PACIFIC JACL continues its strong CITIZEN support of same-sex
APAs want an apology for slant-eye photos. -PAGE 3 The National Publication of the Japanese American Citizens League
9/11 Seven Years Later: APA ,Leaders Say Civil, Human Rights is Needed for All JA leaders contiIiue to draw parallels between about being threatened with the death present day war policies and the WWII intern• penalty. In his Navy brig solitary cell, he ment had to come to grips with being falsely convicted. "That was a reality for me." By LYNDA LIN All criminal charges against Vee were Assistant Editor eventually dropped and he received an honorable discharge in 2005 along with a It felt like just yesterday that James Vee was at Guantanamo. second Army Commendation medal for The 40-year-old former Muslim Army chaplain spent less than "exceptionally meritorious service." The a year at the infamous U.S. detention center, but the memories irony isn't lost on the Olympia, Wash. res• still haunt him. Such is the typical experience of those who ident - he says his clean slate is proof come to know the place, especially for Vee who has been both that the military made a mistake. a minister to the prisoners and an accused terrorist spy. "I'm still expecting an official apolo• It's been five years since Vee, a West Point graduate and third LOOK FAMIUAR?: Many say wartime policies at Gitmo are echoes of the past. gy," he said. But to get the U.S. to apolo• generation Chinese American, was arrested Sept. 10, 2003, and gize for anything, he added, is not easy. accused 'of espionage by his own government. In the years candidate'as a delegate in Denver. It took over 40 years for America to recognize and redress its between, life has moved on. Vee has written a book about his But his voice still crackles with anger when he joumeys back mistakes in the roundup and mternment of Japanese Americans ordeal, traveled all over the U.S. to lecture about human rights to this dark spot in his memory. abuses, and recently helped nominate a Democratic presidential "I was in fear for my life," said Vee to the Pacific Citizen See SEPT. 11THlPage 10 Bridging the APA Divide ~~~~ APA Groups Blast LPGA New Rule 'FOB' and 'Twinkie' are gle. The dividing factor Requiring Inti. Players to Speak English derogatory labels some seemed to be accultura• tion - the Asians ver• The LPGA has taken tol• APAs affix on others to erance and diversity create subgroups. It's an sus the "Americanized" APAs. So Lee wrote an back several giant steps, example of internalized said JACL National . racism, experts say. article for her student newspaper calling for Director Floyd Mori. the barriers between the By LYNDA LIN two groups to come By P.e. Staff and Assistant Editor down. Associated Press "I think there is an PHOTO: BRIAN TANAKA Look closely at any community underlying assumption Starting in 2009, the Ladies and the fracture lines begin to show. that because we are of DIVERSITY: Shin Issei Yo Miyamoto (foreground) Professional Golf Association Hyein Lee, 19, noticed one day that with Gosei Stacy Iwata and Yonsei Sean Takai. the same racial her- (LPGA) will suspend players Angela Park believes the new policy the Asian Pacific American students r itage, we will 'naturally that cannot speak English well is good for the tour and its players. at her university had carefully divid• get along' on some common umbrella of community, smaller enough to pass an oral evalua- ed themselves into smaller social ground," said Lee, a junior at NYU subgroups can form based on any• tion. groups. majoring in sociology and history. thing from national origin and eco• The LPGA Tour boasts players from all over the world, and Asian Pacific One usually gathered in front of But human beings are social ani• nomic status to simple preferences American groups are speaking out against the new rule, which many say tar• the -New York University library , mals that tend to group together of pop music over rock. gets South Korean players. while the other hung out at student based on similarities. Under the There are 121 international players See SPEAK ENGLlSHlPage 12 lounges in another part of campus. See APA DIVIDElPage 11 Rarely did the two groups ever min- Animal Feedlot Near Historic Minidoka Site Gets Commission's Approval ~ 6:" !'"~ With a 2 to 1 vote, Jerome County mile downwind from the Minidoka Internment " was excited when I heard that [the feedlot] ~~ Commissioners reverse an earlier Historic Site in Southern Idaho. was turned down," said Dale Watanabe, a Sansei cn_ decision and approve the Big Sky The Aug. 11 vote was prompted by a district who recently attended the Minidoka pilgrimage. -='..,cn_ Farms permit. judge's ruling in ' June that ordered the "I was surprised by the latest tum of events and Commission to revisit the issue, this time focusing am shocked that they have now approved it." iilnc.> ~n r-_ By CAROLINE AOYAGI-STOM on existing county zoning and feedlot ordinances Many of Watanabe's family members - g-t Executive Editor instead of the county's comprehensive plan. including all of his aunts and uncles - once »- The approval of the Big Sky Farms confmed called Minidoka home, a facility that housed close ~N An unwanted neighbor may soon be moving in. animal feeding operation (CAFO) permit stunned to 13,000 Japanese Americans dUling World War ~Z :;;'" In a reversal of an earlier decision, the Jerome many former·Minidoka internees and descendants IT and was the largest of the 10 interment camps. » County Commissioners voted 2 to 1 to approve a who have long. opposed the facility fearing odor, He believes the Commission's recent vote is
Obits ...... 15 ENTERTAINMEIloT PA(;E 9 NATIONAL PAGE 4 2 SEPT. 5-18, 2008 LmERS/ COMMENTARY PACIFIC ill cmZEN COMMENTARY ~'" PACIFIC ~1Ii CITIZEN A Si~ver L_ining to a Legacy of Leadership 250 E. First Street, Ste. 301, By BRANDON MITA defends the right to vote, the freedom to immi• Los Angeles, CA. 90012 grate to this country, and to live without fear of Tel: 213/620-1767, In the late 1920s, a generation of Japanese oppression. 800/966-6157 The examples I have listed are not strictly Fax: 213/620-1768 Americans, many of whom were still in their E-mail: [email protected] infancy of adulthood, took it upon themselves Japanese American issues. Yes, they may have www.pacificcitizen.org to fonn a vision. This vision was to be the been the things that JACL cared deeply for guiding light for their people as they attempt• upon its conception, but today JACL repre• Executive Editor: ed to traverse the murky waters of discrimina- . sents the voice of oppressed peoples every• Caroline Y. Aoyagi-Stom tion and injustice. where. JACL represents the liberty that we are Assistant Editor: willing to risk everything for. Lynda Lin Its culmii1ation led to the fonnation of the Office Manager: Japanese American Citizens League in 1929 At this past national convention in Salt Lake Brian Tanaka - an organization that was established to City, students and young professionals, not Circulation: Eva Lau-Ting defend the rights of the Issei and Nisei. much different in age than those that came Brandon Mita urges support of the North In those dark days, the JACL paved the way together to fonn this organization and those Korean resolution at the JACL national Publisher: Japanese American Citizens so that our ancestors could remove themselves that died on the battlefields in Europe, stood convention in Salt Lake City. League (founded 1929) 1765 Sutter Street, together to mark a new chapter in JACL San Francisco, CA 94115, tel: 4151921- from the shadows and emerge in the sunlight. 5225 fax: 4151931-4671, www.jacl.org It was there that JACL became that beacon of activism. We, the National Youth/Student Council (NY/SC) and the JACL youth, raised slaves. Thousands more are imprisoned in JACL President: Lany Oda hope, the light that would guide a community. Nazi-like work camps. The most saddening Nat'l Director: Floyd Mori our collective voices to bring to light an issue That generation endured internment, racist part, millions of North Korean children are Pacific Citizen Board of Directors: Margie anti-immigrant legislation, and a hatred that that touched upon our humanity. Yamamoto, chairperson; Vacant, EOC; Usa ran deep in American society. In the end, they In North Korea, there are those that are not See MITAlpage 14 Hanasono, MOC; Kathy Ishimoto, CCOC; able to share in the freedom that we hold dear. Judith Aono, NCWNPOC; Justine Kondo, prevailed as Americans. PNWDC; Jeff Itami, IOC; Ted Namba, As JACL progressed; · it incorporated the In fact, there are many millions of people in CORRECTION PSWDC; Naomi Oren, Youth. struggles of the various eras. During the civil North Korea that are living without basic In the Aug. 1-14, rights movement, JACLers linked arms with necessities that neither you nor I think about on 2008, Pc. issue r------, a daily basis. They are denied necessities like the incorrect photo NEWS/AD DEADLINE: FRIDAY African Americans as they marched peaceful• BEFORE DATE OF ISSUE. ly through the Jim Crow South. JACL raised food, water, and shelter. for Adrian Hong Editorials, news and the opinions its voice for the rights of same-sex couples Reminiscent of the bygone years of Hitler (pictured here), expressed by columnists other than the and Stalin, Kim Jong n holds an iron fist over executive director national JACL president or national that were denied - and are still very much director do not necessarily reflect JACL denied - the freedom to love and marry their the North Korean people. Thousands die each of liNK, was pub• policy. Events and products advertised partners. year of starvation. Thousands of North Korean lished on pages 1 and 3. The P.c. in the Pacific Citizen do not carry the , women are being trafficked into China as sex apologizes for the error. Implicit endorsement of the JACL or , Today, J ACL continues in that tradition as it this publication. We reserve the right to , edit articles. , L ______~ ,
PACIFIC CITIZEN (ISSN: 0030-8579) is published semi-monthly except once in December and January by the Japanese Letters to the Editor American Citizens League, 250 E. Rrst Street, Ste. 301, Los Angeles, CA. 90012 OFFICE HOURS - Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time. ©2008. Replacement 'Nihomachi' CDs are Now Available Annual subscription rates: NON- Replacement compact discs are available for those who purchased MEMBERS: 1 year-$40, payable in the "Nihomnachi: The Place to Be," original cast CD on July 18 at the advance. Additional foreign postage per JAd.. national convention. year (1st class) - Canada and Mexico Completed just before the convention, box of CDs was shipped $55, Japan and overseas $60 (Subject a to change without notice.) Postage paid directly to the hotel in Salt Lake City for sale after the Grateful Crane at Los Angeles, Calif. Ensemble's perlonnance of the musical play. However, a technical Pennission: No part of this publication error on the number 19 track was discovered on a random sampling may be reproduced without express per- of CDs after the convention. mission of the publisher. Copying for Since then, the CD was redone. Replacement copies are now avail• other than personal or internal reference use without the express permission of able at no charge. P.e. is prohibited. To request a replacement CD, send in your name and address to the POSTMASTER: Send address changes Grateful Crane Ensemble: P.O. Box 29772, Los Angeles, CA 90029, to: Pacific Citizen, c/o JACL National or e-mail [email protected]. Headquarters, 1765 Sutter St., San Funds Should Go Towards Turlock Monument Francisco, CA 94115.- SOJI KASHIWAGI I read with interest about a project to build a monument where VIA E-MAIL JACL MEMBERS during wwn the Turlock Detention Center once stood (Pacific Change of Address Citizen, Aug. 15*Sept. 4). This was 66 years ago where 3,699 JAs Re: 'Is it Too Late for Black Reparations?' were unjustly incarcerated. . If you have moved, please What is remarkable is this project was initiated by a young If monetary reparations for the eviction and ;'internment" - that send information to: non-Nikkei student Kayla Canelo of Cal State, Stanislaus, who is, confinement of Japanese Americans - is used as a precedent for National JACL learned of this from a history class taught by Dr. Nancy Taniguchi. granting monetary reparations to present day blacks for their ances• She was later joined by David Seymour to raise funds to con• tors' enslavement, advocates should be reminded that reparations for 1765 Sutter St. struct this historical monument. Japanese American internment were given only to those who were San Francisco, CA The "note" [at the end] of the article states "all monies raised alive when the law granting those payments took effect some 40 years 94115 over the needed $1,000 will be donated to local JACL chapters." I after the eviction and imprisonment occurred. In keeping with this precedent, monetary reparations should be Allow 6 weeks for address changes. do not know the reason(s) for this but wouldn't it be more signif• icant to perhaps use this money for a larger monument and/or to paid only to fonner black slaves who are alive when reparations to To avoid intenuptions in receiving beautify the area surrounding the monument? fonner American black slaves are approved by the U.S. government. your p. c., please notify your pO:;trnas- ter to include periodicals in your STANLEY N. KANZAKI FLORENCE DOBASHI change of address (USPS Form 3575) N.Y. CHAPTER JACL SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. PACIFIC e CmZEN NATIONAL SEPT. 5-18, 2008 3 JACL Opposes Same-Sex Marriage Ban in California H passed, Proposition 8 would over• Citizens League." groups have worked together by passing out turn a state Supreme Court decision "Together we will work to ensure that no one fliers at local community events and raising for marriage equality. is singled out for unfair treatment under our awareness about the legislation. constitution," Smith said. "Gay and lesbian At its 1994 National Convention in Salt By Pacific Citizen Staff people are ' our neighbors, our friends, our Lake City, the National JACL became the - coworkers and our family members. We second non-gay organization after the The JACL has joined the "No on Prop 8 should not hurt gay and lesbian couples in American Civil Liberties Union to support Equality for All" Campaign in support of mar• California by voting to eliminate their freedom same-sex marriage. riage equality in the state of California. to marry the person they love." In September 2007, the JACL as a part of a This campaign is an organized effort to Several JACL chapters and the Pacific coalition of over 60 Asian Pacific American defeat Proposition 8 in the November general Southwest District have also made statements groups filed an amicus brief in support of same• elections. The proposition would amend the against the proposition. sex couples in the California Supreme Court state constitution to recognize marriage as only PSW is encouraging Californians to vote case. between a man and a woman. against Proposition 8 to oppose what it consid• Ishii said the district office has been working Proposition 8 is a response to the May ers to be a discriminatory and limiting piece of to coordinate chapter visits to educate members California Supreme Court decision extending legislation. Marriage is a fundamental human on Proposition 8. He said he hopes acceptance marriage rights to same-sex couples, making right for all California residents, including the of same-sex marriage will lead to Lesbian, Gay, the state the second behind Massachusetts to 10,000 Asian Pacific Islander same-sex couples Bisexual, TransgenderITranssexual couples legalize gay marriage. in the state, according to a PSW statement. being able to live comfortably in society. "This proposition would blatantly deny a 'Those who are in love should have the free• ''Marriage is just one step," Ishii said. 'This specific group of people the respect and digni• dom to express that love to each other and have is not the [male." • • ty of equal treatment under the law," said Larry the rights that any other couple has," said Craig Oda, JACL national president. Ishii, PSW regional director. On the Web Steve Smith, senior strategist for "No on PSW has partnered in this effort with API www.jacl.org Prop 8" campaign said the organization is Equality-LA, an organization founded in 2005 www.jaclpsw.org "proud to work with the Japanese American to advocate for marriage equality. The two www.apiequalityla.org Proposal Seeks to Stri ke Alien Land APA Groups Condemn Teams' 'Slant-Eye' Photos Law from Florida Constitution Four photos have emerged of Spanish and Argentinean By Pacific Citizen Staff Florida adopted its alien land law sports teams, which include in 1926, and before 1952, the only In November, Florida voters will aliens who were ineligible for citi• some familiar faces, making determine if a longstanding alien zenship were Asians, Oda said. the gesture. APAs groups want land law provision will stay in the In itS decision for the case Takao an apology from the NBA. state Constitution. Ozawa v. U.S., the Supreme Court The proposal would ·eliminate an ruled that Japanese immigrants were By Pacific Citizen Staff obscure provision, which can stop ineligible for naturalized citizenship, those ineligible for U.S. citizenship and the u.s. Immigration Act passed The National Basketball Association has yet to com• recent episode of 'The Today Show," host Kathie Lee from owning property in !he state. by Congress in 1924 denied U.S. ment on the photo of the Spanish men's Olympics bas• Gifford imitated a personal voice message left by her co• . The law was originally targeted at entry to most Asians . ketball team pulling back the skin arQund their eyes, but host AI Roker, according to Gawker.com. Asian immigrants who could not Many states adopted alien land Asian Pacific American groups are demanding a public "You married to old man," said Gifford in a mock beCome naturalized citizens. laws, fearing an influx of Asian response from the organization that employs some of the Asian accent. Asian Pacific American laborers who were often players. APA groups including the JACL and Organization of groups including the viewed as an economic Chinese Americans in Washington, D.C. have con• 'Let's take NBA players Pau Gasol, Jose Calderon, Rudy Organization of Chinese threat, according to the Fernandez and Marc Gasol are featured in the photo, demned these racist gestures. Americans and the JACL these radst Organization of Chinese which surfaced on the internet shortly before the 'This is coming from grown men who are supposed to have spoken out in sup• laws off the Americans. However,' Olympic Games in Beijing. be representing their nation," said Sarah Smith, a port of the new proposal. books and after Congress eliminat• The slant-eye gesture is considered by many APAs to spokesperson for the OCA, to ABC News. "It's some• 'The law has its roots in ed race as a factor in cit• be racially offensive. . thing that I haven't seen since I was a kid." racism and has no place in make laws that izenship and the courts Members of the Spanish team have said .the picture JACL National Director Floyd Mori condemned the our society," said Larry address our struck down such laws, was meant to be. a tribute to the bost country, but team's racially offensive pose in a letter to Jacques Oda, JACLnational presi• concerns, not different states began to National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Rogge, president of - the International Olympic dent. 'The law is mean• repeal the alien land Committee. limit our President Helen B. Kim dismissed such explanations to ingless and should be laws. downplay the racial slight. Mori said that because the Olympics puts the Spanish removed from the books." freedom.' Florida and New 'The emphasis placed by Spanish basketball players basketball team in contact with fans and players from Because no ethnic Mexico are the only two Pau Gasol and Jose Manuel Calderon on an allegedly around the world, there is "an expectation that the group is barred from citi- - Lany Oda, JACL states where alien land benign - even affectionate - intent behind the photo Spanish team will regard their opponents and the people zenship based on race in national president laws are still on the misses the point entirely," said Kim. of other nationalities with dignity and respect." the U.S. today, Florida books. NAPABA said continued silence regarding the photo The photo, which was reportedly a part of a good luck Senate Minority Leader This year is the 20th sends a message that the NBA does not fully support send-off, ran on a full page in the Spanish sports daily, Steve Geller called the proposal anniversary of redress for Japanese APA Olympians and Olympic coaches. Marca. The Spanish women's basketball team also "purely symbolic" in The Tampa Americans, and Oda said that those NBA star and Team USA participant Jason Kidd also posed in a similar photo. Tribune. who think the Civil Liberties Act of spoke out against the photo, saying theNBA's silence This is not the first time a Spanish athletic team has Critics of the new proposal say the 1988 alone prevents such injustices presents a double standard. made the slant-eye gesture. Spain's 2008 Federation Cup alien land law serves a purpose in the from happening again are wrong. "We would've been already thrown out of the Tennis team made the same pose for a picture when they current age of terrorism. People who 'The fact that the Florida Alien Olympics," he said to Yahoo! Sports. "At least, we beat China to move to the Federation Cup finllls, and the pose a threat to national security are Land Law still remains on the books wouldn't have been able to come back to the U.S." Spanish women's Olympics basketball team also posed ineligible for citizenship and, as a . .. tells me that we still need to be A public statement regarding the incident would not slanting their eyes. result of the provision, cannot hold vigilant and to uphold the ideals of be the first time the NBA condemned anti-Asian actions. However, Spanish athletes are not alone in making the property in the state of Florida. the Constitution against those who In 2003, the NBA criticized player Shaquille O'Neal for gesture. Argentina's Olympic women's soccer team also 'The argument that the present are bent on curtailing our civilliber• making derogatory remarks about Houston Rockets star took a photo using their fingers to slant their eyes. law prevents national security ties," Oda said. "Let's take these Yao Ming, who was also a member of the 2008 Chinese . Because Madrid is one of the four sites under consid• threats from owning property is an racist laws off the books and make Men's Olympics basketball team. eration for the 2016 Olympics, Mori said the Spanish appeal to people's fear but does not laws that address our concerns, not During NBC's coverage of the Beijing games, anti• Olympic Committee should have learned to be sensitive speak to the point," Oda said. limit our freedom." • Asian stereotypes were even f!lade by journalists. In a from this incident. • 4 SEPT. 5-18, 2008 NATIONAL PACIFIC iii CrnzEN Sacramento Cancels 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' National Newsbytes Showing After Complaints of Anti-Asian Racism By P. e. Staff and Associated Press By P.e. Staff and Associated Press Lawmakers Respond to Immigrant's Death in . The city of Sacramento has can• Detention celled a showing of the 1961 fihn NEW YORK-The death ofHiu Lui Ng, a 34-year-old computer engineer "Breakfast at TIffany's" after Asian in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has spurred action Pacific American groups complained from lawmakers. about Mickey Rooney's stereotypical Rep. Zoe Lofgren and Sen. Robert Menendez are sponsoring legislation performance as Mr. Yunioshi. that would set mandatory standards for hea1thcare in immigration detention, Dr. Christina Fa of the San according to the New York Times. Francisco-based Asian American Last July, Ng - who was married to a U.S. citizen and had two American• Media Watch said "Breakfast at born sons - was swept into the immigration detention system. Five days TIffany's" is "arguably the most racist before his death Aug. 6 from complications of cancer and a fractured spine, anti-Asian fihn in American cinemat• Ng reportedly complained of extreme back pam. ic history." She told the Pacific Citizen Family members have established a temporary fund for donations to Ng's that she would have never thought widow and children. Sacramento would make such a mis• Mickey Rooney's Mr. Yunioshi take considering the city's large APA (top) is a bumbling Japanese First Nuclear Reactor Designated as a Landmark community influence. neighbor many consider to be RICHLAND, Wash.-The "It would not reflect well upon racist. nuclear reactor in Washington Sacramento for its vice mayor to be L....a.______-' state that produced the plutonium showing such a racist fihn for entertainment in a free, audience of the need for cultural sensitivity," Cohn said for the bomb that was dropped on public venue," Fa said in her letter to Vice Mayor Steve in an e-mail to Fa and others who protested the fihn. Nagasaki, Japan during World Cohn. . Fa said a mere disclaimer was insufficient, and .she did War II is now a National Historic Jerry Chong, legal counsel for the Council of Asian not want scenes to be deleted because she did not want Landmark. Pacific Islanders Together for Advocacy and Leadership to censor the fihn. After receiving e-mails from the com• The Hanford nuclear reserva• (CAPITAL), said the fihn goes far beyond just entertain- munity continuing to call for the cancellation of the fihn, tion's B Reactor also produced ment. the city insteaq chose to show "Ratatouille," an anirnat- plutonium for the fIrst man-made atomic blast, the Trinity test in New '''This is not a question of Asians being overly sensitive ed fihn about a rat who cooks. Mexico on July 16, 1945. or lacking a sense of humor. It is a question of people The city has previously screened "Charlotte's Web," Although the designation does not necessarily prevent the reactor from perpetuating and propagating offensive, derogatory and "Hairspray" and '''The Goonies." bein.g tom down, it likely opens the door for more public tours and the pos• hateful racial stereotypes that is detrimental and destruc- 'We're looking for movies that people of all ages, sibility of a museum. tive to society," CAPITAL said in an e-mail to city coun- races and ethnicities can enjoy," Cohn said. "We were cil. unaware of this racist content." University Settles Gay Housing Lawsuit In the fihn, Mr. Yunioshi is the bumbling Japanese Rooney recently told the Sacramento Bee he had HONOLULU-The University of Hawaii has settled a discrimination neighbor of Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn. never received complaints and that if he knew people lawsuit by a gay couple that claimed the school wouldn't allow them to return Rooney's performance includes a think accent, squinted would be offended, he would not have done it. to the housing area they had previously lived in because it was reserved for eyes and buckteeth. "Every place I've gone in the world people say, 'God married couples. Cohn chose the fihn to be played as part of the city's you were so funny.' Asians and Chinese come up to me The university revised its policy on family housing to include same-sex "Screen on the Green" free movie series. Once the com- and say, 'Mickey you were out of this world,'" he said in couples as a result of the settlement. The policy took effect for the 2008-09 munity voiced its opposition, Cohn apologized, but said the article. "I wouldn't offend any person! be they black, 'school year. they could not replace "Breakfast at TIffany's" because Asian or whatever." A $5,000 settlement was also reached for Joseph O'Leary and Phi Ngo, the distribution company had already sent the fihn. He Fa said the fihn could be shown in a public forum edu• who have since moved to Vrrginia. proposed showing a version of the fihn with a disclaimer cating about the history of race depiction but not in a and scenes with Rooney's character removed. summer series for families. Ohio Man Sentenced For Racially Hateful letters "I will explain this issue to the audience at the begin- "People are free to see the fIlm privately," Fa said. "It CLEVELAND--A man who wrote hate letters to ning of the film, and hopefully it will be an educational was just wildly inappropriate to show it as part of a city• Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and New opportunity to foster a better understanding with the sponsored event for families." • York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was sentenced on Aug. 26 to three years and 10 months in prison. David Tuason, who is of Filipino descent, apolo• Hollywood Thriller 'Cellular' Gets Chinese Remake gized in federal court and said he never meant to hurt For the first time, roles that Billed as the fIrst Chinese remake Americans (MANAA), said he does anyone. He said the letters were the result of an were once played by of a Hollywood movie, "Connected" not see this as a reversal of a trena, African American man who "stole" the girlfriend he Caucasians will now be changes the setting to Hong Kong comparing the Chinese remake of an planned to marry. replaced with Asians. and features a cast of Chinese-speak• American movie to the dubbing of In 20 years, Thason has sent more than 200 letters or e-mails with threats ing actors including Hong Kong's English-language ftlms. . of violence, many to mixed-race and black men seen with white women. By P.e. Staff and Associated Press Louis Koo, China's Liu Ye and '''They're just hungry for things Taiwan's Barbie Hsu. from America," Aoki said. "America Manhattan Nightclub Sued Hollywood has been mining Hong Kong director Benny Chan, exports a lot of television shows and OVer Firing of Minorities Asian movies for years - but now who directed "New Police Story" movies abroad." an American studio is remaking one NEW YORK-Two minority women have fIled a lawsuit in Manhattan and "Rob-B-Hood," says Hollywood producer Roy Lee, Federal Court against a Manhattan nightclub claiming the owner fIred them of its home productions as a "Connected" improves on the origi• who produced recent American Chinese-language movie with local because of their race. nal with its Hong Kong-style action remakes of Asian movies including The lawsuit was field by a bartender and a waitress who said they 10 t their partners. sequences. '''The Ring" and '''The Departed," jobs at lOA!(, a nightclub in lower Manhattan, because of their race. Warner China' Film HG, a joint "In my movie, I added many ele• says the effort makes fInancial sense APA waitress Cecilia Shum said that a manager at the club told her the venture between Warner Bros. and ments that Hong Kong action "because it is taking ideas that owner wanted "white girls." China's sqtte-run China Film Group movies do best - human combat, worked well in one market and Club attorney Ken Sussman said the two women were fIred along ",,rith and Hengdian Group, is releasing action, flying cars," said Chan. adapting them for others." four Caucasian employees for poor work performance. "Connected" on Sept. 25. The fihn is 'What the world lacks most is Although Aoki said MANAA is a remake of the 2004 New Line good stories. If there's a story that "not that excited" about NFL Increases Number of Asian Players Cinema thriller "Cellular," starring investors think will work in the mar• "Connected," he said he is upset MIAMI-The National Football League slightly increased the ranks of Chris Evans and Kim Basinger. ket and that I like, I don't think with how producer Lee places minority players, earning a B+ in an annual diversity study. In the Hollywood version, there's anything wrong with remak• Caucasian actors in Asian roles. The study showed' a small increase in Latino and Asian players. African Basinger plays a kidnapped woman ing it," Chan said. "He could have helped the cause a who makes a call to a random American players made up 66 percent of NFL players in the 2007 season Guy Aoki, founding president of lot more if he used Asian American while white players made up 31 percent of the total . • mobile phone seeking help. the Media Action Network for Asian actors in those illms," Aoki said . • PACIFIC iii CmZEN NATIONAL SEPT. 5-18,20085 APA's-' Report: High Family Conflict Leads to N in the Higher Rates of Suicide Among APAs ews Almost 3 percent of the APAs interviewed have attempted suicide and 9.1 percent Pacific Citizen By Staff reported having had suicidal thoughts.
Gold Medal Decathlete Clay Gets his Own Day By Pacific Citizen Staff Hawaii has declared Aug. 29 "Bryan Clay Day" after Clay took home the gold medal in the A new study by the University of California, Davis decathlon at the Beijing Olympics. shows that interpersonal conflict in Asian Pacific Gov. Linda Lingle praised Clay's accomplish• American families increases the risk of suicide attempts. ment in becoming the "world'~ greatest athlete" Referred to as "the first nationally representative and winning the United States' first decathlon investigation of family conflict and suicidal behaviors gold since 1996. among Asian Americans" by author Stanley Sue, the Clay will also get his own special edition study shows that APAs with a high degree of interperson• Wheaties boxes in September, according to '------' al cdnflictin their families have three times the risk of additive effect in predicting lifetime suicidal thoughts General Mills Inc. attempting suicide compared with APAs overall. and suicide attempts," said Sue. Other APA Olympians who medaled in Beijing include: Kevin Tan and "Because of the great emphasis on harmony and fam• Cheng said research on suicide among APAs is very Raj Bhavsar (gymnastics); Lovieanne Jung (softball); Nathan Adrian and ily integration in many Asian cultures, family conflict is limited, and such studies may be important for under• Natalie Coughlin (swimming); Logan Tom and Robyn Ah Mow-Santos an important factor to consider when studying suicidal standing suicide prevention studies in the APA commu- (volleyball). behaviors among Asian Americans," said Sue, a profes• ni~ • sor of psychology and Asian American Studies at UC "I believe suicide is an important public health prob• Historical Society Honors Odoi Davis. lem to study," Cheng said to the Pacific Citizen. "I am a The Mukilteo Historical Society recently named M~ Odoi its "Pioneer of The findings were presented at a recent meeting of the Chinese immigrant and have witnessed many people in the Year." Odoi, a wwn veteran, was born in Mukilteo, Wash. when it was American Psychological Association in Boston. The my community face a lot of hardship in America." once a thriving JA enclave. study has not been published yet. Previous studies by other researchers have shown that Odoi, who was interned at Minidoka, was wounded while fighting for the The study was a further investigation into data from certain APA subgroups, including college students and U.S. Army in Italy. the 2002-03 National Latino and Asian American Study, women older than 65, have relatively high rates of sui• He is slated to ride in a 1920s Model-T during the city's Lighthouse the first nationally representative survey conducted with cide or suicide attempts compared with the rest o( the Festival Parade on Sept. 6. - APAs. Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health nation. The UC Davis study did not compare rates of sui• and conducted by Dr. David Takeuchi at the·University cide among different groups. JACL Credit Union Announces YouTube of Washington, this survey involved in-person interviews ''We hope to extend this line of research to other Contest Winners with 600 Chinese, 508 Filipinos, 520 Vietnamese and understudied Asian subgroups that were not included in The National JACL Credit 467 other Asians, according to Janice Cheng, a psychol• the current study," Cheng said. Union recently named Austin ogy graduate student. Cheng and Sue are currently collaborating with Drs. Aoyama the first place winner A reported 2.7 percent, of the APAs interviewed said Tonya Fancher and Milin Ratanasen at the UC Davis of its YouTube Contest. The they had attempted suicide at some point, and 9.1 percent Medical Center and Drs. Paul Duberstein and Kenneth runner-ups were Emily Teruya of the total group reported having had suicidal thoughts. Conner at the University of Rochester Medical Center on and Brandon Mita. Sue and lead investigator Cheng compared suicide• a manuscript. The contest called on credit prone individuals' answers to survey questions about Sue said the new study shows that there is still more members between the ages of family income and depression with those of interviewees work to be done. 14 to 25 to produce a video who had not reported suicidal thoughts or suicide "Our study suggests that we need to more precisely commercial on the organization's history, products and services. All videos attempts. determine the kinds of family conflicts that are associat• entered in the contest were shown at the credit union's luncheon during the The researchers found that among APAs in the nation• ed with suicide risk among Asian Americans, and find JACL national convention. al survey, ''high family conflict has an independent and means of preventing these family problems," Sue said .• Aoyama received a $500 scholarship for his winning submission.
Tanaka Appointed to JANM's Board of Governors Minority Coalition Demands HIV/AIDS Nat'l Masaaki Tanaka, Union Bank of Calif. presi• dent and CEO, has been appointed to the Japanese Strategy From Presidential Candidates American National Museum's board of gover• By Pacific Citizen Staff HIVI AIDS cases, the largest proportionate increase in nors. HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates was among APA males who A graduate of the University of Tokyo, Tanaka Over 30 national organizations and leaders represent• have sex with males aged 13 to 24. studied law at the University of Michigan. He was ing minority communities including Asian Pacific In August, the coalition met at the Ford Foundation in formerly the executive officer of the Bank of Americans have joined togeth~r to demand a national New York City to formulate a response to the new Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd, in Tokyo. plan to fight HIV/AIOS. The advocates have called on administration that will take office next year. The organ• Members of the board of governors serve as presidential candidates Barack Obarna and John McCain izations agreed on a seven-point action plan, which advisors and ambassadors. Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii is the chair of the to support a comprehensive national strategy to address demands that !he federal govemment improve data gath• body. .the epidemic. ering methods, increase awareness of the issue and Lina Sheth, director of community development and strengthen prevention methods. Tanabe to R~ceive Community Service Award external affairs at the Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Sheth described the current administration's strategy James Tanabe was recently selected by the Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Center, said the coalition brings together African on HIV/AIDS as "lousy," pointing to the lack of atten• Society for the 2008 Na Lima Kokua Mawaena 0 Makua (Helping Hands American, Latino, Native American and APA communi• tion to the issue when HIV is "burgeoning in the African Across the Ages) Award in the Community Service Award category. ties. American and Latino communities" and becoming Shoho Uyemura, gerontology project coordinator at California State "After a really long time, representatives from differ• increasingly prevalent in the APA community. She said University Fullerton, nominated Tanabe for making a positive difference in ent communities of color ... have come together with the next administration needs to incorporate different the community and the lives of seniors. one unified voice," said Sheth. federal agencies in an effort to stop the epidemic. The ceremony will take place Sept. 15 at the Hawaii Convention Center. According to new estimates from the U.S. Centers for With the election months away, Sheth said there is still Disease Control and Prevention (COC), communities of more work ahead for the coalition. Nakahara Named Wildlife Officer of the Year color make up 65 percent of the approximately 56,300 ''We plan to continue pressure on the candidates ... to be accountable for concrete progress on HIVI AIDS and The Shikar-Safari Club International has named Miles Nakahara its new HIV infections occurring in the U.S. Although the to use this platform to continue our advocacy work with "Outstanding Wildlife Officer of the Year." U.S. requires foreign countries receiving HIV/AIDS congressional members and senate members," she said . Nakahara, a wildlife biologist for the Hawaii Department of Land and .assistance to have a national strategy, the U.S. itself does Natural Resources, is credited with overseeing the suppression of six Big not have such a strategy. • Island wildfires last year that burned more than 10,000 acres .• Although APAs make up a small percentage of total For more infonnation: www.apiwellness.org 6 SEPT. 5-18, 2008 COMMUNIlY PACIFIC iii CmZEN JACL Announces Gala Honorary Committee Nisei Week Festival Pride The JACL has announced the mavaega, Howard Berman, Rob Americans who were interned dur• honorary committee for the second Bishop, Jim Costa, Sam Farr, Mazie ing World War U. annual National JACL Gala Dinner, Hirono, Mike Honda, Jerry Lewis, The "Champions' of Redress" to which will be Doris Matsui, be honored at the gala are former held at the Bobby Scott Sec. of Transportation Norman Grand Hyatt and Max-ine Mineta, former JACL National Hotel in Waters. Director John Tateishi, Grayce Washington, Sen. Daniel Uyehara, former executive director D.C. on Sept. Inouye of of the JACL Legislative Education 25. Hawaii will Committee, and the American The hon- serve as the Jewish Committee. The corporate orary commit• honorary partner to be honored is xr &T. • tee members AKAKA HIRONO chairman, and for the 2008 Congressman 2nd Annual National JACL Gala include Sen. Daniel Honda will be master of ceremonies JACL Gala Dinner Akaka, President of the Leadership for the event. Sept. 25 Conference on Civil Rights Wade The JACL is highlighting the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington Henderson and NAACP Washington redress movement throughout this D.C. Bureau Director Hilary Shelton. year on the 20th anniversary of the Register now at www.jacl.org Honorary committee members in passage of the Civil Liberties Act of For more information, contact the the U.S. House of Representatives 1988, which paved the way for an JACL Washington, D.C. office at On the 20th anniversary of Redress, the Nisei Week' Foundation are Xavier Becerra, Eni Faleo- apology and reparations to Japanese 2021223-1240 or [email protected]. honored the JACL with its community service award. JACL President Larry Oda (above, left) and National Director Floyd Mori represented the JACL in the parade and at the awards dinner. PSW Announces New Fellowship Opportunity The Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress (NCRR) formerly named the The Pacific Southwest JACL is sive history with working with Asian Apply Now National Coalition for Redress/Reparations was also recognized with seeking applicants for its new Mike Pacific American communities. a community service award. Both organizations were instrumental in Honda Fellowship Program. The fellowship is funded by a gen• What: The Mike Honda the success of the Redress Movement. The fellowship recipient will erous $25,000 grant from Southern Fellowship The Nisei Week festival was established in 1934 during the Great focus on advo• Califomia Edison (SCE). Where: The JACL PSW office Depression to attr~ct business to Los Angeles' Little Tokyo area, and cacy and pub• "We are very pleased to have this located at 244 South San Pedro St., to promote goodwill. The nine-day Nisei Week Japanese Festival is lic policy opportunity to support JACL and # 406, Los Angeles, CA 90012 the longest running ethnic festival in the United States .• awareness/pro• this fellowship program to promote When: The lO-month fellowship gramming, civic engagement and leadership starts this September education, and development for the Japanese How: Interested applicants should KOKUSAI-PACIFICA projects associ• American community," said Wes download the application form at ated with the Tanaka, SCE public affairs director. www.jacl.org, or www.jaclpsw.org 2009/2010 TOURS JACL National ''We are extremely fortunate to be and submit it along with a resume, YouthJ~tudent HONDA partnering with So Cal Edison, a , cover letter, and writing sample by Mar 2 Splendors of Croatia - 11 Days - $2595. Zagreb - Zadar - Dubrovnik - Council. company that is sensitive to the Sept. 15. Split - Plitvice National Park - Zagreb. The fellowship is named after needs of our community and under• Mar 16 Best of China - 11 days - $2795. Beijing & Great WaIl- Xian & Terra Congressman Mike Honda in recog• stands the challenges we face," said For more information, contact Cotta Warriors - Gulling & Li River Cruise - Shanghai. nition of his lifelong commitment to JACL National Director Floyd Mori. Craig Ishii at the JACL PSW office Mar 30 Japan Classic ''Cherry Blossoms" 11 Days - $3895. Tokyo public service, civil rights and exten- at 2131626-4471 or [email protected]. Takayama - Nara - Kobe - Takahashi - Miyajima - Hiroshima - Inland • Sea Cruise - Shodo Island - Kyoto . . Apr 13 Japan ''OtT the Beaten Track" 11 Days - $4295. Fukuoka - Hirado - Arnakusa - Kurume - Kokura - Bullet Train - Shizuoka Lake WWlllnfantrymen May Apply for Bronze Star Medal Kawaguchi - Nasu Highlands - Nikko -Toshogu - Tokyo, Apr 26 Welcome Korea ''TV Drama Hilites" 12 Days - $3595. Jeju Isle - The u.s. Army Human Resources Infantryman continuously operat• Busan - Gyeongju - Yongpyong - Mt. Seorak - Chuncheon - Seoul. Command reminds World War II ed under poor conditions and per• May 16 NCL - Hawaii Cruise - 8 Days - From $2440 - Balcony $2669. infantrymen who served in ground formed hazardous missions. An Honolulu - Kahului - Hilo - Kona - Nawilwili, Kaui - Honolulu. combat that they are eligible to apply ' infantryman's mission was to "close May 30 NCL - British Isles Cruise - 15 Days - From $4246. London - Le for a Bronze Star Medal (BSM). with and destroy the enemy and to Havre, France - Falmouth, England - Cork, Dublin & Belfast, Ireland - Glassgow, Inverness '& Edinbtrrgh, Scotland -Amsterdam - Brugge. Under Army Regulation 600-8- seize and hold terrain," according to Jun29 Summer Japan Family Tour - 10 Days - $3595 - Child $3295. Tokyo 22, infantrymen who served against the Japanese American Veterans - Nasu Highlands - Nikko - Bullet Train - Kyoto - Miyajima - an armed enemy between Dec. 7, AssOCiation . • Hiroshima - Inland Sea-Cruise - Shodo Island - Osaka. 1947, and Sept. 2, 1945, can request Jul18 Trains Colorado Rockies - 9 Days - $2395. Denver - Rocky'Mt. Grand the BSM. Next of kin can apply for Bronze Star Medal Junction - Silverton - Durango - Mesa Verde NP - Colorado Springs, . Aug 1 NCL - Scandinavia/Russia Cruise -14 Days - From $3783 - Balcony a posthumous award under this pro• To request the medal, individuals $4133. London - Copenhagen - Wamemunde - Germany -Tallinn, gram, and veterans who previously who meet the criteria or their next of Estonia - St. Petersburg - Helsinki - Stockholm. received a BSM during WWII for a kin must send a letter with the veter• Aug 22 NCL -West Mediterranean Cruise - 15 Days - From $3219 Balcony & ~'s $3769. London - Lisbon - Vigo, Seville Granada, Spain - Gibraltar - specific act of bravery are also eligi• full name, permission to access Sardinia - Naples - Rome - Livomo - Cannes - Barcelona. ble. the veteran's file, the veteran's serv• .Sep11 Egypt Deluxe - 10 Days - $5495. Grand Hyatt Cairo -4 Day Nile Those who served in an infantry ice or serial number, and the veter• Cruise -Abu Simbel - Conrad Hotel Cairo. brigade or other unit of smaller size an's social security num~r to: Oct 12 . HokkaidotTohoku - Oct 19 - Uranihon "Japan Sea Coasf' Nov 2 .Fall Japan Classic - Nov 12 OkinawaIKyushulShikolru are qualified, and any member of the Jan 16 NCL - Panama Canal Cruise - 12 Days - from $2368 Balcony Merrill's Marauders who was Ms. Kathleen E. Miller 2010 $3168. Miami - Cartagena -Daylight Transit of Panama Canal - Costa awarded a Combat Infantryman's Army Human Resources Command Rice - Guatemala - Huataulco -Acapulco - Cabo to LA. Badge (Cm) is also eligible to the War Department in 1943, 200 Stovall Street, Suite 3567, receive the Ranger Tab in addition to Secretary of War Henry Stinson Hoffman II ''Early Bird savings - call for brochure" TOURS INCLUDES - ffights, hotels, sightseeing & most meals. the BSM. acknowledged the accomplishments Alexandria, VA 223a2-0474 "Fuel Surcharges Additional" Approval for the recognition is of U.S. infantrymen. almost certain for recipients of the "It is high time we recognize in a For more information, contact Terry cm or the Combat Medic's Badge. personal way the skill and heroism Shima at 301/987-6746 or ttshi• KOKUSAI INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, INC. 4911 Warner Ave., Suite 221, Huntington Beach, CA 92649 When the cm was established by of the American infantry," he said. [email protected]. _ _ •• _ L "-_.....;______714/840-0455 - FAX 714/840-0457 [1006444-10] --' PACIHC e CITlZEN COMMUNIlY SEPT. 5-18, 20087 San Jose, San Francisco JACl Pasadena Honors Memory of WWII MOH Recipient Passag~ On what would have been his 88th birthday, Medal of Commemorate of CLA Honor recipient Joe Hayashi waS posthumously honored by the city where his distinguished qrilitary career began. On Aug. 14 the city of Pasadena, Calif. recently dedi• cated a plaque to their World War II hero, who was born in Salinas but entered the s~rvice in the city famous for Attendees of the its annual Rose Parade. recent Redress The plaque for Hayashi, who is Pasadena's only event in San Jose Medal of Honor recipient, is located at Victory Park on peruse the various the southwest comer of Paloma Street and Altadena booths and infor• Drive. mational st~mds At the dedication ceremony, 10 of his comrades from provided by the the 442nd Regimental Combat Te,am gatheroo with the organizers. hero's family, friends and officials to commemorate ing approaches to Tendola, according to the official cita• Hayashi, who was killed in action at age 24 in Italy. tion. He dragged his wounded comrades to safety and Hayashi was laid to rest in Los Angeles' Evergreen . Two JACL chapters recently hosted events commemorating the 20th then exposed himself to hostile fire. Cemetery. anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act, which provided for Japanese He suffered a mortal wound from machine pistol fire "I'm really thankful that Pasadena is doing this for American redress. April 22 when he led his squad uphill towards the enemy. him," said Chiye Watanabe, Hayashi's sister, to the The San Jose JACL co-sponsored the Aug. 9 program, "Road to Redress In 2000, Hayashi was honored with the Medal of Pasadena Star-News. and Reparations: Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Civil Honor, the U.S. military's highest decoration, for his Hayashi's family was interned at Heart Mountain dur• Liberties Act of 1988," which brought together more than 230 attendees to "heroism and devotion to duty in keeping with the high• ingWWII. learn about the Civil Liberties Act and its significance to contemporary soci• est traditions of military service." In Italy, Hayashi led his men in an April 20, 1945, ety. Hayashi's family accepted the award on his behalf attack against enemy forces defending a hill command- The event featured a video, "Redress: The JACL Campaign for Justice," from President Bill Clinton in Washington, D.C . • and a panel discussion featuring former Sec. of Transportation Normari Mineta and former JACL National Director John Tateishi. Doi Awarded Inaugural 'Order of the Dogwood' for Redress Efforts Following the video, keynote speaker Mineta talked about his efforts dur• ing the redress movement as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Gene Doi, a longtime JACL mem• Tateishi and Susan Hayase, local activist with the Nihonmachi Outreach ber, was awarded the first "Order of . Committee, also spoke about the long fight for the apology and reparations. the Dogwood" by the Southeast The next day on Aug. 10 - the day President Ronald Reagan signed the JACL for her key role in the redress bill in 1988 - Mineta and Tateishi participated in a panel discussion hosted movement. by the San Francisco JACL chapter at the San Francisco Main Library. The award recognizes a chapter Gene Hashimoto Doi, Banagsheh Akhlaghi, president of the National Legal Sanctuary for member that has shown dedicated recipient of the "Order Community Advancement, also spoke. service to the Japanese American of the Dogwood" with Tateishi, who was the former JACL redress director, acknowledged the community. David Furukawa, coalition of organizations like the American Jewish Committee that reached In 1988, Doi helped secure the president of the JACL out to offer their support and endorsement of the redress effort. support of Georgia Rep. Pat Southeast chapter. Pointing to the contemporary significance of J A redress, Akhlaghi said the Swindall and other conservatives for Arab and Muslim experienced a psychological internment in the aftermath redress by persistently calling the of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks. She thanked the JA cornmunity for its sup• offices. Swindall's "swing vote". Doi found herself living with non• several county commissions and port. helped the mt4lliure become signed working toilets and insufficient food commissioners. She attended "It is truly an honor to be among those of you who endured the internment into law as the Civil Liberties Act of and supplies. As a teenager in camp, monthly meetings, took minutes and during World War II and to know you support the Arab and Muslim commu• 1988. Doi wrote President Franklin D. maintained the records. nities. It has really meant a lot to so many," she said .• Doi's advocacy for JAs started Roosevelt to complain about the Her husband of 61 years, Michael early in life. During World War II conditions in the camp. She received Doi, is a veteran of the 442nd On the Web: www.sanjosejacl.org she was interned at Manzanar where ·a response and saw changes in camp Regimental Combat Team. life. The dogwood blossom, the state Doi worked as deputy clerk for flower of Georgia, was ch9sen for ~PACIFIC National business and Georgia's DeKalb County for more the award because of "its strength fliiCITIZEN Professional Directory than 35 years, where she served for and beauty in any climate." • Your business card in each issue for 22 issues is $15 per line, three-line minimum. larger type (12 pt.) counts as tWo lines. Logo same as line rate a's required. P.C. has made no determination that the businesses listed in this directory are licensed by proper government authority. Oaldand,Calif. Greater Los Angeles Seattle, Wash. KANENTOURS KITAZAWA SEED CO. Cambridge Dental Care Our 46th Year of Quality Fun Tour Ideas ... SINCE 1917 Scott Nishizaka D.D.S. 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[ YUMl SAKUGAWA 1 r JOHN TATEISHI ]
MEMOIRS OF A NON-GEISHA FOR THE RECORD All-Japanese Girl Liberty and Justice ... for Whom?
Less than a month ago, my boyfriend came to visit me in Tokyo Before the House of Representatives adjourned for its long calling for an examination of historical facts that resulted in for a second time. It had been eight months since we had last election-year recess for re-election campaigning, the internment became difficult. . seen each other. Congressman Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., successfully managed As I lobbied one member after another among those who When he arrived in Narita Airport, I had been spending a house resolution calling for an apology for slavery. strongly opposed the bill, it was the backdoor that was almost a week with my childhood friend who had moved to It'll be interesting to see what impact that resolution has often mentioned. The apology. Why should the government Japan five years ago. We met a long time ago in sunny Southern because it called for an apology but no monetary consider• apologize for something that was decided by another California, attending the same Japanese language school every ation. In today's society, an apology is tantamount to an administration and Congress in the past? And they saw that Saturday for several years. We kept in touch even after her admittance of guilt, and with that, our courts are replete an apology would lead to other political considerations, father's job relocation prompted her family's move to Japan with lawsuits that demand some form of monetary com- such as monetary compensation. It was setting a precedent after high school. . pensation. and would open a can of worms. We agreed to meet up together during my summer vacation. Lawyers are quick to point out never to admit or say Which brings us back to Congressman Cohen's success• My summer vacation from my day job as an English conversa• anything lest one inadvertently utters those terrible words ful resolution on behalf of African Americans and others tion teacher not only gave me ample time to reunite with this that could result in a guilty verdict and/or payment of some whose ancestors were indentured as slaves (some of the childhood friend, but something else that I never considered in form of compensation. earliest slaves included Arabs). the first place - a complete break from using any English at From the outset in the redress campaign, we insisted that Waiting patiently in the background is the powerful all. we were owed an apology from the government but varied House veteran John Conyers who has repeatedly intro• The resulting effect felt uncanny. Not only was I always in our views on the issue of monetary compensation. We duced HR 40, calling for black reparations. Conyers origi• speaking in Japanese, I began thinking in Japanese and reacting fought long and hard among ourselves over the issue of nally rejected the idea of the commission strategy for his in Japanese. The Japanese language possessed more than my compensation, but there was little argument about the apol• purpose. That was completely understandable because verbal thoughts, but my vocal intonations and my physical ges• ogy. Everyone wanted that, and recognizing that an apolo• everyone knew about the injustices and inhumanity of slav• tures as well. My voice rose higher in an apologetic tone when I gy without compensation was meaningless, the JACL ery, and the Congress didn't need a commission to study asked a stranger a question or for a favor. Bowing became as insisted on individual monetary compensation. how it occurred, what its root causes were, and to convince natural as breathing. My parents would have been proud. The apology carried with it a political backdoor strategy anyone of how much slavery damaged the minds and souls "Your Japanese has improved," my boyfriend said. Within an which we hadn't discussed: we campaigned hard to get the of the victims and their progeny over generations. hour of his arrival, he had noticed that compared to eight commission bill passed and met with strong opposition in But seeing how the JA redress effort yielded startling months prior, my intonations and mannerisms have undergone a the House because there were members who objected to results first in the passage of the commission bill, then in noticeable change. "You sound just like a native speaker." visiting an issue that was already part of our historical past. the incredible publicity of the commission's work, and in But not enough, I found myself thinking. I wanted to appear But there were some members among the opposition the educational value of the entire process, and ultimately and sound more Japanese. More, more, more! I wanted people who understood that a report of findings would also require in passage of redress legislation, Conyers re-wro!e his leg• to stop asking me where I was from the second I opened my recommendations as remedies should the commission find islation and turned to a similar strategy in HR 40. mouth. I felt miffed when police officers responded to my care• the events leading to the internment weren't justified. They The first step he sought has already been accomplished fully worded questions in English. I considered it a minor victo• saw the backdoor on the apology and recognized that if the ..yith the Cohen resolution. I'm sure colleagues in the ry every time I went through a social interaction without any Congress accepted the report and thereby legitimized the House fully understood the implication of the resolution, curious questions about my lineage or geographic origins. conclusions, it was compelled to accept the recommenda• but they still did the right thing in approving it. Whether This was an ironic reversal of my middle school days when I tions. this will lead to anything further is unknowable. I've partic• would have given my right arm to be white - or at least any They knew full well that the JACL had as part of its ipated in enough black reparations conferences and meet• other race that didn't require going to a language school every demands the apology and the $25,000 compen~ation. ings and discussions to know how complex this issue is Saturday. Accepting one meant possibly accepting the other, and and seemingly irresolvable it can appear. Back in the day, I would have flashed my Gaijin card at any damned if they would buy the idea of individual monetary But Japanese American redress was viewed as impossi• given moment. The Gaijin card was a free pass for all my lack compensation for something that happened 40 years earlier ble in 1978 when we launched the campaign, and look of knowledge of Japanese manners, simple Japanese vocabu• to a segment of the population that was likely guilty of where and how it ended. lary, even something as banal as taking my sh~s off before some serious infraction against the country. And even if we I suspect once the dust settles on current events in our entering a dressing room in a clothing store. The Gaijin card, weren't, we looked like the enemy and, regretfully, honest troubled history, we'll be talking about redress for mem• instead of underscoring my deficiencies, gave me social curren• mistakes were made in the name of national security in a bers of yet another victimized group: Muslim and Arab cy by glamorizing my ability to speak and write proficiently in time of war. Americans . • English. The backdoor was recognized by enough members that My desire for this reverse assimilation was also a departure passage of something as benign as the commission bill John Tateishi is the immediate past JACL national director. from my enlightened stance in college when enough was enough with wanting to be completely American or completely Japanese, but to simply accept the hyphenated Japanese American identity as it is. After all, it only took several Asian American departmental classes, several AA student organizations, one summer intern• ship ill Little Tokyo and two Nikkei Student Union Cultural Night scripts to fmally reach this conclusion. Too American, not Japanese enough. Or the reverse: too Japanese, not American enough. Identities and loyalties flip• flopped with geographical and social context. Some neuroses of the ethnic minority never go away. At the very least, trying to be more Japanese brought me clos• er to lily parents and my extended family. Not only in terms of basic verbal communication, but to their inner worlds as well. The particular rhythms and images that can only be unlocked with a Japanese word, a Japanese phrase, a Japanese voice. The language behind the unspoken word that weighs more heavily than the language that is actually spoken. This was the linguistic cocoon that I was born in, and this was the linguistic cocoon that now surrounded me every morn• ing and every night for weeks and months ·on end. Mere osmo• sis has already done interesting things to my all-American behavior.• fumi Sakugawa currently teaches English in Japan. PACIFIC 51 CmZEN ENTERTAINMENT SEPT. 5-18, 2008 9 The Return of Wayne.Wang
After the groundbreaking 'Joy Luck Club, ' the filmmaker jumped on the Holly"vood treadmill.
-Now he's back to introduce APAs to a princess and good prayers.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAGNOLIA PICTURES By LYNDA LIN After spending the last few years working with It took a call from Hollywood heavy• Assistant Editor Hollywood leading ladies like Queen Latifah and weight fIlm producer Harvey Weinstein to Jennifer Lopez, filmmaker Wayne Wang found change Wang's course. Weinstein had just his latest muse in a grizzled veteran actor named seen 'The Joy Luck Club" and insisted on -Henry O. It's a decided turn away frOp;l familiar financing Wang's next project. themes for Wang, who is probably best known for The two made "Smoke," a very male• adding a little J-Lo to "Maid in Manhattan." centric film about a New York smoke shop. o is the latest subject of Wang's, 59, artistic fas• But Wang admits he's probably best known cination - people stuck in two different worlds. for "Maid in Manhattan," the Lopez hit that After living through the Cultural Revolution, 0 spurred other major Hollywood studio came to the U.S. and scored bit parts in movies as backed projects like "Last Holiday" and Jet Li's father and on television, most notably as "Because ofWmn-Dixie." the priest that blackmailed mob boss Tony in the He compares this time in his life to get• Wang explores family "Sopranos." ting on a treadmill. "Eventually, I knew I issues in 'A Thousand Years 'That did it for me," Wang joked about his deci• would get off at some point when I found of Good Prayers' (top) and sion to cast 0 in his latest film, "A Thousand Years something I-wanted to do." 'Princess of Nebraska' of Good Prayers." The film, an adaptation of "It's a mixed bag of everything," said Yiyun Li's short story, centers on a father's noble Wang about working for the studios. Of attempt to save his middle-aged daughter after her course, there's the money .and resources -'want "People were laughlng and crying. They identi• divorce. CGI elephants? No problem. But in the battle to fied with everything and understood everything." In many of Wang's more personal projects, art stay afloat in Hollywood, creative decisions "A Thousand Years" is part of a twin. Its sibling reflects an idealized real life. Wang is married to become the casualty. film, 'The Princess of Nebraska" features another What Cora Miao, an actress and former Miss Hong Most filmmakers work their entire lives to get a APA woman on the brink of two overlapping dIes war sllVei» Kong. They don't have kids, unless you count the studio nod. When Wang earned the distinction, he worlds. "Princess" however, is a modern vehicle furry four-legged kind, he said. But their extended was accused of turning his back on the communi• to showcase Wang's skills not seen since his 1982 "A Passage Through SEVEN families are enough to inspire a whole lifetime of ty and becoming "all Hollywood." cult hit ''Chan is Missing." LIVES is a stunning and perceptive films. Wang isn't resentful. ''My heart never left," he "It's younger. It's very today," said Wang, so it memoir/history of Japanese culture ''Both with my own family and my wife's fam• said about independent filmmaking. But he has a makes sense that "Princess" will premiere for free and imperialism before and after the World War II. ily ... we've tried all our lives to keep everyone message for his critics. on You'llibe.com around the same time "A "Kyo Takahashi weaves a majestic together," said Wang to the Pacific Citizen from 'They better come out and support this film," Thousand Years" opens in theaters. Together, the tapestry, using the history of Japan his Bay Area home. But the inevitable fight hap• said Wang. "Who else is going to make a film films are testimonies of Wang's ability to tell a and bloody battlefields as the warp, pens. 'The families in my film are in a way an about a 70-year-old Chinese man?" good story and still be on the cutting edge of ftlm• and lives of people who were involved ideal I work towards." making. . in the war, as the weft. Every fact was "A Thousand Years" also marks Wang's return A Father and a Princess But even after so many years in the industry, blended in carefully with artistic il• to independent filmmaking and the Asian Pacific "A Thousand Years" is a poignant examination Wang squirms under the pressure to define him• lustrations, creating a shocking and American community since 1993, when he made of life's communication barriers. Mr. Shi (Henry self. He grew up in Hong Kong with conservative enlightening panorama. -arguably the most important modern APA film for 0) can't connect with his only daughter, but is parents, was educated by Irish Jesuits, and has "This book is a valuable addition mainstream consumption. You may have heard of heartbreakingly honest with a stranger he meets in lived in Quaker Ranch in the Silicon Valley. for those not familiar with Quaker it - 'The Joy Luck Club." a Spokane, Wash. park. In one scene, Mr. Shi, ~ "My own journey has been wide and broad and Friends' supportive actions for Japa• Beijing resident, tells his new Iranian friend in interesting," said Wang. 'The Chinese in China nese Americans who were sent to the internment camps." -from Reviews Getting on the Hollywood Treadmill halting English that he's a bad father. don't think I'm really Chinese. Hollywood does• "Has it J:>een 15 years?" asked Wang about his The film is also elegantly shot in what Wang n't think I'm a commercial filmmaker. I'm a A Passage Through movie based on Amy Tan's best-selling novel calls a classic and minimal style. weird and,mixed up guy." about the intersecting lives of APA mothers and "With 'A Thousand Years,' I didn't cut very He prefers his position astride different worlds SEVEN LIVES daughters. It marked one of the few very rare much. I took my time to let [Mr. Shi's] character - it allows him a good view. But it also makes -The Pacific War Legacy• times that APAs appeared onscreen without per• take some deep breaths." Much of the film fol• him vulnerable to unwarranted attacks from the by KYO TAKAHASHI forming intricate martial arts moves. lows Mr. Shi's adventures in a new world, which rogue film critic or the slighted community group. 6"x 9" paperback. 504 pages includes "By the time I finished 'The Joy Luck Club' - includes reading the newspaper and -trying to "I have been knocked on both sides. Sometimes over 250 illustrations, 25 maps, and charts. relate with his daughter in the only way he knows it's good to be knocked. Maybe that's the rene• $23.99 which was an across the board hit - I was asking gade part of me." • 10% goes to the AFSC Peace Fund myself what can I do next? I didn't want to be how - cooking. stereotyped as the Asian [or] womerfs filmmak• Wang watched his film earlier this year with a available at Amazon.com er:" predominantly APA audience at the San Francisco and .Alibris.com See It But he was definitely being pushed in that International Asian American Film Festival and 'A Thousand Years of Good Prayers' direction with offers of book adaptations and films has refused to watch it since because it was the Opens Sept. 19 in New York and Sept. 26 in Visit- http://KyoVision7.com'*' related to China. perfect experience. Los Angeles with a national roll out to follow. 10 SEPT. 5-18, 2008 NATIONAL PACIAC iii CmZEN SEPT. 11TH . Today, the cases are sober beings." reminders of the dangers wartime (Continued from page 1) hysteria can pose on civil and human Out of Sight, Out of Mind during World War n. There is a say• rights. les easier to abuse nameless and JamesYee, ing that history unchecked tends to ''In 1942, Japanese Americans did faceless foreigners, said Malivish who was held repeat itself, said Yee who sees par• not get their day in court, but they Rukhsana Khan, a 29-year-old in ~Iitary allels between the wwn mistreat• were imprisoned and never recent law school graduate, journal• confinement ment ofJAs and post-Sept. 11th gov• charged," said Karen. "Certainly JA ist and Guantanamo interpreter. under suspicion ernment policies. organizations, the JACL and individ• In 2005 while still a law student at of espionage, So on the anniversary of his arrest, uals like me need to speak out and the University of Miami, Khan is still waiting became a Pashto language inter• the seventh anniversary of the Sept. make the government accountable." for his apology. 11 thterrorist attacks and the 20th Before he passed away, preter for habeas lawyers who repre• anniversary of redress, Yee and Korematsu filed a brief in support of sented Mghan detainees. warrentless wiretapping. New England chapter members Paul many JA leaders are calling for the Guantanamo detainees' rights. It's a After many trips to Gitmo, she At its July national convention in Watanabe, Taka and May restoration of some very basic legacy that the next generation of JA saw that many of the accused terror- . Salt Lake City, the organization Takayanagi, and Mari were speaking human and civil rights. Now, they leaders is keeping alive. Last April ists were actually victims. Among made history again with the passage at the Kennedy Presidential Library say, is the time to reflect and demand Sansei Karen, Jay Hirabayashi and them were a pediatrician and an 80- of a New England chapter resolution on national security and civilliber• equality for all - both in the U.S. Holly Yasui also lent their famous year-old paraplegic man. She heard in support of detainees' rights. On ties. and abroad in a place called Gitmo, last names to an amicus brief in sup• stories of beatings and torture. the national council floor, chapter Copies of the JACL resolution where government officials say the port of the plaintiffs in Turkman v. 'The Guantanamo detainees are co-president Ken Oye urged mem• will be sent to key members of the law does not apply. John Ashcroft citing the similarities very far off of most people's radar bers to see the importance of the res• administration and Congress. between the plight of their Issei because the government has hidden olution, especially in light of the 'The Constitution and its procla• Similar Experiences grandparents after the bombing of them in Cuba and has denied press U.S. Supreme Court's recent deci- . mation of civil liberties and human It sounds just too familiar for Pearl Harbor and the struggle of access to the detainees," said Khan, sion to restore detainees' right of rights should be the standard for many former internees and their Arab and Muslim immigrants after author of the new book "My habeas corpus. treatment of human beings by the descendents - a barbwire-encom• Sept. 11th. Guantanamo Diary." This spring, the House and Senate government of the United States," passed camp holding wartime ene': The Second Circuit Court of Over the years, many of these Judiciary Committees held a series said Floyd Mori, JACL national mies indefinitely in the name of Appeals refused his filing of the ami• alleged terrorists have been set free of hearings on detainee abuse.·.. director. national security. Before his passing cus brief, said Eric Muller, a and never charged. Like Yee, Khan "It is important for JACL to be on Yee agrees. He believes that in 2005, Karen Korematsu-Haigh University of North Carolina law has not met a suspected terrorist dur• the record supporting further investi• everyone held in U.S. custody said her famous father Fred professor. But if the case makes it to ing her time at the island prison, but gations," said aye. 'These issues should have due process rights. Korematsu was disgusted over the the Supreme Court and the "relevant she acknowledges that not all the should not be swept under the rug Looking forward, Congress may government's roundup and detain• legal issue remains in contention," prisoners are innocent. Separating for 30 years, as the internment was." be considering legislation on the ment of MusliInli and Muslim he will look into filing another brief. the good from the bad can easily be Championing human rights runs legality of extraordinary rendition Americans. Jay would do it again in a heart• done through trials, a right given in in the family for aye, a political sci• and the possibility of compensation The civil rights icon wondered if beat. "Here we have a visible group the U.S. to rapists and murderers, ence and engineering systems pro• for the victims. anything .was learned from his court of people, who are perceived to be a she said. fessor at the Massachusetts Institute "As Japanese Americans with case, said Karen. threat to the government, and lose all JACLAction of Technology. In 2007, his daughter intense memories of abuses of civil Korematsu along with Gordon their rights ... we need to prevent In the years following the Sept. Mari aye gained national attention liberties in the name of national Hirabayashi and Minoru Yasui chal• these tragic circumstances from 11th attacks, the JACL has continu• as the presidential scholar who hand• security, our voice matters. We need lenged the constitutionality of the repeating." ously spoken out against the erosion ed President George W. Bush a letter to ask the hard questions, to press on wartime incarceration of JAs during In times of war, civil liberties of civil liberties. The organization calling for the end of torture. the justifications, to demand evi• wwn in separate cases that ended often become casualties in the name has signed onto amicus briefs in sup• On the same day the JACL nation• dence, and to serve as a voice for up before the Supreme Court. of national security. With so ~y port of accused American bomber al council was considering a resolu• those under suspicion," said Oye. Korematsu was convicted of evad• milestone anniversaries it's impor• Jose Padilla and spoken out against tion supporting detainees' rights, "If we do not, who will?" • ing wartime evacuation orders, a tant to reflect on the journey, said decision that was upheld during the Jay. war, but later vacated in 1983 in a 'The government needs to recog• landmark coram nobis case. nize everyone as citizens and human ow As .50% APR* 100% Financing on New Cars'· 100% Financing on Used Cars
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I www.jaclcu.com If you want to gain experience towards your career, then please send KE UIKED a cover letter, resume and two writing samples to: Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, Executive Editor, 250 E. First Street, Suite 301 , Los Angeles, CA 90012 or email: [email protected]. PACIFIC .:I11ZEN NATIONAL SEPT. 5-18, 2008 11 APA DIVIDE 'Whitewashed': Identity and Inter• In high school, the so• divide. Students were told to break nalized Racism Among Second called "FOBs" would only into groups with others they most (Continued from page 1) Generation Asian Americans." hang out with each other, identified with. In the APA community, the divi• As part of the research, Pyke and said Nissen, who is of There were two groups Sng chose sion lines are drawn between her team interviewed 184 second Korean, Danish and from: the APAs and "Asian-Asian." "FOBs" and ''Twinkies.'' These generation Korean and Vietnamese German descent. But over He chose the latter. aren't strange ingredients of a fruit Americans about their family lives. the years, the divide hali not "It was like two groups lobbing salad, but the factors that for cen• The word ''FOB'' kept popping up. been bridged. The profes• grenades at each other. .We were all turies have created intra-ethnic ten• The term could be used to sional d~cer said that friends but we felt that we needed to sion between generations of APAs describe a recent immigrant or although she does not avoid represent our subcultures." who chose to keep or cut ties with someone who dresses in a style not any types of people, she In college the differences are also their ethnic heritage. seen as cosmopolitan, said Pyke. It Dan Nguyen, 20, is a member of the has never connected with vast. At the University of California, Lee, who came to the U.S. from can also be used to describe people 'Twinkie' group on Facebook.com. anyone in ''those circles." San Diego, the Japanese-interest cul• South Korea in 2006 to attend NYU, who speak th«ir native languages "I do think that a lot of tural groups and the Nikkei Student says that between the two groups she with their friends in public or those' 'FOBs', stick together and Union share only a few of the same identifies as more of a "FOB." Her who strongly identify with their eth• the few neighborhood APAs he welcome only each other. I 'suppose members, said Yo Miyamoto, a 21- hobbies aren't unlike any other nic groups. believed to be ''FOBs'' - partially, they do not believe people will treat year-old Shin Issei and president of American college student's - she In broad strokes, the APA commu• he admits, because he was embar• them as warmly," said Nissen. ''1 the NSU. watches popular television shows nity uses these words to create social, rassed that they were so different. think this is due to their own experi• "I always took it as our communi• like ''Entourage'' and rocks out to stratifications. "In high school I just asked myself ences of racism and oppression." ties are different enough that they "Queen" on her iPod. During one of the interviews for 'why can't they talk normally?'" The desire to distance oneself warranted separate organizations," "I also like to look through the study, one respondent defined a said Nguyen. It took going to a from the "other" within the commu• said Miyamoto, who added the JAs Korean news/entertainment sites as ''FOB'' as someone with "long heels diverse college like Temple nity is irideed a byproduct of racial are particularly diverse with both well as to talk to my high school and short tops," said Pyke, who University to br~ down the social domination and having to deal with pre- and post-war immigrants. friends in 'Konglish' about life in added that there isn't one stable barriers. Now his circle of friends is being stereotyped, said Pyke. "It's ''Those are very different levels of America." stereotype for the catchall word. diverse like a "crazy appetizer internationalized racial oppression." Americanization that you're trying ''The common denominator is that [plate] with 20 different kinds of And it goes both ways. to aggregate under one community. Internalized Racism [the use of the word '~OB'] captures . starters." So I can see where some of this seg• "FOBs" and ''Twinkies'' - the the desire to distance oneself from "FOB" and "Twinkie" - like , Asian-Asian' regation could occur." first literally means '':fresh off the another part of your own communi• other urban slang - are most often Kuan Sng, 42, was born in ''Twinkie'' behavior is most com• boat," while the latter is used to ty," added Pyke. thrown around in middle and high Singapore where he spent most of monly seen in the second generation describe extreme Americanization It's a feeling that Dan Nguyen, 20, school. It was at her small Denver bis formative years until at 17 he APAs, said Ayako Ito, a 28-year-old - are broad and derogatory terms can understand. Growing up in pre• high school where Denise Nissen came to the U.S. in 1982 to attend student who came to the U.S. 10 usually used by APAs to describe dominantly white Lancaster County, fIrst heard . the word ''FOB.'' Her the University of Utah. The transi• years ago to attend college. others within the community. PA, he never hung out with other then-boyfriend used it as a label for a tion of going from being a part of the They have to straddle two worlds ''The term [FOB] is a receptacle of APAs and barely spoke his native specifIc group of APAs. majority to a minority was nothing with two identities: their American derogatory anti-Asian stereotypes," language of Vietnamese. "He used it to describe the Asian short of a shock, so Sng joined a fra• public one and their ethnic self at said Karen Pyke, a sociology profes• In high school, he joined the kids that always sit on the floor in a ternity where he was the only self• home, she said. sor at the University of California, ''TWinkie'' group on the popular certain comer at our high school," described "Asian-Asian." Between the two groups, many Riverside, who studied the use of the social networking Web site said Nissen, 27. ''I knew right away Among his fraternity brothers APAs tend to self-identify some• terms in the APA community for a Facebook.com. And in real life, it was not okay to use that term to there was only o~e other APA from where.in the center - the ''bicultur• 2003 published study, '''FOB' and Nguyen never associated with any of describe people." Oklahoma, who Sng thought he al middle," as coined by Pyke in her would have the most in common study. with. Last month, Sng became a natu• . "At the end of the day he was 'just ralized U.S. citizen. like them.' He had no idea what my ''Technically I've become an cultural references were. We didn't Asian American," he laughed. But understand each other," said Sng. he still feels caught in the middle. Later at Yale for business school, "Maybe it's because I consider Sng took part in a class assignment myself more Asian than Asian that again reminded him of the social American." •
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Please send a cover letter an,d resume to: Caroline Aoyagi-Stom , Health Plans for California Executive Editor, 250 E. First Street, Suite 301, Los Angeles, CA 90012 or ~mail : [email protected]. JACL M .e mbers Call the JACL Health Benefits Administrators at • 1.800.400.6633 or visit www.jaclhealth.org . J~paIl'!U >\ ' ~~!i~1Io,! C: l : ; f1 : ' ~ l ~ ..: ~~ : t 12 SEPT. 5-18, 2008 NATIONAL PACIFIC i: crnZEN SPEAK ENGLISH tribute to the game itself as more cy is an affront to our American prin• what they call an "unfair and important than the skill of playing ciples of diversity and equality." unsportsmanlike language (Continued from page 1) golf," said Mori. 'The LPGA has The AAJC issued a statement urg• requirement. " from 26 countries on the LPGA taken tolerance and diversity back ing -LPGA sponsors to withdraw Ted Lieu, CaJif. assembly• Tour, including 45 players from several giant steps after there have support of the tour until the English member, made a modest pro• South Korea. been some great strides of progress proficiency policy is retracted. posal to the LPGA. The new rule, which was first toward opening the game of golf to "There is already a strong 'The LPGA should also ban reported in Golfweek magazine, was all people." endorsement incentive for players to accents and direct players to announced at an Aug. 20 meeting Calif: Assemblymember Mary learn English to increase their global achieve the 'Stepford Wives' with international players during the Hayashi is planning to organize marketability," said Tuyet G. Duong, look," said Lieu in a statement. Safeway Classic. Some tournament hearings on the LPGA's new policy AAJC senior staff attorney. 'The So far there has been no directors say the change is necessary and possibly considering a bill to end new LPGA policy along with their written explanation from to attract sponsors and be more inar• such policies. actions to have a special meeting LPGA commissioner Carolyn ketable. Other APA groups have also with the South Korean players, Bivens about the new rule. But JACL National Director expresse<,i outrage, including the smacks of clear discriminatory tar• Deputy Commissioner Libba Floyd Mori said the new policy is Asian American Justice Center geting of those players." Galloway told Golfweek that SEON-HWA LEE ironic because of the recent comple• (AAJC). The National Asian Pacific the tour would not simply dis- tion of the Olympics where sport is 'This policy is tantamount to American Bar Association is calling miss those who struggle under the they will be expected to speak the common language that builds national ongm discrimination, for the LPGA to follow the examples new policy. English well enough to address the international relationships. which is prohibited under the Civil of every other U.S. professional "We wouldn't just say, 'Come media and make victory speeches. 'The LPGA has had a sorry histo• Rights Act," said Vincent Eng, sports organization that welcomes back next year, ", Galloway said. Angela Park, who was born in ry of placing factors that do not con- deputy director of AAJc. 'The poli- foreign-born players by rescinding "What we would do is work with Brazil of South Korean heritage and them on where they fell short, pro• raised in the U.S., said the policy is vide them the resources they need, fair and good for the tour and its Protessor Hirabayashi to Present WRA Photos at Interactive Forum the tutoring ... and when we feel like international players. - At an Oct. 11 forum, professor with forum participants during a someone in a WRA phbto, e-mail a they need to be evaluated again, we "A lot of Korean players think Lane Hirabayashi will give a presen• demonstration of how online sites request and a reservation for the would evaluate." they can be targeted, but it's just tation on War Relocation Authority can be searched and explored. forum to Kiriyama at goiku@sbc• Steven Jacobs, attorney for a because there are so many of them," (WRA) photos of Japanese Iku Kiriyama and George Nakano global. net. Send the name of the per• recent case involving a Connecticut said Park. -- Americans during World War II. of the Japanese American Historical son, birth date, camp and areas of sheet-metal factory mandating Seon-Hwa Lee, the only Asian Between 1942 and 1945, the Society of Southern California board activity that may have been pho• English, told Sports Illustrated the with multiple victories this year, told WRA created a photographic record of directors are assisting Hirabayashi tographed. Only the first 50 requests LPGA has a difficult case to make if Golfweek that everyone "can do a of all phases of the JA incarceration. with the program. will be researched. • the policy is challenged in court. simple interview." She works with Thousands of these photos are now Local organizations that have 'The LPGA is miling English a an English tutor in the winter. and available online. Hirabayashi will signed on as co-sponsors with the WRA Photos Demonstration with precondition of access. That's a clas• she said she has improved in her demonstrate how online sites can be Japanese American Historical Lane Hirabayasbi sic no-no," he said. "I don't see how ability to answer questions without a searched and explored. Society of Southern California Oct. 11,2 to 4 p.m. this will stand up in court if a player translator while on tour. To make the forum interactive, include Gardena Valley JCI, Go For Gardena JCI in the Veterans Hall, challenges it." 'The economy is bad, and we are Hirabayashi, who is the chair of the Broke National Education Center, 1964 West 162nd St., Gardena, CA. Gallowayhas said that players can losing sponsors," Lee said. University of California, Los Japanese American Bar Association, 90247 speak any language they want, but "Everybody understands." . 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Toll Free 1-800-858-2882 PACIFIC ~ CrnZEN NATIONAL SEPT. 5-18,200813 MINIDOKA lot debates, preferring to rely on to require and present clear evidence locals to do the right thing. that this industrial-sized animal· (Continued from page 1) But with recent news that the con• facility can operate without creating memory of those who were once troversial feedlot has been approved actionable adverse affects on neigh• interned here. by County Commissioners,' Friends boring properties, including "As far as I am concerned, it is of Minidoka is now pressing hard for Minidoka National Historic Site," sacred ground," said Watanabe. an environmental impact study to be , said Scott Eckberg, interim superin• "The feedlot is another way to paid for by a National Historic Trust tendent for Minidoka, in a statement. diminish [the internees'] experience. grant. "Lacking such evidence, NPS There are many places in Idaho for 'There are so many lessons to be continues to believe that the opera• another feedlot - there is only one learned about Minidoka, not just for tion's magnitude and proximity will Minido~." me but everybody," said Momohara. , adversely affect public enjoyment The recent Commission voice ''We don't want to jeopardize that and experience of the historic site." vote will now be followed by a writ• message. That's why this has to be done in the right way. Something 2to 1 ten memoi:andum that is scheduled Commissioner Diana Obenauer is this substantial should be studied so had prepared - to deny the Big Sky designation of Minidoka as a to be finalized in early September. the lone member of Jerome County's Altho~gh a National Park has no negative permit application. National Historic Site . earlier this opponents are hopeful Commission that has consistently repercussions." "Certainly, our Japanese year speaks volumes about its signif• that the feedlot can still be stopped, voted against the Minidoka feedlot. Since the feedlot controversy first Americans and supporters of the his• icance. time may be running out. "I'm not pleased with it," she said broke, the National Park Service has torical Hunt site are disappointed "It's an acknowledgment that of the Aug. 11 vote to approve the Environmental Impact pressed Jerome County to reject the with the decision that was made," [internment] was wrong," she said. feedlot. "We of course don't want a nega• Big Sky permit, fearing the impact said Obenauer. "No doubt legal chal• Watanabe agrees. Obenauer says she voted against tive impact on Minidoka, period," of a feedlot so close to a historic site. lenges will be forthcoming by those "As the project to recognize the the feedlot for several reasons said Emily Momohara, chair of Like Friends of Minidoka, they who feel the best interests of the gen• [Minidoka] site as a National including an incomplete traffic Friends of Minidoka. "But we have want an environmental study done to eral public were not served by this Historic Landmark has grown in size study, questionable dates of some to work with the locals. We have to look at the various factors that may decision." and become part of the National documents, and the importance of work with them on how to remedy affect the historic site including traf• But Commissioners Charlie , ,preserving the Minidoka Internment Parks Department, the commission• this." fic, odor, airborne pathogens, and Howell and Joe Davidson ultimately ers need to be aware that this part of National Site. Friends of Minidoka - a national waste management. voted to approve the feedlot citing American history cannot be simply She also believes that enough fac• organization working to preserve "By its recent vote to approve this the recent ruling by Judge Richard overlooked," he said. tual information was presented - Minidoka's legacy - has largely permit, JCBC (Jerome County Bevan, 'even though' the judge, did "National Parks are set up for all includllg a 22-page document she tried to stay out of the ongoing feed- Board of Commissioners) has failed not order them to approve the ~eed to visit, enjoy and maybe even learn lot. something about our nation - not ''It has nothing to do with what's just for the people that live nearby." (jmerican HotidQ~1fQvel right or wrong," Davidson said in an Various cornmunity groups, interview with the Associated Press. including the JACL, are now look• 2008 Tour Schedule ''It's what the judge said to do." ing at what they can do to reverse the "If the applicant meets all the JAPAN AUTUMN HOUDAYTOUR NEWTOUR ... , ....•.•..•....•..•....•...... •...... OCT 12·23 Jerome County Commission's Aug. Tokyo, Sado Island, Nagano, Takayama, Kanazawa, Yamanaka ansen, Kyoto. requirements of the Jerome County 11 vote, a vote that ironically took CARIBBEAN HOLIDAY CRUISE ...... OCT 13·24 ordinances, the application must be place a day after the 20th anniver• Ft. lauderdale, SI. Maarten, SI. Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, Tortola, Half Moon Cay. HOlLAND AMERICA Maasdam Ship approved," said Commission Chair sary of the historic Redress bill. AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAY TOUR ...... : ...... NOV 8·23 Howell. ''In my opinion (our attor• 'The JACL will examine what Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Auckland, Rotorua,Christchurch, MI. Cook, Queenstown, Milford Sound. neys also) that is what the judge said avenues are open to curtail the devel• 2009 Tour Schedule Preview in his ruling." opment of an offensive'environmen• County Prosecutor Mike Seib is tal development near an important EGYPT·NILE RIVER TOUR I (SOLD OUT) ...•...... •...... •...... •.•...•.•.••.•..•..•.•...... JAN 16·26 currently working on a written mem• Cairo, Luxor, Nile River Cruise, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Abu Simbel. national monument," said Floyd orandum and the commissioners ai:e HOKKAIDO SNOW FESTIVAL TOUR ...... •...... : ...... ~ ...... FEB 2·11 Mori, JACL national director. Sapporo, Abashiri, lake Akan, Sounkyo, Asahikawa, OIaru, Shiraoi, Noboribetsu. See 5 Snowllce Festivals. Ride icebreaker ship "Aurora'. scheduled to take the issue up again "We owe the residents of the area, EGYPTJNILE RIVER TOUR II NEW TOUR ...... FEB 21·MAR 3 ' in early September. the memory of those who were NEW ORLEANS GETAWAY TOUR ...... MAR 16-20 incarcerated at Minidoka, and the French Quarker, Steamboat River Cruise, New Orleans Cooking School, Mardi Gras Mask·making Workshop. Legacy education of future generations an all KOREA DRAMA SPRING HOUDAYTOUR ...... MAR 27·APR 8 For Yonsei Momohara there were Seoul, Cheju Island, Busan, Daegu, Daejon, ChuncheonlNamiseorn Island. no family stories about Minidoka out effort of the JACL to exhaust all JAPAN SPRING COUNTRYSIDE TOUR ...... APR 15·25 while she was growing up. It wasn't means to keep the site an enjoyable Tokyo, Tendo Onsen, Akija, Hirosaki, lake Towada, Morioka, Matsushima, Higashiyama Onsen, until her family received their letters place to visit." EASTERN CANADA HOLIDAY TOUR ...... : ....MAY 3·11 of apology from former President In the meantime, groups like Montreal, Quebec Cijy, Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara Falls. George Bush that she learned of their Friends of Minidoka are talkin:g to GRANDPARENTS/GRANDCHILDREN JAPAN TOUR I (SOLD OUT) ...... •...... •...... JUN 28-JUL 7 locals and various conservation Toikyo, Hakone, Atami, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto, Nara. WWII experiences. groups. GRANDPARENTS/GRANDCHILDREN JAPAN TOUR II ...... JUL 7·16 "It was the first time I was able to Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Atami, Hakone, Tokyo. hear real personal stories," she said. "Everyone is huddling together ALASKA HOLIDAY CRUISE ...... '...... JUL 26·AUG 2 Now as chair of Friends of and talking about how to attack Seattle, Glacier Bay, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Vict9ria City. HOLLAND AMERICA Westerdam Ship, Miiudoka, Momohara believes the this," said Momohara.• EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN/GREECE HOUDAY CRUISE ...... AUG 22·SEPT 3 Venioe, Croatia, Athens, Istanbul, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Santorini, Olympia, HOLLAND AMERICA Oosterdam Ship. PANA CONVENTION SOUTH AMERICA TOUR ..•..••.•...•.•...... •..•....•..•...... - ...•....•....SEPT PANA Convention· Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil. Option to Peru. NEW ENGLAND HOLIDAYTOUR ...... " ...... OCT 1·8 Boston, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire .. Day trips on historic trains: Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, Conway Scenic Railroad, Green , Mountain Flyer Railroad, Essex Steam Train. OKINAWA-KYUSHU HOLIDAY TOUR ...... OCT 11·23 Naha, Kagoshimallbusuki, Miyazaki, Nobeoka, Takachiho, MI. Aso, Beppu, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Fukuoka. CANYONLAND GETAWAY HOLIDAY ...... NOV 8·13 laughlin, Grand Canyon, Vailey of Fire Park, Mesquije, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon, las Vegas. We can also assist you with: Low-cost airfares to Japan, Japan Individual Tour arrangements, Japan Ri:lilpass, Hotels, Cars, 9ruises, Hawaii arrangements, Individual Tour Packages, Organizations/Clubs/Family group tours and cruises. , For information and reservations, please write or call to: AMERICAN HOLIDAY TRAVEL 312 E. 1ST ST., #510, Los Angeles, CA 90012 ,Tel: (213) 625-2232; Fax: (213) 625-4347 Ernest & Carol liida CST #2000326-10 14 SEPT. 5-18, 2008 CALENDAR PACIFIC §i CmZEN
. jake@paintingbynakasone. com. 925/596-1770 or Marsha Baird, ' 510/579-1518. Calendar Pacif"1C Northwest OAKLAND PORTLAND Sat.... Sept. 20--"Japanese Heritage Sept. 14-Jan. 11, 2009--Exhibit, Day" hosted by the Oakland Ns; fes• National "Oregon Nisei Baseball: The Early tivities begin at 11 :30 a.m., game at WASIDNGTON, D.C. Years"; Oregon Nikkei Legacy 1:05 p.m.; Ns vs. Mariners, McAfee Thurs., Sept. 25-National JACL Center, 121 NW 2nd Ave.; hours: Coliseum; featuring sake barrell Gala Dinner, "Celebrating Tues.-Sat. 11-3 p.m. and Sun. noon- breaking, Cherry Blossom Queen Champions of Redress"; 6 p.m. 3 p.m.; $3/admission; exhibit honor introductions and a taiko performance; reception, 7 p.m. dinner; Grand the 10th anniversary of the ONLC. $30 for Field Level Outfield. Tickets: Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H St. NW; honor• Info: 503/224-1458 or www.ore• 510/638-4900 ext. 3013. ing Norman Mineta, John Tateishi gonnikkei.org. SAN FRANCISCO and Grayce Uyehara; $2oo/person, Suu., Sept. 28-0regon Nikkei Thurs., Sept. 11-Discussion, The $150/non-profits, $loo/JACL mem• Endowment Annual Banquet; 5 p.m. Women of The Tale of Genji; 6:30-8 bers; sponsorships available. Info: reception, 5:30 ·p.m. dinner; p.m.; San Francisco State Univ., 2021223-1240. Multnomah Athletic Club, 1849 SW Downtown campus, 835 Market St., Salmon St.; honoring Sho Dozono 6th Floor, Rm 607; panel includes Hdwest and June Arima Schumann; ALBUQUERQUE Dr. John Wallace, Dr. Liza Dalby Kenny Endo (above) and Noel Okimoto headline 'Rhythm Summit $IOO/person. RSVP by Sept. 19 to and Dr. Ellen Susan Peel; $5/Japan Sun., Sept. 28-New Mexico JACL 2008' on Oct. 24-25 at the Cupola Theatre in Honolulu. 503/224-1458 , or info@ore• Society members, $1O/general Annual Aki Matsuri ' Festival, gonnikkei.org. "Bamboo: The Way of Living admission; advanced registration Blvd.; $60/orchestra (reserved seat• p.m.; Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Green"; 10-6 p.m.; National recommended. Tickets: www.usa• Northern Calforria ing), $40/orchestra (open seating), Public Library, 9005 Aero Dr.; this Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th japan.org or 415/986-4383. HAYWARD $20lbalcony (open seating); featur• biographical film tells the story of the St.; featuring entertainment, food, Sun., Sept. 14-Screening, Sun., Sept. 21-NJAHS's Fall ing Jasmine Trias, Na Kama and senator from Hawaii who is now the arts and crafts for sale, etc. Info: Leo Event, "Cultural Connections: 'Transcending: The Wat Misaka Keali'i 0 Nalani. Info: 323/293- 3rd most senior senator in the U.S.; Gomez, 505/291-1062 or hanaya• Global Engagement!Activism"; 11- Story"; 1 p.m.; Sundance Kabuki 6284 or www.aadapinc.org. presented by the San Diego JACL. [email protected]. 4 p.m.; Mt. Eden Business Park, Theater, 1881 Post St.; documentary LONG BEACH SANTA BARBARA ST. PAUL 25941 fudustrial Blvd.; featuring film about the first Asian American Sat., Sept. 13-PSW District Sun., Sept. 14-Annual Santa Sun., Sept. 21-Twin Cities JACL dialogue, performances, food and pro basketball player and star player Awards Dinner, "PSW Heroes from Barabara JACL Community BBQ; Golf Tournament; first tee, 11 exhibits; $35/person, $65!couple, . from the Univ. of Utah; free; RSVP Redress: 20 Years of a Living featuring games, raffle, prizes, food a.m.; Highland National Golf children 12 and under are free. Info: to 415/567-5505 by Sept. 10. Legacy"; The Grand: Long Beach and stuff for the kids; $l0/adults, Course, 1403 Montreal Ave.; 415/921-5007. STOCKTON Event Center, 4101 E. Willow St.; $61kids under 11 years old. lrifo: $55/JACL members, $65/others MOUNTAIN VIEW Sat., Sept. 27-Stockton JACL $loo/person. lrifo: psw@jacLorg or Wade Nomura, wnomura@veri• (includes green fees, cart, course Sat., Sept. U-Midori Kai, fuc.'s Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser; 213/626-4471. zon.net or 805/448-9912. reservation fee and prizes); send Annual Fundraiser Boutique; 9-4 Stockton Buddhist Church, 2820 LOS ANGELES VENTURA COUNTY registrations by Sept. 11 to Jake p.m.; Mountain View Buddhist Shimizu Dr.; $7/aduits, $4/children Sat., Sept. 6--Program, "Nikkei in Sun., Oct. 12-18th Culture Day. Nakasone, 1995 Grand Ave., St. Temple Hall, 575 N. Shoreline 10 and under; proceeds benefit the Cuba: Reflections from Three U.S. lrifo: Jeff Kunisaki, 805/493-1824 or Paul, MN 55105, late registrations Blvd.; featuring over 60 vendors chapter education fund.· Info: Nikkei Groups; 2 p.m.; JANM, 369 Mariko Chilcott, 805/231-1392. will not be accepted. Info: Jake showcasing Asian arts, crafts, jewel• 209/476-8528. Nakasone, 651/248-1896 or ry, clothes, etc. Info: Phyllis Osaki, E First St.; Tsukirni Kai, Nikkei for Southern Calforria Civil Rights and Redress and Hawaii GARDENA Choodee Without Borders will have HONOLULU MITA youth representative, were integral Sat., Oct. 11-WRA Photo representatives recount their experi• Oct. 24-25--Rhythrn Summit 2008; players in structuring the North Demonstration with Lane 8 p.m.; Cupola Theatre, Honolulu (Continued from page 2) ences with Nikkei in Cuba. RSVP: Korean human rights information Hirabayashi; 2-4 p.m.; Gardena JCI 213/625-0414 ext. 2222 or Design Center, 1250 Kapi'oJani Veterans Hall, 1964 W. 162nd St. born without the glimmer of a sheet, which many of you received [email protected] (subject: Nikkei in Blvd.; featuring Kenny Endo and GLENDALE brighter tomorrow that youth in our prior to the convention. The finish• Cuba). Noel Okimoto with special gue t, Sat., Sept. 13-AADAP's 15th SAN DIEGO Dean Taba; $22 in advance or 25 at nation share. ing touch came from Kimberly Annual Benefit Show, "Changing Sat., Nov. 15-Screening, "Daniel the door. Info and tickets: As a result, a resolution by the Shintaku and Leilani Savitt who Lives and Saving Families"; 7 p.m.; . K. fuouye: An American Story"; 1-2 www.taikoartscenter.org .• NY/SC was brought forth to have orchestrated the dialogue between Alex Theatre, 216 North Brand JACL support North Korean human the youth council and the national rights. As John Tateishi noted in his board. last column, the resolution passed We are a dynamic ensemble of tal• almost unanimously. Many in this ent that joined the JACL to ensure A humorous family drama organization are not aware of the the future of Asian Pacific American with Bruce Lee Spirit. massive campaign effort that hap• activism and civic engagement. pened, not just at convention, but As we have shown throughout the years and months prior to Salt Lake past year, this resolution supporting City. North Korean human rights is sim• Each district youth representative ply one facet of our efforts. We have toiled long hours to ensure that each spoken out on issues pertaining to delegate was aware of the issue and the Jena Six case, Max Karson's well educated. Stephanie Nitahara, racist article in the University of Midwest district youth representa• Colorado at Boulder's student news• tive, largely coordinated the follow• paper, discrimination ' towards through of our advocacy plan. Greg Vietnamese Americans in the Stillman, IDe youth representative, Terrebonne Parish school system actively engaged the convention res• and in New York City public schools olutions committee to ensure its suc• against Sikh Americans. cessful presentment to the floor. Jenn As we embody the future of this Suzuki and Megumi Karninaga, organization, we wish for nothing NCWNP co-youth representatives, more than for JACL to continue to traveled great distances to visit indi• be that beacon of hope for oppressed vidual chapters in their district to and marginalized people. While we answer questions pertaining to the may not personally know the degree resolution. of despotism, racism or oppression Blake Honda, CCOC youth repre• experienced by these aforemen• sentative; Peter Yamamura and tioned groups, we know all too well Chris Batalon, PNW co-youth repre• the bitter taste of injustice and we sentatives; Amy Munemoto, MDC refuse to remain silent any longer.• youth representative; Brigham Walker, EOC youth representative; Brandon Mita is the current JACL and Conrad Ohashi, former PSW __ ~?ut~ . ~e.l!resenta~,,!e. PACIFIC iii CmZEN OBITUARIES SEPT. 5-18, 200815 Kikuta; and sister-in-law, Setsu and 8 gc. Robert (Debbie); 2 gc.; and sister, Sakuma. Naito, Chiyoko, 79, Gardena, Shizuka (Kaz) Hayashi. In Memoriam - 2008 Kizuka, Shigeru "Shig," 84, Aug. 10; survived by son, M~o; Schlossman, Kazuko ''Kay,'' 79, All the towns are In California except as noted. Hender"Son, Nev., July 17; WWII daughter, Shirley; 3 gc.; brothers, Thousand Oaks, veteran, 442nd, L Co.; survived by Minoru Imamura and Yoshinori Aug. 12; sur• Arakawa, Florence N., 89, This compilation appears on a space• (Hisayo) Miyazu; and sister, Keiko Alhambra; Aug. 1; survived by available basis at no cost. Printed obit- wife, Ruby; daughter, Cynthia vived by hus• daughters, Geraldine Rodriguez and uaries from your newspaper are wel• (Timothy) Derouin; sons, Craig (Mitsuo) Yano. band, Edward; Pearl (Herbert) Aguirre; sons, Floyd comed. "Death Notices, n which appear (Nancy) and Clifford (Mary Anne) Ninokawa, Kaneko, 93, daughters, in a timely manner at request of the (Sharane) and Baron (Ann); 8 gc.; Kizuka; 5 gc.; and 1 ggc. Monterey Park, Aug. 10; survived family or funeral director, are published Marie (Jim sister, Sadako Akamine; and brother, at the rate of $20 per column inch. TeXt Koehi, Jay Kazuo, 81, Houston, by son, Cary (Cindy); daughters, Plympton) Kiyoshi Kaneshiro. is reworded as necessary. Tex., Aug. 9; The Robert A. Welch Jeanne (Tomroy) Tanaka and Arlene Schlossman and Ito; 6 gc.; 2 ggc.; brother, Nao (Judy) Fuji, Tome, .80, Los Angeles, Vietnam veteran; survived by sister, Foundation Chair in chemistry at the Ann (Chris) Aug.; survived by relatives in Univ. of Houston; survived by wife, Takasugi; and sisters, Chiye Campbell; sons, Paul (Lynn) and Janet Saito; and brothers, Roland Sakamoto, Hisaye (Takeshi) Seattle. Marion; son, Sims; daughters, Ariel John (Katie Marjala); brothers, and Raymond. Takasugi and Shika Akiyoshi. Fujita, Robert Eiji, 84, Port and Julia; and brother, Clifford. Takao and Kunio; and sister, Aiko Kawamoto, Nobuko "Nobi," Clinton, Ohio; MIS veteran; sur• Masatani, Kunio, 85, Torrance, Nishiie, Masayoshi, 85, Kilauea, Suzuki. 88, Wheeling, Ill., Aug. 25; survived vived by sons, Robert (Darlene) and Aug. 5; survived by sons, Tsunehiro Haw., Aug. 10; survived by wife, by daughter, Kathy Ravenscraft; 2 Shishino, Dr. Takao, SO, Culver Richard (Lisa); 3 gc.; and brothers, (Letty), John (Bless), Roy and Leo Myra; daughter, Evelyn (Shawn) gc.; 2 ggc.; brother-in-law, Vic Izui; City, Aug. 11; survived . by wife, Henry and Richard. (Laura); daughter, Linda (Jeff) Way; Conant; 2 gc.; 1 ggc.; brother, Helen; daughters, Karen (Jeff) and brother, David Katagiri. Kazuma; and sisters, Chizue Kimura Hashimoto, Kenneth, 64, 14 gc.; and 3 ggc. Jordan, Linda (John) Shishino-Cruz, Kikuta, Kimiyo, 92, Los Masukawa, Misao ''Miso,'' 79, and Alice Nishiie. Julie and Laurie Shishino; 2 gc.; Wickliffe, Ohio; survived by daugh• Angeles, Aug. 5; survived by sons, ters, Gwen and Elaine; and mother, Gardena, Aug. 13; survived by hus• Nishio, Howard, 66, Sacramento, brother, Hayao (Misuko); sisters-in• Henry (Nora), George (Keiko) and band, Fred; sons, Alan (Cheryl) and Aug. 12; Air Force veteran; survived law, Yuki andn Beth Sakurai and Mitzie. Bruce; 8 gc.; 2 ggc.; brother, Noboru Steven (Coco); daughters, Linda by wife, Trish; son, Connor; broth• . Florence (Michael) Ray; and broth• Kaneshiro, Clifford ''Droopy,'' (Hana) Suda; daughter-in-law, Leti (Mark) Nakashima and Lisa (Daryl) ers, Dick (Sandi) and Ted (Dolly); er-in-law, Fred (Charlene) Sakurai. 66, Honoka' a, Haw., Aug. 8; - Kikuta; brother-in-law, Masaji Takata; 8 gc.; sister, Mitzi sister, Jeanne Nishio-Chan; brother• Terasaki, Tomiye, 97, Los . Tanamachi; and brother, Saburo in-law, Pat Drumm; sister-in-law, Angeles, Aug. 4; survived by sons, IJDOTA Nimura. Ann Drumm; and mother-in-law, Kei (Jane) and John Sakita; and NIKKEI Miyataki, Masaru "Masa," 84, Susan Drumm. daughters, Eiko (Fred) Sakuda and MORTUARY Kapolei, Haw., Aug. 7; WWII veter• Oku, Toshiye, 83, Los Angeles, Adeline (Woody) Manzo. an, 442nd, Co. H; survived by wife, July 26; survived by sister, Teruko Ujiye, Miyoko, 79, Los Angeles, Kathryn; sons, Lee, Scot and Wade; (Jimmy) Isobe. Aug. 10; survived by daughter, ·REUABLE. COMPASSIONATE. PERSONAl..JZED- brother, Hamto; and sisters, Elaine Diane; 1 gc.; brothers, Mas (Norma 707 East Temple Street Oshidari, Helen Nami, 92, Gerald Fukui 91 I VENICE BOULEVARD Takahata and Betty Katzmann. Stockton, Aug. 22; survived by sons, Jean) and Nob; sister, Kaz (Kenneth) Los Angeles, CA 90012 President Los ANGELES, CAUFORNIA 900 15 Nakaba; and brother-in-law, Robert TEL (213) 749-1449 Muraki, Tom Tatsuo, Dr. Ken (Jacquie) and Tom (Terry); Ph. 2131626-0441 FAX (2 13) 7490265 Sacramento, Aug. 20; MIS veteran; Ueda. Il ,", t' '''fllll~~,",~ ~ n·~'f' . daughter, Berdi; 4 gc.; and 4 ggc. DEATH NOTICE (Elmer) Uyeda-Yoshida, and Carol (David) Novasel; and 7 gc .• ALICE A. MORITA Alice Morita, 80, went home to DEATH NOTICE be with the Lord on Aug. 29, 2008. She was born on Jan. 1, 1928 in TORUSIDRAKI Sacramento, Calif. A San Fernando TofU Shiraki, 93, peacefully Valley resident for the last 45 years, passed away on Aug. 22. He is sur• she taught elementary school for vived by his wife, Tatsuko Shirak:i; And all this time you thought the Los Angeles Unified School children, Phillip (Joan) of Sedona, District prior to her retirement. Ariz. and Evelyn Shirak:i; brother, She was. a loving mother, grand• Spud (Trea) Shirak:i; sister-in-law, mother, sister, aunt and friend. She Shiz Shiraki; also survived by you were"saving for retiretnent. is survived by her daughter many nieces, nephews and other Kimiko; son Kenneth; grandson relatives. Roy; brother Paul; and sisters A private funeral service was Flora, Grace and Lily. Alice's fam• held Tues., Aug. 26 at the ily will always cherish their won• Memorial Chapel of Kubota derful memories of her. Nikkei Mortuary with Rev. A memorial service will be held William Briones of LA Hompa at the San Fernando Holiness Hongwanji Buddhist Temple offi• Church in Pacoima, Calif., on Sat., Don't let a Sfriqus non-job related injury or sickness fqrce you to dip into your savinb'S to ciating. Kubota Nikkei Mortuary, Sept. 13 at 6:00 pm. Directors, 213n49-1449. cover your medical bills. Enhance yout current ?overnge with the JACL-sponsored Group Catastrophe Major Medical Insurance PJan. The plan strengthens your current coverage and includes convalescem ho~e care, home ~ health care, private-duty nursing coverage and more. REVERSE MORTGAGE For more information, call Call for a fu~ information package If you are 62 or older and own your house, a Reve~se Mortgage may benefit YOU!...... • Turn Home Equity into Tax Free Cash . . • You keep title to your home . t • , . .. • No Monthly Mortgage Payments ' . .. • Safe FHA Program Designed for Seniors "[ pledge to provide excellent customer service with the highest standard of ethics" 25+ Years Experience as a Financial Professional David C. Miyagawa Chee Certified Public Accountant 1-800-967-3575 CA E>ept. of Real Estate - Real Estate Broker #01391106 16 SEPT. 5-18, 2008 ADVERTISEMENT PACIFIC !!iii CrnZEN llMARRIAGE IS THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCK OF FAMILY." -Mrs. Lin. Her daughter Jennifer and Jeanne were married 8.8.08 My daughter Jennifer's happiness means so much, especially on her wedding day. Before the banquet I pulled her wife jeanne aside and gave her a necklace that has been in our family for generations. Tradition is important in our family ... it's natural to Jeel a little uncertain. But they've been committed to each other for 14 years and we've invited jeanne to participate in our family traditions, because that strengthens our family. STRONG COMMITMENTS. STRONG FAMILIES. As CALIFoRNIA'S GAY AND LESBIAN Co'UPLES MARRY, THEIR FAMILIES GROW STRONGER. AND WHAT'S GOOD FOR FAMILIES IS GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT WWW.LETCALIFORNIARING.ORG. LETCALIF O RNIARING.ORG