Vol. 113, No. 16, November 15, 1991. 8 pages. View this issue
Vandals broke into the Southeast Japanese Community Center in Norwalk on Nov. 7 and trashed the dojo and classroom, painting racial slurs on the walls. Gwen Muranaka reported on community concern over the slow police response, and the JACL regional office announced a reward for information. Rep. Norman Mineta also opposed a provision in the Civil Rights Act of 1991 that exempted Wards Cove Packing Company, and the JACL National Youth Conference met in Los Angeles.
Military Intelligence Service veterans filled much of the rest of the issue. Bill Hosokawa wrote about the 50th anniversary reunion, and Harry K. Honda reported on Richard Sakakida’s talk. Bob Kumamoto’s column visited Hokkaido and the Ainu. A letter clarified the Day of Remembrance and Executive Order 9066.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Racist Vandalism Strikes JA Center, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Vandals broke into the Southeast Japanese Community Center in Norwalk on Nov. 7, trashing the dojo and adjoining classroom with racial epithets like ‘Nips’ and ‘go back to Asia’ painted on walls and furniture. Community members expressed concern over the slow police response, noting this was the third such incident in three weeks.
- JACL Regional Office Offers Reward, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL PSWD announced it will offer an unspecified reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandals who trashed the Southeast Japanese Community Center. Community leaders including Dennis Hayashi, Ron Wakabayashi, and others gathered at a Nov. 8 meeting to address the incident.
- L.A. to Promote More Minority Police, by P.C. Staff, page 1. After a long struggle, the Los Angeles City Council agreed to promote more Latino, African American, and Asian American officers to higher ranks following discrimination complaints dating back to 1989. The settlement includes annual goals and timetables for promoting minority officers to supervisory ranks and requires progress reports to a state administrative law judge.
- Promotion Settlement Details for LAPD, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The consent decree settlement for LAPD minority officer promotions includes annual goals for African American, Latino, and Asian American officers reaching supervisory ranks and progress reporting to a state administrative law judge for up to 15 years. Kathryn Imahara and others commented on the significance of the settlement while noting the small number of Asian American officers currently on the force.
National
- Mineta Calls for Correction to Civil Rights Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Norman Mineta announced opposition to a Senate provision in the Civil Rights Act of 1991 that grants an exemption to Wards Cove Packing Company, accused of discriminating against Asian Pacific Americans and Native Alaskans. Mineta joined Rep. Jim McDermott and 26 other representatives introducing legislation to strike the exemption after the bill passed both houses of Congress.
- Filipino Nurse Wins Limited Victory in English-Only Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Aida Dimaranan, a 14-year employee of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, won major concessions in a court decision announced Oct. 23 regarding an English-only rule she believed was discriminatory. She was represented by attorneys from the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, ACLU of Southern California, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
- Commission Urges Better U.S.-Japan Framework to Solve Global Problems, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Commission on U.S.-Japan Relations urges both countries to draw up a ‘Pacific Charter’ addressing economic and political interests, including an eventual Pacific free trade agreement. The report also recommends Japan assume a greater role in world affairs commensurate with its economic power and devote a larger percentage of its GNP to international responsibilities.
- Firms Support Illinois Panel to Improve Government, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A council was created Sept. 25 in Illinois to recommend reforms to the state’s personnel system and improve government services, chaired by John Thompson of IBM Midwestern Area. The Chicago Community Trust awarded a $100,000 matching grant to support the council’s formation, which will address issues like recruiting minority workers into government management positions.
JACL
- JACL Youth Meet to Discuss Issues, Leadership Roles, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL National Youth Conference was held Nov. 8-10 in Los Angeles, focusing on finding and educating young leaders within the organization. JACL national and PSWD leaders participated alongside young professionals and student members from various chapters.
- Youth Conference Highlights Cultural Values, Leadership, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The JACL National Youth Conference featured workshops on cultural values, hate crimes, and civic education, led by speakers including Dennis Hayashi, Trisha Murakawa, and Ron Wakabayashi. Student attendees like Diane Saiki and Yoko Shimohara described the conference as helpful for exploring their Asian American identity and cultivating leadership skills.
Commentary
- Common MIS Bond of Pride Is Felt, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa reflects on the 50th anniversary reunion of Military Intelligence Service veterans held in San Francisco and Monterey, tracing the program’s origins to a Japanese language school at the Presidio with a $2,000 budget just weeks before Pearl Harbor. He recounts stories of discrimination faced by Nisei linguists during and after the war, and the enduring camaraderie among veterans despite these hardships.
- North Sea Road, by Bob Kumamoto, page 4. The columnist recounts a visit to Hokkaido, Japan’s northern island, exploring its history including the indigenous Ainu people who were displaced by the expanding Yamato government centuries ago. The piece draws parallels between the treatment of the Ainu and the treatment of Native Americans in the United States, including forced relocation and cultural suppression.
- Dislikes Controversial Hironaka Cartoon, by Wike T.H. Namba, page 4. A letter writer criticizes a Sept. 13th political cartoon by Pete Hironaka depicting white men cursing Yonsei children as being in poor taste and inflammatory. The writer argues that racist speech continues today and that such cartoons, rather than being humorous, provoke thought and legitimate social comment about ongoing bigotry.
- Clarification on Day of Remembrance, by D. Sasaki, O.D., page 4. A letter writer clarifies details about the Day of Remembrance, noting that President Roosevelt’s Executive Order was issued Feb. 19, 1942, superseding earlier restrictions on Japanese Americans. The writer references documentation from Congressional hearings on national defense migration to support the timeline of events.
Military & Veterans
- Nikkei Tells of WWII Intrigue, by Harry K. Honda, Senior Editor, page 5. Richard Sakakida, a retired Army colonel, spoke at the MIS reunion about his daring prewar exploits, imprisonment, and torture in the Philippines during World War II after 50 years of silence. Other veterans including Yoshikazu Yamada, Fukuhara, and Koyama also shared their wartime experiences at the Monterey reunion of Military Intelligence Service Language School veterans.
- The Legacy of a Nisei Soldier, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The article profiles a career Army officer who served under Gen. MacArthur in Brisbane and later in Tokyo during the occupation, and as chief of Military Intelligence during the Vietnam War, despite suffering serious injuries including losing ribs and lung damage. A longtime JACL member, he helped establish the Seattle chapter in 1941 and became its first president, remaining a strong supporter of the JACL Legacy Fund.
- Koyama Is ‘Never-Say-Die’, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Spady Koyama, wounded in New Guinea during his MIS service, later worked under Gen. MacArthur and served as chief of Military Intelligence for the Vietnam War despite lasting injuries from a combat wound. His long career and dedication were highlighted at the recent MIS reunion in San Francisco.
Obituaries
- Wakukawa, Seiyei, 83, Honolulu, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Seiyei Wakukawa, an Okinawa-born editor and teacher, was arrested by the FBI while teaching Japanese in Honolulu during WWII and interned in New Mexico before being released in 1943 after appealing to President Roosevelt. He went on to teach at the University of Chicago and Harvard, help Okinawa recover after the war, and worked as an editor at the Hawaii Times until retiring in 1975, later hosting a TV program on KIKU-TV.
- Ujifusa, Harry Y., 84, Denver, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Harry Y. Ujifusa, born in Okayama and an Issei pioneer, came to the U.S. in 1917 to join his parents in Worland, Wyoming, and helped organize the Japanese employees of a sugar refinery. He is survived by his wife Toshiko and several children.
- Nishiyama, Hon. Takehiko, 55, Brussels, Belgium, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Takehiko Nishiyama, who served as Japanese ambassador to the European Community and as Japanese consul general in San Francisco from 1982 to January 1984, died of hepatic insufficiency at age 55. His diplomatic career included significant service representing Japan’s interests internationally.
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