Vol. 131, No. 10, August 25, 2000. 8 pages. View this issue
Ryan Arnold Futagaki, a UCLA soccer player known for his karate kick celebration, was the cover story of this eight-page issue, in a profile by Lyndsey Shinoda. Politics filled much of the news. Tracy Uba reported on Sen. Joe Lieberman’s address to the APIA Caucus at the Democratic National Convention, while Shinoda covered a peaceful protest near the convention calling for the release of Dr. Wen Ho Lee. The JACL announced that applications were open for the 2000 National JACL Legacy Fund Grants, with $26,000 available.
Also inside: Sachi Seko reviewed a book about Clifford I. Uyeda, and Emily Moto Murase wrote about Japanese Latin Americans and the Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2000. News briefs covered the dedication of the National Japanese American Memorial on Nov. 9 and plans for Sacramento Region Reunion 2000. The letters page returned to Mike Masaoka’s wartime counsel.
What’s in this issue
Sports
- Karate Kicks His Way to the Top, by Lyndsey Shinoda, page 1. UCLA Bruins soccer player Ryan Arnold Futagaki, a Yonsei junior known for his trademark karate kick goal celebration, is profiled as a rising star on the No. 3 ranked team. The article covers his upbringing in Huntington Beach, his path to UCLA, his faith, and his aspirations to play in the Olympics or MLS.
- Futagaki Aims for Olympic and Pro Soccer Dreams, page 8. This continuation of the Futagaki profile details his time on the U.S. under-20 and under-23 national soccer teams, including winning a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan American Games. It also covers his faith-based involvement with Athletes for Action and his community work with youth soccer camps and children battling cancer.
JACL
- 2000 Nat’l JACL Legacy Fund Grants Applications Available, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Applications are now open for the 2000 National JACL Legacy Fund Grants program, with $26,000 available for chapters, district councils, and youth/student council members. The deadline to apply is Sept. 29, 2000, and a review committee of district representatives will evaluate submissions.
- Legacy: Toru Sakahara, by Ryan Chin, V.P. Public Affairs, page 6. This profile honors Toru Sakahara, a dedicated early JACL member who helped rebuild the Seattle chapter after WWII and went on to serve as chapter president and national 2nd vice president. The piece highlights his lasting legacy within the organization.
National
- V.P. Candidate Joe Lieberman Speaks to APIA Caucus at DNC Convention, by Tracy Uba, page 1. Sen. Joe Lieberman, the first Jewish American vice presidential nominee, addressed the APIA Caucus at the 2000 Democratic National Convention, emphasizing themes of opportunity and inclusion. Caucus leaders and delegates reflected on the growing political influence of Asian Pacific Islander Americans within the party.
- Wen Ho Lee Supporters Stage Peaceful Protest at the DNC, by Lyndsey Shinoda, page 1. More than 100 protestors gathered near the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles to demand the release of Dr. Wen Ho Lee, who was jailed on charges of mishandling classified nuclear data. Organizers from the Joint Chinese University Alumni Association and other groups called for justice and highlighted Lee’s harsh detention conditions.
- Judge May Decide on Lee’s Bail This Week, page 3. A federal judge is expected to rule on whether to grant bail to Dr. Wen Ho Lee, who faces charges of mishandling classified nuclear information and could face life in prison if convicted. Lee’s defense attorney argued he lacked malicious intent, while family members and supporters offered property as bond.
- National Japanese American Memorial to Be Dedicated Nov. 9, page 3. The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation announced that the memorial honoring JA WWII patriotism and internment will be dedicated in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 9. The memorial features a granite wall, panels depicting the internment camps, and a sculpture by artist Nina Akamu.
- Lieberman Speaks to Growing, More Assertive APIA Caucus, page 8. This continuation article details the growth of the APIA Caucus at the Democratic National Convention, noting a record 180 APIA delegates compared to nearly nonexistent representation in 1992. Delegates and leaders like Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and various caucus members discussed the importance of political mobilization and unity among Asian Pacific Islander Americans.
Community
- Takasugi to Seek Seat on Harbor Commission, page 3. Former State Assemblyman and Oxnard Mayor Nao Takasugi, 78, is coming out of retirement to run for a seat on the Port of Hueneme harbor commission. He will face incumbents Jesse Ramirez and Bill Hill for the position, which oversees a growing international trade port.
- S.F. Police Department Seeks AA Applicants, page 3. The San Francisco Police Department is running a recruiting campaign targeting Asian American applicants, including two informational seminars in September at Kimochi, Inc. The article outlines qualification requirements, salary, and application procedures for prospective officers.
- Seiko Fujimoto Honored With the Kay Okamoto Volunteer Award, page 4. Seiko Fujimoto received the Kay Okamoto Volunteer Award at the Hamilton Senior Center anniversary luncheon in San Francisco for her extensive community service and translation work. Fujimoto, an atomic bomb survivor, donated her prize money to Kokoro Assisted Living and the Japanese Benevolent Society.
- Uwate Awarded Monterey Chapter’s Outstanding Scholar Award, page 4. Carolyn Uwate, daughter of JACL members Walt and Marilyn Uwate, received the Monterey chapter JACL’s Outstanding Scholar Award. A 2000 Monterey High School graduate headed to UC Berkeley, she excelled in academics, athletics, and music.
- Plans Being Finalized for Sacramento Region Reunion 2000, page 4. Organizers are finalizing plans for the Sacramento Region Reunion 2000, expected to draw close to 500 attendees on Sept. 10 at the DoubleTree Hotel. Keynote speakers include Cherry Tsutsumida and Congressman Robert T. Matsui, and a new historical book on Sacramento Valley Japanese Americans will be introduced.
- Assemblymember Nakano Named High-Tech Legislator of the Year, page 4. The American Electronics Association named Assemblymember George Nakano, D-Torrance, as one of California’s High-Tech Legislators of the Year for his work on tax credit legislation benefiting research and development firms. Nakano’s AB 465 increased the state’s research and development tax credit rate.
- National AIDS Memorial Grove Volunteer Day With SF JACL, page 4. The San Francisco chapter of JACL will sponsor a workday at the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park on Sept. 16. The chapter is inviting community members to help maintain the space dedicated to those affected by AIDS.
Arts & Entertainment
- Documentary to Premier Sept. 9 at Tulelake Reunion IV, page 4. KVIE Channel 6 will premiere the documentary “Forsaken Fields: Japanese American Farmers and Growers During World War II” during the Tulelake Reunion IV in Sacramento. The film, produced by Midori Sperandeo and hosted by Jan Yanehiro, explores the impact of internment on JA farming families.
- Who is Clifford I. Uyeda?, by Sachi Seko, page 5. This book review profiles Clifford I. Uyeda, the former national JACL president who led the organization’s redress campaign despite having no prior JACL connections. It details his immigrant upbringing in Washington state, his education, and the personal sacrifices his family made to support him.
Commentary
- A Bridge Across the Pacific: On Accidents of History, Grave Injustices, and Blind Relatives, by Emily Moto Murase, page 6. Emily Moto Murase discusses the history of Japanese Latin Americans (JLAs) who were forcibly relocated to U.S. internment camps during WWII and criticizes the JACL national council for rejecting a resolution supporting redress for JLAs. She calls for the JACL to back Congressman Xavier Becerra’s Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2000.
- Japanese Cubans, by Christina Shigemura, page 6. This article previews a talk by Francisco Miyasaka, president of the Asociacion de la Colonia Japonesa de Cuba, discussing the history and current conditions of Japanese Cubans at the Japanese American National Museum. It notes similarities between Japanese Cuban and Japanese American immigration history, including wartime internment on Cuba’s Isle of Youth.
- Navigating the Future, page 7. A letter to the editor responds to prior letters about Bill Hosokawa’s article and Mike Masaoka’s wartime counsel, arguing that dwelling on past grievances should not obscure the need to move forward. The writer reflects on the complexities of loyalty and historical judgment faced by Japanese Americans during WWII.
- Japanese American Creed, page 7. This letter references Mike Masaoka’s 1941 statement to the U.S. Senate defending the loyalty of Japanese Americans before Pearl Harbor. The writer questions how critics of Masaoka’s wartime stance would have responded under the same historical pressures.
- Thank You to Attendees of the Monterey Tribute to Veterans, page 7. The writer thanks supporters of the Tribute to Veterans of All Wars dinner held in Monterey, describing the effort to create an inclusive event honoring veterans from multiple wars and eras. The letter also details logistical challenges faced in organizing the event and thanks volunteers by name.
Obituaries
- Obituaries, page 7. This obituary section lists several individuals who passed away, including Masao Hokama, Harold J. Kanae Sr., and Martha Masako Yanagi, with details of their survivors. The listings include brief biographical notes on hometowns and family members.
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