Redress and the Hayakawa interview, February 1979

Vol. 88, No. 29, February 9, 1979. 12 pages. View this issue

Redress was the main subject of this 12-page issue. In an interview, Senator S.I. Hayakawa opposed reparations for Japanese Americans held during World War II and said he would filibuster any redress bill. The front page headline, “Inouye vows to filibuster when Redress bill up,” sits beside it. Letters from William Hohri, Wimp Hiroto and Mike Horii debated JACL’s campaign, John Tateishi called redress a moral issue, and National President Clifford Uyeda wrote about a visit to Minneapolis. The Diablo Valley JACL also reported on War Relocation Authority files it obtained from the National Archives.

Elsewhere, a Senate survey on foreign farm purchases led the front page, and Harry Huey became the first Asian American elected to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Kats Kunitsugu reviewed The Avocado Kid, Bill Hosokawa wrote about Christmas coupons, and Joseph Harrington’s serial on Nisei linguists continued on page 9. Page 11 describes a reprint of the story of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

What’s in this issue

National

  • New Foreign Farm Holdings in U.S. Cited ‘Significant’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Senate survey found foreigners acquired 826,543 acres of U.S. farmland in 1978, about 2.4% of all farmland sold. Senator McGovern introduced legislation to limit foreign acquisition of farmland to family-sized holdings.
  • Census Report on U.S. Marriages, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A December 1978 Census report on American husbands and wives did not break down Asian intermarriage statistics. The Pacific Citizen had added 1970 figures on Japanese and non-Japanese marital status in anticipation of the data.
  • Chinese Filling U.S. Immigrant Quota Fast, page 1. Applications for U.S. immigrant visas from Chinese have jumped, with exit permits now granted in Peking to those joining relatives in the U.S. About 70,000 mainland Chinese have reportedly moved to Hong Kong holding U.S. or Canadian visas, while U.S. law caps Chinese immigration at 20,000 per year.
  • Judge Orders New Trial for Chol Soo Lee, page 2. Sacramento Superior Court Judge Lawrence Karlton granted Chol Soo Lee a new trial in the 1973 San Francisco Chinatown slaying, citing prosecution failure to provide material evidence. Lee, who maintains innocence, has served five years of a life sentence.
  • Illiteracy Rate in U.S. Increasing, page 2. Senator George McGovern said American students near high school graduation score more poorly on achievement tests than students in Britain, Japan, and West Germany. He questioned spending $130 billion on defense when citizens are poorly educated.
  • California Prison Intake Hits Record High in 1978, page 2. California courts sent nearly 9,000 male felons to state prison in 1978, a record 26% increase over 1977. Corrections Director Jerry Enomoto warned of continued overcrowding and outlined plans to cope with it.
  • China Statement Issued by Hawaii Members in Congress, page 2. Hawaii’s congressional delegation expressed deep concern over President Carter’s China policy and its effect on U.S.-Taiwan relations. The statement questioned whether the President could terminate the mutual defense treaty without congressional consent.
  • Maoists Disrupt Teng Ceremonies, page 2. Two Maoists wearing press credentials disrupted White House welcoming ceremonies for Chinese Vice Premier Teng on January 29. Secret Service identified them and they were charged with disorderly conduct.
  • Prison Overcrowding Expected to Worsen in 1979, page 2. California’s male felon prisons held 19,018 inmates, with about 600 double-celled, and overcrowding is expected to grow. Director Jerry Enomoto outlined plans including dormitory conversions and honor camps while noting public attitudes toward sentencing.
  • National Literary Award, page 3. James Clavell donated $10,000 to fund the American-Japanese National Literary Award, a short story contest for Nikkei writers with a $1,000 first prize. Entries must be under 5,000 words and postmarked by June 1, 1979.
  • Interview with Senator Hayakawa on Redress, page 3. Senator S.I. Hayakawa argues that Japanese Americans are not a disadvantaged group, citing above-average median income, and opposes reparations as unnecessary and insulting. He says he would filibuster any redress bill.

Incarceration & Redress

  • Inouye vows to filibuster when Redress bill up, page 1. In an interview, Senator S.I. Hayakawa opposes reparations for Japanese Americans interned during WWII, arguing the group is no longer disadvantaged and that prior compensation settled the matter. He states he would filibuster against any redress bill.
  • Diablo Valley JACL Finds WRA Archives Not Too Interesting, page 1. The Diablo Valley JACL reported on obtaining copies of War Relocation Authority personal files from the National Archives. Editor Wilma Hayashi found her records contained only school and health records, though adults may still find their files of interest.

Community

  • Harry Huey Becomes First Asian American Elected Countywide in Fresno, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Fresno architect and rancher Harry Huey won the District 1 supervisor seat in the November 7 election, becoming the first Asian American elected to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Huey has been active in community affairs and previously chaired the county planning commission.
  • L.A. to Host National JAS Meet, page 1. The Japan America Society’s seventh biennial national conference will be held February 20-22 at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Japanese Ambassador Fumihiko Togo and other distinguished speakers are scheduled to appear.
  • San Jose Japantown Gears for Nikkei Matsuri April 1, page 1. San Jose Japantown will host the second annual Nikkei Matsuri cultural festival on April 1, featuring artisan displays, food, and continuous entertainment. Committee members are recruiting craft exhibitors and food sellers.
  • Tower to Observe Canada-Japan Tie, page 1. Toronto’s CN Tower will mark the 50th anniversary of Japan-Canada diplomatic relations during May with Japanese cultural and trade displays. About 200,000 visitors are expected.
  • Nakatsuka Elevated to V.P. of Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, page 2. Lawrence K. Nakatsuka was appointed a vice president of The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, where he directs government affairs. A longtime JACL member and former Pacific Citizen correspondent, he previously worked 15 years on U.S. Senate staff.
  • Wok Talk and ‘The Geisha’, page 6. Dayton JACL’s February general meeting featured a wok demonstration by Benjamin Meng of Peking Inn, and a March showing of Kenji Mizoguchi’s film The Geisha is planned. Chapter members are also participating in the International Festival.
  • Installation Banquet Attracts 200, page 6. Almost 200 attended the Seattle JACL installation banquet featuring Air Force Captain Ellison Onizuka, the first Asian astronaut, who discussed NASA aerospace technology. Eight awards were presented including posthumous citations for Midori Uyeda and Masao Tomita.
  • Hoosier JACL Installs 11-Member Board, page 6. Hoosier JACL installed its board of managers with Shirley Nakatsukasa as president at a Chinese dinner in Speedway. Local chapter officers were introduced at the event.
  • JACL Seeks Bids for Office Supplies, page 6. The JACL Pacific Southwest Regional Office is accepting sealed bids for office supplies, furniture, printing, and photocopiers with a February 26 deadline. Minority-operated firms will be considered equally with other bidders.
  • Heritage Week Calendar, page 8. Community groups planning events during the first Asian-Pacific Cultural Heritage Week, May 1-10, 1979, are invited to list programs in a calendar coordinated by the Pacific Southwest JACL Office. Application forms are due March 1.

Obituaries

  • Testimonial Given for Rev. Dr. John M. Yamazaki, page 1. Over 300 attended a Japanese American Church Federation testimonial honoring Rev. Dr. John M. Yamazaki, founder of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, who continued serving the Issei after retiring. Born in Nagano in 1884, he came to the U.S. in 1909 and was ordained in 1914.
  • Card of Thanks: Sam Mayeda, 69, page 2. The family of Sam Mayeda of Greeley, Colorado, thanks those who expressed sympathy after his death on January 17. He was a native of Watsonville and a retired farmer.
  • Deaths: Tatsuyo Fujii, Matsunosuke Oi, Wallace Terui, page 2. Brief death notices for Tatsuyo Fujii of Los Angeles, Matsunosuke Oi of Los Angeles, and Wallace Terui of Fremont. Terui was active in JACL and the NC-WNDC executive director.

Arts & Entertainment

  • ‘Avocado Kid’ Mixes Metaphors with a Will, by Kats Kunitsugu, page 3. Kunitsugu reviews Philip Kan Gotanda’s musical The Avocado Kid at East West Players, a retelling of the Momotaro fairy tale. The reviewer praises the energetic performances and clever humor while noting the show’s unconventional metaphors.
  • ‘Kabuki’ Opens Terrace Theater, page 8. The Kennedy Center’s 500-seat Terrace Theater opened January 28 with a Grand Kabuki gala. The theater was a Japanese gift to the U.S. commemorating the Bicentennial and was designed by Philip Johnson.

Commentary

  • Feeling Good, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. JACL National President Clifford Uyeda reflects on a visit to Minneapolis, where Nisei who endured wartime incarceration have built respected lives. He argues that facing and redressing past wrongs sustains American ideals.
  • Be Helpful, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. Editor Harry Honda explains a publicity error in which a West Valley JACL dinner date was printed incorrectly, causing members to scramble. He recounts the mix-up with humor and the dinner’s successful outcome.
  • Redress: Pro and Con, by William Hohri and Wimp Hiroto and Mike Horii, page 4. Letters to the editor debate JACL’s redress campaign, with William Hohri arguing reparations are a constitutional remedy and Mike Horii urging Japan be pursued for compensation. Wimp Hiroto satirically proposes a formula for calculating redress payments.
  • Higher Education II, by Nobuyuki Nakajima, page 4. Nakajima continues his argument that every young Japanese American should pursue higher education. He refutes objections that college erodes traditional values, that talent suffices without degrees, and that vocational training is an adequate substitute.
  • Christmas Coupons, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa recounts receiving Christmas coupons from his daughters offering brunch, pies, soup, eggs, and outings instead of material gifts. He shares his grandson’s observations as a lighthearted family reflection.
  • Pork n’ Beans a la Japonaise, by Jin Konomi, page 5. Konomi recalls a prewar New York friend, Mr. Y., who enjoyed sweets with brandy and shared memories of zenzai. The column is a nostalgic reflection on Japanese confections and a shared experience of dessert.
  • Silicon Valley Shenanigans, by Phil Jordan, page 5. Phil Jordan reports that American semiconductor firms suspect Japanese rivals of industrial espionage through various covert methods. He argues that U.S. government policy and Japan’s cooperative industrial structure leave American firms at a disadvantage.
  • A Moral Issue, by John Tateishi, page 6. Tateishi responds to criticism that JACL does not represent the entire Japanese American community, arguing that redress is fundamentally a moral issue. He notes that historically transformative causes often began with small committed groups.
  • Magnetism Is TDK’s Job, page 8. TDK Electronics has marketed magnetic necklaces in Japan since 1976 and is now selling them in the U.S. while complying with FDA rules. The company faces challenges with consumers who may mistake the product for a good luck charm.

JACL

  • Thirty-Five Years Ago, page 4. The 1944 JACL shifted from defending itself to telling the Japanese American story, aided by the 100th Infantry’s heroics. Ruby Yoshino Schaar and Dr. Tom Yatabe toured eastern and midwestern audiences, and the Pacific Citizen is reprinting 1944 convention minutes.

Sports

  • 32-Pounder Wins Striped Derby, page 6. Russ Blaine won the first prize in the Cortez JACL annual striped bass derby with a 32-pound fish. Other local anglers also received prizes for their catches.

Military & Veterans

  • Comm. Sgt. Majors, page 8. A Reserve Component Selection Board recommended 161 Army National Guard and Reserve members for appointment as command sergeant major, including three Nikkei. Among them were George M. Kihara, Atsushi Kiuchi, and Lester K. Nakaichi.
  • The Story of the 442nd Combat Team, page 11. A reprint of the 1945 official account of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team’s campaigns in Italy and France is available from the Company K Club. Proceeds support an all-442nd scholarship fund.

In-Depth

  • Yankee Samurai: Secret Role of Nisei in America’s Pacific Victory, by Joseph Harrington, page 9. This serialized chapter describes Nisei linguists trained at Camp Savage and their roles in the Pacific war, including Kanji expert John Anderton and Leo Saito. It covers Japanese military actions in early 1942, the internment order, and the Battle of Midway.

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.

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