Blood types, Amboy, and young APAs on war and peace

Vol. 140, No. 9, May 20, 2005. 12 pages. View this issue

Blood type and what it is said to reveal about character and marriageability led this issue, in a story by Caroline Aoyagi on a Japanese custom that is drawing more skepticism. Lynda Lin reported on Albert Okura, who bought the Route 66 town of Amboy, California, for $425,000. Four young Asian Pacific Americans in the Armed Forces told their own stories of war, peacekeeping and sacrifice for Memorial Day and Asian American Heritage Month.

Inside are news of Wen Ho Lee’s suit over leaks to reporters and plans for the 2005 Topaz Pilgrimage on June 11. Other pages cover a Redress gala dinner in San Francisco, a Japantown book project, and diplomas awarded 63 years late to Japanese Americans whose schooling was cut short by World War II. A column traced the Monte Cassino battle and the 100th Infantry Battalion, and Georgia Lee talked about her film Red Doors.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Hey Baby, What’s Your Blood Type?, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Many Japanese believe blood type determines a person’s characteristics and marriageability, a practice akin to horoscopes in the U.S. The article explores the growing skepticism among psychologists and commentators about the scientific validity of this widespread cultural practice.
• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. Brief news items highlight Asian Pacific Americans making news, including Assembly Member Judy Chu honoring outstanding APIAs in the San Gabriel Valley, RFA broadcaster Han Dongfang winning the Gleitsman Award, Senators Inouye and Stevens receiving the American Patriot Award, and Stacey Ann Fong Toda’s new role at Wells Fargo.
• 2005 Topaz Pilgrimage Set for June 11, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The 2005 Topaz Pilgrimage will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the closing of the Topaz Internment Camp in Utah, which held over 8,000 Japanese Americans during WWII. The event will feature exhibits, tours of the camp site, and is expected to draw over 75 former internees.
• Chapters Raise $65,000 to Purchase Obata Mural, by P.C. Staff, page 5. JACL chapters of Monterey Peninsula, Salinas Valley, and Watsonville-Santa Cruz partnered with CSU Monterey Bay to raise $65,000 to purchase a sumi-e painting by artist Chiura Obata. The painting will serve as an educational tool to teach students about Japanese American history.
• 63 Years Late, JAs Get Their High School Diplomas, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Japanese Americans whose high school education was cut short by WWII internment finally received their diplomas in a ceremony sponsored by the Imperial Valley JACL, made possible by a new law, AB 781. Several recipients from the classes of 1942-1946 attended, with some diplomas awarded posthumously to family members.
• Go For Broke Foundation Announces Floral Tribute Endowment for JA WWII Soldiers Interred Overseas, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Go For Broke Educational Foundation will administer a floral tribute endowment established by Ronald Yamada to honor JA WWII soldiers buried in overseas cemeteries. The fund was inspired by Yamada’s visit to the Epinal American Military Cemetery, where he discovered none of the JA soldiers’ graves had floral tributes.
• J-Town Task Force Launches Book Project, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Japantown Task Force is partnering with Arcadia Publishing on a book documenting the history of Japanese Americans in San Francisco’s Japantown. The book will feature approximately 200 photos and excerpts covering topics from early immigration to modern community life, timed to coincide with Japantown’s 2006 centennial.
• Gala Dinner Pays Tribute to Californians Instrumental in Redress Campaign and California Civil Liberties Program, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A gala dinner in San Francisco will honor Californians who contributed to the historic Redress Campaign and the California Civil Liberties Program, closing a statewide conference on Japanese American internment. The event will feature a photo presentation honoring deceased individuals instrumental in the movement, emceed by journalist Wendy Tokuda.
• San Mateo JACL Holds Scholarship Luncheon, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The San Mateo JACL held its Scholarship Luncheon featuring Congressman Mike Honda as keynote speaker. Several scholarship recipients were recognized at the event.

National

• Buying a Slice of Americana, by Lynda Lin, page 1. JA businessman Albert Okura purchased the historic Route 66 town of Amboy, California for $425,000 with plans to restore and preserve it. Okura, who also owns the Juan Pollo restaurant chain, hopes to repopulate the town while maintaining its historic character.
• Fighting HIV/AIDS Discrimination in the API Community, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. The Banyan Tree Project launched the first annual API HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to combat stigma and silence surrounding HIV/AIDS in the Asian Pacific American community. Charles Siron, a Filipino American living with HIV for six years, shares his story of discrimination and his mission to promote education and open discussion.
• In the City of Leaks, Wen Ho Lee Tries to Find the Leakers, by Pete Yost, Associated Press Writer, page 3. A federal appeals court debated whether to overturn a contempt ruling against five journalists who refused to identify sources for stories about nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee. Lee is suing the government for allegedly leaking his name to media during a political controversy over Chinese espionage allegations.
• Japanese Court Says City Illegally Denied Overseas A-bomb Survivors Right to Aid, by Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Writer, page 3. A Japanese court ruled that atomic bomb survivors living abroad are entitled to the same medical benefits and funeral costs as survivors living in Japan. The ruling favored California-based plaintiffs whose claims had been rejected by the city of Hiroshima.
• New Report Reveals AA Voting Trends in 2004 Presidential Election, by P.C. Staff, page 3. AALDEF released findings from a national multilingual exit poll of nearly 11,000 Asian American voters showing common concerns across ethnic lines, including economy/jobs and civil liberties. The report also highlighted voting barriers faced by Asian American voters and calls for expanded language assistance under the Voting Rights Act.
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. A roundup of national news briefs covering topics including advertiser boycotts of a radio show over racial slurs against a Korean American mayoral candidate, DJ Miss Info’s return to radio, U.S. funding for a tsunami warning system, a New York human trafficking bill, textbook revisions in Fairfax County schools, and an unsolved murder of Hong Kong immigrant siblings in Queens.
• Banyan Tree Project: Fighting Stigma Through Personal Stories, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 11. This continuation piece details the personal struggles of Charles Siron and a woman named Mem, both living with HIV/AIDS, as they face stigma and rejection within the Asian Pacific American community. The Banyan Tree Project aims to break the silence around HIV/AIDS through education and open discussion, addressing rising infection rates among APIs.

In-Depth

• Voices of War, Peace, by Cory Green, Thomas Kim, Timothy Tanaka, Ching Tuan, page 1. Four young Asian Pacific Americans serving in the Armed Forces share their personal stories about war, peacekeeping, and sacrifice in honor of Memorial Day and Asian American Heritage Month. Their accounts range from combat experiences in Iraq to reflections on family members who served in earlier wars.

Commentary

• Touchstone for the Future, by P.C. EDC Bd. Rep., page 1. A JACL Eastern District Council board representative reflects on the importance of the Pacific Citizen as a lifeline connecting Japanese Americans across generations and geography. The writer urges readers to support the 2005 Spring Campaign to ensure the paper’s continued publication.
• Letters to the Editor: Re: Satins Commentary, by Carol Kawase, page 2. A reader from the Sonoma County Chapter thanks a previous commentator for addressing the use of a racial slur and shares a personal story about her daughter encountering the term at school. She criticizes the use of the word for self-promotion at the expense of Japanese American and Jewish American communities.
• Habemus Papam — Benedict XVI: A Nisei Sidebar, page 8. This column explores the historical connection between the name of Pope Benedict XVI and the WWII battle at Monte Cassino, where the 100th Infantry Battalion earned its nickname ‘the Purple Heart Battalion.’ It traces the history of the abbey founded by St. Benedict and details of the battle, plus historical facts about German popes and the Monte Cassino bombing controversy.

Sports

• Pak Trying to Find Balance, Game, by Associated Press, page 7. LPGA golfer Se Ri Pak, having qualified for the Hall of Fame, is now struggling with her game as she seeks more balance in her life outside of golf. Despite family support, she finds it difficult to relax and has had disappointing results in recent tournaments.
• Study: NBA is Pro Sports’ Best at Achieving Diversity, by Mike Branom, Associated Press Writer, page 7. A university study found the NBA received the top grade in racial diversity among America’s pro sports leagues, earning an overall B-plus grade. The league excelled in both racial and gender diversity in its front office positions compared to MLB, NFL, and NHL.
• Yao Plans to Hang Out in Houston, Not China, for Summer, by Joel Anderson, AP Sports Writer, page 7. Rockets center Yao Ming looks forward to his first NBA offseason without obligations to China’s national basketball team, planning to focus on rest and conditioning in Houston. Coaches hope the break will help him improve his stamina and overall game after a productive third NBA season.

Arts & Entertainment

• In a Georgia State of Mind, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Filmmaker Georgia Lee dropped out of Harvard Business School to make her semi-autobiographical film ‘Red Doors,’ about a Chinese American family, incorporating real home video footage of herself and her sister. The film won the Tribeca Film Festival award for Best Narrative Feature and faced some online criticism for its portrayal of interracial relationships before it was set to screen at CineVegas and Outfest.
• Browse: Book Reviews, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 12. This roundup reviews several new books including ‘A Plague Upon Humanity’ about Japan’s WWII germ warfare experiments, ‘Wabi Sabi: The Japanese Art of Impermanence,’ the manga series ‘Buddha’ by Osamu Tezuka, and poetry collections exploring Asian American identity. Each book is summarized with its themes and significance for readers interested in Asian and Japanese culture.

Obituaries

• Lane Nakano, Co-star of Film about JA Soldiers Dies, by Associated Press, page 11. Lane Nakano, who starred in the WWII film ‘Go for Broke!’ about Japanese American soldiers, died at age 80 after a long battle with emphysema. Nakano himself served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team after his family was interned in Wyoming during WWII.
• Death Notice: Itu Miyashita, page 11. Itu Miyashita, 86, of De Soto, Texas, passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, joining her husband John who died in 2002. She is survived by three children, six grandchildren, and numerous extended family members, and was remembered for her love of travel and family.
• Death Notice: Donald Hamilton Estes, page 11. Donald Hamilton Estes, 68, a noted authority on the Japanese American experience and longtime San Diego educator, died from complications related to cardiac surgery. He was deeply involved in the San Diego Japanese American community, JACL, Boy Scouts, and authored numerous articles and exhibits on Japanese American history.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.