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CROSSCURRENTS 2005-2006 Vol. 29, No. 1 (2005-2006) CrossCurrents Newsmagazine of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center Lane Hirabayashi Joins Center and Department as Aratani Professor PROFESSOR LANE RYO HIRABAYASHI has been appointed unjust wartime internment. Their endowed chair, as as the first George and Sakaye Aratani Professor of well as other programs they have established at UCLA, the Japanese American Internment, Redress, and will make it possible for preeminent and committed Community. The endowed chair is the first and only one scholars like Professor Hirabayashi, along with their of its kind in American higher education. It supports students, to explore, analyze, share, and apply the the activities of a renowned scholar, specializing in Japanese American experience for generations.” research and teaching about the unjust incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese from the Americas during World War II, their subsequent post- war campaign to seek redress and a national apology, as well as in the issues, challenges, and trends of the Japanese American community. Professor Hirabayashi was selected after an interna- tional search conducted by professors, staff, and stu- dents of the Asian American Studies Center and De- partment. Hirabayashi said, “Being appointed as the inaugural recipient of the Aratani Chair is a dream come true for me. Not only will I join a stellar set of col- leagues in Asian American Studies at UCLA, but I can contribute to the long tradition of Japanese American Studies and collaborations with community groups that have been undertaken by so many distinguished UCLA faculty, staff, and students over the years.” The endowed chair was established by George and Sakaye Aratani, who have been long-time supporters Professor Hirabayashi received his PhD in socio- of the Center. Both are second-generation Japanese cultural anthropology from UC Berkeley, and has Americans, who were interned during World War II had a distinguished career as a faculty member at and believe strongly that the American public should San Francisco State University, University of Colorado, learn lessons from that unconstitutional tragedy so Boulder, and UC Riverside. He has received numerous that it is not repeated. Mr. Aratani is the founder and academic awards and grants, including two postdoctoral former CEO of Mikasa and Kenwood electronics. fellowships at the Center in 1981-1982 and 1996-1997. They have also established a graduate fellowship and Professor Hirabayashi’s family is recognized in undergraduate summer internship at the Center, and relation to the wartime incarceration and to the fields recently made a commitment to establish a $1 million of Asian American Studies and Ethnic Studies. His endowment to support research and other activities by uncle, Gordon, was the principal defendant in one of UCLA faculty, staff, and students that would serve to the major U.S. Supreme Court cases that challenged advance the Japanese American community (see page 4 the government’s decision to remove and intern the for related story). Japanese Americans (Hirabayashi v. United States, “George and Sakaye Aratani are incredibly special 1943). The case also was part of the successful coram people,” said Professor Don Nakanishi, Director of the nobis efforts of the 1980s, which included the cases of Asian American Studies Center. “They have not only Fred Korematsu and Min Yasui. His father, Dr. James benefited countless community groups through their Hirabayashi, was the first Dean of the School of Ethnic generosity, but also supported major scholarly and other Studies at San Francisco State University, and an original educational activities to enhance public understanding of the Japanese American experience, especially the (Continued on page 2.) 2 2005-2006 CROSSCURRENTS HE TAFF T S (Continued from page 1.) Brandy Liên Worrall-Yu, Editor [email protected] Contributors and Photographers member of the Japanese American Planning Group at the university, which Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz designed the first curriculum in Japanese American Studies. Melany Dela Cruz-Viesca Mary Uyematsu Kao Along with major contributions to the development of scholarship on Valerie Matsumoto Japanese Americans, Professor Hirabayashi has been a leading scholar in Ying M. Tu, Business Manager Asian American Studies, Latin American Studies, Ethnic Studies, and in the [email protected] comparative study of Japanese migration in the United States, Mexico, and CrossCurrents, the newsmagazine of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, keeps readers Latin America. He has authored three books—Cultural Capital: Mountain abreast of current Center programs, including academic programs, research projects, publica- Zapotec Migrant Associations in Mexico City (1993), Inside an American tions, faculty activities, student perspectives, Concentration Camp: Japanese American Resistance at Poston, Arizona (1995), relevant university and community issues, as well as programs not sponsored by the Center but in the and The Politics of Fieldwork: Research in an American Concentration Camp province of Asian American Studies. (1999)—edited and co-edited five books and one book-length special CrossCurrents is published twice yearly (Spring/ issue of the Amerasia Journal, and published over thirty articles, as well as Summer and Fall/Winter) and distributed in the community by Center staff. It is also mailed free numerous book reviews. He is currently completing two book manuscripts, to all subscribers of Amerasia Journal. one of which is a reconsideration of Japanese American resettlement after For information on how to submit articles, an- nouncements, images, and so forth to CrossCur- their wartime incarceration. rents, contact the editor at [email protected] For more information about activities and pro- Professor Hirabayashi has had a strong record as teacher, mentor, grams of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center: and curriculum developer. In 1993-1994, he received an “Outstanding 3230 Campbell Hall, Box 951546, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1546; (310) 825-2974; http://www.sscnet.ucla. Undergraduate Advisor” award at the University of Colorado, Boulder. edu/aasc At UC Riverside, he was entrusted with the primary responsibility of In This Issue. designing and writing a full-length proposal for a new doctoral program in Ethnic Studies. Lane Hirabayashi Joins Department 1 Melany Dela Cruz-Viesca, Asst. Director 3 In expressing the wide enthusiasm for Hirabayshi’s appointment, Professor Aratani $1 Million Endowment 4 Cindy Fan, the chair of the Department of Asian American Studies said, Kitano Endowment Established 4 Endowment for Fil Am Studies 5 “The faculty, students and staff of the Department of Asian American Valerie Matsumoto Receives Teaching Prize 6 Studies are very excited that Professor Hirabayashi—a superstar in Asian Oh and Hokoyama, UC Lecturers 6 Keith Camacho Joins Department 6 American Studies—is joining UCLA. His scholarship is groundbreaking, Grace Hong New Book 6 interdisciplinary, and transnational. His professional vision will not only Margie Kagawa-Singer, Full Professor 7 Shu-mei Shih, Full Professor 7 fulfill the goals of the endowed chair, but also enhance the curriculum George Sanchez, IAC Postdoc Fellow 8 and forge important links between Asian American Studies and other Min Zhou Receives Book Award 8 Henry Yu, One of Top Young Historians 8 departments as well as the larger community of which UCLA is part.” Don Nakanishi, Co-Chair Nielsen Council 8 Professor Hirabayashi has served on several editorial boards for leading Cheung, Lal, EAP Directors 9 Remembering Masumi Hayashi 9 journals in the field such asCalifornia History, Pan-Japan, Ethnic Studies, and Rolfe Hall Home to Department 9 Amerasia Journal. He is also highly active in organizing and participating Yuji Ichioka Book, Tributes 10 Gary Pak Book Talk 11 in symposia and conferences, and in reviewing manuscripts for major James Yee Book Talk 11 university presses. Public Policy Workshop 12 UC AAPI Initiative Established 12 Hirabayashi has worked with numerous organizations including the Cen- Filipino Legacy Fund Benefit Dinner 13 ter for Japanese American Studies, the Asian American Theater Company, Filipino Labor, Organizing, & Cinema Talks 13 Center for the Study of Women Workshops 14 the Little Tokyo People’s Rights Organization, the Gardena Pioneer Proj- Filipino Studies from Japan Symposium 14 ect, East-West Players, the Japanese Community Youth Council, the Japa- Michael Omi Talk 14 Filipinos in Entertainment Industry Forum 14 nese American Graduation Committee of Denver, Colorado and, most re- Biju Matthew Talk 14 cently, the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Los Angeles. Heart Mountain Draft Resisters Event 15 Asian American Writers Congress 15 As a consultant for JANM, Professor Hirabayashi has been working on the MA Class of 2007 16 “Discover Nikkei” website project as well as a curriculum project known Subverses 2006 17 Three MA Alums Receive Tenure 18 as “Enduring Communities,” that spans the states of Colorado, Utah, Ari- 2006-2007 Center Scholarships, Prizes 18 zona, New Mexico, and Texas. He has also worked as a consultant with 2006 Department Commencement 19 the Riverside Municipal Museum on the preservation of Riverside’s his- Tritia Toyota Joins Center, Special Projects 19 Marji Lee Appointed Librarian 19 toric Harada House. National Homeownership Study Released 20 Ethnocom Receives Three Grants 20 Professor Hirabayashi’s wife, Marilyn Aquizola, will be

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