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Baseball in Paradise A Rock by Another Name The Celluloid APA Hawaii Winter Baseball Florida's former 'Jap' Rock is Jeff Adachi's 'The Slanted nurtured talent like Ichiro renamecj Yamato Rock in honor Screen' explores the history and Tadahito, now it's of the area's pioneers. of Hollywood stereotyping. back! . NEWSIlYTES PAGE 4 ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 9 SPORTS PAGE 7
A Field of Dreams -Swing for the fences at since1929PACIFIC CITIZEN JACLS fall golf tourna• ment. Early bird registra• tion is now Sept. 1. The National Publication of the Japanese American Citizens League
u.s. Army Charges 1st Lt. Watada; JACL Comments for First Time on Soldier's Orde~1 Nat'l JACL does not take a organization has now come out with . this newspaper. Although many position on Iraq war but an official statement. Although they National JACL and have expressed their support or the expresses concern over two will not take a position on the offi• the Honolulu chapter officer, some even calling him a recently came out of the three charges cer's refusal to deploy to Iraq, hero, others, especially fellow veter• with statements Watada faces. Honolulu believing this to be strictly a military ans past and present, have expressed issue, they expressed concern over regarding 1 st Lt. their disapproval. JACL comes out in full two of the charges: contempt and Ehren Watada. Here . And many have asked for and support of the JA officer. conduct unbecoming an officer. Watada answers demanded JACL's official position "We are not. in a position to questions at a press on the matter. By CAROLINE AOYAGI-STOM conference last defend his position on the legality of 'This is such a sensitive matter Executive Editor month in Tacoma, the war in Iraq, nor are we in a posi• because of the community politics Washington. First Lt. Ehren Watada, 28; has tion to judge his criticism of the . .. the situation with our veteran now been officially charged by the war's morality," the national PHOTO: JEFF PATERSON members," said John Tatershi, US. Army for his decision to refuse JACL's statement explained. 'That JACL executive director. "It was deployment to Iraq last month. He he defied a direct'military order falls given fair and balanced treatment in United States Army, it appears he is important as a civil rights organiza• now faces three charges including under the aegis of military law and the charges brought against him ... being made an example." tion ... to make a statement regard• missing troop movement, conduct beyond the reach of the JACL's We fmd that the application of these The Japanese American commu• ing [Watada's] position." unbecoming 'an officer, and con• authority based on the organiza• two articles (contempt and conduct nitY has been vocally expressing On the contempt and conduct tempt towards officials. tion's mission statement." unbecoming an officer) raises ques• their opinions regarding Watada's unbecoming an officer charges Although national JACL has been The statement went on to say: tions about the intent of the Army to situation - the first Asian Tateishi reiterated: "They don't mostly silent since Watada "However, the JACL does express apply undue punishment to Lt. American officer to refuse deploy• make sense to me. The enhance- its strong concern that Lt. Watada be announced his decision in June, the Watada because, as an officer of the ment orders to Iraq - including in See WATADAIPage 3 A J.Pop Culture Identity Fighting for t~e. Right to Rock the Vote The first step in the battle Kristin Iwata, 22, the form did not shows off some of to reauthorize the land• really make much her J-pop cl,llture mark Voting Rights Act sense to Yeung and CDs and posters. has been made with the an interpreter was For many young House's OK. Now as the not available to JAs these days, J• Senate takes up the issue, help, so she just pop culture is a APAs say voting barriers filled out the form way to get in touch must be demolished. herself plunging with their ancestral her mind into roots. By LYNDA LIN uncertainly. PHOTO: STACY IWATA Assistant Editor When she leamed about her lar reads and each week English JA youth these days are With citizen~hip comes respon• rights as a citizen AMERICAN DREAM: APAs who want to partiCipate subtitled Japanese dramas like GTO - which includes increasingly interested in sibility, so when Kit Fong Yeung in the electoral process are still facing barriers. ("Great Teacher Onizuka") and Japanese popular culture. raised her right hand to pledge language assis• "Summer Snow" are must-sees. tance - uncertain- What they're rmding is that allegiance to the country she has assistance provisions required by Tsudama is an obsessed fan of ty turned to outrage. Yeung along it's not only enter,taining, called home for nearly two Section 203 of the 1965 Voting Japanese pop culture. it's a way to explore their decades her next move was natu• with four other Asian Pacific Rights Act. "I spend a considerable amount ancestral roots. rally to pick the next U.S. presi• American voters and four APA The lawsuit filed in February of time and money in f~ding my groups· including the Asian dent. In 2004, the Manhattan 2006 accuses the board of failing habitJaddiction," the 23-year-old American Legal Defense and By CAROLINE AOYAGI-STOM Chinatown resident arrived at her to provide election related materi• jokingly admits. "I listen to Education Fund (AALDEF) have Executive Editor polling place to find the voting als and assistance to APAs with Japanese music on a daily basis, machine broken and other voters sued the New York City Board of Elections for violating language Yonsei Geoff Tsudama likes to See J-POP CULTURElPage 12 filling out affidavits. The words on See VRAIPage 3 spend most of his days listening to his favorite J-pop music artists like Yano Maki, m-f1o and Chihiro JACL Calls Toledo Radio Host's Racially Committee Recommends Children's ·Onitsuka. Japanese anime like ' Harassing Remarks an Outrage "Bleach" and "One Piece" are regu- Book about Internment Be Taken APA groups are contacting employee's accent and limited the station's advertisers English skills. 011 Curriculum, Moved to Library and filing a complaint with .On May 22, the radio host .called 'Baseball Saved Us' uses the FCC. an Asian restaurant and was sur• the J-word to show the prised when the person who pain of racism. By Pacific Citizen Staff answered the phone spoke perfect English. Garber went on to com- · By LYNDA LIN ment that a white person must have Asian Pacific American grOJlPS Assistant Editor including the JACL are demanding been working there, critics say. action from a Toledo, Ohio radio Asian Communities United The use of an ethnic slur in a chil• station for its recent broadcasts of a (ACU), a student organization from dren's book continues to stir debate series of prank calls to local Asian Bowling Green Sta.te University, is in New Milford, Connecticut with a restaurants. threatening a boycott of the radio school board subcommittee's recent Tower 98.3 (WTWR FM) disc station and its parent company recommendation to remove recommended the book be moved jockey "Lucas," whose real name is Culmulus Media Inc. unless Garber "Baseball Saved Us," Ken as a "trade book" from the second Josh Garber, is being accused of is fired and <\ public apology is Mochizuki's coming-of-age story and third grade level and placed in making racially insensitive remarks , made. set in a World War II intemment the schools' libraries. during a portion of his weekday 7 "Your DJ Lucas' on-air prank camp, from the second grade read• The committee asked to wait until p.m. to midnight "Madhouse" radio calls to Asian establishments .made ing program. students are older before using it show where he called a Japanese with the specific intention of ridicul- The school board's six-member with entire classes, said Thomas restaurant and made fun of the Committee on Learning in late June See RADIOlPage 5 See CURRICULUMlPage 3 1.~.r "ImERS .. r\/lTJ. PACIFIC· CITIZEN, JULY 21-AUG. 3, 2006
! ~ PACIAC CITIZEN ~ 2005 WINNERI GMEDRIA I~~ U ~ Editor - ~ Awards In Writing .A I set right. been a bit envious. Readers Speak Out On Watada·Case 2. To those AJAs who label Ehren Barry had a drawing charisma, PACIFIC CITIZEN Our Country recently celebrated Remember the treatment accorded a disgrace to the AJAs - especially which combined with his endless 250 E. First Street, Ste. 301, the anniversary of the Declaration of the "Resisters" in the Wyoming con• to those who fought and died in knowledge, wit and humor kept Los Angeles, CA. 90012 Independence. I want to remind your centration camp during WWII. WWII, I ask, "What did those veter:• e~eryone intrigued, ' clamoring for Tel: 213/620-1767, readers that the courageous men Many had to serve prison terms. ans fight for?" I believe they fought more, and entertained. One would 800/966-6157 who signed the Declaration . of I hope the JA community as well to prove our loyalty, so we would be want to know more about history or Fax: 213/620-1768 Independence, including American as the general public will stand accepted as "full" citizens. I would any subject matter after speaking E-mail: [email protected] www.pacificcitizen.org heroes such as Thomas Jefferson and behind Lt. Watada for his brave and add: (1) They should not have had to with Barry - he had that kind of George Washington, signed the principled stand against participating - we were already loyal! (2) But effect on you bringing the richness Executive Editor: Declaration in protest to the tyranny in the Iraq war. He is the first officer they did! Must we keep on "prov- . of the world around you right to your Caroline Y. Aoyagi-Stom . Assistant Editor: of King George and the British to take such a position. He needs to ing" our loyalty in order to attain full lap. Lynda Lin Crown. Each man signed the know of our support. acceptance? That would be an insult And you would soon realize that Office Manager: Declaration of Independence, con• to those who 60 years ago fought you would have to make some room Brian Tanaka vinced that signing the document ~ ' 1~ and died for we would be saying to on that lap because there might be Circulation: Eva Lau-Ting would mean certain death to each them, "You fought and died in vain." some newly qafted origami there Intern: Stacy Iwata El Cerrito, CA man. Their own countrymen My two brothers served in the now. Fifteen years and several inter• Publisher:Japanese American accused them of treason, mutiny, and o 442nd in Europe, another brother national moves later, I still have Citizens League (founded 1929) as traitors leading an insurrection Many P. C. readers voiced their served in Occupied Japan. They brightly colored, guietly folded (I 1765 Sutter Street, San against the beloved mother country. support of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada's served so Ehren could exercise his don't think he even looked down at Francisco, CA 94115, tel: They are American heroes. . . refusal to deploy to Iraq. However, I 'full constitutional rights - and his hands when he was composing 415/921-5225 fax: 415/931- 4671, www.jacl.org I am proud of my son for having strongly disagree with his decision. responsibilities! them!) majestic paper peacocks JACL President: Lany Oda the courage to step forward as an How effective of an Army would from him. Nat'l Director: John Tateishi officer of the United States Army to we have if we allowed our soldiers ~7aHJe Long after Barry left the room, Pacific Citizen Board of refuse to participate in an illegal and - especially officers - to refuse to Honolulu you wotild still be in deep reflection. Directors: Gil Asakawa, chair• immoral war: The tyranny of our comply with military orders just It's one that you could carry around person; Roger Ozaki, EDC; leaders is illegal. The Nuremburg because they did not agree? Some o with you for years, decades and Casey China, MDC; Kathy Ishimoto, CCDC; Nelson Nagai, Tribunals led to the execution of consider him a hero for refusing to First 1,t. Ehren Watada's refusal to places afterwards. When you say a NCWNPDC; Sheldon Arakaki, Japanese and German officers for deploy. It took a great tleal of forti• serve in Iraq is a courageous and man is an inspiration, Barry Saiki PNWDC; Larry Grant, IDC; committing atrocious war crimes, tude to come to such a decision, but patriotic act. At a time when people qualifies. Though long-serving the Sharon Kumagai, PSWDC; the same as the war crimes being that does not make him hero. When Japanese American, U.S.-Japan Maya Yamazaki, Youth. . in this country have been made committed by America. he was commissioned as a U.S. intimidated from speaking their con• community, his contributions were r-NEwSiAffDEADLiNIF-' Lt. Ehren Watada as an American Army officer, he took a solemn oath science for fear of being labeled "un• for all humanity. FRIDAY BEFORE DATE officer could face the same charges. to obey all orders. The effectiveness American," Lt. Watada has dared to What's wonderful is that they are OF ISSUE. To date, since the start of the war of our military will be undermined if continuing. So you see what being Editorials, news and the opin• risk his own freedom so that this ter• ions expressed by columnists over 100,000 innocent Iraqi citizens the actions of men like Watada are rible silence might be challenged. inspirational means. other than the national JACL have been killed by violence led by accepted without consequence. If president or national director . My heart goes out to Lt. Watada and do not necessarily reflect JACL American troops. And thousands of one has reservations about such his family with deep gratitude for his ~ ~ policy. Events and products young American sons and daughters things, then why join in the first sacrifice. ~ ~ advertised in the Pacific have died or will never be able to place? Citizen do not carry the Implicit Via e-mail I am a World War II veteran and I endorsement of the JACL or lead productive lives. The massacre ~1Uet this publication. We reserve the and slaughter of the Iraqi people and volunteered for the U.S. Army from o :L ______right to edit articles. _ Philadelphia, PA their homes, and the shattering of Gila . River Internment Camp in PACIFIC CITIZEN (ISSN: 0030- American families must stop now. November 1942, when it was not a o Thank You From D.C. 8579) is published semi-monthly popular thing to do. I believe we Lt. Ehren Watada is a patriot and Many thanks to Ted Namba (con• except once in December and should instill patriotism and loyalty American hero. P. C. Receives vention chairman), his family January by the Japanese in our present and future Nikkei gene American Citizens League, 250 Generous Donation (Michelle, Lauren, and Brian), and erations. E. First Street, Ste. 301, Los ieJettt~ . 1Qama4 the Arizona chapter for planning and We can respect his decision, but To the dedicated Pacific Citizen Angeles, CA. 90012 OFFICE Honolulu hosting a wonderful National JACL HOURS - Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 let's not applaud him. .Staff - Caroline, Lynda, Brian and p.m. Pacific Time. ©2006. o Eva. Convention in Chandler, Arizona. All the events were executed with Annual subscription rates: George and Bess Yasukochi were I wish to commend and support ~~~ . NON-MEMBERS: 1 year-$40, e,t. devoted supporters of the Pacific precision and were enjoyed by all. the courageous stand that Sansei 1st Thank you to everyone who helped payable in advance. Additional 'l~ , mved Citizen, proud of your many accom• postage per year - Foreign peri• Lt. Ehren Watada took in refusing San Jose, Calif. plishments, and the fine work you do make the convention a success. odical rate $25; First Class for deployment to Iraq. By the latest Thank you also to Ken Inouye for o representing the JACL and the API U.S., Canada, Mexico: $30; polls, most Americans agree that the serving as national president for the Airmail to Japan/Europe: $60. community. actions in Iraq are a mistake, and that Editors Note: Portions ofthefoL• past two years and to the national (Subject to change without In t4eir memory, please accept this our soldiers need to come home. lowing letter were inadvertentLy cut ' board and particularly to John notice.) Periodicals postage paid donation towards the purchase of His mother writes: "His decision by our printer in the JuLy 7th issue. Tateishi and the JACL staff. . at Los Angeles, Calif. computer hardware, software and came through much soul-searching The text of the letter appears in full Permission: No part of this publi• associated upgrades. We want to thank those involved cation may be reproduced with- and thorough research and consulta• beLow. with awarding the Ruby Pin to Aoyd Keep up the good work! out express permission of the tion with experts across disciplines, I support very strongly 1st Lt. and to me. It was a complete surprise publisher. Copying for other than inside and outside of the military and Ehren Watada's refusal to serve in to Aoyd, but he is very deserving. It personal or internal reference use the government." 1IaIeue ~", CURRICULUM going on," said Mochizuki, 52. that age," said Mulvihill. "The O'Briens have every right to . ''They felt the book to be a good (Continued from page 1) control what their child reads or book and a valuable book - hence Mulvihill, New Milford School doesn't read ... but leave it up to the let's be sure to leave it in the library District's assistant superintendent. individual parent to make that deci• available to. all primary students - The book was then deemed appro~ sion." but they felt more comfortable hav• priate for use in grades 4-6 and Mochizuki penned the book near• ing the book used by teachers with above. ly 13 years ago based on the experi• classes when the child might be a There are about 50 trade books ences of his ancestors and 110.000 year or two older," he added. that teachers use in their classrooms other JAs incarcerat(,!d during The full Board of Education is as part of the reading program, said WWll. He specifically used the J• expected to take up the issue in Mulvihill at the committee's June word to convey the hurt of his com• August. 27 meeting. munity at the time. Since then he The course of action has left The debate centered on the has been touring schools across the Mochizuki wondering if it weren't a FROM PAGE TO STAGE: Seattle's book's use of the word "Jap," which nation teaching young children JA parent bringing this up, would 5th Avenue Theatre performed appears several times in the story about. this dark spot in American this issue have gone this far. He the muscial version of 'Baseball about a young Japanese A~erican history. advises those who oppose the book Saved Us' for two seasons to boy nicknamed Shorty, who finds a The committee was asked to to "read the book next time and look students in grades ranging sense of self-wOlth pl€lying on the review the text in May after 0' Brien at the final picture." from kindergarten to 8th grade. dusty baseball field of his captivity. objected to the book being read Shorty knocks the racism being The cast (above from left) Matt Upon returning to his "real" life out• alOUd in class. Then debate about hurled at him right over the fences. Durasoff, Chrissy Chin, Leilani side of camp, he faces racism and age-appropriateness and racial "Read between the lines," Wollam, Marc dela Cruz and derision from his peers. stereotypes began to swirl around • Mochizuki urged. Gene Ma. Some New Milford parents, who the New England town of 28,000 Since being published by Lee and ------are JA according to local reports, residents. Bill McLachlan, commit• Low books in 1993, "Baseball original shows and adaptations of said the pace of the show is a little objected to the introduction of racial tee chair, said he not only objected Saved Us" has gone on to win liter• books in schools across Washington. slower than most kindergartners slurs to children ,in the second grade. to the ethnic slur, but also cited the ary awards and has been translated The theatrical version' of "Baseball like. . Peter O'Brien told conunittee mem• stereotypical reference to the book's to a stage musical by the Seattle• Saved Us" ran for two seasons with It's really uplifting for children to bers at the June 27 meeting that his main character as short. based 5th Avenue Theatre over 180 J.X!rformances. The first , see because the world depicted in child felt uncomfortable after read• "While board members felt the Association. In addition to produc• season, young children, mostly in "Baseball Saved Us" was the chil• ing the book. The history of intern• book was a great teaching tool, the ing its own musicals, the theater the kindergarten-eighth grades sat dren's world, said Jennifer Rice, 5th ment and WWII is not appropriate majority agreed with the parents' group also runs an educational out• wide-eyed and drank in visual treats. Avenue's public relations manager. for children of such a young age, position that schools should not be reach program that brings musical The second season, was recom• "There , were never any com• O'Brien is also quoted as saying. in the business of introducing what theaters to schools. mended for an older audience (first• plaints about the show or its con• "It's baffling for me that this is they regard as a slur word to kids Each year, the theater performs eighth grades) only because teachers tent," said Rice .• VRA "The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa civil rights leaders say would have sions. The resolution also calls for and 81 poll sites in 23 cities span• Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting weakened the Voting Rights Act's JACL chapters along with the exec- . ning nearly 17 years, AALDEF (Continued frpm page 1) Rights Act Reauthorization and protections. utive director to send letters of sup• revealed language competency, cul• limited English proficiency. Amendments Act of 2006," which if ''The Voting Rights Act is perhaps port to lawmakers regarding the tural differences and discrimination "I want us all to be treated equal• signed into law would reinstate the one of the most important civil VRA reauiliorization. at the polls contribute to voter disen• ly," said Byung Soo Park, another provisions for another 25 years. rights laws as the right to 'vote helps "Voting rights is what JACL has franchisement. AALDEF collected plaintiff in the lawsuit who needs an The provisions set to expire in to protect all other rights," said fought to retain for many decades," many testimonies from APA voters interpreter to vote. 2007 are: Karen K. Narasaki, president and said JACL Director of Public Policy who were discriminated against by But the problem isn't isolated. Th~ "preclearance" provisions of executive director of the Asian' Floyd Mori. "While language may poorly trained poll workers. The -Chinese American' Voters Section 5, which require jurisdic• American Justice Center (AAJC). not be a problem for most of us ''These are Asian people like my Association (CAVA), a New York~ tions in all or part of 16 states to "We are pleased that the bipartisan today, the language provisions are grandparents and parents who want based non-profit organization, set prove that a voting change does not leadership in the House passed a essential to recent immigrants much to take part in the electoral process up a complaint hoiline at the last discriminate against minority voters strong bill to ensure that .all like it was to our Issei forefathers .. and are taken advantage of," said general election for voters to repolt before that change can be imple• Americans continue to have - the "Fighting for voting rights is a Glenn Magpantay, AALDEF's vot• violations: The phone calls "went mented; ability to exercise their right to legacy of JACL that does not stop ing rights attomey. through the roof," said Hank Yeh The minority language provision,S vote." just beOluse most of us today have The four named plaintiffs in the CAVA co-president. In 2004, of Section 203; However, this is just the first step. the right to vote. It is also a critical . lawsuit against the New York City AALDEF received about 600 com• Provisions Qf Sections 6-9 which The focus now shifts to the reminder to us that our voice needs Board of Elections faced many bar- plaints from voters across the auth0l1ze the Department of Justice Senate, where the Judiciary to be heard at the ballot box in order . riers while trying to cast their votes, nation. to appoint an examiner and send Committee is expected to take up for this country to be what' our so they decided to come forward and And perhaps most scary of all is observers to polls to deter, witness the measure. founding fathers intended it to be," incite change. The suit is currently in the fact that provisions of the Voting and report discriminatory activities At the June 21-24 national JACL said Mori. settlement negotiation, said Rights Act, including language at the polls. convention in Chandler, Arizona the As one of the fastest growing eth• Magpantay. assistance, is set to expire in 2007. A major victory was won July 13 national council unanimously nic communities, statistics show "I think they were very brave. Civil rights groups' including the when the House voted 390-33 to passed an emergency resolution to APAs can be profoundly affected by When our community stands up and JACL have been charging the pass HR 9 while defeating four urge Congress to ensW'e the exten• the fate of the VRA reauthorization. speaks out, good things happen, "he course for the passage of HR 9 or amendments to the bill that many sion of the VRA's expiring provi- In a survey that included eight states added .• NATIONAL NEWS PACIFIC CITIZEN, JUlx 21-AuG, 3, 2006 • FLOYD MORl • National Newsbytes JACL DIRECTOR OF PUBLrC POLlCY By P.C Staff and ¥sociated Press WASHINGTON WINDOW WWII Aircraft Carrier 'to Feature Bringing Healthcare Issues 1ooth/442nd/ MIS Display . to the Forefront ALAMEDA, Calif.-The USS Hornet, a navy aircraft carrier that served in wwn and also took part in the Apollo 11 mission, is hosting an Aug. 5 grand opening of a lOOth/442nd/MIS he issues of physiCal, men• Dorothy Ouchida, We~teln to other groups. To learn more display. The celebration is open to the T tal, and emotional well• Regional senior manager for Pfizer, about their work, visit www.api• public. being and health care are Inc., as facilitator. ahf.org. The Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL important to members of the iACL. Joining Dorothy on the panel Dt Richard Arakaki is an expert is organizing a one-day trip for the The gQals of Healthy People 2010, were Dr. Richard Arakaki, profes• in the field of diabetes research. He grand opening. A chartered bus will the national promotion and disease sor of medicine, John A. Bums reported that diabetes results from be taking participants to the USS School of Medicine at the the inability of the body to use Hornet's dock site located at the prevention initiative, are to increase University of Hawaii in Honolulu; energy which results in high blood Alameda Naval Pier at 9: 15 a.m. The the quality and years of healthy life sugar and may be caused by a lack cost - which includes transportation, lunch 'and admission fee to board the and to eliminate health disparities. Roxanna Bautista, director of the Diseas~s USS Hornet - will be $20 for Senior Center and youth members and $25 The JACL would do well to Chronic Division for the of insulin. Although diabetes is not for all others, become more involved with health Asian and Pacifi'c Islander curable, it is controllable. Some of Sign-ups will be taken until July 27. For more information, contact Carol issues by fostering coalitions and American Health Forum (API• the symptoms of diabetes are,. an Kaneko 8311476-7040 or Mas'Hashimoto 83ln22-6859. networks, by influencing policy AHF); and Dr. Ken Babamoto increase in thirst, urination, and eat- . and legislation and by providing from Pfizer Health Solutions. ing, blurred vision, numbness or Rock No Longer Bears Racist Name more valuable information to its Additional information on the tingling, weight loss, fatigue, weak• BOCA RATON, Fla.-The racially derogatory name of a coastline in members. There have been very Medicare prescription drug plan ness, and headache, or t!tere may Highland Beach has been replaced with a name to honor the Japanese set• few published health studies on was presented by Ann Avery of the be no noticeable symptoms. tlers who used to fish and picnic there. Asian Americans over the past 40 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid All adults over the age of 45 "Jap Rock" officially became Yamamoto Rock in June with the U.S. years as compared to other ethnic Services (CMS). should have a fasting blood sugar Board on Geographic Names' unanimous vote to rename the outcropping., · groups. Although Asian Americans The panelists agreed that health test for diabetes. Screenings should Talks for a name change began two years ago when the state required and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are is an issue worthy of becoming a be done at a younger age ormore reporting of places with ethnic or religious slurs and asked for suggested new generally grouped together for major focus of the JACL for the often if a person is overweight or names. future. The JACL can work togeth• obese, has a first degree relative Yamato Colony was an agricultural community founded in 1905. most studies, there are many differ• ences within the various groups er with government agencies and with diabetes, has high blood pres• Military Translators to be Honored . included in the designation of private entities such as Pfizer in sure Qr high cholesterol, or is a AAPls. bringing health care issues to the .member of a high risk ethnic group with Memorial Stone forefront for the JACL. With the which includes Asians. The test HONOLULU-Seven Japanese American World War n veterans of the To promote good health, people groups working together as part• may also identify pre-diabetes so Military Intelligence Service will dedicate a memorial stone to their com• need to get involved and involve ners, more good could be accom• that precautions may be taken, rades at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Memorial others. Prevention is a key element Walkway July 22. to improved health. The national plished in the realm of health and The cornerstone of diabetes The memorial will be the 67th stone in the cemetery's walkway. JACL and chapters can assist in health care for members of the treatment as well as for most health The MIS included more than 7,000 JAs who worked as interpreters and community education on health JACL. Pfizer is anxious to assist issues is proper diet and exercise. translators ~ough the 1940s and until the end of the Korean War.• issues, have health faiTs and screen• the JACL in this important area and Other factors which may contribute ings, and strengthen individual has already shown their support. to improved health are to get peo• knowledge and skills regarding The APIAHF is a national advo• ple to stop smoking and to reduce health. cacy organization founded in 1986 weight if advisable. APAs One of the excellent workshops which is dedicated to promoting AAs are the only racial group 'in the held during the National JACL policy, program, and research who experience cancer as the lead• · ~~~~ News Convention in Arizona was enti• efforts to improve the health and ing cause of death. Asians as an tled: "Exploring Healthcare well being of the AAPI communi• ethnic.group also have other health Disparities in the Asian American ties. Ms. Bautista gave statistics concerns. The JACL will begin to By Pacific Citizen Staff Population." The workshop was regarding the health care disparities focus more heavily on these impor• sponsored by Pfizer, Inc. with of the AAPI peoples as compared tant issues of health . • Yu Gets Nod From Primetime Emmy Jessica Yu's "In the Realms of the Unreal" is nominated for a primetime Emmy in the category of Ex~eptional Merit in Former WWII JA Detainees Make Pilgrimage to U.S. Camp Nonfiction Filmmaking. "In the Realms of the U oreal" profiles Henry Darger, ByCHrnUSTOPHERSNUTH 'This was the site of some very a reclusive janitor by day and visionary artist by night. Associated Press Writer dark days in our. nation's history," Yu won the 1997 Academy Award for Best Documentary Republican Sen. Mike Crapo of Short for "Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of HUNT, Idaho - Tomi Okano was Idaho said: 'The incarceration of Mark O'Brien," a portrait of the award-winning writer 6 years old in 1942 when she and her almost 10,000 Japanese American who worked for decades from the confines of an iron lung. family were forced by the U.S. fed- . citizens here at Minidoka represents The awards will be presented Aug. 19 at the Los Angeles Shrine eral government to leave their a blight on the otherwise bright Auditorium.. Oregon home to live in a World War record of respect for human rights II detention camp for Japanese that our nation strives to uphold and Senate Confirms Ikuta as judge of Americans. . promote." Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals More than 60 years later, she has The Park Service's new plan for Sandra Segal Ikuta, deputy director and general counsel of the California few vivid memories' of this place in Minidoka recommends Congress Resources Agency and a former partner at O'Melveny & Myers, was con• the southern Idaho desert, save one. remove the word '!internment" from firmed in late June as a judge of the Ninth U.S. Circuit "I remember the fence," Okano the monument title. because the Court of Appeals. said July 8 as she walked past the The Senate confirmed Ikuta, 51, on a roll call of 81-0 agency says it means imprisonment to fill a seat that has been vacant since Judge James remnants of an entry checkpoint to of enemy aliens during wartime and the former 33,OOO-acre (13,350- gov~ Browning took senior status in 2000. The chimney in the wating room does not accurately describe the hectare) Minidoka Relocation Ikuta eamed her law degree from UCLA, received her still stands at Minidoka. ernment's detention of U.S. citizens. masters in joumalism from Columbia University, and Center compound. "I remember It also proposes converting a still• graduated from UC Berkeley after majoring in English. She is a past chair thinking, 'If I could just go over that Idaho to the National Park Service to ~tanding camp warehouse into a vis• of the Executive Committee of the Environmental Section of the Los fence and over those mountains, expand visitor services at the itor center, reconstructing military Angeles County Bar, and has been active as a writer and speaker on environ• there would be the ,ocean and I Minidoka site. guard towers and restoring barracks mental issues. would be home.''' Minidoka was one of 10 detention to replicate conditions at the camp, Okano, of Seattle, was one of camps operated between 1942 and The agency is working with various Seabrook JACLer Receives Encore Award about 100 former detainees and their . 1946 in the western U.S. and historical societies to preserve the John Fuyuume, project director of the Seabrook Educational and families who made a pilglimage Arkansas. The camps held thou• memories of the surviving Minidoka Cultural Center (SECC), recently was honored by the South Jersey Cultural from Seattle and Portland, Oregon, sands of West Coast residents who detainees, a task complicated by a Alliance ''Encore Award 2006 Recognizing the Patrons of the Arts, History to the Idaho camp now designated were deemed a security risk because & Cultural Community of our Region and the State" in Atlantic City, New cultural inclination to remain silent they had at least one-sixteenths Jersey. the Minidoka Internment National about the experience. The award is given annually to an individual who has been instrumental Monument. Japanese ancestry. "Dad never talked about it," aid in the creation and enhancement of cultural programming. The National Park Service hosted The forced removal of JAs from Larry Matsuda, a Seattle University Co-founder of SECC, Fuyuume is also affiliated with the Bay Atlantic the visit with former internees to dis• the coastal "military exclusion area" professor who was born at Minidoka Symphony, of which he was president in 2004-5, and the Cumberland cuss its plans to develop a 73-acre was ordered by President Franklin in 1945. County TourismAdvisory Council. (30-hectare) parcel set aside in 200 1 Roosevelt two months after Japan's For others" discussing their years by former President Bill Clinton into Dec. 7, 1941 , surprise attack on at Minidoka is just too painful. Tanamachi Receives Foreign Minister Award , an educational exhibit focusing on Pearl Harbor, "My mother was sick when we Sandra Tanamachi, this biennium's Edison Uno Civil Rights Award win• civil rights and the wartime experi• Minidoka residents lived in were sent here and she died here ner, has been selected as a winner of the Japanese Foreign Minister Award. ence oqapanese Americans. dozens of tarpaper-covered bWTacks when I .was eight," says Okano, ,_ Tanamachi led the fight to change the names of Texas' "Jap" roads and Recently, the U.S. Bureau of . and worked on irrigation projects whose maiden name is Kusachi. lanes. She has also been honored by the Japanese American Veterans Reclamation agreed to a proposal to and farms. Today, only a handful of "Many of us, I think we have just Association with the group's flfSt "Courage, Honor, Patriotism Award." • transfer 10 acres of land in southern original stJUctures remain. ' blocked those memories out." • ' PACIFIC CITIZEN, JULY 21-AuG. 3, 2006 'cdMMUNrrlNEws 5 Korean War Vets Announce Dedication of Miyamura Tribute Monum.ent The city of Gallup, New Mexico' Medal of Honor award was publicly received will be used to complete an has completed a series of individual announced. additional monument' in the column-type monuments dedicated The city had asked the Japanese Japanese American National War to the veterans of all wars. The pil• American Korean War Veterans 'Memorial Court at the Japanese lars honor veterans of both World organization to support them by American Cultural and Community Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf Wars providing the cost of $30,000 for the Center in Los Angeles, California. and the WWlI "Indian Code Miyamura portion of the monu• The new additional memorial Talkers." ment. The JAKWV initiated a fund monument will honor the seven JAs Included in this monument is a raising project with a goal of who died during the sinking of the separate individual colunm solely $30,000 to make certain that the city USS Maine in the harbor of Havana dedicated to honor Hiroshi would have the funds to build the on Feb. 15, 1898, as well as Mark "Hershey" Miyamura, the only separate Miyamura monument. Yamane, the one person of Japanese American of Japanese heritage in JAKWV Co-Chairman Sam heritage killed on the' Island of the Korean War to receive the Shimoguchi reports the funds for Grenada, and those killed in Iraq: nation's highest combat award, the the City of Gallup monument has Deyson Cariaga, whose mother is Medal of Honor. Miyamuracurrent• reached its goal of $30,000 in record Japanese, Paul Nakamura, Steve Iy lives in Gallup, New Mexico. time, well ahead of schedule Sakoda, Michael Sonoda, Jr. and ~ A dedication ceremony is sched• Persons interested in joining the Daniel Tsue. uled for Aug. 19 at the Miyamura HONOR: A monument to all veterans in Gallup, JAKWV in attending the ceremony Those WllO wish to contribute to Tribute Monument Veterans Plaza New Mexico pays special tribute to Hiroshi and visiting wittI the Miyamuras are the new "Post Vietnam War 'in the City of Gallup, New Mexico 'Hershey' Miyamura (left), the only JA in the asked to immediately contact Memorial Wall," may call: beginning at 4:00 p.m. The Korean War to receive the Medal of Honor. Shimoguchi, 310/822-6688, or pres• • Shimoguchi 310/822-6688; Reverend Mark Nakagawa of the Miyamura currently lives in Gallup. ident of the JAKWV Victor • Carl Miyagishima 323/256-8451; Los Angeles Centenary Methodist Muraoka at 818/368-4113. • Robert M. Wada 714/992-5461. Church will attend and has consent• active duty with the Army and was , 'own hands. Records and eyewitness Shimoguchi also noted as Tax -deductible contributions 'ed to provide the invocation and sent to Korea as a machine gun accounts note that more than 50 of prospective donors were notified under the IRS Revenue Code, benediction for the dedication serv• squad leader in Company H, 7th the enemy were killed before about the Miyamura memorial, they Section 501(c)(19), made out to ice. Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Hershey was wounded and cap• were told that in the event'the fund "JAKWV," may be sent to: Miyamura first served with the Division. tured. raising project exceeded the Sam Shimoguchi Japanese American 442nd At Taejon-Ni, when being over• After spending 28 months as a $30,000 goal, excess funds raised 12557 Allin Street Regimental Combat Team at the run by the Chinese Communist prisoner of war, he was released on would be used to offset the Korean Los Angeles, CA 90066 end of World War II. When the forces, Hershey ordered his men to Aug. 23, 1953, at the Freedom War Vets · expenses to raise the Contributions, may be sent without Korean War began on June 25, retreat while he held off the enemy Village in Panmunjon, South Korea. $30,000 and the dedication costs. the form, so long as the check is 1950, Hershey was recalled into with a machine gun, bayonet and his ,It was only then that the news of the Also, any additional funds marked "For Iraq KIAs." • ,Watsonville-Santa Cruz Names Newly Formed Historical Society Kee Kitayama Scholarship Winners Focuses on Preservation of Little 'Tokyo Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL Diego in the fall, majoring in nutri• announced the selection of two out• tion. standing young women to receive Kelli Okuji, daughter of Dr. this year's Kee Kitayama Memorial David and Cindy Okuji of Aptos, Scholarships. Calif. wrote: 'Through this endur• Both recipients have an impres- . ing feeling of dignity, Japanese sive record of academic and athletic Americans nationwide . are able to achievements' relate to one as well as civic another in a and communi• way that can ty involve• only be felt by ment. They one that has each wrote an been affected essay on th,eir , by discrimina• _ understanding tion." of Executive YONEMOTO OKUJI Kelli will Order 9066 Day of attend Harvard University and par• Remembrance. ticipate in Division I soccer and Joyce Yonemoto, daughter of track & field next fall. Hiroshi and Furnie Yonemoto of Each received $1,000 and the his• Watsonville, wrote her essay about torical book, "Patriotism, the painting of Heart Mountain in Perseverance, Posterity" from the her uncle's living room. National Japanese American PHOTO: JACK IWATA COLLECTION She will be attending UC San Memorial to Patriotism.• HISTORIC PHOTO: This spot in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo was an assembly point for JAs during WWII. JACL is also contacting the radio Community leaders interested in preserving the tion of the material to be placed on a comprehensive RADIO history of Los Angeles' Little Tokyo have formed the station's advertisers to make them public Web site. (Continued from page 1) Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) to collect sto• According to Bill Watanabe, executive director of aware of the situation. ries, photographs, documents and other materials the Little Tokyo Service Center, "there are many peo• ing the recipients of those calls "The fact that Tower 98.3 man• related to the history of the Little Tokyo, neighbor• ple who are interested in doing something to help were dehumanizing, derogatory agement has not sanctioned these hood. preserve the historic ethnic neighborhood." and outrageously offensive," read employees means that you condone Although there are many other historical societies Those interested in helping preserve the history of their racist behavior," said YOShin9 an online petition initiated by ACU that focus on the collection, preservation, authentic Little Tokyo were invited to bring photos and share to stop the radio station's racist in the letter. interpretation and sharing of historical information stories of Little Tokyo at LTHS' fIrst meeting July 15. harassment. Tower 98.3, which plays contem• about the Japanese American experience, the goal of "It is impOrtant to research and document the his• The JACL sent a letter to Tower porary hits/pop music, is part of LTHS is to specifically focus on the JA community toric sites, buildings and stories that make up our eth• 98.3 Program Director Brent Carey Cumulus' 306 radio stations in 61 located in ~ittle Tokyo. nic community heritage, and how our forefathers and Cumulus management calling mid-sized markets. Sharing the history of Little Tokyo is also essential helped to build up this city over 100 years ago," said the prank calls "an outrage." Members of ACU have also filed in the preservation of Little Tokyo, many say. Deanna Matsumoto, a professionally trained historic "TIns demeaning behavior can• complaints with the Federal Although many of the proposed activities will be preservationist. • not be dismissed as harmless Communications Commission, discussed at the fIrst planning meeting, some ideas pranks or as simply having fun to aCcording to published reports .• include the publishing of a book on the history of For more information on the Little Tokyo entertain listeners," wrote Bill Little Tokyo. Other ideas include a digital compiIa- Historical Society, contact Craig Ishii: Yoshino, JACL Midwest regional [email protected] or 2/3/473-3022. director, in the July 7 letter. "At the On the Web: p------~---~ very least, this behavior may rein• www.cumulu5.com I Attention chapters! . I force the views of some, including www.tower983.com I I children and young people, that I I ridiculing people in a racist manner Sign the petition to stop I It s that time of year again! I is acceptable. At an extreme, it may racism on Tower 98.3'5 I I I . Holiday Issue kits are being prepared. I be a precursor to violence or the airwaves: I S~nd I threat of violence by individuals www.petitiononline.coml I your chapter contact info to: I who are looking for an excuse to act ACU123/petition.html I I on their bigotry." I [email protected]. I .------~------. 6 NATIONAL NEWS PACIFIC CITIZEN,JULY21-AUG. 3 , 2006 Movie Filmed in West Desert Shows How Baseball Helped Unify a Commun.ity By ASSOCIATED PRESS expert Kerry Yo Nakagawa, described an extra-inning game SKULL VALLEY, Utah-Alice between an Arizona internee squad Hirai was a little girl during World arid a state-championship high• War IT when the United States gov• school team from Tucson, won by ernment forced her and her the Japanese in a historic upset: Japanese-born parents from their Rosenbush tracked down San Francisco home to the Topaz Nakagawa and acquired the movie camp, where they lived for more rights to his book, "Through a than three years. So when the Diamond: 100 Years of Japanese Ogden woman, now in her 60s, set American Baseball." Nakagawa, a foot last month on a remote movie Fresno, Calif., amateur historian set built to replicate Topaz, . the whose uncles competed against memories and the tears came flood• Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, ing back. became an associate producer of the "I started to cry," Hirai said dur• movie. ing an interview on the set, some 50 Rosenbush then recruited film• miles west of Salt Lake City, where maker Desmond Nakano to write she served as an extra. "It looks the the script and direct. Best known for same. I saw the faded tar paper and directing the 1995 John Travolta AP PtlOTQ M the signs and the stairs all rickety. drama "White Man's Burden," And I remember that," she added. "I Nakano has parents who were in felt my (late) parents here with me. Manzanar. FAIR PLAY: Actors play ball during It was a spiritual experience." He chuckled. "I can't mess it up, the filming of The American The occasion was location shoot• or I'll never hear the end of it." Pastime,' a historical drama ' ing for 'The American Pastime," an To pass the time and restore some filmed on a set in Skull Valley, independent feature its makers hope sense or normalcy to their lives, Utah. will stir equally strong emotions in internees at all the camps organized moviegoers. The $4 million movie baseball leagues. Conditions were To ensure historical accuracy, a is an inspirational drama about two primitive: Diamonds were patches re-creation of the Topaz intern• families, one white and one of dirt, and uniforms were sewn ment camp using old government Japanese, whose destinies collide at from potato sacks and mattress tick• blueprints and a good old-fashion Topaz in the 1940s. ing. But the players were skilled, the ball game were used. Produce9 .by Barry Rosenbush, games were spirited, and big crowds executive producer of the Disney turned out to watch. American actors and several hun• Nakagawa. much these people suffered.' Channel smash hit "High School Using government blueprints 9f dred extras from Utah's Japanese "To be here in Utah and see these There's a lot of joy in this," said Musical," the movie also is about Topaz, the producers built a handful community. The elder Nomuras are characters come alive in the flesh Korean-born actor Aaron Yoo, who baseball. The patriarch of the of barracks, guard towers and other played by Masatoshi Nakamura and has been an absolute dream come plays hotshot pitcher Lyle Nomura. Burrell family is an aging catcher on structures. Special-effects wizards Judy Ongg, big stars in Japan who true for me," said the wiry former dig~ "What's beautiful about the movie a Utah minor-league team; one of will add dozens more buildings are making their American fIlm athlete, whose godfather, actor Pat is that something as simple as a the Nomura sons is a star pitcher on itally in post-production, swelling debuts. ('The Karate Kid") Morita, was game can bring people together." an all-Japanese internee squad. The the on-screen camp to its actual size. The most familiar face in the cast interned at a camp in Arizona. "We Rosenbush has yet to find a dis• two teams face off' in the movie's "Based on the photos I've seen, it may be that of veteran actor Gary only had to suffer the inconvenience tributor for the ftlm. He would love climactic scene, with more than looks very authentic," said Rick Cole ("The West Wing," "The of mosquito bites and the desert heat to premiere "The American bragging rights at stake. Okabe, secretary of the Topaz Brady Bunch Movie"), who plays for eight days. We had bottled. water Pastime" at the 2007 Sundance Rosenbush got the idea for the Museum board, a group seeking to embittered minor-leaguer Billy and food anytime we wanted. I can't Film Festival, which has long cham• film in 2002 while sitting in traffic preserve the Topaz site as a historic Burrell. "imagine what it was like for the An~eles pioned movies about marginalized on a Los freeway and lis• landmark. "They've done . their Shooting is scheduled to wrap internees, who were here for three subjects and characters. tening to a radio news program homework." July 24. years. That's something I'll never "It's a way to tell .a story about about the major role- of baseball in Filmin~ began June 15 with a cast The filmmaking experience has forget." injustice through a sport that's as the Japanese internment camps. The of mostly little-known Asian and been a magical, one so far for But the ftlmmakers insist it's not a American as apple pie," he said.• show's guest, Japanese-baseball sobering, concentration camp The American Pastime' is pro• dranla. duced by Shadowcatcher Avoid the Terri Schiavo Mess YAMATOTRAVELBUREAU® "It's not about, 'Look at how Entertainment's David Skinner, Download an Advance Health Care Directive (CST No. 1019309-10) IIIh'R.rilyiIlTrml'l'II Tom Gorai and Terry Stazik. Free of Chara:e on lea:albrlda:e.com ll.urlJHiJo! TOURS & CRUISES FOR 2006 "confections that win affections" 9128-1016 " Va"mato Exclusive Canada/East Coast Fall Foliage Tour· 9 daysJB nights. f'crtIarKj, Mai1e, BENKYODO CO. Thomas N. Shlg.:!-.uni and .... "oclatc' Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa. Niagara Falls, Verooa. CoopeIstown. Ne.vport Rhode Island. Tour Director: @ .!'_2.!l,! /\ ttom.:) , at LIII (J IU) 54()-'J266 Philippe TheriauH • " Lilly Nomura .. K. SAKAI COMPANY 1747 Buchanan Street 1012·10116 Vamato Deluxe Autumn Tour to Japan. K) • HARRY HONDA • • YUMI SAKUGAWA • VERY TRULY YOURS MEMOIRS OF A NON-GEISHA You Never Walked So Much as , Godzilla: Destroying at This Past Convention Tokyo and My Social Life ELL, THE 39TH Biennial turned statehood. t's a Monday night, and two people call allegory on nuclear warfare and a psycho• W out to be an extraordinary JACL The 10th biennial in 1948 at the grand I me on my cell phone to ask me if I logical catharsis for the only country in the conventionfrom the standpoint of , Hotel Utah in Salt Lake City saw Hito Okada want to go out, but I politely decline. I world to truly experience an atomic holo• its layout. The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass re-elected national president in JACL's first need to watch my Godzilla movies, I tell caust. Resort, no higher ihan four stories, has its mail-in ballot election. Final tally was not them. They understand and hang up. I have While people may now laugh when they main lobby at the third level. We had entered announced. Here was the first hilarious 1000 a personal date with a radioactive dinosaur, see this movie, back then the Japanese assuming it was the first level but as the ele• Club wing-ding at Dawn Noodle House, set• the kind that is prone to stomping through audience openly shed tears when they saw vator went down, we wondered whether our ting the tradition of cutting off men's long ties Tokyo and melting buildings with its atom• scenes of familiar buildings being destroyed room would be in the basement. Talk about and fining women without garters. ic breath. and people being carried to hospitals in "layout." The 11th biennial in 1950 at Chicago's I am voluntarily holing myself up in my stretchers as a result of Godzil1a's mayhem On the Gila River Indian Community Stevens Hotel inaugurated the Nisei of the muggy apartment to watch four hours because it struck so close to home in thtt southeast from Phoenix and off the 1-10, the Biennium awards, the honors going to worth of Godzilla movies because I decided immediate aftermath of World War ll. resort sits in the Sonoran Desert several miles Masaoka. JACL's second and last mail-in bal• at some point that I want to write a full• In the heavily edited American version, west of the interstate. On the way, you drive lots to nearly 10,000 members tallied Dr. length play that somehow involves an American character who wasn't even in past the casino, a golf course and saguaro Randolph Sakada of Chicago with 2,452 ' Godzilla, ~d this is all a part of the the actual fllm is spliced within the original cactus to the resort's entrance loop featuring votes, defeating Minoru Yasui of Denver with research process. . footage to create an English-speaking pro• landscape with an unexpected cascading 1,337 votes for national president. I figure that this personal summer project tagonist who somehow convinces the main waterfall. The 12th Biennial in 1952 at St. Francis can also serve as my very bizatre way of protagonists to use the only nuclear weapon As one who's covered national JACL con• . Hotel in San Francisco was the "greatest yet" learning more about my Japanese culture. that is capable of destroying Godzilla. ventions across the country and in Hawaii with 800 JACLers registered. The first day, And what better way to learn about your Important dialogue concerning the moral twice, those hotels' were not resorts but were however, began under somber circumstances. own culture than watching cheesy sci-fi dilemma that arises from using weapons of higher and had fast elevators. This Sheraton President Truman had vetoed the Walter• movies involving mutant reptiles? mass destruction is also noticeably cut, was spread over two Y-shaped wings from an McCarran omnibus bill that included natural• It's been pretty fun reading articles on which turns what was a serious meditation elegant lobby courting a vista of the desert ization for Issei. The national council one of Japan's most famous (or infamous, on weapons of mass destruction into a typi• and buttes beyond. "recessed" to have delegates wire their depending on how you look at it) personali• cal Westernized storyline in which the The convention center was off center. As respective senators and representatives to ties to emerge from the postwar era. Further American saves the foreigners from further would happen, the delegates were primed a override the veto. Two days later, the Senate research on the subject reveals just how big mayhem. long time ago to requesf rooms in the Pinla voted 57-26 and the House cast 278-113 to of an influence Godzilla still has on global Who would have thought that a movie Wing (closer to the convention center), but override the veto. (This was also a turning popular culture. about a radioactive dinosaur carried so the Sheraton was renovating that wing. We all point for Pacific Citizen as the national coun• Making its premiere onto Japanese cine• much political commentary that the quartered in the Maricopa Wing facing the cil voted to separate P.e. away from JACL ma nearly 50 years ago after being awak• Americans felt the need to heavily edit sunrise. Thus, this one turned out to be the headquarters. ) ened by a hydrogen test abomb, Godzilla down its original message? "walking-est" convention. It was one way to The 13th Biennial in 1954 at the Statler now boasts 28 movies and is probably one Throughout the course of this research, I burn off some (not all) the calories acquired Hotel in Los Angeles attracted 1,200 dele• of the most popular kajiu (monster) to grace realize more and more that Godzilla is from the tasty luncheons and sumptuous din• gates and boosters - a high mark ihat still the cinematic screen, not to mention one of more than a man in a rubber dinosaur suit, ners the Arizona JACL convention committee stands. The occasion noted over 6,000 Issei the few monsters to ever win an MTV but in actuality a monster of complex pro• had selected. had been naturalized since mid-1953. This Lifetime Achievement Award. portions who embodies Japan's ambiguous The national council, the gala luncheons renewed my postwar string ofattending every In a 1985 survey conducted by the New attitudes towards militarism, nuclear war• and Sayonara banquet convened in the con• convention. York Times/CBS asking 1,500 Americans to fare, power structures and Japanese society vention center ballroom. Hound it to be larg• The 14th Biennial in 1956 at the Sheraton name a famous Japanese person, Godzilla at large. er than the House of Representatives. Palace Hotel in San Francisco issued its ranked in the top three along with Hirohito Ultimately, though, I suspect that the raw salvo to reverse the 1944 Supreme Court and Bruce Lee (who isn't even Japanese, of appeal of Godzilla is much simpler than *** decisions in the Korematsu, Hirabayashi, and course.) Even to this day, Godzilla fans that. Cultural and social connotation asides, Conventions not so 'walking-est' Yasui cases. The first JACLer of the across the globe still organize fan conven• I think we all secretly love and envy At the 1938 JACL 5th Biennial convention Biennium honors were shared by Jerry tions and even academic talks based on this Godzilla because it appeals to the darker id in Los Angeles, delegates convened in the Enomoto of San Francisco and Abe Hagiwara famous lizard whose trademark scream was of our human natures. After all, who city hall 'council chamber. Delegates roomed of Chicago. created by the composer running a glove wouldn't want to wreak havoc on a big city at the two hotels in Little Tokyo - the The 15th Biennial in 1958 at Hotel Utah across a contrabass string. just because they've been woken out of a Miyako and Olympic - both five stones again in Salt Lake City recognized Southwest You would think that there is nothing really long nap? • high. That convention saw Mike Masaoka, L.A. JACL (no longer active) as ichiban with serious about the Godzilla franchise, but I 23, from Salt Lake City escorted off the coun• 1,216 members. U.S.-Japan Affairs, as a was surprised to learn that the original - Yumi Sakugawa is currently a student at cil floor because he was not credentialed as a standing committee, was restricted to act on a Godzilla movie was meant to be a serious UCLA ytlajoring in the arts. chapter delegate. He had demanded the floor "per issue basis" after a torrid debate between to tell what was wrong with JACL. This was Saburo Kido (against JACL tan- my first JACL convention. gling in foreign affairs) and Mike Nisei Cadet Nurse of World War II: The next convention for me was the 9th Masaoka. Agree? Biennial in 1946 at Denver's Cosmopolitan Disagree? Patriotism in Spite of PrejUdice Hotel. Besides adopting a $64,000 JACL *** Opinions? budget, Mike, now the Washington, D.C. So, congratulations to Arizona By Thelma Robinson JACL representative, defmed a long-term leg• JACL for a super convention. And E-mail us: From Japanese• islative program that included stay of deporta• I shall continue this review of suc• pc@ pacificcitizen.org tion, Issei naturalization, evacuation claims, ceeding national conventions, now American Internment amending immigration law and Hawaiian that I've started .• Camps to the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. EDITION This is the story of Nisei cadet nurses - of their experiences in wretched camps, of people who risked public scorn to support Japanese Americans, of prejudicial difficulties ~\! in entering nursing schools, and of a " n~ government that .1 reversed its policy .. !" against a people of Japanese descent. \ www.cadetnurse.com --ORDER- FORM:-- -$22.50--.-- + $3.00 --s/h ------NAME: ______ ADDRESS: ______ CITY: ______STATE: ____ ZIP: _____ Mail to: Black Swan Mill Press, 2525 Arapahoe Ave" Suite E4, PMB 534, Boulder, CO 80302 PACIFIC CITIZEN, JULY 21-AuG. 3, 2006 ENfERTAINMENT 9 Corrie young grasshopper, don't wax on, wax off about stereotypes - do something about it. Sensei, Fu Manchu and Long Duk Dong Meet in 'The Slanted Screen' ByLYNDALIN mail. Step-one to world domination Shigeta did in their time will depend Asian wom~n are portrayed as Assistant Editor is a Q&A with the Pacific Citizen. on whether there are projects that dragon ladies and sexual, submis• Pacific Citizen: The amount of envision an Asian man in ;1 leading sive creatures while Asian men are . Jeff Adachi is perhaps the Asian clips and archival footage is stag• role, and of course, whether their shown as Fu Manchu types or alter• Pacific American community'S gering. What kind of research did films produce results at the box natively as asexual or nerdy. closest thing to a rea1life superhero you have to do to ensure the doc• office. Likewise, the' experience of Asian - by day this Yonsei protects the wnentary represented APA film PC: There is a push/pull ele• male actors was much different poor as San Francisco's elected pub• history? ment to the discussion about APA from that experienced by female lic defender, but by moonlight he's a Jeff Adachi: I couldn't include actors - on the one hand we're actors, and that's still true today. self-made celluloid scientist. everything. My goal was to tell the uspally glad to see Jackie Chan Who's the male counterpart to He's the first to say APAs need to story of a representative group of IN DEFENSE OF APAS: Jeff Adachi headlining a movie at a local the• Sandra Oh or Lucy Liu? Think 1?ecome more involved in the enter• Asian American actors, and let them plans to show 'The Slanted ater, but at the same time we're about it. tainment or "image-making" indus• tell their stories. I would have liked uncomfortable with his movie PC: Screen' to Hollywood industry The docwnentary ends on try, so in his spare time he cooked to include so many others, such as roles. a hopeful note. Are you hopeful insiders in a Screen Actors' Guild up a ftlm to encourage and educate. Pat Morita. But the sad thing is that JA: Many people do not distin• that some day APAs are going to 'The Slanted Screen," his debut other than Bruce Lee, there hasn't and Academy of Television Arts guish Asians from Asians born and be represented in Hollywood feature length documentary about been any . 'biography' documen• & Sciences-sponsored event in raised in America. Some people without question? the portrayal of APA male actors has taries made about AA actors. I October. who saw 'The Slanted Screen' said JA: Yes, I do, but it's a question gained critical acclaim while mak- . PC: Who were your movie role 'What about Chow Yun-Fat or of when, and having the ,creative ' ing its. rounds on the film festival models? they showed fllms in the kaikan. I Jackie Chan?' But they are in a diff• and economic forces necessary to circuit. JA: I always liked the crime and thought, 'Wow, Zatoichi! He's a erent category than an Asian make it happen. AAs, in my opin• You can tell how passionate he is gangster movies 'The Japanese hero!' American actor, who hasn't had the _ ion, have not grabbed the ram by the about his work by counting the Godfather', 'Goodfellas' [and] PC: In your film, a Hollywood . experience of making dozens of homs in the way that is necessary to slashes in his title: director/writer/ 'Scarface' - that's probably why I casting director says there are no films overseas before trying to make effectuate core change in the image• producer/etc. like being a public- defender! But I roles for Asian men. Many APAs it here. making industry. Yes, many have "My goal is to have it on PBS, loved the 'Zatoichi' fIlms, and we say the same, but was it a coup to We think it's cool that Jackie achieved a high degree of success, where it would have an audience of used to watch samurai films every finally hear it from someone in Chan is a great martial artist and . for example, in the medical profes• at least one million," he said in an e- week at the Buddhist temple, where Hollywood? comedic actor, but as an AA, I know sion. I've heard that over one-third JA: Heidi Levitt is a well-known that he does not represent me or my of entering students [in medical casting director who cast films like expenence in this country. When schools] are Asian. But if you don't 'Nixon' and 'JFK.' She has tried to you think of a Jackie Chan fIlm, you exist on shows like 'ER,' then you PACIFIC CITIZEN provide opportunities for Asian know he's gonna' kick some butt, don't exist in the minds of a lot of National business and Professional Directory . actors when she cast films such as and then go back to Hong Kong or people. 'The Joy Luck Club' and 'Heaven China, or wherever his character PC: Has making this docwnen• Your business card in each issue for 22 issues is $15 per line, three-line minimum. Larger type (12 pI.) counts com~s as two lines. Logo same as line rale as required. P.C. has made no determination that the businesses listed and Earth.' But she states candidly from. So he's not like the guy tary helped you work through in this directory are licensed by proper government authority. that the roles just aren't there, and who lives next door to you. yoUr ideas and perceptions of race that it's a problem. I think it was PC: What aboutAPA women in representation i,n Hollywood? Sacramento, Calif. Oakland, Calif. very brave for her to come out and Hollywood, a subject that receives JA: Yes, though you won't neces• NAMBA LAW OFFICES say so. no attention in the docwnentary? sarily fmd any deep revelations in K1TAZAWA SEED CO. PC: Have Hollywood stereo• JA: The subject' of APA women the film. I wanted to create a film Curtis R. Namba SINCE 1917 types of Asian men come full cir• could have been a separate ftlm, and that would raise questions and let Personal Injury The Asian Vegetable Seed Source for cle? Daniel Dae Kim and Will in fact was the subject of 'Slaying . people find their own interpretations Small Business Gardeners, Retailers, Growers Yun Lee are today's sex symbols. the Dragon,' a film by Debbie Gee N [email protected] Request a Catalog of race, culture and the impact of (916) 922-6300 P.O. Box 13220 Oakland. CA 94661-3220 JA: No, not yet. Daniel and Will made in the late-80s. I didn't want to distortions created by the media. I ph: 510/595-1188 Ix: 510/595-1860 are just starting out in their careers. remake that ftlm. Instead, I wanted [email protected] kitazawaseed.com didn't want to hit people over the Greater Los Angeles They have not achieved leading to focus solely on Asian men: While head with it. Instead, I wanted to man status .get. Daniel stars in an th~t Dr. Darlyne Fujimoto, Phoenix, Ariz. there are some commonalities in the create a film made people think, ensemble show, 'Lost,' and Will is stereotypes, since both Asian men Optometrist & Associates 'Hmm, I never thought about that A Professional Corporation Kaoru Ono regularly featured as a supporting and women are portrayed in early before.' • 11420 E. South St, Cerritos, CA 90703 character. Both are great actors, but cinema as untrustworthy or unas• (562) 860-1339 'l'jiPirf., whether they will achieve what EXlTO REALTY similable, the representations are On the Web: Sessue Hayakawa and James very different for each . . Howard Igasaki, D.D.S., Inc. Dir: (623) 521-5800 www.slantedscreen.com Alan Igasaki, D.D.S. Fx:(623) 877-2225 Implants / General/Periodontics [email protected] 22850 Crenshaw Blvd., Ste.l02 2400 W. Dunlap Ave., Suite \00 SECRET ASIAN MAN By Tak • tal<@secrelalllanman.com· ~.secrelasianman . com • C2OO6 Tak Toyoshima Torrance, CA 9ds05 Phoenix, AZ 85021 (310) 534-8282 Seattle, Wash. Cambridge Dental Care \\0\\,£11S IN ASIAN AMERICAN Scott Nishizaka D.D.S. ~"~wp"",·- Family Dentistry & Orthodontics UWAJIMAYA 900 E. Katella, Suite A ... Ahvays in good tastt. Orange, CA 92867 • (714) 538-2811 ...... www.cambridgedentalcare.com LAW OFFICES OF SEI SHIMOGUCHI General Civil Practice Estate Planning, Personal Injury So. Cal. (310) 862-4024 . No. Cal. (415) 462-0428 - For the Best of [email protected] Everything Asian DAVID W. EGAWA, Lawyer Fresh Produce, Meat, Seafood and Groceries ImmigrdtiOn, Criminal A vast selection of & Regulatory Law Gift Ware 30 N. Raymond Ave, Suite #W'), Pasadena, CA 91 103 (626) 792-8417 Seattle, WA • (206) 624-6248 6003 Seru,hore Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92663 . (949)~2138 Bellevue, WA • (425) 747-9012 c: (949)"903-4142 Beaverton, OR • (503) 643-4512 10 PACIFIC CITIZEN, JULY 21-AuG. 3, 2006 Calendar John Toshimi;, Pres., American Kal Ent., Inc. National (Handtools Manufacturer) SAN FRANCISCO Mon., Oct. 2-3rd Annual National JACL Golf Tournament, "Swing for Justice"; Harding Park Golf Course, 99 Harding · Road; $200 Early Bird registration, deadline extended to Sept. 1, and $250 after; entry fee includes golf cart, bento lunch, tee prizes and dinner; sponsorships are available; field is limited to 144 spots; committee is also looking for golf stories from camp, email to Mas Hashimoto at [email protected]. Info: co-chairs, Jason Higashi, John's Bank 707/837-9932, [email protected] or Jim Craig, 916/652-0093, thaya• [email protected]. has been a handy banking partner for over 35 years l\IdweSt financed a new plier factory without squeezing capital EDINA, Minn. Sun., July 3O-Twin Cities JACL Iron Chef Morimoto is scheduled to appear at the Los Angeles Tofu has a special financing program for woman and minority-owned businesses Summer Picnic; noon-4 p.m.; Rosland Festival on Aug. 13. The Tofu Festival runs Aug. 12-13 and features Park, 4300 West 66th St; bring a salad, tofu cooked in many ways. Visit www.tofufestival.com for more info. offers helpful online banking tools side dish or dessert to share; includes children's games, birrgo and prizes; Ben Holt Dr; sponsored by the pageant, Nikkei Games, car show, never loosens its grip on a relationship. RSVP by July 29 to Lisa Shakerin at Stockton JACL. Info: Chiyo Miyai, Pioneer Luncheon, Coronation Ball, 763/537-6829 or [email protected]. 209/478-0800, ext. 201 or the Grand Parade and much more. Invest in you· Interl1'lOll1tain [email protected]. Info: www.niseiweek.org or SALT LAKE CITY Sat., Aug. 26--Meet Delphine 2113/687-7193. Through Aug. 20-Exhibition, Hirasuna, author of "The Art of Sat.-Sun., Aug. 19-20-Teacher "Diamonds in the Rough: Japanese Gaman"; Chavez Central Library, Training Workshop; Go For Broke Americans in Baseball"; Salt Lake 605 N. EI Dorado St; autographed Little Tokyo office; workshop will City Public Library, 210 East 400 copies of her book will be available focus on the segregated fighting South; Mon.-Thurs. 9-9 p.m., Fri.• at a reduced price; refreshments will forces of WWII through personal 'be served; sponsored by the Stockton experiences of the 100/442 RCT and With over 300 branches on the West Coast, call us to find a branch nearest you. Sat. 9-6 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m.; the Please contact Teleservices: 1-800-532-7976 (Japanese) from Monday to friday, Bam-5pm (PST); exhibit chronicles 100 years of Public Library, Friends of the the MIS; $25 for two days and pro• 1-800-238-4486 (English) from Monday to Sunday, 6am -l1pm (PST) or visit us at uboc.com. Stockton Public Library and the vides an optional Continuing Tlris is not II commftment to lend. financing ~ to credit and appropriate coUatef1t appl'tWll Other restrictions may BPP/¥, Nikkei ballplayers-their struggles, EIiglbt£ borrowm must meet aU criteriol for the Busi1le$$ Diversity lending program. Financing ,vailabl:e to businesses located in triumphs, and legacies. Info: SLC Stockton JACL. Info: 866) 805-7323 Education Unit through CSU Califum~ , Oregon, and Washington. Terms and conctTtions subject to ching.. ~ or www.stockton.lib.ca.us. Dominguez Hills for an additional . Bank ofTokyo-Mitsubist; IFJ Gr"", ~ Public Library 801/524-8200. (l2006 Union 8I.nkofCabfom~ . ft.A. Member FOre $40; more workshops are scheduled Pacific Northwest Southern Caifornia - for: San Gabriel Valley, Oct. 7-8; OLYMPIA CULVER CITY Long Beach, Oct. 21-22; LAUS)) Sat., Aug. l~lympia Bon Odori; Sat., Sept. 16--Benefit concert. "In specific Manual Arts High School, food sales begin at 5 p.m., entertain• Grateful Remembrance" featuring Oct. 14-15; and LA USD speci fic ment at 6 p.m. and obon dancing at 7 Hiroshima and Carry On; 5:30 p.m.; Peary DELTA Prof. Development p.m.; Capitol Lake at Water Street; Culver City Veterans Auditorium; Center, Nov. 5-6. Info: Blue Shield of California sponsored by the Olympia JACL and sponsorships available. reserved tables www.GoForBroke.org or Wayne An Independent Member of the .Blue Shield Association the Olympia Sister City Assn. Info: of to are $ 1,250, general admission is Osako, 310/222-5702. Reiko Callner, 360/943-1029. $100 per person; tickets will nOl.be Feb. 16-18, 2007-AIl Vets PORTLAND sold at the door; there will be raffle Reunion; New Otani Hotel, Little Through Aug. 27-Exhibit, "Big prizes, a commemorative booklet and Tokyo; open to all JA veterans from Drum: Taiko in the United States;" photo by Toyo Miyatake tudio. Info: all wars aQd conflicts; Maj. Gen. Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, 121 Laraine Miyata, laraine_ virgo@ Rodney Kobayashi will be a lunch• NW Second Ave.; Tues.-Sat. 11-3 yahoo.com or Julia Tominaga. eon keynote speaker. Info: Sam p.m., Sun. 12-3 p.m.; traveling ver• 310/328-0907. Shimoguchi, 310/822-6688, samku• sion of JANM's exhibition; features FULLERTON ni@verizon. net; Victor Muraoka, photographs, artifacts and media arts; Sept. 23-Jan. 14--Exhibit, Sowing 818/368-4113, v.muraoka@ veri• $3 donation, free to ONLC and Dreanls and Cljlti\ating .Lives: The zon.net or Bob Hayamizu, 3231292- JANM members. Info: ONLC. Japanese American Farmer; Fullerton 3165. 5031224-1458. Arboretum at California State TORRANCE University, Fullerton. 1900 Associated Sat., Sept. 16--PSW JACL Annual Northern California Rd. Awards Dinner; 5 p.m. registration, 6 SACRAMENTO GARDENA p.m. dinner; Torrance Holiday Inn. Sat.-Sun., Aug. 12-13-60th Annual Sat., July 22-Hana Uno Memorial Info: PSW Office. 213/626-4471 or Sacramento Buddhist Church Scholarship .and Chapter Benefit [email protected]. Bazaar; noon-9 p.m,; Sacramento Dance presenled by Grealer LA BuddhiSt" Church, 2401 Riverside Singles J ACL; 7-11 p.m.; Ken Nevada Blvd.; free parking and shuttle from Nakaoka Center, 1670 W. I 62nd St.; LAS VEGAS Wand 7th St. Info: Steve Kawano or $20 donalion. Info: Miyako, Oct. 17-19-Manzanar High School Betsy Uda, 916/446-0121. 3 10/839-1194 or Janet, 310/835- Reunion; California Hotel; Tues. Sun.-Mon., Sept. 17-18-Multi 7568. Welcome Mixer 6:30 p.m. in the Camp "Get Together"; DoubleTree LOS ANGELES Ohana Room; Wed. slot tournament Hotel; activities may include golfing, Aug. 9, ll-Performances. "At and buffet dinner and program: Dr. tours, dinner, etc.; space is limited; Home in This World"; 7 p.m.: Glenn Kageyama will be the featured ho.tel 'rates good through the fust UCLA's Glorya Kaufman Dance speaker and will talk about the week of Aug. Info: 866/421-4744, or Theater; 18 celebrated performers achievements of the researchers who [email protected]. from Asia and America will present developed an alternate source of SARATOGA individual and original works of latex from the guayule plant. Info Sat., Aug. 19-Daruma Craft music, dance, theater and shadow and applications: Henry Nakano, Boutique; 9:30-4 · p.m.; Saratoga puppet. y; $12 general admission, 714/871-8179, Sam Ono, 310/327- Community Center, 19655 Allendale · $10 seniors and students. Ticket 5568, Cabby Iwasaki, 714/637-1412, Ave; boutique will feature hand• info: 310/825-2101. Shig Kuwahara, 626/289-7892 or. made arts and crafts, food, children's Thurs., Aug. 3, 24, Sept. 7- Victor Muraoka, 818/368-4113. activities and raffle/silent auction; · JANM's First and Central Summer Oct. 27-29--'-JACL Singles proceeds benefit .the West Valley Concert Series; 6 p.m.; featuring: Convention; Plaza Hotel, downtown; JACL Senior Clubhouse; sponsored Aug. 3, Lenine and DJ Sergio events include: Fri.: golf tournament by the West Valley JACL; bentos and Mielniczenko; Aug. 24, Riffat at Palm Valley Golf. Club, welcome reception; Sat.: workshops, luncheon Health Plans sushi tickets will be pre-sold until Sultana & Parly; Sept. 7, Dengue Aug. 9. To order: [email protected]. Fever. Info: www.janm.org. and dinner dance; Sun:: brunch and Info: www.darumafestival.org. Sat.-Sun., Aug. 12-13-11 th morning free play golf at Highland STOCKTON · Annual Los Angeles Tofu Festival; Falls Golf Club; room rates are Fri. for·Ca lifornia Wed., Aug. 2-Book discussion, Sat. 2-10 p.m., Sun. noon-6 p.m.; and Sat. $76/night for single and "Suitcase Sefton and the American 237 South San Pedro St; featuring a double occupancy, Thurs. and Sun. is Dream" by Jay Feldman; 6 p.m.; cooking demo from the Food $54; open Lo everyone; hosted by the Chavez Central Library, 605 N. EI Network, Iron Chef Morimoto,' Las Vegas JACL. Info: JACL Members Dorado St; "Suitcase Sefton" is Reggie Sutherland of Next Food www.mwLcom/jaGlsingles or Yas about the experiences of mac Network Star, Scott Liebfried of Tokita, 702/866-2345 or Muriel "Suitcase" Sefton, a Yankees scout, Hell's Kitchen and more: also to Scrivner, 702/790-9547. and a promising young pitcher appear. are Tommy Tang, Troy HaWaii Call the JACL Health Benefits Administrators at interned in a Japanese-American Thompson, Ann Gentry and camp; Stockton Ports tickets and HONOLULU Candice Kumai; a Sat. concert will Thurs., July 27-Sept. 13--Exhibit, souvenirs will be distributed; free; feature Blackalicious; the lofu eat• sponsored by the Stockton JACL. Japanese Design Today 100; gallery ing contest will allciw parlicipants to hours are Tues.-Sat. 10-4 p.m.; 1.800.400.6633 Info: (866) 805-7323 or www.stock• flavor their tofu before eating; $-8, ton.lib.ca.us. Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii; seniors and kids 5-12 are $5. Info: exhibit features everyday objects that or visit Fri., Aug. 4--The Linc. Monthly www.tofufestival.com or 213/473- Mixer (Leaders Involved in the show the lifestyles of Japanese today; 3030. sponsored by the Japan Foundation. Nikkei Community); 6-7:30 p.m.; Aug. 12-20-66th Annual Nisei www.jaclhealth.org .! : lP(m~~<;,-' tl.~~:~ri 3f: 856 Restaurant and Lounge, 856 W. Info: 808/945-7633 or www.jcch. (Itp'~n·s. Le~Ji,.ie Week Festival; events include: baby com .• PACIFIC CITIZEN, JULY 21-AUG. 3, 2006 OBITUARIES was known to pull out squares of gc. paper and begin folding cranes, frogs Yamashita, Shigeichi Jack, 90, In Memoriam - 2006 and peacocks. Torrance, May 27; sUlVived by wife, ~bowsisfieeofc~and run on a space-available basis. All the towns are in California except as noted. Shintani, Takao, 86, Lake Furniye; daughters, Sally (Dennis) Gomes, Mae Nishitani, 96, This compilation appears-on a space• Balboa, May 23; sUlVived by wife, Kira and Mary (Toshio) Kuwahara; MAS OKADA . Kenmore, Wash., June 20; sUlVived available basis at no cost. Printed obit• Mieko; daughters, Nadine (John) 3 . gc.; and son-in-law, Robert Dr. Robert T. Hayashi of the University of by husband, Anthony; daughter, Jina uaries from your newspaper are wel• . Kawaguchi and Trudy (Terry) Craig; Wilson .• Wisconsin-Oshkosh is looking for Mas (Ray) Lankford; son, John (Sheila come. "Death Notices," which appear 7 gc.;' 1 ggc.; and sisters, Luiko Okada. Dr. Hayashi is publishing a book and in a timely manner at request of the DEATH NOTICE would like to use the poem "Answer the Call" O'Connell); 5 gc.; 3 ggc.; and sisters, (Masakazu) Hamaguchi and Nanaye , family or funeral director, are published written by Mr. Okada. The poem was pub• Connie Sekijima and Martha at the rate of $18 per column inch. Text Kohigashi. MACK YAMAGUCHI lished in the Minidoka high school newsletter, PASADENA, Calif. - Mack Nishitani. is reworded as necessary. Sims, Tara Kimberly, 32, Hunt Hi-Lites. With information email Dr. Yamaguchi, 86, passed away June Hayashi at [email protected]. Higashi, Jerry, 65, San Juan NarDO, Taka, 89, Pleasanton, Carlsbad, May 18; survived by hus• 14. He is survived by his wife Capistrano, May 25; survived by band, Scott; mother, Pam Tajima SETSUKO JANE ASACHIKA June 3; wwn veteran, 442nd; sur• Alice, children, Donna Jean (Ken) The Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL and the wife, Judy; sons, Jeff (Jaime), Jim vived by sons, Richard and Gerald; 3 Praeger; father, Geoff (Cynthia Inouye, Greg (Susan) Yamaguchi, Pajaro Valley Historical Assn. are looking for JoAnn Asakawa, Denise Kimura, (Sabrina) and John; :2 gc.; mother, gc.; 1 ggc.; sisters, Mary Mura and Lambarth); grandfather, Ted Tajima; Ms. Asachika. Her father Takeo and mother Tomoye; and sister, Sharon (Sam) I and father and mother-in-law, Or. Rachel Yamaguchi and eight Fumiye lived in Poston I, block 38-3-D with an Ruth Hara; and brothers, Roy and grandchildren. A memorial service Chiang. Arnold and Sherry Sims. uncle George in 21-3-A. After WWIi the fami• Willy. was held July 1 at the First ly lived in the Oxnard area. The Watsonville- . Kanegawa, Masumi, 70; sur• Nitta, Satoshi, 82, May 18; Tokuyae, Madame Hanayagi, Presbyterian Church of Altadena. Sa~ta Cruz JACL is in possession of a family vived by wife, Betty; daughters, wwn veteran, MIS; sUlVived by 86, Los Angeles, June 1; sUlVived by Donations in memory of Mack can photo album and would like to return it to any be made to the First Presbyterian family member. Contact Mas Hashimoto, Katherine (Richard) Ozaki, Patricia wife, Chiyo; son, Jeffrey (K. husband, Shigerni Ota; sons, Roy (Enrique) Kanegawa-Perez and (Yoshiko) and Stanley; and 2 gc. Church of Altadena or Pasadena 8311722-6859, hashi79@sbcglobat:net with Sachie); daughter, Katherine Nitta; 1 Nikkei Seniors, Inc. info. Nancy Tsuno; son, Douglas; 4 gc.; gc.; brother; Hakuzo; and sister, Trumblee, Namiko "Nami" and sisters, Miwako (Sam) Hanano Sono (Eiichi) Obuchi. Oyenoki Nomura, 81, Harbor City, DEATH NOTICE and Fumiko (Hiromu) Matsumoto. Oka, KeithT., 90, Spokane, May 29; survived by daughters, ROBERT MASANORI Koyanagi, YasuJdchi, 97, Long Wash., June 2; sUlVived by wife, Kathryn (Van Hom) Diamond and Beach, May 31; sUlVived by wife, Janet 'Nomura; 2 gc.; 2 ggc.; and HORIUCm Nobuko; sons, Gareth (Betty), and Robeh Masanori Horiuchi da~ghters, Tokiyo; Judy Koyanagi, Gwain (Darcy); daughter, Lynn brother, Satoru Oyenoki. .(Bob), 90, passed away July 1. He Jane (Wesley) Mitamura and Joyce (Tom) Dwyer; brother, Masashl Watanabe, Tomi, 98,. Los is survived by his wife, Chiyo; (Rudy) Costa; and 1 ggc. Oka; sister, Teru Okawa;8 gc.; and 5 Angeles, May 20; sUlVived by son, brother Harold (Edith); daughter Lynne; son Mak:oto (Jeannie) and . Miyamoto, Eddie Toshio, 89, ggc. Mitsuru (Atsuko); daughters, 707 East Temple Street three grandsons, Akira, Izumi, and Gerald Fukui Montebello, June 1; survived by Masako Watanabe and Yasuko Los Angeles, CA 90012 President Saiki, Barry Minoru, 86, Korin; and many other loving fam• wife,. Masaye; sons, . Howard , Stockton, June 17; A Stockton native (Ken) Elsing; 3 gc.; 4 ggc.; and ily members. Bob worked for the Ph. 2131626-0441 (Shigeko), Michael (June) and Keriji brother, Yasuo (Kimiko) Hirai. and past presi• State of Colorado Revenue and Fax 2131617-2781 (Shirley); and 7 gc. dent of the Yamamoto, Haruko, 89, West Highway Departments, and in Morimoto, Frank Y., 90, May 8; .Covina, May 23; survived by son, ( Afghanistan and Kenya as a finan• Stockton cial consultant. He volunteered for veteran, 442nd RCT; sur• Hiroshi (Karen); daughter, Dorothy wwn JACL, Saiki many boards, and was a prominent vived by wife, Yuri; 4 daughters and passed away of . Yamamoto; and 1 gc. member . of the Asian American their husbands, 8 gc.; and 9 ggc. a heart attack. Yamaoka, Thomas, 77, May 24; community in Denver. He held Nakatsu, Faye Fusaye, 86, Was interned at sUlVived by wife, Kiyoko; daugh• offices in the Mile-Hi JACL chap• Gardena, May 24; survived by hus• Rohwer, Ark. ters, Carolyn, Janice (Michael) ter and helped with redress. An· informal memorial service was band, Tokiyoshi; son, Ronald (Judi); and was drafted into the Army. He Luszczak and Nancy; son, Bob; and held July 9 for close ' friends and F.D.L.#929 daughters, Jane (Larry) Kawahara, retired from in the Army in 1966 and 2gc. family. In lieu of flowers, donations Nancy (David) Furukawa, Helene worked for a Japanese public rela• 911 VENICE BLVD. Yamasaki, Keijiro, 76, Lancaster, may be sent tb Mile-Hi Japanese LOS ANGELES, CA 90015 Nakatsu and Irene (Wayne) 19awa; 7 . American Citizens League; c/o tions firm, mostly in Japan, before April 5; sUlVived by wife, Irene;· (213) 749-1449 gc.; brother, Tornio (Sachi) Kajioka; returning to Stockton in 1990. Barry daughters, Furni (Steve) Tamanaha Brian Matsumoto, President; 1335 FAX (213) 749-0265 sister, Miyo Kimura; and sister-in• was also a gifted origami folder. He So. Kingston Street; Aurora, CO, R. Hayamizu, Presidelll and Chie (Eric) Shieh; son, Mark; 5 80012. H. Suzuki, v.P'/Gen. Mgr. law, Ichiko Kajioka. Start Saving Now! Members have full access to a complete line . . ofmortgage loan progra1n~ with exce.ptional rates~ Let us help you save money and build equity th'rough homeownership. • Need to consolidate your' debt? • Remodeling? • Seeking to refinance? Gordon Yamagata National JACL CU • Need some cash? Mortgage Consultant (800) 288-2017 • Want a new house? M-F 8:30AM - 5:30PM .....___ .... Loans may be processed in AZ, CA, OR, NM and UT. Void elsewhere. Diablo Funding Group, Inc. ("#4") which is licensed in AZ as #0905547, in OR as licensee #ML-2397, and in CA as real estate broker #01183856 by the Dept. of Real Estate. National JACL Credit Union membership requirements: The members or shareholders of this credit union shall be restricted to those persons who at the time of application are members of the National Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) or members living under the same household of the immediate families of members of this credit union and organizations of JACL with loans to such organizations not to exceed their shares and/or deposits. -•LENDER. 12 NATIONAL NEWS PACIFIC CITIZEN, JULY 21-AUG. 3, 2006 J·POP CULTURE thing they have popular singer. And an Associated found an interest Press article recently narned model (Continued from page 1) in largely because and actress Yuri Ebihara, 26, as one more so than I listen to American of their own of the most popular "cute" idols in music. I own more Japanese comic ancestral ' back~ Japan today. books than I own American books. I ground. Eric Nakamura, publisher of watch Japane~ dramas and anime "Honestly I "Giant Robot," a leading magazine on a weekly basis, sometimes daily feel like for me J• on Asian pop culture, believes the if I'm bored." pop culture.. does popularity of Japanese pop culture Whether its anime, J-pop music, not help me in among JA youth is nothing surpris• or doramas (Japanese . dramas), getting in touch ing. Japanese popular culture is becom• with my roots "Japanese popular culture is popu• ing increasingly trendy arnong because the Japan lar outside of JA youth as well, but I younger generations of Japanese that my ancestors do think there's a natural curiosity Americans. It's ironic because many J-pop music groups like m-flo (above) and came from is a about people's ancestry especially if of them do not speak or read doramas such as "Hana Yori ' Danga" have different Japan it might be perceived as beillg bet• Japanese and most,have never visit• been very popular amongst younger genera• from that repre• ter," he said. "Japan has always been ed Japan. But it's an obsession many tions of JAs. J-pop culture has recently been all sented in today's technologically ahead at least in my Yonsei and Gosei are turning to to the rage amongst the Yonsei and Gosei. J-pop culture," generation, and knowing this makes get in touch with their cultural roots. said Nakano. 'us' somewhat curious and apprecia• "I believe that Japanese popular But lately there has been a bur• and think to myself that if my ances• "However, I do believe that J-pop tive of what happens overseas." culture is a way to get in touch with geoning movement to get back in tors didn't make tlle journey to culture can serve to inspire people to For many JA youth, their interest my cultural roots," said Tsudama, touch with the "motherland." So lis• America, I would be living in this want to learn more about Japan but it in J-pop culture comes from a natu• who became interested in J-pop cul• tening to the latest J-pop artist's culture." is up to them to find ways to do that ral curiosity about their heritage but ture after hosting a Japanese songs all in Japanese and watching Like Iwata, Yonsei Cindy Nakano, themselves." it's something that doesn't need to be exchange student during his senior Japanese language dramas with sub• 22, got interested in J-pop culture, "As for music and J-dramas, I overanalyzed they say. year of high school. "They are inter• titles is a new trend that many espeCially anime, after being intro• think that their popularity is growing "I just think it's kind of funny ested in it because they are starting younger JAs are using to learn about duced to it in college by her friends. because they aren't upsettingly bad," because Japanese Americans aren't to lose their identities as Japanese the "Japanese, Japanese" culture. Now she listens to J-pop music daily said Iwata who finds that today's quite Japanese, but not just plain old people. I'm Yonsei and I don't Gosei Kristin Iwata, 22, had no and her favorite anime include: American pop culture holds nothing American either. We take off our speak Japanese. By immersing interest in J-pop culture until she "Bleach," "Ranma 112," and "Fruits of interest for her. "I believe that at shoes when we enter a house, but we themselves in Japanese culture, they happened to room with an obsessed Basket." least for me, American pop culture shake hands instead of bow to peo• are able to reconnect to their fan of anime during her first year at "My generation is r~alizing that it has reached a low point, and J-pop ple. We're a strange hybrid, and it's Japanese roots that are slowly disap• UC San Diego. She doesn't speak doesn't know enough about culture provides new and different nice to see where the other side pearing." Japanese and has never been to Japanese culture, and it's a big perspectives and content." Comes from," said Tsudama. For most Yonsei and Gosei, the Japan but within a few weeks she enough feeli.ng of loss to motivate A perusal of the Internet shows "At mos,t, exposure 'to J-pop cul• Japanese culture is as foreign to found herself sucked into the world various efforts to acquire some of dozens and dozens of J-pop culture ture causes me to wonder about how them as say, the Bangladeshi cul• of Japanese anime and now J-pop that Japanese culture back," said sites that get thousands of hits each I would be different if I had been ture. It's something they didn't grow music like EXlLE and Ito Yuna and Nakano. -day with bloggers professing their raised in Japan instead of the U.S," up with because many of their older the dorama "Hana Yon- Dango" are But these JA youth also realize love for the latest hot J-pop music said Nakano. "Maybe more than try• relatives lost touch with Japan a among her favorites. that the' story lines and portrayals star. There's such a vast variety of J• ing to fmd out about their culture, long time ago. Many who experi• "After looking back at my initial they see on the J-dramas and the pop artists and the latest in J-dramas today's JAs are more stimulated by enced the World War IT internment interest in J-pop culture, I think that bubblegum cutesy J-pop stars and and ani me, its a wonder these youth exploring the types of things they'd camps learned to .emphasize being there had always been a part of me anime characters are not accurate can keep up with all of the latest be experiencing if they were "more American," a feeling that has that wondered what made me representations of today's Japan. trends. Japanese in this era and the most been passed on to the younger gen• 'Japanese,'" said Iwata. "I look at They realize that what J-pop culture On J-fan.com there are 85 fan sites accessible way to do that is through erations. the culture that is being portrayed offers is entertainment, but it's some- dedicated to Ayurni Hamasaki, a J-pop media." • Don't with Dealer Rates!" Last Chance for 5.75% APR (August 1 st rate change to 6.50% APR) 100% Financing on New Cars 100% Financing on Used Cars· .. .-:. IIU __~ SOL 0-.. National JACL Credit Union 1-~----·-_ 1_R~ (800) 544-8828 ...... LENDER - UIRED