The December 2007 youth issue: what it means to be a young JA

Vol. 145, No. 11, December 2007. 120 pages. View this issue

Young Japanese Americans wrote most of this 120-page issue, and the question running through it was identity. Peter Shigeki Frandsen asked what a generation that prizes individuality means for JACL, while Joseph E. Craig, Leilani Savitt and Haruka Roudebush wrote about multiracial and Shin Nikkei experience. Craig Ishii and Kimberly Shintaku argued that JACL should trust youth with real leadership, and Lisa Hanasono looked at the young professionals in its ranks. A survey of young readers and a campus piece on the UCSD Nikkei Student Union are also here.

Older voices sit beside the new ones. A 1943 letter from Kimiko Kodani describes the Army’s takeover of Tule Lake, and reprinted pieces from 1946, 1947, 1956, 1961, 1965 and 1978 show what earlier generations wrote. Sports writing includes Wally Yonamine and Ann Kiyomura. Holiday greetings fill 62 of the issue’s pages.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Hyphens: A Generation Seeking Individuality, by Peter Shigeki Frandsen, page 6. A third-year dental student reflects on how his generation seeks individuality and distinctiveness in contrast to earlier generations that sought unity and conformity. He examines how social media and technology have created a generation obsessed with self-disclosure and personal branding, questioning what this means for JACL’s ability to engage young members.
• T-Shirts, Lattes and Assimilation, by Justine Kondo, page 15. A young Japanese American reflects on how her generation, while more assimilated than previous generations, remains victims of ignorance and racism, citing the Abercrombie & Fitch t-shirt controversy as an example. She argues that JA youth must overcome apathy and reconnect with civil rights issues to honor the sacrifices of earlier generations.
• Dear Mr. Bird, Dear Helen: WWII College Correspondence, by Helen Matsunaga, page 16. These wartime letters between Japanese American student Helen Matsunaga and Occidental College President Remsen Bird detail her family’s resettlement experience after internment and her educational pursuits at Rockford College. Matsunaga later became a violinist and financial analyst before dying of lung cancer in 1992.
• Have We Made It? Hiroshima Reflections on Nuclear Weapons, by Richard Yamasaki, page 26. During a 1978 trip to Japan, a Japan Airlines scholar visited Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial Museum, describing the devastating displays of A-bomb remnants and victim photographs. He reflects on the continuing global nuclear arms race and expresses fear that humanity has failed to learn the lessons of Hiroshima.
• The New Civil Rights: My Journey in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Struggle for Equality, by Meilee Wong, page 36. Meilee Wong describes her journey into LGBT civil rights activism, drawing parallels between her family’s history with Japanese American internment and African American civil rights struggles. She recounts the deaths of Arthur Bob Markus and Satender Singh as examples of the ongoing need for LGBT protections under civil rights law.
• A Change is Gonna’ Come, by Brandon Mita, page 37. Brandon Mita recounts his activism fighting for an Asian American studies program at the University of Illinois, Chicago, inspired by predecessors like Yuri Kochiyama and the Third World Liberation Front. He now attends Howard University School of Law, continuing his commitment to social change in a new form.
• Coming Home: Balancing Community and Ambition, by Jessica Kawamura, page 41. A graduate student returning to Berkeley after college reflects on the tension between personal ambition and commitment to the Japanese American community. She questions how her generation will balance broader social justice goals with maintaining Nikkei cultural institutions and community ties.
• Have We Made It? A Student Gives Her Perspective, by Kim Suyehiro, page 43. In this 1986 award-winning speech, Kim Suyehiro examines the ‘model minority’ myth applied to Japanese Americans, arguing that despite achievements, JAs remain colonized as a minority group in the eyes of the white majority. She concludes that Japanese Americans have made it ‘not by our standards, but by the white majority’s.’
• JACL’s Future: ‘Retiring’ Youth Become Young Professionals, by Lisa Hanasono, page 46. A Purdue University graduate student examines the emerging demographic of ‘young professionals’ within JACL and argues the organization must specifically target this group with leadership and networking opportunities. She calls on young professionals to give back to JACL after years of receiving scholarships and support.
• Vietnam: Think Before You Speak, by Todd Endo, page 49. Originally published in 1965, this piece criticizes the use of sweeping generalizations and moral self-righteousness by both supporters and opponents of the Vietnam War policy. Endo draws parallels to anti-Japanese propagandist Valentine Stuart McClatchy’s rhetoric before WWII internment as a warning against uncritical generalizations.
• My Multiracial Identity: It’s Not Just Black and White, by Leilani Savitt, page 54. A Hapa woman raised in both Jewish American and Japanese American communities in Minneapolis discusses the complexities of her multiracial identity and the challenges of navigating racial boundaries in dating, college discussions, and family expectations. She advocates for multiracial individuals to explore all parts of their identity rather than being forced to choose one race.
• Discovering Internment History Through Family Research, by James Kumpel, page 60. A mixed-race student of Japanese, Irish and German ancestry describes how learning about his grandfather’s WWII internment inspired him to research and educate others about the injustice, eventually leading him to Washington D.C. to advocate for Redress legislation. He describes the personal gratification of witnessing the House of Representatives approve Redress.
• Junior JACL Program Prepares Youth for Chapter Involvement, by Jean Mitori, page 80. This 1956 report describes the activities of the St. Louis Jr. JACL group known as the ‘Jays,’ which included fundraising for JACL projects, community service, and social activities to prepare younger members for eventual JACL chapter membership. The group organized events like a Fall Festival booth and Christmas basket donations for needy families.
• What Does it Mean to Be JA Today?, by Sally Kikuchi, page 82. A UC Berkeley sociology student surveys various students, both Japanese American and non-JA, about what it means to be Japanese American today, revealing diverse and sometimes contradictory perspectives. The responses range from discussions of cultural identity and internment history to observations about intermarriage and the changing nature of the JA community.
• 1961 Sansei Youth Survey Results, by P.C. Staff, page 87. This historical 1961 survey of Sansei youth reveals attitudes toward Japanese heritage, intermarriage, academic expectations, and social integration during that era. The results showed strong support for maintaining some Japanese customs while integrating into American society, with most respondents favoring intermarriage and college attendance.

In-Depth

• Camp Letter: A Letter from Kimiko Kodani to June Moore, by Kimiko Kodani, page 10. A 1943 letter written from Tule Lake internment camp describes the chaos following the Army’s takeover of the camp under martial law, including tear gas attacks and armored vehicles patrolling the barracks. The letter also touches on everyday concerns like fashion and hair styles amid the extraordinary wartime circumstances.
• Numbers Up: Can Race Be Quantified?, by Joseph E. Craig, page 19. A multiracial writer recounts his childhood confusion over an ethnicity code on his report card and his lifelong experience of not fitting neatly into racial categories. He reflects on how his mixed heritage of Black, Native American, Caucasian, and Japanese ancestry shaped his social experiences and how he now anticipates his future children’s multiracial identity with his half-Chinese, half-Japanese wife.
• Us, Them, Us: All American, by Ken Kanesaka, page 22. A Japanese American dancer describes his childhood learning Japanese classical dance and his experience facing racism in Japan while studying at Tokyo University and later as a kabuki actor. He now teaches Japanese dance in the U.S. and co-founded Origin Dance Theater to foster cultural tolerance between Asian countries and the world.
• Lost and Found in Translation, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 31. A Japanese American teaching English in Japan explores what it means to be JA living in the motherland, describing her dual identity as the American teacher who secretly understands Japanese. She reflects on realizing she will never be fully Japanese despite living there, comparing the experience to a Hapa being asked to choose one racial identity.
• JACLer Marches in Alabama, by Todd Endo, page 32. Following the death of Rev. James Reeb during the Selma civil rights marches in 1965, Todd Endo traveled to Alabama and witnessed the courage and unity of the Selma Negro community. He reflects on his own complacency and the challenge of translating faith and conviction into meaningful civil rights action.
• SF State Strike: An Inside View, by John Sugiyama, page 40. John Sugiyama, a junior at San Francisco State College in 1969, recounts witnessing police brutality during the student strikes led by the Black Students Union and Third World Liberation Front demanding ethnic studies programs. He reflects on the generation gap between adults and students fighting for educational reform.
• Modern Day Heroes: Soldiers Reflect on War Experiences, by P.C. Staff, page 48. This compilation of interviews features Thomas Kim, Cody Green, and Robert S. Nakamoto, three Asian Pacific American soldiers who served in Iraq, sharing their combat experiences and motivations for enlisting. The article draws connections between these modern soldiers and the historic sacrifices of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
• Youth Survey: What JA and APA Readers Think, by P.C. Staff, page 86. The Pacific Citizen conducted a survey of young readers to understand their reading habits, JACL membership status, and preferences for future newspaper content. Results showed most respondents were Yonsei, read both print and online news, and expressed interest in more youth-oriented content and internship opportunities.
• Connecting Our Emerging JA Identities, by Haruka Roudebush, page 101. A San Francisco JACL board member explores the disconnect between clichéd questions of Japanese versus American identity and examines how multiracial and Shin Nikkei (recent immigrant) youth face unique challenges connecting to the JA community’s traditional internment-based narrative. She argues that shared cultural connections rather than historical experience should form the basis for building community into the future.

Community

• UCSD NSU: What Does it Mean to You?, by Stacy Iwata, page 38. UCSD Nikkei Student Union president Stacy Iwata traces the organization’s history from its founding as the Japanese American Society in 1988 through its revival and growth into a 175-plus member group. The article explores how NSU serves as both a cultural outlet and community-building organization for Japanese American and non-Japanese students alike.
• Sr. and Jr. Tri-Villes Push Social and Welfare Projects, by P.C. Staff, page 66. This 1956 report details the activities of the Senior and Junior Tri-Villes youth groups affiliated with the Sequoia JACL chapter in Palo Alto, including stuffed animal donations to a children’s convalescent home and a joint Fun Night fundraiser. The groups also participated in the first Junior JACL convention held in San Francisco over Labor Day weekend.

Sports

• Notes of a Nisei Soldier: We Have Won the War — We Must Make the Peace, by T/5 Yukio Ide, page 49. A 1946 Memorial Day reflection by a Nisei soldier stationed in Italy discusses the sacrifices of WWII and calls for an end to racial hatred and prejudice following the war. The piece emphasizes that bullets and bombs killed soldiers of all races impartially, arguing for equal rights and happiness for all people regardless of skin color.
• He Plays the Field: A Personal Account of Young Wally Yonamine, by Thomas Komuro, page 56. This 1947 profile follows Wally Yonamine, a Nisei football player from Hawaii who became a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers after being scouted during a Hawaii All-Stars tour. The article details his path from Farrington High School through military service to professional football stardom.
• Part of the Continuum of Great APA Athletes, by Brigham Walker, page 57. Former Princeton football player Brigham Walker discusses how Hapa athletes like Paul Kariya and Johnnie Morton inspired his athletic pursuits, while examining the complexities of being racially recognized as Asian Pacific American in mainstream sports media. He argues that breaking negative APA stereotypes requires athletes to be publicly recognized as APA in the mainstream.
• Love is a Racquet for Ann Kiyomura, by Sharon Suzuki, page 59. This 1978 profile of tennis star Ann Kiyomura details her Wimbledon championship wins and her career playing World Team Tennis, alongside her reflections on Japanese American identity in sports. Kiyomura discusses her desire to popularize tennis in Japan and her eventual plans for marriage and family.

JACL

• Youth Leadership: Trust, Ownership and Community Change, by Craig Ishii, page 61. The JACL Pacific Southwest district’s regional director argues that JACL must trust youth with leadership and ownership of programs rather than simply asking for volunteers, citing successful examples like the UCLA campaign for Professor Don Nakanishi’s tenure and the Chibi-K run revival. He calls for JACL to commit to providing youth genuine opportunities for expression and change.
• JA Youth in JACL: Our Leaders of Tomorrow, by Kimberly Shintaku, page 63. The National Youth/Student Chair discusses JACL’s need to better connect with Japanese American youth by understanding their demographics and interests through surveys. She compares JACL’s challenge to competing with popular websites like Facebook and MySpace for young people’s attention and engagement.

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