Vietnamese crabbers in Texas and the Redress case, August 1979

Vol. 89, No. 57, August 24, 1979. 8 pages. View this issue

Tensions between Vietnamese refugees and local crabbers in Seadrift and Fulton, Texas, led this eight-page issue. Ann Atterberry reported on a dispute over fishing grounds in San Antonio Bay, where threats and a shooting death turned it into a civil rights concern. Her second story described the hostility on the docks and the work of a federal mediator. Redress ran through the inside pages: a fact sheet on why Japanese Americans held in the World War II incarceration were entitled to constitutional protections, a column by Bill Yoshino, and a letter from Ken Hayashi. JACL National President Clifford Uyeda clarified an August 1 meeting with Senator Hayakawa.

Also inside: a Labor Department finding in two Nisei women’s job bias complaint against Northrop, a California driver’s handbook printed in Japanese, and a task force on refugees in San Francisco. Harry Honda thanked the volunteers who clip news for the paper, and a Honolulu speech by former ambassador U. Alexis Johnson on U.S.-Japan relations is covered.

What’s in this issue

National

• Viet refugee-Texas crabbers clash over fishing sites, by Ann Atterberry, page 1. Tensions erupted between Vietnamese refugees and local crabbers in Seadrift, Texas, over fishing grounds in San Antonio Bay. Cultural and economic differences, along with threats and a shooting death, have turned the dispute into a civil rights concern.
• Palo Alto teenager named to U.S. panel on Year of the Child, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Arlene Seid, 14, of Palo Alto was appointed to a national panel for the International Year of the Child. She serves on the Santa Clara County Youth Commission.
• Nisei charge of Northrop job bias sticks, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Labor Department investigation confirmed discrimination allegations by Alice Nehira and Jo Ann Shimizu against Northrop. A conciliation agreement was reached, but the women said implementation has stalled and they sought JACL help.
• Calif. issues DMV book in Japanese, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Department of Motor Vehicles has published a handbook in Japanese explaining how to acquire a driver’s license. Single copies are available from the JACL Northern California-Western Nevada office.
• Hate runs deep in crabbing war, by Ann Atterberry, page 1. Fishermen in Seadrift and Fulton, Texas express deep hostility toward Vietnamese crabbers, citing violence and cultural differences. Peace-making efforts with a federal mediator were underway to resolve the conflict.
• Barber shaves 223 in 1 hr. for record, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japanese barber Isao Tsuchiya shaved 223 people in one hour and claimed a world record. He challenged the existing Guinness entry held by a Briton.
• 100 boat people rescued by French tanker lands in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Vietnamese refugees rescued by a French tanker were allowed to disembark in Kashima under a new Japanese policy. Most have relatives in the U.S. and were later moved to temporary housing.
• Gardena developer ready to expand into rest of West, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Fletcher Co., a Gardena-based developer formed in 1965, plans to expand commercial and residential projects into other western states. The firm lists several current projects in Southern California.
• Asians missing on refugee task force, by P.C. Staff, page 3. San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein formed a task force to assist Southeast Asian and Nicaraguan refugees. Asian American leaders criticized the lack of Asian representation on the committee.

Commentary

• Meet Sen Nishiyama, by Karl Nobuyuki, page 2. The author describes a meeting with Sen Nishiyama, a Salt Lake City-born electronics expert who spent years in Japan and was recognized for simultaneous translation. The author found the encounter inspiring for strengthening Nikkei roles in U.S.-Japan relations.
• Clarifying Aug. 1, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. JACL National President Clifford Uyeda clarifies the August 1 meeting in which Senator Hayakawa agreed to co-sponsor Senate Bill 1647. He explains JACL’s initiative on the commission concept and the sequence of events.
• Cutter-Uppers, by Harry Honda, page 4. Editor Harry Honda acknowledges the volunteers who clip and forward local and national news to the Pacific Citizen. He lists chapter contributors and describes how their clippings are used.
• Frying Pan: Figures, by Ken Hayashi, page 4. Letter writer Ken Hayashi of Orange County JACL rebuts Bill Hosokawa’s columns on Redress voting figures and the Big Nisei concept. He argues the chapter vote was a clear mandate and criticizes what he sees as a status-seeking mentality.
• Cash prizes for youth programs proposed, page 4. A letter writer proposes awarding cash prizes to chapters with strong youth programs using funds allocated by JACL. The writer cites Gardena chapter youth projects as examples.
• We’re stumped!, page 4. A Cleveland reader asks how to obtain a list of depositors from prewar Japanese banks in Los Angeles to locate funds their late mother held. The letter seeks public help with the search.
• Nisei on the U.S.-Japan trade scene, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The column profiles H. Dick Yamashita of Marcom International and Mike Masaoka as Nisei active in U.S.-Japan trade. It describes their roles with trade organizations and consulting work.
• From the Midwest: Why Redress Now?, by Bill Yoshino, page 6. The column explains why redress is being sought decades after WWII, quoting personal testimony from Minidoka and Chicago about lasting emotional harm. The testimonies illustrate the psychological impact of incarceration.
• Shadow Peak and the Redress money question, page 7. The Redress Q&A sheet explains why a minimum of $25,000 per person is sought based on estimated property and liberty losses. It stresses the request is partial compensation rather than profit.

Community

• Quest for Peace: American-Japanese Relations, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Former U.S. ambassador to Japan U. Alexis Johnson spoke in Honolulu on the future of U.S.-Japan relations. He warned that protectionism and mutual misunderstandings could damage ties and urged both nations to learn from past mistakes.
• Sasahara, the Scientist, by Sachi Seko, page 4. The author recalls correspondence with Art Sasahara, a Gila camp evacuee whose humorous letters stood out, and reflects on his scientific achievements. The column also reflects on Bill Hosokawa’s search for Big Nisei nominees.
• From the Pacific Southwest: FCC Renewal, by John J. Saito, page 6. JACL’s John J. Saito reports on radio stations seeking community input for FCC license renewal and urges more Asian Americans in top management. He also praises the San Fernando Valley chapter’s activities and participation.
• Where’s Cortez?, by George Kondo, page 6. George Kondo describes a quarterly No. California-Western Nevada JACL meeting and his visit to the Cortez JACL Hall. He reports on redress updates and the chapter’s facilities and almond orchard.
• Tackling the fuel shortage, by Jin Konomi, page 8. Jin Konomi traces historical fuel shortages, from animal dung burning to bathing customs in North China. The column reflects on how scarce energy shaped daily life across societies.
• Monterey Park plans Japan goodwill tour, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Terry Suzuki will lead a Monterey Park Sister City goodwill tour to Nachikatsura, Japan, in November. The tour is organized with assistance from Kokusai International Travel.

Obituaries

• Mrs. Tome Otsuka and George Yoshitaro Yasuda, page 2. Brief tributes note the deaths of Mrs. Tome Otsuka, a Sedgwick, Colorado pioneer Issei, and George Yoshitaro Yasuda of Salt Lake City. Survivors are listed for both.

In-Depth

• Question and Answer Fact Sheet: How about the blessings of Evacuation?, page 5. This installment of the Redress fact sheet argues that Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII were citizens or legal residents entitled to constitutional protections. It addresses claims about the camps and the purpose of detention.

Sports

• English football champions wears Hitachi shirt, by AFP, page 8. Liverpool opened its 1979-80 season in West Germany wearing a Hitachi sponsor logo on its shirts. The club had been unable to secure a British sponsor.

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.