The 1988 Redress anniversary issue: voices from 20 years on

Vol. 147, No. 11, December 2008. 120 pages. View this issue

Redress, twenty years after the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, filled this holiday issue. Executive Editor Caroline Aoyagi-Stom gathered first-person accounts from those who fought for it and from younger generations shaped by its legacy. Dale Minami wrote about the Korematsu coram nobis case, John Tateishi on how the movement was won, and Bruce Embrey on his mother Sue Kunitomi Embrey and the road from the Manzanar pilgrimage to a national historic site. Former Pacific Citizen staffer George Toshio Johnston recalled covering the campaign, and Harry K. Honda described the 1988 signing in Washington.

Other pieces looked at Japanese Latin American redress, Japanese Canadian redress, Seattle’s part in the Day of Remembrance, and Phil Shigekuni’s path from Amache to activism. Floyd Mori and Jerry J. Enomoto wrote from JACL’s perspective, and a historical timeline traced the legislation step by step. About 60 of the issue’s 120 pages carry holiday greetings.

What’s in this issue

In-Depth

• My Redress Diary, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 5. Executive Editor Caroline Aoyagi-Stom introduces the Pacific Citizen’s Holiday Issue dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Redress, explaining the decision to gather first-person accounts from both those who fought for Redress and younger generations affected by its legacy. She thanks contributors, staff, and readers, and previews the paper’s upcoming 80th anniversary and website redesign in 2009.
• From Ghostly Ruins to a Historic Landmark, by Bruce Embrey, page 6. Bruce Embrey recounts his mother Sue Kunitomi Embrey’s journey from the 1969 Manzanar pilgrimage through decades of activism to establish Manzanar as a State Historical Landmark and later a National Historic Site. The piece traces the Manzanar Committee’s battles over commemorative plaque wording, testimony before the CWRIC, and the eventual dedication of the Manzanar museum.
• A Chance of a Lifetime, by Dale Minami, page 8. Attorney Dale Minami reflects on leading the 1983 coram nobis legal team that overturned Fred Korematsu’s 40-year-old WWII conviction in a historic courtroom hearing. He describes the legal team’s confidence, Fred and Kathryn Korematsu’s refusal of a government pardon offer, and the case’s lasting impact on civil rights and Redress.
• The Inheritance of Redress, by Peter Shigeki Frandsen, page 12. Peter Frandsen writes about his grandfather Shigeki “Shake” Ushio, a Salt Lake JACL leader during WWII, and his uncle David Ushio, who became JACL national director at 27. He reflects on the generational inheritance of Redress and the responsibility of younger Japanese Americans to build stronger families and communities.
• The Run Up to Redress: Recollections of a Former Pacific Citizen Staffer, by George Toshio Johnston, page 16. Former P.C. editor George Johnston recounts covering the Redress campaign for the newspaper from 1987 to 1990, detailing key legislative milestones leading to the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. He describes the excitement at the 1988 JACL convention in Seattle upon hearing President Reagan would sign the bill and sending Harry Honda to Washington to cover the historic signing.
• Honoring the Past, Celebrating Our Future, by Justine Kondo, page 19. Justine Kondo shares her evolving perspective on the Redress Movement, from initially viewing the 1988 signing photo as a hollow gesture to understanding its deep significance as she learned firsthand accounts from elderly JACL members. She argues that the internment must remain central to JA discourse while cautioning against over-commemoration without action.
• What Redress Means to a Shin Nisei, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 21. Yumi Sakugawa, a Shin Nisei with no relatives interned during WWII, describes how she discovered Japanese American internment history in college through the Redress Movement’s legacy, including visiting Manzanar and the Japanese American National Museum. She reflects on feeling a kinship with Nisei internees despite her different background.
• Second Class No More, by John Tateishi, page 24. John Tateishi, former chair of JACL’s National Redress Committee, describes how the Redress Movement was about vindicating Japanese Americans’ constitutional rights rather than just compensation, and recounts his strategy of public education and congressional lobbying. He explains how the CWRIC commission strategy proved critical to eventually winning Redress legislation.
• Seattle’s Redress Roots, by Tom Ikeda, page 26. Densho executive director Tom Ikeda traces Seattle’s pivotal role in the Redress Movement, from Henry Miyatake’s 1960s research and the Seattle Redress Plan to the first Day of Remembrance in 1978 and community hearings. The article uses oral history quotes from Miyatake, Cherry Kinoshita, Mako Nakagawa, and Norman Mineta to illustrate the movement’s emotional and political milestones.
• Redress — Stories of Internment, by Bill Yoshino, page 31. Bill Yoshino highlights testimonies given at the 1981 CWRIC hearings in Chicago, sharing excerpts from Shig Murao, Shizu Sue Lofton, Shig Wakamatsu, Toaru Ishiyama, Maryann Mahaffey, and Studs Terkel. These personal accounts of prejudice, hardship, and media hysteria helped create the official historical record supporting Redress.
• Cast: Sgt. Kaz Masuda, Gen. ‘Vinegar Joe’ Stilwell and President Reagan; Drama: P.C. Clipping Stars at the Signing, by Harry K. Honda, page 44. Harry Honda recounts attending the 1988 Redress bill signing in Washington D.C. and how President Reagan’s remarks referenced a Pacific Citizen clipping about Sgt. Kazuo Masuda, who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1945 by Gen. Joseph Stilwell. The article traces the historical connection between the 1945 Santa Ana ceremony honoring Masuda and its influence on Reagan’s decision to sign Redress into law.
• A Day of Remembrance/Redress Legacy: NCRR’s History of Fighting for Justice, by Kay Ochi, page 52. NCRR co-chair Kay Ochi recounts the history of the Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress organization since its 1980 founding, honoring Nisei leaders like Bert and Lillian Nakano, Frank Emi, and researcher Michi Weglyn. She describes NCRR’s continuing advocacy for Japanese Latin American redress and lobbying efforts with Congressman Barney Frank.
• Continuing the Fight for Redress and Justice, by Stacy Iwata, page 64. UC San Diego senior Stacy Iwata, a Gosei who felt removed from the 1988 Redress Movement, discovers parallels between it and contemporary movements like the Campaign for Justice for Japanese Latin Americans and opposition to Proposition 8. She concludes that her generation carries the same passion and drive as Redress-era activists.
• Japantown Mukilteo — A Garden of Eden for Japanese Americans in the Early 1900s, by Mas Odoi, page 82. Mas Odoi presents an epic poem recounting his idyllic childhood in the Japanese American lumber camp community of Mukilteo, Washington in the 1920s, describing recreational activities and strong relationships with Caucasian neighbors. He connects this formative experience of American values to how he and his twin brother later served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during WWII.
• Redress As I Remember It: The LEC Contributions, by Hitoshi Kajihara, page 101. Former JACL national president Hitoshi Kajihara credits Min Yasui as his inspiration for joining the Redress pursuit and details contributions from key LEC figures including Grant Ujifusa, Denny Yasuhara, Cherry Kinoshita, Art Morimitsu, Jerry Enomoto, Mollie Fujioka, and Bacon Sakatani. He recounts the five-year legislative journey of the Redress bill from 1983 to 1988.
• Making Connections Between American and Canadian Internment Experiences, by Dawn Rego, page 102. Seattle JACL president Dawn Rego describes attending the 20th anniversary conference of Japanese Canadian Redress in Vancouver, which commemorated Canada’s 1988 formal government apology to Japanese Canadians. She highlights workshops on building partnerships with Aboriginal communities and youth perspectives on Redress, noting similarities and differences between the American and Canadian experiences.
• Three Nisei Women of the Redress Movement, by Stanley N. Kanzaki, page 103. Stanley Kanzaki honors three influential Nisei women: Mitsuye Endo, plaintiff in the landmark Ex Parte Endo case; Michi Nishiura Weglyn, author of “Years of Infamy”; and researcher Aiko Yoshinaga Herzig, who discovered key documents used in the coram nobis cases. He argues these women exemplified Issei values of selfless dedication and deserve greater recognition.
• The Road to Redress: A Historical Timeline, by P.C. Staff, page 106. This timeline, reprinted from the 35th Biennial JACL National Convention program, chronicles the legislative history of the Redress Movement from the first 1970 JACL resolution through President Reagan’s signing of the Civil Liberties Act on August 10, 1988. It details key congressional votes, commission hearings, and political maneuvering across nearly two decades.
• Redress As I Remember It, by Clifford Uyeda, page 111. Reprinted from a 1988 Pacific Citizen column, former JACL national president Dr. Clifford Uyeda reflects on the Redress campaign’s triumph, describing the internal JACL debates over the commission strategy versus immediate legislative action. He credits the combined efforts of JACL, NCRR, NCJAR, and Nikkei members of Congress for the movement’s ultimate success.

Commentary

• Injustice and Reconciliation, by Jessica Kawamura, page 30. Jessica Kawamura, a public policy graduate student, reflects on learning about Redress as history rather than lived memory, and on visiting the Japanese American National Memorial in Washington D.C. during an internship. She compares the JA Redress experience to other reparations movements and describes how it shapes her commitment to justice and civic engagement.
• Two Generations Later: What Redress Taught Me, by Brigham Walker, page 34. Brigham Walker reflects on his surprise that his grandmother and late grandfather were emotionally unmoved by Redress despite their wartime suffering, contrasting his own deep emotional investment in the movement’s legacy. He concludes that Redress mattered most to his generation by giving him faith in America’s accountability.
• What Redress Taught Me, by James Kumpel, page 35. James Kumpel describes his early advocacy for Redress awareness starting in high school and college, and his 1988 Washington internship lobbying for the legislation’s passage with bipartisan support. He argues Redress taught lessons about individual constitutional rights and questions JACL’s current positions on issues like reparations and affirmative action that stray from this principle.
• Redress, Civil Rights and History, by Paul Igasaki, page 38. Paul Igasaki, JACL’s Washington representative from 1989-1991, describes the grassroots coalition-building strategy that achieved Redress funding, including Sen. Inouye’s key role in securing entitlement status for the appropriation. He reflects on lessons learned about civil rights advocacy applied to later work defending Muslim and Arab Americans after 9/11.
• The Legacy of Redress Shapes How I Live My Life, by Annie Kim Noguchi, page 41. Annie Kim Noguchi writes a diary-style reflection on growing up aware of Redress without truly understanding its personal significance until she became active in JACL and Asian American Studies courses. She connects the Redress legacy to her support for a JACL resolution on North Korean human rights and her broader sense of responsibility to stay civically active.
• The Legacy of Redress: A Yonsei Perspective from the Legislative Education Committee Chair, by Annie Kim Noguchi, page 41. This continuation piece follows Annie Kim Noguchi’s reflection on Redress and her involvement advocating for a North Korean human rights resolution at the national JACL convention. She discusses how the privilege of choosing activism was won by earlier generations’ Redress fight.
• My Redress Journey, by Phil Shigekuni, page 46. Phil Shigekuni describes his personal path from being interned at Amache as a child to becoming a lifelong Redress activist, including founding EO 9066 Inc. and helping organize the first Los Angeles Day of Remembrance. He connects his internment experience and civil rights activism to later advocacy for other causes, including LGBT rights within JACL.
• Beyond the Boundaries of Zealous Representation, by Brandon Mita, page 47. Law student Brandon Mita reflects on his admiration for attorney Dale Minami’s work on the Korematsu coram nobis case, exploring the legal and emotional significance of overturning the 1942 conviction. He connects the case’s legacy to his own aspirations as a future civil rights attorney and JACL youth representative.
• Dear Diary: Redress Isn’t Over Yet, by Grace Shimizu, page 50. Grace Shimizu describes the ongoing struggle for redress for Japanese Latin Americans (JLAs) who were kidnapped and interned during WWII but excluded from the 1988 Civil Liberties Act, detailing decades of lawsuits, settlements, and continued congressional advocacy. She calls for action to pass a JLA commission study bill and preserve this often-overlooked chapter of history.
• Recognizing Our Privilege, Standing on the Shoulders of Community Heroes, by Craig Ishii, page 51. Craig Ishii argues that the Japanese American community must move beyond celebrating the Redress victory to address growing complacency and support ongoing civil rights struggles for other communities, including marriage equality. Writing after Obama’s election and the passage of Proposition 8, he calls for the JA community to act on its legacy rather than merely commemorate it.
• Time Capsules: Sharing Stories from the Historic Redress Movement, by Lisa Hanasono, page 60. Lisa Hanasono, a Purdue University instructor, discusses the challenge of keeping Redress Movement memories alive for generations born after 1988, noting that many of her students have never heard of Redress. She encourages readers to share personal Redress stories with younger generations this holiday season to preserve this important cultural history.
• Continuing the Spirit of JA Redress, by Leilani Savitt, page 65. JACL Midwest District Governor Leilani Savitt connects the historic Redress campaign to contemporary civil rights struggles, including marriage equality after California’s Proposition 8 and North Korean human rights advocacy. She urges JACL members to actively lobby and organize as previous generations did during the Redress Movement rather than simply issue statements.
• My Family’s Role in Redress, by Michelle Amano, page 80. Michelle Amano describes her family’s direct involvement in Redress through her grandfather Mike Masaoka and her uncle Norman Mineta, including a story about convincing Speaker of the House Jim Wright to allow a vote on HR 442. She reflects on how their sacrifices inspire her to never forget the internment’s lessons.
• Redress (poem), by Mari Oye, page 83. Mari Oye presents a poem reflecting on the language and meaning of the Civil Liberties Act’s official apology and restitution, weaving in imagery of her grandparents’ internment experience at Poston and Gila River. The poem explores themes of memory, paper cranes, and inherited trauma.
• Movements: A Reflection, by Sally Kikuchi, page 84. Sally Kikuchi, teaching English in Japan and unable to vote in the 2008 election, reflects on the process and values behind social movements rather than just their outcomes. She draws on her experience with the Nikkei Student Union to explore questions about activism, community organizing, and disenfranchisement.

JACL

• Redress: A Continuing Movement, by Floyd Mori, page 58. JACL National Director Floyd Mori recounts his personal journey from a childhood largely unaware of the internment to becoming deeply involved in Redress advocacy in Utah, including passing early Day of Remembrance resolutions and attending CWRIC hearings. He describes how his Issei parents’ values of resilience shaped his commitment to fairness and continuing the fight for justice.
• Our Organization’s Shining Moment, by Jerry J. Enomoto, page 61. Former JACL national president Jerry Enomoto, who chaired the Legislative Education Committee (LEC) after Min Yasui’s death, reflects on the successful Redress campaign as JACL’s defining achievement. He credits the combination of Nisei soldiers’ war record, political leadership from Inouye, Matsunaga, Matsui and Mineta, and LEC’s fundraising and coordination efforts.

Obituaries

• Tsuguo Okamoto, by P.C. Staff, page 118. Tsuguo Okamoto, a 95-year-old Korean War veteran and longtime Sacramento resident, passed away peacefully in Albany, California on Nov. 6, 2008. He was a retired Sacramento Army Depot employee and JACL member survived by his children, grandchildren, and extended family.
• Itsuki “Fred” Nakagawa, by P.C. Staff, page 118. Itsuki “Fred” Nakagawa of Seattle passed away on Dec. 5, 2008 at age 88, remembered as a longtime educator who taught the children of overseas U.S. servicemembers and became the first certified foreign teacher of soroban abacus. A celebration of his life was scheduled at the Nisei Veterans Hall in Seattle, with remembrances suggested for JACL, Nikkei Concerns, or the Nisei Veterans.

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