Asian American Studies, a Nebraska pastor and the Seattle convention

Vol. 154, No. 10, June 1, 2012. 15 pages. View this issue

Asian American identity ran through this 15-page issue, on campuses and on screen. Christine Fukushima wrote about students at Purdue, Tufts and Northwestern pressing for Asian American Studies programs and cultural centers. Nalea J. Ko reported on Nebraska Episcopalians preparing a Japanese Heritage Celebration for the late Rev. Hiram Hisanori Kano, and on Riki Eijima’s appearance on Nickelodeon’s special about Asian Pacific American youth, which JACL helped cast. New National Director Priscilla Ouchida wrote about moving to Washington, D.C., and John Kodachi’s column compared the National Defense Authorization Act to Executive Order 9066.

Elsewhere in the issue, the Seattle convention committee listed booster activities, from Pike Place Market to a casino night, and the Pacific Southwest District launched its Katarou Histories oral history program. The Heart Mountain Interpretive Center won a museum award, Sonoma JACL honored its Congressional Gold Medal veterans, and Gil Asakawa and Harry K. Honda wrote the commentary columns.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• My Memories of Shigeki Hiratsuka, by Yoshiko Kelley, page 2. A writer recalls receiving the Aiko Susanna Tashiro Hiratsuka Memorial Scholarship in 2000 and the warm, supportive relationship she developed with Shigeki Hiratsuka afterward. She reflects on his enthusiasm, his late wife’s musical accomplishments, and his lasting influence on her life.
• Re: Female Sumo Wrestlers, by Franklin Odo, page 2. A reader responds to a piece on female sumo wrestlers, pointing to an earlier 1911 photo published in his own book, ‘Pictorial History of the Japanese in Hawaii, 1885-1924.’ He notes the book, published by Bishop Museum Press in 1985, contains additional related photos.
• More JA Stories, Not Just Camps, by Jessica Mariko Deardorff-Elder, page 2. A subscriber criticizes the Pacific Citizen for focusing too much on internment camp coverage and not enough on notable contemporary Japanese Americans, citing architect Minoru Yamazaki as an example. She also expresses displeasure with the term ‘Hapa’ used for Eurasians of Japanese descent.
• Spring Campaign Bucket List, by Roberta Barton, page 2. The author describes a midlife urge to reconnect with her Japanese American heritage that began over a decade ago. She has since created and pursued a Japanese American ‘bucket list,’ volunteering for cultural projects and committees.
• What Were Marion Barry and Mike Coffman Thinking?, by Gil Asakawa, page 8. The columnist examines racially charged remarks made by Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman about President Obama and by D.C. Councilman Marion Barry about Asian shop owners and Filipino nurses. He connects Barry’s comments to a longer history of tension between Black and Asian American communities, referencing the 1992 L.A. Riots.
• Apt Additions to the Library, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Honda reviews four new additions to his home library, including Greg Robinson’s book on Larry and Guyo Tajiri’s journalism, a volume documenting Nikkei generals and admirals, Isami Mike Tsuji’s WWII memoir, and Jamie Ford’s novel ‘Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.’ He shares personal connections to several of the authors and subjects.
• Executive Order 9066, by John Kodachi, page 12. Kodachi argues that President Obama’s signing of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) echoes the constitutional violations of Executive Order 9066, warning it codifies indefinite detention powers without due process. He examines the ambiguous legal language in the NDAA and Senate’s rejection of an amendment meant to exempt U.S. citizens.
• Wash., D.C. Leadership Summit 2012, by Kelly Honda, page 12. Sacramento JACL member Kelly Honda reflects on attending the JACL/OCA Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., which covered issues including anti-bullying, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and the Defense Authorization Act. She highlights a presentation on discrimination faced by the Sikh community and a congressional role-play exercise that deepened her understanding of legislative challenges.

JACL

• New Beginnings in D.C., by Priscilla Ouchida, page 2. Incoming JACL National Director Priscilla Ouchida reflects on moving to Washington, D.C. to begin her role, acknowledging the legacy left by outgoing director Floyd Mori. She praises Mori’s contributions to the broader Asian Pacific American community and JACL’s national advocacy profile.
• National Convention Booster Activities, by National JACL Convention Committee, page 6. The Seattle JACL National Convention Committee outlines special activities for convention ‘boosters’ while delegates attend business sessions, including tours of Chinatown/International District, Pike Place Market, and the Ballard Locks. Additional options include a 4th of July fireworks viewing and a casino night out.
• PSWD Unveils New Oral Histories Program, Katarou Histories, by Eri Kameyama, page 6. The Pacific Southwest District has launched Katarou Histories, a multi-generational oral history program designed to preserve Japanese American and API stories through creative means. The 10-week program will run weekly sessions and a retreat, culminating in a presentation day in August.
• President Obama Reaches Out to APAs at 18th Annual APAICS Gala Awards, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 13. President Obama made a surprise appearance at the APAICS Gala Awards Dinner, speaking about his personal connections to the Asian Pacific American community and addressing the model minority myth. JACL National Director Floyd Mori received the APAICS Leadership Award alongside other honorees including Karen Narasaki and NCAPA.

In-Depth

• The Next Wave of Asian America on College Campuses, by Christine Fukushima, Correspondent, page 3. Students at universities including Purdue, Tufts, and Northwestern are advocating for the creation and expansion of Asian American Studies programs and cultural centers, spurred partly by incidents of racism on campus. The article traces the history of Asian American Studies since its 1969 origins at San Francisco State and UC Berkeley through the 1990s hunger strikes and current program statistics.
• Nebraska Churches Prep for Celebrations to Honor Japanese American Reverend, by Nalea J. Ko, Reporter, page 4. Nebraska Episcopalians are preparing a Japanese Heritage Celebration honoring the late Rev. Hiram Hisanori Kano, a community leader who ministered to Japanese immigrants, was wrongfully interned during WWII, and later fought for civil rights. Kano’s family and community members share memories of his devotion, and the Nebraska legislature recently honored him posthumously with a resolution.
• APA Youth Explore Their Identity on Nickelodeon, by Nalea J. Ko, Reporter, page 5. San Francisco eighth-grader Riki Eijima appeared on Nickelodeon’s ‘Who Am I? Asian Pacific American, and Proud!’ special, alongside her grandfather Warren, a WWII Military Intelligence Service veteran. JACL helped Nickelodeon find Japanese American youth participants for the show, which explores APA identity and stereotypes among children of various backgrounds.

National

• APAs Not Unified in Same-Sex Marriage Debate, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 7. President Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage has intensified political activity nationwide, with Asian Pacific Americans divided on the issue despite a shared history of marriage discrimination. JACL has long supported marriage equality, being the first non-gay organization after the ACLU to do so in 1994.
• Memorial Upsetting Japanese Officials, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. Japanese officials have unsuccessfully pressed a New Jersey town to remove a public memorial dedicated to WWII ‘comfort women,’ offering to plant cherry trees and donate books in exchange. The controversy highlights ongoing tension between Japan and South Korea, and has galvanized Korean American communities to build similar memorials elsewhere.
• Hawaii to Award Posthumous Degrees to JA WWII Cadets Who Formed Army Unit, by Associated Press, page 7. The University of Hawaii plans to award honorary degrees to seven Japanese American ROTC cadets who were expelled from the Hawaii Territorial Guard due to their ethnicity but went on to form a civilian battalion that led to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. All seven were killed in action during WWII.
• Obama Administration Requests Information to Better Understand Issues Regarding AAPI Students, page 10. The U.S. Department of Education is seeking public input on disaggregating data for Asian American and Pacific Islander student subgroups to better identify educational disparities. Officials cite Census data showing significant achievement gaps among subgroups like Hmong, Cambodian, and Native Hawaiian students that are masked by aggregated statistics.
• Heart Mountain Center Gets Museum Award, by Associated Press, page 10. The Heart Mountain Interpretive Center in Wyoming received the American Association of Museums’ ‘Eloquent Presentation of Topic’ award. The center, which opened in August 2011, features exhibits documenting the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans from the perspective of internees.
• Marion Barry: I Misspoke When I Said ‘Polacks’, by Associated Press, page 10. D.C. Councilmember Marion Barry apologized to the APA community for previous offensive remarks but further stumbled by using the derogatory term ‘Polacks’ during the apology meeting. He said he misspoke and should have said ‘Polish.’
• Thousands of West Coast Immigration Files Released, page 10. The federal government released thousands of historic immigration records from Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino immigrants processed in Honolulu, Guam, and San Francisco, now available at the National Archives in San Bruno. The documents include photographs, correspondence, and visa applications from immigrants born in 1910 or earlier.
• Kauai Veterans Cemetery to Nearly Double in Size, page 10. The Kauai Planning Commission approved a plan to expand the Kauai Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe from 2,500 to 4,500 gravesites. Officials say the expansion, funded by the federal government, is needed as the current cemetery will reach capacity in about 10 years.
• 21 Percent in Hawaii Say They’re Part Native Hawaiian, page 10. U.S. Census figures show more than one-fifth of Hawaii residents identify as at least part Native Hawaiian, a 21 percent increase from 2000. The growth outpaces the state’s overall population growth, with other Pacific Islander groups also increasing quickly during the decade.

Arts & Entertainment

• Michael ‘The Destroyer’ Yama Gets Rascally on ‘Betty White’s Off Their Rockers’, by Nalea J. Ko, Reporter, page 9. Japanese American actor Michael Yama discusses his role as a prankster on NBC’s hidden camera show ‘Betty White’s Off Their Rockers,’ where he plays characters who pull practical jokes on unsuspecting younger people. Yama also shares his personal history, including his father’s wartime arrest in Hawaii and his decades-long path to becoming an actor.

Community

• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. This roundup covers various APA achievements including a Denver student scholarship award, UCLA honoring transplant medicine pioneer Paul Terasaki, Patricia Kinaga receiving a UC Berkeley public service award, KCET/Union Bank honoring Stewart Kwoh and Bill Watanabe as local heroes, and the University of Hawaii awarding honorary degrees to Sen. Daniel Akaka and author Haruki Murakami.
• Sonoma JACL Honors Its Gold Medal Awardees, by “My P.C.” Contributor, page 11. Sonoma County JACL held a Congressional Gold Medal tribute for four living WWII Nisei veterans and honored 25 total veterans from the area. U.S. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey presented bronze medallions at the ceremony held at the Enmanji Buddhist Temple, attended by nearly 250 guests.
• Defense Dept. Honors APA Korean War Veterans, page 11. The Department of Defense’s Korean War Commemoration Committee hosted an event honoring the patriotism of APA Korean War veterans, coinciding with APA Heritage Month. Wreath-laying ceremonies followed at the Korean Bell of Friendship and the Japanese American Korean War Veterans’ Memorial to honor those killed and missing in action.
• Berkeley Chapter Awards Scholarships, Pioneer Award, page 13. Berkeley JACL awarded four scholarships to local high school seniors and posthumously honored Bill Fujita, a 1939 UC Berkeley graduate and post-WWII chapter rebuilder, with the 2012 Pioneer Award. Fujita’s family accepted the award on his behalf at the May 6 ceremony.
• Portland Holds Annual Japanese American Graduation Banquet, page 13. Portland held its 65th annual Japanese American Graduation Banquet honoring high school seniors, a tradition dating back to 1948 shortly after Japanese Americans returned from wartime incarceration. This year 13 scholarships were awarded to students recognized for academic and community achievements.

Obituaries

• James Hirabayashi Dies at 85, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 15. James Akira Hirabayashi, brother of civil rights leader Gordon Hirabayashi, died in San Francisco four months after his brother’s death. James was a key figure in creating the first ethnic studies program in 1969 at San Francisco State University, later becoming its AA studies chair and first dean.

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.