JACL budget, taiko, and the Pacific Citizen’s future

Vol. 152, No. 9, May 20, 2011. 16 pages. View this issue

The national board’s vote to cover a $106,426 deficit from 2010 by drawing $100,000 from National Endowment Fund earnings led the news in May 2011. Lynda Lin reported on the discussion of how to widen membership and funding. Floyd Mori wrote about his plans to retire, and Hugh Burleson recalled the convention debate over moving the Pacific Citizen to San Francisco. A profile by Nalea J. Ko followed Yuta and Toshi Kato ahead of the North American Taiko Conference at Stanford University.

Elsewhere, John Tateishi called for a campaign to place incarceration history in social studies standards, and Christine McFadden told the story of veteran Roy Matsumoto. Readers will also find a conversation with Kristi Yamaguchi, the Hashimotos of Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL, plans for a Minidoka pilgrimage, and chapter fundraisers for Japan relief. Several letters to the editor shared varied views of the paper.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Is JACL History Being Ignored?, by Patricia Akizuki, page 2. A reader criticizes the national JACL board’s year-end articles for lacking discussion of civil rights issues, noting only preservation and gold medal awards might count as advocacy. She argues JACL should build on its legacy of civil rights advocacy rather than ignore it.
• Allegiance Question, by Henry Sakamoto, page 2. A reader praises Pacific Citizen contributor Christine McFadden for her discussion of the loyalty question faced by Japanese Americans during WWII. He notes that under actions like the Patriot Act, questions of loyalty could still be difficult to answer today.
• Republican Viewpoint, by Tracie Sasaki-Seibert, page 2. A self-described conservative Republican reader disagrees with a previous letter writer and states that the paper’s biased articles do not represent her views. She questions why membership is dwindling and urges the paper to become more relevant to all Japanese Americans, not just liberal ones.
• Keep the Presses Rolling!, page 2. A reader compliments Pacific Citizen for its informative and well-written reporting on real news, festivals, and restaurant reviews. They urge the paper to keep publishing given that many other Asian American papers have folded.
• Pacific Citizenship, by Hugh Burleson, page 2. Burleson recounts the debate at the Chicago JACL national convention over a proposal to relocate the Pacific Citizen to JACL national headquarters in San Francisco as a cost-saving measure. He outlines concerns raised about staff loss, lost relationships, and editorial independence that led the convention to reject the plan.
• Curriculum Initiative, by John Tateishi, page 8. Former JACL national director John Tateishi advocates for a JACL-led campaign to get internment history included in social studies standards in all 50 states, noting 23 states currently do not include it. He argues this education initiative would build on the legacy of the redress campaign and reach future generations through schools.
• Strength of the Japanese Spirit, by James Kumpel, page 8. Kumpel reflects on his mixed Japanese American heritage, his growing pride after learning about his grandfather’s internment, and his time living in Japan witnessing the culture’s resilience. He draws parallels between the dignified response to the Kobe earthquake and the 2011 Fukushima disaster, urging support for relief efforts.
• Masaoka Fellow Recalls ‘Wonderful Opportunity’ in Sen. Inouye’s Office, by Misha Tsukerman, page 13. Tsukerman describes his seven-month Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship working in Sen. Daniel Inouye’s office, gaining insight into congressional operations on issues like immigration and education. He highlights witnessing Inouye’s floor speech on the DREAM Act as a memorable moment tying the bill to the senator’s own military service.
• Pacific Citizenship (continued), by Hugh Burleson, page 16. Burleson concludes his commentary on the P.C.’s near-relocation, praising the small, dedicated, and professional staff for improvements like better graphics and online archives despite limited resources. He calls on JACL members to support the paper’s Spring Campaign to maintain editorial quality and independence.

JACL

• Another Busy Time for JACL, by Floyd Mori, page 2. National Director Floyd Mori discusses his plans to retire before year’s end and reflects on his tenure shuttling between Washington D.C. and JACL headquarters. He also reports on staff departures, board meeting discussions, and the importance of communication with members.
• JACL Nat’l Board Votes to Draw from Nat’l Endowment Earnings to Make Up 2010 Deficit, by Lynda Lin, page 4. The JACL national board voted to draw $100,000 from the National Endowment Fund’s unrestricted earnings to cover a $106,426 budget deficit from 2010, caused largely by declining membership revenue. Board members discussed strategies for diversifying membership and funding sources going forward, including a new Louisiana chapter drawing from the Vietnamese American community.
• Collegiate D.C. Leadership Conference Set for June 9-12, page 7. The 3rd Annual JACL Collegiate Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference, sponsored by the UPS Foundation, will introduce APA student leaders to national policy-making. The conference is open to full-time freshmen, sophomores, and juniors at accredited colleges.’
• JACL Convention to Host ‘Nikkei Conference’ to Discuss State of Japanese America, page 7. National JACL and the California Japanese American Community Leadership Council will host a one-day Nikkei Conference on July 9 during the 42nd JACL National Convention in Los Angeles. The conference will feature panels on topics like community preservation, serving Nikkei seniors, and civic engagement.
• Another Busy Time for JACL (continued), by Floyd Mori, page 16. Mori details JACL’s D.C. Digest communications, a slight uptick in membership numbers in early 2011, and efforts to diversify membership including a new API Gulf Coast chapter in New Orleans. He also mentions the Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C. and ongoing support for Japan relief through the Direct Relief International partnership.

In-Depth

• A Father and Son Duo Honor Their Family Tradition of Taiko, by Nalea J. Ko, page 3. Yuta Kato and his father Toshi Kato are both deeply involved in taiko, with Yuta coordinating the North American Taiko Conference and Toshi making and selling taiko drums after quitting his gardening job. The article details the family’s journey into taiko culture and the upcoming conference at Stanford University, which sold out tickets months in advance.
• WWII Veteran Roy Matsumoto Reveals War Secrets of Honor, Sacrifice, by Christine McFadden, page 5. Msgt. Roy H. Matsumoto, who kept his undercover MIS work secret for 50 years, is the subject of a documentary produced by his daughter Karen Matsumoto and Lucy Ostrander about his heroics saving over 800 American soldiers during WWII. The filmmakers are raising funds to expand the documentary and tell his full story alongside other MIS veterans.’

Community

• The Hashimotos: The Heart and Soul of Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL, page 6. Retired schoolteachers Mas and Marcia Hashimoto discuss their extensive volunteer work with the Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL chapter and their upcoming honor as grand marshals of the city’s Independence Day parade. They emphasize the importance of civil rights education and building an active, purposeful chapter to attract new members.
• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. This roundup covers APAICS’s 17th Annual Gala Awards Dinner honoring Rep. Mike Honda and others, a Young Adult Literature Honor awarded to ‘A Boy of Heart Mountain,’ and the Seattle Nisei Veterans Committee honoring 442nd veteran Shigeru Momoda with France’s Legion of Honour. It also notes a JA educator’s Teachers of Excellence award and the appointment of Judge Tony N. Leung as Minnesota’s first APA federal magistrate judge.
• Ariz. Chapter Hosts 50th Annual Scholarship and Gold Saguaro Tribute Awards Luncheon, page 11. The Arizona JACL chapter held its 50th Annual Sara Hutchings Clardy Scholarship Awards Graduates’ Luncheon, awarding $1,000 scholarships to four high school students. Three chapter members also received Gold Saguaro Tribute Awards for their service to JACL and the community.
• Community Groups Receive Calif. Civil Liberties Public Education Grants, page 12. The California State Library announced 21 grant recipients through the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program, with 16 focused on gathering oral histories of Japanese Americans interned during WWII. Since 1998, over 370 CCLPEP grants have funded educational projects documenting the internment experience.
• Minidoka Pilgrimage Set for June 30 to July 3, page 12. Former internees and their families will attend the Minidoka Pilgrimage to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the camp’s history, including the dedication of an Honor Roll recognizing 442nd RCT volunteers from Minidoka. The event, hosted by JACL Seattle Chapter and other groups, will feature tours, a barrack replica, and a symposium on civil liberties in wartime.
• WWII Veteran Says Citizenship is a Privilege, page 12. Grant Ichikawa, a 92-year-old WWII Military Intelligence Service veteran, spoke at a naturalization ceremony in Fairfax County, Virginia, telling new citizens that citizenship brings privileges and responsibilities. He described his voluntary enlistment during WWII, while his family was interned, as the highest point of his life.
• JACL Chapters Lead Japan Relief Effort, page 13. JACL chapters across the country, including Diablo Valley, Chicago, Sonoma County, and Reno, are hosting fundraisers like bowl-a-thons, dinners, and festivals to support Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. Chicago JACL alone helped raise $40,000 through a dinner and secured a $50,000 donation from an anonymous foundation.

Arts & Entertainment

• Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi Dreams Big, by Nalea J. Ko, page 9. Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi discusses her new children’s book ‘Dream Big, Little Pig,’ which promotes early literacy and following one’s dreams, as well as her workout DVD and charity work. She also reflects on her skating career, family life, and being a role model for the Asian American community.

National

• APA Groups Applaud Confirmation of Judge Edward M. Chen, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 10. Judge Edward M. Chen was confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California after a lengthy delay, becoming the 14th active Asian Pacific American Article III judge in the nation. JACL and other APA organizations praised the confirmation as promising for the AAPI community.
• Portland JACL Criticizes Commissioner for Insensitive Remarks Regarding Internment, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 10. Portland Commissioner Dan Saltzman drew criticism after dismissing Henry Sakamoto’s testimony about internment-era civil rights violations as being about things that happened ’60 years ago.’ Sakamoto’s son demanded a public apology, and Saltzman later issued a personal letter of apology to Henry Sakamoto, though no broader community apology has been made.
• National Newsbytes, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 10. This roundup covers Utah’s new immigration law facing a federal court challenge similar to Arizona’s, the death of a second Sikh man following a possible hate crime shooting in Northern California, and a $25 million federal grant to University of Hawaii researchers studying obesity prevention. It also reports on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month events in Michigan and a fire that destroyed a former Japanese cultural center in Arroyo Grande, California.
• Beating Death of Vietnamese Elderly Man Leaves Family Stunned, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 11. Hoang Nguyen, 72, died after being beaten by a group of young attackers in St. Louis while walking home with his wife, who was also injured. National JACL has asked police to investigate whether the attack was racially motivated, though police have characterized it as a random crime.
• Native Hawaiian Self-Government Bill Passed, by Associated Press, page 11. The Hawaii legislature passed a bill recognizing Native Hawaiians as the indigenous people of the state, sending it to Gov. Neil Abercrombie for approval. The measure supports a related federal proposal to allow Native Hawaiians to form a self-governing entity, similar to rights already extended to Alaska Natives and Native American tribes.

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