THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF THE JACL Aug. 14-27, 2020 CELEBRATING 9 1 YEARS Watsonville- Santa Cruz JACL President Marcia Hashimoto rings the (bonsho) bell » PAGE 6 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Hiroshima. PHOTO: COURTESY OF HIROSHIMA W-SC JACL AT 75 A milestone anniversary is commemorated as it reminds us, ‘Never Again.’ » PAGE 4 » PAGE 9 IACHR Verdict a Win for Latin American Fresh Out of College, Collin Morikawa Nikkei Fighting for Redress. Captures His First Golf Major Victory. #3370 / VOL. 171, No. 3 ISSN: 0030-8579 WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG 2 Aug. 14-27, 2020 NATIONAL/LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HOW TO REACH US Email: [email protected] Online: www.pacificcitizen.org when we remind everyone that at Tel: (213) 620-1767 THE SKY REALLY IS FALLING stake are millions of dollars from Mail: 123 Ellison S. Onizuka St., Suite 313 63.5 percent of U.S. households have much higher as the households not the federal government in aid to Los Angeles, CA 90012 responded to the census. My kids being counted are lower income the very communities that might STAFF be undercounted by an inadequate Executive Editor By David Inoue, today don’t get grades, but when I with possibly multiple families or Allison Haramoto census enumeration. JACL Executive Director was in school, less than 65 percent extended families living together. Senior Editor was an F, except maybe for a few While some large cities that JACL As we approach the November Digital & Social Media elections, we are reminded of the George Johnston ’m sure you’ve heard this ex- chemistry classes graded on a curve. has chapters in such as Seattle, San importance of the U.S. Census in Business Manager hortation several times already Thank you for grading curves, or else Jose and San Diego have response allocating Congressional represen- Susan Yokoyama this year. It’s part of the Census I wouldn’t have graduated college. rates of 74 percent, 72 percent and tation. The political effects of this Production Artist IBureau’s campaign to get everyone The census, though, isn’t on a 70 percent, respectively, even those Marie Samonte year’s count will be felt for the next counted. Given the activism of our curve, the Constitution is explicit would not be percentages to brag Circulation 10 years. JACL membership, I hope that I am in that it must be a count of every about to most of our parents if that Eva Ting We are now at that point in a wed- preaching to the choir and everyone person. More than a failing grade were a score on a test. And yet, these ding where the officiant asks the The Pacific Citizen newspaper (ISSN: reading this has completed their for our census response rate, this are bright spots compared to some 0030-8579) is published semi-monthly attendees if anyone has anything to census responses either online at translates into roughly 120 million other cities with populations over (except once in December and Jan- say or forever hold their peace. It’s uary) by the Japanese American Cit- https://2020census.gov, returning people who have possibly not been 100,000 such as Hartford, Conn., time to say something, do something. izens League, Pacific Citizen, 123 your card in the mail or by calling counted. and Newark, N.J., with response Ellison S. Onizuka St., Suite 313 (844) 330-2020. Unfortunately, the actual number of rates of 46 percent. Los Angeles, CA 90012 See SKY on page 8 Periodical postage paid at L.A., CA Throughout this past week, only people not being counted is possibly I often feel like a broken record » POSTMASTER: Send address changes to National JACL, 1765 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115 JACL President: Jeffrey Moy LETTER TO THE EDITOR Japanese American WWII veterans. I am compelled to write this rebut- Executive Director: David Inoue His continued bashing and trash- tal because Ujifusa’s persistent at- P.C. EDITORIAL BOARD Dear Editor, pompously criticizes it because it ing of the film is not surprising. tacks on facts presented in the film Rob Buscher, chairperson; Ron Kura- does not reconcile with the half After all, he proudly claims his is a direct attack on my credibility, moto, MDC; Danielle Pierce, EDC; Grant Ujifusa claims that funding truths he has spewed the last 30 allegiance to the Republican Party. which in turn discredits me and Marcia Chung, CCDC; Nancy Ukai, was pulled from “Right of Passage.” years about how redress was won. So, of course he is going to pull affects my ability to earn a living NCWNPDC; Sheldon Arakaki, PNWDC; Kayla Watanabe, IDC; John Saito Jr., That is a lie! In fact, the film was “Right of Passage” interviewed from the Donald Trump playbook as a researcher and documentarian. PSWDC; Juli Yoshinaga, Youth Rep. completed and premiered in Wash- more than 50 people, unearthed of deluded falsehoods and egotis- I will not allow him to impugn ington, D.C., to a full house, with thousands of documents and every Subscribe tical assertions. my work, and by extension my Get a one-year subscription of the screenings at the Skirball Center, assertion is backed up with a paper I would be happy to send him a reputation. If he wants this war of Pacific Citizen newspaper at: universities and festivals nationwide. trail straight from the Reagan White copy of the film, but I doubt he could words to end, he should stop printing www.pacificcitizen.org or call Ujifusa claims we did not credit House, Library of Congress, Na- watch it objectively, since it does not baseless nonsense. If he wants to (213) 620-1767 the 442nd and 100th in the film for tional Archives, the Mike Masaoka celebrate him or his exaggerated pick a fight, however, bring it on! Advertise their part in winning redress. An- Collection (University of Utah) involvement. A Johnny-come-lately I will not show the restraint of To advertise in the Pacific Citi- other outright lie! The film begins and more. in the battle for redress, his role Japanese Americans here in L.A. zen, call (213) 620-1767 or e-mail: [email protected] and ends with a tribute to Kazuo Audiences — this includes re- was nowhere as significant as he who ignore him and dismiss his LEGAL Masuda, with multiple accolades spected academics and scholars keeps claiming. petty, vindictive vitriol as sour within the film for the heroics of on the subject — who have seen No part of this publication may be But I guess, when he has repeated grapes of an “old fool.” reproduced without the express per- Japanese American soldiers during the film hail it as the most balanced, his “fantasy” version as long as he mission of the Pacific Citizen. World War II. The problem is, by informed and honest telling of the has, he probably now believes his Sincerely, Editorials, letters, news and the opin- his own admission (and he igno- redress story — an impossible vic- own fabrications and concoctions as ions expressed by columnists other rantly wears this lack of first-hand tory won by the selfless effort of than the national JACL president or the truth, which sadly, now, maybe Sreescanda Subramonian national director do not necessarily re- knowledge like a badge of honor), hundreds of people (Ujifusa was his senility cannot separate from Writer/Editor/Researcher of flect JACL policy. Events and products Ujifusa has not seen the film, yet one), community organizations and the actual facts. “Right of Passage” advertised in the P.C. do not carry the implicit endorsement of the JACL or this publication. We reserve the right to edit articles. © 2020 Periodicals paid at Los Angeles, Calif. and mailing office. SPRING CAMPAIGN JACL MEMBERS DONATE $150 OR MORE AND RECEIVE ONE ENTRY TO OUR MONTHLY DRAWINGS! Change of Address WINNERS CAN CHOOSE FROM: Mikami Vineyard Zinfindel 750ml | Hello Kitty JANM If you’ve moved, Tote Bag | 1 year Pacific Citizen Newspaper Subscription please send new information to: National JACL Name : 1765 Sutter St. ‘I’m glad to see the Pacific Citizen San Francisco, CA 94115 Address 1 : growing and evolving with its web- (415) 921-5225 site, and especially LOVE the much ext. 26 easier-to-navigate digital archives. Phone Number : E-mail : Allow 6 weeks for It’s a treasure trove for JAs to learn address changes. about our community’s history, and JACL MEMBER? q q q$50 q$100 q$150 q$200 qOTHER ——— for scholars and journalists looking To avoid interruptions The P.C.’s mission is to ‘educate on the past Japanese American experience and preserve, promote to connect the past with the present. in delivery, Thanks for the improvements, P.C.!’ please notify your and help the current and future AAPI communities.’ postmaster to include — Gil Asakawa * Your donations will help build and preserve a cohesive library of the Pacific Citizen to educate future generations.* periodicals in your change of address INFORMATION: 123 Ellison S. Onizuka St., Suite 313 | Los Angeles, CA 90012 | TEL: (213) 620-1767 | WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG (USPS Form 3575) COMMENTARY Aug. 14-27, 2020 3 offerings. People are also showing NIKKEI VOICE interest in cooking Japanese home- cooked dishes and unique regional foods.” IF YOU WANT TO COOK AUTHENTIC In the Bay Area where Chen lives, she added, “I’ve seen an explosion JAPANESE FOOD, NAMI CAN HELP of authentic Japanese restaurants, and many of them offer different By Gil Asakawa on Setsubun, soba on New Year’s varieties of food.” Eve, Chirashi Sushi on Girls Day, Namiko Chen’s recipes And COVID-19 and the quaran- ince before the coronavirus etc.