Redress, internment credit and a new JACL staff in 1979

Vol. 88, No. 26, January 19, 1979. 12 pages. View this issue

Redress ran through this 12-page issue. John Tateishi’s column described Phase II of the campaign: public education, congressional passage, Day of Remembrance resolutions and planned pilgrimages. Robert H. Kono wrote on the redress debate and on exploring the camp experience, while John Tani argued against the JACL program as proposed. The front page reported that the U.S. Civil Service Commission streamlined how federal workers verify credit for time spent in the World War II incarceration (often called internment).

The front page also announced new JACL staff: John K. Yanagisawa as Pacific Southwest director and Debbie Nakatomi as assistant to the executive director. Inside are Bill Hosokawa on the Dayton chapter, Clifford Uyeda on whales, a plan for a Tule Lake plaque dedication and time capsule, and a report on Indochinese refugees in Chicago. Tributes to actor Jack Soo, who was held at Topaz, also appear.

What’s in this issue

National

• U.S. commission streamlines internment credit procedure, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S. Civil Service Commission simplified the procedure for verifying and recomputing retirement credit for federal workers detained in WWII internment camps. Current employees should contact their agency personnel offices, while retirees or survivors should write to the Commission.
• Cal-vet benefits sought for out-of-state WRA camp-born, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Assemblyman Floyd Mori introduced AB 1480 to correct an inequity that denies Cal-Vet benefits to Japanese Americans born in out-of-state WRA camps who enlisted from other states. The bill would extend eligibility to these veterans despite their birth outside California.
• White House seeks Asians, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The White House indicated willingness to consider Asian Americans for high-level administration positions, according to JACL Washington Representative Ron Ikejiri. JACL is developing a Japanese American Resource Registry to help identify qualified candidates.
• JACL invited to 1980 census bureau advisory committee, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Commerce Secretary Juanita Kreps invited JACL to join the 1980 Census Advisory Committee on Asian and Pacific American Populations. The committee will advise the Census Bureau on improving data quality for Asian and Pacific communities.
• Countrymen exploit ‘new’ immigrants, sociologists say, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Sociologists reported at the AAAS meeting that post-1965 immigrants from Cuba, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and Korea are often underpaid by employers from their own ethnic communities. Studies found those working for non-ethnic employers generally earned more.
• English test eased in naturalization, by Mark Tajima, page 12. President Carter signed legislation exempting naturalization petitioners aged 50 or older with 20 years of permanent residence from English literacy requirements. Mark Tajima of PAC announced the change.

JACL

• Yanagisawa named new PSW director, by P.C. Staff, page 1. John K. Yanagisawa was appointed JACL Pacific Southwest regional director and granted permanent status by the national board. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaii with graduate work in Asian American history at UCLA.
• Debbie Nakatomi named assistant to exec. director, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Debbie T. Nakatomi, a Sacramento native with experience in state politics, was appointed assistant to the JACL national executive director. Her duties include administrative support and working with national committees.

Community

• CHP drops 5 ft.-6 height standard, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Personnel Board voted to abolish the minimum height requirement for state traffic officer cadets after testimony led largely by the Sacramento JACL. Opponents argued the restriction was unrelated to job performance and excluded most minorities and women.
• Local JACL chapters to screen applicants for nat’l scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Applications for the 1979 National JACL scholarship program are available, with awards averaging $500 and over $10,000 total. Local chapters will screen applicants, and deadlines are April 1 for high school applicants and May 1 for others.
• Family killed as car rammed over bridge, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Mitsuo Tachikawa, a Sumitomo Bank executive in Seattle, and his family died when their car was struck and driven off an icy Interstate 5 bridge in Clark County, Washington. The car landed upside down in shallow water.
• The Date in Dayton, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa profiles the Dayton JACL chapter, which revived after WWII and now has about 200 members. He highlights several members including Charles Pace, Vicky Mikesell, Dr. Kaz Kimura, and Pete Hironaka.
• Nakayama the banker at helm, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Fremont JACL installed Ronald Nakayama as its 1979 president at a dinner combined with Issei Pioneer Appreciation Night. Guest speaker JACL President Clifford Uyeda spoke on redress.
• Matsui keynoter, Rep. Mineta emcee, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Washington, D.C. JACL chapter will hold its 33rd annual installation dinner dance on January 27 with Congressman Robert Matsui as keynote speaker. Congressman Norman Mineta will serve as master of ceremonies.
• Southeast Asians: How the Midwest looks to refugees of ’75 exodus, by Anna Peterson, page 8. Anna Peterson reports on Indochinese refugee resettlement in Chicago, where about 5,000 refugees live in Illinois. She describes federal funding, agency roles, and challenges including winter adjustment and housing costs.
• Tule Lake plaque rites add directory for time capsule, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The JACL-Tule Lake Historical Plaque committee is compiling a directory of former Tule Lake residents for a May 27 dedication. Mary Tsukamoto requests names, addresses, and camp identification for the time capsule.

Obituaries

• Jack Soo (Goro Suzuki), 63: TV mourns loss of trouper from Topaz, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Actor Jack Soo, who played Nick Yemana on Barney Miller, died of cancer at UCLA Medical Center at age 63. Born Goro Suzuki in Oakland, he was interned at Topaz during WWII and later achieved fame in Flower Drum Song and other productions.

Commentary

• Redress—Pro and Con, by Robert H. Kono, page 4. Novelist Robert Kono argues that Japanese Americans must move beyond minority victimhood and explore their individual experiences of the camps. He supports the redress movement while urging a deeper understanding of the incarceration.
• Yen or Trade, by Harvey Everett, page 4. Harvey Everett argues that the dollar’s decline against the yen reflects a trade imbalance that cannot be fixed by monetary measures alone. He contends Japan must reduce trade barriers and U.S. suppliers must adapt to Japanese technical needs.
• Intermarriage issue, by Cheryl Watamura Martinez, page 4. Cheryl Watamura Martinez writes that the rising rate of Japanese American intermarriage deserves coverage in the Pacific Citizen. She asks whether inferiority feelings or other factors drive the trend and calls for investigation.
• Use of ‘Jpn’, by Kiyoshi Takano, page 4. Kiyoshi Takano reports that the abbreviation JPN is the official U.S. government abbreviation for Japan and Japanese, used by U.S. Army Japan. He suggests adopting it to replace the derogatory word Jap in media usage.
• Nikkei, by Roy Iwaki, page 4. Roy Iwaki responds to the editorial ‘Why Not Nikkei’ by arguing that terms like Niks or Nik Americans would still be demeaning. He prefers keeping the Japanese term.
• President’s Corner: Whales, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. JACL President Clifford Uyeda reflects on JACL’s whale conservation work and opposition to boycotts that fueled anti-Japanese racism. He notes that Dr. Harry Hatasaka has taken over as chairman of the JACL Whale Issue Committee.
• Bumper Stickers, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. Harry Honda recounts how Chicago optometrist Frank Sakamoto and Joe Sagami persuaded a union to shelve 100,000 offensive ‘Don’t buy Jap goods’ bumper stickers. The stickers were never distributed after a negotiated meeting.
• Dr. Harry Hatasaka, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Dr. Harry Hatasaka of Palo Alto took over as chairman of the JACL Whale Issue Committee. The committee has been one of the most rewarding JACL committee chairs.
• Korean Key, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Bill Marutani reflects on his exposure to anti-Korean prejudice as a youth and his later encounters with Koreans. He describes his continuing search for historical sources on ancient Korea.
• Quo Vadis?, by John Tateishi, page 6. John Tateishi outlines Phase II of the redress campaign, focused on educating the public and securing congressional passage. He reports media coverage, Day of Remembrance resolutions, and planned pilgrimages.
• Speaking Out: Redress proposal by John Tani, by John Tani, page 8. John Tani, a Chicago JACL board member, opposes the JACL redress program as proposed. He argues that money cannot compensate for losses and proposes a funded educational foundation instead.
• Still making news yet on Dec. 7, by William Hohri, page 8. William Hohri describes his live CBS Chicago interview on December 7, 1978, discussing relocation and reparations. He reflects on the station’s informal production and his rebuttal to Milton Eisenhower.
• Reminiscing, by Masa Tsukamoto, page 9. Masa Tsukamoto, a longtime Pocatello JACLer, reflects on his decades of involvement in JACL including evacuation claims, hall construction, and camp memories. He announces he will take a more reticent role.
• For Twins Only, by Tomi the Gomi, page 10. A twin columnist invites other twin readers to share their views on twinhood. She recalls childhood anecdotes about her and her sister’s early mischief.

Arts & Entertainment

• Thirty-Five Years in the Frying Pan (review), by Stanleigh Arnold, page 5. Stanleigh Arnold reviews Bill Hosokawa’s book Thirty-Five Years in the Frying Pan, which chronicles Japanese American experiences from relocation onward. Arnold describes Hosokawa’s opposition to the JACL redress campaign.

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