Honoree Lt. Dan Choi talks equality.
Nikkei Conference: the state of being JA.
• , ,. " ,, "
.~ ... to The future of Power of Words. # 3171 VOL. 153, NO. 2ISSN: 0030-8579 W'N'N.PACIRCCITI~.ORG JUL. IS-AUG. 4, 2011 THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF THE JACl 2 JJ LY 15-AUG. 4, 2011 SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSUE PACIFIC ~ CITIZEN SPRING CAMPAIGN NATIONAL DIRECTOR'S REPORT PAcIAc~cmZEN HOW TO REACH US Background on the NPS Grants E-m ail p::: @paci ficcitizenorg Olline: www paci ficcitizenag TeL (213) 62(). 1767 By Floyd Mori Fax (213) 620- 1768 Mail 2SJ E F i r~ Street. Suite 301 The following information is taken from Los Angees. CA SOJ 12 the National Parks Service (NPS) website at STAFF http://www. n ps. gov Ihisto ry Ih ps/h P gl JA CSI Exectltive Ed ta Card in e Y Aoyag -Stcm index.html: Congress established the Japanese A Si: ;i ~a n t Ed ta American Confinement Sites grant program Lynda Lin (Public low 109-441, 16 USC 461) for Rep::rtff the presel\lation and interpretation of Nalea J. Ko u.s. confinement sites where Japanese Busi ness Manager Thanks to Spring Campaign donors, PC. was able to hire web reporter Americans were detained during Wo rld War Stad Hisa yasu Nalea J. Ko who recently won a first place New America Media award. II. The law authorized up to $38 million Orcul ah rn for the entire life of the grant program to identify, research, evaluate, Eva Lau-Tin g interpret, protect, restore, repair, and acquire historic confinement sites in Thank You Spring Campaign Donors! order that present and future generations may learn and gain inspiration The Pacific Citizenn ewspapff (ISSN 003 0-8579) is pJbli stled from these sites and that these sites will The Pacific Citizen staff would like to thank all of our generous clonom sEnl~mrnth l y (except rnee in De• demonstrate the nation's commitment to cember and Janu ary) by the Japa• to the 2011 annual Spring Campaign fundraiser. To date we have raised 'The JACL has equal justice under the law. For Fiscal nese Amffican O tiZ8llS LeagJe, close to $62,000 and donations still continue to come in. As always, mon• Pacific Citizen, Year 2010, Congress appropriated $3 ies from the Spring Campaign help to fund the print and website. With long felt that 2 ~ E. 1 ~ Street, Sui te 301, Los million for the use of this grant program; Angees, CA SOJ12 past and current donations we've been able to fund our popular Pc. web• an increase from the $1 million Congress Pe ri cdcal po~age paid at L. A, CA site and hire a full-time web reporter. the preservation POSTMASTER SBIl d actless appropriated for fiscal year 2009. Recently, our web ranter Nalea 1. Ko was honored with a filSt place changes to Nahrnal JAQ, 1765 of the campsites These grants do not simply materialize SUlt ff SI, San Franciso:J , CA 94 115 New America 11edia prize for excellence in writing. Her article, "Fbrmer but are the result of a lot of ham work. Asian American Gang Members E rase Tattoos, Their Past," took a look J AQ Pres id8llt Davi d Kawamoto is important as The JACL played a vital role in bringing Natirnal Di rector Floyd Mai at Asian American former gang members who are working to erase their about this NPS grant program. The JACL P C. EDITCftIAL BOAR D gang tatoos and thus their past gang life. Because of your generous dona• a reminder of has long felt that the preservation of the Jud th Arno, ch airpffsrn: Paul tions, we are able to continue to provide you with award-winning cover• Ni wa. EDC: Kevin Miyazak i, MDC: · t ' campsites is important as a reminder of age and stories from JACLand the Asian American community. our hIS ory ... Booo Hanam, eeoC: va cant, NC• our history and to ensure that this travesty Vv'NP DC: Hu!1l Burl eSO"l , PNVvD C: Please take a look at our Wall of Fame donors ($150 and above) listed of injustice is not repeated. Jeff Itam i, IDC: Ondi Harb:Jltle, below. This year's winner of our Mexican cruise package, generously do• PSVvD C: Srnya Kuki, Yooth Some years ago while on personal business in Washington, D.C., I met nated by the JACL Credit Union, is Bobbi Hanada. Congratulations to SU BSCRIBE with an ok! friend, then Congressman Bill Thomas from Bakersfield, her. Thank you again to our donors and your continued support over the Get a on e-year su b SCf i ~ i rn of the Calif., a strong Republican leader and chairman of the powerful Ways Pacific Citizen new spapff at years. and 1-1eans Committee. Bill and I served in the California State Assembly 1'11'11'1 . pacificcitiz8ll a g a call ~A¥f-~ (OOJ) 966- 6157 Executive Editor SEE MORI/PAGE 16 ADVERTISE To advfftise in the Pacific Citizen, call (OOJ ) 956- 6157 a e- mail pc@ paci fi cc itiz8ll.ag LEGAL Spring Campaign Wall of Fame Donors No part ct tn s pu blicatirn may be reprcd uce d witrout th e expre83 per• mi soi m ct the Pacific Citizen. BOObi Hanada Setsuko Handa Sam & Harue Ozaki Judith Aono Ed taials, news m d the cpini rns ex• George Shimizu Kim & Arnold Maeda Mitsugi Kasai Lori Matsukawa & Larry pre 83ed by ro um ri ~ s ethe r than the IW Group Inc George Hiraga Teruko & M.Jtsuk Ikuta Blackstock natirnal JAQ president a nst ia"lal d• recta do rd nece=rily reflect JACL Grace Sakioka Richard Horiuchi Raymond Nogawa Dr & M"s Richard Matsuishi pd icy. Events md prcd uct s oove rtised Teruko Fujikawa carol & David Fujita Hiroshi Kusakai lsamu & Teruko Uyehara in the Pacific Citizen do net cary the Walter W. Nakashima Shu Miyazaki Yoichi A rvlitsutome Rick Johnson im pl icit oo dase moot ct the JACL a tn s pu bli catirn. We reserve the right to Ernest Urata Dr. Kaworu C. Nomura Greg rvliyake May Sakai edit Clt ici es <0 3J11 Endow-Hatanaka Family Yaeko Kawasaki Stan & Irene Kaneshiki Milo and Reiko Yoshino Frank Ogata Paul I Terasaki Richard Hirayama Carl Yamada Pericdcals paid at Los Angees, Cali f and mailing cffiee Ray & Marianne Kyono Tsutomu Ige Ted T. Ura Kanji Sahara Frank Ikenaga Nathaniel Tashima Gail Sueki Shoji S Yamada George Takei Eddie Jonokuchi M" & Mrs Eugene Kimura Mary H Suzuki JACL MEMBERS Masaye Nakamura Fred Okimoto Tomi Kobara Hitoshi Shimizu Change of Lee Kusumoto Jean Kurasaki Ken Takeuchi Mke Namba Address Susan Hirasuna Taro Kimura Winston &Jan Asal Fred & Mtsue Salador Roy Zukeran Kit Mizukami Masa F Sato Carolyn Nayematsu If you've moved, Edgar Fukutaki Wesley 0 Mnami Joe & Kikue Shikami Kent M Matsuda please send new Ted Yasuda A. HirotoSli Nishikawa Mr & M"s Mike Hamachi Peter Sakai information to: Yoshiko Edith Ichiuji Shig Suyeyasu Wendy Wilber Myeko Helen Nakasako National JACL Asa Yonemura Lilian Kimura Imo Yoshito & Hatsue Susan Sakai-McClure 1765 SUtter st. George Ogata Toshimasa Konya Alice Yoshikawa Jeanne MTanaka Francisco, CA 94115 Valerie Yasukochl Kazuo Utsunomiya In memory of our parents Fred Chiyo N. Horiuchi Allow 6 weeks for Joe & Nellie Saito Richard Kushino T and Yukiko Yonemoto Harold Katsura address changes. William Shimamoto Hugh L. Burleson Kaoru & Yuri Masuda Arizona JACL Ard K Kozono In memory of Bea Terusakl tv1erilynn Yamada Harry Hiruo To avoid interrup• Dr Himeo Tsumori Tad Nakauchi Hizeko Yoshimura Florence DobaSli tions in delivery, Keith Fudenna Kazuko Kay Nakao Karen Nunotani Kern Kathy Inoshita please notify your Harue Okazaki Ron & Jane Katsu yama Ben T Kayashima Susan Matsumoto postmaster to Dorene Tsukida Reiko Powers Karen Sasahara Soyo Takahashi include periodicals David Kawamoto Ted & Mchele Namba Ann Kusumoto Shigeko Yokota in your change of carol Kawamoto William Hirabayashi Bob &Janet Julie Takahashi address (USPS Helen Kawagoe Gordon Yoshikawa Cynthia Harbottle Henry Yamate Form 3575) PACIFIC e CITIZEN SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSUE JULY 15- ALG . ~ , 20 11 3 Emergency Resolution to Accurately Implement 201 0 Power of Words Resolution Passes
The emergency resolution pushes to officially recomm end words like "American concentration camps" in the Power of Words handbook to describe the incarceration of JAs duringWWll.
By NaleaJ" Ko Rep In an overwhelmmgjyvolce cf suppcrt, the JACLnational council voto:! to aocuratd y Implement the 2010 Power cf Wcrd resolution, specdically asking that the current draft Power of Words haootook offuially rocommend the use cf \IXlrds soch as Amencan coocentration camps to de scribe the Wcrld War II mcarceratioo cf Japanege Amencans In a vote of SS to 17, with one split vote aoo three abstaimng. the nati ooal coonal passed an emergency resolution to aocurately Implement a 2010 resolution to d ,mmate government euphemISms to de scribe the mcarceration cf some l2O, CDJ Japanege Amencansdunng W'NII. Fl-oronents of the emergency resolutioo say the current draft handtook differs frem the ongmal2010 resclution The emergency re9Cllution state s that terms like "Amencan concentratIOn camps, mcarceration camps and illegal detentioo centers" are preferro:! over usmg mternment camp, assemtly centers or rd ocation centers. The draft handtook Andy NOJ-Icti cJ the Flcrin ampler intro:ilces the Power d Wcrds Ernergell CY Res u L1 ioo at the natimil ccrNenti oo dces not reocmmend the specdic terms oothned m the 2010 Power of Wcrds resolution "I oon"t know why yoo \IXluld want to 00 that when there to be rejlaced. Terms like relocatioo camp, assemtl y center, The rocommendatioo to use the term ooncentration camp are other terms that are oot there that can adequately oonvey relocation aoo evacuatioo are identi fied as JXoblematic sparked a telepoone cooference with the Jewi sh Amencan what hafgened and that doo"t noed a quali fie r of Amencan The haootook iooicates that "should your chap ter cho ose oommunity dunng the JACL natiooal ooard meeting on July coocentration camp'."" to us e th e term" It IS recommend ed th Faced with financial strains brought about by To help solve the JACL's financial problems resulting from the top." inevitable declines in membership, Plenary from rapid membemhip declines, Plenary Sessions I and II, Him Nishikawa of the Philadelphia chapter agreed. Sessions I and II introduced new ideas regard• held during Business Session I, were dedicated to member• Though he felt that Ozaki and Moof were "very enthusias• ing membership and fundraising. ship and fundraisin g. tic" about tackling the membership problem, he thought that After covering some "fun facts on FUNdraising," Ozaki the solution could be found in "rebranding" the JACLrather and co-facilitator Moof 1fuyeda encouraged their some• than phone banking. By Christine Fukushima what reluctant audience to take out their cell phones to call "To really begin to have a mental shift in saying JACL is Contributor friends, family members and others who they thought might a civil rights organization [and] we really are interested in Though the theme was "1-hking New Waves," the mantra be interested in the JACI..'s mission statement helping other AAs and other Americans, that's I think where might as well have been "1-hking New 1-1embers," since the 1hrissa Nakamura, 19, of Salt Lake City JACLcalled her we need to go," he said. need to do so was repeated throughout the 2011 JACL na• high school friend Jimmy and convinced him to join "be• During Plenary ::3ession II, fundraising was discussed. cause of the scholarships." tional convention. Jason Chang, vice president for planning and develop• "It was really excitin g," she said. "I'm really good friends "People are dying," said 1-1embership Coordinator Phillip ment, talked about the importance of finding corporate spon• with him so he was just like 'whatever.'" Ozaki, explaining why increasing membership was such an somhips. Brian Morishita, IDC district governor, asked au• Others had less luck. 1furissa's brother, PJ, was unable to oft-mentioned topic during the convention. dience members to describe the successful fundraisem they And with 50 percent of members over the age of 70, not reach the three people he called, and their friend, Daley Yo• had hosted at their chapters. only is the core of the JACL membemhip pool passing away shimura did not try to call anyone. Chang considered thewolkshop 'Just planting the seed" in - many are also dependent on pensions and moving into At the end of the session, audience members reported that the efforts to raise money for the organization. retirement homes, things that prevent aging members from they had recruited eight new JAC1..ers through the session. The national JACL had a $106,000 deficit at the end of renewing their memberships, says Ozaki. But when asked if he thought audience members would 2010 which includes a $37,000 membership deficit. As of1fuy 31, membemhip monies raised thus far are be• implement the stIategies he introduced to their own chapters, In Chang's opinion, the next steps to decreasing the deficit Ozaki said "no." low budgeted targets by almost $38,000. would be increasing membemhip and "getting into more ofa "It is not that the chapters who are doing wolk aren't doing "I think they need to be outreached to and asked by na• retail type of malket." enough wolk." Ozaki added, "It's something that we sort of tional board membem, by myself, to set it up. I don't think "One of the ideas I had was for a clothing line which the have to accept" they will take the initiative to do it," he said. National JACL is going to work on," he said. Still, the impending loss of older members coupled with Instead, Ozaki said he thinks that the JACLcould induce ''With internet malketing and online stores, really it turns the fact that membership n umbers have dropped to a low membership growth by taking, and continuing to take, posi• the whole world into your market It's just a matterof gener• of 10,670 has forced the organization to come up with new tions on civil rights. ating interest. That by itself can help pull us out of our debt "It's top-down leadership," he said. "It sort of has to come strategies to rectify the crisis. and put us into a more stable financial ground," he added .• PACIFIC'S CITIZEN SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSUE JULY 15-AUG. 4, 2:)11 5 Honouliuli Preservation Efforts Gain JACL's Support Honouliuli (left) is one of 13 sites where people of Japanese descent were detained in Hawaii. Trisha Nakamura of Honolulu JACL (above) intro• duced the resolution which received a majority vote. At the 42nd Annual JACL National Japanese sentiment that was running rampant during World received $38,565 from NPS to begin a pilot program to offer Convention Japanese Americans voiced their War II also existed in Hawaii. And places like Honouliuli tours to Honouliuli. support to preserve the history and legacy of serve as focal points to really bring up those stories and to The JACL's resolution was one of several considered at the Honouliuli internment camp in Hawaii. make sure it doesn't happen again." the national convention held from July 7 to 10 in Hollywood, Colette Masunaga, of the Horin JACL chapter, also spoke Calif. in favor of the resolution. Proponents of the JACL resolution say the United States By Nalea J. Ko The resolution was sponsored by the JACL Honolulu Department of Interior has the necessary resources and Reporter chapter and approved by the Northern California-Western expertise to oversee the site in the future. Nevada-Pacific District Chip Larouche, Pacific Northwest District governor, Efforts to preserve a Hawaii internment camp used to At the JACL national council meeting, Nakamura said that motioned to amend the resolution to correct the spelling of detain people of Japanese and German ancestry after the the National Park Service, or NPS, is finalizing a Special the United States National Park Service. He also suggested bombing of Pearl Harbor gained the support of the JACL. Resource Study to determine how to best preserve the site. changing the word internment to "unjust incarceration." At the 2011 JACL National Convention on July 8 That study is slated to be presented to Congress later this With those amendments, the resolution passed unopposed. delegates passed a resolution with a majority vote in support year. Supporters say the preservation of the Honouliuli site will of preserving the Honouliuli site. The total cost associated with supporting the resolution is benefit Hawaii residents as well as those in the continental Seventy-eight JACL chapters that were in good standing $1,186, according to a fiscal impact statement prepared by U.S. were present at the convention and able to vote, according Nakamura. "I was born and raised in Hawaii and had very little to Credentials Chair Reiko Yoshino. Seven district youth Some 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were knowledge of the incarceration of Japanese Americans representatives with voting privileges were also present incarcerated during World War II, following the signing of during WWII," said Dawn Rego, of the Seattle chapter. "I Supporters of the resolution say the history of Japanese Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt think it would be a great service to not only the citizens of American internment in Hawaii must be documented, Over 300 people of Japanese heritage and 30 people of Hawaii, but also all of the United States citizens to have more preserved and maintained for future generations. German ancestry were held in Honouliuli, which is located education on Honouliuli [and] the injustices that occurred in "There's a lot of misperception that no one was interned in a gulch on the island of Oahu. Hawaii." and no one was unjustly held or removed [in Hawaii]. But The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, or JCCH, has There was also a traditional convention courtesy resolution they were," said Trisha Nakamura, a Yonsei of the JACL spearheaded preservation efforts of the site, which is owned at the national council meeting to thank the committee for Honolulu chapter. "Even if they weren't detained, the anti- by Monsanto. In June it was announced that the JCCH organizing the 2011 JACL convention.• A Proposed Change to the Supervision of the Pacific Citizen Fails A proposed bylaw amendment change staffers and provide a more efficient use of staff resources. that the Pc. should be ruled by the executive director," said regarding the supervision of the P.e. fails to be Chip Larouche, Pacific Northwest District governor, and Jeff James Duff, a Berkeley JACL chapter member. "It's not submitted for ratification at a national council Selby, of the Portland JACL, drafted the amendment specific in the resolution as to whether the director would meeting, but another bylaw amendment to "In my opinion and experience while on the national board have editorial content control as well." create a monthly membership passes. the reality is that having the Pc. editor supervised by the Others echoed Duff's sentiments. national board provides inadequate supervision and guidance "In 1984 as a result of the national director withholding to that very important program," Larouche said. "JACL funds from the Pc. because he objected to an article they By Nalea J. Ko must become more nimble if it's to survive financially. And ran, the national council in its wisdom said this is not how Reporter I believe this change is necessary especially as we prepare to we want to do business," said Judith Aono, the Pc. editorial find a new national director." board chair and Diablo chapter member. "It's not paranoia to A proposed JACL constitutional bylaw amendment that The authors of the amendment determined there would be afraid of something that has actually happened." would have changed the supervisor of the Pacific Citizen did not be a fiscal impact in changing the supervisor of the Pc. A bylaw amendment without notice was introduced to the not receive enough votes to be considered at a recent national editor from the JACL national board to the national director. national council on July 9 proposing the creation of three council meeting. The financial need of the JACL, say proponents of the new monthly membership categories. That amendment Delegates failed to get a two-thirds majority vote to submit amendment, required the change. passed with 56 to 17. There was 1 abstaining vote and five the JACL bylaw amendment for ratification on July 8 at the "I think the national council needs to consider the splits, making the total vote count in favor 58.5. A two-thirds 2011 JACL national convention. The proposed amendment business need of the organization, the structural need of the majority vote of the national council was required. would have made the national director the supervisor of the organization and take personalities out of this," said Miko The new monthly membership categories include a silver Pc. executive editor. Sawamura, Sacramento JACL chapter president "It's very, membership of$25, a gold membership of$50 and a platinum Floyd Mori, who announced his retirement in April, is the very important that we do have a structure in which all staff membership of $100. Jason Chang, JACL vice president of current national director. The JACL constitution and bylaws can function." planning and development, authored the amendment indicate that the national board, with the editorial board's Opponents to the amendment argued that changing the Those in support of the bylaw amendment said creating consultation, supervises the Pc. editor. supervisor of the Pc. could have potentially sacrificed the new membership categories was necessary to stabilize the Supporters of the amendment said the bylaw change editorial content. organization's monthly income in a time when JACL is in a was needed to provide a "unity of command" to all JACL "In respect to maintaining a free press, I don't believe financial downfall. • 6 JULY 15-AUG. 4, 2011 SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSUE PACIFIC e CITIZEN JACL Honors Diverse, Outstanding Asian American Leaders Honoree Lt. Dan Choi was recognized for his fight for LGBT rights. Lisa Hasegawa was praised for her work with the disenfranchised. By Lynda Lin sacrifice on behalf of justice, when we sacrifice on behalf of hurricane deluged their homes and an unprecedented oil spill Assistant Editor those who cannot stand up for themselves." decimated their livelihood. He also led a campaign against a Choi, who JACL National Director Floyd Mori called toxic landfill in his community. In the spotlight of a darkened Hollywood ballroom, Lt. a "hero," was honored for advocating for the rights of the Through it all, Nguyen has been a constant figure of Dan Choi, dressed in his crisp military uniform, thrusts a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. support. In partnering with the JACL to help the Gulf finger to his heart to make a statement seemingly ripped A federal appeals court that has called for the immediate Coast's Vietnamese American community, the Notre Dame from the headlines of yesterday's civil rights movement. halt of the military's ban on opeuly gay troops has issued an Seminary graduate was honored with the leadership award "I am somebody," said Choi softly at first, as the public order requiring the US. government to state whether it will for improving the lives of APAs in the Gulf Coast. face in the fight against the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell continue to defend the constitutionality of the policy in court. "The Vietnamese American community is seeing for policy. "I deserve full equality. Right here. Right now. I am "When you struggle for justice, you do not struggle for themselves now that civil rights is not just a privilege, but somebody. I demand full equality." just yourself," said Choi. actnally rights of the citizens of this country," said Nguyen. Choi, one of JACL's Outstanding National Leadership The JACL was one of the first national organizations to "And JACL we thank you for that." Award winners, received the organization's award at the July fully support ending discrimination against LGBTs in the We liked it so much that we formed a new JACL chapter 9 Culmination Banquet and asked the audience to join him in the Gulf Coast, Nguyen added. in demanding justice. "It's really kind of strange when you go to a meeting of "Will you say that with me? I am somebody. I deserve full that chapter because there are ouly two or three Japanese equality. Right here. Right now. I am somebody. I demand Americans and the rest are Vietnamese Americans," he full equality." added. "May we continue to be the light in the dark. May we The Korean American Iraq War veteran and Arabic continue to be the voice of the voiceless. May we continue linguist, who was honorably discharged from the Army to give solidarity for the invisible communities who are National Guard last year for talking publicly about his voiceless." sexual orientation, was among the three diverse award recipients including Father Vien Nguyen, the Vietnamese Fighting for the Disenfranchised American pastor of New Orleans' Mary Queen of Viet Nam Hasagawa was honored with JACL's leadership award Catholic Church, and Lisa Hasegawa, the granddaughter for her advocacy on the issues of housing and community of a Tule Lake internee who advocates for the community development in the APA community. development needs of low-income Asian Pacific Americans. The executive director of the National Coalition for Asian The leadership awards and the diverse recipients are a nod Pacific American Community Development (National to the convention's theme, "JACL 2.0." Father Nguyen was honored by the JACL for his work help• CAPACD) said her own family history influences her to be a ing the Vietnamese American community in the Gulf Coast. better advocate for the diseufranchised. Fighting For Honor At the height of wartime hysteria during World War II, Choi, an Anaheim, Calif.-born son of a Southern Baptist Hasegawa's mother and her family were deported to Japan pastor and a West Point graduate called the military's Don't military. for simply sharing the same ancestry as the people who Ask, Don't Tell policy an "immoral law" when he came out "The same people that can incarcerate you and the same attacked Pearl Harbor. publicly on a popular cable news television show. Since his bigotry that can treat you as second-class citizens [is1 the "It was my grandfather's first trip to Japan," said Hasegawa television appearance in 2009, Choi has become the default same bigotry that is alive today. When you stand up for at the event. The decision was made to keep the family national spokesperson for gay rights in the military. yourself you stand up for everyone else to follow. You say together, she added. Last year, Choi was arrested several times during public 'Never again will you treat my people or any people like "[This1 story allows me to really connect with the protests against Don't Ask, Don't Tell, including last March second-class when their sacrifices are first-class,''' said Choi. immigrant story here in the Uuited States," she said. "To be a when the Iraq War veteran handcuffed himself to the White better advocate and to be able to connect personally with the House fence. Pan Asian Leadership stories of immigrants and refugees." All this, he said in a previous interview with the Pacific "You blazed a trail. You came to us, to my community, Hasegawa, a Washington, D.C. JACL member, is also an Citizen, was for the freedom to love. to me and gave us the secret," said Nguyen, a new Gulf active board member of the National Low Income Housing "West Point taught me honor," said Choi at the event, Coast JACL member about the JACL's support of the APA Coalition and the American Progressive Caucus Policy which included diguitaries like Japanese Ambassador to the community after Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill Foundation. US. Ichiro Fujisaki, Calif. State Controller John Chiang and devastated New Orleans. "I take those stories of Japanese Americans and I have Rep. Judy Chu. "We don't always understand the meaning The Vietnam born pastor who came to the US. in 1963 tried to bring them to the work I've done ... and to have the of honor. Sometimes it's used as a punchline relegated to has spent many years helping the area's predominately courage to fight against big banks, big federal agencies, to be Hollywood. Well, honor is real and honor lives whenever we Vietnamese American residents pick up the pieces after a able to fight for the rights of everyone," she said.• PACIFIC ~ CITIZEN SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSUE JULY 15 AUG, 4, 2011 7 Community Activists Receive JACL's Inaugural Impact Awards Honorees Traci Kato-Kiriyama and Alan Nishio were praised by JACLers and JA leaders for their corrrnitment to the comrrunity. By Lynda Lin with other people with simihr values," said Nishio at the "I'm being rewarded for being lucky and having the Assistant Editor luncheon. "The only awkwam part is when you recognizean privilege of being raised by my parents and my community," individual for the efforts of something that so many others said Kato-Kiriyama about the community impact award. Three Japanese American activists were awarded with have done as a movement." Through her spoken word and multi-disciplinary the JACl.'s inaugural Community Impact Award at the At the event, the Gamena Valley JACL member shared performances, Kato-Kiriyama has spaIked a "catalyst organization's first annual convention in Hollywood, Calif. with attendees that he has been battling cancer for the last for young people to be comfortable with themselves, by Alan Nishio, current chair of the California Japanese five years. themselves and to speak about themselves," said Gary American Community Leadership Council; Paul Osaki, the "That moment made me look at my mortality and what my 1-hyeda, the 42nd JACLNational Convention chair who has executive director of the Japanese Cultural and Comm unity life is about," said Nishio, who added that this life-changing known Kato-Kiriyama and her family for about 18 years. Center of Northern California; and Traci Kato-Kiriyama, event has made him realize the importance of his legacy - The San Fbnando Valley JACL member was honored with founder of Little Tokyo's Tuesday Night Project and a not the legacy that comes in awards and plaques - but the the community impact award for her work to bring together multi-disciplinary artist, were honored at the July 8 awards values and lessons he can pass onto the next generation. art and the comm unity. luncheon. Kato-Kiriyama is a recent author of, "signaling", a book ''We've stood on the shoulders of giants who have of poetry. She also teaches and facilitates creative writing, preceded us. And so the people we are honoring today are performance and team-building woIkshops throughout the no less giants," said Norman Mneta, former U.S. &c. of country. Transportation, who was a guest speaker at the event "She brought lyrics, melodies and a fierce soul to the Nishio, Osaki and Kato-Kiriyama were recognized for culture of the Asian Facific Ishnder community through their leademhip and involvement in the JA community III spoken word, through song, just through her voice," said their respective fields. Assembly 1-1ember Warren Furutani, the luncheon's emcee. Alan Nishio Paul Osaki "There truly couk! not be a better inaugural group of Whether it's fighting to preserve California's last remaining people than [the one] you picked today especially Ahn Japantowns or raising funds to help the victims of the 1-hrch Nishio," said Bill Watanabe, executive director of the Little 11 Japan earthquake and tsunami, Paul Osaki "will never Tokyo &rvice Center (LTSC), who has known Nishio since shy away from taking on an issue," said Kaz 1-1aniwa, a San their college days at the University of California, Berkeley Francisco-based attorney who has known Osaki for over 25 almost 50 years ago. years. "His whole adult life has been committed to civil rights Aoordee Paul Osaki has led the JCCCNC for 24 years. 1-hniwa presented the community impact award to Osaki, [and] social justice for people who need help and for those the executive director of San Francisco's Japanese Cultural who are disadvantaged," added Watanabe. Traci Kato-Kiriyama and Community Center of :Northern California (JCC'CJ'.rC). Nishio, who in 2006 retired as the associate vice president Osaki was reco gnized for his leadership in the JA comm unity In 1999 the self-proclaimed activist and artist helped for student services at California State University, Long and his accomplishments in U.S.-Japan relations. establish Tuesday Night Project (1NP), a free public art Beach, is dedicated to higher education issues. In 1969, he Shortly after a 9.0 magnitude earthq uake devastated Japan venue dedicated to community engagement and artistic helped establish the Asian American Studies Center at the on 1furch 11, the JCCCNC established the Northern Japan expression. TNP hosts a free open mike event called the 1st University of California, Los Angeles. Today, the program Earthquake Relief Fund. To date, the fund has received over & 3rd Tuesday Night Cafe in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo. has the largest faculty and the largest teaching program $2.6 million, the largest JA community-based relief fund in But her roots run deep because she grew up in the in Asian American Studies in the nation, according to its the U.S. embIaCe of the community. Her father George Kiriyama, website. After the 1996 Kobe, Japan earthquake, Osaki helped raise who passed away in 2005, was active in the JACL and the During the Redress Movement of the 1970s and 1980s, over $600,000 in relief efforts. education community as a teacher, principal and member of "The need for a national organization like the JACL is Nishio was integr.:t1 in helping to push the bill through the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board of Congress demanding an apology and monetary reparations more important than ever as we chan ge and shift from one education. Her mother, Iku Kiriyama, is also a retired lifelong from the government forthe World War II un just incarceration generation to another and as we move from a monoethnic educator with the LAUSD and member of the Japanese of JAs. comm unity to a vast, great diversity of new geneIations," American Historical &>ciety of &'uthern California. He has also served as LTSC board president for much of ''Whatever activities took us out into the community also said Osaki. the organization's 31years of existence, said Watanabe. Thecommunity has cornea long way. Things have become included TIaCi and son George," said Iku Kiriyama to the ''When we talk about community impact, we've all Pacific Citizen. "Because it is important to feel useful." much better for people of color, said Osaki, but "our job is to been blessed to be able to spend some time in the trenches continue educating and advocating. It is not over.". 8 JUL 15-ALG 4, 2011 SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSLE PA(:IAC !!li:Crrru:N OOD: 1. Allhe VIP recep• tion, Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki (right) greels JACLersinduding Mile-Hi JACLer Dr. Frank Sakamoto. 2.JasonChang, JACL vice presi• dem for planning md developmem, peruses silern auction ~ems with his daughler, Amari. PACIFlC~Cmz£N SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSUE JULY 1'5- AW . (, 2011 9 'There was tremendous synergy in the work• shops that I attended.' - RON KATSUYAMA, JAU vice presilenl for pubtlc affairs (pictured below) 1. SoUlh Bay JACLer KENT KAWAI VOles for a resolution during council session. 2. PNW JACLer KAlLA YOSHITOMI helps w~h the silent auction. 3. MICHELLE YOSHIDA. pal1iamema-ian. looks over Roben·s Rulesof Order with PAUL UYEHARA. conSiitUlion and bylaws committee chair. 4. Aaress TAMLYN TOMITA emertains md educates as emcee of the rulmination banquet. 10 JJ L 15-AUG 4, 2011 SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSUE PACIFlC S::CrnzEN 1. STANLEY KANZAKI (left), from New York JACL, shares a laugh with HARRY HONDA, P.C. editor emeritus. 2. JEFF ITAMI, Salt Lake City JACLer, rubs elbows with Penelope Cruz's wax figure. 3. TOMOKO ROUDEBUSH. Diablo Valley JACL, poses with REP. MIKE HONDA. 4. APA youth listen to panel• ists at the Nikkei Conference. 5. (L-r) ULUA YAMADA and JOHN YAMADA, of Eden Township JACL, with MIKO SAWAMURA of the Sacramento JACL. PACIACEcrtlZEN SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSUE JULY 15-AUG. 4, 2011 11 1Ar ACL 1. PSW JACL convention committee mem• bers with actress TAMLYN TOMITA (Jeft). 2. MOC District Gov. MICHIO MURAKISHI during a national board meeting. 3.IDC District Gov. BRIAN MORISHITA addresses the national council. 4. KAZ UYEHARA (/eft) and KOTA MIZUTANI look through the banquet booklet. 5. NORMAN MINETA, former secretary of transportation, speaks to the audience at the awards luncheon. 12 JULY 15-AUG. 4, 2011 SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSUE PACIFIC ~CITIZEN NIKKEI V for the BY GIL ASAKAWA RECORD A Tribute to Hosokawa BY JOHN TATEISHI Many readers of the Pacific Citizen It may seem like a lot of attention if - especially older readers - will be you only knew Hosokawa through his familiar with the name Bill Hosokawa. columns in the P. C. and the handfnl He wrote a column that ran in the of books he's written. Outside of the Welcome New York P.C. for decades, "From the Frying JACL, he was a reporter and editor for Pan," which was a running commentary many years with The Denver Post, and It's only a matter of time. Things change, against the laws of nature and God. But what on Japanese America. In 1969 he ran the newspaper's Sunday magazine, people change, and what were once unthinkable was bigotry then is just as much bigotry today published the first comprehensive "Empire," through its peak years of social intrusions on mainstream notions of because nltimately, it's about the rights of a class history of Japanese Americans, "Nisei; the '60s and '70s. Mter decades with "normal" evolve over time into norms so of people. The QnietAmericans," which included the Post he worked for the rival Rocky acceptable that hardly anyone even notices. Or to put it another way, it's about what we information about interrnnent. In 1982 Mountain News until he retired in 1992. Black and white relationships, Asian and white deny to a class simply because of who they are, he published "JACL; The Quest for Throughout his career he maintained (especially Asian men and white women), and even though we give that same right to every Justice," a history of JACL. He also the "From the Frying Pan" columns same-sex relationships. other person in society, no matter how good or published a collection of "Frying Pan" in the P.C., and he also wrote a Last month, New York State, the nation's most bad they may be. columns with added observations in weekly column in Denver's Japanese popnlous state, approved a measure that legalizes It's about the civil rights of a class of people. 1998. community same-sex maniages, making New York the It's not that people couldn't stand a black His final book, newspaper, The sixth state in the country to man for being black (well, they published in 2005, 'In the JACL Rocky Mountain legalize gay maniages. actually couldn't but that's was "Colorado's Jiho. I was And in doing so, 'Dirty another matter) so much as it Japanese Americans; unIverse, fortunate enough New York joined Iowa, was that they conldn't stand From 1886 to the to join him as a Massachusetts, Connecticut, the idea of a black man being Present," which most columnist for the New Hampshire, Vermont minds make intimate with a white woman P. C. readers probably Hosokawa Jiho for a few and the District of Columbia. and the kinds of unimaginable aren't familiar with. years until the Four other states - Hawaii, things that conld take place in Even at age 90, has a large paper folded. Delaware, Illinois and New for dirty that relationship. when he wrote the Outside of Jersey - allow civil unions By the same token, whites book, he was an agile journalism, of same-sex partners. laws.' conldn't stand the idea of a white wordsmith and a witty national Hosokawa saw Same-sex maniage woman being intimate with and straightforward the importance of is banned in 39 states, an Asian man. Unnatural and story tell er, a gift that profile,' promoting better including California, where against the laws of nature and served him well in relationships with the battleground for Prop. 8 was waged a few God. his long career as a Japan. years ago. Right wing forces and religious groups What was used to argue against relationships in journalist. He died two years later, in He was a founding force behind the joined to force the state to undo a same-sex the past are the same arguments against gay and 2007. Japan America Society of Colorado, maniage measure that had been approved in San lesbian maniages, and if it weren't so abhorrent In the JACL universe, Hosokawa which promotes cnltural and business Francisco, and the infamous Prop. 8 ban killed it wonld be silly. The idea of intimacy between has a large national profile. He didn't ties between the state and Japan. And, the state's same-sex maniage initiative. two people is no one's business except those two al ways agree with JACL, and could be in 1976 he took on the role of honorary But it's only a matter of time. people, be they heterosexual, homosexual, black, curmudgeonly and quick to criticize consnl general of Japan in Colorado, a There was a time when it was illegal for mixed• white, yellow, brown, green, purple or chartreuse. the organization or even the P.C. But position he held until 1999. race maniages, and in some states, it was illegal Dirty minds make for dirty laws. his name is one of the f oundati ons of The Denver Botanic Gardens' current even for rnixed-race relationships. And if it But things change. It's inevitable, and it's only our community's national history. Japanese Gardens is already a much• wasn't illegal, it was so unacceptable that black a matter of time that same-sex marriages will be In Colorado, he's downright loved feature and is one of the most men were hung from trees in the middle of the the law of the land. legendary, and not just with JAs. His popnlar attractions within the gardens. night for daring to have relationships with white If you look at corporate America, one of the legacy looms large in Denver and Once the expansion is complete, the women. true social barometers of change, you see the throughout his adopted state for his Hosokawa name will denote not just the By the same token, white women were not social mirror being held up with same-sex and work as a writer and editor, a supporter current bonsai gardens and traditional allowed to marry Asian men at one time. There mixed-race relationships as a common part oflife of civil rights and a diplomat who bnilt tea house and garden, but also an was the infamous Cable Act of 1922 which in America. Look at commercials on television lasting bridges with Japan. He was, indoor area for more fragile bonsai and stripped a white woman of her American and ads in the papers. It's so common to see as he used to quip, "The most famous a space to host events; enhancements to citizenship if she manied an Asian man, or as the black and yellow faces that we don't even notice Japanese American in Japan." the Tea Garden, and a Sand and Stone act put it, "any alien not eligible for citizenship" anymore (well, almost don't notice). That legacy is being celebrated with Garden. (the same language, incidentally, used in the When the most popnlous state in the nation, an appropriate acknowl edgement. ABill The Botanic Gardens is in the midst Alien Land Laws). There were state laws that and a state that everyone looks to, approves a Hosokawa Memorial Committee (fnll of a fundraising campaign to make specifically forbade the maniage of white same-sex maniage measure, it signals a major disclosure; to which I've recently been these plans come to life; the expansion women with Asian men, the reason being the victory for gay rights advocates and civil rights drafted) is overseeing the scnlpting of a is due to be finished next year with same as a white-black relationship; namely, that groups. And it signals the change that will take bust of Hosokawa to be reproduced and great fanfare. such unions were "unnatural." To the religious place in this country. placed in two locations; The Denver It wonldhave been interesting to read fanatics, it was against the laws of nature and of Prop. 8 in California wasn't the last of it. I Public library main branch downtown, what he'd write about the hnllaballoo. their gods. guarantee that. I'm sure New York has given new and the Denver Botanic Gardens. I bet it would have been furmy, smart It was absurd in 1922, and frankly, it's absurd life to rainbow advocates here in the West Coast, The Denver Botanic Gardens is and humble - that's how he lived his today to have such archaic thinking. and maybe, just maybe, it's their time.• paying further tribute by naming its life, and how he wrote about it. • What was once said about mixed-race redesigned and expanded Japanese relationships is used today as arguments against John Tateishi is the immediate past JACL Gardens the Bill Hosokawa Bonsai GilAsakawa is aformer P.c. editorial same-sex maniages, that it's urmatural and national director. Pavilion and Japanese Garden. board chair. PACIFIC;:: CITIZEN SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSUE JULY 15-AUG. 4 2011 13 Defining 'Japanese America' The Nikkei Conference tackled his former students to take a stand against its theme head-on through Muslim discrimination. workshops facilitated by APA "The Cal State Fullerton student leaders. newspaper came out very, very stron gly in defense of civil liberties and civil rights and the editor was one of my former students," By Christine Fukushima he said. "And she told me later that yeah, Contributor because it [the JA internment] happened, With a d isp roportionately large she just saw the parallels instantly. That's the kind of thing I would like to think percentage of Japanese American senior happens." citizens and the growth oftheJAcommunity Likewise, Ua.A NSU member lie Rosas being driven by multiracial populations, itis clear that the face of Japanese America has thinks that Japanese America's activist past changed since the creation of the JACL in has important implications for its current 1929. state and potential. Coming from a non-JA perspective, But the question remains: what are the Rosas, who is Puerto Rican, says she has implications of these changes? found that the state of Japanese America The Nikkei Conference drew a diverse audience including Japanese American Matt Ichinose "It's a tough q uestio n, " said 1futtlch inose, (left) and Puerto Rican American lie Rosas. 22, who attended the Nikkei Conference is not relevant only to JAs. Through with fellow University of California, Los her involvement in NSU as well as her participation in workshops like those held Angeles Nikkei Student Union members. .. t ... , " Ichinose, a recent graduate of Va_A, at the Nikkei Conference, she says she has observed how an understanding of JA came to the conference on July 8 with only culture and history can also yield significant a general idea of how to answer the above• YAMA TO TRAVEL BUREAU ® mentioned question. lessons for people of different ethnicities. C.SlIOI93C1J-IO ''11:tybe [it's about] intergenerational "Even though I myself am not Japanese issues between the older generations [and] American it helps me understand the community that I'm in," she said. "And so the Yonsei generation," he said. ''11:tybe the state of Japanese America I feel is still March 11 was a disastrrus day and there are no words to express CW" sorrow at all the de:trnction that [it's about] trying to identifY what the Yonsei Japan hJJs encamteRd. Our thrugfls and pr«ym aR WI~ the IX ,pe oj Japan. famalo Travel weal! IS generation oreven the Gosei generation can ever growing, ever changing and it is a good do for the future of Japanese America." foundation." endomng and contaimlng to the u.s.-Japan Council Earlhquale Relief Fund beea"" J()(JYo oj dl Accoming to 1-1elany de h Crnz of the Co-hosted by the California Japanese donatIOns go to ~e IX0[ie oj Japan. If you w"h to Jom us, heR IS the lilik to their WebSite: American Community Leadership Council UCLA Asian American Studies Center, in 2009 the JA population was 1.3 million http://wlI"gpancowu:d.orrifud (OACLC) and the JACL, the inaugural Nikkei Conference addressed "The State and the primary source of growth was from of Japanese America" in order to provide multiracial populations. In addition, one in ESCORTED ](lJRS &CRUISES SCHEDllED FOR 2011 participants like Ichinose with a better four Japanese in the U.S. are foreign-born. understanding of the topic. Though Kaz Uyehara, delegate for the The day's events brought together Philadelphia chapter, did not feel that he ~4·13 yaD1i!to Cillilljan Rockjes wjth a djffg:ence -10 day.;!9 ri ljts ~ sli ng Cllga-y, Bari f, Ja;per, Ph l ~ pe Theri ll1: learned much about the state of Japanese R ~ ~ representatives from prominent JA and R group, '-"p",,,,,nts tU ""'OJ 8"""ration's of tOOse iss,,",s [has] ~ lped tU comeil be d ",rsity. F~ "" ntly elY(lhasized d1.llins tU mlre aware of what our colllllllllity needs cctl",ntion, 01.1-marriagt am imrrigration arrl a110\1l3 m to oovocate on \Uir behalf." from Japan has c~ tU ethnic ~up saidFarrells citU JOUIl8 JAoommuri\y '1 thinktlEt tU JACL has a lotof potential '1 think it's ",ally ~ althy that "" rnp\ in oo= ating for civil rishts am hunan lfta= "" k 0'-" of tU o!c),s\ civil rights rights of all people of color," ~ said c.-gani:zatiOllS ani "'"'l)'thins. so I think that Philnlphia chapter crlegate Kaz it's ",ally gcod that we kiOO cf [onn \0 t», Uyel:ara, 22. also atterded tU trip to ~ w ,,"w crIDJgraphy." Kcta said Orleans , He joined \U JAG.- became his Lit. Kola, =\ youth at tU oon",ntion grarrlrootUr Grayce, a JAG.- "",mber, was say tUy = cogni73llt of tUir g!'",,,,tion's a strong oovocate forredress growi'll multirrocialism arrl excim atou\ its 'I've crfini," ly felt a family legocy implicatiom for t)), civil rights wOlk of tU b wards JACL arrl civil riglts \mrt," ~ W" said J.n Ull8v>clian, woo is of KOle an ani Marti of \U YOUYJg peqJle at \U 1hai c)",,"nl is 0'-" s,",h oon-JA youth woo confererce praised \U organization's joi ~ beca= cf tU organization's civil support of programs like tJ-t Environrnerta! rights "8"00a Jmtice Youth Surrrnit in ~ w Orleans for Ungviohian says s ~ co".." from a yruth in len!'3hip posioons But so"'" By Christine Fukushima 'Jk JAG.- has a uniq,,", opportunity, canmunity that is f!a8mented with """,raj were critic al of \U lack rf ircentives JAG.• Contributor Sirce it ', mch a rational organization it is grasSlOOts organizatiom '1\ was ",ally has provrled for youth to hero"", onill3l)', locally tJ-t 0'" net=rk for all JAs amurrl importantforme \0 ~ jErtof an organization dlrs-paying ""'mbe!'3 Anrm with strong social conscierces \U ration to co~t with eoch o\Ur," said that ha:i root but that also 1m the e,-.,rgy "For this conventirn \Uy're talking a b t am bright green voti'll carns, yruth at \U Devin Yoshikawa, ratioral board )Outh am the fOle sisht \0 lllJvt with the times aboli il>Creasill8 "",mbe!'3hip am I think essentially." s ~ sarl 20 11 JACL rational convention proved tlEt representative tU youth is crfini," ly a gco:i S01XCe of new Focebook "",ssaging am tweeting aren t \U Sooorra COWlty chapter "",mber Kota Y03hikawa was similarly drawn \0 the ""nU!'3hip," said Kelly H:moa, a 22-year• JAG.- beca= ci its Wintulr oj the Inter-Ethnic Rfilations Awards in the Print Journalism Category. The Inter-Ethnic Relations Awards r ecognizes journalists whose reporting on ethnic r elations is h elping to create b etter understanding among diverse communities in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Awards is sponsoced by the partnersh p between The Los Angeles Multicultural Leadership Netwock and New America Media, GMEO'IA newamericamedia.org PACIFIC ~ CITIZEN SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSUE JULY 15~AUG. 4, 2011 15 JACL, Japanese American Leaders Honor Floyd Mori REVERSE MORTGAGE Call for a ~ information package If you are 62 or older and own your house, a Reverse Mortgage may benefit you! • Turn Home Equity into Tax Free Cash • You keep title to your home • No Monthly Mortgage Payments SECURITY ~ LENDING • FHA Program Designed for Seniors "J pledge to provide excellent customer service with the highest standard of ethics" 25+ Years Experience as a Financial Professional David C. Miyagawa Chee Certified Public Accountant 1-800-967-3575 CA Dept. of Real Estate - Real Estate Broker #01391106 NMLS 10263222 12 INDIVIDUAL GAS STATIONS & C-STORES FOR SALE WITH THE REAL ESTATE IN GROWING EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA Stores average 45K gals.lmonth in fuels sales & $45K/month & JACL National Director Floyd in merchandise sales. 7 stores are company operated 5 Mori (above) was honored by are operated by commission agents. JACL leaders and dignitaries for For more information please contact: his many years of service to the organization. Sean Dooley- 41 0.752.3833, ext. 4 Spencer Cavalier - 41 0.752.3833, ext. 2 Immediate former national direc• tor John Tateishi called Mori a "remarkable national director." The current JACL national director is think we're going to have a Vietnamese chapter.' And retiring before the end of the year. I thought, ' that's typical. This is what he does.'" 707 ..... T_ sooe. Mori has strengthened ties with Japan and 91 1 VENICE BoULEVARD GemId Los Ang9/9s. CA 90:)12 spearheaded a successful partnership with Direct Los ANGELES, CAUFORNlA 900 1 5 Fukui For his longtime service to the JACL and the Asian TEL (.2 t 3) 7 4 9-1 449 Relief International in raising funds for the victims of Ph. 2 I3t'J26.044 , Presidelli Pacific American community, several prominent FAX (.2 13 ) 749-0265 the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. a :f;Ut't.IlUlI: .haaa l- tt" ~ , t:.c! ~' n " .". Fax 213'61 7-2781 APA leaders paid tribute to Floyd Mori at the July 9 He has led a drive to collaborate and form \\Ww.l:ubolanll:l:clmOfluary.com Culmination Banquet partnerships with other organizations. He has also In April, Mari announced his retirement from the developed corporate relationships that have been position of JACL national director, ending a career SOUP TO SUSHI financially beneficial to the JACL. with the organization that John Tateishi described as Prior to his career with the JACL, Mori served as "phenomenal. " a mayor and city councilman of Pleasanton, Calif. as "You have in Floyd someone who has been a New Deluxe 3-Ring well as a State Assemblyman and director of the Office remarkable national director," said Tateishi, the of International Trade for the state of California. Binder Cookbook With immediate past JACL national director. It's his political experience that Honda credits with Over 750 Recipes Rep. Mike Honda and former Sec. of Transportation effecting change in Washington, D.c. including the Norman Mineta also paid tribute to Mori after a $25 (plus $5.50 handling) passage of the Camp Preservation Bill with the help video retrospective was presented on his career and of Rep. Bill Thomas, Mori's colleague and friend in achievements. We sley Unlled MelhodlstWomen the Assembly. S66 N, 5th Stroot "I didn't do much during the time I was there [at Mori has also taught economics at Chabot College San Jose, CA 95112 JACL] I just had some good people around me," said in Hayward, Calif., and was involved in private Mori, who also received a gift package and a gift business in Utah for many years. (562) 598-9523 certificate to a golf resort from the national board. Established 1965 Every step of the way, he has been supported by his In late 2006, Mori served as interim national wife, Irene. Imperial Jewelry Mfg. Co. director when ill health forced Tateishi to leave the Fine J€MIelry· OJstom Designing· Rep9.ir "In every job he has undertaken, he has done it with post. Mori was appointed as Tateishi's replacement in 11072 Los Alamitos Blvd. integrity, so we have been honored by Floyd's service Los Alamitos, CA 90720 January 2007. with the tremendous support and help of Irene," said Previously, Mori served four years as national Mineta. JACL president and four years as a vice president on Mori, who in April said his plans are to leave before the national board. Having been involved with the STAY the end of the year, said his departure isn't an official JACLformost of his life, he also served as the JACL retirement. director of public policy in Washington, D.c. "JACLis part of my DNA," he said. ''I'm really not With the JACL, Mori is credited with an aggressive retiring. I'm going to change my pace a little bit." outreach to the victims of Katrina and the BP oil spill He has plans to spend more time with his family as well as promoting relationships with communities and grandchildren, said Mori. impacted by the hysteria of Sept. 11. "Certainly I intend to do my part and do whatever Mori has developed the organization in much I can to enhance goals that we all have ... " he TWfTTa.... COM' ..ACIFIC broader ways, said Tateishi, like building coalitions in added. "You ain't seen the last of Floyd Mori. I'll be New Orleans after Huni.cane Katrina and assisting the around one way or another and I hope you will be Vietnamese American community. as welcoming to me in the future as you have in the "\¥hat he did there was so absolutely critical," he past" • added. "And he sent me an e-mail one day and said, 'I 16 JUlY t;-.1U3 ~ . :!lIt SPECIAL CONVENTION ISSUE PACIACEcmzEN MORI ""JIbe", of CIII8U SS on an Ong Blue Shield of California Anllrlopom"nl Mo,-oo.,dlho Bb SbioldA=ciolWn o• Health Plans for California JACL Members (800) 544-8821 • www•• i.Cku.com Cal II. JACL Hea ~lIl1enelils Administrators at National JACL 1.800.400.6633 Credit Union or visil w.vw.jad he olth.org