The NATIONAL NEWSPAPER of the JACL

>> pg 3 HIV/AIDS Part 3: APA subgroups struggle with disease

pg 4 pg 5 pg 9 FEATURE IN-DEPTH ENTERTAINMENT Fundraising efforts seek JACL national board ‘Cheezburger’ icon Ben land and a new home for makes deep cuts to Huh chats memes and a Topaz Musuem. balance budgets. new reality show.

# 3189 / VOL. 154, No. 9 ISSN: 0030-8579 WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG MAY 18 - MAY 31, 2012 2 May 18-31, 2012 LETTERS/COMMENTARY PACIFIC CITIZEN PACIFIC CITIZEN A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE how to reach us E-mail: [email protected] I always enjoy reading the Pacific Citizen and keep a copy in my wait- Online: www.pacificcitizen.org ing room here in Denver, Colorado. Tel: (213) 620-1767 Letters In the April 6 issue, the article on the San Francisco redistricting col- Fax: (213) 620-1768 Mail: 250 E. First Street, Suite 301 laboration especially caught my eye. My senior year of high school Los Angeles, CA 90012 (‘74), I was able to do an independent study project to visit several of to the Staff the Asian American youth groups in San Francisco. JCYC (Japanese Executive Editor Editor Community Youth Council) served as my base as I met with groups also Caroline Y. Aoyagi-Stom in Chinatown and the Filipino community. Even then, I learned that the Assistant Editor Japanese American and African American communities collaborated for Lynda Lin WELCOME TO THE 2012 JACL their shared concerns. Reporter So the walk down memory lane reminded me of the continued strug- Nalea J. Ko NATIONAL CONVENTION gles of our communities. Business Manager I would like to welcome Staci Hisayasu Jane Kano, MD you to the JACL national Denver, CO Circulation convention this July 5 to 8. Eva Lau-Ting

I also welcome you to the The Pacific Citizennewspaper Pacific Northwest District. (ISSN: 0030-8579) is published July is usually a very pleas- RE: PRISCILLA OUCHIDA, OUR NEW semi-monthly (except once in De- ant month — not too hot or cember and January) by the Japa- nese American Citizens League, not too cold — but I can’t JACL NATIONAL DIRECTOR Pacific Citizen, guarantee that it will not 250 E. 1st Street, Suite 301, Los rain. Our congratulations and best wishes for being the first woman nation- Angeles, CA 90012 Periodical postage paid at L.A., CA I understand that the Hy- al director of the JACL. We look forward to making the transition of the POSTMASTER: send address att Regency Hotel in Bellevue, Washington is a very nice hotel. I trust organization from “old-timers” to a new forward looking, progressive changes to National JACL, 1765 the accommodations will be very pleasant for you all. civil rights organization. Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115 On behalf of all the chapter members of the Pacific Northwest Dis- Priscilla Ouchida has done much to promote a greater cultural under- JACL President: David Kawamoto trict, may I welcome you all. Have a good meeting, enjoy your friend- standing of JACL in the California State. We should add that we admire National Director: Floyd Mori ships with old and new friends and take home some pleasant memories. the work she has done over the years to provide the nation with a greater P.C. editorial board Judith Aono, chairperson; Paul If possible, please visit some of our very scenic areas such as Mt. understanding of Japanese American culture and political arts. Niwa, EDC; Kevin Miyazaki, MDC; Rainier or a Puget Sound sightseeing boat trip. Also, take in some good She is the person with the modern political skills and should be praised Roberta Barton, CCDC; Mark restaurants, including Japanese food. for her keen knowledge in the field of political science. Kobayashi, NCWNPDC; Hugh Bur- leson, PNWDC; Gil Asakawa, IDC; Cindi Harbottle, PSWDC; Sonya John Matsumoto Takasumi Kojima Kuki, Youth Past President - Seattle and Lake Washington chapters Berkeley, CA subscribe Get a one-year subscription of the Pacific Citizen newspaper at: www.pacificcitizen.org or call (800) 966-6157 NAT’L DIRECTOR’S REPORT Advertise SPRING CAMPAIGN To advertise in the Pacific Citizen, call (800) 966-6157 or e-mail: JACL’S EFFORTS TO HELP JAPAN [email protected] IN DEFENSE OF THE P.C. LEGAL No part of this publication may be By Floyd Mori reproduced without the express per- By Kevin Miyazaki mission of the Pacific Citizen. Editorials, news and the opinions ex- Thank you to everyone who supported pressed by columnists other than the I’m not a lawyer, and I don’t even play the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund which national JACL president or national di- one on television. But I’ll put on a lawyer’s was established as a joint effort by the JACL rector do not necessarily reflect JACL policy. Events and products advertised hat today to make this case to you: the and Direct Relief International (DRI) after Pacific Citizen in the Pacific Citizen do not carry the needs your support! Your the disaster of the earthquake and tsunami implicit endorsement of the JACL or newspaper needs financial assistance in which struck Japan on March 11, 2011. If this publication. We reserve the right to edit articles. © 2012 the ongoing Spring Campaign, in addition you gave to the fund, your money went to a to your dedication and support during good cause and you are in good company. Periodicals paid at Los Angeles, Calif and mailing office. important budgetary discussions. To bolster Did you know that Brad Pitt mentioned my case, I’d like to outline the value of the JACL and DRI when he and Sean Penn the P.C. by entering a back issue of the were being interviewed by The Japan JACL MEMBERS newspaper as Exhibit A. Times in August 2011 about their film, “The Tree of Life”? Pitt men- Change of Address tioned his concern about those who were affected by the Great East Japan >>See MIYAZAKI pg. 16 Earthquake and Tsunami. The article states that Pitt knows a fair amount If you’ve moved, about reconstruction after a disaster. He spearheaded an effort to rebuild please send new Your STORIES. Your LEGACY. Find them here at the Pacific Citizen. Your STORIES. Your LEGACY. Find them here at the Pacific CitizenYour. STORIES. Your LEGACY. Find them here at the Pacific Citizen. homes in areas of New Orleans that were devastated by Hurricane Ka- information to: trina in 2005. He and Angelina Jolie frequently donate to charities. National JACL 1765 Sutter St. >>See MORI page 16 and registration form page 6 San Francisco, CA 94115 Allow 6 weeks for Donate $150 or more to become a Donate $150 or more to become a Donate $150 or more to become a WALL OF FAMER; $200 or more get address changes. WALL OF FAMER; $200 or more get WALL OF FAMER; $200 or more get a free entry into a drawing for a July 5-8 a free entry into a drawing for a a free entry into a drawing for a Mexican cruise! To avoid interrup- Mexican cruise! Mexican cruise! tions in delivery, 6 please notify your postmaster to include periodicals Mexican cruise prize donated by the weeks in your change of Mexican cruise prize donated by theN ATIONAL JACL CREDIT UNION Mexican cruise prize donated by the Hyatt regency bellevue, wa­ address (USPS NATIONAL JACL CREDIT UNION NATIONAL JACL CREDIT UNION DONATE ONLINE > www.pacificcitizen.org reservations: 1 (888) 421-1442 www.jacl.org/2012 Form 3575) PACIFIC CITIZEN IN-DEPTH MAY 18-31, 2012 3 HIV/AIDS Healthcare: The Ties that Bind and Divide the APA Community

The Asian Pacific American community is com- prised of more than 100 languages/dialects and some 45 different ethnic subgroups, often making the process of treating and preventing HIV/AIDS more complicated.

By Nalea J. Ko Now living in the Bay Area with her they need.” in 1986 and knows firsthand the myths that Reporter husband and two children, Heather says To bring to light the differences and simi- exist about the virus in the Chinese Ameri- she sometimes worries about her children larities Asian Pacific American subgroups can community. The Bay Area resident also becoming negatively impacted by her HIV face in accessing HIV/AIDS healthcare, the lost his brother, Philip, to the disease in Editor’s note: This article was produced status and the stigmatization the virus car- Banyan Tree Project is holding the National 1994. as a project for The California Endowment ries in the tight-knit Burmese American Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Aware- “I have the battle scars of this disease,” Health Journalism Fellowships, a program community. ness Day on May 19. Last year 33 events Mah says. “I have a sunken face because of of USC’s Annenberg School for Communi- “Maybe they [will] become like depressed were held nationwide to raise awareness the side effects of the medication and what- cation & Journalism. It is the third article about this status because the community is about the day. not.” in a three-part series examining Asian Pa- not supporting anything about this virus,” “This year we decided to go a different Having lived with HIV for over two de- cific Americans and HIV/AIDS healthcare she said. direction and produce a series of digital sto- cades Mah says he has noticed that the Chi- in California. Heather is one of 4,053 Asian Pacific ries from community members,” said Sapna nese American community has difficulty Americans living in California with HIV/ Mysoor, Banyan Tree Project’s national speaking about subjects like sexuality and At two-years-old Heather, 28, fled the AIDS, according to a June 30, 2011, re- program manager. “If you look at the six HIV/AIDS. war-torn country of Burma seeing causali- port by the California Department of Public stories even though they’re all APIs living “I think the Asian community has a very ties along the journey with her family to a Health’s Office of AIDS. But Heather says with HIV, they’re actually quite different easy way of dealing with denial,” Mah said. refugee camp in Thailand. she specifically identifies as Burmese and and have different levels of struggle and dif- “I have spoken to Chinese people who say, Heather, a pseudonym to protect her iden- without the help of a Burmese-speaking ferent levels of hope.” ‘Well, in China we don’t have that.’ I said, tity, says even while growing up in a refu- caseworker, navigating the healthcare sys- There are over 4.9 million Asian Ameri- ‘What do you mean?’ They say, ‘Well, in gee camp she always dreamed of one day tem can be confusing. cans and 144,386 Native Hawaiians and China we don’t have gay people.’” becoming a mother. To access the needs of Burmese immi- Pacific Islanders in California, according To better understand the needs of specific “I wanted to be a good mom,” she said grants who are living with HIV/AIDS in the to 2010 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Asian Pacific American subgroups, Califor- through a translator. “That’s all.” Bay Area, organizations like Street Level There are also some 45 different Asian nia Gov. Jerry Brown in 2011 signed into But a “dirty needle” used by a traveling Health Project and Community Health for American ethnic subgroups and over 100 law AB1088. The bill was introduced by backpack medic to administer a vaccine, she Asian Americans (CHAA) started a pilot languages and dialects spoken in the com- Assemblyman Mike Eng and requires state says, would change her life. At the age of program last year with about 25 individuals, munity, which makes helping individuals agencies to separate out demographic data. 25, Heather discovered she was HIV posi- who are living with the disease. There are with HIV/AIDS challenging. For minority Asian Pacific American sub- tive. The diagnosis sent Heather into depres- 19,439 Burmese in the country as of 2010, “With the Filipino community it’s really groups like the Burmese, healthcare work- sion and prompted suicidal thoughts. How- according to the U.S. Census Bureau. complex because Philippines is the only ers say they’re cautiously optimistic that ever, when she read HIV/AIDS education Organizers of the program hope to ad- Catholic country in Asia,” said Filipino this bill will give them a clearer picture of materials she realized her diagnosis was no dress the specific needs the Burmese and American Dennis Mallillin, a senior case the existing healthcare issues and dispari- longer a death sentence. Karin community faces in accessing HIV/ manager with the API Wellness Center. “So ties. Heather’s dreams of motherhood would AIDS healthcare in the Bay Area. the sexual suppression or repression is so Heather, who speaks Thai and Burmese, come true. She has two children, who are “I think they’re in and out of treatment great that it translates to an internalized is- says she sometimes has difficulty navigat- now 9 and 4 years old, with her husband. or they get substandard treatment because sue for Filipinos.” ing the healthcare system without a transla- Her children and husband are are all HIV of language issues,” said Sean Kirkpatrick, The lack of disaggregated statistical in- tor. She now dreams of going to school and negative. CHAA associate director. “A lot of what formation on Asian Pacific Americans liv- learning English. One day, she’d like to re- The family applied for refugee status and they’ve been asking for in meetings is some ing with HIV/AIDS in California also does turn to her homeland. was eventually given permission to move dedicated language support and to help not give an accurate picture of the commu- “If I have a chance I would like to go back to California in 2007. Her parents were left them navigate, not just health care, but so- nity’s needs, say healthcare workers. to Burma. But currently I cannot, I’m not al- behind in the refugee camp. It was there her cial services and other kinds of things that Edwin Mah, 62, was diagnosed with HIV lowed to get into Burma,” she said. n father died a few months ago. 4 MAY 18-31, 2012 IN-DEPTH PACIFIC CITIZEN

During World War II, Topaz held over 11,000 JAs including Jean and Joe Yoshino (inset) with their two-month-old daughter.

SAVING THE ‘JEWEL OF THE DESERT’

Groundbreaking for a phys- “You can still see outlines of the roads that “It’s only been [in] the last few were there,” a feature, he says, that is slowly years that things have been start- ical space for the Topaz being erased, sometimes even from owners ing to come together,” said Okabe. Museum is slated for the driving all terrain vehicles across the land The Topaz Museum received and destroying the impressions of the bar- a National Park Service grant of summer, but large fund- racks. $714,000, kicking off their fund- raising strides need to be “[There are] still concrete foundations raising campaign. It is expected from the mess halls and the latrines. There to cost upwards of over $2 mil- made before then. are rock gardens that the internees built lion — an amount they are work- outside their barracks,” he said. By digging ing to achieve through the help of By Christine McFadden around in the dirt, one can even find broken a campaign advisor — to build the Correspondent toys or dishware. museum. “We want to keep that A groundbreaking “Right away, I could see that there needed to be a museum.” t the Topaz War Relocation Center in land as untouched as ceremony is sched- possible,” he said. uled for Aug. 4, and Among the other artifacts Beckwith has Millard County, Utah a banner once collected are four chairs made out of ship- greeted incoming internees: “Wel- the board is hoping to Acquiring Topaz, Acre be finished by 2014, ping crates, a dresser, a baby crib, newspa- Acome to Topaz: Jewel of the Desert.” pers and yearbooks from camp, and various by Acre During World War II, the prison camp according to Beck- After the war, the with. paintings and homemade shell jewelry. held over 11,000 Japanese Americans dur- “Her basement is full of Topaz artifacts,” ing its operation from Sept. 11, 1942, to Oct. government sold To- The grassroots ef- paz land and structures fort already has many said Okabe. 31, 1945. The land preservation efforts will addi- Over the years, wear and tear from the to recoup some of the connections to Topaz money spent on build- — Allan Kawasaki, the tionally preserve what has been left behind harsh climate and the destructive actions of outside the museum as well. some of the landowners after WWII have ing the WWII prison museum’s architect, is camp, said Beckwith, a descendent of Topaz “Topaz is one of the camps that has the made this “Jewel of the Desert” — now a greatest integrity in terms of land,” said National Historical Landmark — severely in a former teacher in the internees. Many local nearby town of Delta. community members Sakura, a Yonsei whose family was incar- need of protection. cerated at Minidoka. He says that the con- The Topaz Museum, a volunteer non- Half a barrack usually of the Delta area are went for $200. on board as well. servation work has “helped heal a lot of the profit organization, is working with The wounds from the war.” Conservation Fund to acquire ownership of The effort to pre- Block 35 at Topaz is a “key” 6.5-acre Delta, which is serve the land began in property that needs to be protected. about 15 miles away, Tule Lake and portions of Heart Mountain all of Topaz’s total 640 acres. So far, they and Minidoka are still under private owner- have successfully purchased 96 percent of 1998, when the first 417 has a population of acres were purchased about 5,000. Many of ship. Topaz, on the other hand, is “almost the land. completely reassembled,” said Sakura. There are currently two remaining unpro- together. Another 100 acres followed with the JAs incarcerated at Topaz during WWII the help of one of Beckwith’s former stu- eventually moved back to California. “We’ve almost put Humpty Dumpty back tected tracts of land: Block 35, a “key” 6.5- together,” he said. “But we need help.” n acre property, and nearby Block 42. Block dents, now an attorney, followed by another Beckwith’s father ran the county news- 35 requires an additional $20,000 by June 8 92 acres through The Conservation Fund. paper during WWII in Delta and hired an (to be matched 2-to-1 by federal funding). “Thanks to the great work of the muse- internee named Harry Yusuda from Topaz. Save History Currently belonging to a private land- um and the Fund working together, we’ve However, growing up, Beckwith never fully To donate to the Topaz Museum owner who built a house on the property, preserved 627 acres of the 640,” said Dan understood the purpose of the WWII prison visit www.topazmuseum.org or Topaz Museum president and founder Jane Sakura, project leader for the Fund’s JA In- camp. send donations (indicating Beckwith says that it is crucial that this land ternment Camp Protection Initiative. In 1982 while teaching journalism at Del- “Topaz Block 35”) to: be purchased to protect it from any further ta High School, Beckwith assigned her stu- Topaz Museum The Making of a Museum damage. The owner, in addition to previous dents to write about nearby Topaz. P.O. Box #241 owners of other blocks, has damaged the ter- The Topaz Museum, despite its namesake, “[The] students were really fascinated Delta, Utah 84624 or rain through construction. does not yet have a physical museum. The about it,” she said. With limited amounts of The Conservation Fund “By doing that, they started to destroy the organization has plans to start the construc- information about the camp available, they 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, original campsite,” said Rick Okabe, a mem- tion of a museum onsite this summer, a goal interviewed community members. Suite 1300 ber of the Topaz Museum board of directors. since the organization’s establishment in the “The minute that happened, people Arlington, VA 22209-3199 early 1990s. started donating things to us,” she recalled. PACIFIC CITIZEN IN-DEPTH MAY 18-31, 2012 5 JACL NATIONAL BOARD APPROVES PROPOSED 2013- 2014 BUDGET WITH FUTURE STAFF ELIMINATIONS In addition to approving the 2013- 2014 proposed budget, the JACL national board passed a motion to support the effort to get a commem- orative stamp for the Congressional Gold Medal recipients.

By Nalea J. Ko, Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO—The JACL national board voted to approve the proposed budget at its recent meeting, which in- cludes eliminating future national staff positions in a budget cutting measure. At the April 21 meeting in San Francisco, the JACL na- tional board approved the proposed 2013-2014 budget, which eliminated funding for two JACL national positions in the future. Those positions include the assistant editor po- sition from the Pacific Citizen in 2014 and the JACL Pacific Southwest District regional director position in 2013. Chip Larouche, Pacific Northwest District governor, made a motion to approve the budget. Jason Chang, vice president of planning and development, seconded the motion. The motion passed with friendly amendments to not in- crease dues to JACL’s Thousand Club and Century Club membership categories, a recommendation originally made by the budget committee. Some JACL board members voiced their concerns about eliminating national staff positions. “The P.C. has always worked to accommodate national JACL’s shrinking budgets,” said Jeanette Misaka, Intermoun- tain District governor. Last year P.C. accepted a $75,000 cut in membership dues it receives. “The P.C. for people in the IDC is a lifeline to our communities because we are so spread apart. We don’t live in Los Angeles or San Francisco areas where there are a lot of Japanese Americans.” Misaka added that if there “has to be a cut in the P.C. shouldn’t the P.C. have the option to decide where they can do the cuts?” The motion to approve the proposed 2013-2014 budget passed with an amendment to allow the P.C.’s executive edi- tor Caroline Aoyagi-Stom to have the “flexibility to manage [the] budget.” The proposed elimination of the assistant edi- tor position would cut $66,976 from the budget, which in- PSW District Governor Ken Inouye makes his case for the district’s regional director position which was elliminated in the cludes the salary, taxes and full benefits. 2013 budget. After a lengthy discussion the position was not reinstated by the national board in a 4 to 8 vote. “It was a hard day to go through the budget and figure out how we’re going to balance this thing. In the end we’re membership-based. We’re not revenue-based or anything Ken Inouye, the PSW District governor, presented a re- motion also stipulated hiring a replacement for the position. like that,” said Chang. “So we’re looking at the realities of port to the board about the importance of keeping the PSW David Lin, v.p. of membership, seconded the motion. • The JACL national board unanimously approved today. The budget is proposed as what we can do, what we regional director position in the budget and the need of a “local presence in the Los Angeles region in order to secure the release of the Power of Words Handbook draft to the have today.” chapters and districts. The handbook outlines the suggested JACL’s total projected budget revenue sources for 2013 funding.” The report indicated that the PSW regional director posi- terminology to use to describe the unjust incarceration of are $2,364,444 and $2,235,835 for 2014. Projected program persons of Japanese descent during World War II. tion pays for itself since the previous regional director, Craig costs for 2013 come to $2,274,240 and $2,267,838 for 2014. • A motion was made by Larouche and seconded by There is a surplus of $90,205 for 2013. Ishii, secured funding from grants that exceeded the cost of Matthew Farrells, the chair of the national youth council, to Board members expressed the importance of balancing the the position. authorize the national director to hire replacements for the budget without changes to membership dues. “We strongly believe that having a strong national pres- Mike M. Masaoka, Norman Y. Mineta, Sen. Daniel K. In- “The other thing that I need to point out or reiterate is we ence in Los Angeles is an integral part to making things hap- ouye fellows and the six congressional interns. have budgeted a $90,000 surplus that is virtually the cost pen for JACL on the national level, ” said Inouye. • Ron Katsuyama, v.p. of public affairs, made a mo- A motion made by Inouye and seconded by Larouche to of the regional director position,” said Larry Oda, national tion to support the campaign to get a Congressional Gold add the JACL PSW District regional director position to the Medal stamp in honor of the 442nd Regimental Combat JACL treasurer/secretary. national budget was voted down 4 to 8 by the board, with “I really don’t like to say we’re going to raise 1,400 new Team, 100th Battalion and the Military Intelligence Service. three board members abstaining. David Unruhe, NCWNP District governor, seconded the mo- members to balance our budget because I don’t know which Other significant motions that passed at the April 21 JACL tion. one of you has that plan. How are we going to achieve that? national board meeting include: • A motion passed to change the JACL national di- That’s just talk and talk is cheap. And we’ve tried that before • A motion made by Larouche to suspend the hiring rector title to executive director. n and it didn’t work.” freeze for the JACL membership coordinator position. The 6 MAY 18-31, 2012 NATIONAL CONVENTION 2012 PACIFIC CITIZEN CONVENTION 2012 ATMOSPHERICS — ‘ASIAN AMERICAN PUGET SOUND’ By Hugh Burleson fices represent mainland China, This look at our local media too. Noteworthy, too, is that the would be incomplete without men- Picking up from my previous ar- Japanese Consulate General has in tioning the notable place of ethnic ticle on the atmospherics and envi- recent years worked harder to de- Asian women on camera here as ronment for the upcoming Conven- velop its relations with local Nik- TV newscasters and sportscast- tion 2012, let’s look into the Asian kei and Nikkei organizations. ers. The doyenne of these capable American presence in the greater More relevant to our conven- ladies is Lori Matsukawa, who has Seattle area. tion’s siting in Bellevue, many starred on NBC’s Channel 5 for We’ve already noted the per- staff members of such offices several decades now and has long centage of Nikkei and other Asian choose to live in Bellevue, rather graced local JACL events. residents in this area. One draw for than Seattle, because they want the We also enjoy two community Asians here, of course, is the huge best education for their children events highlighting each year. The two-way trade through the Puget and know the reputation of Bel- Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival Sound region. You may know that levue’s school system. This further has been held for decades, at the such big corporations as Micro- boosts the ethnic East Asian popu- Seattle Center, where the Seattle soft and Boeing are based here lation of Bellevue. suburban Renton and in Beaverton, from the endeavors of Tom Ikeda’s Fair opened just 50 years ago this and contribute much to our global You can see this first hand sim- Oregon. These are no mom-and- non-profit Densho, which assidu- April. It features both Japanese and trade, especially with Asia. Each is ply by noting the many Asian faces pop operations, but supermarkets, ously records for posterity the ex- JA culture and draws crowds from supplemented by an array of lesser- at Bellevue Square, the two-story and cultural institutions in and of periences of older Nikkei. the whole region. known companies. Also, from east mall just a couple of blocks from themselves. Nikkei and others also ben- Complementing that spring fes- of the Cascades flow such products the Bellevue Hyatt. In fact, an Also since WWII, Seattle’s efit from having several locally tival is Bellevue’s Aki Matsuri, the as apples, cherries, wines and hay. area in south Bellevue came to be Nikkei community has created a published weekly papers. Spe- fall festival put on at Bellevue Col- Yes hay, in the form of compact called “China Hill” 20-odd years range of institutions supporting cifically for JAs is the bilingual lege by another all-volunteer team pellets, because Japan and other ago because so many Chinese the elderly and Japanese Ameri- North American Post/Hokubei Ho- from the non-profit Eastside Nihon Northeast Asian nations have little from Hong Kong and Taiwan had can culture in general: the full- chi, published since the early 20th Matsuri Association and drawing room for growing things like hay. moved there. care Keiro for the elderly, Nik- century. Generally API-oriented some 20,000 to this early Sep- A result of this trade is, for ex- At the convention itself, you kei Manor for oldsters who need are the International Examiner and tember weekend event. Aki Mat- ample, a panoply of organizations should get some inkling of the little help, and Nikkei Horizons, the Northwest Asian Weekly. We suri benefits from having free on- and institutions: the Consulates greater Seattle area Nikkei com- under the management of Nikkei should also mention Nikkei Con- campus parking. The “eye candy” General of Japan and Korea, the munity’s infrastructure of sup- Concerns. The community is ex- cerns’ quarterly Tayori newsletter there: the many children and other Taiwan Trade and Cultural Office, port. You’ve seen the Uwajimaya panding the century-old Japanese that lists its activities, events and young people in their brightly col- n the Hyogo Business and Cultural ads in the Pacific Citizen, touting Language School into a full-blown contributors. Hopefully, you’ll see ored kimonos. Center and the Japanese Business its stores in Seattle’s International Cultural and Community Center. such publications while you’re in Association. Of course, a wide District, in downtown Bellevue Let’s not overlook the huge ben- Bellevue and poking around this Hugh Burleson is a member of the range of official and private of- (less than a mile from the Hyatt), in efit accruing to Nikkei nationwide area. Lake Washington JACL PACIFIC CITIZEN NATIONAL/COMMUNITY MAY 18-31, 2012 7 GORDON HIRABAYASHI TO RECEIVE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM The civil rights icon joins singer Bob Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, sending tens of thousands of Americans of Japanese ancestry to desolate Dylan, civil rights pioneer Dolores relocation camps. Defying those orders, Hirabayashi turned Huerta, and former U.S. Secretary himself into the FBI asserting that the order was discrimina- tory. of State Madeleine Albright in the Hirabayashi was convicted by a U.S. Federal Court for honor. defying the exclusion order and violating curfew. His fight would take him all the way to the Supreme Court where in 1943 his conviction was upheld and he was imprisoned. By Pacific Citizen Staff After the war Hirabayashi earned his doctorate in sociol- ogy and became a noted professor. In 1987, his WWII con- What do musician Bob Dylan, former astronaut John viction was finally overturned by a U.S. Court of Appeals for Glenn, and noted author Toni Morrison have in common the Ninth Circuit. He passed away earlier this year. with Gordon Hirabayashi? They are among 13 individuals Hirabayashi “had the courage and fortitude to stand up for who will soon be honored with the Presidential Medal of civil rights during a difficult period when racism against Jap- Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. anese Americans was rampant,” said Floyd Mori, JACL na- Although civil rights icon Hirabayashi’s courageous story tional director. “We commend Gordon for his valiant effort of defying the WWII internment orders is legendary in the and thank President Obama for this honor to Gordon which place. I look forward to recognizing them with this award.” Japanese American community, his story will now have a is an opportunity to tell the story of innocent Americans of The Presidential Medal of Freedom is given to “individu- much wider audience as his legacy is honored this Spring at Japanese descent during World War II when the Constitution als who have made especially meritorious contributions a White House ceremony. did not protect them and preserve their rights.” to the security or national interests of the United States, to “These extraordinary honorees come from different back- Hirabayashi will be honored at a White House ceremony world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or pri- grounds and different walks of life, but each of them has in late Spring posthumously. The other honorees include for- vate endeavors,” according to a White House statement. made a lasting contribution to the life of our Nation,” said mer U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, civil rights Hirabayashi was a 24-year-old student attending the Uni- President Barack Obama said. “They’ve challenged us, pioneer Dolores Huerta, and former Israeli president Shimon versity of Washington in 1942 when President Franklin they’ve inspired us, and they’ve made the world a better Peres. n CHICAGO HONORS JAPANESE AMERICAN WWII VETERANS ARIZONA JACL EVENT SPOTLIGHTS YOUTH, VETERANS At its April 22 luncheon, the Arizona JACL celebrated both young scholars and World War II Nisei heroes. The awards and graduates luncheon, held at the Glendale Civic Center, marked the awarding of the Sara Hutchings Clardy Scholarships. This year, the chapter also honored local Nisei WWII veterans who served in the 442nd Regi- mental Combat Team, 100th Infantry Battalion and Military Intelligence Service. In his keynote speech, Rep. Trent Franks congratulated the youth and praised the WWII Nisei veterans for their service to the country. The Arizona Congressman presented a replica Congres- sional Gold Medal to the following Nisei WWII veterans with Arizona ties: Robert Kiyoto Amano, Yoshitaka Eto, Tom Haga, Tatsuo Iguchi, Katsumi Ikeda, Masaru Ikeda, Masaji Inoshita, Satole Iwakoshi, Thomas Kadomoto, Wil- liam Kajikawa, Ben Komatsu, Yoshiyuki Motoyoshi, Clar- The tribute’s deeper message was what Bill Hosokawa wrote: “The Nisei not only helped win our wars, they brought home ence Ohta, Harry Oyama, Jack Suda, George Takagi, Henry afterwards the solemn lesson that we as a nation must live up to the ideals we profess.” Takagi, Goro Tanamachi, Makoto Tanita, Minoru Tanita, Tamotsu Tanita, Wataru Tanita, Koichi Tomita, Masatsuki On a crisp, clear Sunday afternoon 43 Nikkei veterans ian Nisei Ladies and personalized handmade quilts from Yamamoto and Ted Yoshimura. of the “Good War” received the heartfelt thanks from their Quilts of Honor, an organization dedicated “to bestowing a Many of these Japanese American WWII veterans were community for defending the country that had questioned universal symbol and token of thanks, solace, and remem- unable to attend the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony their loyalty and incarcerated many of their families. The brance to those who serve in harm’s way to protect and de- in Washington, D.C., so community groups like the Arizona occasion was the Nikkei World War II Veterans Tribute — fend our lives and freedoms.” JACL are honoring their heroes locally. held 67 years after the war — but the smiles and damp eyes At the event, Daniel Izui, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Illi- The Congressional Gold Medal is Congress’ highest ci- told the story of pride and appreciation from almost 500 nois, and Maj. Gen. (Ret.) James H. Mukoyama, Jr. remind- vilian award. Among the 145 individuals and units awarded family members and friends. ed everyone of the good these men and women contributed the medal are the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo Code Talkers, The tribute on April 22 recognized the contributions of to United States history and the Japanese American com- Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers. the many who served during WWII, but are ineligible for munity. This year’s two recipients of the Sara Hutchings Clardy the Congressional Gold Medal. The medal was awarded Attendees also paid respect to those killed in action and Scholarships are Katy Ettling and Charlotte Kishi. to Nisei veterans who served in the segregated units of the the veterans who have since passed away. The tribute’s Elementary graduates introduced at the event included 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat deeper message was what Bill Hosokawa wrote: “The Ni- Brooke Niimi and Emi Tanita. The high school graduates Team or the Military Intelligence Service. sei not only helped win our wars, they brought home after- were Katy Ettling (Hamilton High School), Daniel Hashi- “As wonderful as the Congressional Gold Medal is,” said wards the solemn lesson that we as a nation must live up to moto (Campo Verde High School), Trey Ishikawa (Mountain Howard Hieshima, chair of the tribute, “we wanted to in- the ideals we profess.” View High School), J.T. Kageyama (Highland High School), clude the many Japanese Americans who served with no The Nikkei World War II Veterans Tribute was co-spon- Charlotte Kishi (Shadow Mountain High School), Shaley less distinction. This includes the first Japanese American sored by the Chicago Nisei Post #1183 of the American Le- Sato (Westwood High School), and Alexis Tanita (Mountain hero of World War II.” gion, the Chicago Japanese American Council, the Chicago Ridge High School). That hero, said Hieshima, was Ben Kuroki, a gunner in JACL, the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society, The college graduates were Alexandra Ettling (BA, Uni- the Army Air Corps during WWII, who flew more than 50 the Japanese American Service Committee, and the Tom versity of Arizona), Alyssa Hinchman (BS, University of missions over Europe and Japan. Arai Bequest of the Japanese American Mutual Aid Society Arizona), Ryan Ishikawa (BS, Arizona State University) and n Veterans received hand-made fabric leis from the Hawai- of Chicago. Christina Yoshii Kelly (MS, Arizona State University). n 8 MAY 18-31, 2012 VOICES PACIFIC CITIZEN For the Record OBAMA AND SAME SEX MARRIAGE

By John Tateishi

Today, May 9th, ured he would come around eventually, maybe long after his his response will be measured and calm and very rational. President Barack presidency is over) but because it is such a daring and risky His campaign people might be going crazy, but you’ll not Obama announced declaration to make in a presidential election year. suspect it from the way he carries himself through this part to the nation that he You can bet the right-wingers and Republicans are froth- of the election campaigning. I think we’ll see just how much now supports same ing at the mouth with this and can’t wait to launch a full- Republicans hate this president. sex marriage. It’s a historic announcement and one that will scale attack on the president. This is the golden opportunity So what does this have to do with the JACL? Other than bring all kinds of baggage to his re-election campaign. they have been waiting for, and I can only imagine how this same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue? Other than denying Were it not for Vice President Joe Biden stating four days will become the focus of the Republican attack, especially two people — yes, of the same sex — the right that extends ago on national television that he was “perfectly comfort- among Black and Latino communities and among religion- to every other person in this society, even hard-core crimi- able” with the idea of same-sex marriages, the president based constituencies. nals, even the most despicable among us, even those who would not have made his statement now. It forced the is- Republicans have little credibility in criticizing the presi- seem to be babbling idiots? So why should two people who sue into the forefront of the presidential campaign, much, I dent on the economy because their insistence on austerity love each other and happen to be of the same sex be denied suspect, to the consternation of some of Obama’s campaign and a budget that did little to create growth incentives left too a right that we give to every other adult in this society? And advisers. little room for Obama to establish a momentum towards a what business is it of the rest of us anyway? No doubt President Obama could still have side-stepped quicker recovery. In the last three recessions this country ex- I think people are offended by the thought of two people of this issue until after the elections, but he chose instead to perienced (all under Republican presidents, by the way), the the same gender having sex. To those people, I can only say, state his personal views on this controversial issue, to the key to recovery was always through expanding public-sector stop using your imagination so much! surprise of just about everyone — and to the shock of many. jobs, which spurred on the private sector. While Republicans I don’t know if you’re aware of it, but the JACL is the His view, President Obama said in an interview today, has argue that Obama’s economic policies are responsible for the only national civil rights organization that has an affirmative evolved over the past four years. As you no doubt recall, slow recovery of the economy, they remain vulnerable for position on the same-sex issue, according to the ACLU, with Obama did not favor same-sex marriage, even as few as six their role in this. whom I joined on numerous same-sex legal cases during my months ago. His leanings have always been at best moderate But now they have a ripe issue that cuts across all sec- seven-year tenure as national director. on social issues, and while he may have sympathized with tors of the voting public and gives Republicans an entree for For seven years the JACL was on public record and was those who sought same-sex marriage, he has never been a reaching working class and middle class voters, whom they very public about supporting same-sex partnerships. I’m supporter of this issue. have screwed for longer than I care to remember. glad to see in the most recent D.C. Alert that the JACL lead- Until today. What will be interesting now is to see how President ership continues to support that position. n I was among those who were shocked to hear him declare Obama responds to the barrage he’ll no doubt face. He’s his position, shocked not because he favors the issue (I fig- good under fire and a great speaker, and my guess is that John Tateishi is a former JACL national director. The Right Place RELEVANCE IN THE ERA OF DIVERSITY

By James Kumpel Japanese Americans have a reason to feel proud during views that might not otherwise even be considered. 1960s. The JACL Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPIH) Diversity should reflect a breadth of ideas, experiences, and other civil Month. Our history includes the first AAs elected to the Sen- perspectives, cultural backgrounds, religious viewpoints rights organizations ate and to a governorship. The heroic exploits of the 442nd and geographic origins. In other words, race should not be have accepted this Regiment and the MIS during WWII helped to resoundingly a proxy for diversity or equal opportunity. It really depends prima facie dis- counter the WWII-era suspicions about loyalty or Ameri- on the individuals whose lifetimes of experiences add to the crimination as tolerable in the name of promoting diversity, canism. The 1987 explosion of the Challenger included the collective wisdom and body of knowledge of a group. as viewed through an affirmative action prism. most diverse assemblage of Americans to ever take flight for I would contend that a fundamentalist Christian housewife The JACL can achieve another great objective by taking NASA, including our own Ellison Onizuka. from Alaska, a small farmer from the Midwest, a coal work- on a broader mission in representing the very diverse nation- With a decade-long effort to win passage of redress, the er from West Virginia, a Polish immigrant from Milwaukee, al backgrounds and divergent concerns that comprise the AA JACL demonstrated a gritty determination and highly effec- and an entry level administrative worker from Texas would community. tive grass roots organization to secure justice for the direct reflect a far more diverse set cross-section of experiences I am encouraged by Floyd Mori’s efforts to partner with victims of what the ACLU deemed the “worst wholesale vio- than would be found at most elite universities or companies, the Vietnamese community in New Orleans that was hurt by lation of civil rights of Americans in history”. The organi- even if the former group were all white. the BP disaster in 2010. But, I think that the JACL could re- zation made forceful arguments that influenced Democratic From my vantage point, diversity is not attained through invigorate the organization and take on greater relevance by and Republican congressmen alike, ultimately securing the the current construct of affirmative action. It most certainly addressing the evolving concerns of new Asian immigrants, support of President Reagan to sign the legislation into law is not just about checking different racial boxes. aging AA residents who are underserved by government, and that historic August of 1988. We can rest assured that the I believe that Americans of all stripes should be concerned the tacit profiling of AA students that limit their prospects JACL made a difference to those who had been wronged and when outstanding students with impeccable academic back- and opportunities. helped firmly establish that Americans need to be treated as grounds, impressive extracurricular activities, and demon- In this way, the JACL can remind our government that individuals and not be relegated to profiling by the mere ac- strable potential are held to more restrictive admissions stan- AAs are not a monolithic group subject to artificially high cident of their race or ethnic background. dards just because they are AA … or Jewish, for that matter. standards, but a diverse patchwork of many cultures worthy Investors often target diversification of their holdings in When AA students are “profiled” as mere members of a of individual consideration. n order to ensure low correlation as a means of preventing a racial group, rather than as individuals blessed with unique single event or factor from decimating all assets at once. Di- skills, then universities are engaging in the very institution- James Kumpel is a JACL New York chapter board member versity can be a strategy to reduce group-think and advance al racism that Martin Luther King, Jr. railed against in the and former JACL scholarship winner. PACIFIC CITIZEN ENTERTAINMENT MAY 18-31, 2012 9 LOL-ING WITH BEN HUH, THE MEME MOGUL vice president of development and original program- are available, as well as a platform for people to create Ben Huh, a graduate of North- ming for Bravo. and curate their own meme sites. More than 22,000 “It’s a truly unique organization filled with creative, “Cheezburger sites” have been created by the com- western University’s prestigious eccentric, totally compelling personalities, and Ben is pany’s fan base of over 16.5 million people. the ringleader,” he added. A graduate of the prestigious Medill School of Jour- journalism school, never thought Over the years, Cheezburger has expanded, adding nalism at Northwestern University, Huh had no idea more blogs to its blogroll and contributing to the pro- that he’d one day be running such an instrumental and he’d be running an Internet hu- liferation of Internet memes that “I Can Has Cheez- comprehensive institution of Internet humor. burger” helped start. “Running a cat picture site was not my first choice, mor empire based on the ubiq- According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, a but I really loved the way it made people happy,” said meme (rhymes with “beam”) is “an idea, behavior, Huh. uitous “lolcat” — but now, with a style, or usage that spreads from person to person Growing up in South Korea and then Hong Kong, within a culture.” Huh was “a pretty serious, studious kid,” he says. He Bravo reality show in the works, “Everyone has a favorite meme … They’re all over immigrated to Sacramento at the age of 11 because our social networks,” said Earnest Salgado, a 21-year- his parents wanted him to have better educational op- he’s knee-deep in memes and old from Vallejo, California, on the omnipresence of portunities. memes on popular websites like Reddit and Tumblr. After graduating from journalism school in 1999, loving it. “It’s like a subculture of social media. Since it’s Huh gravitated towards what he felt was the next wave a subculture, I guess the reason we like [memes] so in communication — the Internet. But he experienced much is because we like social media so much,” he the brunt of the dotcom bubble burst after his start-up By Christine Fukushima, Correspondent added. failed in eighteen months. Today, the “Cheezburger family” contains over He credits his parents’ unwavering support for the u mind? internetz r seriuz biznez,” says the web-surf- 60 meme and humor-based sites, with topics ranging entrepreneurial spirit that motivated him to take a risk ing cat, with that peeved expression unique to cranky from “Historic LOLs” (“captioned portraits of yore”) with purchasing “I Can Has Cheezburger?.” kitties. to “Monday Thru Friday” (photos related to “failing in “That was pretty unusual about my parents. The “DoSuch is a typical greeting from a “lolcat,” the now-ubiquitous Internet the workplace”). first generation of family tends to push toward a meme that features adorable kitties doing something silly with a caption In addition, Cheezburger’s “Know Your Meme” has professional career, but they didn’t,” he said. that reads like the text message of a middle-schooler. a database of over one thousand memes, detailing the Huh believes Cheezburger has become so popular As CEO of Cheezburger, the company that owns and operates uber- origins and notable examples of each. because “people have the desire to be happy. They like popular meme repositories such as “I Can Has Cheezburger?” and “FAIL And for those who want to create their to laugh and they want to share the things that they blog”, Ben Huh recognized that lolcats could indeed be “seriuz own memes, a variety find funny with other people.” biznez.” of “meme “Also, people like to think they are fun- “It wasn’t another oddity on the build- ny so when others laugh, it gives them Web,” said Huh. “It was a big booming ers” credibility,” he added. phenomenon.” And after years of doing good Ironically, the man who helped make on Cheezburger’s mission of these cats Internet-famous is allergic to “making the world happy for them in real life. five minutes a day,” Huh’s Huh’s more of a dog person — in fact, favorite site is still “I Can he got his start in the Internet humor in- Has Cheezburger?” dustry after making a blog about his pet “It’s the one I save until dog with his wife, Emily. the end of the day and it al- After posting some details about a pet ways brings a smile to my food recall on their blog in 2007, it was face,” said Huh. n linked to “I Can Has Cheezburger?” At the time, “I Can Has Cheezburger?” was already getting 500,000 views daily by photo (far left): dan brunell- lolcat-purveyors. The traffic the link brought washington business; crashed the Huhs’ blog, but it turned out to be photo (below): eugene hsu a “feline-icitous” coincidence. “We reached out to the creators, Eric Na- kagawa and Kari Unebesami,” said Emily Huh, now editor-in-chief of Cheezburger. “We weren’t angry, just really fascinated!” After striking up a friendship with the site’s founders, who lived in Hawaii, Ben and a group of investors purchased “I Can Has Cheezburger” for about $2 million. Huh, whose own start-up had “folded and died” during the dotcom bust of the early 2000s, decided to take a risk with the site because “the community was really compelling and it was a major form of entertainment,” he says. “Once we purchased the site, the traffic continued to increase, which was when we realized that it was more about humor rather than just cats,” added Huh. It’s a risk that’s paid off. Last year, Cheezburger received $30 million in funding from venture capitalists, and in the works is a Bravo reality show (tentatively titled “Huh?”) following Ben and his team. “When we saw inside the company Ben has built, and got a sense of the characters he has surrounded himself with, we im- mediately fell in love with him and his world,” said Elli Lehrer, 10 MAY 18-31, 2012 NATIONAL BOARD CANDIDATES PACIFIC CITIZEN on getting grants and sponsorships. for the past 32 years in investment and financial business Additionally, we need to continue to place an intense has been focused on goal setting and bringing in assets. focus on our membership so we can maintain this revenue The position that I seek will be the most challenging, but GET TO KNOW THE stream. In 2011, we lowered our membership decline rate satisfying, if I succeed. to 2.8 percent, from 6 percent. We recruited the most new members in 5 years, and 4 out of 7 districts actually saw Matthew Farrells CANDIDATES FOR an increase. This is great news. However, maintaining and (secretary/treasurer growing the membership is an ongoing effort and requires candidate): It is im- constant attention on membership retention and recruit- portant the JACL must NATIONAL JACL OFFICES ment and we need to do just that. remain relevant for de- cades to come. How we n accordance with the JACL Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 1 (b), the national Craig Tomiyoshi (v.p. will do this is the major nominating committee for national officers, also known as the nominations for public affairs candi- question. I believe one Icommittee, has reviewed and approved the candidate applications for the date): My name is Craig way of ensuring the JACL people listed below for national offices. Tomiyoshi, and I am a can remain relevant is by National president: Jeff Yoshioka, David Lin candidate for the national overcoming our current National vice president for public affairs: Craig Tomiyoshi office for public affairs. fiscal challenges and National vice president for planning and development: Jason Chang I’m currently an account identifying long term solutions to those challenges. When National vice president for One Thousand Club, membership and servic- director at IW Group, Inc., I look at our funding sources, we have always been a es: John Moy an Asian American mar- membership-based organization and only more recently National secretary treasurer: Matthew Farrells keting/communications have we begun to shift to alternative sources of funding National youth/student council chairperson: Jeffrey Moy firm. Prior to IW Group, I due to our declining membership base. Corporate and The offices for national vice president for general operations and national worked in Japan primar- government grants, fundraising drives and estate planning youth/student council representatives did not receive any applicants. ily as an editor for a government educational foundation. I are all vital sources of funding to consider that could pro- In accordance with the JACL Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 1 (c), a member graduated from the University of San Diego in 1998 with a vide substantial relief. Leaning how to create relationships in good standing may run for any national office as a late filer. To have your bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology. and sharing mutually beneficial partnerships with other application considered and processed, all late filers must submit a completed For the last three years, I’ve served as an at-large mem- organizations can be vital to securing these monies. application form with the signatures of the majority of chapter presidents or ber on the Pacific Southwest District board. I’ve worked on The other way to relieving the strain on our current fiscal chapter delegates from their district council to the nominations committee on several fundraising dinner committees, and was part of the situation is by taking on more broad issues to improve the July 5 at 1:30 p.m. A copy of the candidate’s application form, the nominations planning committee for the national convention in Los An- rights of other groups facing human and civil rights injus- and elections guidelines, and the addendum to the guidelines can be found at geles last year. tices; while in turn, generating more interest in becoming the national convention homepage: www.jacl.org/2012. Being involved in the Japanese American and Asian JACL members from communities outside of the JA com- The nominations committee has released the candidates’ statements and American communities is important to me. I’ve taken lead- munity. We have come a long way since our creation in selected candidates’ application responses for publication. The full text of all ership and planning roles with organizations including the 1929, I believe it is now time to help establish other under candidate statements and responses can also be found at the national conven- Nikkei Federation, Japanese American Community Ser- privileged communities. I believe these are two simple so- tion website. vices, and the Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program. I’ve lutions to focus on when approaching overcoming our cur- also served as a guest trainer for Leadership Education for rent fiscal challenges. These are only a few of the initiatives OFFICIAL CANDIDATES’ STATEMENTS Asian Pacifics’ Executive Leadership Program and Leader- I hope to pursue as national secretary/treasurer. ship in Action programs. As a graduate of the University of Minnesota and cur- Jeffrey Yoshioka (national president rently an analyst at Ameriprise Financial, Inc., a Fortune candidate): After obtaining my BS in account- Jason Chang (v.p. 300 wealth and asset management firm, I believe I have ing from San Jose State University, I became for planning & devel- developed a skillset that is transferable to the national sec- a certified public accountant. I have owned my opment candidate): My retary/treasurer position and I look forward to serving every own firm in San Jose for 15 years. I have been name is Jason Chang and member of the JACL as a national board member. a member of JACL for over 30 years. I’m cur- I am running for my sec- rently the president of the Silicon Valley chap- ond term as v.p. of plan- Jeffrey Moy (national ter and for the past 18 years, I have been an ning and development. youth/student council effective leader as either the chapter treasurer This past biennium, it has chair candidate): My or chapter president of San Jose JACL or Sili- been an honor to serve name is Jeffrey Moy, and con Valley JACL. on the national board I am running for national I am running for JACL national president be- and learn the intricacies youth/student council cause I believe the JACL is at a crossroads. We need to be an organization that of our great organization. (NY/SC) chairperson. is led from the bottom up, with the members telling the leaders what they want The past two years have fo- I graduated from the and need in the organization. As national president, I will make sure that the cused on a common theme of declining membership lead- University of Southern leaders hear what is being said and act upon it. ing to deficit funding in our general account. We’ve had to California in 2008 with a I want to make the Program for Action a real roadmap for the organization. make some hard decisions this past biennium and without double major in philoso- Starting with discussion at the chapter level, the members will be responsible for change, more hard times lie ahead. phy and psychology and informing their delegates of their priorities. Remembering our past and planning My platform this election will focus on development. The currently work as program manager of the professional de- for our future while setting the Program for Action will require compromise and key will be developing new streams of revenue from mul- velopment initiative at OCA. Essentially, my role is to work careful planning at the annual convention. Implementing the Program for Action tiple sources, complementing our annual giving campaigns with young professionals by facilitating programs that teach will be the goal of the national board to carry forth in the next biennium. and efforts to grow membership. Areas that I have targeted them the skills they need to give back to the community. In the Silicon Valley chapter, we focus on intergenerational events, leadership for development of new revenue are adding membership One of the most pressing issues facing JACL is the development and exploring the Japanese American culture in fun and inviting categories. You will hear more about this in the coming lack of young leaders that can eventually take charge of ways. We develop and foster diverse memberships and networks as a good months. We will operationalize an online store that will of- this organization. JACL is in need of new ideas and fresh foundation for sustainability. We can do the same and even better for national fer JACL merchandise and even more products. With the perspectives, and I intend to help the NY/SC continue to and future generations. It will not be easy because of budget constraints, but use of the internet, the world becomes our market and our expand its national network in order to find more people together we can make the JACL a stronger organization. We need effective student JACL members become the innovators of creative willing to step up into roles where they can make change. leadership. Please vote for Jeff Yoshioka for JACL national president. thought. We will seek out new corporate donors and part- Over the past two years, while working with the NY/SC as nerships that infuse our general operations with the capital one of the EDC youth representatives, we have created David Lin (national president candidate): I it needs to continue our mission. a detailed strategic plan providing for continued growth of currently hold the position of executive director, I need your support. Initially I need your vote, but as we this network at the local, regional, and national levels. external affairs at AT&T. My primary responsi- put these programs together and offer new membership My work experience will allow me to further strengthen bility is to build and nurture relationships with categories and services, it’s your support and interest that the pipeline of young leaders we are developing, and keep Asian American community-based organiza- makes it successful. I look forward to seeing you at the them engaged for years to come. With my expertise, the tions. national convention. NY/SC will continue to improve our youth summits, which I received an MS degree in Computer Sci- empower and educate local community members, while ence, a MBA and a BA degree, all from Rutgers John Moy (v.p. for maintaining our focus on recruiting more youth into the University. I am also a graduate of the Program membership candi- organization. I also look forward to continuing to help NY/ for Management Development Executive Edu- date): As chair of the SC members develop into leaders willing to embrace the cation from Harvard Business School. investment policy com- responsibility of helping JACL continue the great work that My motivation to run for national president is mittee, I have come to it does. exactly the same as why I volunteered to serve as understand some of the the v.p. of membership in February 2010. And that is to support JACL so it can needs and wants of the CANDIDATES’ Q&As be a stronger, a more vibrant and influential Asian American organization for all JACL. As in any organi- of us and for all Americans. zation the more money JACL is a nationally recognized civil rights organization and I want to continue it has, the greater its im- Please state your definition of leader- that tradition and take JACL to a whole new level by focusing on the following pact. An organization’s ship and your perception of the role of key areas: 1. Financial stability, 2. Membership, 3. Civil rights advocacy, and 4. lifeblood is its continuing the JACL national board. Culture & heritage preservation. inflow of funds from both Of these four areas, I think the most challenging issue that JACL must ad- individuals and corporations. These funds allow the orga- Jeffrey Yoshioka (national president candidate): I dress quickly is the financial challenge we face. The fact is that our members nization to have more reach and influence: from political believe in leadership by example. I have been fortunate are aging and the membership dues, as the largest revenue source, continue to policy to education. Not having enough funds is the most to have had many mentors in my life who have helped me decline. As such, we need to continue to diversify our revenue sources focusing challenging issue that the JACL must address. My career PACIFIC CITIZEN NATIONAL BOARD CANDIDATES MAY 18-31, 2012 11

grow throughout the years. I listen to and solicit input from oth- Matthew Farrells (secretary/treasurer candidate): My defi- will support the fundraising and budget allocation efforts to allow ers before coming to an opinion. Leadership is also working with nition of leadership is: leading by example, developing leaders of these programs to flourish and succeed. Without the proper fund- people and maximizing their strengths. As a leader, you need to the people you are leading to perpetuate the growth of the whole ing of these crucial programs, we will set them up to fail. assess an individual’s weaknesses and strengths and put every- group, to provide vision and direction of an organization and to one in a position to succeed. inspire and empower those around you to become their best. My Jeffrey Moy: The position of national youth/student chairper- The national board acts on behalf of the membership while the perception of the JACL national board’s role is one that embodies son is arguably one of the most important to implementing the national council is not in session. I believe that the direction should leadership and inspiration. It’s a role that should influence and em- Program for Action since the NY/SC is in large part responsible come from the membership, and the role of elected officers is to power the whole organization, from other national board members for educating the youth and creating new leaders to assist JACL make sure that the priorities of the membership take precedent. to the prospective member at the grassroots level, by providing in advocating for the community. I will aid in directing the NY/SC The national president needs to be approachable so that people the guidance and tools to stride towards the JACL’s vision by car- to educate students and young professionals around the country feel comfortable, but the national president also has an obligation rying out its increasingly important mission. on issues they can work on, as well as providing opportunities for to go out and solicit information, not just wait for it to come in. leadership development in the community and on the council. Jeffrey Moy (national youth/student council chair candi- David Lin (national president candidate): Leadership is hav- date): In my mind, a strong leader is someone who listens and How would you address the challenges fac- ing the vision to seize an opportunity in the disguise of a problem; understands the needs of the group, and finds solutions for these issues. The JACL national board at all times needs to be aware of ing the JACL today? what the community desires from the organization. However, be- ing a strong leader also means prioritizing these needs and acting Yoshioka: One of the problems facing the JACL today is the upon them when necessary. A great leader will use their judgment declining membership. We need to get back to programs that are ‘Please state your to act in the best interests of the group, even when the group may meaningful to the membership. By determining their wants and initially be opposed to those actions. needs we can develop strong local chapters and increase mem- bership. Each local chapter is different, but they can all have a say definitionof lead- in the national vision. How would you implement the Program for If there is support for local chapter activities, we can leverage Action in your elected office? this support into providing leadership for the national organization. ership and your In terms of money, if we are a membership based organization, Yoshioka: The Program for Action is the roadmap from the and the members believe in our mission, then they will be more membership. A national president needs to keep the program likely to give their time, money, and resources to help the national perception of the owners in check and on track. organization. I want to bring the organization back to the membership. By get- If we can show that we have a strong membership, we can le- ting input at the chapter level, the organization becomes relevant verage this into corporate support. However, I believe that any role of the JACL to more people. The Program for Action needs to be discussed corporate money we receive needs to be aligned with the focus at the off-year annual conventions and priorities set, so that the of our organization. national board can use it as the roadmap from the membership national board.’ when making decisions. Lin: As you all know, JACL continues to experience financial challenges, so I will begin to address that overarching issue on the ability to work with others as a team to develop solutions to Lin: If elected, I will work closely with the national board and day one. The fact is that our members are aging and the mem- the problem; and the skills to implement the plan to successfully staff to develop and implement a plan of action to address not only bership dues, as the largest revenue source for the JACL, con- solve the problem. our current challenges, but to provide a forward looking view for tinue to decline. At the same time, we have a number of great The role of the JACL national board should be one that: Sets the next 5-10 years. Specific steps to be taken include: Develop programs that need to be funded to sustain the ongoing operation strategic direction of the JACL; Ensures the organization is well a strategic vision for the JACL to set the organization on the path of the JACL. As such, we need to continue to diversify our rev- run through the staff; Provides guidance and support to the dis- of vitality and prosperity; Direct staff to implement approved pro- enue sources focusing on getting grants and sponsorships. This tricts and chapters; Represents the JACL to the community and grams efficiently and effectively; Ensure integrity of JACL financ- also means that we need to go out of our way to solicit corporate to the public; and Acts as a steward of JACL’s image and assets. es; Monitor progress of the plans and make course corrections, if sponsorships, both nationally and locally; and look for entry points appropriate; Provides ongoing guidance and support to the district to build relationships with foundations. Additionally, we need to Craig Tomiyoshi (v.p. for public affairs candidate): One of and chapters; Utilize all available channels of communications to continue our intense focus on membership retention and recruit- the most important qualities of a leader is the ability and willing- deliver JACL value propositions to existing and prospective mem- ment so we have that steady stream of revenue. ness to listen. Good leaders are willing to listen to a variety of bers; Represent the JACL to the community and to the public; and Act as a steward of JACL’s image and assets. Tomiyoshi: I believe that while JACL is facing a wide range of viewpoints — even from people or organizations that traditionally challenges, I think the most important issue that needs to be ad- have different perspectives than their own — to ensure they have dressed is relevancy. While the purpose of JACL is to secure and the right information to make the best decision. Listening doesn’t Tomiyoshi: While all of the key initiatives outlined by the PFAC (Program for Action Committee) are critical and will need to be maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans and others facing necessarily mean making decisions that try to appease the largest injustice — and has been effective in doing this — I think what has number of people; good leaders will make a decision that they addressed by the vice president of public affairs, I think that two areas — funding and membership — are the ones that require become somewhat overlooked is the member experience. think is right for their team or organization. This approach creates Membership is JACL’s core strength; it is what supports the openness, dialogue and respect; people tend to respect decisions particular focus and priority. Building a consistent and reliable revenue stream and increas- organization from both a financial and influence perspective, and — even if it is not in sync with their own thoughts — if it’s clear their helps shape the direction of the organization. JACL needs to con- voices were heard. ing membership are necessary to build and sustain effective ad- vocacy, youth, education and leadership initiatives. It will be es- duct an assessment of what its current and potential members I believe that is one of the primary roles of the national board. need and want, and work to create programs that support both the Listening to the thoughts and needs from an extremely diverse JA sential for the v.p. of public affairs to work with the national board and staff to build relationships with key stakeholders within the organization’s core mission as well as its members. community and making decisions that will benefit both the organi- Addressing the relevancy question is a critical step that will help zation and community. community and government, and within the corporate world. In addition, this individual must support and lead efforts to better solve many of the other challenges, including membership decline and financial issues. If JACL can determine what would motivate Jason Chang (v.p. for planning & development candidate): understand the member, and develop a strategy to acquire new members and retain existing ones. people to maintain their memberships and attract new members, My definition of leadership is to serve as a role model in prac- other challenges will become much easier to solve. tice. Being a facilitator of the resources and tools the organization needs to be successful goes beyond serving as a spokesperson Chang: I believe that the greatest vehicle for promoting civil Chang: The JACL is in a unique situation, financially and in and into a cooperative role with equal working parts. My percep- rights and social justice is grassroots through our members as terms of membership. We need to seek out new forms of revenue tion of the national board is that it’s our responsibility to preserve well as making the JACL mission known to those who fight battles to complement the annual giving campaigns and other restricted the foundation that the JACL was founded in an evolving era of against these forms of injustice. In order to best act on this ini- donations made to the organization. Membership is one aspect variable perspectives and influences. Our board should proac- tiative, it’s important to provide our local chapters with tools for that needs to be rebuilt. Developing novel revenue streams, other tively help local chapters develop a medium to communicate the generating membership, including brochures and electronic forms than corporate sponsorships, are necessary to carry us forward JACL message to new members who have a vague understanding of media that encourage interaction. into the future. of the road posterity has paved. Leadership is a unique quality bestowed upon a handful of John Moy: I would confer with the past national vice president John Moy: For many years, my feeling has been that the JACL individuals. In the case of the JACL national board, we are in a for One Thousand Club, membership and services to understand is deeply tied to its roots. In order to be relevant for today and the unique situation. We have millions of dollars in endowments and what was done in the past that worked and didn’t work; and, what future, the JACL, in my opinion, must look at the younger gen- restricted funding, and declining revenue year over year. Some- thoughts he/she may have about today’s membership and ser- eration. However, in order to fund more projects/programs to add thing needs to change within the infrastructure of the JACL or it will vices. As an investment advisor, I have had to put Wall Street lingo membership, we will need more donations. I would like to see us cease to exist. This is the time for strong leadership and strategic into common English so investors could understand the many fac- double our efforts in this area. Focusing on a goal and having thinking to push change and make decisions that ensure the JACL ets of investing. If one understands how the power of money can everyone participate should put us on the right track. Failure is not mission is carried forward. work for the common good, then one would tend to donate their an option for to fail in this could spell a smaller JACL. time and money more readily. John Moy (v.p. for membership candidate): I believe the Farrells: To address the challenges the JACL faces today is a board has a responsibility to represent all Asian Americans with Farrells: I will provide leadership in executing the JACL Pro- difficult task. However, it is a crucial task to ensure our organiza- regard to their rights and privileges within the United States Con- gram for Action in several major ways. First, I will push for program- tion remains relevant for decades to come. We are at a cross- stitution. It must stand proudly to insure that rights of minorities are ming at the national board level that is vital to grow awareness of roads; the focus of our organization needs to change in several not forgotten nor trampled. Leadership of the JACL board must our organization, issues, and mission throughout the communities major ways. First, we need to focus on making the JACL relevant provide a beacon to all those needing strength when their rights we work and live. A few programs that I believe are truly effective to young adults and allow the full integration of young adults into are not protected. The JACL needs to have a broader voice in the at achieving the Program for Action’s goals are Project: Commu- leadership positions at all levels of the organization. Second, we political arena so those that would try to take advantage of minori- nity, Bridging Communities, Washington, D.C. Leadership Sum- need to shift our revenue source from membership-based to grant/ ties will know the consequences. The JACL must maintain close mit, and the preservation of the WWII internment camps. These fundraising-based. This will relieve the pressure of a drastically ties with both their members and the leaders in government. programs create the means of providing education on advocacy, declining revenue stream. Lastly, we need to focus on programs leadership, social justice, and community preservation. Second, I 12 MAY 18-31, 2012 NATIONAL BOARD CANDIDATES PACIFIC CITIZEN that are core to the mission of the JACL in order to solidify the ship at large. With a stronger membership, we are more viable for to get them together to share what they are interested in. JACL’s place as the premier Asian American human and civil corporation donations. We need to encourage more intergenerational discussion and rights organization. Also, if the membership believes that we are worth donating activities. to, they will follow through with more donations. We need to work It will be imperative to use existing relations and work with Jeffrey Moy: Thanks to the strategic plan drawn up at last on developing a planned giving program. I feel that the Nisei and people who already have a network of connections. Part of the year’s NY/SC retreat, we have a number of specific goals which other generations would give to an organization that is building a challenge will be going to the membership and looking for their include growing the number of youth members in JACL, providing strong legacy. help with various corporate groups and sponsorships. additional leadership opportunities at the local and district level, and educating youth around the nation on what we do. My hope Lin: I will be doing the following on fundraising: Develop a Lin: I will be doing the following to develop and/or improve rela- would be that these efforts will allow for an influx of youth into fundraising plan jointly with the national board and staff; Engage tions with stakeholder groups: JACL, which will provide for a new generation of leaders that can national board members and staff in executing the plan; Set clear, • Develop a list of target organizations that JACL is or should take care of the organization for years to come. challenging fundraising objectives for each board member and the be working with, with input from the national board and staff, national director so we can all contribute to the success of the • Prioritize this list of organizations, How would you explain the purpose and role organization; and report on fundraising results on a monthly basis • Develop a relationship building plan for each organization, and at each national board meeting to ensure progress of the office you seek to someone outside of • For each organization, assign responsibility for building/ managing the relationship to either staff or a national board JACL? Tomiyoshi: Until JACL is able to successfully address the is- member, sue of declining membership, fundraising will need to be the pri- Yoshioka: The role of the JACL national president is to be the mary source of operating funds to support the organization and its leader of the national board and to direct the national director and programs. I believe that assisting the organization in developing executive editor of the Pacific Citizen. an effective fundraising strategy and helping to make new connec- The president needs to be knowledgeable in all areas including tions with funders will be one of the key strengths that I will be able ‘How would you membership, finance, operations and civil rights. to bring to the national board. The national president needs to make sure that we are fulfilling I am a firm believer that fundraising isn’t the work of one or two the mission of the JACL while the national council is not in session. individuals within an organization. It’s more than just writing pro- explain the purpose Since JACL is a organization rich in culture and has a long stand- posals or grants; it involves developing a comprehensive strategy ing history in upholding the civil liberties of all Americans, we need that will help shift the mindset of the organization towards a more to make sure as we move forward as a country, that we do not fundraising-focused model. This does not involve “selling out” or and role of the office forget the lessons and mistakes of the past. The unconstitutional compromising values, nor does it mean neglecting the importance treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II is a part of of membership. Rather, it means making fundraising a priority you seek to someone American history that must be shared with all Americans so that within JACL, and activating resources within the organization at this does not happen again to any group. all levels outside of JACL?’ Lin: In a word, providing leadership to the organization, and Chang: The role of v.p. of planning and development is intri- more specifically: Develop a strategic vision for the JACL to set cately involved in seeking new sources of revenue. From repre- the organization on the path of vitality and prosperity; Lead the senting the organization amongst funders and working with staff to • Report out at monthly and at the national board meetings to JACL in executing that vision in the form of the biennial budget, develop revenue-generating programs, it’s a hands on approach. ensure progress. with the approval of the national council; Ensure the organization is well run and financially stable; and Represent the organization John Moy: Managing money and raising funds through client Tomiyoshi: As with fundraising, improving relations with these in a professional manner with all stakeholders, e.g. elected of- acquisition is the strength of my success as a financial advisor. organizations and communities is not the responsibility of just a ficials, foundations, sponsors, non-profit organizations and other I am willing to see how it will translate in the JACL. My hope is, handful of individuals. Every person within the organization, from ethnic communities. given time, I can come up with ideas that will boost our finances. executive leadership down to the member, needs to view them- One idea is to educate members to invest in donor funds and to selves as an ambassador for the organization and work to both Tomiyoshi: One of the key roles of the vice president of public name the JACL as beneficiary. Another is to find corporations that identify opportunities for JACL, and help build relationships. affairs is to actively engage and build relationships with JACL’s give matching dollars to its employees; then ask those employees These types of relationships — as well as the partnerships that key stakeholders. This includes elected officials, community lead- who also are members of the JACL to donate through matching result from them — tend to be more effective and long lasting ers, new and existing funders and supporters, and current and gifts. Another is to team up with corporate sponsors to donate cost versus ones that simply come from the top-down. potential members. The v.p. of public affairs should also take an savings to the JACL. For instance, asking Japan Airlines to donate This type of change cannot happen overnight, nor will it happen active role in external communications on behalf of the national funds if a certain number of JACLers travel using their airline. Or on its own. It requires making relationship building a priority initia- office, including media relations, branding and marketing efforts. Hawaiian Airlines to donate funds for those visiting the islands tive, and effective communications to leadership and members to I believe that my 10 years of experience in the field of marketing or Las Vegas. Updating the membership is essential. A birthday provide them with the tools to be able to become ambassadors for communications has given me the necessary skills to effectively recognition of those reaching 100 tied to some fundraising event JACL. As a national board member, I hope to be able to share my carry out the duties of this position. held at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Ange- expertise to help JACL explore an initiative or opportunity such les could bring in funds. Holding chapter meetings at local Asian as this. Chang: As v.p. of planning and development I expect to seek restaurants will help local restaurateurs. But then we need to ask out relationships and opportunities that are aligned with JACL ini- them to donate advertising dollars in our newspaper. Chang: no response tiatives. At the same time, I will be overly diligent ensuring that the initiatives and projects that have been carried by my predecessors Farrells: There are several ways I would assist or actively par- John Moy: Having my son, Jeffrey, work in the youth group are completed in a seamless manner. ticipate in fundraising activities. First, I believe the national board of the JACL helps me understand what today’s youth group is is responsible to lead by example and fundraise, as all members searching for. We continue discussing the problems that exist and John Moy: I tell people outside of the JACL that this organiza- should (whether it is by recruiting new members or securing grant/ how to resolve these. If we want to grow our organization, it’s tion is the oldest and largest civil rights organization concerned corporate funding). I would pledge to raise an amount the national important to have more important positions and activities for them. with issues of education and public policy of Asian Americans. board would determine all board member would have to commit We could be more inclusive and reach out to gays and lesbians. I Even though JACL means Japanese American Citizens League, to. Second, I would encourage the development of new fundrais- also believe that we should reach out to the NFL/MLB to engage it represents all Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. ing strategies and refocus on corporate/government grant funding in discussions with Asian American and Pacific Islander players as the desired source of revenue in the future. Lastly, I would and have them donate through their individual foundations to our Farrells: The national secretary/treasurer position is one of utilize my own personal/professional network to identify potential organization. The same should be done for those in the arts and great importance. As treasurer you oversee the organization’s fi- sources of funding and work with the executive director to meet sciences. nances and are an integral part of national board meetings. Some the requirements for funding. major responsibilities include, but are not limited to, ensuring Farrells: There are several ways I will develop and/or improve proper financial reporting occurs frequently to the national board Jeffrey Moy: I have several ideas around the issue of fundrais- relations with other organizations and groups. First, I will take the and national council, working with staff to ensure the finances are ing, but one that I am currently working on is creating local youth approach that coalition building is crucial to successful advocacy in order to conduct day-to-day operations and ensure the proper groups to drive membership to specific chapters. In my case, I am effort of our communities. This, in turn, boosts the success of other recording and meeting notes of the national board meetings. creating a JACL D.C. Young Professionals group to work with the AAPI and other special interest groups and benefits the broader large number of APA young professionals in D.C. that has largely American citizen community as a whole. Within this same vein, I Jeffrey Moy: My role is to oversee the NY/SC, a body that been untapped by the chapter. This model is also being followed believe that the JACL is in a unique place in history and in the educates students and young professionals on issues facing the in Chicago, and is something that could help drive membership prime position to take on human and civil rights issues that impact greater APA community, and encourages networking and lead- dollars to JACL. the broader community. I believe the JACL should assist other ership development to create the next generation of JACL advo- communities in their right to “have a seat at the table.” Second, cates. How would you develop and/or improve rela- I will shift the focus from a membership-based organization to tions with youth groups, corporate sponsors, a corporate/government-financed organization. This will require How would you assist in or actively partici- special relationship building with our corporate sponsors. Lastly, I organizations, and ethnic communities? will continue to encourage a pipeline of involvement for youth and pate in raising funds for JACL? young adults. Yoshioka: Each of these groups is different and will require Yoshioka: First, I would assess what funds are needed and careful consideration as to how we can develop a stronger re- Jeffrey Moy: Since I work for OCA, and regularly attend events look into all available options including corporate donations, fund- lationship. JACL has a long history that we can share with other held by other organizations such as NAPAWF and CAPAL, I am raisers and grants. My experience and expertise has been to ana- groups. For instance, after the events of 9/11, JACL offered sup- always looking for partnership opportunities, both locally and na- lyze the best course of action. I will assist where I can as national port to various Muslim communities and shared our experience as tionally. In addition, I work with a number of corporate sponsors president and I will lead by example. Japanese Americans during World War II. and continue to discuss different possibilities for further collabora- I would work with the national director to help with fundraising I feel that we need to develop programs that are attractive to a tion. n from corporate money that is in line with the vision of the member- wide variety of youth. We need to reinstate the youth conference PACIFIC CITIZEN COMMENTARY MAY 18-31, 2012 13 commentary too harsh and “conjures up images of the Nazi death cal and a psychological imprisonment. If he had the camps.” His use of the word “conjure” does not seem choice of being there or being free, which would have THE TRUTH appropriate but he did make the differentiation. One been his choice? was a Nazi death camp and the other America’s con- So then what is a concentration camp? This comes ABOUT centration camp. History reveals there were other from a 1998 statement made after officials from the concentration camps in the Spanish American War, Japanese American National Museum and Jewish WWII WILL the Boer War in South Africa, the Philippine Insurrec- groups met to resolve their objections to the use of the tion, Cambodia, Bosnia and the 10 in the U.S. during term “concentration camp” in the title of the exhibit at WWII, which imprisoned 120,313 Nikkei. Those in Ellis Island, New York: SET YOU America had all the physical make-up of a concentra- “A concentration camp is a place where people are tion camp. imprisoned not because of any crimes they have com- FREE Suguro said he polled some Issei — specifically the mitted, but simply because of whom they are … All obasan and not the Issei ojisan since he stated they do had one thing in common: the people in power re- By Stanley N. Kanzaki not “express their feelings and emotions” — and they moved a minority group from the general population all had “positive feelings about the camps.” This is and the rest of society let it happen.” n the April 20 issue of the Pacific Citizen, Ed Suguro wrote a letter to hard to believe for it was the Issei who suffered the This is what happened to 120,313 of us during the editor and Paul H. Kusuda wrote a commentary about euphemisms most in the concentration camps. It’s not known how WWII. David A. Harris, then executive director of Iused by the U.S. government to describe the unjust incarceration of Nik- extensive or the number of the Issei obasan he polled. the American Jewish Committee, said in a New York kei during WWII. They both favored the use of euphemisms, which is Was it done in Nihongo? But the final question is: was Times editorial, “We have not claimed Jewish exclu- not the truth. Suguro incarcerated during WWII in a concentration sivity for the term ‘concentration camp.’” At that time there were 120,313 of us, of which two-thirds were Ameri- camp or “internment camp” as he likes to call it? It’s been 70 years since President Franklin Roos- can citizens, who were so incarcerated. Kusuda said, “Let’s not rewrite history,” but history evelt promulgated E.O. 9066 in 1942, which unjustly Suguro proposed a poll to be taken by those who were incarcerated on shows it is necessary at times to do so if the truth is to imprisoned 120,313 of us in America’s concentration what the WRA camps should be called and gives some suggestions. His be known. The use of euphemisms as used by the U.S. camps. And did you know that he, along with Presi- choice was “internment camp.” Technically only enemy aliens are in- government during WWII is not the truth. Why did dent Harry S. Truman and other high U.S. government terned in this type of prison. During WWII the U.S. government interned they use euphemisms? It was to justify that which was officials, called them concentration camps? Stop be- 14,000 Issei in 17 internment centers. This seems to be the only time the not justifiable. Kusuda objected to the JACL’s POW ing brainwashed. Free your imprisoned heads from government did not use a euphemism. And to use that term to describe Committee’s effort to “rewrite history.” The commit- the desert where we were once imprisoned. Face the everyone who was incarcerated would make it seem like all 120,313 of tee is working to bring truth to history. truth for the truth shall set you free. n us were enemy aliens. Kusuda said his experience while imprisoned at The use of the term “concentration camp,” according to Suguro, is Manzanar was positive. It was for many a physi- Stanley Kanzaki is a member of the New York JACL.

commentary does apply according to the Geneva Convention,” ac- mail to [email protected] or send a brief letter cording to the handbook. to the JACL Power of Words Committee (1765 Sut- The draft handbook recommends “incarceration” to ter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115). We are reaching COMMITTEE INTRODUCES more accurately describe JAs held in WRA camps. out broadly to people including JACL chapters and “This term reflects the prison-like conditions faced districts, historians, writers, academics, community NEW POWER OF WORDS by Japanese Americans as well as the view that they groups, leaders, individuals, and many others. If you were treated as if guilty of sabotage, espionage, and/ represent an organization, please include the name or suspect loyalty,” the handbook states. and contact information for the president or other of- HANDBOOK ON LANGUAGE, The handbook also recommends that instead of “re- ficial representative. location camp,” the words “concentration camp” be 3. Make a donation to support the Power of JA WWII EXPERIENCE used. Words handbook. “Depending on the context, words with quotation In 2011, the JACL national council approved Emer- marks ‘American concentration camp’ may be used,” gency Resolution 1, which had a fiscal impact form By Power of Words Committee 2 according to the handbook. “Alternatives are incar- indicating that $1,040 was needed to cover the ex- ceration camp or illegal detention center.” penses for national staff time and the publication of he Power of Words draft handbook, which aims to more accurately The handbook does not aim to change original his- the final version of the handbook. This amount, which describe the World War II Japanese American experience, is now torical documents, and we do not intend to take on the will be raised from other sources such as donations, Tavailable online for public review. role of the “word police.” will not impact the national budget. Contributions are Last April, the JACL national board unanimously approved PNW Dis- Rather, the handbook was created to promote great- needed to complete the work. Checks should be made trict Gov. Chip Larouche’s motion to distribute a draft of the Power of er understanding and awareness while recognizing an payable to the JACL with a notation of POW2 in the Words handbook to JACL chapters. The handbook is available online at individual’s freedom of speech. By using more accu- memo line and sent to JACL headquarters. These www.jacl.org/powerofwords. rate and appropriate language, we hope to promote a designated funds will be used only for administrative, Guided by the Power of Words resolutions, which were passed at the more honest, real, and transparent understanding of printing, and distribution costs associated with the JACL national conventions in 2010 and 2011, the draft handbook more this historic time period. POW2 handbook. accurately describes the events and actions experienced by JAs during We invite JACL members and the public to get in- We wish to thank our supporters for their comments, WWII. volved in three ways: care, and dedication. The POW2 Committee is also During this difficult period in JA history, the U.S. government stra- 1. Provide valuable input. drafting a brief implementation plan with helpful sug- tegically used euphemisms to inaccurately portray the forced removal Please read the handbook and provide feedback to gestions on how JACL chapters, districts, national, and unjust incarceration of approximately 110,000 people of Japanese the POW2 committee by June 8. This will give the and others can promote more accurate language. We descent. Euphemistic terms like “evacuation,” “assembly centers,” and committee time to review comments before the JACL look forward to finalizing the handbook and imple- “relocation” masked the government’s civil rights violations and the in- national council votes on the handbook this July. Com- mentation plan for discussion at the 2012 JACL na- credible hardships experienced by JAs. ments may be emailed to [email protected] or tional convention in July. Written by the Power of Words 2 (POW2) Committee, the draft hand- mailed directly to JACL’s national headquarters, care National JACL President David Kawamoto ap- book addresses the problematic use of euphemisms and recommends of the Power of Words Committee (1765 Sutter Street, pointed a representative from each JACL district to preferred terminology to describe the incarceration of JAs during WWII. San Francisco, CA 94115). serve on the POW2 Committee. These representatives Among other things, the draft handbook points out that the word “in- 2. Sign the Power of Words supporter’s list. are: Greg Marutani (chair), Megan Gately (PSW), ternment” refers to the confinement of enemy aliens in a time of war. We are creating a supporter’s list to boost efforts Sandra Grant (IDC), Lisa Hanasono (MDC), Hiro Most JAs incarcerated in WRA camps during WWII were American citi- to replace misleading euphemisms about the WWII Nishikawa (EDC), Andy Noguchi (NCWNP), Dawn zens and therefore, according to the handbook, the term does not apply. JA experience. If you support the substance of this Rego (PNW) and Bob Taniguchi (CCDC). n “A few thousand mostly aliens were held in DOJ camps, where the term draft Power of Words handbook, please send an e- 14 MAY 18-31, 2012 CALENDAR PACIFIC CITIZEN A NATIONAL GUIDE TO NOTABLE COMMUNITY EVENTS*

Rhythmic Relations 2012: CALENDAR The Remix Show HOLLYWOOD, CA June 30, 8 p.m. Ford Amphitheatre 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East The best of taiko from the U.S. and abroad come togeth- er on one stage in this Taiko- Project event. Now in its fifth year, this taiko extravaganza comes with an innovative new twist by offering its own remixed versions of traditional taiko compositions performed by celebrated groups. Tickets prices start at $20-$25. Info: www.taikoproject.com or 213/268-4011

>>NATIONAL at the JACL national headquar- Enjoy homemade Japanese The annual event features 510/276-0752, or Ed Oda at ters at 1765 Sutter Street. To cuisine, crafts, children’s bingo, raffles and the presen- 510/538-6380 donate make checks out to games and entertainment. A tation of the Kee Kitayama The 43rd Annual JACL “Nisei VFW Post #9879” in portion of the proceeds will be Memorial Scholarship. The >>PSW National Convention care of Quartermaster George used to assist those in need featured entertainment will be BELLEVUE, WA Fujikawa 3017 Glynis Drive , and to promote family and Watsonville Taiko. CBFSoCal Camp Stories July 5-8 Richmond, CA 94806 . youth activities. Info: [email protected] Awards Show Hyatt Regency Info: Patty Wada, NCWNP re- Info: 510/848-4680 or www.watsonvillesantacru- ARCADIA, CA 900 Bellevue Way NE gional director 415/345-1075 zjacl.org June 2, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Info: Hyatt Reservations: Japanese Cultural Fair Santa Anita Park 888/421-1442 Right from Wrong: SANTA CRUZ, CA The Eden Township Annual 285 W. Huntington Drive Convention website: Honoring the Lessons of the June 16, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Bazaar Fundraiser Honorees include Esther Takei www.jacl.org/2012 Honouliuli Internment Camp Mission Plaza Park SAN LORENZO, CA Nishio, who was taken out of HONOLULU 103 Emmet Street June 9-10, 3-8 p.m. camp to attend Pasadena City >>NCWNP May 23, 10 a.m.-12 noon Admission free and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. College in 1944. There she Wahiawa State Library Celebrating its 26th anniver- Eden Japanese experienced prejudice, but with Memorial Day Service 820 California Ave. sary with traditional perfor- Community Center the support of Quakers, fellow SAN BRUNO, CA The presentation will include a mances of folk dance, tea 710 Elgin Street students and college adminis- May 28, 10 a.m. short film on Honouliuli and a ceremony, taiko, martial arts, The Eden Township Annual trators, Nishio went on to excel Golden Gate National Day of Remembrance pilgrim- flower arrangement, koto Bazaar Fundraiser will feature in her studies. Cemetery (section R) age and personal testimonies. music, Kyogen play theater, Eden Aoba Taiko on both days. Info: www.cherryblossom- 1300 Sneath Lane Info: www.jcch.com mochitsuki(rice pounding), Oki- A raffle drawing to be held at festivalsocal.org This JACL-sponsored event nawan dance, and more. 7 on June 10. Chicken and rib will feature keynote speaker Food Bazaar combination dinners, chicken Riverside JACL Gary Hongo, retired lieutenant BERKELEY, CA Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL dinners and other items will be Scholarship Awards colonel in the U.S. Air Force May 27, noon-4 p.m. Community Picnic sold. There will be games for RIVERSIDE, CA who assisted with the Congres- Berkeley Methodist SANTA CRUZ, CA children, bingo for adults, and May 20 sional Gold Medal ceremony in United Church June 23, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. a silent auction benefitting the First Christian Church Washington, D.C. Following the 1710 Carleton Street Aptos Village Plaza Eden Athletic Club. 4055 Jurupa Ave. services,PacificCitizen_PO lunch will be ad:Layout served 1 5/8/2012Admission 5:44 free, PM food Page $2-$10 1 100 Aptos Creek Road Info: Contact Ron Sakaue at The Riverside JACL will be announcing the eight scholar- ship recipients for 2012 at the RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! annual potluck dinner. Info: Michiko Yoshimura “Proud to Serve” contains 951/784-7057 or the names of 20,000 Nisei [email protected] n men and women who served during World War II. The book will be over 400 pages with a color paperback cover. $24.95 INCLUDE SHIPPING ADDRESS INTRODUCTORY PRICE 701 East Third Street, Suite 130 Los Angeles, CA 90013-1789

Please reserve ______@ 24.95 introductory price = ______

please add sales tax 8.75% ($2.18) = ______Shipping Rates 1 book - $7.00 shipping = ______Each additional book - $3.00 Pickup at the Rafu Shimpo Office is available Grand Total = ______PACIFIC CITIZEN OBITUARIES MAY 18-31, 2012 15 TRIBUTE James Fumio Murakami September 7, 1926 – April 28, 2012

James Fumio Murakami, born in Santa In addition to attending the monthly Enman Rosa on September 7, 1926 passed from this No Tomo gatherings where he visited with earth on April 28, 2012. friends (and enjoyed playing poker), Jim also Jim grew up in Sonoma County. After the loved spending time with his grandchildren, Pearl Harbor attack, he and his family were family and friends, as well as striper fishing, incarcerated first in Merced and then in Am- reading, spending time in his garden and ache, Colorado for three years. After serving watching the Giants on TV with his wife. in the U.S. military, he entered then gradu- He leaves behind his loving and devoted ated from UC Berkeley. Jim owned his own wife of 59 years of marriage, Margarette; son electrical/mechanical engineering business in Alan (Renee), daughter Kimiye; grandchil- Santa Rosa for over 40 years. dren Michael, Mark, Danny, Ray, sister Fuji Jim was national president of the J.A.C.L. Kamatani and a host of relatives and friends. (Japanese American Citizens League). He A memorial service is planned for Sunday, was instrumental in passing the redress leg- May 20 at 3:00 at the Community Church, islation. He continued to be active in the local 1000 Gravenstein Hwy No., Sebastopol. JACL chapter. Jim was a charter member and Donations can be made to the organization past president of the East Rotary organiza- of your choice. tion. FORMER JACL NAT’L PRESIDENT JAMES MURAKAMI PASSES Murakami served as and mechanical business, Mu- rakami Engineers, for 40 years. In president from 1976- addition to his lengthy career, he 1978 during the early devoted much of his time to JACL, having served as a Sonoma JACL stages of the Re- chapter president in addition to his dress Movement. national presidency. “Jim was a great friend who served the JACL well,” said Floyd Reverse Mortgage By Pacific Citizen Staff Mori, JACL national executive director. “It was my privilege to Call for a free information package When James Murakami, former know him for many years, and I If you are 62 or older and own your house, national JACL president, made the have valued his ideals and views. I decision to help lead the Redress would like to express the deepest a Reverse Mortgage may benefit you! Movement during his tenure from up after Executive Order 9066 was condolences to the family from • Turn Home Equity into Tax Free Cash 1976-1978, he solidified his place signed by President Franklin Roo- myself and the JACL as an organi- • You keep title to your home in U.S. history with the passage of sevelt. zation. He will be greatly missed.” • No Monthly Mortgage Payments • FHA Program Designed for Seniors the historic Redress legislation in It was his unconstitutional im- “We are grateful for the service 1988. prisonment that fueled Murakami’s that Jim gave to the JACL and his “I pledge to provide excellent customer service with the highest standard of ethics” Active until the end, Murakami later efforts to help win redress support of redress,” said National passed away April 28 while help- for the Japanese American com- JACL President David Kawamo- 25+ Years Experience as a Financial Professional ing his son change the oil in the munity. It would take more than a to. “We will miss his presence at David C. Miyagawa Chee family’s tractor. Murakami was 85. decade, but the legislation for an JACL functions.” Certified Public Accountant 1-800-967-3575 historic apology and redress pay- CA Dept. of Real Estate – Real Estate Broker #01391106 Murakami grew up in Sonoma Murakami leaves behind his NMLS ID 263222 County, Calif. and at the age of 15 ments was signed into law in 1988. wife of 59 years, Margarette, his he and his family were first sent to “One of the main things that he son Alan, his daughter Kimiye said to me was, ‘Alan I hope this the Merced Assembly Center and Beane of Springfield, Mass., and Get Your Recipe Featured in the P.C.! eventually to the Amache incar- injustice that happened to the Japa- sister Fuji Kamatami of Los An- ceration camp in Colorado during nese Americans never happens geles. World War II for three years. The again,’” said his son, Alan Muraka- Memorial services will be held Murakamis were among tens of mi of Sebastopol, in an interview May 20 at the Community Church thousands of Americans of Japa- with The Press Democrat. of Sebastopol at 1000 Gravenstein nese ancestry who were rounded A UC Berkeley graduate, Mu- Hwy. n rakami owned his own electrical

To submit Submit your favorite recipes to be a recipe or ad, featured in the Pacific Citizen’s contact us by special Food Issue. June 4.

Email us at [email protected] or call (800) 966-6157 16 MAY 18-31, 2012 COMMENTARY PACIFIC CITIZEN history. In the issue were updates from on- those who were impacted by the disaster. MIYAZAKI going projects at Tule Lake and Honouliuli, We have worked with nine local non-gov- >>continued from pg. 2 news of an upcoming symposium in New ernmental organizations (NGOs) to provide Mexico addressing the Department of Jus- immediate and long-term sustainable initia- The March 26-April 5, 2012, issue was tice camps at Lordsburg and Santa Fe, and a tives to help the people in need in the hard a great example of what the tiny P.C. staff moving commentary about remembrance by hit areas. does so well. It reads as a compelling mix of New York chapter member James Kumpel. Among the programs which the NGOs news and information for our diverse JACL More than ever, we’re aware that the con- have provided with the funds furnished are: membership, which represent a wide range cerns and interests of the Japanese American helping victims with cash for work pro- in terms of age, interests and geography. community are often shared with the broader grams, restoring damaged businesses, pro- The P.C. is invaluable in keeping mem- Asian Pacific American community. The viding on site and mobile libraries, moni- bers abreast of issues facing the national issue included stories on racist remarks di- toring health and well being needs of the organization. In Nalea J. Ko’s enlightening rected toward NBA player Jeremy Lin, Asian Mori visited a temporary housing center for aged, improving insulation for temporary and lengthy interview with Americans participating the elderly displaced by the tsunami. housing, training volunteers for daycare fa- Priscilla Ouchida, JACL’s in the reenactment of the cilities, helping to build capacity to provide first female national director, ‘The P.C. does march on Selma to fight for MORI human services, and providing volunteer we learned about her life and a great job of voter rights, and Arizona coordination. background, including early chapter member Leslie >>continued from pg. 2 We have been able to see the positive im- encounters with racism and informing us Tamura’s account of per- pact on thousands of people and the resto- her pioneering Redress work sonally protesting the end Pitt mentioned Direct Relief International ration of properties and public places. The in the state of California. Ou- about our own of a Mexican American as “a really responsible and worthwhile or- resilience and enterprise of the Japanese chida, who has been active in Studies program in Tucson. ganization. It has been around since about people have been remarkable, but there is JACL since the 1980s, out- communities ...’ Nalea J. Ko’s report on 1948, and they also work with the Japanese still much work to be done. It is encourag- lined her visions for the fu- HIV/AIDS in the APA American Citizens League toward Japan’s ing to see the progress which our efforts ture of the organization. community (funded by The California En- relief effort. One-hundred percent of the have helped to accomplish. The many who P.C. The does a great job of informing us dowment Health Journalism Fellowships, funds go to help, and it’s an outfit I feel made contributions can feel proud of the about our own communities, while cover- a program of USC’s Annenberg School for comfortable about supporting or giving lives which are being improved through ing news of others whose interests we share. Communication & Journalism) is a great ex- funds to.” Pitt also said of Japan: “It’s a their monetary donations. Story subjects in the issue included a high ample of important, original reporting. huge issue, but it’s also one of the few times I experienced much gratitude from the school band on Maui preparing for a perfor- In closing, I would appeal to your love of when a catastrophe on that scale happened victims of the disaster who sent their deep mance at Carnegie Hall, Nisei veterans being JACL, to your desire to stay connected with to a place that wouldn’t sink if others didn’t appreciation for caring people who helped honored in Monterey and Portland, and an other members near and far, and to the goal step in and help.” to relieve disaster torn communities. Japa- obituary for Dorothy Katsuko Hamade, who of maintaining the high standard of news to In April I was privileged to make a trip nese government officials also expressed will be remembered by her surviving fam- which we’ve all become accustomed. to Japan accompanying DRI CEO Thomas their appreciation. We would like to ac- ily, including seven grandchildren and three I rest my case! n Tighe and members of his staff to visit the knowledge the assistance of the JACL Ja- great-grandchildren. projects funded by the Japan Relief and pan Chapter and Meiji Gakuen University Kevin Miyazaki is the Midwest District’s The story of incarceration during WWII Recovery Fund. The initial objective of the in the beginning stages of the relief effort. Pacific Citizen editorial board rep. will always be at the surface of our collective fund was to reach out in a direct manner to Thanks to all who helped. n

Join the National JACL Credit Union to support your Next Generation

For all your banking needs, join your National JACL Credit Union where you will find everything for your finances at your fingertips.

Z VISA Debit & Credit Cards Z CDs Z HELOC Loans Z Money Market Accounts Z FREE Checking Z SBA Loans Z Bill Pay Z Mortgage Loans Z Auto Loans Z Savings Accounts

32124 Code: Promo