JACL at 70: past presidents look ahead, and redress lawsuits go on

Vol. 128, No. 1, January 1, 1999. 20 pages. View this issue

The start of 1999 brought a long look at where JACL had been and where it might go in its 70th year. Past national presidents Floyd Shimomura, Hank Tanaka, Lillian Kimura, Patrick Okura, Raymond S. Uno and Roy M. Nishikawa each wrote on the organization’s future, alongside current president Helen Kawagoe, who looked back at 1998. Carl Takei, a Yonsei, wrote about family trips to former camp sites. On the front page, plaintiffs in the redress lawsuits vowed to appeal after a Dec. 22 hearing.

Elsewhere, Bob Sakaniwa previewed JACL priorities for the new Congress, including the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Karen-Liane Shiba described a membership drive, and Lisa S. Hirai Tsuchitani, the new Director of Education, outlined her plans. Harry K. Honda recapped 1998, and the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation asked readers to check its list of Japanese Americans killed in action.

What’s in this issue

National

• Redress Lawsuits Vow to Appeal After Dec. 22 Hearing, by P.C. Staff, page 1. At a Dec. 22 hearing, a judge dismissed portions of NCRR’s redress lawsuit alleging funds were never fully distributed, while leaving room for an amended complaint. Plaintiffs vowed to appeal the ruling regarding their right to compensation.
• Rep. Matsui Plans to Lead Social Security Reform, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Congressman Robert Matsui announced plans to take a leading role in Social Security reform efforts. The article discusses his position and involvement in the issue.
• First APA Appointed to California Governor’s Cabinet, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Japanese American was appointed as the first Asian Pacific American to serve in the California Governor’s cabinet. The appointee will head USDA’s foreign agriculture service duties within the state.The article details his qualifications for the role.
• NAPALC’s Audit Finds Decrease in Violence, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium’s fifth annual Audit of Anti-Asian Violence found 481 reported incidents in 1997, a 10 percent decrease from the previous year. Despite the decrease, the report noted concerning increases in New Jersey and California and called for tougher hate crime laws.

Community

• Asian Americans Capturing Headlines, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Diane Yotsuya Honda received the 1998 JEA Medal of Merit for her journalism advising work at Bullard High School, while Craig Fujii received the NAPABA Trailblazer Award for his redress advocacy work in Arizona. Melvin Okamoto became the first Asian American judge in the Denver County Court system after serving 17 years as a magistrate.

Military & Veterans

• National Japanese American Memorial Foundation Asks Public to Review KIA List, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation will publish a list of over 800 Japanese Americans killed in action during WWII and asks the public to verify accuracy. The list will be inscribed on the National Japanese American Memorial scheduled for construction in 2000.

JACL

• JACL’s 70th Year: A Look Back at 1998 and Ahead, by Helen Kawagoe, page 4. National JACL President Helen Kawagoe reflects on the 1998 biennial convention in Philadelphia and thanks delegates for electing her to another term. She discusses new initiatives including hiring a Director of Education and fundraising efforts for the National Japanese American Memorial.
• Even for JAs, the End of Redress Marks Only the Beginning, by Yamanishi, page 14. The article discusses how redress payments and apology, while significant, represent only the beginning of achieving parity for Japanese Americans in media, education, and leadership. It also reviews JACL’s staffing changes in 1998, including hiring Caroline Aoyagi as Pacific Citizen editor and ongoing education program funding through the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund.
• JACL’s Future: Watchdog Group or National Organization?, by Roy M. Nishikawa, page 14. Past National JACL President Roy Nishikawa speculates on JACL’s survival in coming decades, questioning whether enough volunteers will exist to sustain the organization. He suggests JACL might need to become a ‘watchdog’ group with paid staff in Washington D.C. while honoring the legacy of Issei parents and passing on cultural values.
• A Vision for the JACL National Education Program, by Lisa S. Hirai Tsuchitani, page 15. The newly appointed Director of Education discusses her personal history with JACL scholarships and outlines plans to document diverse Japanese American history including women, Kibei, and Shin Issei voices. She aims to create dialogue forums on JACL’s WWII history and support Asian American Studies programs at all education levels.

Commentary

• The Yonsei Legacy: Violation and Redemption, by Carl Takei, page 5. A Yonsei reflects on childhood trips to former internment camp sites with his family and how these experiences shaped his understanding of Japanese American identity. He argues that JACL’s future duty includes reaching out to other ethnic groups facing discrimination today, just as JACL received support during its own struggles.
• Looking Back at 1998, Forward to a New Congress, by Bob Sakaniwa, page 6. JACL Washington D.C. Representative Bob Sakaniwa reviews 1998’s political events including the Clinton impeachment investigation and civil rights developments. He previews upcoming legislative priorities for JACL including the 2000 census statistical sampling dispute and Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
• JACL’s Future: From Loyalty League to International Citizenship, by Floyd Shimomura, page 7. Past National JACL President Floyd Shimomura traces JACL’s evolution from a ‘loyalty league’ emphasizing American citizenship duty to a civil rights organization emphasizing rights. He speculates that JACL’s future may lie in developing a more international perspective, reflecting the ‘Pacific’ in Pacific Citizen, and possibly addressing issues like Hiroshima.
• Youth and Students: The Next Generation of JACL Leadership, by Hiromi Ueha, page 8. National Youth Council Chair Hiromi Ueha discusses the growth of Asian American studies programs and the ongoing fight for internment remembrance and redress. She highlights the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation’s fundraising efforts and upcoming youth conferences for 1999.
• JACL’s Continuing Role for Japanese and Asian Americans, by Hank Tanaka, page 9. Past National JACL President Hank Tanaka argues JACL will remain necessary to advocate for civil rights of Japanese and Asian Americans amid continued discrimination and population growth. He predicts new chapters will form in states where JAs seek to address quality-of-life issues.
• JACL at 70: Building a United and Just Society, by Lillian Kimura, page 9. Past National JACL President Lillian Kimura reflects on JACL’s 70-year history and its role in a multiracial America as outlined in President Clinton’s Initiative on Race report. She calls for JACL to be more inclusive and recruit young people while living up to its constitutional purpose.
• A New American Paradigm for the Next Century, by Patrick Okura, page 10. Past National JACL President Patrick Okura discusses gains made through the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and political representation, while identifying new challenges like immigration and hate crimes. He proposes a ‘New American Paradigm’ that recognizes the values of Asian, Hispanic, African and Native American traditions alongside European ones.
• Membership Vision for 1999 and the ER-1 Challenge, by Karen-Liane Shiba, page 11. JACL V.P. for Membership Karen-Liane Shiba outlines a vision for inclusive membership growth and discusses Emergency Resolution #1, which provides a $10 rebate per new member but requires chapters to recruit 2000 new members in 1999 without additional national funding. She calls on all chapters to participate in this ambitious membership drive.
• JACL Has Grown Into the Mainstream Civil Rights Movement, by Raymond S. Uno, page 12. A longtime JACLer reflects on serving as national president from 1966-70 and how JACL matured from protecting only Japanese American rights to broader civil rights activism. He emphasizes the importance of bringing young people into the organization and reaching out to other minorities.
• Political Involvement: Life’s Great Challenge, by Raymond S. Uno, page 13. Past National JACL President Raymond S. Uno, a longtime judge, recounts his political campaigns including a narrow Senate loss in 1968 and a successful judicial race in 1984. He encourages minorities to participate in politics and reflects on JACL’s role as a training ground for community leaders across generations.
• Retrospect: The 1998 Romp, by Harry K. Honda, page 16. A retrospective column reviews major 1998 events through quotes from notable personalities, covering topics from JACL membership growth to the Civil Liberties Act’s 10th anniversary. The column also previews 1999 events including the COPANI convention in Santiago, Chile.
• Troubled in Paradise, by Brian Niiya, page 16. Local poet Wing Tek Lam approached the Honolulu community regarding an unspecified issue. The article details the situation and its context within the community.
• I-200 Should Be Scrapped, page 17. A letter to the editor expresses concern about the passage of Initiative 200 in Washington State, which eliminated affirmative action programs. The writer criticizes misleading media coverage before the election and predicts the measure’s negative impact on minority employment opportunities.

Incarceration & Redress

• Letter: Fired Railroad Workers Denied Redress, page 17. A letter describes a family’s experience as Japanese nationals fired from railroad jobs during WWII in North Platte, Nebraska, and their subsequent struggle for redress. The writer thanks JACL and Patty Wada for continuing to fight for rejected redress claims on behalf of affected families.

Obituaries

• In Memoriam: Community Members Remembered, by P.C. Staff, page 18. This obituary section lists numerous Japanese American community members who passed away, including WWII veterans, JACL chapter leaders, and notable professionals. Notable individuals include Shiro Kashiwa, Hawaii’s first Nisei state attorney general, and other community figures with detailed biographical narratives.
• In Memoriam: Continued Tributes, by P.C. Staff, page 19. The obituary section continues with tributes to community members including George Tsutakawa, a gifted sumi-e painter and sculptor, and Mary Tsukamoto, a civil rights activist and co-author of ‘We the People.’ Various WWII veterans and JACL chapter leaders are also remembered with biographical details.

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