WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG Pearl-in-One Tadd Fujikawa wins the Golden Scribe Pearl Open a month Iris Yamashita turned her hobby after becoming the of writing into gold with 'Letters youngest player to from Iwo Jima.' make the PGA. ENfEKfAINMENT PAGE 9 SPORTS PAGE 7
An Emotional Honor smce1929PACIFIC CITIZEN APA groups honor Norman Mineta.
NATIONAL PAGE 3 The National Publication of the Japanese American Citizens League
N.Y. APA Community· Decries News Report of 'Sic~ening Surprise' in Chinese Food Mouse or chicken meat? New York's CW11 into the hospital and con• was enraged over the story's depic• The APA community says (WPIX-TV) first reported tacted the CW11 News tion of Chinese restaurants and the the CWll's reports are sen• on the story, "Sickening where she appeared on-air news piece's use of "fried mice" as a sationalistic. Surprise," Jan. 29 during its to say she would "never eat word play on "white rice." . 10 p.m. news broadcast Chinese food again." This isn't the first time the news By LYNDA LIN with footage of reporter "The news piece was station has gotten in trouble with the Assistant Editor Chris Glorioso confronting conducted from a preju• APA community. In November an employee of the New diced, biased and unethical 2001, the CWll accused a Korean It looked like it had little paws and Food King restaurant in standpoint. I see it as an restaurant in Flushing of selling dog, a tail, but the identity of the piece of Canarasie, a neighborhood insult to American justice but the story was later unsubstantiat• mystery food found among a New in the Eastern portion of the that says everyone is inno• ed. York patron's order of take-out Brooklyn borough. A cent until proven guilty," The APA restaurant community Chinese food has ignited protests patron had ordered chicken said Steven Wong, 52, a has continued to suffer racial dis• over what Asian Pacific American and broccoli, but was so community activist and crimination because of that 2001 leaders. are calling ethnic stereotyp• convinced a piece of her PHOTO: RICHARD II president of the Chinese story and this more recent story has ing by a local television news .sta• "chicken" was a "mouse" Protesters including Steven Wong (right) Restaurant Alliance. tion. that she checked herself demanded an apology from the CW11 Feb. 4. The APA community See CHINESE FOODlPage 4 A Note of Heartfelt Thanks JACL National Board Announces Budget Surplus, Nomination of New Nat'l Director The organization is in the of approximately ~ Revel/ues.vs. Expenses - YTn + 200712008 black, but is not meeting $128,000, report• . . ··· .-----"'11 revenue expectations. A new . ed JACL JACL National Secretary/ Comparison of Revenues to Expenses leader is nominated, but not ,.... (1996 actual through 2006 acbJaJ 20()6. 2008 budge lSI .L...;===-, I yet .announced. Treasurer Mark Kobayashi at the By LYNDA LIN Feb. 9-10 nation• Assistant Editor al board meeting. But the surplus SAN FRANCISCO-The JACL would actually kicks off 2007 with a continued sur• only be $14,000 plus streak, but national board mem• "' 1000 Club life membership and c.. tury club life membership hao'e PHOTO COURTESY OF HARDWICK FAMILY without the con• skewed the EOY 2006 numbers bers are still cautiously optimistic Susan Hardwick places the note of thanks to the 442nd written by her tributions of "' Long term affects ofthis need to be evaluat~RAPH: MARK KOBAYASHI about the orga.nization's financial and her sister Janet on the JA National Monument in Wash., D.C. 1000 Club and future. Century Club life memberships, a motion to increase, the dues of The Hardwick sisters , again,' and rushed over to take the This is the fourth year in which the which are restricted funds. some lifetime membership cate• piece of paper down before the JACL has a surplus of revenues over always wanted to thank At the June national convention in gories in 2007. Japanese embassy folks he was expenditures with a current surplus the men of the 442nd Phoenix, the national COURcil passed Regiment for saving their escorting on a docent tour of the See NATIONAL BOARDlPage 2 father, Sgt. Bill Hardwick, D.C. monument could see it. during WWII. They final• But with a quick glance down at Fort Lewis Judge Declares Mistrial in ly got their chance. the note, Murakami did not see any racist graffiti but a photo of a smiling 1 st Lt. Ehren Watada's Court-Martial By CAROLINE AOYAGI-STOM man above a handwritten note. It By MELANTIllA MITCHELL in prison if convicted. Executive Editor read: 'Thank you 442 RCT for res• Associated Press Writer However, after discus• cuing our father, Oct. 30, 1944, 1600 The flapping single piece of white sions with lawyers behind hrs. Our father always said you were paper stuck onto one of the granite FORT LEWIS, Wash.--An Army closed doors, the military the only ones who could do it!" walls of the Japanese American lieutenant who refused to go to Iraq judge, Lt. Col. John The letter was signed by Janet National Monument immediately had hoped his court-martial would Head, said he did not Hardwick Brown and Susan caught Dr. Raymond Murakami's end in some sort of resolution. But believe Watada fully Hardwick, daughters of the man in attention one recent blistering the judge's decision to declare a mis• understood a document the photo: Sgt. Bill Hardwick, a January afternoon. trial means the entire case will likely he signed admitting to member of the "Lost Battalion" who 'Dammit,' he thought, be revisited. . elements of the charges. had been rescued by the Japanese 'Someone's defacing the monument On Feb. 7, 1st Lt. Ehren Watada Head announced his American soldiers of the 442nd dur• had been set "to testify in his own decision after the 28- ing World War II. defense against charges of mlssing year-old Watada, under "It brought tears to my eyes," said troop movement and conduct unbe• Protestors show their support outside of questioning with the mili• Murakami, 79, president of the corDing an officer for his statements Fort Lewis. during 1 st Lt. Ehren Watada's tary jury absent, said he See NOTE OF THANKSlPage 12 against the war. He faced four years court martial Feb. 6. See WATADAlPage 6 Students Foster Love Through Mentorship of Adopted Chinese Children By LIANN ISlllZUKA in a typical classroom. Care mentor has a personal co)lllllit• Special to the Pacific Citizen Seated at these long ment. And together, both the chil• tables are a· handful of dren and their older buddies share in WEST LOS ANGELES, Calif.• adopted children from these experiences. Long tables are cluttered with plain China, with their China UCLA's China Care Bruins is an white t-shirts as the ovelWhelming Care Bruins college bud• umbrella organization of the nation• fumes of bright pennanent markers dies on the University of al China Care Foundation, a group fill the air. Marker tops quickly pop California, Los Angeles founded seven years ago by then 16- off their caps from the nimble hands campus. year-old Matt Dalio. Dalio lived in of elementary school children excit• Each smiling young China for a year and wanted to found ed to begin creating imaginative face has a different story an organization dedicated to improv• illustrations on the shirt canvas. and background. Each ing the lives of Chinese orphans. The But this is no ordinary playgroup Adoptee Talya Pray-V"{einstock, 9, colors her t• individual UCLA China shirt at a recent UCLA China Care Bruins event. See CHINA CARElPage 6 2 LEITERS/NATIONAL PACIFIC CITIZEN, F EB. 16-MAR. 1, 2007 Eyen with these obstacles, PACIFIC CmZEN ~ NATIONAL BOARD f'... Kobayashi outlined the keys to suc• 2005 WINNERI (Continued from page 1) .. Closeup 02-06 Endowment Funds NEW AMERICA cess for 2007: It- JACL N ational EndowmeJIt Funds 2001 through 1213112006 QJMEDIA . "This definitely raises some con• • Strengthen program monitoring 6SD,()(JIJ : ....•. ..•. _-_ .•...... ••.•••...•..•....••....••..•• ~ Awards In Writing .A cem going forward as it shows that tools we seem to have had a shortfall in • Stick to the budget plan revenue," said Kobayashi. 'The key • Keep focus and work on projects PACIFIC CITIZEN areas of revenues would be in mem• in the budget
bership, grants andfundraising. We • Get revenue sources for items in .....•.,,:,",. 250 E. First Street, Ste. 301, ::: will need to get membership excel the budget ~ ! ~: - ~~~ Los Angeles, CA. 90012 Tel: 213/620-1767, spreadsheet reports to evaluate • Report variations from the budg• Il1JllfIJ 11131J111 l 1/J//Oj l JfJIII-I IZlJ IIOS 211106 JiJI1D6 !131M 911&.1J6 I M }M J1I1II'H 800/966-6157 where we really came in with et v",, ·~r"'Jlbt" __I F. .. 4 -II-...... »N_ ,,...... -.-M ..../Q,Ji.,software and integrating it in oversee all the endowment funds, three-hour executive session, the JACL President: Larry Oda National President Larry Oda. "We an updated JACL Web site, which reported Ted Tsukahara, !PC chair. national board approved a candidate Interim Nat'l Director: Floyd Moo will need to be mindful with our would include e-commerce. The The national board unanimously for the position vacated by John Pacific Citizen Board of spending until we get a realistic unbudgeted projected cost of adopted this motion and the !PC Tateishi, who suffered a major coro• Directors: Gil Asakawa, chair• assessment of our 2007 situation." approximately $45,000 will be fund- hopes to have a recommendation by nary incident last November. Floyd person; Roger Ozaki, EDC; Lisa Another concern includes the end ed by outside fundraising. the next board meeting. Mori is the current interim executive Hanasono, MDC; Kathy of the Tru-Script prescription drug As of Dec. 31, 2006, the Legacy director.• Ishimoto, CCDC; Nelson Nagai, $6.~ Natio~al NCWNPDC; Sheldon Arakaki, program, for which revenues were Fund is at million, the The Search for Staff PNWDC; Larry Grant, IDC; Ted . tied to the JACL staff's cost of living _ Endowment SIts at $445,444 the Life Members For more info: Namba, PSWDC; Naomi Oren, adjustments this biennium. Trust is at $387,163 and the Reserve Board members are still planning www.jacl.org Youth. r-NEwSiAffoEADLiNE:--' FRIDAY BEFORE DATE ~ette't~ ~e OF ISSUE. to Editor Editorials, news and the opin• Ions expressed by columnists other than the national JACL president or national director Reader Supports Administration. people rule!'" OOR Recommended do not necessarily reflect JACL We, the people, put a new policy. Events and products National JACL's Reading I advertised in the Pacific LetJ -;?t, -;?t04M'a . Congress in Washington. How many I Citizen do not carry the Implicit Position on Watada of us will write to Congress and The recent signing of the Camp : endorsement of the JACL or wwn & Korean War Veteran remind them why we put them Preservation Bill and Emily I this publication. We reserve the From time to time the JACL Roseville, CA . L: ______right to edit articles. ~ I national board is called upon to ren• there? Murase's Feb. 2 Pacific Citizen col• umn, 'The Nisei Legacy," suggest to PACIFIC CmZEN (ISSN: 0030- der decisions upon controversial o 8579) is published semi-monthly subjects. With respect to the nation• ~1~7aK41e me that the Day of Remembrance except once in December and al boiud's recent decision not to sup• Vietnam War Vet Honolulu events ought to include encouraging January by the Japanese port 1st U Ehren Watada's position Supports Watada young people to read "Dear Miss American Citizens League, 250 and its decision to remain neutral on Breed," a book written by Joanne E. Rrst Street, Ste. 301, Los I am a retired· Army officer. I o the subject, the board should be Oppenheim and published by Angeles, CA. 90012 OFFICE served in Vietnam twice. If at that applauded for taking this position. An Historic Oblig~tion Scholastic. HOURS - Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 time I knew that that war Was an ille• John Tateishi's initial statement of p.m. Pacific Time. ©2007. gal war I hope that I would have had The Japanese . expression "yoko The book describes the injustices position reported in July 2006 is the Annual subscription rates: enough guts to refuse to go as 1st Lt. mesht' almost untranslatable, is a Japanese Americans suffered during NON~MEMBERS: proper appraisal and should be 1 year-440, Ehren Watada. We were young and comment on the stress and difficul• World War n. For young people it payable in advance. Additional adhered to. full of testosterone - "war ... the ties many Japanese often have when tells the whole story and this could postage per year - Foreign peri• Had Watada been a civilian, he ultimate game." speaking in a foreign languag!? The accomplish the main purpose of the. odical rate $25; First Class for would have the right to express his U.S., Canada, Mexico: $30; I recently returned from Vietnam national JACL board's decision not Day of Remembrance: Don't let it opinion and promo~ his conscious Airmail to Japan/Europe: $60. after being gone for 38 years. I was to actively support 1st Lt. 'Ehren happen again! upon the public. However, Lt. (Subject to change without extremely lucky to survive myself Watada with words and deeds have JAcommunities and organizations notice.) Periodicals postage paid Watada voluntarily joined the Army let alone the Army. What a crime we similar attributes. want the consequences ofE.O. 9066 at Los Angeles, Calif. and took the oath of allegiance to committed there. We are doing the JACL continues to tilt at wind• brought to the attention of all . Permission: No part of this publi• "support the Constitution of the same thing in Iraq. mills stacked with stupid or ignorant Americans. As a result efforts are cation·may be reproduced with- United States and to protect it from disc jockeys and street signs. At least out express permission of the The only crimin~ in this war is being directed toward school stu- . all enemies within and without." Mr. John Tateishi, the former execu- . publisher. Copying for other than Bush. This has been an illegal war ... dents by working on school cumcu• When Lt. Watada voluntarily personal or internal reference use period! I commend Lt. Watada for tive director, recognized the historic joined the Army, he became subject lum projects. All JACL chapters without the express permission of his bravery and commitment. .If obligation (necessity?) of JACL to to another discipline, and that is have been asked to promote "Dear Pc. is prohibited. there is anything I can do for him I support Lt. Watada. called "military discipline." Being Miss Breed." POSTMASTER: Send address would. changes to: Pacific Citizen, clo an officer himself, he should have &jiS~ JACL National Headquarters, known that all men under his com• ~~~ Ft. Meade, SD 1765 Sutter St., San Francisco, mand are subject to his orders and 'Paed -;?t, 'DauiH Whittier, CA CA94115. that he himself should be subject to Major, Infantry, Retired the orders of his superiors. via email o Without this discipline, we would War is Hell JACL MEMBERS not have an Army. Instead, there o would be "mob" rule, each member 'Here the People Rule' This is simply one person's PACIFIC CITIZEN Change of Address demanding his or her own right of expression. War is Hell. Wars are not action. It is this strict discipline that It is written that after seeing Nixon the answer. 250 E. First Street, Ste 301 If you have moved, Los Angeles, CA 90012 greatly contributed ·to the perform• off to exile and at his own swearing• Everyone, including President phone: 213/620-1767 please send information ance rendered by the l00thl442nd in on Aug. 9, 1974, President Ford George W. Bush, members of his fax: 213/620-1768 e-mail: [email protected] to: Regimental Combat Team's per• said: "My fellow Americans, our Cabinet, Members of Congress and www.pacifi~citizen . org National JACL formance and success in the long national nightmare is over. Our all elected government officials * Except for the J\ll;!tional Director's Report, European Theater of Operation dur• Constitution works. Our greatrepub• news and the views expressed by colum• 1765 Sutter St. should be urged and encouraged to nists do not necessarily reflect JACL policy. ing World War n. lic is a government of laws and not view Clint Eastwood and Steven The columns are the personal opinion of the San Francisco, CA Due to the service and pUblicity of men. Here the people nile." writers. Spielberg's moving, poignant and 'Voices" reflect the active, public discus• rendered by the 100th/442nd in * 94115 Ehren Watada, by his actions, is thought-provoking film, "Letters sion within JACL of a wide range of ideas wwn, the JACL has considerable saying: 'The powers that can stop and issues, though they may not reflect the Allow 6 weeks for address from Iwo Jima." viewpoint of the edijorial board of the Pacific influence in Washington and I'm the unconstitutional war in Iraq are changes. Thank you, Mr. Eastwood and Mr. Citizen. certain with the Bush not doing so. Therefore we, the peo• ~, "Short expressions" on public issues, Spielberg. usually one or two paragraphs, should To avoid interruptions in receiving Administration. I suggest that the ple, must end 'our long national include signature, address and daytime your P.c., please notify your pa;t• JACL members who agree that this nightmare' in Iraq and make our ph6ne number. Because of space limita• master to include peIiodicals in war in Iraq is "illegal and unjusti• Constitution work and prove that . ~?etjita tions, letters are subject to abridgement. Although we are unable to print all the letters your change of address (USPS fied" should direct their influence to 'our great republic is a govemment Kensington, CA we receive, we appreciate the interest and Forrn3575) Washington, D.C. and the Bush of laws and not of men. Here the views of those who take the time to send us their comments. PACIFIC CITIZEN F EB. I6-MAR. 1 2007 NATIONAL NEWS 3 House Approves Bainbridge Island Internment Memorial House -Passes Resolutions to By ASSOCIATED PRESS Hayashida, now 96 and living _ Create Nat'l DOR, Remember • in Seattle, testified last A~seri1bly WASHINGTON-The House September abOut the day she and Pinedale Center has approved a long-delayed plan to her infant daughter, Natalie, were By Pacific Cruzen Staff the late Congressman Bob Matsui designate a spot on Bainbridge taken from their home at gun• went to Pinedale and ''fought against Island, Wash. - where hundreds of point and imprisoned under pres• The U.S. House of the odds and rose to be a great leader Japanese Americans were once idential order. Representatives voted to remember in this nation." forced from their homes on the way Hayashida, a slight, soft-spo• a somber part; in American history "By remembering where Japanese to prison camps -:- as a national his• ken woman who wore a bright Feb. 12 by unanimously passing two Americans were detained, we ensure toric site. yellow lei during her testimony, bills geared towards creating a that this sad episode in our history In March 1942, 227 JAs were told the committee that the day national Day of Remembrance and will never be forgotten and never forced from their homes under order she was taken into custody was recognizing the historical signifI• repeated," said Congressman David of President Franklin D. Roosevelt the saddest of her life. A photo on· cance of the ·Pinedale and marched to the Eagledale Ferry display at the Smithsonian Assembly Center in Fresno, Dock, on their way to internment Institution shows a solemn Calif. camps in Idaho and Californla. . Hayashida holding her sleeping HR 122 recognizes the sig• The men, women and children - daughter in her arms. Both are nifIcance of the signing of two-thirds of them US. citizens -- wearing tags identifying them ·as Executive Order 9066 by were the fIrst of what eventually prisoners. President Franklin D. became more than 120,000 Hayashida's husband had been Roosevelt. This Feb. 19 Americans of .Japanese ancestry . taken into custody earlier, fol• marks the 65th anniversary of imprisoned on the West Coast during lowing the Japanese attack on the signirig. The resolution World War IT. Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. also suppo.rts the goals of the On Feb. 6 the House unanimously "I don't want it to happen Japanese American, German approved a bill to make the former again for- anyone," Hayashida American, and Italian Eagledale dock and a memorial told The Associated Press. "I'm · American-communities in recogniz• Wu, who voted for both bills. under construction there part of the just glad I got to comehere; since ing a National Day of Remembrance The Pinedale Assembly Center national park system. The site would I'm still living. No one else is old _ to increase public awareness of Memorial Project Committee will be a satellite of the Minidoka enough to know what hap• World War IT atrocities. establish a memorial that educates Internment National Monument pened." "For those who have experienced the community about this tragedy in Idaho, one of two U.S. internment Under Roosevelt's order, the internment camps firsthand, as I American hi·story. The JACL Central camps that now have national-park Bainbridge Island residents of did, the Day of Remembrance serves California District Council co-spon• sors this committee as well as the designation. Japanese ancestry were removed as a day to educate the public about the lessons learned from the intern• Central California · Nikkei Democratic Rep, Jay Inslee, who from their homes by the US. ment and provides an opporttinity Foundation. lives on Bainbridge Island, spon• Army and marched to the for all people to reflect on the impor• "By preserving the Pinedale sored the bill, which he has pushed Japanese American residents of Eagledale dock, where they 8aindridge Island, Wash. make their way tance of justice and civil liberties Assembly Center story we hope to for nearly fIve years. boarded a ferry to Seattle. out on evacuation day in 1942. during times of uncertaiilty," said' teach a lesson in history, that it takes "Congress took a strong stand From there, they were taken Congressman Mike Honda, who ·people to ensure 'justice for all.' The today by making the Nidoto Nai by train to Manzanar, a remote whose district includes the existing introduced the resolution. Constitution alone does not guaran• Yoni Memorial part of our national camp in Califomia's Mojave Desert. monument in Jerome County in HR 109 recognizes the historical tee perfection. Rather, it is the duty heritage - let it not happen again," Most were later transferred to the southern· Idaho. significance of. the Pinedale -of each generation 'to strive to form said Inslee, citing the memorial's Minidoka Relocation Center. In all, The measure builds on a measure Assembly Center, the reporting site a more perfect union' for ourselves Japanese name and motto. nearly 13,000 Washington state resi• Inslee sponsored last year, an effort for 4,823 JAs during WWlI. The res- and for the ake of our children," ''This victory has been a long time dents were incarcerated without trial. that was boo ted la t fall when a intr uc y aid Judge Dale eda, a resno coming," lnslee said. "My con• Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., is Fumiko Hayashida - described as Congressman Jim Costa, who said JACL member. • stituents - survivors, their families the oldest living Bainbridge Island leading efforts for a similar bill in the and friends - have been waiting for survivor - appeared before a House Senate.• decades." committee to urge Congress to Heart Mountain Officially Inslee's bill was co-sponsored by include the Bainbridge site in the For more information: DeSignated Nafl s ric Lan Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, national park system. http://www. bijac.org. of HistO becom~· " " Nati:onal , ,,'~ POWEtLl } Wyo"~~e Heart Lan~. · . f 'Mountain Relocation Center has. Foundation Curator LiiDonna .1 officially been designated as a. Za1l said the debignation makes I National Historic Landmark. the site eligible for,a number of ' The center between PQwe~ >_ and grantS and awards.. j Cody h.. oused Ja:p~se Amep:ans" .. 0 ....•.Th ~ . '... sites .Ii ted on the· National. . " :.:*-..ice. • i .:::" JACL Opposes Attorney General's .For a short time you can Challenge of Habeas Corpus By Pacific Citizen Staff incorrect in his logic and his opin• ReEL ir:t ana 525% » ion is counter to centuries of APY interest rate. The JACL is criticizing the recent accepted law regarding habeas . comments by Attorney General corpus. His logic would mean that Alberto Gonzales that challenged the Constitution does not guaran• the right to habeas corpus, an inher• tee basic rights outlined therein ent privilege of every American but simply prevents Congress under the Constitution. from passing laws that would At a Jan. 17 Senate Judiciary remove these rights that are not Committee hearing, Gonzales said explicitly enumerated as rights," that the right to challenge one's said Floyd Mori, interim national imprisonment in federal court is not JACL director. protected by the Constitution. The right to habeas corpus was at ''The Constitution doesn't say the core of the WWlI incarceration every individual in the United States of 120,000 Japanese Americans, or citizen is hereby granted or mostly. US. citizens. For lAs, the assured the right of habeas corpus. It mass incarceration was executed doesn't say that. It simply says the • without any due process and wrong• The Nationat'UACL Cl8ditUnion right shall not be suspended except ly resulted in the detainment of 800-544-882& • 801 ..J24-JACL ~5225} in cases of rebelli~)ll or invasion," American citizens without the opportunity to challenge the legali~ ~""~00de:~ said Gonzales at the hearing, "Attorney General Gonzales is of their detainment. • 4 NATIONAL NEWS PACIFIC CITIZEN, FEB. 16-MAR. 1, 2007 National Newsbytes 'The reporter here acted as the judge and jury. ' By P.e. Staff and Associated Press Robertson Says Too Much Plastic Surgery Results,in 'Oriental' Eyes 'CW11 stands behind the VIRGINIA BEACH, . ' VA.• accuracy of this news Christian Broadcasting Ne~ork's Pat report, and believes the Robertson is drawing criticism for his. story provides no basis for anti-Asian remark on the Feb. 7 legitimate controversy, , "The 700 Club" show. said CW11 management Robertson said that people who in a statement. have; received too much plastic sur• gery "got the eyes . like they're Wong (left) confronted Oriental" while he put his fingers up CW11 reporter Chris to the side of his face. Glorioso during the Feb. 4 This isn't Robertson's first offense. He has called Islam a "Christian protest. Another rally is heresy" and said that "Jewish people" are ~'very thrifty" and "extraordinarily planned Feb. 26 . • good business people." PHOTO: RICHARD LI CHINESE FOO"D · the test of. the specim.en is not Extra! -----( u.S. Lawmakers Introduce House Resolution Urging licensed - an allegation that the (Continued from page 1) See the protest video at Japan to Apologize to WWII 'Comfort Women' CWll calls untnie. www.pacificcitizen.org WASHINGTON-U.S. lawmakers have introduced a nonbinding resolu• fueled fue fire, said Wong. The fall• In a statement, the CWll' said tion demanding that Japan apologize.to thousands of so-called comfort out has been felt nationwide. Since Ameritech is a reputable laborato• women the Japanese army used as sex slaves during World War II. fue piece aired, Wong said he's heard ry used by many other news stations removed the videos citing a "copy• The 'resolution, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Mike Honda, Republican from restaurant owners from as far and media organizations. right claim by WPIX, Inc.," but fue Rep. Christopher Smith and others, calls for Japan's prime minister to "for• as Georgia complaining that people "CWll stands behind the accura• protest viqeo remains online. !TIal1y acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility in a clear don't want to order chicken wifu rice cy of this news report, and believes Sara Markt, deputy press secretary and unequivocal manner" for the women's ordeal. anymore. the story provides no basis for legiti• with fue New York City Department In the report, Glorioso also asked mate controversy," the news organi• of Health and Mental Hygiene, said Disputed JA Autobiography to Stay · several customers outside the restau• zation said in the statement. "CWll that in a Feb. 2 inspection of the New HONOLULU-A Soufu Korean consulate offi• rant what the morsel in question met with Councilman John Liu and Food King, the restaurant passed cer agrees it's okay for Hawaii schools to keep looked like and all responded that it representatives from The inspection. copies of an autobiography his government t1}inks . was a deep-fried mouse. CWll aired Organization of Chinese Americans, "We found·no evidence of vermin distorts the history of the Japanese colonial occupa• a follow-up report Jan. 31 wifu a ~who continued to question fue intent infestation," said Markt. tion of Korea. biologist from Ameritecl1. of our story and the perceived effect '''The news report has destroyed The Department of Education haS decided not to Laboratories confirming the piece in on the Asian community. We re• their business," said Yong, who con• remove "So Far from fue Bamboo Grove'.' by JA question was "likely a mouse or rat." iterated that this was not an ethnic firmed that legal action would be author) Yoke> Kaw 'Secret Asian Man' Gets Syndicated United Features Syndicate has picked up Tak Toyoshima's comic stOp "Secret As!an Man" as its newest feature for daily syndication. This makes "Secret Asian Man" the first daily American comic strip featuring an Asian lead character. " "Secret Asian Man" is a comic strip about the minority experience and a celebration of diversity. The official launch date is May 7 - just in time for Asian American heritage month. Since 1947 lee Is Appoinfed to Taxpayer Advocacy Panel The JACL Health Trust Sansei Merijane Lee of Portola Valley, Calif. was reCently selected by the Treasury Department to serve on the nationwide Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Has offered Health Care (TAP), whose mission is to help improve IRS customer service Coverage to Lee is one of 95-plus volunteers selected as panel members. She was JACL Members selected chair of TAP's ad-hoc committee, which focuses on improving IRS pUblications and forms, and supporting the IRS multilingual initiative. To protect you and your family from even the Member of Sen. Inouye's Staff to Represent Hawaii common accidents and illnesses the JACL Health at the National Cherry Blossom Festival Trust provides Blue Cross of California health A member of Sen. Daniel K. Inouye's insurance coverage. Blue Cross of California has Washington staff, Erin Masui, has been selected by been providing health coverage to Californians for . fue Hawaii State Society of Washington, D.C., to over 66 years. Blue Cross is committed to keeping represent Hawaii dUring this year's National Cherry you connected to quality health care services. Blossom Festival. Masui, 23, serves as Inouye's legislative corre• To learn more abouHhe plan and how to become a spondent and staff assistant. She is fue daughter of member ple~se call the JACL Health Trust Stanford and Doretta Masui, and was bom and at 1-877-848-4875. raised in Honolulu .• . PACIFIC CITIZEN FEB. 16-MAR. 1,2007 . COMMUNITY NEWS 5 JACL Leaders Meet with Director- ' JACL, APIA Community Pay Tribute to Mineta General of Jap@nese Consular Affairs The JACL, together with other Asian Pacific Islander American organizations and the Smithsonian, paid tribute to former Sec. of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta Feb. 6 at the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C. Mineta and his wife, Deni, were greeted by former colleagues in Congress - including Sen. Daniel Inouye and Congressman Mike Honda regents of the Smithsonian, and the hundreds of APIA community members whom he had affected during his years in public service. Mineta was instrumental in form• ing several national organizations PHOTO: EMILY MITARAI that work on behalf of the APIA Former Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta has an emotion• community in Washington, D.C;. al moment during his speech at the Smithsonian tribute dinner.. PHOTO COURTESY OF FLOYD SHIMOMURA Mineta was also the key Congress~onal A top official f~om the Japanese Foreign Ministry met with driving force in the "Norm has always inspired and mentor to many of us here and he motivated all of us to go beyond our National JACL President Larry ada and Floyd Shimomura, chair passage of the Civil Liberties Act of always goes beyond the call of duty 1988, which provided redress and an own 'expectations," said JACL of JACL:s U.S.-Japan Education Committee, in San Francisco and service to develop a personal apology to surviving World War IT Interim Executive 'Director Floyd connection with all whom he touch• recently to discuss a proposed change in Japan's consular policy intemees. Mori at the event. "He has been the es." • toward persons of Japanese ancestry living overseas, including Nikkei in the United States. Yasuaki Tanizaki, director-general of the consular · affairs Tri.Yalley JACL Installs New Leaders bl,lreau, said that he was proposing the expansion of his Bureau's programs beyond Japanese nationals to include programs for Nikkei. ada (left) presented Tanizaki (center) with the book, "Paving the Road to Opportunity," a photographic history of the JACL, and Shimomura (right) presented a copy of the Pacific Citizen. • ,aJueShiehd ofCalifQmia. A? li1depet1dentM~l?,er The Tri-Valley JACL and San' Benito County celebrated the installation of their 2007 officers and board members-at a recent luncheon held at the San Juan Oaks Golf Course in Hollister, Calif. OVer 100 members and friends attended including retired Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Joseph F. Biarfore, Jr., who administered the oath of office. Pictured above: (I-r) National JACL President Larry ada, Interim National JACL Director Floyd Mori, Judge Biafore, Wastonville-Santa Cruz JACL President Marcia Hashimoto, Mark Tamura of Gilroy and Kurt Kurasaki of San Benito County.• Who's Who in Asian American Communities Committee Accepting Nominations for 2nd Annual Gala The Who's Who in Asian The WWAAC Committee's mis• Pacific Islander American American Communities (WWAAC) sion is to champion the achieve• Scholarship Fund (APISF), which Committee is now accepting nomi• ments of successful Asians in the . distributes scholarships to qualified nations of potential honorees for the community and publicize their fust-year undergraduate college, July 21 second annual WWAAC achievements in the "Who's Who in university, and vocational school Gala honoring 50 outstanding Asian Asian American Communities" pub• students .• Americans in 10 Southeastern states lication. The second edition will be (Georgia, Florida, Alabama, - released at the WWAAC Gala in For more infonnation about nomi• Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Atlanta, Georgia. nation requirements visit the North and South Carolina, VIrginia. A portion of the proceeds from the WWAAC section at www.sachiko• and West VIrginia). gala will be donated to the Asian & to. com Arizona Hosts Teacher Training Workshop Health Plans for Co"lifornio ACL 'Members Call the JACL Health Benefits Administrators at 1.800.400.6633 The Arizona JACL along with the Arizona Historical SOCiety Museum and the National JACL Education Committee hosted the 10th Annual Teachers Workshop, 'What it Means to be an American" Feb. 3 at the " or visit Arizona Historical Society Museum in Tempe. Seventeen local high school teachers participated in the workshop, which included a panelist who relat• www.jaclhealth.org Japanese AmafitM ed the Japanese American WWII experience to the post Sept. i 1th experience of Arab Americans. Cl!izen'~ League Picture above: (I-r) Kaye Sugiyama, Mas Inoshita and Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser.• 6 NATIONAL NEWS PACIFIC CITIZEN, F EB, 16-MAR, 1, 2007 CHINA CARE Lo went on an emotional trip to one fundraising marathon in Boston, of China's poorest provinces where teaching calligraphy at bimonthly (Continued from page 1) she cared for many physically mentorship playgroups in North fIrst China Care club was formed at handicapped children. Carolina, or traveling to China to Harvard University in 2003, "I can still smell the need, I can intern at an orphanage, college stu• Program participants from 6-13 still hear the need," said Lo, 22, dents in China Care clubs attest years old "see young people in lead• who is a fourth-year international their experiences are truly inspiring. ership positions," and interact with development studies and ~ public First-year college student and college students on a big university policy major at UCLA. Duke University China Care club campus to build "positive identity Sitting on rusted "potty chairs," participantJun Hu, 19, draws a con• development," said Jeri Okamoto physically handicapped Chinese nection with her involvement to her Floyd, an adoptive mother of two youngsters struggling with ailing professional goals. daughters, conditions such as spina bifida and "My career goal is to become a China Care Clubs provide young cerebral palsy can be found at pediatrician and I know that· students with the opportunity to orphanages in the Hunan Province orphans will be the target group," involve themselves in multifaceted of China. said Hu. programs that support young Most of these children are dis• Especially affected are the fami• adoptees and their families, covered abandoned in market• lies who actually participate in the The mentorship programs are not places, left by parents who could mentorship programs. UCLA's only an important means of guid• not afford to care for them. One China Care dub partners with the ance for Chines.e orphans, but they child, an eight-year-old girl, was Families with Children from China are also tools to help children in mute and unable to walk, said Lo. (FCC) - Southern California "recognizing role models" - in It was that summer experience Chapter t~ invite children to share particular, Asian PacifIc American that inspired Lo, who is a fIrst gen• in activities that teach them to role models. eration Chinese American, to tum appreciate their heritage and identi• There are currently 17 active col• her concern for improving the lives ty. lege clubs across the nation, includ• of Chinese orphans into action, by "It's very exciting that there are ing one at McGill University in founding the fIrst China Care club programs like this that involve Montreal, Canada. China Care on the West Coast in 2005 at young people ... its.mission has so clubs have expanded to the elemen• UCLA. many facets including mentorship tary school level to provide mentor• For Kevin Xu, current president programs," said Floyd, who is also ship programs for families of adopt• of China Care at Brown University, president of the Southern California ed children and fInancial support PHOTO: P. e. Sli'-FF being involved in this club is a per• FCC. for medical surgeries in China's Juggler Ryan Langton, 23, teaches Talya Pray-Weinstock (center), sonal responsibility. Floyd's ll-year-old daughter reg• orphanages. nine, and other adopted children from China how to juggle at a recent The children that participate in ularly tags along to almost all FCC In the summer of 2004, Stephanie UCLA China Care Bruins event. . . . the program are "coming to a world meetings and her oldest daughter that's strange to them and they have tells her the China Care mentorship WATADA said Feb. 7. "I don't know how I can If that motion is not granted, he never been there before," he said. program is her favorite activity. accept (it) as we stand here now." plans to appeal. (Continued from page 1) . In its second year as a club, China "I want children in third-world Because much of the Army's evi• "Our hope is, at this point, that the . Care Brown has raised over countries to know that there are never intended to admit he had a dence was laid out in the document, Army will realize that this case is a $90,000 from their annual benefIt people around the world that think . duty to go to Iraq with his fellow rejecting it would hurt its case, Head' hopeless mess," Seitz said. di~ner in 2006. The money helped about them," said Lac Tran, public• soldiers - one element of the crime acknowledged. He then granted the An Army official disagreed with to sponsor needed medical surger• ity coordinator for China Care of missing movement. prosecutors' request for a mistrial, Seitz's interpretation. ies for orphans and has helped place Bruins. Watada told the judge he under• which Watada's lawyer opposed. Lt. Col. Robert Resnick of the over 30 orphans with loving foster Tran said it's all about spreading stood what he had signed but was Head di s mi sse ~ the jurors and set Judge Advocate General's office at families in America. In 2005, four compassion for those children not admitting guilt since he believed a March 19 date for a new trial. The Fort Lewis said double jeopardy summer interns journeyed to the whose "future is so undecided." • he still had a defense - that the war prosecution had rested but the does not apply. Resnick also said the Weifang Orphanage and gave the was illegal. defense had not yet presented any Army was not upset with the mistri• facility a new dryer, diapers, and ''I'm not seeing we have a meet• witnesses. al declaration, adding, "We would various materials that were in vital For more information: ing of the minds here," the judge Watada's defense lawyer, Eric not want this case to go forward if need, said Xu. http://Chinacare.org said. "And if there is not a meeting Seitz, objected to the mistrial and there was a question of fairness." Whether it's organizing a http://www.socalfcc.org of the minds, there's not a contract." said a second trial would amount to Prosecutors h~ve said. Watada II 1 1$ It t ~ Last month, Watada signed a 12- double jeopardy - more than one abandoned his soldiers and brought YAMATOTRAVELBUREAU® prosecution for the same alleged disgrace upon himself and the serv• page stipulation of fact in which he (CST No. 1019309-10) 1"iW/:t:g.mYr.III:t'i< acknowledged he did not go to Iraq crime. ice by accusing the Army of war ....rAa~$w. At a news conference later Feb. 7, crimes and denouncing the Bush with his unit, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd TOURS & CRUISES FOR 2007 Infantry Division, last June. He also SeitZ contended that double jeop• administration for conducting an 3130-419 Yamato Art & Culture Tour of Japan· 11 days visiting Tokyo, A1amVHakoneIMt. Fuji, Takayama, acknowledged making public state• ardy applies either when a jury is illegal war founded on lies. Naoshima, including one nigh1 al the Be!1esse House, Takamatsu and Kyoto. Mike Yokura ments criticizing the Iraq war, which impaneled or when the flfSt witness Seitz contends Watada acted in April17-30 Yamato Tour From the Alps to Dubrovnik with Collette Vacations -14 days visiting Zagreb, Opatija, Postojna, l.ipica, ladar, SpI~ , Dubrovnik, Korcula, PIi1vice, Bled, Salzburg. Sharon Seto he believes to be illegal. testifIes - both of which occurred good conscience, based on his own June 21-28 Yamato London & Paris Tour with Collette Vacations· 8 days, 3 nights London, 3 nights In exchange, prosecutors dropped in this trial. convictions. Paris, including sigh1seeing in eaoh city, 2 theater performances in London, Euros1ar train from London to two charges of conduct unbecoming "My professional opinion is that Aiter concluding the Iraq war was Paris, evening Seine River cruise and dinner/cabaret show in Paris. WAfTLfST BASIS ONLY an officer, and agreed to proceed to Lt. Watada cannot be tried again illegal, Watada asked to take a com• Peggy Mikuni because of the effect of double jeop• July 4-16 Yamato Summer Tour to Japan 14 days visiting Tokyo, Hakone, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, trial on the remaining charges. bat post in Afghanistan or else• Hiroshima. Peggy Mikuni To prove a charge of missing ardy," Seitz said. Should the Army where. The Army refused those Sept. 9-14 Yamato Southwest Spectacular. 6 days motorcoach tour from LA to Mesquite (vis Las Vegas), movement, the prosecutors needed proceed with a second trial, Seitz requests, along with Watada's Cedar Breaks National Mooument, Bryce & Zoo CArryons, Grand Canyon (North Rim), cruise on Lake Powell Pink Jeep Tour in Sedona and laughfHl. Phillipe Theriautt to show that Watada did not report said his fIrst motion would be to request that he be allowed to resign. Sept. 16-26 Yamato New England: Islands & Mountains with Collette Vacations -10 days visiting seek dismissal of the charges with . Watada then made several pub• when he had a duty to do so. Hyamis, Cape Cod, ProvincetO'M1, Martha's Vineyard, Lincoln (New Hampshire), Cruise lake Wmpesaukee "I see there is an inconsistency in prejudice, so they could not be lic appearances to denounce the Woodstock, Danvers, Salem and Boston. Sharon Seto the stipulation of fact," the judge reflled. war.• Oct. 4-11 Yamato Albuquerquue Balloon Festival Tour - 8 days visiting Roswell UFO Museum, CaIsbad Caverns, WMe Sands National Monumnet, AI!Jl.querque Balloon Festival mass ascensOO, cable car to Scandia Peak, Taos, Durango (Colorado) to boa'" the Narrow Gauge Railway to Silverton, Mesa Verde National Park and Gallup. Philippe Therialt JACL Monterey.Chapter -11 10115-10125 Yamato Halian Treasures with Globus days visiting Rome, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Siena, Florence, Verona, V9I1ice, Ravenna, Assisi and Orvieto. Grace Sakamoto Celebrates Diamond Anniversary 10130-11/13 Yamato Deluxe Autumn Tour to Japan -15 days visiting Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Hiroshima, Yonago, Kyoto and Tokyo. Peggy Mikuni The' Monterey Peninsula JACL Nov. 8-18 Yamato Tour to Okinawa & Japan - 11 days ~ting Naha, Manza Beach, Kagosl>ma, Kunamoto, N agasa ~ , FuI • HARRY HONDA • • EMILY MITARAI· V ERY TRULY YOURS Learning About Family History Through An Inspection Tour of J'ACL Questions Chapter Websit~s received 'a grant from a mentor• prise, a general store within camp. EVERAL STORIEs in the there?) on its welcome of five page. I ing program at Brigham Young I would've never known about Srecent Pacific Citizen Holiday pages. For another slant on "Shikata 18. Seattle (www.jacIseattle.org), University to research how my.auntie's memory as a little girl Issue and the banner ga Nai," it's here. Online editor: a pioneer chapter, features newslet• internment camps call be preserved peaking out from the shutters of a "relaunching" P. C. s Web site can Kevin Nobuo Nakano. ters and past issues from their from the perspective of the transport train and watching a JA be the next arena to learn what's 8. Hoosier (Indiana understood) archive. Online editor: Ryan Japanese Americans who went to woman standing on the platform happening inside JACL national (www.hoosieIjacl.org) is created Minato. camp. In interviews, I usually ask, while handing out coats from a and chapters. Chapter histories and maintained by Nancy Nakano 19. Sonoma County (www.sono• "Did you talk about your experi• wicker basket to people traveling alone do much for these Web sites. Conner. macojacl.org) (I thought) had the ences with your family, children, or from sunny California to Last November, this survey 9. Houston (www.jacl• most beautiful welcome page, peer• personal acquaintances?" A few Wyoming's coldest winter. checked the national JACL's web• houston.org) provides a wealth of ing across the landscape and cherry said they have chosen to speak out I would've never heard about the page (www.jacl.org) to see how news and pictures. Mas Yamasaki, blossoms. about their experiences to educate funeral services of a WWI veteran, many chapters had Web sites. There nicknamed "'~aisho," asserts the 20. South Bay (www.southbayja• the community on the internment of appointed by the governor of are 25. It's been an "inspection birth ofthe chapter happened in cl.org) describes its demographics JAs during World War n, but most Wyoming to serve on the draft tour" one sees on the Internet. Dayton, Ohio, replete with names .and territory it covers in Los said they don't speak up because no board, who died within the walls of 1. Arizona (www.azjacl.org) has of Nisei who relocated from the Angeles County. The Web site is one really asks them questions camp just after he attended a meet• a bold home page when you sign camps. Online editor: HiraSaki. supported by a grant from the about their experiences. ing at the United Services on. The last sentence could state the 10. Idaho Falls (www. if.jacl.org) California Civil Liberties Public . I never asked my grandma about Organization (USO). He received next convention will be in Salt Lake is "coming soon" (as oflast Feb. 9). Education Program. her experiences at Heart Mountain. full honors at the funeral services City in 2008. 11.Japap(wwwJacljapancha~ 21. Southeast (www.jaclsouth• held in Heart Mountain. Growing up with grandma in our 2. Berkeley (www.berkeley ter.org) highlights the invitation to east.org), erstwhile Georgia JACL, Generations of people who can home, I had the privilege to watch . jacl.org) welcomes with a photo of its monthly "Hello Cocktailsl" is indeed "unique and diverse," as it her mingle with her study group of remember their firsthand experi• Cal Taiko, recipients from chapter 12. Las Vegas (www.lvjacl.org), proclaims. neighborhood widows, write a ences in camp are dwindling. This grant committee, plus eight more from its all-blue home page, has 13 22. St. Louis (www.stlouis thoughtful card for every occasion, year, six members of my family links of news, programs, events, sections for review. Unique is the' jacl.org) announced Barack read books and newspapers at the passed away, three of whom went gallery, about, resources, contact section carrying a page for individ• Obama's book, "Dreams from My kitchen counter or water the rows of to Heart Mountain. With a quick and join. Online editor: Valerie ual "sponsorship." Father," on the next chapter agenda vegetables in the backyard. Google search we can tour muse• Yasukochi. 13. New York (www.nyjacl.org) plus a sidebar with Chapter Whether attending a sporting ums like the Smithsonian's "A 3. Chicago keeps track of visitors and shows a President Wendy Roll's message. event or watching a television More Perfect Union." Through (www.jaclchicago.org) expresses its number. This survey was clocked 23. Ventura County (www.vcja• broadcast, grandma always sang the interviewing educators, nurses, a . "rnission and vision" statement on "4062" last Dec. 15 and "4224" cl.org) anchors its ~ome page and national anthem proudly, with con• judge, a graphic designer, and other its homepage. Chapter history Feb. 8. No other chapter Web site its history written by onetime viction. By going q4ietly to Heart individuals, I feel an increasing comes in four parts: Inception, has this feature. national JACL president Harry Mountain, she showed loyalty to respon~ibility to document their ' - National Collabomtion, Local, and 14. Philadelphia (home. earth• Kajiliara. her country. I knew going to Heart experiences. Toward the Future. Fetchingly, link.net/-philajacl) leads first with 24. Watsonvillc-Santa Cruz Mountain proved to be an integral . In the Fourth Genre, essayist its next chapter function (in this (www. watsonvillesantacruz.jacl.org part in my family's migration from Brett Lott discusses "our respon..si• "links" ends with a job finder and case, the New Year party last ), starts with a "charter," not the Califomia to Utah, but I never bility as human beings to answer design your own t-shirts. 4. Cleveland (www.lkwdpl.orgl month). A five-page chap.ter history legal document; but a clear mission of her time spent in Wyoming. government felt this responsibility jacl) is a presentation of the begins with a glimpse of Issei activ• statement of the chapter president. Why didn't I ask? Did she when they. hired photographer Lakewood Public Library, glamor• ities from 1900. Their monthly newsletters are assume I would leam on my own? Dorothea Lange to document the ized by a front page filled with 15. Portland (www.pdxjacl.org) archived. Did I hesitate to ask her questions evacuation of JAs in 1942. thumbnail pictures of chapter sports a new welcome page, asking: 25. Wisconsin (www.wijacl. because I thought the experiences Although the government impound• events. One can spend days here 'Are your civil rights at risk?' A dis• googlepages.com) posts "what's were too painful to remember? ed the photographs, in the last few with "WRA Photo Collection" that tinguished panel will explore the news" on its home page. Yet more Grandma passed away last year years over 800 pictures have been other chapter links do .not show. topic Feb. 17 ·at Portland State tempting is their Gadget & Games at the age of 97. released. Some of them include my 5. Den.ver (www.milehijacl.org) University. section. Trying to make JA women talk grandparents, Henry and Helen is truly up-to-date with a welcome 16. San Jose (www.sanjose The Internet has a great stack of about themselves is like attempting Mitarai. headlining upcoming events and a jacl.org) stressed, in a timely man• links about JACL and Japanese to eat a bowl of ramen with a Like the wake of water trailing sidebar of past events. Students of ner, the scholarships, local and Americans. But outstanding is the spoon. You know there is a lot in off of a boat, I continue to explore Japanese art will appreciate the link national, on its home page. Web site CSU Sacramento template of 106 the bowl, but you can only gather my family's adventures through to the Ruth & Sherman Lee sponsors are national JACL, individuals videotaped for oral his• one or two strands of the good stuff photographs, personal accounts, and Institute in Denver. NCWNPDC, NikkeiWest and tory and "summarized" for the at a time. interviews to follow tlle migrations 6. Diablo Valley design'market. Japanese American Archival This past year I interviewed four of my family to understand the (www.dvjacl.org), hosted by Our 17 San Mateo (www.sanmateoja• Collection library.csus.edulcollec• of my aunties and one great auntie responsibility to my family and the Friends at Silicon Connection, cl.org) (unlisted on national JACL's tionsijaac;/oralhist. Incorporated are who were all interned at Heart community around me. • serves central and east Contra Costa Web site) introduces itself and its Caucasians who worked at the Mountain. Had I not asked them County. You'll agree their colloquial chapter history on the welcome WRAcamps. • questions, I would have never Emily Mitarai is a member of the name (where is Diablo.Valley?) is leamed about the postmaster who Mt. Olympus JACL She is currently demystified. kindly purchased goods outside of interning at the JACL in the 7. Florin (www.fiorinjacl.com) NCI Program Accepting Applications camp for a girl in her 20s who Washington, D. C. office for a shows its railroad station (is it still Applications for the 2007 Nikkei worked at the community enter- semester. Community Internship (NCI) are currently being accepted for -D£SP(TE THE WEATHER, prospective interns and organiza• THAT'S QUITE A FEW VISITORS tions. DOWN THE RE. Applicants must be 18 years old by the start of the program, have a ·THEY ARE/SfR, PRESIDENTIAL strong interest in community work CANDIDATES FOR 2008 .. . and a desire to develop leadership skills. The deadline is March 16. The 2007 NCI program will run from June 23-Aug. 17 with the goal of providing cultural exposure and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking development to the next generation Corporation Qlobal Foundation, the of community leaders in Japanese Union Bank of California American communities. Foundation, and other sponsors, the Intems will receive an educational NCl program is coordinated by tlle stipend of up to $2,000 to spend four Little Tokyo Service Center in Los ----- days a week working on Nikkei Angeles and the Japanese community projects and one day in Community Youth Council in San cultural training and leadership Francisco .• development activities. 5HOULP I ASK AE:lOUT THE PATRlaTtS The NCI program is in its sixth For more infonnation and an appli• ACT I1(:Rf? year, with 64 interns and 14 J A com• cation, visit www.nikkeiyouth.org or munity groups in Los Angeles and contact Geoffrey Tsudama at the the Bay Area as past participants. Little Tokyo Service Center 213/473- Funded through grants from the 1687 or [email protected]. PACIFIC CITIZEN, FEB. 16-~. 1, 2007 ENIERTAINMENT Iris Yamashita went from web programmer to Oscar contender with 'Letters from Iwo lima. ' By LYNDA LIN Assistant Editor ing, outlining and writing the stories he story just keeps getting better of the courageous men who lost their - a web programmer originally lives trying to protect the smali T island south of Japan. Lt. Gen. Tadamichi Kuribayashi was leg• from Missouri pens a screenplay about endary for strength and valor, but from research Yamashita discovered Japan on the eve of World War II, wins an award, and . his softer side in letters 'he wrote to his family before the war when he gets summont(d to meet with one of Hollywood's most. spent time in the U.S. "It was striking to realize the high• .powerful screenwriters. est commander wa'l a gentle loving father writing these cute letten. to his In a Warner BrotHers office during better medium because there are less son," she said. their second meeting, Iris Yamashita pages and more white space so I In "Letters," a baker yearns to see listened in disbelief as Paul Haggis could actually finish!" said his newborn daughter while a gener• ("Crash" 2004) offered her the Yamashita. al straps mines to his body and hides opportunity to work on a feature She took screenplay-writing class• among dead bodies to blow up an length project later titled "Letters es and wrote short stories including ~erican tank, but as . days go 1->/ from ]wo lima," the Japanese lan• "Professor Hosokawa's Books" and without a tank, the general decidcs to guage companion film to Clint a screenplay called "Traveler in live. It was a true story YaI\ !Shita Eastwood's "Flags of Our Father." Tokyo," which was inspired by her carne across in her research anu "had It was the first m~or project for mother Kayoko's experience fleeing to put in the ftlm." Yamashita, a Shin Nisei, so she wait• from her burning house in prewar Working on the mm has also left a ed for a contract before quitting her Japan. It is also the screenplay that personal resonance on Yarna'ltuta. day job.. paved the way to meeting Eastwood. "It certainly made me think a lot In "Letters," Yama~hita's story about how ... we're trying twfind about Japanese troops on the black Writing 'Letters' better and more efficient way& to kill sand island gives a voice to charac• The Battle oflwo Jima devastated each other," she said. ters usually relegated to stock·silent the Japanese forces - only 1,100 roles. In her world, the warrio.rs of survived out of 22,000. To date, war are also loving fathers and sons. about 12,000 soldiers remain unac• Honoring the Past, Then early one JJlOming in counted. IaXamasruta's family, she Celebrating the Future January, Yamashita received news experienced both sides of war - she When Yamashita began ~ Titing that she was nominated for an had one uncle who fought with the '"Letters," she was nervous about Academy Award. Japanese and another uncle who dishonoring the fallen soldien. and "It's been incredibly amazing. I'm fought with the Americans in the their descendents, but Haggis, who feeling Qver the moon," she said in a Korean War - so the writer who shaI\CS writing credit, had advice. telephone interview days before speaks conversational Japanese "He said I should really be think• attending the Academy's luncheon, a began telling the other side of a ing about writing a good story." tradition. to honor aIL the nominees. WWIIstory. "Letters" has won many fans Of course the seductive idea of hold• "When we started [with 'Letters'], including veterans and veteran fami• ing a golden Oscar statuette isn't far my agent and I didn't have a clear lies who approach Yamashitd with from her mind, but she knows what's idea of what the project was. When touching stories. going to happen if her name is we heard 'companion movie,' we Her father Tsuyoshi has Sl'en the called. thought it was something that was movie and seems to like it, but "I'll probably cry:" going to come out on the DVD, so expresses it in a traditional Japanese when Paul Haggis said it was com• manner, The Writer Within ing out in theater I said, 'Oh you "He's. not very expressive, ;)ut he Nisei Cadet Nurse of World War IT: Yamashita received her first diary mean in the U.S.?''' said Yamashita wanted to see it again," said at age eight. The blank pages tickled with a laugh. Yamashita, who is close to inking a Patriotism in Spite of Prejudice her mind and her first entry was in At that time, the studio didn't have deal with work on another historical the first person, but from the point of a ' director locked down and screenplay.• By Thelma Robinson view of someone from another time Yamashita was told they were look• period. She minored in writing while ing for a Japanese director, but.when The 79th .Annual Academy Awards From Japanese• earning a master's degree in engi- she heard Eastwood was on board, will take place Feb. 25 American Internment . neering at the University of she thought, "Oh good people might Camps to the US. California, Berkeley and started see the film!" The critical acclaim For more info: Cadet Nurse Corps, writing novels that never had end• and the Oscar nod were icing on the http://www.oscar.com/ ings. cake, she said. http://i wojimathemovie. warner• This is the story of "I thought screenplays would be a Yamashita spent months r~search- bros.com Nisei cadet nurses - M of their experiences in SECRET ASIAN MAN: Tak ·'WWN. secretasianman.com· <02007 Tak wretched camps, of people who risked public scorn to support Japanese Americans, of prejudiCial difficulties ~PYaA3i in entering nursing schools, and of a o 0 government that .--....-- .... reversed its policy against a people of Japanese descent. www.cadetnurse.com ------ORDER FORM: $22.50 + $3.00 s/h NAME: ____------______~------ ADDRESS: ______ CITY: ______STATE: ______ZIP: ______ Mail to: Black Swan Mill Press, 2525 Arapahoe Ave., Suite E4, PMB '534, Boulder, CO 80302 10 CALENDAR PACIFIC CITIZEN, FEB. 16-MAR. 1, 2007 Frizzell, a teacher who taught music. and drama to students at Manzanar Calendar High School; a panel discussion featur• ing Manzanar high alumni will share National their experiences; included on the WASHINGTON, D.C. panel is former State Assemblyman Wed., Sept. 12-Gala Dinner, "A George Nakano. Info: 31Onf9-2364. Salute to Champions Gal~ Dinner"; J.w. Marriott Hotel; $200/person, Arizona $2,OOO/table of 10; honorees will be" GLENDALE given awards for their work in champi• Sun., April I-JACL Annual Picnic; oning the goals and efforts of the civil 10-4 p.m.; Saguaro Ranch Park, 8900 rights community. Info: 2021223-1240 N. 59th Ave.; food, games for the kids, or [email protected]. bingo, volleyball and caricature artist East Jeff West. Info: Kathy Ikeda, 480/649- PHlLADELPIllA 1946. Sat., Mar. 17-60th Anniversary Hawai Graduate Recognition/Installation HONOLULU Luncheon; noon-3 p.m.; Maggiano's Mar. 3-June I-Exhibition, Italian Restaurant, 205 Mall Blvd., "Navigating Cultural ·Connections: King of Prussia; guest speaker, Philip Hokule'a's Voyage to Japan"; gallery Tajitsu Nash, JD, professor of Asian hours: Tues.-Sat., 10-4 p.m.; Japanese American Studies, University of Cultural Center of Hawai'i Maryland; $35/members, $40/non• Community Gallery, First Floor; exhi• members, $20/students. Info: Scott PHOTO COURTESY OF JANM bition explores the historical and ciIl.• Nakamura, 610/878-2237 or Toshi Bid farewell to the Ansel Adams exhibit at the Japanese American National Museum by catching a screen• tural connections between Hawai'i Abe, 609/683-9489. ing of 'Farewelll to Manzanar' Feb. 18 in l:os Angeles' Little Tokyo. and Japan. Info: 808/945-7633 or PJldwest . www.jcch.com. bers. Info: 559/222-2986. 0XN.ARD Ishihara. Info: Irene Ogata, 9511485- CmCAGO Fri., Mar. 16-Film Screening, "From - Sun., Feb. ll-Ventura County JACL 7212 or [email protected] or Dolly Sun., Feb. 2S-Inaugural JACL Nevada Silk Cocoon"; CSU Fresno Leon Board Installation; 11:30 a.m.; Ogata, 951/684-7962. RENO Celebration; noon; Colletti's Fine Peters Education Center Auditorium; . TORRANCE Sun., Mar. 25-Reno JACL Teriyaki Dining, 5707 N. Central Ave.; $50 per Residence Inn by Marriott at River discussion with writer/director Satsuki Scholarship Dinner; Washoe County person. Info: Midwest JACL office, Ridge, 2101 W Vineyard Ave.; $27 per Fri., Mar. 9--Greater LA Singles Ina follows screening. Info: 559/434- person; guest speaker, Wynne Benti, meeting/program; 8 p.m.; Faith United Senior Center. Info: Sheldon Ihara, 773n28-7171. 1662. editor of Spotted Dog !Jess, Inc. edi• Methodist Church, 2115 W. 182nd St.; 747-3886. CLEVELAND HANFORD tion of "Born Free and Equal". Info: Dr. Ray Imatani will present . his Sat., Mar. 24-0ne-Day Food and Through Mar. 17-Exhibit, ''The Brazl Rummage Sale; Cleveland Buddhist Anne Chilcott, 805/492-0146 or vcja• ''Rwanda Mission" about his experi• Beauty of Sharing: Twelve Collectors' SAO PAULO Temple, 1573 E. 214th SI. Info: [email protected] ences working in Rwanda for two Visions of Japanese Art"; 1-5 p.m. July 18-21--COPANI XIV, PANA 216/692-1509 . weeks. Info: Louise, 310/327-3169. Tues.-Sat.; The Ruth and Sherman Lee RIVERSIDE Convention; Hotel Blue ' Tree SPRINGDALE, Ohio Institute for Japanese Art, 15770 Tenth Sat., Feb. 24-Riverside JACL VENICE Convention Ibirapuera; convention Sun., Feb. ls.-.:cincinnatilDayton Ave. fufo: 559/582-4915 or www.sher• Annual Installation Luncheon; 12:30 Sun., Mar. IS-Film screening, highlights include: welcome ceremo• JACL Chapter Installation Dinner; 4 manleeinstitute.org. p.m.; Riverside Golf Club, 1011 North "Music Man of Manzanar"; 1-3 p.m.; ny, workshops, day trip to Registro p.m social hour, 5:30 p.m. dinner; LIVINGSTON-MERCED Orange St.; $20 per person; special Venice Japanese Community Center, City, Japanese Festival and sayonara Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, 11975 Thurs.-Sat., Feb. 15-17-Nisei . musical performance by Hamo 12448 Braddock Dr.; Hie story of Lou party.• Northwest Blvd.; $29 per person. Monologues, stories about Japan~se PaciFIC Northwest American internment; 7 p.m.; Golden ELK GROVE TQYOTAISCION Avoid the Terri Schiavo Mess "confections that win affections" Valley High School Auditorium, 2121 Download an Advance Health Care Directive PORTI..AND 9640 Stockton Blvd. BENKYODO CO. E. Childs Ave.; created by the drama w. Free of Chan:e on le&albrid&e.com Through Feb. _ 25-Exhibit, "What Elk Grove, CA 95757 department of Golden Valley High 1747 Buchanan Street Remains: Art Quilts and Poetry on RON NAKANO San Francisco, CA 94115 School under the direction of Crystal Sales Manager Japane e Americans in Internment Th0m~~ ~ncl \"nciatc~ (415) 922-1244 Langley. Info: 209/385-8080. ~~243·3613 '" Shigckuni Camps"; Oregon Nikkei Legacy 1 AttllIIlC), ATTENTION: Purchasers of Livedoor Co. securities between August 1, 2003 and April 14, 2006. We are currently investigating ' DREIERLLP allegations of securities law violations by Livedoor Co. and several of its ATTORNEYS AT LAW senior officers, related to Livedoor Co.'s collapse. If you purchased 499 Park Avenue Livedoor securities during the period identified above and have informa• tion that is relevant to our investigation, or if you would like additional 707 East Temple Street New York, NY 10022 Gerald Fukui information concerning the securities cla!ms presently being investigat• Los Angeles, CA 90012 President Los Angeles Albany Stamford ed, please contact attorney Bruce Bernstein by telephone at 212-652- Ph. 2131626-0441 3817, or via e-mail at:[email protected]. Fax 2131617-2781 12 NATIONAL NEWS ' PACIFIC CITIZEN, FEB. I6-MAR. 1, 2007 NOTE OF THANKS "We've always had a strong feel• ing of gratitude, a sentimental jour• (Continued from page 1) ney for what those fellows did for Janet (left) and Susan our dad. We wanted to make a spe• National Japanese American Hardwick thanked the 442nd Memorial Foundation and a fonner cial effort to find and visit the memo• member of the U.S. Army's rial," said Susan, 61. a real estate RCT on behalf of their late Occupation Forces. "It was a very broker living in Indiana. "It was our father Bill, pictured below with emotional thing for me." number one goal." wife Pat. He immediately photocopied the This past Christmas while visiting letter and passed it around to his fel• Janet's son in Northern VIrginia, the low vets at a Japanese American Hardwick sisters set out Dec. 27 to Veterans Association meeting later visit the Monument in downtown that same week. The note's wann D.C. They toured the site, read the message soon had many of the Nisei panels, and took photos. men tearing up. "At the time there was no way to "I was very touched that children make a statement. We wanted to let of Lost Battalion men would visit someone know we were there. That the Japanese American Memorial to we cared and we wanted to thank Patriotism in Washington, D.C .... to them," said Susan. That's when she leave a warm and caring note of came up with the idea to leave their thanks for saving their father," said note. ones who could save them." tell her father's stories to her chil• touched the veter• Terry Shima, a 442nd veteran and The trip to the D.C. monument Bill often told his family about dren and grandchildren. "It would . ans but their children too. JAVA executive director. "I am in also fulfilled a longstanding wish of being stranded in the Vosges have been a travesty if he hadn't "I am so very touched arid heart• 'touch with the children of at least their father's who had always want• Mountains for a week after several come home." ened by the Hardwick Sisters' sin• six Lost Battalion men and they all ed to locate the men of the 442nd. failed rescue attempts; of seeing the cere efforts to locate 442nd RCI have said, 'if it weren't for the coura• Unfortunately, Bill passed away of men of the 442nd battle their way up Coming Full Circle Japanese American soldiers, who geous 'Japanese Americans we cancer in 1973 at the young age of the hill to fight off the Gennans; and In January 2006 Janet and Susan• participated in rescuing 'The Lost would not be here today. '" 51 before he could pass on his mes• of finally being rescued by the hero• lost their mother Pat. Shortly after Battalion,' especially since my dad sage' of tharlks. Now his daughters ic JA soldiers. He also told them the funeral Janet and Susan were suffered near mortal wounds during A Journey of Two Sisters are speaking for him. about sharing a cigarette with one of going through their mother's old that campaign," said Carol Akiyama. Since the Hardwick sisters had left "We were fulfilling a wish of our those JA soldiers on that desolate things'when they found some photo daughter of 442nd vet Mickey no phone numbers or e-mails on dad's. It was always his dream to mountain, a man ·whose name he albums and their dad's wartime jour• Makio Akiyama. "On behalf of their their note of thanks, the JA vets were find them," said Janet. "And we regretted never finding out. nal. Memories of the 442nd seemed remarkable father and families, the at first hard pressed to locate them. were fulfilling a wish of mine. To "Our father would tell us how [the to jump off the pages and it was at Hardwick sisters have lovingly But soon they realized these were thank them for what they did so our 442nd] kept fighting until they that moment the sisters began their expressed words of heartfelt appreci• the same two sisters who had recent• father could come home." reached him ... of how grateful he journey to locate the JA vets_ ation' for which my dad and I are ly contacted some of the 442nd vets . was to them," said Janet. "He said "Our mom always talked senti• grateful." via e-mail. ' The Rescue of Sgt. Bill there was no success until the 442nd mentally about those guys (the In the summer of 2008 the sisters "We have been on a quest to fmd Hardwick came." 442nd)," said Susan. are planning to attend the final the veterans of the 442nd," said Janet was just two years old when Although injured during the bat• The flfSt 442nd veteran the sisters reunion of the 442nd veterans in Janet, 64, who spoke to the Pacific her father set off to fight in the tles of WWII, Sgt. Bill Hardwick were able to fmd was John Hayashi. Honolulu. They hope to be abl~ tc Citizen ' from her home in North Vosges Mou]ltains during WWII. did come home to his sweetheart Pat His name had appeared in a local fmally convey their thank-yous in Carolina. And like many military men, her with whom he would enjoy a 30- newspaper article and after some . person. Since this past surniner both Janet father Bill spoke little of his wartime plus year marriage. He would also digging, Janet found a John Hayashi "It has been a really wonderful and Susan have used the power of experiences upon his return, ex~ept go on to have a long career in public in a local directory and decided to experience for both of u," aid the Internet to locate members of the for one particular story. service, ultimately serving as a state give him a call. It turned out to be the Susan, adding with a smile, "I think 442nd Regiment and send messages "My father spoke sparingly of the legislator in his hometown of person they were looking for and [our dad] probably knows what's of thanks. But they wanted to do war but one story he told often was Indiana. Hayashi soon put the sisters in touch going on." • more than send e-rnails and that's about the 442nd," said Janet. "He "If it wasn't for the 442nd we with other 442nd vets. when they learned about the' JA always believed the 442nd .. . were would never have known [our The Hardwick sisters' efforts to For more information: ational Monwnent in D.C. pi y re only dad]," said Janet, who continues to thank the JA soldiers have not only www.njarnf.com, www.javadc.org So/OAPR 100% Financing on New Cars • 100% Financing on -Used Cars • Borrow up to $50,000 N 0-Fee Auto' Loans New or Used Cars .. New Cars: Up to 5 years 100% ofpurchase pricf1 Used Cars: Up to 4 years 100% of high Blue Book EQUAL HOUSING LENDER *OAC DOES NOT INCLUDE: Tax, License, & Extended Warranties **This offer not valid to existing car loans with the credit union ***Hybrid Cars Additional .2.5%APR off _e.o. __.us __ National JACL Credit Union (800) 544-8828