Vol. 130, No. 13, March 31, 2000. 8 pages. View this issue
A decision by the National Park Service to include a quote from Mike Masaoka, JACL’s wartime national director, on the proposed National Japanese American Memorial drew the most attention in this eight-page issue. Martha Nakagawa reported on the decision, which came despite opposition from the public and some NJAMF board members. Commentary pages followed with letters from Sue Kunitomi Embrey of the Manzanar Committee, the Santa Maria Valley JACL and William Hohri. Nakagawa also looked at how wartime statistical data affected Japanese Americans, and the Census Bureau’s director acknowledged the agency’s role in the World War II incarceration (often called internment).
Elsewhere, the Campaign for Justice opened a Northern California office, and readers said goodbye to Bill Hosokawa’s column. Jack Hirose gave $50,000 toward a documentary on the Military Intelligence Service, Texas Lost Battalion survivors visited Nisei veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Hawaii, and the JACL national convention in Monterey announced its workshops.
What’s in this issue
National
- NPS Decision Includes Masaoka Quote on Memorial, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. The National Park Service decided to include a controversial quote from Mike Masaoka, JACL’s wartime national director, on the proposed National Japanese American Memorial, despite opposition from the public and some NJAMF board members. NPS official John Parsons justified the decision as a compromise, while board member Francis Sogi expressed strong disagreement and NJAMF executive director Cherry Tsutsumida expressed relief that the final hurdle before construction had been cleared.
- Campaign for Justice Opens Northern California Office, Awaits Redress Legislation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Campaign for Justice coalition, which has sought redress for Japanese Latin Americans incarcerated during WWII, opened a Northern California chapter to continue its work after the Mochizuki v. U.S. settlement provided only $5,000 compared to the $20,000 given to Japanese American internees. The article details how mismanagement of redress funds under the 1988 Civil Liberties Act resulted in an estimated $200 million loss in interest that could have funded further education and research programs.
- How Wartime Statistical Data Affected Japanese Americans, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. Scholars William Seltzer and Margo Anderson released a study examining the U.S. Census Bureau’s role in the WWII evacuation and detention of Japanese Americans, calling for stronger legal safeguards and ethical training while still endorsing full public cooperation with the 2000 census. The researchers traced how the Census Bureau provided statistical data used to round up Japanese Americans, drawing parallels to similar misuse of data by Nazi-era statistical agencies in Europe.
- Census Bureau Apologizes for Role in Internment, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Census Bureau director Kenneth Prewitt formally acknowledged the agency’s proactive cooperation with Japanese American internment during WWII and admitted the Bureau had been less than forthcoming about this history for years. Prewitt stated that safeguards have since been instituted to prevent misuse of census data, while researchers found the Bureau’s wartime statistician had testified about the agency’s deep involvement with the War Powers Act and population registration efforts.
- National Newsbytes, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 3. A roundup of short national news items including a Columbia, S.C. newsroom diversity study, a Florida councilwoman’s controversial remarks about Martin Luther King Jr., a Houston official’s apology for an antisemitic remark, and reports on declining numbers of Asian American scientists at national nuclear labs. The briefs also cover a rally marking the 100th day of Wen Ho Lee’s detention and comparisons drawn to the WWII internment of Japanese Americans.
- DNCC Announces Business Opportunities During 2000 Democratic National Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Democratic National Convention Committee announced business and contract opportunities for local Los Angeles businesses, particularly minority- and women-owned enterprises, connected to the 2000 Democratic National Convention. The DNCC created a Business Development Department to build relationships with local businesses and expects the convention to draw 30,000 to 35,000 attendees.
JACL
- National Convention Workshops Scheduled, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The upcoming JACL national convention in Monterey will feature workshops on topics including U.S.-Japan relations, elder care for Japanese American seniors, Social Security, hate crimes, and the history of the redress movement. Speakers include Glen Fukushima, Patrick Okura, and others addressing issues facing the Japanese American community today.
Community
- Jack Hirose Donates $50,000 Toward Documentary on the Military Intelligence Service, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Businessman and MIS veteran Jack Hirose donated $50,000 to the MISNorCal documentary project, pushing fundraising for the $370,000 film to 75 percent of its goal. The documentary, titled ‘Uncommon Courage,’ will tell the story of roughly 6,000 Japanese American servicemen in military intelligence during WWII and will be narrated by Ken Kashiwahara.
Arts & Entertainment
- JACCC Presents 10th Annual ‘Fresh Tracks’ Performance Series, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center’s Fresh Tracks series returns to the David Henry Hwang Theater April 14-16, showcasing emerging Asian Pacific American performance artists. The three-night event features works by artists including Denise Uyehara, Leilani Chan, Justin Chin, and Michael Sakamoto exploring themes of identity, sexuality, and cultural issues.
In-Depth
- Texas Battalion Pays Tribute to Hawaii Nisei Vets, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Four survivors of the Texas ‘Lost Battalion’ traveled to Hawaii to reunite with Nisei veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, who famously rescued the surrounded Texas unit in France during WWII. The reunion included a memorial service at Punchbowl cemetery and a luncheon featuring remarks from decorated war hero Ben Kuroki.
Commentary
- Manzanar Committee Questions Population Figures on Memorial, by Sue Kunitomi Embrey, page 6. The Manzanar Committee sent a letter to NJAMF disputing the population figures proposed for inscription on the memorial wall, citing discrepancies for Manzanar and Jerome camps compared to established historical sources. The committee asked that the numbers be corrected to accurately reflect the wartime incarceration experience.
- Santa Maria Valley JACL Offers Perspective on Masaoka, by Kazue Oye, Jerry Namba, Peter Uyehara, page 6. The Santa Maria Valley JACL chapter issued a statement supporting the inclusion of Mike Masaoka’s quotes on the memorial, arguing his leadership must be understood in the context of the racist pressures of the 1940s. The chapter credited Masaoka’s contributions with helping create opportunities for later generations of Japanese Americans.
- Readers Bid Farewell to Bill Hosokawa’s ‘From the Frying Pan’, by Various Letter Writers, page 7. Multiple readers wrote in to express sadness over William Hosokawa’s retirement from his long-running Pacific Citizen column after nearly sixty years, praising his wit and his role in articulating Nisei perspectives on Japanese American issues. Several writers criticized the manner of his departure and called for the JACL community to honor him properly.
- Response to Miyazaki’s Letter, by William Hohri, page 7. William Hohri rebuts a previous letter defending Mike Masaoka, pointing out factual errors including the exclusion of Issei from historical narratives and misrepresentations about the formation and recruitment of the 442nd RCT. Hohri cites historical documents including the Lim Report and testimony before the Tolan Committee to argue Masaoka’s collaboration with authorities has been well documented.
Obituaries
- Mas F. Imon, Former English Editor, Dies at Age Unspecified, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mas F. Imon, a former English editor of Little Tokyo’s Shin Nichi Bei and New York Japanese American News in the 1950s and a Military Intelligence Service Language School graduate, died suddenly of an aortic aneurysm. He is survived by sons Michael and Richard, and had continued contributing to the Pacific Citizen in recent years.
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