Vol. 157, No. 11, December 13, 2013. 80 pages. View this issue
Giving was the theme of this 80-page holiday issue, and the stories took it in many directions. Executive Editor Allison Haramoto introduced the idea in her letter. Alissa Hiraga wrote about the people who preserve Manzanar, Tule Lake and Heart Mountain, the sites of the World War II incarceration (often called internment). Connie K. Ho reported on the Medal of Honor Forever stamps and on the volunteers who sustain Little Tokyo. Greg Marutani and Priscilla Ouchida described a JACL trip to Fukushima, Japan.
Also inside: a look back at the year 2013, a profile of Grayce Uyehara honored in Philadelphia for her role in Redress, and Gil Asakawa on the custom of omiyage. George Toshio Johnston wrote about a 100th/442nd RCT license plate holder that helped his family buy a house. About 42 pages carry holiday greetings from JACL chapters and others.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- Letter From the Editor: The Gift of Giving, by Allison Haramoto, page 5. Executive Editor Allison Haramoto introduces the Holiday Issue’s theme of ‘The Gift of Giving,’ reflecting on individuals and organizations who give their knowledge, time and resources to help others. She thanks the P.C.’s supporters, staff and JACL chapters who help sustain the newspaper.
- A Sign From the Past Helped Even the Odds, by George Toshio Johnston, page 28. When George Johnston and his family sought to buy a house in a competitive Culver City market, he discovered a 100th/442nd RCT license plate holder in the garage, revealing the seller’s late husband was a Nisei veteran. Johnston wrote a heartfelt letter referencing the veteran’s legacy, which helped his family’s non-cash offer win the house over all-cash bidders.
- Omiyage Is One Japanese Custom That Promotes Politeness, by Gil Asakawa, page 64. Gil Asakawa reflects on the Japanese custom of omiyage, or bringing gifts when traveling or visiting others, drawing from his family’s recent trip to Japan. He argues that this gift-giving mentality reflects an important cultural value that fosters politeness and appreciation in the Japanese American community.
In-Depth
- The Gift of Preserving the Past to Save the Future, by Alissa Hiraga, page 8. Guardians at Manzanar, Tule Lake and Heart Mountain work tirelessly to preserve the history and human experience of Japanese American WWII incarceration sites. Park rangers, committee members and foundation directors describe their efforts in oral histories, exhibits, archives and pilgrimages to ensure the lessons of the camps are never forgotten.
- ‘Forever’ Remembered, by Connie K. Ho, page 12. The U.S. Postal Service dedicated World War II Medal of Honor Forever stamps honoring 464 American veterans, including Japanese Americans Sen. Daniel Inouye and George Sakato. Irene Hirano Inouye and Sakato participated in the Veterans Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
- Sharing the Aloha Spirit With Deserving Kids, by Lauren Airii, page 22. ABC7 Sports Anchor Rob Fukuzaki’s Heads Up Youth Foundation has spent 17 years helping underserved Southern California children, including foster youth, through scholarships, camps and mentoring programs. The foundation has awarded more than $275,000 in scholarships over the past decade, largely funded through an annual charity golf tournament.
- A Year in Review 2013, by P.C. Staff, page 35. The Pacific Citizen looks back at major 2013 headlines affecting the Asian Pacific American community, including the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye, the legalization of same-sex marriage in Hawaii, and the 25th anniversary of Redress. Other stories covered include Typhoon Haiyan, the government shutdown’s effect on Manzanar, and the Trayvon Martin verdict.
- Community Comrades: Volunteers Retain the Spirit of Little Tokyo, by Connie K. Ho, page 55. Volunteers of all ages sustain Little Tokyo’s community through organizations like Little Tokyo Service Center, Japanese American National Museum, Little Tokyo Koban and Little Tokyo Historical Society. Longtime volunteers Bill Shishima, Brian Kito and Mike Okamura describe their motivations for preserving the neighborhood’s history, safety and culture.
- Hugs for Hope Brings Holiday Cheer to Seriously Ill Children, by Allison Haramoto, page 56. Cal State Long Beach student Jenna Tomita founded Hugs for Hope in 2010, delivering Build-a-Bear Workshop teddy bears imprinted with inspirational words to pediatric cancer patients at City of Hope Hospital. Tomita, inspired by losing her mother and a high school friend to cancer, has distributed more than 400 bears and hopes to expand the charity nationwide.
Community
- JACL Journeys to Fukushima, Japan, by Greg Marutani, page 16. JACL National Education Committee chair Greg Marutani traveled with JACL leaders to Fukushima Prefecture to visit temporary housing camps still housing tsunami-displaced residents nearly three years after the 2011 disaster. He describes the stigma faced by Fukushima residents and the JACL Direct Relief Japan program’s support of community centers in the camps.
- Businessman Honors JA Mentors With Soul Consoling Tower, by Roberta Barton, page 43. Central Valley businessman Dennis Simonian dedicated a 26-foot Soul Consoling Tower at Simonian Farms in Fresno, built from original Poston barracks wood, to honor five Japanese American families who mentored him. The monument, designed with help from contractor Ron Daniels, aims to educate future generations about the WWII incarceration.
- Sierra Nisei Post Celebrates 60 Years, by Roberta Barton, page 43. The VFW Sierra Nisei Post 8499, formed by Nisei veterans denied membership in mainstream veterans groups after WWII, celebrated its 60th anniversary in Clovis, Calif. More than 125 attendees heard from keynote speakers Rosalyn Tonai and author Tom Graves about Nisei veteran history.
JACL
- JACL Delegation Visits Fukushima Recovery Programs, by Priscilla Ouchida, page 17. JACL National President David Lin, Executive Director Priscilla Ouchida, and other leaders traveled to Japan Oct. 14-20 meeting with organizations on relief proposals and visiting Fukushima Prefecture recovery efforts. The group toured a children’s home with decontaminated playgrounds and discussed the 2014 JACL Kakehashi program with Japanese government officials.
National
- Honoring a Leader in the Redress Fight in Philly, by Associated Press, page 42. Longtime JACLer Grayce Uyehara, who led the national grassroots effort for Japanese American redress, was honored with the Standing Up for Justice Award by Asian Americans United in Philadelphia. Uyehara, now 94 and too ill to attend, was a key strategist whose trusted relationships helped secure passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
Obituaries
- Harry K. Honda, page 68. Harry K. Honda, 93, an Army veteran who served as editor of the Pacific Citizen for more than 30 years, died July 3 in Rowland Heights, Calif. He was active in JACL, the Pan American Nikkei Assn., and was a founding member of the Nisei Athletic Union and Asian American Journalists Assn.
- Kathryn Korematsu, page 68. Frances Kathryn Korematsu, 92, wife of civil rights icon Fred Korematsu, died Oct. 28 in Oakland, Calif. She was married to Fred for 58 years and was active with the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts.
- George Aratani, page 69. George Aratani, 95, a Japanese American businessman, community leader and philanthropist who founded Mikasa china and Kenwood electronics, died Feb. 19 in Los Angeles. He co-founded Keiro Senior Healthcare and endowed a UCLA chair to study Japanese American internment and the redress movement.
- Anabel Stenzel, page 69. Anabel Stenzel, 41, co-author of the memoir ‘The Power of Two’ about living with cystic fibrosis, died Sept. 22 in Redwood City, Calif. She and her twin sister Isabel underwent double lung transplants and worked for years raising awareness about organ donation and cystic fibrosis.
- Gene Hashimoto Doi, page 69. Gene Hashimoto Doi, 93, who was born in Camarillo, Calif., and interned at Manzanar, died in Atlanta, Ga. She was remembered for tirelessly lobbying Georgia Republican Sen. Pat Swindall for his ‘swing vote’ on the Redress Bill.
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