaii in 1987, died of cancer in Honolulu. He had a 20-year career as a teacher and principal and served as president of the Hawaii State Teachers association from 1976-78.’
• Barbara Reynolds, 74, Honorary Hiroshima Citizen, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Barbara Reynolds, who studied atomic bomb radiation effects in Hiroshima with her anthropologist husband, died in Wilmington, Ohio. She founded the World Friendship Center in Hiroshima and became the first non-Japanese to be designated an honorary citizen, later working with Cambodian refugees in Long Beach.’
• Lillian Katsuyo Takeshita, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Lillian Katsuyo Takeshita died at her home after having worked as an activist in the Japanese American community. Details of her life and contributions were noted in the obituary tribute.’

Arts & Entertainment

• The Newsmakers, by P.C. Staff, page 8. This roundup profiles notable Japanese Americans including attorney Mari Mayeda, college baseball pitcher Fred Matsubara, newly appointed Washington state trade official Paul Isaki, insurance executive Stanley Furuta, banking executive Dennis Uyemura, new Japanese Consul General Kiyohiko Arafune, and golfer David Ishii who won the Hawaiian Open. Each individual’s career achievements and background are briefly highlighted.’

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