Japanese Latin American redress and the Heart Mountain exhibit

Vol. 126, No. 7, April 3, 1998. 12 pages. View this issue

Redress for Japanese Latin Americans led the news. U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Loren Smith urged the government to settle Mochizuki et al. vs. the United States on moral grounds, with a ruling expected April 13, and Caroline Aoyagi reported on the order. JACL consultant John Tateishi said settlement talks had not been encouraging. Camp history ran through the issue: the Heart Mountain exhibit planned for The Balch Institute during the JACL National Convention in Philadelphia, a Time of Remembrance in Florin, and Bill Hosokawa’s memories of his Heart Mountain newspaper colleagues.

Also inside: Visas and Virtue winning an Academy Award, Washington’s Initiative 200 and the JACL campaign against it, buses chartered for the Manzanar pilgrimage, and the Go For Broke Monument groundbreaking in Little Tokyo. Harry K. Honda wrote about the first Military Intelligence Service Language School graduates, and Bill Marutani looked at the words used for the camps.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Judge Encourages Government to Settle Japanese Latin Americans’ Redress Case, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Loren Smith urged the government to settle the Mochizuki et al. redress case for Japanese Latin Americans on moral grounds. JACL redress consultant John Tateishi says settlement talks have not been encouraging as the April 13 ruling date approaches.
• Day of Remembrance — A Celebration of America, by Larry Grant, Intermountain District Governor, page 3. A Day of Remembrance program held in Salt Lake City featured Bill Lann Lee as keynote speaker, organized through the efforts of former IDC governor Yas Tokita. The author also responds to a critical newspaper editorial that argued Japanese Americans should stop discussing internment after receiving redress payments.
• Heart Mountain Camp Exhibit at The Balch Institute, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Retired engineer Minoru Inouye discovered forgotten Heart Mountain photographs by Hansel Mieth and Otto Hagel at a San Francisco gallery in 1995 and became guest curator of an exhibit honoring the camp’s history. The exhibit, which also featured the Bill Hosokawa family, will open at The Balch Institute in July as part of JACL convention activities.
• Non-Nikkei Who Helped Nikkei, by Frank Iritani, page 5. The Florin JACL’s 16th Annual Time of Remembrance honored non-Japanese allies like Margaret Gunderson who supported Japanese Americans during WWII internment, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Yuzuru Takeshita recounting Gunderson’s influence on him at Tule Lake. The event also featured oral history presentations, historical exhibits, and a walk-through barrack replica.
• Buses Chartered for Manzanar Pilgrimage, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Two chartered buses will transport participants to the 29th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage on April 25, themed “Unfinished Business: Justice for All!” in recognition of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988’s 10th anniversary. Buses will depart from Little Tokyo and the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center.
• Japanese Latin Americans – Fight for Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The article details the ongoing legal battle in Mochizuki et al. for Japanese Latin Americans seeking inclusion in the 1988 Civil Liberties Act redress benefits, with a critical ruling expected April 13. JACL is organizing a letter-writing campaign to President Clinton and notes the Office of Redress Administration closes permanently on Aug. 10, 1998.
• Florin JACL Shares Internment Story with Students, by Twila Tomita, page 10. Following educator Mary Tsukamoto’s death, Florin JACL members and volunteers carried on her legacy by teaching Elk Grove fifth graders about WWII Japanese American internment through exhibits, slide shows, and veteran testimonials. Mary’s daughter Marielle Tsukamoto led many of the sessions alongside numerous community volunteers.

Arts & Entertainment

• Oscar Win for Visas and Virtue, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The docudrama Visas and Virtue won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, telling the story of Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara who issued lifesaving visas to Jewish refugees in 1940. Writer/director/star Chris Tashima and producer Chris Donahue accepted the award, with the film based on Tim Toyama’s play.
• Interview with Filmmaker Jin Ishimoto, by Murase, page 7. Filmmaker Jin Ishimoto, a USC Peter Stark Producers Program graduate, discusses his path from AT&T executive to Hollywood screenwriter and his goal of adapting Japanese stories for American audiences. He also addresses the challenges Asian American screenwriters face in getting roles cast for Asian American actors.

JACL

• Convention Features Tour of Heart Mountain Exhibit at Balch Museum, by Sumi Kobayashi, page 1. An exhibit of paintings by Roger Shimomura and photographs by Otto Hagel and Hansel Mieth depicting Heart Mountain internment camp life will be displayed at The Balch Institute during the JACL National Convention in Philadelphia. The exhibit opens with a reception on July 2 and will remain on view through the year for educational purposes.
• A Strong Foundation for the Future, by David Hayashi, National Secretary/Treasurer, page 3. JACL National Secretary/Treasurer David Hayashi reports on 1997’s strong financial performance, including membership revenue reaching an all-time high and an operating surplus of about $132,000. He also outlines the process for developing the 1998 revised and 1999-2000 budgets ahead of the Philadelphia convention.
• Summary of March 27-29 National Board Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The National Board meeting in San Francisco covered numerous motions including support for opposing Washington’s Initiative 200, funding for the Philadelphia convention, support for Paul Igasaki’s EEOC appointment, and a letter-writing campaign for Japanese Latin American redress. The board also adopted the 1998 budget and discussed the PSW youth coordinator proposal.

National

• Washington’s Anti-Affirmative Action Initiative Worries AA Community, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Washington State’s Initiative 200, modeled after California’s Proposition 209, will appear on the November ballot seeking to abolish affirmative action programs. JACL’s Pacific Northwest District is mobilizing opposition, forming a coalition called APACE and seeking financial support from National JACL to fight the measure.

Community

• Educating APAs on Voter Registration, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The South Bay APA Voter Education Project held its first non-partisan summit in Torrance to encourage greater Asian Pacific American involvement in the political process. More than 30 individuals and representatives from various organizations attended, with speakers including city council members and civil rights advocates.
• APA Voter Education Summit, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Continuing coverage of the South Bay APA Voter Education Summit describes panelists including Torrance councilman George Nakano, Redondo Beach councilman Michael Gin, and presidential advisor Angela Oh discussing the growing but underutilized political power of APAs. Attendees developed an action plan including voter registration days and community education forums ahead of the June and November elections.
• Groundbreaking Ceremony for Go For Broke Monument Set for April 5, by P.C. Staff, page 9. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Go For Broke Monument honoring 100th/442nd/MIS WWII Nisei veterans will be held April 5 in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. Co-chair Norman Ogawa says the monument will serve as a permanent reminder that civil liberties belong to all Americans regardless of race or ancestry.
• HIF Establishes Base in So. Cal., by P.C. Staff, page 9. Hapa Issues Forum received a $3,000 grant from the JACL Pacific Southwest District to establish a permanent Southern California base for its multiracial Asian American community programming. Founded at UC Berkeley in 1992, HIF plans to open a Los Angeles office and expand its educational events.
• APA Roundtable to Explore ‘Identity’, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The ninth annual Asian Pacific American Community Research Roundtable will be held at USC on April 17 to explore the diversity of Asian Pacific American identities. Organizers are seeking presentation proposals from academics, professionals, and community groups.

Commentary

• Washington’s Anti-Affirmative Action Bill, I-200, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL leaders from the Pacific Northwest District detail their urgent campaign against Washington’s Initiative 200, drawing parallels to California’s Proposition 209 fight. The National Board approved a $5,000 donation with a resolution to allocate an additional $15,000 at the national convention.
• Heart Mountain Memories, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bacon Sakatani sent columnist Bill Hosokawa a panoramic photograph of the Heart Mountain camp taken by George S. Iwanaga in 1943, prompting Hosokawa to reminisce about former Heart Mountain Sentinel staff members. He lists names from a 1973 reunion autograph board, noting several colleagues who have since died, including three who died serving with the 442nd.
• Concentration Camps, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Legal-Ease columnist Bill Marutani examines the Japanese term “shu-yo-sho” and English terminology like “concentration camp,” “assembly center,” and “relocation camp” used to describe WWII internment sites. He references the CWRIC’s 1982 report explaining why the commission chose to use “relocation centers” rather than “concentration camps.”
• She Said What?, by Akemi Kayleng, page 8. Columnist Akemi Kayleng responds to reader criticism of an earlier column, “The Dollhousers,” which some considered racist toward WASP men. She clarifies that her critical writings about both white and Japanese American communities reflect the complexity of Los Angeles and are not indicative of blanket racist views.
• Thank-You, Says Daughter of Railroad Worker, page 9. A letter writer expresses gratitude to the Office of Redress Administration, Department of Justice, and Bill Lann Lee for a favorable verdict granting redress to railroad and mine workers. The writer calls for continued advocacy for Japanese Latin Americans and Peruvians still awaiting justice.
• An Overdue Thank You, page 9. A letter thanks Japanese American vernacular newspapers and researcher Andy Russell for their role in helping railroad and mine workers achieve redress recognition. The writer urges continued support for these publications and continued fight for Japanese Latin American redress.

Military & Veterans

• A Titanic Search: More on First MISLS Graduates, by Harry K. Honda, page 7. Researcher Swift is seeking funding and first-person accounts to document the achievements of the first graduating class of Military Intelligence Service Language School students. The piece lists several class members and describes the atmosphere of anti-Japanese sentiment they endured while training at the Presidio during WWII.

Obituaries

• Jin Konomi, 94, Our ‘Moshi Moshi’ Columnist, by Harry K. Honda, page 11. Jinnosuke “Gene” Konomi, longtime author of the Pacific Citizen’s “Moshi Moshi” column since 1978, died March 15 at age 94. A Fukuoka-born USC graduate, he worked at the Rafu Shimpo and Kashu Mainichi and was known for his sophisticated command of English and humor about Japanese American malapropisms.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.