4 DEC. 3 - 16, 2020 • REGIONAL/NATIONAL • Students step into WWII CSU faculty administrators at odds over incarceration through ethnic studies requirement By MICHAEL BURKE colleges to offer ethnic studies The chancellor’s office ar- role-playing game EdSource to those students. That would gues that it would not make California State University be a significant financial bur- sense to give campuses au- took another step Nov. 17 to- den to those colleges, many of tonomy for implementing AB ward requiring students to which don’t currently offer any 1460. take an ethnic studies class ethnic studies classes. “Unlike a campus require- as part of their lower-division The CSU chancellor’s of- ment, a system requirement coursework, a move that fice says it is still finalizing the must be consistent across the would also have significant implementation plan for the 23 campuses,” Alison Wrynn, implications for the state’s 115 new class and has not officially CSU’s associate vice-chancel- degree-granting community determined that it will be a lor of academic programs, said colleges. lower-division class. However, during the Nov. 17 meeting. During the 23-campus sys- Michael Uhlenkamp, a spokes- If the class is indeed imple- tem’s Board of Trustees meet- man for the chancellor’s of- mented as a lower-division ing Nov. 17, the educational fice, said in a statement to requirement, it would create policy committee voted 9-2 to EdSource that “it is our prefer- significant costs for the state’s make a minor amendment to ence to have the requirement community colleges that offer a policy approved in July that be a lower-level” requirement. associate degrees. would have required students “We are hoping to have Under that plan, the class IN THE ROLE OF A NISEI TEEN — Mission US’ latest game, to take a course in ethnic stud- that guidance to share with would become part of CSU’s “Prisoner in My Homeland,” asks players to take on the role of ies or a class with a social jus- the campuses in the next few general education require- Henry Tanaka, a typical Japanese American teenager during the war. courtesy of THIRTEEN Productions LLC tice component. weeks,” he added. ments. Students who transfer To comply with AB 1460, a CSU faculty groups want to a CSU campus from com- new law requiring students to individual campuses to have munity college as part of the By TOMO HIRAI “So I knew about this fund- take a class in ethnic studies, greater flexibility over how to Associate Degree for Trans- Nichi Bei Weekly ing opportunity and the light the amended policy stipulates implement the requirement fer pathway are required to What would a 16-year-old bulb went off in my head. May- that students must complete and do not want to restrict complete those requirements do today if they were labeled be they could fund a Mission the requirement by taking a students to taking the class at community college. About “the enemy” and incarcerated about this topic,” she said. class in one of four ethnic stud- in their lower-division course- 14,000 students transferred to in the California desert? “Pris- Chen pulled together a team ies disciplines: Native Ameri- work. a CSU campus on that path- oner in My Homeland,” a free of advisers mainly comprised can studies, African American CSU’s Academic Senate, way this fall. educational role-playing game of Nikkei history scholars. She studies, Asian American stud- the official body representing Aisha Lowe, the community released online Sept. 14 asks also traveled to Washington to ies or Latina and Latino stud- faculty on system-wide issues, college system’s vice-chan- students just that, by having meet with the Bainbridge Island ies. A class deemed to have a last week passed a resolution cellor of educational services them take on the role of Henry Japanese American community social justice component that urging the Board of Trustees and support, previously told Tanaka, a fictional teenager and down to California to meet falls outside those disciplines and the chancellor’s office to EdSource that it would cost up from Bainbridge Island, an is- with the Manzanar Committee would not fulfill the require- revise the proposal and es- to $45 million in new spend- land located west of Seattle. to do research. Along the way, ment. tablish that the requirement ing for the system to offer the Produced by THIRTEEN, Densho: The Japanese Ameri- The board did not make re- could be met as an upper- or required courses to those stu- a New York-based PBS studio can Legacy Project and Martha visions to the policy requested lower-division class. dents. owned by WNET, “Prisoner in Nakagawa reviewed the game by faculty, who want greater CSU’s Council on Eth- Most of that spending would My Homeland” joins five other to ensure accuracy. control over implementing the nic Studies, which laid the be to hire new faculty. Lowe games aimed at middle school Nakagawa, author and re- new requirement. groundwork for AB 1460, also estimated that about 40 col- students focusing on major searcher at the University of Faculty groups called on took that position, as did the leges currently do not offer moments in American history California, Los Angeles’ Jack the board to establish that California Faculty Association, any ethnic studies classes, and from the eyes of a teen. and Aiko Herzig Papers, Col- the class could be fulfilled as the union representing faculty said that those that do will like- According to Michelle Chen, lection and the university’s either an upper- or lower-divi- across the system. ly need to offer more of those the game’s senior producer, the Asian American Studies Cen- sion course, but the trustees “We are looking to the CSU classes to satisfy all students. Mission US games were devel- ter’s Suyama Project, said she did not take that step on Nov. Board of Trustees ... to exer- The law goes into effect be- oped following a nationwide spent a few years working with 17. cise its oversight of the Chan- ginning with students gradu- survey of middle school social Chen and her team, and had Now, students are likely to cellor’s Office and demand ating from CSU in 2025. That studies teachers to determine fun doing so. She thinks the be required to complete the freestanding graduation re- means that students who en- which pivotal moments of his- game offers a good introduc- class in the first half of their quirement, allowing upper or ter college next fall will be the tory to focus on. tion to the wartime incarcera- coursework. Because many lower division Ethnic Studies first class subjected to the re- Tanaka’s story, however, dif- tion experience for students. students take those lower- courses,” Kenneth Monteiro, quirement. For those students fers from the other five games Nakagawa said she offered division classes at community the former dean of San Fran- to be able to complete the the studio produced, as it fea- her advice on how Nikkei from college before receiving an cisco State’s College of Ethnic requirement by their second tures a teenager who is slightly Terminal Island in Los Angeles associate degree and transfer- Studies, said in a statement. year of college, the community older than the other protago- would speak, as well as how the ring to CSU as part of a special- Monteiro is also the chair of college system would need to nists. Nisei would have spoken with ized pathway, it would shift the the CSU Council on Ethnic have the ethnic studies classes “The other missions really their Issei parents. responsibility to community Studies. available by Fall 2022. cover core curriculum topics She also said she advised like … the Boston Massacre,” Chen on how the so-called Chen said. “This one is perhaps loyalty questionnaire should S.F. Board of Supervisors approve speed reduction a topic that not necessarily all be framed in the game. The teachers would teach in a lot of questionnaire asked wartime By DEREK TAHARA speed limits citywide under Francisco Examiner reported. depth in the middle school his- inmates about their willing- Nichi Bei Weekly their existing authority, and to The District 5 supervisor used tory classroom.” ness to serve in the U.S. armed At the City and County of implement coordinated traffic the loophole to push the SFM- Chen, a Taiwanese Ameri- forces of the United States, San Francisco’s Land Use and signal timing to reduce vehicle TA “to reduce the speed limit can from Brooklyn, New York, and whether they would swear Transportation committee’s speeds citywide,” the Board of to 25 miles per hour on three said she briefly learned about their unqualified allegiance to Nov. 9 virtual meeting, Super- Supervisors’ meeting minutes segments of Geary Boulevard the wartime incarceration in the U.S. and forswear their al- visors Aaron Peskin, Dean said. The bill will reduce the near senior centers — a 10 mile school, but later gained a more legiance to the Japanese Em- Preston and Ahsha Safai rec- speed limit between Geary and per hour decrease from their in-depth education from her peror. ommended a speed reduction Gough Streets, where pedes- original standard,” the San Japanese American husband, “The staff did a good job bill. trian Mark Berman was killed Francisco Examiner said. Konrad Aderer. Chen co- changing how the loyalty ques- It was approved unanimously by an oncoming car in August, The affected areas of the produced “Resistance at Tule tionnaire was presented to the by the city’s Board of Supervi- KPIX 5 reported. legislation include “Geary Lake” with Aderer, and in doing player,” she said. “It wasn’t our sors Nov. 10. Preston took advantage of a between Laguna and Gough so, learned about the National community that really should The San Francisco Munici- state law loophole that allows streets, Geary between Steiner Park Service’s Japanese Ameri- be a proving our loyalty. It was pal Transportation Agency cities to set their own speed and Scott streets and Geary be- can Confinement Sites grant will “implement a proactive limit guidelines near schools tween Baker and St. Joseph’s” program. (continued on page 15) approach for reducing posted and senior centers, the San Avenue, KPIX 5 reported.
4 Nichi Bei Weekly | DEC. 3 - 16, 2020 • NICHI BEI WEEKLY • DEC. 3 - 16, 2020 15 FROM PAGE EIGHT: The Story of Japanese FROM PAGE FOURTEEN: Takakeisho wins Emperor’s Cup strong resolve in the playoff Kakuryu before the meet, while with injury since his ozeki debut American Food: Evolution by adaptation and stuck to his tried-and-tested ozeki Asanoyama and Shodai in May last year. “This result One example is Colorado- noted that one book of reci- techniques. Hitting hard and low pulled out in the early stages. makes me very happy. Ever The championship is Taka- since I was promoted to ozeki, made Karami, a salsa originally pes from the JANM collection from the jump, he denied Ter- unofuji a belt grip before pushing keisho’s first captured while not many good things have hap- made by farmers using green made some traditional dishes him back and out. fighting from sumo’s second- pened to me.” chile instead of seaweed for a with new world touches. “The ingredients, you know, aren’t Takakeisho had carried the highest rank. He won his maiden The runner-up finish contin- savory okazu, or side dish. Emperor’s Cup at the 2018 Ky- ues a remarkable comeback necessarily Japanese — they mantle of title favorite as the high- Matsumoto also showed est-ranked wrestler left at the ushu Grand Tournament as a story for 28-year-old former ozeki included Worcestershire a variety of Japanese Ameri- tournament, which was moved komusubi. Terunofuji, who won the July sauce,” she said. can cookbooks, noting that to Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan “I couldn’t have won by myself. tournament in his return to the all immigrant communities Sometimes, the diversity from its usual home in Fukuoka I was able to achieve this thanks top flight following multiple knee passed along their recipes was forced by improvisation. to limit the spread of the novel to my stablemaster Chiganoura, surgeries and a long climb back in cookbooks, but Japanese Hayashi said that when she coronavirus. his wife, and all the people that from sumo’s fifth division. The Americans were downright in- tried to replicate some of her Injuries forced the withdrawal support me at the stable,” said 173-kilogram (381-pound)wres- dustrious in their number and grandmother’s recipes from of grand champions Hakuho and Takakeisho, who has struggled tler picked up Technique Prize. variety, published by church- a Wesley United Methodist es, temples, and community Church cookbook in San Jo- organizations. se’s Japantown, she was con- FROM PAGE FOURTEEN: SoftBank Hawks win 4th straight Japan Series She pointed out that by the founded by the fact that the said. “But Yanagita hit a home frame and Yomiuri captain Hay- outfielder connected on the 1960s, the need to help San- ingredients were listed but run right away and that imme- ato Sakamoto followed with an first pitch he saw from Giants sei who may have lost some without measurements. diately changed the mood on RBI double to get the visitors on right-hander Seishu Hatake and of their roots was reflected in “And so it was really inter- the bench, the players’ energy the board first. bombed a low forkball into the diagrams (how to make a sushi esting to hear family members changed and created an atmo- But Yanagita promptly turned right field stands. roll) and explanations of some chime in on their memories of sphere that enabled us to keep it around in the bottom of the Kai extended the Hawks’ lead cultural traditions. my grandma making these dif- going.” inning with a two-run go-ahead to 4-1 in the second with a two- Following Matsumoto’s ferent recipes.” In stark contrast to Nov. 24’s blast. The Hawks’ slugging out, two-run blast. talk, JANM Director of Collec- Ultimately, the takeaway near no-hitter, the Giants’ bats tions Management and Access from this event was that Japa- came alive early on Nov. 25 and Curator Kristen Hayashi nese American food, whether against Hawks veteran left-hand- shared some of the museum’s by design or accident, has al- er Tsuyoshi Wada. collection of pre-war era pho- ways been a work in progress. Akihiro Wakabayashi hit a tographs and artifacts, includ- As Matsumoto put it, “Japa- leadoff double in the opening ing a sushi mold, daikon oroshi nese American food is much grater and mochitsuki kine more diverse than we often FROM PAGE TWO: (mallet for pounding mochi). think.” JANM’s photographic ar- Peace of the world chives include images of im- The next event in the “A Taste her the mental power to not give migrants eating at picnics and of Home” series, focusing on up hope. Soon after, her family family celebrations, as well as celebration food including Os- found her and she was reunited early restaurants that served hogatsu, will be Dec. 13 at 2 with Rev. Fumio. Her appearance both Japanese and American p.m. PST. Registration is free: had been damaged by the effects dishes (and chop suey). She http://ow.ly/j0aw50CyxI1. of the bomb and her parents were shocked. However, Rev. Fumio said, “I am not shocked by her change in looks. I am just so FROM PAGE FOUR: Students step into WWII grateful and joyful to have found incarceration through role-playing game her alive and to be reunited with Now in Print AND Digital! her.” basically the white elected scope and you can’t obviously They got married and went to the Konko seminary school to male officials that were not cover everything. … There were • 28 Biweekly issues per year become Konko ministers. When (Digital delivery guaranteed) loyal to the Constitution, and 120,000 people that were in the • FREE Wall Calendar camps, and we can’t tell all their the opportunity was presented to I think that needed to come • Special invitations to events stories,” Chen said. go to San Francisco, they moved through.” • Keep yourself connected to the Nikkei community! Chen said the topic of the The game was released two from Japan, and the Rev. Fumio wartime incarceration is “always months ago. Chen said some Matsui became the third head timely,” but recognized that 20,000 unique visitors have minister of the Konko Church of I N ONLINE San Francisco. finishing the game this year was looked at the game, but said www.nichibei.org/subscribe apt, with the rise of anti-Asian students typically learn about The Matsuis contributed a lot to the growth of the church, and discrimination in the United World War II later in the school RATE EAR E ER HI T E ONE States as a result of the pandemic year and anticipated more in turn, positively impacted the and other issues of racism. students, teachers and parents wider Japanese and Japanese PREMIUM ..... Print AND Digital Edition “In all of our missions, we do will check out the game as the American community in the Bay (includes digital archives) Area. I am grateful that they were try to draw connections between school year goes on. blessed to witness and survive PRINT ...... Print Edition ONLY these historical moments and With so many children the challenges of war so that they what’s happening in young attending school from home, DIGITAL ...... Digital Edition ONLY Chen thinks more students than were able to share these lessons peoples’ lives today … to really “Nichi Bei Foundation” ever will have an opportunity with us. I hope through remem- please make checks payable to make history, and the study bering this suffering, we can to learn through Mission US of history, more engaging and work to prevent war and violent PURCHASER’S INFORMATION: meaningful,” Chen said. games. confrontations in the future. Let NA E The game puts the wartime “The games in general have us work first on our own relation- incarceration experience in been used by more than 3 million ships with our family members, A RE context of the larger issues with users and 100,000 teachers, so I friends and communities so that IT TATE I also hope that even if a teacher anti-Japanese racism Nikkei this positive cooperation can HONE E AIL faced prior to the war, as well might not have chosen to teach spread to a global scale. as the various perspectives this topic or done it in much IS THIS A GIFT?: GIFT RECIPIENT’S INFORMATION: Japanese Americans held about detail, if they’re already using Rev. Masato Kawahatsu is a their incarceration. Mission US, they might be more minister at the Konko Church of NA E While exploring these motivated to include this game San Francisco and Konko Center A RE broader themes, Chen said the in their curriculum,” Chen said. of South San Francisco, who teach- IT TATE I “Prisoner in My Homeland” game also incorporates smaller es shodo (Japanese calligraphy). HONE E AIL moments to breathe life into the and its associated teaching guide He can be reached at konkosf2@ experiences. materials are available free. For sbcglobal.net or (415) 517-5563. Send payment to: Nichi Bei Foundation “I think, the challenge with more information on the game The views expressed in the preced- P.O. Box 15693, San Francisco, CA 94115 the game, or with any of these and other Mission US games, ing column are not necessarily games, is that you have a limited visit, https://www.mission-us.org. those of the Nichi Bei Weekly.
DEC. 3 - 16, 2020 | Nichi Bei Weekly 15