APRIL 1-14, 2011 PAGE 4 Japanese Americans of the Jet Age. RECOVERY IN JAPAN HELPING THE HELPLESS PAGE 7 JACL, Japanese Americans Casinos target step up fundraising efforts. Asian Americans. PAGE 3 Father- daughter duo on ʻThe Biggest Loser.ʼ AP PHOTO/MARK BAKER # 3164 VOL. 152, NO. 6 ISSN: 0030-8579 WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG PAGE APRIL 91-14, 2011 2 apr. 1-14, 2011 LETTERS/COMMENTARY PACIFIC CITIZEN HOW TO REACH US LETTERS TO THE EDITOR E-mail: [email protected] Online: www.pacificcitizen.org Civil Discourse Payback Comments Tel: (213) 620-1767 Fax: (213) 620-1768 on Immigration are Distasteful Mail: 250 E. First Street, Suite 301 Los Angeles, CA 90012 While I welcome a vigorous These comments, especially StaFF debate on immigration, I also in regards to the Pearl Harbor Executive Editor feel that we should be committed attack, are because of fear and Caroline Y. Aoyagi-Stom to a civil discourse informed by lack of information (“Amid Assistant Editor Lynda Lin thorough research and evidence Rescue Efforts in Quake-hit (“Ariz. Immigration” letter, March Japan, Racist Comments are Reporter Nalea J. Ko 4-17). Rampart on the Web”, Pacific Federal social services require Business Manager Citizen, March 18-31). Staci Hisayasu citizenship. Moreover, we must I personally overheard a remember that immigrants — Circulation PHOTO: LAUREN KANEGAWA/BROOKS INSTITUTE person say: “Japan’s a rich Eva Lau-Ting sanctioned and undocumented — country — let them just help Advertising Representative are significant contributors to our themselves” shortly after the Brad Kiyomura Don’t Forget About Books economy. They are consumers, and earthquake and tsunami. The Pacific Citizen newspaper thus pay taxes, and toil in some (ISSN: 0030-8579) is published In regards to the Pacific Citizen article “Cultural Disconnect Among Franklin Roosevelt was an of the most grueling, unsafe jobs semi-monthly (except once in De- Japanese American Youth” in the March 4-17 issue, I would like to active participant in the events cember and January) by the Japa- with little to no avenues for social remind your readers that there is another way to learn about Japanese leading up to Pearl Harbor. nese American Citizens League, mobility. Pacific Citizen, American history besides learning it in school and talking to your In the book “Day of Deceit” Our economy, unfortunately, is 250 E. 1st Street, Suite 301, Los elders. It’s called “books.” by Robert B. Stinnet, many of Angeles, CA 90012 dependent upon maintaining an In the Indianapolis public library system, for example, there are 68 the events leading up to the Periodical postage paid at L.A., CA underground and exploited labor POSTMASTER: send address books about the internment (cataloged under “Japanese Americans- attack are clearly defined. The market. I am proud that the JACL changes to National JACL, 1765 Evacuation and Relocation, 1942-1945”). attack was really not a surprise Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115 has taken a courageous stance The titles range from books appropriate for small children to — not to Roosevelt anyway — on immigration reform and is JACL President: David Kawamoto books by historians to the report of the Commission on Wartime and this should be known to all. National Director: Floyd Mori fighting against demonization of Relocation and Internment of Civilians, as well as oral histories Comments such as “payback” P.C. editorial BOARD all immigrants. and books of photographs. Books make nice graduation gifts, too. are not right Judith Aono, chairperson; Paul Niwa, EDC; Kevin Miyazaki, MDC; J. DEGUZMAN Bobbi Hanada, CCDC; vacant, NC- NANCY N. CONNER San Fernando Valley JON I. TAKATA WNPDC; Hugh Burleson, PNWDC; via email JACL Board Member Thornton, Colorado Jeff Itami, IDC; Cindi Harbottle, PSWDC; Sonya Kuki, Youth SuBSCRIBE SPRING campaiGN natiONAL DIRECTor’s rEPORT Get a one-year subscription of the Pacific Citizen newspaper at: www.pacificcitizen.org or call Warm Spring Thoughts (800) 966-6157 JACL Membership ADvertise By Kevin J. Miyazaki To advertise in the Pacific Citizen, call (800) 966-6157 or e-mail: is an Ongoing Issue [email protected] As I sit at my desk writing during the LEGAL last week of March, I see freshly fallen By Floyd Mori No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express per- snow on the ground outside my window. mission of the Pacific Citizen. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I live, Thank you to all those who contributed Editorials, news and the opinions ex- Spring can arrive painfully late. to the JACL during the recent year-end pressed by columnists other than the national JACL president or national di- I am a product of the Midwest. And my giving program. We are very grateful for rector do not necessarily reflect JACL life here is a result of Japanese American your support. policy. Events and products advertised history, as my father’s family chose to Although corporate funds have in the Pacific Citizen do not carry the implicit endorsement of the JACL or settle in the Midwest after the war, rather been secured in recent years and have this publication. We reserve the right to than return to their former home and been beneficial to help run the JACL’s edit articles. © 2011 life in Tacoma, Washington. My mother various programs, it remains a fact Periodicals paid at Los Angeles, arrived later from her native Hawaii, and for some reason found the that the JACL is a membership driven Calif and mailing office. aforementioned weather agreeable enough to stay for the past 56 years. organization. The major monies for the Milwaukee is not unlike other cities away from the West Coast, in that operations of the organization are still JACL MEMBERS our JA community is a small one, and our JACL chapter is shrinking as derived from the membership dues. Change of our Nisei members age. On a recent trip to California, I was reminded National JACL is operating with some key positions remaining Address unfilled because of budgetary concerns. This makes increased work for SEE MIYAZAKI/PAGE 13 the JACL staff, who should be commended for the good work they do If you’ve moved, with limited resources. please send new It is no secret that the JACL membership has been decreasing due information to: National JACL SPRING CAMPAIGN to our members aging and passing on without enough younger people Help support the Pacific Citizen by donating today! 1765 Sutter St. to replace those who leave us. Now, as we go forward, we must do our San Francisco, CA NAME part as JACL members to build our membership base. We have been 94115 focusing on reaching out to young potential members. Allow 6 weeks for ADDRESS address changes. SEE MORI/PAGE 13 CITY S TATE ZIP To avoid interrup- J0ULy 7-1 tions in delivery, E-MAIL TEL please notify your postmaster to q $50 q $100 q $150 include periodicals Mail to: Donate $150 or more in your change of to become a Wall of q $200 q OTHER Pacific Citizen 14 Famer; $200 or more address (uSPS for a chance to win a 250 E. First Street, Suite 301 WEEKS Mexican cruise! Mexican cruise prize donated by the Los Angeles, CA. 90012 Form 3575) NATIONAL JACL CREDIT UNION WWW.JACL.ORG/CONVENTION PACIFIC CITIZEN IN-DEPTH APR. 1-14, 2011 3 Japan Earthquake Fundraising Spikes, Nuclear Disaster Worsens The JUSA joined forces with other student American donors have dipped into PHOTO: MARK BAKER/AP their pocketbooks to help those organizations for a three-day event to raise in need following the devastating funds for the disaster in Japan. A total of earthquake that struck Japan. $8,000 was raised and 2,000 paper cranes were made in an effort to help. By Nalea J. Ko Members of the Olympia JACL chapter Reporter in Washington state held two events to also raise awareness about the recent devastation Fundraising efforts for Japan have revved in Japan. up nationwide as the nuclear crisis in the “This has a huge impact for us as Japanese country intensifies. Americans simply because Japan is part Donations from American donors for of our heritage, ancestral, and cultural the Japan earthquake and tsunami disasters awareness that we recognize and are very totaled over $161 million on March 25, proud of,” said Bob Nakamura, the president according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy. of the Olympia JACL. Nakamura says over American Red Cross has raised about $1,200 was raised, which will go to Direct two-thirds of the total donations collected. Relief International. The surge in donations comes two weeks The JACL partnered with Direct Relief after a 9.0 earthquake struck Japan, which International to create the Japan Relief and generated a tsunami. To date about 10,668 Recovery Fund. Direct Relief International are reported dead and some 16,574 people as of March 24 raised more than $1.9 are missing, according to Japanese police. million. The inundation of news coverage on the “The immediate need is cash in order to tragedy is overwhelming to some Japanese purchase the needed supplies,” said Floyd residents. Mori, JACL national director. “We looked a “I barely want to watch the news due to little bit further to determine what supplies the sadness of the tragedy,” said 34-year-old they were sending and who they were Kumi Sone Mendoza, a Japanese American helping. Their target has been the disabled living in Tokyo. “Every day since the quake and elderly and they have supplied fuel, and tsunami [it] is all they are showing on personal items, food, and blankets.” TV. But in the beginning of this situation, Those working in the devastated areas I honestly felt that they were ‘hiding’ the near Sendai say they are concerned about truth.” helping displaced residents with their long- Making recovery efforts more complicated term needs.