Vol. 131, No. 19, November 17, 2000. 12 pages. View this issue
The dedication of the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 9 filled much of this 12-page issue. Caroline Aoyagi reported on the ceremony, where sand from the ten camps was placed at the site. Harry Honda and Floyd Mori each wrote of the day, and Martha Nakagawa’s photo spread showed Attorney General Janet Reno, Secretary Norm Mineta and Bob Dole. At the ceremony, Reno announced that President Clinton had directed Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt to develop recommendations for preserving the World War II incarceration (often called internment) sites.
Elsewhere, the JACL national board voted to donate its archives to the Japanese American National Museum. Post-election pages included a recap of Asian Pacific American candidates and initiatives. Philadelphia dropped its Chinatown stadium plan, and Clinton signed a bill naming a Seattle courthouse for William Kenzo Nakamura. Nearly 70 former Topaz internees held a mini-reunion in Washington. Bill Marutani wrote on the words AJA, Nisei and Nikkei.
What’s in this issue
National
- JACL Applauds Clinton’s Commitment to Preserving the WWII Internment Camps, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Attorney General Janet Reno announced at the dedication ceremony for the National Japanese American Memorial that President Clinton directed Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt to develop recommendations to preserve WWII internment sites. JACL leaders Floyd Mori and John Tateishi praised the directive as a positive step toward preserving Japanese American history.
- Exit Polls Track APA Voter Trends, page 1. Asian Pacific Americans voiced their votes on Super Tuesday, with exit polls tracking shifting political trends among APA voters. The article examines voter sentiment and turnout patterns within the Asian Pacific American community.
- Philly Mayor Drops Chinatown Stadium Plan, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Philadelphia Mayor John Street announced he would drop plans to build a new stadium in Chinatown after facing opposition from a coalition of Asian Pacific American community groups. The coalition, including the Stadium Out of Chinatown Coalition, had campaigned against the plan due to concerns over its impact on the historic enclave.
- Clinton Signs Bill to Name Courthouse After MOH Recipient Nakamura, page 3. President Clinton signed legislation renaming a Seattle federal courthouse as the William Kenzo Nakamura United States Courthouse, honoring the Japanese American soldier who died fighting in Italy in 1944 after volunteering from an internment camp. Nakamura was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor this year, decades after his heroic actions were overlooked due to racial bias.
- Winners and Losers: A Recap of APA Candidates and Initiatives, page 4. The article recaps the outcomes for Asian Pacific American candidates and initiatives in the 2000 election across multiple states, including California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and Minnesota. It also covers ballot initiatives like Utah’s English-only measure and California’s school voucher proposition, both of which had significant implications for minority communities.
- Senate Extends Citizenship Bill to Hmong Widows, page 12. President Clinton signed legislation making it easier for widows of America’s Laotian Vietnam War allies to become U.S. citizens, correcting an oversight in earlier legislation. The law, sponsored by Sen. Paul Wellstone, waives the English-language requirement for Hmong widows whose husbands died before immigrating to the United States.
JACL
- National JACL Donates Archives to JANM, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL national board voted to donate its archives to the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, which holds the world’s largest collection documenting the Japanese American experience. Museum leaders and JACL’s John Tateishi praised the partnership as ensuring preservation and access to this historic material for future generations.
- ‘Tribute to Farming’ Theme at CCDC Installation Banquet, by Eiji Yamashita, Pacific Citizen, page 10. The JACL Central California District Council held its 51st annual installation banquet with the theme ‘A Tribute to Farming,’ honoring David Mas Masumoto and Harry Teiichi Kubo for their contributions to the local Japanese American farming community. The event featured speeches from local officials and a performance combining narrative, jazz, and taiko drumming.
In-Depth
- Community Gathers for Dedication of National Japanese American Memorial in Nation’s Capital, by Caroline Aoyagi, Executive Editor, page 1. Three generations of the Shishino family and hundreds of former internees, veterans, and dignitaries attended the Nov. 9 dedication of the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism in Washington, D.C. The ceremony included sand from the ten internment camps being placed at the site and wreaths laid in honor of fallen JA soldiers.
- National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism, by Photos by Martha Nakagawa, page 6. A photo spread captures key moments and figures at the memorial dedication, including Judge William Marutani, Rep. Robert Matsui, Attorney General Janet Reno, and Secretary Norm Mineta. The images also feature veterans from the 442nd Regiment and former senator Bob Dole delivering the keynote address at the gala dinner.
- Dedication (Continued), page 7. The continuation of the memorial dedication story details speeches by NJAMF chairman Melvin Chiogioji, Secretary Norman Mineta, and Sen. Daniel Inouye’s message from Hawaii honoring the sacrifice of Japanese American veterans. Rudy Tokiwa, a 442nd veteran, spoke about the importance of remembering this history and educating America about diversity.
Commentary
- A Glorious Day, by Harry Honda, page 1. Harry Honda reflects on the significance of attending the dedication of the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism, contrasting it with the dark days following Pearl Harbor and the internment. He describes it as a proud moment for Japanese Americans and the nation as a whole.
- Re: Wyoming’s ‘Letter of Healing’, page 2. A letter writer critiques Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer’s ‘letter of healing’ regarding the state’s wartime internment policies, arguing the letter fails to take true responsibility or acknowledge the actions as mistaken. The writer suggests the governor avoided judging Wyoming’s wartime leaders because such judgment would implicate broader wrongdoing.
- MOH Awardees, page 2. A letter discusses the belated Medal of Honor awards given to Japanese American veterans of World War II, noting the historical rarity of such medals awarded to minority servicemen. The writer questions why recognition took so long to arrive.
- Dedicating the National Japanese American Memorial – A Proud Day For JACL, by Floyd Mori, page 3. JACL National President Floyd Mori reflects on the emotional experience of attending the memorial dedication and the sacrifices of veterans and internees that made it possible. He urges younger generations to understand this history and calls on JACL to focus on preserving that legacy.
- Labels: AJAs, Nisei and Nikkei, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Bill Marutani explores the linguistic and cultural nuances behind terms like AJA, Nisei, and Nikkei American, tracing their origins in Japanese and English dictionaries. He shares his personal theory distinguishing between terms like ‘Nippon-jin’ and ‘Nihon-jin’ and their connotations.
- Very Truly Yours (Dedication Continued), by Harry Honda, page 12. Harry Honda continues his personal reflection on the memorial dedication, describing the emotional atmosphere and plans for cherry trees to be planted around the site. He also recounts remarks by artist Nina Akamu about the bronze crane sculpture and Bacon Sakatani’s ceremonial pouring of sand from the ten internment camps.
Community
- Nakano Bill to Name Highway in Honor of Vietnam Vets Passes, page 3. A California bill sponsored by Assemblyman George Nakano, designating a portion of Pacific Coast Highway as the Los Angeles County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, has passed into law. The bill was initiated by the Vietnam Veterans of America South Bay Chapter 53, which is now seeking donations for commemorative signage.
- Federation to Document History of Northern Calif. Nikkei Gardeners, page 3. The Professional Gardeners Federation of Northern California is undertaking a project to document the history of Nikkei gardeners and related trades in the region. The group is collecting photographs, journals, and other materials to preserve this chapter of Japanese American economic history.
- Topaz Mini-Reunion — Class of ’45, page 10. Nearly 70 former Topaz camp internees gathered for a mini-reunion in Washington, D.C., coinciding with the NJAMF dedication ceremony, including members of the 1945 graduating class of Topaz High School. Daisy Satoda was credited with organizing the reunions, which have continued every five years since 1970.
Obituaries
- Former IDC Gov. George Kimura, 80, page 11. George Kimura, a World War II veteran and former Intermountain District governor of JACL, passed away Oct. 13 in Salt Lake City after a battle with cancer. He was a professional photographer for 30 years and taught at Cyprus High School, where he was honored as vocational teacher of the year.
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