Vol. 130, No. 9, March 3, 2000. 8 pages. View this issue
A possible lawsuit over the National Japanese American Memorial wall led this 8-page issue. Martha Nakagawa reported that board member Francis Sogi may sue the foundation over how the inscriptions were chosen and why a Mike Masaoka quote was included. Two letters took opposite sides: Grayce Uyehara argued that Masaoka’s name belongs on the memorial, and Judy Tachibana called it a mistake and asked for a more open process.
Other news included Senator John McCain’s apology for a slur, the Wen Ho Lee case, and California resolutions for a Day of Remembrance. Commentary included Sachi Seko on Larry Tajiri and Bill Hosokawa, Emily Murase’s interview with Leslie Hatamiya, and Harry Honda on California’s March 7 primary. Plans for the JACL national convention in Monterey also appeared, along with a UCLA video series on the incarceration (often called internment) of Japanese American youth.
What’s in this issue
National
- Lawsuit May Be Brewing Over NJAMF Inscription, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation faces a possible lawsuit from board member Francis Sogi over the selection process and inclusion of a controversial Mike Masaoka quote on the memorial wall. Dissenting board members question whether the inscriptions were properly approved by the Commission on Fine Arts and National Park Service before the board vote, and the controversy has spurred broader criticism of the memorial’s omissions.
- McCain Apologizes for Slur, page 1. Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain apologized for repeatedly using the term “gook” to describe his North Vietnamese captors during the Vietnam War. McCain, who had been criticized by Asian Pacific American groups including JACL, said he deeply regretted any pain caused by his choice of words.
- Wen Ho Lee Attorneys Say Mishandled Information Was Available in Public Domain, by Associated Press, page 1. Attorneys for former Los Alamos scientist Wen Ho Lee plan to argue at trial that the nuclear secrets he allegedly mishandled were actually available to the public through other sources. The dispute centers on whether Lee must disclose to prosecutors the classified information he intends to use in his defense under the Classified Information Procedures Act.
- Lawsuits to Seek Billions in Compensation From Japanese Corporations That Used Slave Laborers During WWII, page 3. Two multi-billion dollar class-action lawsuits were filed against the Japanese government and Japanese corporations in California Superior Court on behalf of former U.S. POWs and Chinese civilians forced into slave labor during WWII. The suits, filed by a law firm known for securing German reparations, allege forced laborers worked under brutal conditions for little or no pay.
- Nikkei Congressional Candidate Receives Democratic Endorsements, page 3. Kent, a Nikkei candidate, received endorsements from the California State Democratic Party and various labor councils in his run against incumbent Republican Congressman Doug Ose. Kent, a Democratic County Central Committee chair and former Japan JACL president, hopes to join fellow Nikkei Congressman Bob Matsui in Washington.
- Assemblymembers Nakano, Honda Introduce Day of Remembrance Resolution, page 3. California Assemblymen George Nakano and Mike Honda introduced Assembly Concurrent Resolution 126 to declare February 19 as a Day of Remembrance, commemorating the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. Veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Battalion attended the Assembly session as Nakano paid tribute to their service.
JACL
- A Look at Monterey’s History of JA Fishermen and Abalone Divers, page 4. Organizers of the upcoming JACL national convention in Monterey are planning events at the Monterey Bay Aquarium highlighting the history of Japanese American fishermen and abalone divers on the Monterey Peninsula. The convention will also include a dinner tribute to Japanese American veterans featuring General Eric Shinseki as the keynote speaker.
Community
- UCLA Launches Video Series ‘Once Upon A Camp’ on the Internment of JA Youth During WWII, page 4. The UCLA Asian American Studies Center partnered with the Japanese American National Museum and other organizations to produce a classroom video series about the WWII internment experience of Japanese American youth, funded by the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program. The series includes titles like “Dear Miss Breed,” “Our World,” and “The Bracelet,” targeting grades K-12.
- Immigration Act to Be Focus of APAs in Higher Education Conference, page 4. Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education announced its 13th annual conference at the Long Beach Westin Hotel, themed around the 35th anniversary of the Immigration Act. The conference will feature speakers including Lon Hatamiya and Helen Zia, and will conclude with a panel discussion on the Wen Ho Lee case.
- JABA Honors Judge Takasugi With Lifetime Achievement Award, page 5. Judge Robert M. Takasugi received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Japanese American Bar Association at their annual installation banquet, recognizing his 40 years of service to the legal community. Keynote speaker Assemblyman George Nakano emphasized the importance of Asian Pacific American participation in the 2000 Census.
Commentary
- Journalists and Friendships, by Sachi Seko, page 5. Sachi Seko reflects on the legacy and friendship between journalists Larry Tajiri and Bill Hosokawa, prompted by Hosokawa’s column questioning why James Omura was selected over Tajiri as an influential Japanese American journalist. Seko recounts her personal relationship with Tajiri as a mentor and discusses the complexities of judging wartime editorial positions decades later.
- On the Trail: An Interview With Leslie Hatamiya, by Emily Murase, page 6. Leslie Hatamiya, deputy campaign manager for Senator Bill Bradley’s presidential campaign, discusses her role, the campaign’s key issues including healthcare and campaign finance reform, and Bradley’s commitment to racial healing. Hatamiya also reflects on her longtime involvement with JACL, including writing a book on the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
- Very Truly Yours: As California Incumbents Face Their March 7 Primary, by Harry Honda, page 6. Harry Honda reviews California’s congressional primary races using details from “The Almanac of American Politics 2000,” profiling incumbents including Dianne Feinstein, Robert Matsui, George Miller, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Lee, Tom Lantos, and Tom Campbell. He highlights districts with significant Asian American populations and notes historical connections to Japanese American internment and redress efforts.
- Masaoka’s Name Belongs on National Memorial, by Grayce Uyehara, page 7. In a letter to the editor, Grayce Uyehara argues that Mike Masaoka’s name deserves to be inscribed on the National Japanese American Memorial, citing his sacrifices and achievements in advancing civil rights for Japanese Americans despite being paid little for his work. She thanks the JACL founders and Masaoka for their contributions to the community’s history.
- Mistake to Put Masaoka’s Name on Memorial, by Judy Tachibana, page 7. Judy Tachibana writes that placing Mike Masaoka’s name and the Japanese American Creed on the national memorial would be a grave mistake, calling it divisive and hurtful to a significant portion of the community. She calls for the NJAMF to be more transparent about the inscription process and to seek input from scholars who have studied the wartime years.
- Influential JA Journalist, by Susan Fitton, page 7. Susan Fitton writes in response to Bill Hosokawa’s column, questioning the notion of selecting a single individual as the most influential Japanese American journalist. She notes Hosokawa’s own accomplishments and honors, including recognition from Japan and his many authored books.
- An Open Letter to JACL President Helen Kawagoe, by Paul, page 7. The writer describes repeatedly contacting JACL President Helen Kawagoe about an unauthorized, incorrect version of a Harvard case study on Japanese American redress that was distributed to Pacific Citizen subscribers in 1998. Despite multiple letters over nearly a year, the writer says the organization did not respond or confirm that the error had been corrected with Harvard.
Obituaries
- Obituaries, by P.C. Staff, page 7. This week’s obituary listings include tributes to several community members including Harold A. Ishibashi of Oxnard, Esther Kashima of Tennessee, and Donald Hiroshi Shigaki, a WWII 442nd RCT veteran, among others. Survivors and family members are listed for each individual.
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