Pearl Harbor the film, JACL finances and reparations: June 2001

Vol. 132, No. 10, June 1, 2001. 12 pages. View this issue

The release of the film Pearl Harbor drew much of this 12-page issue. JACL and other Asian American groups worried that the film could stir anti-Asian feeling, and Caroline Aoyagi reported on those concerns. Columns by Bill Marutani and Brian Niiya, a film review and several letters took up the same subject. Aoyagi also covered a UCLA conference on whether African Americans should receive reparations, looking at the Japanese American redress movement as a model.

Martha Nakagawa reported from the national board meeting in Los Angeles, where JACL faced a projected deficit of $138,494, voted to reject Philip Morris money, and met a new Blue Ribbon Committee. Inside are chapter scholarship news, a JACL youth conference in Cincinnati, a Heart Mountain reunion update, and census coverage of Asian American population growth. Harry Honda wrote about his new work as an archivist at the Japanese American National Museum.

What’s in this issue

National

• As ‘Pearl Harbor’ Hits Movie Theaters Nationwide, JACL Fears Rise in Anti-Asian Sentiment, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. As Disney’s blockbuster ‘Pearl Harbor’ topped the box office over Memorial Day weekend, JACL and other Asian American groups expressed concern that the film could fuel anti-Asian sentiment among viewers unable to distinguish Japanese nationals from Japanese Americans. Survivor Henry Suzuki recounted past hate incidents directed at him and worried that the movie could trigger similar backlash today.
• Is It Time for Reparations for African Americans?, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. At UCLA’s ‘Struggle for Social Justice’ conference, panelists examined the Japanese American redress movement as a model for the growing African American reparations movement. Scholars and activists debated strategies, obstacles, and the framing of reparations as atonement rather than settlement, while acknowledging the passage of time and lack of surviving former slaves as key challenges.
• DOE Guards Question Rep. Wu, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Rep. David Wu, the only Chinese American ever elected to Congress, was briefly denied entry to the Energy Department after guards asked if he was American despite his congressional ID. Wu sent a protest letter to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, calling the incident indicative of a larger problem at DOE.
• Cox Pulls Name Out of Judgeship, by P.C. Staff, page 3. California Rep. Christopher Cox withdrew his name from consideration for a federal judgeship. Cox had become familiar to Asian Americans for chairing the Cox Committee report on technology transfer during the Wen Ho Lee espionage investigation.
• Minorities at Higher Risk for Pregnancy-Related Deaths, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A CDC report found American Indian, Asian and Hispanic women are much more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women, highlighting gaps in prenatal care for immigrant populations. Black women still face the highest risk of any group, with nearly 30 deaths per 100,000 live births.
• Chu Sworn in as Assembly’s Fourth AA, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Judy Chu became the fourth Asian American elected to the California State Assembly and the first to represent the traditionally Hispanic 49th District. Chu, a former Monterey Park City Council member, defeated three other candidates to fill the seat vacated by Gloria Romero.
• AA Boom Expected by 2010, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Census data shows the Asian American population grew 74 percent to 11.5 million in the last decade, one of the fastest growth rates in the country. Experts note a trend of Asians moving from ethnic enclaves into predominantly white suburbs across various states.
• Japanese Population Decreases while Asian Indians Increase, by P.C. Staff, page 3. New census data shows California’s Japanese American population fell 8 percent to 289,000 in the 1990s, while the Asian Indian population rose 97 percent to 315,000, fueled by the tech boom. Experts caution against lumping all Asian groups together given vast differences in economic progress among them.
• Asian Population Increases 77.7 Percent in Florida, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Florida’s Asian population increased nearly 78 percent over the decade, with large Vietnamese communities settling in areas like Orlando’s Colonialtown. Local leaders attribute the influx to Florida’s tropical climate and job opportunities, similar to conditions in Vietnam.
• JACL and MANAA Warn of Hate Crimes Following Pearl Harbor Release, by P.C. Staff, page 7. JACL and MANAA held press conferences warning that the release of ‘Pearl Harbor’ could fuel anti-Asian hate crimes, citing already-received hate emails and phone calls to JACL offices. Guy Aoki of MANAA criticized the film’s lack of Asian American representation and unequal marketing strategy in Japan versus the U.S.

JACL

• JACL Votes to Reject Philip Morris Monies, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. At the May 19-20 national board meeting, JACL’s national board voted against accepting tobacco company donations until the issue can be revisited at the next biennial convention. The vote split along regional lines, with West Coast districts opposing tobacco funding and East and Midwest districts open to it, amid JACL’s projected $138,494 deficit.
• Blue Ribbon Committee Meets With JACL Nat’l Board, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. The national JACL board met for the first time with the newly formed seven-member Blue Ribbon Committee, appointed by President Floyd Mori to examine JACL’s future viability. The committee outlined plans to study JACL’s programs, finances, and organizational structure, with recommendations expected in the fall.
• JACL Nat’l Board Addresses Organization’s Projected Deficit, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. JACL’s national board meeting in Los Angeles focused heavily on the organization’s dire finances, with a projected $138,494 deficit by year’s end blamed on declining membership and investment losses. The Finance Committee proposed drastic measures including closing offices and cutting the Pacific Citizen’s budget allocation, though the board ultimately found alternative funding commitments to keep regional offices open.
• JACL Youth Conference to be Held in Conjunction with June 28-July 1 Tri-District in Cincinnati, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A JACL youth conference titled ‘Unity Through Identity’ will be held alongside the Tri-District convention in Cincinnati, featuring workshops on identity in a pluralistic society led by Sheila Chung and academic panelists. Professor Frank Wu of Howard University will speak at the Saturday banquet, with funding provided through the JACL National Legacy Grant.

Community

• Sacramento Chapter Activities, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Sacramento chapter’s 50th annual community picnic returns to William Land Park on June 3, featuring the Sacramento Taiko Dan, bingo, races and games. The chapter will also help staff phone banks for KVIE’s summer membership drive on June 10.
• Snake River Chapter Holds Graduation Banquet, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Snake River chapter held its annual graduation banquet on May 9 honoring local Japanese American high school seniors and scholarship recipients including Randy Saito, Scott Itano, Jordan Komoto and Noel Koto. KBCI-TV’s Lynn Kawano served as keynote speaker.
• South Bay Chapter Scholarship Reception, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The South Bay chapter will hold a reception honoring recipients of the Kiichi Egashira Memorial Scholarship, including David Hill, Erin Akemi Matsushita and Eleanor Emi Williams. UCLA professor Mitchell Maki will be the featured speaker.
• San Diego Chapter Holds Scholarship Awards Luncheon, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The San Diego chapter honored 15 graduating high school seniors at its 44th annual scholarship awards luncheon, with top honors going to valedictorians Kyle Hanano and Akemi Nakamura. TV reporter Maya Nishikawa served as keynote speaker.
• Twin Cities Chapter Co-sponsors Programs on Pearl Harbor, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Twin Cities JACL chapter is co-sponsoring two presentations by retired Army Capt. James N. Johns on alternative theories about U.S. government foreknowledge of the Pearl Harbor attack. The programs will be held at the Minnesota History Center and Minneapolis Public Library, accompanied by a display of rare Pearl Harbor artifacts.
• Wasatch Front North Bowling Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Wasatch Front North chapter’s bowling tournament was held April 26-28 with 10 teams from Northern Utah competing. The winning team, SJS, was sponsored by Suekawa Janitorial Services from Ogden, Utah.
• Heart Mountain Reunion Hotel Update, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Over 320 people have registered for the Heart Mountain Reunion, which will be held at the Little America Hotel and Towers. Rooms have been reserved at a special rate for reunion attendees.
• Lecture on Health and Incarceration to be Held June 5, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Dr. Gwenn Jensen will present a lecture on ‘Health Hazards and Long-term Health Consequences of Incarceration’ at the Berkeley Methodist United Church on June 5. The talk will focus on the War Relocation Authority’s unpreparedness for medical problems in the camps and the resilience of detained health professionals.
• Dr. Satsuki Ina to Keynote at PNW-IDC Bi-District Awards Luncheon, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Dr. Satsuki Ina, producer of ‘Children of the Camps,’ will keynote the PNW-IDC Bi-District Awards Luncheon. Her work focuses on individuals who have suffered trauma related to the wartime incarceration experience.
• Museums, Art Center Work Together in ‘Finding Family Stories’, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The California African American Museum, Chinese American Museum, and Self Help Graphics & Art will partner with the Japanese American National Museum on ‘Finding Family Stories,’ a three-year initiative fostering cross-cultural understanding through art. The project aims to showcase diverse artists and promote appreciation of America’s ethnic diversity.

In-Depth

• Sen. Inouye to Speak at Official Memorial Opening and Banquet, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Sen. Daniel Inouye will be the featured speaker at the official opening of the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism in Washington, D.C., on June 29-30. President Bush has been invited to cut the ribbon, and the memorial was built through contributions of over 30,000 gifts from the U.S. and Japan.
• ‘Uncommon Courage’ MIS Documentary Premieres, by P.C. Staff, page 5. An estimated 600 people attended the premiere of ‘Uncommon Courage, Patriotism and Civil Liberties’ at Sacramento’s Crest Theatre, a documentary about the once-secret Military Intelligence Service. Filmmaker Gayle Yamada, daughter of an MIS veteran, spent 20 months producing the film using rare declassified footage.
• List of JA Family Names in Pre-war Neighborhood on Display at JANM, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Artist Momo Nagano’s woven artwork ‘American Families,’ commemorating 197 Japanese American households from her prewar Los Angeles neighborhood, is on display at the Japanese American National Museum through Oct. 7. Nagano, who first learned weaving while incarcerated at Manzanar, hopes to reconnect with families who lived in the original neighborhood.

Arts & Entertainment

• Film Review: Pearl Harbor Banks on Special Effects Over History, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The review criticizes ‘Pearl Harbor’ for prioritizing digitally-enhanced spectacle over historical accuracy, noting a bloated script and one-dimensional characters including an underused Cuba Gooding Jr. The film is faulted for barely including Asian American characters and for a misleading scene involving a Japanese American dentist accused of spying.

Commentary

• JACL Fights Racist Acts Amid Continued Need for Civil Rights Advocacy, by Ryan, page 8. JACL confronted several racist incidents during the quarter, including comments by G. Gordon Liddy, threats made by a professional basketball fan against Asian Americans referencing Pearl Harbor, and use of the slur ‘Jap’ at Ohio State University. JACL pursued corrective action in each case, working with local chapters and regional directors to address the incidents.
• A New Challenge in a New Environment, by Harry Honda, page 8. Editor Emeritus Harry Honda describes his new role as an archivist at the Japanese American National Museum, cataloging JACL and Pacific Citizen historical records stored in climate-controlled rooms. He details the phases of archiving—accession, processing, arrangement, and description—and recalls the museum’s early days at the Spreckels Warehouse.
• Pearl Harbor III, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Bill Marutani reflects on past Hollywood depictions of Pearl Harbor including ‘From Here to Eternity’ and ‘Tora, Tora, Tora,’ and recounts two personal incidents where he was confronted with anti-Japanese remarks referencing Pearl Harbor. He describes handling one incident as a judge by finding the offender in contempt of court.
• Troubled in Paradise, by Brian Niiya, page 8. Writing from Hawai’i as ‘Pearl Harbor’ opens nationwide, Brian Niiya discusses the JA community’s nervous reaction and debates over the film’s portrayal of Japanese Americans as nearly absent despite their large historical presence in Hawaii. He examines the complicated history of JA attitudes toward Japan and the dilemma of responding to films that risk scapegoating the community.
• The Impact of Japanese Immigration to the U.S. in the New Millennium, by Jonathan Kaji, page 9. Jonathan Kaji examines the decline of Japanese immigration to the U.S. since the 1920s and proposes research into a potential new wave of immigration driven by Japan’s economic struggles. He argues that revitalized Japanese immigration could strengthen the JA community’s political, economic and cultural influence.
• ‘Ohana Editor Thinks JACL Overreacting to ‘Pearl Harbor’, by P.D., page 11. A letter from the editor of ‘Ohana Magazine argues that JACL’s warnings about potential backlash from ‘Pearl Harbor’ are irresponsible and could incite the very racism they fear. The writer emphasizes that education about AJA heroism is a stronger tool for promoting harmony than public warnings.
• ‘Pearl Harbor’ Won’t Change Reader’s Mind, page 11. A Vietnam War veteran writes about his military family’s ties to Japan and Okinawa, recounting a conversation with a veteran who felt the U.S. blockade provoked Japan into war. The letter argues that historical accounts often omit the U.S. blockade of Japan as a contributing factor to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
• Day of Deceit, page 11. A letter references Robert Stinnett’s book ‘Pearl Harbor, Day of Deceit,’ which argues that the attack was deliberately provoked through an eight-step plan devised by U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Arthur McCollum. The writer suggests this context should inform reactions to JACL’s concerns about the movie.
• Reconciliation Sought Between JACL and Wartime Resisters, page 11. The letter discusses ongoing tensions from JACL’s Resolution 2, which apologized to wartime draft resisters, and the anger felt by veterans who saw the apology as diminishing the sacrifices of Nisei soldiers. It highlights a Sansei perspective calling for reconciliation that acknowledges both soldiers’ and resisters’ difficult wartime dilemmas.
• We’ve Come A Long Way … Maybe, by Wilma Chan and Judy Chu, page 12. California Assemblymembers Wilma Chan and Judy Chu discuss a Committee of 100 report revealing persistent hostility and distrust toward Chinese Americans and Asian Americans, drawing parallels to historical patterns of scapegoating during times of political tension. They argue that despite gains in APIA leadership, continued vigilance and education are needed to secure the community’s rightful place in American society.

Obituaries

• Dr. Izumi Taniguchi, 75, Economics Chair at Fresno State University, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Dr. Izumi Taniguchi, retired chairman of the economics department at California State University, Fresno, died at age 75 after battling leukemia. Interned at Crystal City, Texas during WWII, he later served with the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Service and was deeply involved in JACL and Japanese American community organizations.

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