A Novato hate crime case, the redress education board, and Matsui on JACL

Vol. 122, No. 3, February 2, 1996. 12 pages. View this issue

A suspect in a Novato, Calif., stabbing was declared mentally competent to stand trial, and the Marin Chapter, JACL, pressed the city to denounce the attack as a hate crime. Redress followed close behind: President Clinton named eight recess appointments to the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund Board, and Herbert Yamanishi wrote that the board offered a chance to secure Japanese American history in schools. Rep. Robert T. Matsui spoke on Congress and on JACL in transition. Bill Hosokawa’s column honored Colorado Gov. Ralph L. Carr, who opposed the World War II incarceration (often called internment).

Elsewhere in the 12 pages are Mae Takahashi’s column on modernizing the paper, reader letters on weekly publication and on the Novato case, and chapter installations from Marin, San Fernando Valley, Riverside and Los Angeles. The San Jose chapter reported on plans for the August 1996 JACL national convention, and JACL announced $22,000 in corporate gifts.

What’s in this issue

National

• Suspect in Novato, Calif., Alleged Hate Crime Cleared to Stand Trial, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Robert Page, 25, was declared mentally competent to stand trial for the alleged stabbing of Chinese American Eddy Wu in Novato, Calif. The Marin Chapter, JACL, convened community leaders to denounce the hate crime and establish a multi-cultural oversight committee to develop a hate crime prevention plan.
• Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Here’s How to Do It, Says Commission, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The federal Glass Ceiling Commission issued its final report after four years of study on barriers facing women and minorities in business. The report recommends company-wide diversity policies, affirmative action as a merit-based tool, and family-friendly workplace policies.
• Impact of Immigrant Cost Much Lower, Says Study, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A study found that the fiscal impact of immigrants has changed significantly, noting most illegal immigrants overstay legal visas and new immigrants are largely of working age contributing to public coffers. More than 20 special interest groups signed onto the report’s findings.
• Rep. Patsy Mink to Be Honored by Asian American Legal Defense Group, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Congresswoman Patsy Mink and UC Berkeley Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien will receive the 1996 Justice in Action award from the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Mink was cited for breaking barriers as the first female Asian American attorney in Hawaii and first woman of color elected to Congress.

Obituaries

• Richard Sakakida, 75, a WWII Nisei Spy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Lt. Col. Richard M. Sakakida, USAF (ret.), died Jan. 25 at the Veterans Hospital in Palo Alto at age 75. His heroic WWII service as an intelligence agent in the Philippines was chronicled in the 1995 book ‘A Spy in Their Midst’.

Incarceration & Redress

• Redress Education Board Set to Work, by P.C. Staff, page 1. President Clinton announced eight recess appointments to the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund Board of Directors on Jan. 19, allowing the board to begin administering the fund without Senate confirmation delays. The board, established in 1988, sponsors research and education activities about the WWII internment to prevent similar events in the future.
• Monterey Peninsula JACL Publishes Community History Book, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Monterey Peninsula JACL published a 276-page book capturing recollections and historic photographs marking the centennial of their community, including a rare photo of a Japanese Tea House at Lover’s Point. The chapter held a reception distributing the book and honored community service award recipients at their joint installation dinner.
• Nominees Named to Civil Liberties Education Fund Board, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Nine individuals were nominated to the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund Board including Dale Minami, Don Nakanishi, and Peggy Nagae, though Cherry Kinoshita withdrew her nomination. Rep. Robert T. Matsui praised the appointments as fulfilling the educational goals of the 1988 redress legislation.

JACL

• JACL National Youth Council Plans Feb. 23-24 Conference in S.F., by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL National Youth/Student Council scheduled its biennial conference for Feb. 23-24 at San Francisco’s Miyako Hotel with the theme ‘Faces of the Future.’ The event features workshops on race relations, affirmative action, and Hapa issues, plus a performance by acting troupe Here and Now and the Vision Award presentation.
• Matsui Talks About Congress, JACL—in Transition, page 4. Rep. Robert T. Matsui addressed JACL concerns in Garden Grove, Calif., discussing congressional turnover, budget battles, and California’s Proposition 187 immigration measure. He also spoke about JACL’s internal transition and the importance of the organization’s Washington, D.C. presence.
• San Jose Chapter Plans Workshops for ’96 Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The San Jose Convention Committee held a kickoff dinner meeting reporting $17,850 raised in fundraising for the August 1996 JACL National Convention. Workshops, tours, and the Whing Ding Homecoming event are being organized by various committee chairs.
• Nisei Bowlers to Recall First JACL Tourney of 1947, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The 22nd annual National Japanese American Bowling Association tournament will be held in Las Vegas the week of Feb. 25, marking 50 years since the first National JACL Bowling Tournament in Salt Lake City. Organizers plan to recognize participants from that historic first tournament.
• JACL Receives $22,000 in Corporate Gifts, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Three corporate donations totaling $22,000 were awarded to JACL from United Parcel Service Foundation, Kikkoman International, and American Express/I.D.S. The funds will support the Min Yasui Oratorical Speech Contest, National Youth Conference, and JACL’s national convention.

Commentary

• Education—Our Highest Priority, by Herbert Yamanishi, page 3. JACL National Director Herbert Yamanishi argues that the newly appointed Civil Liberties Public Education Fund Board offers a critical opportunity to secure Japanese American history for future generations. He outlines JACL’s educational curriculum efforts and calls for a nationwide push to institutionalize this history in schools and textbooks.
• The Courage of His Convictions, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bill Hosokawa’s column honors former Colorado Gov. Ralph L. Carr, who opposed the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans despite the political cost to his career. Colorado is now building a memorial honoring Carr’s stand alongside recognition of Japanese Americans held at the Amache camp.
• What’s the Future Hold?, by Mae Takahashi, page 8. Mae Takahashi, chair of the Pacific Citizen Editorial Board, discusses the newspaper’s need to modernize through an Internet project to better serve younger Japanese American community members. She outlines funding challenges and the JACL National Board’s role in approving the proposed online initiative.
• Let’s Get PC’s Finances Under Control, Says Member, page 8. A letter writer from Long Beach argues that JACL chapters need clear cost-per-member data for weekly versus semi-monthly Pacific Citizen publication to make informed budget decisions. The writer proposes separate PC budget resolutions be presented at national conventions.
• Likes Holiday Issue, Wants PC as Weekly, by Joe R. Allman, page 8. A reader from Phoenix, Ariz., praises the 1995 Holiday Issue of the Pacific Citizen and expresses hope that the paper can return to weekly publication. The writer acknowledges this depends on available funding.
• A ‘Gaijin’ Recalls Hard Lessons of Racism, page 9. A non-Japanese American writer from Anchorage, Alaska, recounts painful memories of Japanese American classmates being forced into internment camps in 1942 from San Pedro High School. The writer reflects on the racist double standard applied to German and Italian Americans compared to Japanese Americans during WWII.
• Nikkei Have Right to Protect Themselves, by Ronald S. Shibata, page 9. A letter writer from Albuquerque, N.M., argues that Asian Americans should consider exercising Second Amendment rights for personal protection following the Novato hate crime incident. The writer cites a tri-district JACL workshop presentation on self-defense and firearms training.

Community

• Utah Nikkei to Participate in State’s 100th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Utah’s Japanese American community is planning a celebration banquet and a 140-page hardbound book to commemorate Utah’s centennial. The event will include historic displays, a fashion show with Nisei history themes, and fundraising through book and merchandise sales.
• South Bay, JACL, Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The South Bay Chapter, JACL, announced its eighth annual scholarship program for high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students of Japanese ancestry in the South Bay area. Applications are due March 1, 1996, with awards ranging from $500 to over $1,000.
• All Aboard: Marin Chapter, JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 5. New officers for the Marin Chapter, JACL, were installed Jan. 7 in San Rafael, Calif., by National Director Herbert Yamanishi. Dennis Sato was re-elected president along with a full slate of new officers.
• Greater Los Angeles Singles Chapter, JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 5. New officers of the Greater Los Angeles Singles Chapter, JACL, were installed Dec. 9, 1995, with Miyako Kadogawa as president. The chapter’s board includes numerous members serving in various capacities including insurance commissioner and scholarship chair.
• San Fernando Valley Chapter, JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Members of the San Fernando Valley Chapter, JACL, board were installed Jan. 28 by Harry Kajihara, former JACL national president. Herbert Yamanishi was the keynote speaker at the installation event.
• Riverside Chapter, by P.C. Staff, page 5. New officers for the Riverside Chapter, JACL, were scheduled to be installed Feb. 3 at the University Club of UC Riverside. Co-presidents Clyde Wilson and Beverly Inaba lead a full slate of new chapter officers.
• Short Takes, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A roundup of community news briefs including Nissan’s $100,000 pledge to the NAACP, Korean vendors donating bicycles to D.C. police, Boeing workers funding a Nikkei elderly housing complex, and other items about Asian American arts, sports, and business achievements. Also covered are the Tanforan Assembly Center documentary and the end of an Asian public affairs radio show due to lack of funding.
• Journalist Honored, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Bill Hosokawa, Pacific Citizen columnist and former Denver Post editor, was recognized at the Business Social Responsibility Awards luncheon in Denver during Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration week. Several other honorees were recognized for fulfilling King’s civil rights ideals.
• In the Community: Education, Business, Arts and Achievement Roundup, by P.C. Staff, page 7. This roundup covers various Nikkei achievements including Kunio Okui’s school board re-election, Alan Sugiyama’s UW alumni honor, Yoshinori Himel’s presidency of the Asian/Pacific Bar of California, and Henry Fukuhara’s induction into Santa Monica High School’s Distinguished Alumni. Additional items cover Paul Isaki’s role with the Seattle Mariners, radio host Bruce Asakawa, Florence Nagamoto’s honorary degree, a koto concert tour, support for Richard Sakakida’s Medal of Honor nomination, and other notable individuals in business and academia.
• Holiday Issue Reprints, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Pacific Citizen received many compliments on its 1995 Holiday Issue and announced that additional copies are available for $4 each. The paper also plans to reprint featured editorial articles without ads in an upcoming issue.
• Sacramentans Group for Affirmative Action, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Following a successful forum on affirmative action, Sacramento JACL, Florin JACL and other Asian Pacific American organizations scheduled an open meeting to discuss a three-point coalition agenda opposing the ‘model minority’ myth and supporting equal rights programs. Numerous co-sponsoring organizations are listed.
• Trivia Teams Called for Nihonmachi Cause, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The eighth annual national Asian American trivia championships will be held Feb. 24 at JCCCCNC in San Francisco Japantown, with proceeds benefiting Nihonmachi Legal Outreach. Entries are limited to the first 25 teams registered by Feb. 16.
• Philadelphia JACL Holds New Year’s Party, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The Philadelphia JACL held its annual New Year’s party Jan. 27 at Moorestown, N.J., featuring an aikido martial arts demonstration by Alex Rusinko. Families shared traditional Japanese ozoni alongside a potluck of Japanese food, salad and dessert.
• Candidate Mike Honda Featured at San Mateo, JACL, Installation, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Santa Clara Supervisor Mike Honda, candidate for California’s 23rd Assembly District, will speak at the San Mateo Chapter JACL’s Feb. 24 installation dinner about Japanese Americans running for elected office. Herbert Yamanishi and Karyl Matsumoto will also present updates on JACL national operations.
• Mukaeda Memorial Set for Feb. 7 at JACCC in L.A., by P.C. Staff, page 10. A community-wide memorial service will honor Katsuma Mukaeda, who died Nov. 4 just before his 105th birthday, on Feb. 7 at the Japan America Theatre. Mukaeda was instrumental in JACL’s postwar legislative campaigns and was the organization’s second naturalized Issei chapter president.
• Nakano to Run for Torrance City Council, by P.C. Staff, page 10. George Nakano, the first Asian American to serve on the Torrance City Council, announced he will run for re-election to a fourth term. Nakano serves in multiple regional leadership roles and previously worked as an assistant principal for Inglewood Unified School District.

Military & Veterans

• Sakakida Memorial Services Detail WWII Heroism, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Memorial services for Lt. Col. Richard Sakakida detailed his singlehanded intelligence mission in the Philippines during WWII, for which he was named to the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame in 1988. Eulogies were given by fellow veterans Col. Thomas Sakamoto and Col. Harry Fukuhara, with interment planned at the Punchbowl in Hawaii.

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