Vol. 85, No. 19, November 4, 1977. 8 pages. View this issue
Auto insurance led the news in this eight-page issue. Pat Tashima looked at how Nisei recalled being charged higher premiums in California, and at the debate today over whether inner-city drivers pay too much, with Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, Frank Iwama and Paul Tsuneishi weighing in. The Bakke case ran through the commentary pages, in a column by Bill Hosokawa and a reader’s letter from Chicago. Clifford Uyeda opened a series, “Why Reparations?”, for the JACL Reparations Committee. Also on page one: the JACL biennial convention will be held in Salt Lake City in July 1978.
Also inside: an Osaka company’s Arkansas plant, American prisoners of war weighing a lawsuit over their treatment, and a feature on Sansei rediscovering their heritage. Columns by Harry K. Honda, Raymond S. Uno and George Yoshinaga fill the commentary and sports pages, and Honda welcomes reporter Patricia Hatsuye Tashima to the staff.
What’s in this issue
National
- Nisei Recall Auto Insurance Bias, by By PAT TASHIMA, page 1. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn and his deputy Mas Fukai argue that inner-city drivers pay substantially higher auto insurance premiums than suburban drivers, and the county and city have sued major insurers over rating by residence. Insurance expert Frank Iwama and broker Paul Tsuneishi offer differing views on whether the higher costs are justified.
- The Curious Marriage of Osaka and Arkansas, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sanyo Denki of Osaka bought the Warwick Electronics plant in Forrest City, Arkansas, and turned around its productivity and sales. The article describes the cultural adjustments and the Japanese management practices introduced at the plant.
JACL
- Salt Lake City Site of 25th Biennial Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 1978 JACL biennial convention will be held at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City during the third week of July, marking the organization’s golden jubilee. Convention planners are seeking speakers and seminars and urging chapters to fund a convention booklet.
Community
- Price of Being a Columnist, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kashu Mainichi columnist George Yoshinaga objected to the Committee to Preserve Property Rights using a quote from his column in a Gardena redevelopment mailer. He says the quote concerned Little Tokyo redevelopment, not Gardena, and that he was never asked to verify it.
- Alcoholism Action Week, by P.C. Staff, page 3. California will observe Alcoholism Action Week Nov. 14-20 with statewide education on alcohol abuse. The announcement came from Dr. Jokichi Takamine, chairman of the Alcoholism Council of Greater Los Angeles.
- Asian Caucus and Carter Aide Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Joji Konoshima, director of the Asian-Pacific American Affairs unit of the Democratic National Committee, met with members of the Asian Democratic Caucus in Los Angeles. The Caucus endorsed the JACCC’s efforts to seek funding from the Japan-U.S. Friendship Fund.
- Chapter Calls for CPR Classes, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Tulare County and Fresno JACL chapters plan cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes open to anyone wishing to learn emergency lifesaving skills. Contacts are listed for those wanting more information.
- Nisei Fidgeting Roots: Japanese Americans Rediscovering Their Heritage, by Marita Hernandez (San Jose Mercury), page 6. San Jose JACL leader Jan Kurahara describes how Japanese Americans assimilated after World War II at the cost of their cultural heritage. He notes a growing interest among younger Sansei in rediscovering their roots.
Military & Veterans
- WW2 PWs Seek Legal Ground to Sue for Illegal Treatment, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A group of American WWII prisoners of war formed the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor to explore suing the Japanese government and Japanese industries over inhumane treatment and slave labor. Attorney John R. Wood says they will seek to establish liability in Japanese courts or the World Court.
Incarceration & Redress
- Why Reparations? Part One, by JACL Reparations Committee: Clifford Uyeda, page 4. The article recalls JACL’s 1942 position that Japanese Americans would one day seek redress for their wartime evacuation. It argues that the government’s uprooting of 112,000 people without evidence of disloyalty justifies monetary redress, citing precedents such as the Alaska Native settlement.
Commentary
- Bakke Case, page 4. A Chicago letter writer responds to Bill Hosokawa’s column, arguing that medical school admissions consider many factors beyond grades and that the Davis program addresses economic disadvantage as well as race. The writer urges a clearer understanding of the issues in the Bakke case.
- The Bakke Case, page 4. The columnist argues that the Bakke case raises difficult questions about defining race and that using race as a criterion for special treatment echoes the racial logic behind wartime evacuation. He concludes that race should be one barrier among several rather than the sole criterion.
- Our New By-Liner, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. Editor Harry K. Honda welcomes Patricia Hatsuye Tashima to the Pacific Citizen staff as a new reporter following her internship at the Los Angeles Times. He also notes circulation manager Yuki Kamayatsu’s medical leave and staff activities in Little Tokyo.
- An Uncut Diamond, by Raymond S. Uno, page 5. Judge Raymond Uno reflects on the death of a neighbor’s 14-year-old son and the importance of living each moment fully. He closes by inviting readers to share ideas for the 1978 JACL convention in Salt Lake City.
- Horse’s Mouth: Yoshinaga Responds, by George Yoshinaga, page 5. Columnist George Yoshinaga explains that his remarks concerned individuals in the Little Tokyo redevelopment agency rather than Gardena redevelopment. He accuses the CPPR of deceiving voters through clever manipulation of his words.
Sports
- Oya-ko Donburi: Japanese American Football, by George Yoshinaga, page 7. Columnist George Yoshinaga proposes a series between Japanese high school all-stars and Japanese American prep players, noting American football’s growth in Japan. He argues the cost and club system are obstacles that such a game could help overcome.
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