Vol. 117, No. 3, July 23, 1993. 12 pages. View this issue
Two stories shared the front page of this 12-page issue. In Beaumont, Texas, support grew for Sandra Tanamachi Nakata’s effort to change the name of Jap Road, a racial slur, after a Jefferson County Commissioners Court meeting. Gwen Muranaka reported on JACL members and groups such as the ADL, LULAC and the Texas Civil Liberties Union who took part. The other subject was the film Rising Sun. Karen Narasaki argued it is racist, Muranaka argued it is not, and actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa defended the film and his role in it. JACL and MANAA also issued statements of concern.
Elsewhere, Harry K. Honda reported on the Japanese Canadian redress program nearing completion, and Bill Hosokawa and Bill Marutani wrote columns on page 8. Lillian C. Kimura described the Pan American Nikkei conference in Vancouver, and chapter scholarship winners were named on page 6.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Texas Nikkei Gets Support in Jap Road Fight, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Support continues to build for Sandra Tanamachi Nakata’s fight to change the name of Jap Road in Beaumont, Texas, as JACL members and advocacy groups made their case before Jefferson County Commissioners Court. Representatives from the ADL, LULAC and Texas Civil Liberties Union also attended, while Nakata could not attend a related LULAC meeting due to her son’s car accident and emergency surgery.
- Support Continues to Build in Jap Road Fight, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Family members including Sandra Tanamachi Nakata’s mother and sister spoke emotionally at the Jefferson County Commissioners meeting about their parents’ World War II internment experience. Attendees noted only one minority commissioner was present, and praised the 36th Infantry Division Association’s Dominic Ferguson for supporting the name change while criticizing others for not fully supporting the effort.
- Florin Scholars, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Florin Chapter, JACL, awarded 1993 scholarships to several students including Jeffrey Yoshimura, Alan Sakakihara, and Kevin Nakano, with guest speaker Bill Marutani presiding. The photo shows recipients alongside chapter officials and scholarship committee members.
- White River Valley Chapter Announces Scholarship Awards, by Michiko Maebori, page 6. The White River Valley Chapter, JACL, awarded two $500 scholarships to high school students at its 1993 graduation banquet in Kent, Washington. Correne Yokoyama and another recipient were honored, with one scholarship given in memory of George Yasumura, a charter member and former chapter president.
- East L.A. Chapter Scholars Named, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The East Los Angeles Chapter, JACL, named its 1993 scholarship winners including Joy Kimiko Fujitani, Stephanie Lily Seki, Justin T. Hata, and Suzanne Sane Tada. The scholarship committee was chaired by June Kurisu.
National
- JA Named to U.S. Attorney Position, by P.C. Staff, page 1. U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno nominated Michael Yamaguchi to be U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, a nomination submitted by Sen. Barbara Boxer. If confirmed, Yamaguchi would become the first Asian American U.S. Attorney, a move praised by Boxer and JACL’s Patty Wada.
Arts & Entertainment
- JA Actor Gives Views on Movie, Role, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who plays Eddie Sakamura in Rising Sun, discusses his views on the film and defends it against charges of racism, comparing it favorably to other movies like Showdown in Little Tokyo. Tagawa explains his approach to the character and his thoughts on Japanese American identity and assimilation.
Commentary
- Is Rising Sun Racist? It Is…, by Karen Narasaki, page 1. JACL Washington D.C. representative Karen Narasaki argues that Rising Sun reinforces the ‘yellow peril’ stereotype and lacks any likeable Asian main characters. She contends the film’s portrayal of manipulative Japanese men and objectified white women will fuel anti-Asian sentiment and violence.
- Is Rising Sun Racist? It Isn’t…, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Assistant editor Gwen Muranaka argues that while Rising Sun contains racist dialogue and scenes, the film itself is not a racist movie because it presents complex characters with both positive and negative traits. She contends the movie follows typical Hollywood thriller conventions and criticizes American characters as well as Japanese ones.
- Between Two Worlds, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Columnist Bill Hosokawa recounts the story of Minoru Mochizuki’s search to learn about his brother Shigeaki, who left for Japan in 1938 and died serving in the Japanese navy during World War II. After a 40-year search, Min learned details of his brother’s life and death but never learned how Shig truly felt about fighting against his native America.
- Russian Roulette, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Bill Marutani examines the stark disparity in the ratio of lawyers per capita between the U.S. and Japan, noting Japan’s bar exam pass rate is a devastating two percent. He describes the rigorous, almost impossible path to becoming a lawyer in Japan and the restrictive rules limiting foreign lawyers’ practice there.
- WWII Veterans: It’s Time to Talk, Not Just Praise, by Frank Abe, page 8. A letter writer responds to an earlier letter about the tension between the 442nd RCT reunion and draft resisters’ meeting, noting that veterans and their families also suffered greatly during the war. The writer calls for continued dialogue and reconciliation rather than assigning blame between resisters and soldiers.
- Participating in PANA, by Lillian C. Kimura, page 9. JACL National President Lillian Kimura describes her participation in the 7th Pan American Nikkei Association Conference in Vancouver, comparing the social histories of Nikkei communities across the Americas. She also discusses planning for the 30th anniversary March on Washington and other organizational activities during a busy July.
- A Well Conceived Convention, by Harry K. Honda, page 9. Editor emeritus Harry Honda praises the organization of the PANA conference in Vancouver, describing the exhibits, translation services, workshops, and film screenings on Japanese Canadian history and culture. He suggests JACL national conventions could benefit from a similar format that allows delegates and other attendees more flexibility.
- Taking the Trouble, by Karen Narasaki, page 9. Karen Narasaki recounts the story of Gordon Liu, a law student who successfully fought racial discrimination at a Utah car dealership by filing a complaint with the state Attorney General’s office. The case resulted in an apology and damages, illustrating the importance of individuals standing up against discrimination.
JACL
- JACL, MANAA Comment on ‘Rising Sun’, by P.C. Staff, page 3. National JACL and the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) issued statements expressing concern that Rising Sun could provoke a wave of anti-Asian violence upon its wide release. Both organizations criticized the film’s negative stereotypes and expressed worry that audiences would not distinguish between Japanese nationals and Japanese Americans.
Military & Veterans
- Canada’s Redress Foundation Program Nears Completion, by Harry K. Honda, page 7. The Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation’s $12 million community development program, part of the 1988 redress agreement, is nearing completion with over $15.8 million allocated to date. Major grants went to health care facilities, cultural centres, and community programs across various Japanese Canadian communities in Canada.
Obituaries
- Sam Koshio, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Sam Koshio, a retired Fort Lupton, Colorado farmer and longtime JACL leader known as ‘Mr. JACL,’ died suddenly of a heart attack at age 76. He served six terms as chapter president and was active in numerous community organizations including the Rotary, school board, and Buddhist Temple.
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