A 1976 forum on Jewish and Japanese American bias

Vol. 82, No. 5, February 6, 1976. 6 pages. View this issue

A panel at JACL Headquarters in San Francisco, sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and JACL, compared discrimination against Jews and Japanese Americans and the stereotypes they shared. JACL national director David Ushio spoke at the forum. Elsewhere in this six-page issue, Senator S.I. Hayakawa criticized young activists for reviving demands for redress and camp plaques, and Edison T. Uno described the Committee for Internment Credit, a group of Nisei federal employees seeking Social Security credit for their World War II incarceration.

Other pages carried a nationwide search for photographs for a Bicentennial exhibit of about 300 images, and a 1000 Club brochure. Bill Hosokawa wrote about tororo soup, and Joe Oyama took on Hollywood’s Asian stereotypes. Reviews covered Michi Weglyn’s book Years of Infamy and a Toshiro Mifune samurai film. Chapter news came from Detroit, Fresno, Washington, D.C. and Livingston-Merced.

What’s in this issue

National

• Forum at JACL HQ compares bias faced by Jews, Japanese Americans, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A panel sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and JACL compared discrimination against Jews and Japanese Americans in San Francisco. Speakers noted shared stereotypes and the failure of assimilation strategies to end bias.
• ‘Japanese in America’ photo display for Bicentennial being organized, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Japanese government and a Nikkei committee launched a nationwide search for photographs for a Bicentennial exhibit of about 300 images. The exhibit will cover Japanese and Japanese American history in the United States.
• CMA ‘payments’ to legislators under inquiry, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating whether ten state legislators who received $1,000 from the California Medical Assn. violated campaign law. The payments were described as honoraria.

JACL

• 1000 Club brochure now available, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL Headquarters announced a new brochure recruiting 1000 Club members, explaining how dues support JACL programs. Brochures for regular memberships are also available.
• Bldg. Fund financial report in brief, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A two-year financial report on the JACL Headquarters Building Fund covered activities through fiscal 1975. Pledges and contributions to date were summarized.
• National JACL board to convene Feb. 13-15 at HQ, by P.C. Staff, page 3. National JACL president Shig Sugiyama scheduled roughly 20 hours for the National Board meeting Feb. 13-15 in San Francisco. Committee progress reports were being submitted in advance.

Community

• L.A. school board list down to ten, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hideko Bannai and Dr. David Lopez-Lee were among ten finalists for a Los Angeles Board of Education vacancy. Sixteen Asian Americans had sought the appointment.
• Washington, D.C. JACL: A Sense of Cultural Heritage, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Washington, D.C. Chapter had a successful year with its Smithsonian Folklife Festival participation and cultural events. Leadership changes and membership efforts were also reported.
• Fresno ALL (JACL) community awareness boosted, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Fresno American Loyalty League began 1976 with lectures, a community dinner, and a Presidential Classroom program selection. The chapter plans a scholarship with the JAYs.
• Gresham-Troutdale JACL landscape Japanese garden, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Gresham-Troutdale JACLers contributed over 800 volunteer hours to build a Japanese garden honoring pioneers at Gresham’s Main Park. The garden was dedicated in September 1975.
• Are Japanese Americans neglected?, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A neighborhood newspaper feature interviewed JACL leaders on topics including the Wendy Yoshimura case and Japanese American identity. The piece was criticized for its portrayal of the community.
• Detroit chapter awards its first $1000 scholarship, by Margaret Watanabe, page 3. Miss Fujii of the University of Michigan, Dearborn, became the Detroit Chapter’s first winner of the $1,000 scholarship. She was recognized for academic achievement and extensive community involvement.
• Metro L.A. to host Feb. 22 PSW quarterly, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Metropolitan L.A. JACL will host the Pacific Southwest District Council quarterly session on Feb. 22 at the Little Tokyo Towers. An initial report from the National Board meeting is expected.
• Japanese figure skating champion bred in Minnesota bound for Olympics, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Cathy Watana, a Japanese senior ladies figure skating champion raised in Minnesota, discussed her Olympic goals. She plans to return to Golden Valley High School after competing.
• Hayakawa critical of WW2 camp issue revival, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Senator S.I. Hayakawa criticized young activists for reviving demands for redress and camp plaques. He argued Japanese Americans are now well integrated into the mainstream.
• North Torrance’s Outstanding Citizen: Kenny Uyeda, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Kenny Uyeda was honored by the North Torrance Lions Club as its Outstanding Citizen. He was recognized for decades of service on civic and planning bodies.
• Fresno ALL community awareness boosted (continued), by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Fresno ALL selected Judy Nishimoto for the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans program. The chapter plans a joint scholarship with the JAYs.
• Washington, D.C. chapter (continued), by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Washington, D.C. Chapter outlined its membership drive and JAY activities. It also noted tickets for the White House arrival ceremony for Emperor Hirohito.
• Sansei study tour to Japan, by Tao Uwate, page 3. Tao Uwate describes his fifteenth annual Sansei study tour to Japan, departing Los Angeles on July 18 via Japan Air Lines. The tour is designed to deepen participants’ connection to their heritage.
• Livingston-Merced JACL installs officers at joint dinner, by K. Wada, page 4. Livingston-Merced JACL and JAYs installed new officers with David Ushio and Gail Nishioka as guest speakers. The chapter outlined 1976 programs including an Issei oral history project.
• Seek rest home for Seattle Nikkei, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Issei Concerns Inc. in Seattle sought a rest home for convalescing Japanese patients and launched a fundraising drive. About 80 Japanese patients were in rest homes in the Puget Sound area.
• Social Security boost for Nikkei, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The San Francisco JACL assisted the Social Security Administration in locating elderly Issei and Nisei interned in WWII camps who may qualify for deemed wage credits. Forms and procedures for applying were explained.
• Cherry Ishimatsu heads Calif. Women for Agriculture, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Cherry Ishimatsu of Coachella was elected first state president of the newly formed California Women for Agriculture. The group plans to address agricultural labor and zoning issues.

Commentary

• Hayashi law scholarship solicitation campaign to start, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Eastern District Council launched a national fundraising campaign for a JACL-Hayashi law scholarship honoring Thomas T. Hayashi. The scholarship aims to encourage Asian Americans to enter the legal profession.
• Editorials: Growth of JACL, by Walter Tsukamoto, page 2. Excerpts from a 1940 speech by then-National JACL president Walter Tsukamoto reflect on the organization’s growth and its commitment to citizenship rights. He pledged JACL would fight to defend those rights.
• Letters: Hilton Hotel case, by Nobuyuki Nakajima, page 2. A reader objected to a racially charged insinuation about Asian Americans admitted in the Yamada v. Hilton case. He also questioned why the jury selection excluded minority members.
• The C.I.C., by Edison T. Uno, page 2. Edison Uno describes meeting the Committee for Internment Credit, a group of Nisei federal employees seeking Social Security credit for WWII incarceration. He praises their efforts led by Toshi Yoshida.
• Tororo, etcetera, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Bill Hosokawa recalls his mother’s tororo soup from childhood and enjoys it again at the home of Kyoko Kita in Denver. He praises Kyoko’s cooking skills.
• Echoes: Just one too many dinosaurs, by Joe Oyama, page 5. Joe Oyama criticizes Hollywood’s Fu Manchu-style Asian stereotypes, using a Peter Ustinov film as an example. He recounts Catherine Okada Robin’s protest and the Civil Rights Commission’s response.

Military & Veterans

• Fujii declines post to chair ’76 PBA open, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Sacramento JACLer Toko Fujii declined to co-chair the 1976 Professional Bowlers Assn. Open despite having co-chaired the first event. He cited commitments to his businesses and bank role.

Arts & Entertainment

• Years of Infamy: The Untold Story of America’s Concentration Camps, by Mary Y. Karasawa, page 6. Michi Weglyn’s book Years of Infamy documents the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans using newly uncovered government records. The review praises its candor and moral force.
• Band of Assassins (Shinsengumi), by Craig Kusabe, page 6. Craig Kusabe reviews Toshiro Mifune’s 100th film, a samurai action picture about the Shinsengumi. He finds it similar to Mifune’s other recent works.
• Michi Weglyn’s Years of Infamy, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Pacific Citizen offers Years of Infamy as a pre-publication book offering with praise from reviewers. Readers can order copies through the PC office.

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