Vol. 157, No. 8, October 18, 2013. 16 pages. View this issue
The JACL ‘Salute to Champions’ Gala in Washington, D.C., led the news. More than 200 guests attended as JACL recognized Jonathan Jarvis of the National Park Service, Daphne Kwok of AARP, Toyota, Congressman Mike Honda and Southwest Airlines for their work on diversity. The government shutdown also reached the confinement sites: Manzanar National Historic Site closed and 16 employees were furloughed. Priscilla Ouchida warned that park fees that help preserve Manzanar, Minidoka and Tule Lake were set to expire in December 2014, and JACL announced a $62,845 National Park Service grant for teacher workshops.
In the commentary, John Tateishi proposed selling JACL’s San Francisco headquarters, and Gil Asakawa wrote about a family trip to Japan. Grant Ujifusa spoke at the JAVA dinner honoring Robert Nakamoto, recounting how the 1988 Civil Liberties Act came about. Connie K. Ho wrote about the ‘Marvels & Monsters’ comics exhibit at the Japanese American National Museum, and Nalea J. Ko interviewed ‘America’s Got Talent’ winner Kenichi Ebina.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- Park Fees That Fund Confinement Site Conservation Are Threatened, by Priscilla Ouchida, page 2. JACL National Director Priscilla Ouchida explains that the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which allows the National Park Service to collect fees that help fund preservation of confinement sites like Manzanar, Minidoka and Tule Lake, is set to expire in December 2014. She calls on JACL members at all levels to advocate for its extension and to make noise so that communities of color are represented in national park funding discussions.
- Japanese Americans Should Travel to Japan, by Gil Asakawa, page 3. Gil Asakawa recounts a two-week trip to Japan with his wife and mother, visiting Hokkaido, Tokyo, Takayama and Chiba, sampling regional foods and reconnecting with family and culture. He urges other Japanese Americans to visit Japan to rekindle their cultural roots, offering practical tips on navigating language barriers and using a Japan Rail Pass.
- A Proposal, by John Tateishi, page 3. Former JACL National Director John Tateishi argues that JACL should sell its National Headquarters building at 1765 Sutter St. in San Francisco, now mostly empty and costly to maintain, since the national director’s office is now based in Washington, D.C. He contends the proceeds could better fund JACL’s regional operations and that keeping the building only preserves a nostalgic past rather than serving the organization’s current needs.
JACL
- ‘Salute to Champions’ Gala Recognizes Outstanding Individuals and Corporations That Promote Diversity, by JACL National Staff, page 4. Over 200 guests attended the 2013 JACL ‘Salute to Champions’ Gala in Washington, D.C., honoring Jonathan Jarvis of the National Park Service, Daphne Kwok of AARP, Toyota, Congressman Mike Honda, and Southwest Airlines for their contributions to diversity. The event featured remarks from JACL National President David Lin, Honorary Chairman Norman Y. Mineta, and other dignitaries, and served to raise JACL’s profile and fund its programs.
National
- Government Shutdown Forces Closure of Manzanar National Historic Site, page 5. The federal government shutdown forced the National Park Service to close all 401 national parks, including Manzanar National Historic Site, furloughing 16 employees and canceling tours and special events. The Tule Lake Unit and other sites were also affected, with the NPS losing an estimated $450,000 per day in revenue before some parks reopened after a funding bill was passed.
- JACL Receives National Park Service Grant for Teacher Workshops, page 6. JACL received a $62,845 grant from the National Park Service’s Japanese American Confinement Sites program to fund teacher training workshops in 2014 and 2015 in five U.S. cities. The workshops aim to increase educators’ understanding of the Japanese American confinement experience, coordinated by JACL staff and the National Education Committee.
- Record Number of Asian American Elected Officials Kick-Off ‘APAICS Leadership Network’, page 7. A new network of AAPI elected officials launched in San Francisco, hosted by Mayor Edwin Lee, aiming to unite AAPI legislators and support future political leadership development. Speakers including Rep. Mike Honda and APAICS Leadership Network President Floyd Mori highlighted the rapid growth in AAPI political representation over the past decade.
- JAVA Honors Robert Nakamoto With the Terry Shima Leadership Award, page 11. Robert Nakamoto, immediate past president of JAVA, received the 2013 Terry Shima Leadership Award for his leadership in establishing JAVA as a premier Asian American veterans organization. Keynote speaker Grant Ujifusa recounted the history behind the passage of the 1988 Civil Liberties Act, crediting key figures including Mike Masaoka, Sen. Spark Matsunaga, Sen. Daniel Inouye and Kaz Masuda for making redress a reality.
Community
- Rhianna Taniguchi Named Norman Y. Mineta Fellow, page 6. Rhianna Taniguchi of Honolulu will join JACL’s Washington, D.C. office as the Norman Y. Mineta Fellow, focusing on public policy advocacy for the AAPI community. Taniguchi has a background in the U.S. Army National Guard and previously served in student government at Oregon State University.
- George Takei Honored at Asian Americans Advancing Justice 30th Anniversary Dinner, page 6. Actor George Takei was honored with the Public Image Award at the 30th anniversary dinner of Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Los Angeles, attended by more than 1,200 guests. In his acceptance speech, Takei addressed the darker periods of Asian American history and praised the organization’s decades-long fight against discrimination.
- Kathryn Ellen Doi Is Appointed to the California New Motor Vehicle Board, page 6. Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Kathryn Ellen Doi, 53, to the California New Motor Vehicle Board. Doi, a Sacramento attorney, previously served as senior deputy legal affairs secretary under Gov. Gray Davis.
- Christine Kubota, Mitchell Nishimoto and Lori Teranishi Appointed to Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii Board of Directors, page 6. The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii appointed three new members to its board of directors for the 2013-14 fiscal year: attorney Christine Kubota, banker Mitchell Nishimoto, and PR executive Lori Teranishi. Board chairman Tyler Tokioka praised their commitment to the center’s mission of preserving Japanese American legacy in Hawaii.
In-Depth
- ‘Marvels & Monsters’, by Connie K. Ho, page 8. The Japanese American National Museum’s exhibit ‘Marvels and Monsters: Unmasking Asian Images in U.S. Comics, 1942-1986’ explores decades of racial stereotypes of Asians in American comics, curated by Jeff Yang from the collection of William F. Wu. The exhibit also includes drawings by children incarcerated during WWII and features interactive elements to engage younger visitors with the history of these stereotypes.
Arts & Entertainment
- ‘AGT’ Winner Kenichi Ebina Is Too Busy Touring to Cash in His $1 Million Prize, by Nalea J. Ko, page 12. Japan-born dancer Kenichi Ebina, the first performer of Asian descent to win NBC’s ‘America’s Got Talent,’ discusses his win, the online backlash he received, and his busy touring schedule following the competition. Ebina talks about his plans for the prize money, his family in Japan, and his aspirations to headline his own show in New York and beyond.
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