Memorial Day veterans, and tracing Japanese American roots

Vol. 142, No. 9, May 19, 2006. 12 pages. View this issue

Two veterans from two different wars told their stories for Memorial Day. Lynda Lin interviewed Nisei veteran Toke Yoshihashi, who fought with the 100th Battalion in Italy, and Yonsei veteran Robert Nakamoto, who served in Iraq. Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reported on families turning to the internet to trace their histories, including Jennifer Reven and Chester Hashizume, with a continuation on page 4. She also covered California’s Senate Bill 1615, which would let mixed race residents check more than one race box.

Other pages cover the Go For Broke National Education Center’s new name and plans, and Ted Namba’s look at Japanese American history in Arizona ahead of the JACL National Convention. Greg Marutani wrote about the JACL Curriculum Guide, and Chris Tashima and Tim Toyama talked about their short film Day of Independence. Page 3 reported that the Interior Department backed national park status for the Bainbridge Island memorial, part of the Minidoka site.

What’s in this issue

Community

  • Pacific Citizen Interviews Two Veterans for Memorial Day, by Lynda Lin, page 1. The Pacific Citizen interviewed Nisei veteran Toke Yoshihashi and Yonsei veteran Robert Nakamoto about their wartime experiences for Memorial Day. Yoshihashi recounts fighting with the 100th Battalion on the Gothic Line in Italy, while Nakamoto shares his service with the Tennessee National Guard in Iraq and reflects on the legacy of Japanese American soldiers.
  • Meng’s Daughter Enters Race for His Assembly Seat, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Grace Meng announced her candidacy for the New York 22nd Assembly District seat being vacated by her father, Assemblyman Jimmy Meng. Speculation about her political ambitions had circulated for weeks before her father’s health-related decision not to seek reelection.
  • Roger Ozaki Receives Asian American Honor, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. Roger Ozaki was honored at the first Who’s Who in Asian American Communities in Georgia gala for his contributions to higher education and the local Asian American community. Ozaki serves as testing center director for Georgia Perimeter College in Lawrenceville.
  • Kobayashi to Receive John Cardinal O’Hara Award, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. Francis M. Kobayashi will receive Notre Dame’s John Cardinal O’Hara Award for distinguished service to the university. Kobayashi is professor emeritus of aerospace and mechanical engineering who retired a decade ago from the graduate school’s research division.
  • Finding Your JA Roots, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This continuation piece details the Hashizume family’s century-long confectionary business history and the genealogical journeys of Jennifer Reven and Chester Hashizume. Both have traced ancestral roots to Japan, reconnected with long-lost relatives, and now help others in the JA community trace their own family histories.

National

  • Multiple Choices: Identifying With More Than One Race, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. California’s Senate Bill 1615 would allow mixed race residents to check more than one race box on government forms, potentially making it the first state to follow federal precedent set in 1997. Advocates like Megan Emiko Scott and Jonathan Masaji Brent argue the bill is essential for accurate data collection and recognition of the state’s growing multiracial population.
  • Carving Out the Omaha School System Along Racial Lines, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Nebraska lawmakers passed a controversial bill dividing the Omaha Public School District into three racially concentrated districts, drawing criticism as a step backward in race relations. Residents and officials debate the merits and drawbacks of the plan amid discussions of forming a broader ‘learning community.’
  • Study Finds Hepatitis B Infection Higher Among Asian Immigrants, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. A new CDC study found nearly 15 percent of East Asian immigrants screened in New York City had chronic hepatitis B, a leading cause of liver cancer and cirrhosis. The disease is preventable through vaccination, which has reduced infection rates nationally over the past decade.
  • Bush Honors APAs with Volunteer Service Awards, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. President Bush presented volunteer service awards to five Asian Pacific Americans in honor of APA Heritage Month. Honorees included community volunteers who assisted with tutoring, disaster relief, tax preparation, and college exam prep for underserved students.
  • Senate to Consider Bill to Recognize Hawaiians, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. The U.S. Senate is set to reconsider the Akaka bill, which would recognize Native Hawaiians as indigenous inhabitants with a government structure similar to that of American Indians and Native Alaskans. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has agreed to force a vote on the measure in June.
  • Voting Rights Act Reauthorization Receives Bipartisan Support, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. The House Judiciary Committee approved a 25-year extension of key Voting Rights Act provisions with overwhelming bipartisan support. Advocacy groups like the Asian American Justice Center praised the legislation for protecting language assistance and preclearance requirements that benefit Asian Pacific American voters.
  • Matsui to Receive Honorary Doctorate Posthumously, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. The late Congressman Robert Matsui will be posthumously honored with an honorary doctorate from California State University, Sacramento, to be accepted by his widow Rep. Doris Matsui. Matsui, who was interned at Tule Lake as a child, helped guide the landmark Civil Liberties Act of 1988 through Congress during his 26-year career.
  • Gov’t Endorses National Park Status for Bainbridge, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Interior Department released a report supporting inclusion of a Bainbridge Island memorial honoring the first interned Japanese Americans in the National Park System as part of the Minidoka Internment National Monument. The memorial, under construction since April, marks the site where the first JAs were shipped to internment camps.

In-Depth

  • Discovering Your JA Roots, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Japanese Americans are increasingly turning to the internet and genealogical research to trace family histories that were often left undocumented due to the internment experience. Individuals like Jennifer Reven and Chester Hashizume share how their research led them to reconnect with relatives in Japan and uncover long-lost family stories.

Commentary

  • Be the Decider and Make the Pie Higher, by Casey China and Andy Uehara, page 2. Writing satirically in the style of President Bush, the authors urge readers to donate to the Pacific Citizen’s Spring Campaign to fund expansion of its website. They argue that online presence is essential for reaching younger audiences as print media declines in relevance.
  • Shosuke Sasaki, a Man of Convictions, by Geuchi (Kelly), page 2. A letter writer reflects on the late Shosuke Sasaki and other activists who fought against the use of the derogatory term ‘Jap’ in the press and government. The writer recalls Sasaki’s strong convictions and plans to visit his grave in Seattle.
  • ‘Racist’ Immigration Bill, by Hugh Sudlesou, page 2. A letter writer questions JACL Executive Director John Tateishi’s characterization of the Sensenbrenner immigration bill as ‘racist’ without citing specific language justifying the claim. The writer cautions that such statements could alienate Republican JACL members during a politically sensitive election year.
  • A Disturbing Direction, by Prowand Okamoto, page 2. A longtime JACL member expresses concern that the organization is taking overly political positions that could alienate members and stagnate growth. The writer calls for the Pacific Citizen and national JACL to present more balanced coverage of controversial issues.
  • Amazing Internet Breaks Through the Venerable PC, by Harry Honda, page 8. Harry Honda traces the history of printing technology from ancient Chinese woodblock printing through Gutenberg’s press to the modern internet and blogging culture. He reflects on how digital media is transforming journalism and questions what this means for the future of community newspapers like the Pacific Citizen.
  • A Brief History of the JACL Curriculum Guide, by Greg Marutani, page 8. Greg Marutani recounts the origins of the JACL Curriculum Guide, which grew from a San Francisco school board resolution addressing the internment experience in classrooms. The guide has since been distributed at over 60 teacher training workshops nationwide and has served as a model for other organizations.

JACL

  • Why is JACL 2006 in Arizona?, by Ted Namba, page 5. Ted Namba shares historical tidbits about Japanese American history in Arizona ahead of the JACL National Convention, including the story of Issei pioneer Hachiro Onuki who helped bring electricity to Phoenix. He also highlights convention activities including exhibits, golf outings, and excursions to Sedona and the Heard Museum.
  • Go For Broke Unveils New Name, Future Initiatives, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. The Go For Broke National Education Center announced plans to build a national headquarters and public education center adjacent to the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, with an opening anticipated in 2010. The organization, formerly known as the 100th/442nd/MIS WWII Memorial Foundation, also unveiled its new name reflecting its mission to preserve veteran stories.
  • Veterans, Volunteers Needed for Go For Broke’s Hanashi Oral History Interviews, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Hanashi Oral History Program is seeking Japanese American WWII veterans, including women who served in the Women’s Army Corps, for interviews in New Jersey, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and San Francisco. The program has nearly 670 interviews archived and aims to collect 100 more by year’s end.

Sports

  • PSW District Holds 1st Annual Golf Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Pacific Southwest District held its first annual golf tournament May 7 at Tijeras Creek in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, featuring 84 golfers across five divisions. Winners in various flights included Rich Risberg, Sab Sakamoto, Jimmy Sasahara, Ash Alidio, and Kelcey Kinjo.
  • Baseball Legend Kenichi Zenimura Among 2006 Class of Electees to the Shrine of Eternals, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Kenichi Zenimura, known as the ‘father of Japanese American baseball,’ was elected to the Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals alongside Josh Gibson and Fernando Valenzuela. Zenimura organized baseball leagues both before and during his internment at Gila River, helping boost morale among incarcerated Japanese Americans.
  • Olympic Gold Medalist Arakawa to Turn Professional, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Turin Olympic gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa announced she will turn professional to perform in ice shows rather than continue competing internationally. Arakawa became the first Japanese figure skater to win Olympic gold and plans to perform in shows in Japan and the United States.
  • Yao Pleased with His Recovery, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Houston Rockets center Yao Ming reported improvement in his broken left foot following surgery in April, though he remains uncertain when he’ll resume basketball drills. His agent hopes Yao can return to play for China in this summer’s world championships.
  • Rex Walters Named Head Coach of Florida Atlantic University’s Men’s Basketball Team, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Rex Walters was named head coach of Florida Atlantic University’s men’s basketball program, his first head coaching position after serving as associate coach and playing seven NBA seasons. Walters previously played collegiately at Kansas before his professional career with teams including the Nets, 76ers, and Heat.

Arts & Entertainment

  • Swinging for the Barb Wire: Q&A with Chris Tashima and Tim Toyama, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Filmmakers Chris Tashima and Tim Toyama discuss their Emmy-nominated short film ‘Day of Independence,’ which tells a coming-of-age story about baseball in a Japanese American internment camp. The pair, who also received the JACL ‘JA of the Biennium’ award, reflect on the emotional experience of filming on a recreated camp set and their plans for a follow-up project about the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Obituaries

  • Embrey: Manzanar Committee Chair Emeritus, Community Leader, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. Sue Kunitomi Embrey, longtime chair emeritus of the Manzanar Committee and a lifelong activist for equality, passed away May 15 in Los Angeles at age 83. She was instrumental in securing Manzanar’s national historic site designation and was remembered as a tenacious fighter for civil rights and education.
  • Tom Tsuji, page 11. Tom Tsuji, 88, a pioneering Nisei musician who became the first Nisei tympanist in a major American symphony, passed away May 4 in Worcester, Massachusetts. He founded musical groups at the Tanforan and Topaz internment camps before going on to a distinguished career with the New Orleans and Minneapolis symphonies.
  • Kimiyo Enta, page 11. Kimiyo Enta, 82, passed away February 24 in Chicago, remembered as an active participant in odori, shamisen, and koto in the Chicago area for 48 years. She is survived by her husband Chinoree and siblings.
  • Fumiye ‘Toni’ Takamoto, page 11. Fumiye ‘Toni’ Takamoto, 87, passed away April 19 in San Jose. She is survived by her daughter Sharon Hasegawa, grandson Bradley Hasegawa, and other family members.

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