Vol. 157, No. 6, September 20, 2013. 16 pages. View this issue
The 2013 National JACL Scholarship winners filled most of this 16-page issue. Chip Larouche announced that the program awarded $64,000 to 26 applicants, and Paul Fisk, who chaired the freshman and first-year committee for three years, wrote about the future these students represent. Pages 4 to 13 print excerpts from their essays on generational differences in the Nikkei community, including work by Kristi Fukunaga, Jean-Paul deGuzman, Tiffany Ikeda and Nina Coomes. The students wrote about technology, shikata ga nai, civil rights, and family stories of the World War II incarceration (often called internment) and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
Elsewhere, the Twin Cities Chapter launched a teacher award, and an Oregon commission sought stories from wartime agricultural labor camps. Nalea J. Ko also spoke with the maker of the Jeremy Lin documentary ‘Linsanity,’ and the Associated Press reported that Tokyo won the bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- 2013 National JACL Scholarship Winners Announced, by Chip Larouche, page 2. The National VP for Planning & Development announces that the 2013 National JACL Scholarship Program awarded $64,000 to 26 deserving applicants who addressed generational differences in the Nikkei community. He thanks Patty Wada, David Kawamoto, and the Eastern District Council and Salt Lake City Chapter selection committees for their work, noting San Diego Chapter will take over scholarship duties next year.
Community
- Twin Cities Chapter Launches Power of Truth Teacher Award, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Twin Cities JACL Education Committee, active since 1995 in teaching about the Japanese American WWII experience, will present a workshop on the MIS at a Minnesota educators conference in October and unveil the new ‘Power of Truth Teacher Award.’ The award honors K-12 educators who go beyond required curriculum to teach tolerance and prevent repeating past injustices, with nominations due June 15, 2014.
- JCCCNC Announces Japanese American Cultural Heritage Photo Contest, by Nalea J. Ko, page 9. The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California is hosting a photo contest titled ‘Through the Eye of the Beholder’ asking entrants to capture what Japanese American culture means to them. The contest is open to all ages, runs through Nov. 1, and offers cash prizes for top photos and a monthly ‘Photo of the Month’ award.
Commentary
- Scholarship Winners Represent the Very Best of Our Future, by Paul Fisk, page 3. Paul Fisk reflects on three years chairing the freshman/first-year portion of the National JACL Scholarship Program, describing how deeply impressed he has been with applicants’ knowledge and dedication. He encourages unsuccessful applicants to reapply, thanks his committee members, and highlights the value of increased JACL involvement in improving scholarship chances.
In-Depth
- 2013 National JACL Scholarship Winners: Freshman/Undergraduate Category, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This feature presents excerpts from winning scholarship essays by numerous JACL chapter recipients, including Kristi Fukunaga, Marisa Kataoka, Mali McGuire, and others, all addressing generational differences within the Nikkei community. The students discuss issues such as interracial marriage, technology gaps, LGBT rights, and the need for intergenerational dialogue and understanding.
- Scholarship Winners: Kota Mizutani, Elise Mori, Eric Phung and More, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Additional scholarship recipients share essay excerpts about bridging generational gaps, including calls for multiethnic collaboration on civil rights and reflections on cultural identity struggles. Winners featured include Kota Mizutani, Elise Mori, and Eric Phung, each offering distinct perspectives shaped by their personal backgrounds.
- Scholarship Winners: Alex Sakata, David Satoda, Laura Suzuki, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Three more scholarship winners share thoughts on generational gaps, from Alex Sakata’s discussion of teaching about Executive Order 9066 to David Satoda’s reflection on ‘shikata ga nai’ and communication between generations. Laura Suzuki writes about gender roles observed in her grandmother’s generation and the importance of open-mindedness across generations.
- Scholarship Winners: Allison Yamamoto, Kayla Watanabe, Allison Minami, Lindsey Sugimoto, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Four scholarship recipients discuss technology’s role in generational divides, work ethic differences, and evolving views on women’s equality and LGBT rights within the Nikkei community. Allison Minami and Lindsey Sugimoto are also profiled for their chapter volunteer work and academic achievements.
- Scholarship Winners: Kelly Uchima, Trenton Yamashita, Kristen Yang, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Kelly Uchima writes about honoring her grandmother’s WWII internment experience through advocacy for civil rights, while Trenton Yamashita discusses differing generational views on technology and work ethic. Kristen Yang reflects on the Japanese concept of ‘enryo’ and cultural modesty as a generational divide, drawing from her grandfather’s reluctance to discuss his 442nd RCT service.
- Scholarship Winners: Jean-Paul deGuzman, Kenji Fujitani, Adam Kuranishi, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Jean-Paul deGuzman discusses the Katarou Histories program bridging generational political consciousness gaps, while Kenji Fujitani writes about technology-driven communication divides. Adam Kuranishi reflects on his family’s trauma from internment and post-WWII racism and the need for intergenerational healing dialogue.
- Scholarship Winners: Christine Lee, Christine Munteanu, Suzuho Shimasaki, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Christine Aujean Lee discusses bridging generational gaps through technology and marketing, while Christine Munteanu draws parallels between historical anti-Japanese American discrimination and modern prejudice against Muslim, Arab American and immigrant communities. Suzuho Shimasaki reflects on differing views among JACL members about the organization’s approach to social justice advocacy.
- Law Scholarship Winner: Tiffany Ikeda, by P.C. Staff, page 13. Tiffany Ikeda, recipient of the Grace Andow Memorial Scholarship, writes that Yonsei and Gosei generations lack a unifying cultural issue due to weakened Japanese identity and increased mixed ancestry. She argues JACL must redefine its civil rights role to support broader causes like marriage equality, health care and immigration reform.
- Performing and Creative Arts Scholarship Winners: Nina Coomes and Casey Bonath, by P.C. Staff, page 13. Nina Coomes receives the Performing Arts Award for her slam poem ‘Old Man, Yamamoto,’ based on a true incident at the Topaz Internment Camp, while Casey Bonath receives the Creative Arts Award for his original art portfolio. Both students discuss using art to bridge generational and historical gaps within the Japanese American community.
Arts & Entertainment
- ‘Linsanity’ Film Scores Theatrical Distribution Deal, Set to Release Nationwide, by Nalea J. Ko, page 8. Filmmaker Evan Jackson Leong discusses making the documentary ‘Linsanity’ about NBA player Jeremy Lin, which he shot on a small budget over three years while keeping his day job. The film premiered at Sundance and will get a wide theatrical release in October across major U.S. cities, marking Leong’s first big break as a filmmaker.
National
- Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission Seeks WWII Labor Camp Stories, by Nalea J. Ko, page 9. A new traveling exhibit documenting Japanese Americans in WWII agricultural labor camps, based on photographs by Russell Lee, debuts in September 2014 at Oregon’s Four Rivers Cultural Center. Organizers are still seeking oral histories from Japanese Americans who lived in labor camps in Idaho, Montana and Utah to complete the exhibit’s video component.
- Tokyo Wins Bid to Host 2020 Summer Olympics, by Associated Press, page 16. The International Olympic Committee selected Tokyo over Istanbul and Madrid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics, favoring the city’s reliability amid concerns over radioactive water leaks at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe personally assured IOC members that the Fukushima situation was under control and posed no threat to Tokyo, helping secure the winning vote of 60-36 over Istanbul.
Obituaries
- Masaru Harvey Odoi, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Masaru Harvey Odoi, 92, died July 28, 2013, a decorated 442nd RCT veteran who was interned at Minidoka and was active in Mukilteo, Wash., community affairs, being named the town’s Pioneer of the Year in 2008. He was predeceased by his twin brother Hiroshi and siblings Roy, Sue and Miriam, and is survived by his wife Frances, sons Gary and Richard, and granddaughter Anna.
Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.