Toyota in NASCAR, a feedlot near Minidoka, and Ehren Watada

Vol. 144, No. 4, March 2, 2007. 12 pages. View this issue

Toyota’s arrival in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series set off a wave of anti-Japanese comments, and Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reported on it from the front page, with a follow-up on page 12. The issue also covered the Idaho Senate’s 30-4 vote to widen who may testify on a proposed feedlot near the Minidoka Internment National Monument. Floyd Mori, new JACL National Director, outlined his goals and wrote on corporate partnerships. Readers wrote in about 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, and Asian American leaders criticized AsianWeek for a column titled “Why I Hate Blacks.”

Also inside: the story of the Hirasaki family’s Gilroy home, lost to fire on Feb. 11, a digital archive on Robert T. Matsui’s redress work, and groundbreaking for the Pinedale Assembly Center memorial. Sports and entertainment pages followed Dice-K, Ai Miyazato, Apolo Anton Ohno and Kelly Hu. Idaho’s governor signed a Day of Remembrance proclamation for the sixth year.

What’s in this issue

National

• Toyota + NASCAR = Rise in Anti-Japanese Sentiment, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Toyota’s entry into NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series at the Daytona 500 sparked a wave of anti-Japanese sentiment among fans and some team owners, with racist blog posts and comments invoking Pearl Harbor and slurs. Asian Americans note parallels to the early 1980s anti-Japanese backlash that led to the murder of Vincent Chin.
• AA Leaders Criticize AsianWeek for ‘Why I Hate Blacks’ Column, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian American leaders including JACL National Director Floyd Mori and Karen Narasaki condemned AsianWeek for publishing Kenneth Eng’s racist column against African Americans, calling for an apology, termination of Eng, and policy review. AsianWeek issued an apology and removed the column, but some AA advocates emphasized the community’s debt to the African American civil rights movement.
• Idaho State Senate Approves Bill to Expand Testimony Over Controversial Proposed Feedlot Near Minidoka, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 3. The Idaho Senate voted 30-4 to expand who can testify on proposed feedlot operations, including a controversial 18,555-animal feedlot near the Minidoka Internment National Monument. Opponents including the JACL, ACLU, and National Park Service had objected to being excluded from testifying under the previous one-mile radius rule.
• Nat’l AA Organizations Concerned With Omission of Hate Crimes Charge in Cha Vang Murder, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Asian American organizations including AAJC, Hmong National Development, and SEARAC expressed concern that James Nichols was not charged with a hate crime in the murder of Hmong hunter Cha Vang in Wisconsin. Advocates cited the vicious nature of the killing and Nichols’ inflammatory statements about Hmong people as reasons for concern about racial motivation.
• Digital Archive Highlights Matsui’s Redress Efforts, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. California State University, Sacramento unveiled a new digital archive documenting the late Congressman Robert T. Matsui’s leadership in winning redress for Japanese Americans. The archive includes historical photos, videos, newspaper articles, and congressional documents.
• Students Claim Law Professor’s Comments on Hmong were Racist, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A University of Wisconsin law professor faced criticism after students said he made offensive comments about Hmong people during a lecture, including claims that Hmong men have no talent other than to kill. The professor called the remarks a misunderstanding and apologized privately to offended students.
• Pearl Harbor Memorial Center to be Renovated in Hawaii, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. A $52-million project is planned to renovate and rebuild the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center in Hawaii, which is sinking due to unstable ground. The Park Service hopes to reopen the center by Dec. 7, 2009, the 68th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.
• Matsuoka is Appointed to State’s Asian American Commission, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. Tina Matsuoka of Somerville was named one of the new commissioners of Massachusetts’ Asian American Commission, a body dedicated to political advocacy for Asian Americans in the state. The commission was created by 2006 legislation to represent the state’s fastest-growing minority group.
• JAVA Installs New Slate of Officers, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. The Japanese American Veterans Association elected its 2007-09 officers including President Robert Nakamoto, Vice President Cal Shintani, Secretary Kim Luoma, and Treasurer Earl Takeguchi. Nakamoto also announced appointments including Executive Director Terry Shima and Deputy Executive Director Lt. Col. Michael Yaguchi.
• Nakamura Appointed to Calif. Forestry and Fire Protection Board, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. Gary Nakamura of Redding was appointed to California’s Forestry and Fire Protection Board after a career as a forestry specialist at UC Berkeley and research supervisor for Champion International Corp. The position requires Senate confirmation and pays $100 a day.
• NASCAR Anti-Toyota Sentiment Continues Amid Racing Season, page 12. The backlash against Toyota’s NASCAR participation continues with team owners like Jack Roush making combative statements and websites like ‘Fans Against Racing Toyotas’ gaining traction. Observers including attorney Michael Yaki and JACL’s Bill Yoshino note parallels to 1980s Japan-bashing while highlighting the hypocrisy of targeting Toyota despite American car companies’ own use of foreign-made parts and manufacturing.

Arts & Entertainment

• From Blades to the Ballroom, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Olympic speed skating gold medalist Apolo Anton Ohno is joining the cast of ABC’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’ as its youngest competitor. Ohno discusses the challenges of learning ballroom dance compared to skating and his continued competitive ambitions in speed skating.
• Ohno Moves From the Ice Rink to the Dance Floor, page 6. Speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno discusses his preparation for ‘Dancing with the Stars’ while also defending his national title in short-track speed skating, having won his eighth national championship. Ohno is weighing whether to compete in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics while also exploring interests in broadcasting and Hollywood.
• Fast Tracking Through Hollywood, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Actress Kelly Hu discusses her expanding career with two new film roles in ‘Shanghai Kiss’ and ‘Undoing’ showing at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, plus her starring role in ABC’s ‘In Case of Emergency.’ Hu reflects on her journey from Miss Teen USA to a busy Hollywood career and her role as a community figure and philanthropist.

Community

• The Home that Garlic Built, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Gilroy’s historic Japanese-style home, built in 1941 by community leader Kiyoshi ‘Jimmy’ Hirasaki using parts of a Golden Gate International Exposition pavilion, burned down on Feb. 11. The house had stood as a symbol of the Hirasaki/Sakai family’s civic legacy, including son-in-law Lawson Sakai’s service with the 442nd RCT.
• Salinas Valley JACL Chapter Honors Students, Educator, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. The Salinas Valley JACL honored six graduating high school seniors with scholarship awards and gave Jennifer Day a first place essay award of $300. The chapter recognized students including Amy Yonemitsu, Evan Koike, and Ashley McCormick.
• Organizers Break Ground for Pinedale Assembly Center Memorial, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 5. Organizers broke ground on Remembrance Plaza, a memorial site in Pinedale, California honoring more than 4,800 Japanese Americans held at the Pinedale Assembly Center during World War II. The $150,000 memorial, expected to be completed within two years, follows advocacy efforts sparked when a developer sought a demolition permit for a building at the site.
• For Sixth Year, Idaho Gov. Signs DOR Proclamation, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 5. Idaho Gov. C.L. ‘Butch’ Otter signed a Day of Remembrance proclamation for the sixth consecutive year, honoring nearly 10,000 Japanese Americans held at the Minidoka internment camp during WWII. Otter recalled working with Japanese American farmers who never complained despite receiving no financial assistance after their release.
• GLAS Chapter Installs New Leaders, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Greater L.A. Singles JACL chapter installed new officers and board members at the Toyota USA Automotive Museum, led by Pacific Southwest District Governor Alayne Yonemoto. New leaders include President Janet Okubo and other officers overseeing legislation, treasury, and programs.
• JACS Announces Funding Opportunities for 2007, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Japanese American Community Services of Southern California announced its 2007 annual grants funding cycle, having provided seed money to community organizations for 45 years, including funding for Visual Communications’ Save Our Stories project. The application deadline is March 31, with awards announced June 1.

Commentary

• N-Word vs. J-Word, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Following the Michael Richards N-word controversy and a national ‘Abolish the N-Word’ movement, the article explores whether a similar campaign could work against anti-Asian slurs like ‘Jap’ and ‘Chink.’ Experts and activists offer differing views on whether such a movement would succeed given the different historical context and lack of reclamation of Asian slurs.
• Developing Corporate Partnerships, by Floyd Mori, page 2. JACL National Director Floyd Mori discusses the importance of developing corporate partnerships with socially conscious companies like AT&T, State Farm, and Pfizer. He outlines how these partnerships can benefit JACL members through education programs, safety initiatives, and health advocacy while diversifying funding beyond membership dues.
• A Courageous Act, by Tahasume Kojima, page 2. A letter writer praises 1st Lt. Ehren Watada’s courage in refusing deployment to Iraq, comparing his moral stand to the principles established at the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal. The writer hopes Watada’s example will inspire young Americans and that his story will be more widely told.
• If They Grew Bananas …, by Toshi Koiwa, page 2. A letter writer argues that while the 100th/442nd fought a justified war, the Iraq War is different, calling it a war fought for Big Oil’s commercial interests. The writer expresses support for 1st Lt. Ehren Watada’s refusal to deploy.
• 11-Year-Old Insulted by AsianWeek Column, page 2. An 11-year-old reader who is half-Japanese American and half-African American writes to express being insulted by Kenneth Eng’s ‘Why I Hate Blacks’ column in AsianWeek. The young writer states the comments are untrue and expresses pride in their mixed heritage.
• A Taste of Germany, by Cheryl Watamura Martinez, page 8. A Japanese American columnist living in Germany shares humorous observations about German food customs and dining etiquette differences from American and Japanese culture. She describes having to adapt to local ingredients and quirky local beliefs about food and health.
• A Blank Canvas, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 8. A UCLA student and columnist reflects on feeling burnt out from her art major while devoting increasing time to Asian American student organizations and extracurricular activities. She contemplates whether her true passion lies more in building community connections than in traditional art-making.

JACL

• Mori Outlines Goals as New JACL Leader, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Floyd Mori reflects on his extensive background in JACL leadership and California politics as he takes on a new role as the organization’s chief executive, expressing both humility and excitement. He outlines goals including updating technology, increasing corporate partnerships, and empowering young adults, while calling for the organization to evolve beyond traditional methods.

In-Depth

• Building a Home Among the Garlic Fields, by Lynda Lin, page 6. The article traces the history of the Hirasaki family’s Japanese-style home in Gilroy, built in 1941 from a Golden Gate International Exposition pavilion purchased by Kiyoshi Hirasaki. The family endured wartime incarceration and the patriarch’s detention by the FBI, but the house survived as a community landmark until its destruction by fire in 2007.

Sports

• Miyazato Mania Returns for a Second Year, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 7. Japanese golf star Ai Miyazato returns for her second season on the LPGA Tour, having finished with seven top-10 finishes in her winless rookie year. The 21-year-old golfer hopes to translate her Japanese superstardom into an American victory while continuing to improve her English and game.
• Dice-K Sharp in First Batting Practice, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 7. Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka impressed teammates and coaches during his first batting practice session, throwing 44 pitches including fastballs, curves, sliders and changeups. Pitching coach John Farrell and batters who faced him praised his command and variety of pitches ahead of his first exhibition game appearance.
• Spawned by Yao Ming, China’s Next Basketball Generation is Taking Next Step, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 7. China’s basketball popularity continues to grow following Yao Ming’s NBA success, with young players like Li Boyang and rising star Yi Jianlian following in his footsteps. The NBA has built a significant presence in China with sponsorships, broadcast deals, and merchandise sales, far outpacing NFL and MLB efforts to expand into the market.

Obituaries

• In Memoriam – 2006-2007, page 11. A compilation of obituary listings for community members who passed away, including details of survivors for individuals such as Kazue Ajari, Sachiko Fujimoto, and others. The listings include a detailed death notice for Norene Shizuye Akabane-Fujinaga, who passed away Feb. 20, 2007, with memorial service information.

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