Congressional Gold Medal honors Japanese American WWII veterans

Vol. 153, No. 10, November 18, 2011. 16 pages. View this issue

Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the 100th Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service on Nov. 2, and the news from the ceremony led this issue. Floyd Mori, JACL National Director, wrote about the JACL’s part in the effort and about his brother Shigeru, who was killed in action. Elsewhere, Occupy Oakland protesters unofficially renamed Frank Ogawa Plaza, a film followed the Bridging Communities program, and Poston Elementary School was recommended as a National Historic Landmark.

JACL business ran through the issue: a budget deficit, the search for a new national director, and a debate over the words used for the World War II incarceration camps. John Tateishi and Barbara Takei wrote on those themes. Joy Osmanski spoke about voicing a character on Fox’s animated series, and Ed Lee’s election as San Francisco’s mayor drew coverage. Chapter news, a new documentary DVD from Frank Abe, and a Grant Ujifusa honor fill out the community pages.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• A Salute to JA Veterans, by Floyd Mori, page 2. JACL National Director Floyd Mori reflects on the JACL’s role in securing the Congressional Gold Medal for Japanese American WWII veterans of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Military Intelligence Service. He recounts the history of JA incarceration, Mike Masaoka’s advocacy, and his own family’s connection through his brother Shigeru who was killed in action.
• Update on National Director Search, by Gail Sueki, page 2. JACL Vice President Gail Sueki provides an update on the search for a new national director, noting the board’s decisions to require the position be based in Washington, D.C. and to change the interview process. She also discusses staff performance reviews and thanks those who have assisted in the search process.
• National Board, by John Tateishi, page 8. Former JACL National Director John Tateishi argues that national board members should limit themselves to fiduciary and policy matters rather than meddling in day-to-day operations and staff management. Drawing on his decades of JACL experience, he criticizes board members who try to micromanage staff decisions and calls for clearer boundaries between board and staff roles.
• The Tea Party vs. HERD Mentality, by James Kumpel, page 8. James Kumpel criticizes the mainstream media’s treatment of the Tea Party compared to its favorable coverage of Occupy Wall Street protesters, arguing the latter reflects a ‘HERD mentality’ of hostility, entitlement, redistribution and dependency. He contends the Tea Party better represents young people’s long-term economic interests amid mounting national debt and entitlement liabilities.
• FAIR Education Act Needs Protection, by Lori Kido Lopez, page 13. Lori Kido Lopez advocates for California’s FAIR Education Act, which requires schools to include LGBT contributions in instructional materials, drawing parallels to her own education about Japanese American internment history. She urges parents and community members to ensure the law is properly implemented despite opposition efforts to repeal it via ballot referendum.
• Why All the Fuss Over Language?, by Barbara Takei, page 13. Barbara Takei examines the ongoing debate over terminology used to describe WWII Japanese American incarceration sites, citing Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga’s research and the JACL’s contested implementation of a 2010 resolution favoring terms like ‘concentration camp.’ She argues that euphemistic language undermines public understanding of the injustices suffered and calls for accurate terminology to be adopted at the 2012 JACL convention.
• Mori: A Salute to JA Veterans, Continued, by Floyd Mori, page 16. Mori continues his tribute, recalling fond memories of his brother Shig and honoring the 812 other names on the National Japanese American Memorial wall. He notes JACL’s history of honoring veterans at conventions and galas, including its 2009 Gala tribute in Washington, D.C.

In-Depth

• Congress Honors Japanese American WWII Soldiers, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 3. Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Military Intelligence Service on Nov. 2, honoring roughly 19,000 Japanese American soldiers who served in WWII despite their families being interned. Veterans and lawmakers shared stories of sacrifice, discrimination, and pride at the Capitol ceremony attended by about 1,250 people, including over 300 veterans.
• Occupy Oakland Unofficially Renames Frank Ogawa Plaza, by Nalea J. Ko, page 4. Occupy Oakland protesters unofficially renamed Frank Ogawa Plaza after Oscar Grant, a young Black man killed by a BART police officer, prompting mixed reactions from Asian Americans who feared erasing the legacy of Ogawa, a Japanese American internee and longtime city councilman. Artist Kenji Liu launched a fundraiser to create educational materials honoring both men before the city cleared the encampment on Nov. 14.
• ‘Passing Down the Legacy’ Film Spotlights Cross-Cultural Connection, by Christine McFadden, page 5. A new documentary titled ‘Passing Down the Legacy’ chronicles JACL PSW’s Bridging Communities program, which connects Japanese American and Muslim American youth through educational sessions and pilgrimages to former WWII incarceration camps. Filmmakers Alex Margolin and Marissa Kitazawa hope the film will empower students, serve as a recruitment tool, and help sustain the program after losing National Park Service grant funding.

JACL

• National Board Reports Budget Deficit, Emphasizes Corporate Sponsors, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 6. At its Oct. 29 meeting, the JACL national board discussed a roughly $190,000 budget deficit and emphasized the importance of maintaining corporate sponsorships as membership revenue declines. The board also voted to require the next national director to be based in Washington, D.C., a decision that drew some internal disagreement, and deferred repayment of a loan from the National Endowment Fund.
• JACL PSW Annual Award Recipients Reflect on Past, Present and Future, page 6. More than 200 people attended the JACL Pacific Southwest District’s 15th Annual Awards Dinner honoring 15 community leaders, including Bill Watanabe and Assemblyman Warren Furutani. Some honorees, including Joyce Okazaki, used their acceptance speeches to criticize JACL’s handling of the Power of Words resolution and terminology debate regarding WWII incarceration camps.
• Seabrook JACLer Keeps Local Japanese American History Alive, page 7. John Fuyuume, an 86-year-old longtime Seabrook JACL member, helped establish the Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center in 1994 to preserve the history of Japanese Americans who relocated to Seabrook Farms during WWII. Fuyuume has served the chapter for over 50 years and recently received Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun for his contributions to preserving JA history and culture.
• JACL and AAST Partner to Produce ‘Demographic Overview of Japanese Americans’, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 12. JACL partnered with the Asian American Studies Program at the University of Maryland to produce ‘A Demographic Overview of Japanese Americans,’ a report detailing JA history, changing demographics, and the top 10 JA population centers. The report includes perspectives from local JACL chapter members and is available as a free PDF download.
• Sueki: Update Continued, by Gail Sueki, page 16. Gail Sueki thanks JACL colleagues including Milo Yoshino, Betsy Sato, Chip Larouche, Caroline Aoyagi-Stom and Floyd Mori for their contributions to the national director search process. She encourages continued member engagement until a new director is found.
• PSW: Awards Dinner Continued, Raises $43,000, page 16. The JACL PSW’s 15th Annual Awards Dinner grossed $43,000 despite a challenging economic environment, according to development coordinator Andrew Yick. Funds will support programs like Bridging Communities, and the event was backed by sponsors including Toyota Motor Sales USA and the Aratani Foundation.
• National Board Debates Corporate Sponsorship Influence and D.C. Requirement, page 16. JACL board members debated the organization’s reliance on corporate sponsorships, with some cautioning against letting sponsors influence JACL’s agenda while others emphasized relationship-building for fundraising. The board ultimately voted to require the new national director to work from the Washington, D.C. office, with applications due Jan. 16.

National

• NPS Recommends Poston Elementary School to Become National Historical Landmark, page 7. The National Park System Advisory Board Landmarks Committee voted unanimously on Nov. 9 to recommend Poston Elementary School, Unit 1, as a National Historic Landmark. Former Poston internees and advocates, including attorney Warren Maruyama, testified about the hardships their families endured and the importance of preserving the site’s history.
• High Hopes for 1st Elected Chinese American SF Mayor, by Associated Press, page 10. Ed Lee made history as San Francisco’s first elected Chinese American mayor, raising hopes among Chinatown residents and business owners who see him as a champion for underrepresented Asian communities. Lee, who rose from humble immigrant beginnings to serve as interim mayor and city administrator, pledged to invest in small businesses and complete a subway line through Chinatown.
• Report: Asian Americans Grow Beyond Coastal Hubs, by Associated Press, page 10. A new report from the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice shows Asian American populations have grown significantly in non-traditional areas like Texas, Nevada, and Arizona over the past decade, alongside continued growth in California and New York. The report also highlights a 68 percent increase in the Indian American population, now comprising 18 percent of all Asian Americans nationally.
• National Newsbytes, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 10. A roundup of national briefs covers Southeast Asian immigrants’ limited concern over Alabama’s immigration law, increased hiring of Asian workers at Pennsylvania casinos, a successful fundraiser by the Venice Japanese American Memorial Marker Committee, a JACL youth leadership summit in Chicago, and a Hawaiian sovereignty protest at Iolani Palace.

Arts & Entertainment

• Joy Osmanski Lends Her Voice to Fox’s Animated Series ‘Allen Gregory’, by Nalea J. Ko, page 9. Korean American actress Joy Osmanski discusses voicing Julie Neung, an adopted Cambodian character, on Fox’s animated series ‘Allen Gregory,’ drawing parallels to her own adoption from South Korea. Osmanski shares her career path from graphic designer to actress and offers advice to Asian American actors to see themselves as actors first.

Community

• Portland JACLer Receives Consul General Award, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. Alice Sumida, a Portland JACL lifetime member and former Nikkei Fujin Kai president, received the Foreign Minister’s Commendation Award at a ceremony hosted by Consul General Takamichi Okabe. The award recognizes individuals who help increase mutual understanding between Japan and other countries.
• Illinois Holocaust Museum Sponsors Exhibit, Teacher Training on WWII Incarceration of JAs, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. More than 75 teachers attended a training workshop on the Japanese American WWII incarceration experience at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, which is also hosting the traveling ‘Art of Gaman’ exhibit. Former incarcerees shared personal stories, and a separate event featured JA WWII veterans discussing their military service.
• New England JACLer to be Recognized at Community Change, Inc. Event, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. Community Change, Inc., a Boston nonprofit promoting racial justice, is dedicating its Community Change Leadership Awards to New England JACL board member May Takayanagi. The awards presentation will be held Nov. 29 at Simmons College.
• Sashihara to Lead New Jersey’s Division on Civil Rights, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. Craig Sashihara, a veteran litigator with extensive experience in discrimination and equal employment matters, has been appointed director of New Jersey’s Division on Civil Rights. He previously directed the state’s Office of Equal Employment Opportunity with over 19 years of legal experience.
• Kuroki Book Wins Award, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. A young reader’s biography of Ben Kuroki, a Nebraska-born Japanese American aerial gunner and WWII hero, won a bronze medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards and an IPPY Bronze Medal. Author Dr. Jean A. Lukesh is also writing an adult biography of Kuroki.
• San Mateo JACLer is Elected to City Council, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. JACLer Steve Okamoto won a seat on Foster City’s City Council, beating six other candidates. Okamoto, a longtime resident and past San Mateo JACL chapter president, begins his four-year term on Dec. 3.
• Ujifusa to Receive Order of Rising Sun Award, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. Grant Ujifusa, a key figure in securing passage of the 1988 Civil Liberties Act and former senior editor at Random House, will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, on Jan. 26. Ujifusa worked closely with Japanese American members of Congress to build the case for redress in the 1980s.
• Takiguchi Awarded Local Leadership Award, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. Masako Takiguchi, an Arizona JACL member and past chapter president, received the Outstanding Local Leadership Award from Cupertino, Calif. Mayor Gilbert Wong on Nov. 11 at the Downtown Sheraton.
• 4th Placer County Nikkei Reunion Takes Place, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. The fourth Placer County Nikkei Reunion drew about 150 people to the Thunder Valley Hotel and Casino in Lincoln, Calif. on Oct. 23-24, featuring a slideshow of past reunions and attendance by Congressional Gold Medal awardees Asa Hanamoto and Marvin Uratsu.
• Award Winning Documentary on Resistors of Conscience Expands Content, Now on DVD, by Martha Nakagawa, page 12. Filmmaker Frank Abe discusses the release of an expanded two-disc DVD edition of his documentary ‘Conscience and the Constitution,’ which explores the JACL’s wartime policies and the Nisei draft resisters at Heart Mountain. The interview covers new footage including interviews with John Tateishi, Mike Masaoka, and Ben Kuroki, and addresses the film’s connection to JACL’s 2000 apology resolution.
• Family Donates Post-war Collection to Portland Museum, page 15. Patti Hirahara donated her family’s post-WWII era photo collection, artifacts, and a baseball uniform from her father Frank Hirahara to the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center. Frank was active in Portland’s Japanese American community and won awards for his photography while working for the Bonneville Power Administration after graduating college in 1948.

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