Draft resisters, redress and the 1998 census debate

Vol. 127, No. 5, September 4, 1998. 12 pages. View this issue

The 442nd Veterans Club of Oahu passed a resolution recognizing the World War II draft resisters of the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee, and the paper ran the full text on page 9. Caroline Aoyagi reported on Koshio Henry Shima, a Japanese Latin American former internee who opted out of a class action settlement to file his own $10 million lawsuit, citing denial of full redress benefits under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Tracy Uba covered a court ruling against sampling in the census.

The columns include Bill Hosokawa on newspaper tidbits, Emily Murase on a scholarship fund for Southeast Asian refugee students, and Harry K. Honda on Nisei Week in Little Tokyo. Other pages report on Proposition 5, a JACL district council endorsement, a Poston I school reunion, a search for Amache classmates, and a Washington State anti-affirmative action initiative.

What’s in this issue

Military & Veterans

442nd Veterans Club of Oahu Recognizes Draft Resisters, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Board of Directors of the 442nd Veterans Club of Oahu passed a resolution formally recognizing and commending the World War II Japanese American draft resisters of conscience of the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee. The resolution marks a step toward healing longstanding tensions between Nisei veterans and those who resisted the draft while interned.
Chicago Nisei Post No. 1103 Prepares for 50th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Chicago Nisei veterans post is preparing to commemorate its 50th anniversary, recalling its history of leadership in the Campaign for Redress and support for veterans and their families. The organizing committee invites attendees to honor the role AJA veterans have played over five decades.

Incarceration & Redress

Japanese Latin American Former Internee Files $10 Million Lawsuit Against U.S. Government, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Koshio Henry Shima, a 74-year-old Japanese Latin American former internee, opted out of the Mochizuki class action settlement to file his own $10 million-plus lawsuit against the U.S. government. Shima seeks damages for loss of freedom, permanent loss of Peruvian citizenship, and denial of full redress benefits under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
Poston I School Reunion Seeks Former Students, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Organizers of a reunion for former Poston I internment camp students are seeking attendees and committee assistance for the upcoming event in Las Vegas. Interested Postonites are urged to contact committee members for applications and further details.
Searching for Miss Hannah Yankee’s 5th Grade Amache Camp Classmates, 1944-45, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Grace Oba Takeuchi is searching for classmates from Miss Hannah Yankee’s 5th grade class at the Amache internment camp for a reunion at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas. She has compiled a partial list of names but is still seeking a complete class roster.
442nd Veterans Club Resolution Text on Fair Play Committee, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The full text of the 442nd Veterans Club of Hawaii’s resolution recognizing the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee draft resisters is presented, detailing the history of their resistance and the loyalty they expressed despite incarceration. The resolution calls on other Japanese American veterans groups to extend friendship and goodwill to former resisters and their families.

National

Court Rules No on Sampling, by Tracy Uba, page 1. A court ruled against the use of sampling methods in the upcoming census, a decision expected to affect representation and funding for minority communities. APA groups plan to appeal the ruling, which could cost California as much as $1 billion in future federal funding.
Dalai Lama to Chair Visas for Life Foundation Advisory Board, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Dalai Lama has agreed to chair the advisory board of the Visas for Life Foundation, which honors the legacy of Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara who saved thousands of Polish Jews during WWII by issuing visas. The foundation, headed by Sugihara’s son Hiroki, is also producing a documentary film on Sugihara’s life.
President Clinton Signs Bone Marrow Legislation Targeting Underrepresented Minorities, by P.C. Staff, page 6. President Clinton signed the National Bone Marrow Registry Reauthorization Act of 1998, providing funding to expand the National Marrow Donor Program and specifically target underrepresented minority populations. Organizations like Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M) have worked to increase Asian and Pacific Islander representation in the donor database.
Tabulation Method in Census 2000 Important for Minority Groups, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The Census Bureau is considering five different methods for tabulating multiracial respondents in Census 2000, each with different implications for how minority and multiracial populations will be counted. Hapa Issues Forum has not endorsed any method but opposes the Collapsing and Algorithmic approaches, while JACL has not yet taken an official position.

Sports

JA Rising Rodeo Star Captures All-Around Cowboy Title, page 3. Matthew Shiozawa, trained by his father since age four, won the All-Around Cowboy title at the National High School Rodeo finals in Gillette, Wyoming, winning the calf-roping competition by a decisive margin. Despite his success and eligibility to go pro, Matt plans to attend college given the physical limits of a rodeo career.

Community

Showing Off, SXY Style — AA Import Car Culture Aims for the Mainstream, by Tracy Uba, page 3. SXY/Showoff magazine, led by editor-in-chief Kent Chen, chronicles the growing Asian American import car culture and lifestyle on the West Coast. The publication blends auto culture coverage with entertainment and lifestyle content, aiming to represent Asian American youth identity through cars.
PSW’s Endorsement of the Indian Gaming Initiative Marks First Alliance Between Two Communities, by Tracy Uba, page 4. The Pacific Southwest District Council of JACL endorsed Proposition 5, the California Indian Self-Reliance Initiative, marking one of the first alliances between Native American tribes and the Japanese American community. Supporters like Fred Hoshiyama and campaign representatives argued the endorsement reflects shared histories of discrimination and hopes for future reciprocal coalition-building.
Sugihara Wins Kay Okamoto Volunteer Award, by P.C. Staff, page 4. June Sugihara received the tenth annual $1,000 Kay Okamoto Volunteer Award from the San Francisco JACL chapter for her decades of community service. Her volunteer work spans the Cherry Blossom Festival, the Japanese Cultural and Community Center, and leadership at the Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center.
WLA JACL Auxiliary Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The West Los Angeles JACL Auxiliary, the only chapter with a women’s auxiliary, celebrated its 40th anniversary with a luncheon attended by six charter members. Over the decades the group has raised funds for community causes including earthquake and flood relief, women’s abuse shelters, and national memorials.
S.F. Buddhist Church Celebrates Centennial, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Buddhist Church of San Francisco held centennial celebration events including a photo exhibit and visitation service. The event featured a colorful Chigo parade and other ceremonial activities marking a century of the church’s history.

JACL

CLPEF Announces National Fellowship II Recipients, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Civil Liberties Public Education Fund announced recipients of its National Fellowship II program, supporting scholars researching the WWII exclusion and detention of Japanese Americans. Recipients include Andrew B. Russell studying draft resisters and Wesley Ueunten researching Japanese Latin American internment; the Asian American Studies Center at UCLA will now administer the program.

In-Depth

Documentary Cold War Island: The Battle for Okinawa in Production, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Japan Policy Research Institute and KQED are producing a documentary about the history of Okinawa since WWII, covering its status as an American military base through 1972 and beyond. The filmmakers are seeking foundation funding and private donations to complete the project.

Arts & Entertainment

Renee Tajima-Peña Receives 1998 Steve Tatsukawa Memorial Fund Award, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Filmmaker Renee Tajima-Peña received the Steve Tatsukawa Memorial Fund Award, honoring her commitment to fair representation of Asian Pacific Americans in the media. Tajima-Peña recalled being inspired early in her career by Visual Communications documentaries and fondly remembered Tatsukawa’s activism and humor.
Doing ‘The Hump’, by Mika Tanner, page 12. Mika Tanner reviews ‘The Hump,’ a Santa Monica sushi restaurant helmed by chef Hiro Nishimura, praising its intimate setting and seven-course Chef’s Special tasting menu. Despite an initially off-putting name, the restaurant impressed with fresh, creative dishes, though the tempura course fell short with a too-thick batter.

Commentary

Newspaper Tidbits, by Bill Hosokawa, page 7. Bill Hosokawa’s column covers various newspaper tidbits including the history of a Canadian peak once called ‘Chinaman’s Peak’ and later renamed, plus statistics on Mexico being the most-visited destination by American tourists ahead of Japan. He mixes light historical trivia with commentary on travel patterns.
A Bridge Across the Pacific, by Emily Murase, page 7. Emily Murase writes about the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund, which provides scholarships to Southeast Asian refugee students whose education was disrupted. The fund has supported over 300 scholarship recipients across the country since its founding, turning the wartime incarceration experience into a positive legacy.
Very Truly Yours, by Bill Marutani, page 7. Bill Marutani recounts his World War II Army experience training at Camp Robinson and later Fort Snelling, describing being unexpectedly held back from deployment by a captain who tracked him down. He promises to explain what happened next in a future column.
Sumimasen — Nihongo Wakarimasu?, by Gil Asakawa, page 7. Gil Asakawa reflects on his regret over not learning to read and write Japanese as a child, despite his mother’s efforts, and how this has affected his ability to communicate with Japanese relatives and communities as an adult. He describes attempts to learn the language later in life through classes and CD-ROMs with mixed success.
Japan Travelin’ Blues, by Mika Tanner, page 8. Mika Tanner writes about her resolve to stop trying to conform to Japanese standards of beauty and behavior during her upcoming trip to Japan, embracing her Japanese American identity instead. She discusses the difficulty of communicating her true self to relatives given language barriers and cultural differences in directness.
Nisei Week Always Had an ‘Ondo’ Beat, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Harry Honda reflects on the 50th anniversary of Nisei Week in Little Tokyo, recalling its founding purpose to raise funds for a community center, and recent festival events including a screening of the documentary ‘442: For the Future.’ He notes generational shifts in how descendants of 442nd veterans are publicly acknowledging their forebears’ wartime service.
Troubled in Paradise: A JACLer at Last, by Brian Niiya, page 8. Brian Niiya explains his past reluctance to join JACL due to concerns about the organization’s history, including the suppressed Lim Report, and its perceived declining relevance compared to other Japanese American organizations. However, after moving to Hawaii he joined the Honolulu Chapter, which he found active on issues like redress and the Bruce Yamashita case.
On the Subject of ‘Monku’, page 9. A letter to the editor reflects on generational complaints (‘monku’) between old and young, sharing a personal anecdote about a daughter who once thought her mother was unintelligent but later came to respect her wisdom. The writer urges mutual respect between generations given limited time together.
Fundraising Suggestions for the Memorial Foundation, page 9. A letter to the editor responds to coverage of the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, proposing that former internees who received redress payments contribute a portion to help fund the memorial. The writer lists major donors and suggests specific dollar amounts that could be raised through broader participation.
Re: G.I. Joe Salutes JA Soldiers of the 442nd, by Tot S. Anshiwente, page 9. A letter to the editor points out an inconsistency in a previous article that referred to the 442nd alternately as a ‘regiment,’ ‘crack infantry battalion,’ and other terms, questioning the accuracy of the terminology used. The writer notes that the 442nd was always officially a regimental combat team.
Wording of Washington’s Anti-Affirmative Action Initiative Misleading, page 12. A commentary piece argues that Washington State’s Initiative 200, which seeks to end affirmative action, uses misleading rhetoric similar to historical arguments against civil rights protections. The author cites Census Bureau income disparity statistics between men, women, and racial minorities to argue continued need for affirmative action, and notes JACL’s $25,000 contribution to defeat the initiative.

Obituaries

Issei, 100, Dies Months After Naturalization, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Asano Kanzaki, 100, who received her U.S. citizenship last spring after 81 years in the country, died June 27 at Keiro Nursing Home in Seattle. Her family recounted her history including raising six children and losing a son during the 442nd’s Arno River campaign while the family was interned at Minidoka.
Vance Oyama, NASA Biochemist, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Vance Oyama, a NASA biochemist who designed a life-detection experiment aboard the Viking Mars landers in 1976, died July 27 at his home in Middletown, California. His experiment’s results convinced him and other scientists that no life existed on Mars, and he is survived by his wife, brother, three children, and four grandchildren.

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