Patsy Mink, Redress updates and a retrial in Idaho

Vol. 121, No. 7, October 6, 1995. 12 pages. View this issue

Patsy Takemoto Mink was elected chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, succeeding Norman Mineta, and the front page also reported that Idaho prosecutors will retry Troy Shiozawa on a deadlocked battery count, in a story by Gwen Muranaka. Redress news ran alongside: the Office of Redress Administration told JACL that 79,832 of 80,000 authorized cases had been paid. Mike Honda chose to run for the California Assembly, and Bill Hosokawa wrote that no single Japanese American position exists.

Other pages looked back at the World War II incarceration (often called internment): a Topaz reunion in Los Angeles, a Tule Lake mini-reunion planned for Oct. 14, and a seminar of camp newspaper editors recalling the Manzanar Free Press. Harry K. Honda covered a Seattle reunion of Military Intelligence Service veterans. Letters debated bringing the Pacific Citizen and JACL online.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Shiozawa to Be Retried on Battery Charge Against Ex-Wife, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Bannock County, Idaho, prosecutors decided to retry Troy Shiozawa on a deadlocked aggravated battery count involving his former wife Leslie, after he was acquitted of stabbing his stepdaughter. The defense has moved for a mistrial citing double jeopardy concerns, with a new trial set for Jan. 9, 1996.
• SELANOCO Chapter Hosts Children’s Program, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The 1995 class of Chibi-No-Gakko was held in July at the Orange County Buddhist Church as part of a week-long summer activity program sponsored by the SELANOCO Chapter, JACL. The program, now in its fourth year, teaches Japanese American children about their culture and heritage.
• Nikkei Housing Project Seeks Names, by P.C. Staff, page 5. San Diego’s 100-unit Kiku Gardens senior housing project, operated by local Nikkei community organizations including JACL, is seeking additional names for its waiting list. Prospective tenants must be 62 or older with income limits of $15,000 single or $18,150 couple.
• Upcoming New York Area Meetings Scheduled, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Several events are scheduled in the New York area including the Eastern District Council fall meeting, a field trip to the Shofu-Den Japanese Pavilion, and a benefit gala featuring Yukiko Sugihara and WWII veterans. A talk titled ‘Sugihara: The Japanese Schindler’ will also be held at Town Hall in November.
• Documentary Films to Be Presented in Chicago, by P.C. Staff, page 12. A series of documentary films titled ‘Echoes of the Pacific War: Japanese and Japanese Americans’ will be presented from Oct. 5 through Dec. 7 at the University of Chicago. The event is sponsored by the Center for East Asian Studies in conjunction with the Chicago Chapter, JACL.

National

• Patsy Mink Elected New Leader of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Patsy Takemoto Mink of Hawaii was elected chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, succeeding Rep. Norman Mineta who is resigning from Congress. Mink, the first woman of color elected to national office in U.S. history, has served in Congress for 17 years.
• California Hate Crimes Bill Passes Assembly, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senate Bill 911, which strengthens California’s hate crime laws, passed the Assembly 57-0 and awaits Gov. Pete Wilson’s signature. The bill adds private property protections and was introduced by Assemblyman Nao Takasugi with support from JACL and other civil rights groups.
• No Apology for ‘Slanty’ Eye Reference to Nomo, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Chicago Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray made a racially insensitive comment about Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo’s eyes during a broadcast and has refused to apologize. JACL Midwest regional director Bill Yoshino called for an apology, noting this was not the first time Caray used racial epithets on air.
• Mike Honda to Run for California Assembly — Not Mineta’s Seat, by Gwen Muranaka, page 3. Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Honda decided to run for the California State Assembly instead of pursuing Norman Mineta’s vacated congressional seat. Honda, interned at Amache during WWII, criticized the UC Board of Regents’ dismantling of affirmative action and encouraged more Nikkei to run for public office.
• Suspects Held in Beating of Asians in New York, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A third suspect, Jacob Charest, was apprehended in the Bensonhurst beatings of four Asian men and one Latino man, joining brothers Paul and Joseph Tinnirello who were indicted on attempted murder charges. Victim advocate Hyun Lee of the Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence disputed Mayor Giuliani’s claim the attacks weren’t racially motivated.
• JACL Opposes Welfare Reform Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 4. JACL and Asian American community leaders expressed disappointment at the Senate’s passage of a welfare reform bill that would restrict immigrants’ access to federal needs-based programs. Karen Narasaki of the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium questioned the constitutionality of the restrictions.

Incarceration & Redress

• ORA Meets With JACL for Redress Update, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Office of Redress Administration reported that as of Aug. 30, 79,832 redress cases had been paid out of 80,000 authorized, with an estimated 5,000 additional cases potentially eligible due to recent court decisions. Concerns were raised about funding shortfalls and the eligibility cutoff date used by ORA.
• Repaying With Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Lois Shimotori, a Sparks, Nev., woman born in an internment camp, used her $20,000 Redress check to establish a scholarship for single mothers at the University of Nevada, Reno. She said she wanted to help other mothers avoid the financial struggles she faced while attending college as a divorced parent.
• Evacuation Stories Highlight Topaz Reunion Event, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Former internees of the Topaz Relocation Center gathered for the Topaz Reunion ’95 in Los Angeles, sponsored by the Japanese American National Museum, attracting approximately 250 people. Panelists including K. Morgan Yamanaka, Fred Hoshiyama, and Sachi Kajiwara discussed the lasting effects of their internment experiences.
• Tule Lake Mini-Reunion Scheduled for Oct. 14 in Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A Tule Lake mini-reunion will be held at the Japanese American National Museum in conjunction with the closing of the ‘America’s Concentration Camps’ exhibit. Featured speakers include Harry Kitano, and videos on the Tule Lake reunion and pilgrimage will be shown throughout the day.
• Camp Newspaper Editors Look Back After 50 Years, by Harry K. Honda, page 10. A Japanese American National Museum seminar brought together former camp newspaper editors including Bill Hosokawa, Barry Saiki, Sue Embrey, Togo Tanaka, and others to discuss the pressures they faced running newspapers during WWII internment. Panelists recalled how the Manzanar Free Press was suspended after the December 1942 riot and discussed the WRA’s editorial policies.

Military & Veterans

• Capt. Wang Reassigned to Dayton, Ohio, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Air Force Capt. Jim Wang, the only officer tried for his role in the 1994 friendly fire downing of two helicopters over Iraq, has been reassigned to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Wang said he is looking forward to continuing his Air Force career despite the setback to his promotion prospects.
• MIS Postwar Phase Topic of Seattle Reunion, by Harry K. Honda, page 7. Nearly 700 Nikkei and non-Nikkei gathered in Seattle for the 50th anniversary MISLS End of War reunion, with veterans recalling their Occupation days in Japan, the Korean War, and War Crimes trials. Col. Tom Sakamoto recounted witnessing the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri, and command historian Dr. James McNaughton discussed his research into MIS history.

JACL

• CCDC Discusses Internship, Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Central California District Council met in Fresno to discuss a college internship program, updates on Redress eligibility following recent court rulings, and other district business. Topics also included the Chiune Sugihara exhibit, a Tulare Assembly Center marker, and Leadership Fresno participation.
• District Supports PC’s On-line Proposal, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Central California District Council voted unanimously to support placing JACL and Pacific Citizen on an on-line computer system, with a presentation planned before the National Board’s Oct. 21-22 meeting. Assistant editor Gwen Muranaka presented options including email, bulletin board systems, and Internet access.
• JACL Board Meeting Set for Oct. 21-22, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The next National Board meeting of JACL is scheduled for Oct. 21-22, 1995, at National Headquarters in San Francisco. The Personnel Committee will interview national director candidates on Oct. 20, and the Budget Committee will review financial reports.
• Yasuhara Apologizes for Comments in Pleading to Lawsuit, by P.C. Staff, page 5. JACL President Denny Yasuhara issued a public apology regarding statements attributed to him in a legal pleading related to a defamation suit, denying he made claims about a relationship between deponents and Treasurer Jonathan Kaji or a missing $400,000 reserve fund. He clarified he never suggested wrongdoing by anyone on the National Board.
• Clyde Nishimura Named to P.C. Board, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Clyde Nishimura, president of the Washington, D.C. Chapter, JACL, has been named Eastern District Council representative to the Pacific Citizen Editorial Board effective Sept. 1. Board chairwoman Mae Takahashi welcomed him, saying his experience will bring fresh perspectives.

Commentary

• The So-Called ‘JA Position’ Doesn’t Exist, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa argues there is no single Japanese American position on any issue, citing diverse examples from an FBI sharpshooter to a tax protester to JACL’s internal debates over same-sex marriage endorsement and welfare policy. He concludes Japanese Americans have become as diverse as the rest of America rather than a monolithic ethnic minority.
• The Boilermakers, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Marutani recalls his 1944 basic infantry training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas, and his friendship and athletic rivalry with Purdue football player Tom Modisett. He reflects on the competitive dynamic between the Nikkei trainees and their white counterparts, and wonders what became of his friend Tom decades later.
• Yasuhara Set Record Straight on Spending by National Officers, by Denny Yasuhara, page 8. JACL National President Denny Yasuhara responds to a letter criticizing JACL spending, clarifying that none of his travel expenses were billed to National JACL and that officers have made significant personal financial sacrifices. He points to the financial report showing reduced expenditures and asks critics to verify facts before making accusations.
• Beijing Journal, by Mei Nakano, page 9. Nakano recounts her experiences at the Fourth United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing, describing the Great Wall, the opening ceremonies of the NGO Forum, and conversations with women from Egypt and elsewhere. She reflects on the contrast between China’s ancient monuments built on exploited labor and the modern welcoming atmosphere of the conference.
• The Future Is Here—And It’s On-line, by Karl K. Nobuyuki, page 9. Nobuyuki discusses the emergence of Internet technology and computer literacy among younger generations, expressing excitement about JACL’s new on-line presence. He envisions how JACL could benefit from establishing an online communication network for chapters and members nationwide.
• Don’t Discount Nisei, Responds Reader, by K. Wikide, page 10. A reader responds to an earlier letter criticizing the Nisei generation, quoting columnist Russell Baker about how history is written by winners and rewritten by their children. The writer argues that younger generations often come to appreciate what their elders accomplished.
• Reader Has 18 Questions About JACL Budget Report, page 10. A Los Angeles reader raises 18 detailed questions and criticisms about JACL’s mid-1995 budget report, highlighting membership losses, donation declines, and inconsistencies in expense reporting. The writer argues that continued membership loss reflects a lack of confidence in JACL leadership.
• Likes Idea of Getting Pacific Citizen Online, by Debbie W. Ross, page 11. A Hoosier Chapter JACL member suggests creating a P.C./JACL website to allow members to access current and back issues, personal ads, and other content online. She notes this could benefit international readers, including friends and family in Japan.
• More Ideas for PC/JACL Online, by Joseph K. Hurd, page 11. A reader suggests JACL establish a home page to reach new audiences worldwide and create an email mailing list for distributing information and gathering feedback from members. He expresses enthusiasm about the possibilities for spreading JACL’s mission online.
• Willing and Able to Help Get PC Online, by Robert Wiichi Irie, page 11. A New England Chapter JACL member offers his services to help develop a web presence for JACL and Pacific Citizen, arguing it would educate other Americans about the Japanese American community and connect young Nikkei nationwide. He offers to assist with planning or design of such an effort.
• Wants Membership Information in PC, page 11. A reader complains about difficulty finding single membership costs for JACL, noting that a call to the office resulted in being redirected to San Francisco headquarters. The writer criticizes the lack of readily available information in the newspaper.

In-Depth

• Sept. 2, 1945, by Harry K. Honda, page 9. Honda recounts the history of the Japanese surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945, drawing from multiple historical sources including books by Bill Hosokawa, Lyn Crost, and others. He details the roles of Nisei MIS linguists Tom Sakamoto, Noboru Yoshimura, and Jiro Yokoyama who witnessed the signing.

Obituaries

• Toshi Shimizu, page 12. Toshi Shimizu, born Dec. 14, 1907 in Alameda, Calif., died Aug. 24, 1995 in Cincinnati. She moved to Cincinnati in 1943 from the Poston internment camp, where her family operated Soya Food Products for over 45 years, producing tofu and bean sprouts and importing Japanese foods for the local community.
• Akira Ichikawa, page 12. Akira Ichikawa of Los Altos, Calif., 79, passed away on Sept. 22, 1995. He is survived by his wife Chizu, sons Gerald, Donald and Michael, and five grandchildren.
• George Kiyoshi Sankey, page 12. George Kiyoshi Sankey, 76, a Hawaii-born Nisei and WWII MIS veteran, passed away Sept. 24 following an illness. Funeral services were held at Centenary United Methodist Church, and he is survived by his wife Anita, two sons, a daughter, and siblings.
• Chorge Kaku, page 12. Chorge Kaku, 82, died Sept. 7, 1995 at Lindsay Hospital. He was Tulare County JACL president in 1939, a WWII veteran who taught Japanese at MISLS, and continued his family’s Save-Center Market until retiring in 1985.
• Mae M. Yotsuya, page 12. Mae M. Yotsuya, 75, a Santa Rosa, Calif.-born Nisei and resident of Turlock, passed away Sept. 28 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She is survived by her husband Yukihiro, two children, grandchildren, and siblings.

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