THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF THE JACL June 2-15,2017
» PAGE 4 Hundreds gather to honor those incarcerated in Portland during WWII.
» P.AGE 9 The Topaz Museum is set to officially open in July.
WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG #3300 I VOL. 164, No.l0 ISSN: 0030-8579 2 June 2-15, 2017 COMMENTARY PACIFICO CITIZEN REIMAGINE EVERYTHING HOW TO REACH US Email: [email protected] Online: www.pacificcitizen.org Tel: (213) 620·1767 Mail: 123 Ellison S. Onizuka St., THE DELICATE ART OF BRAGGING TO Suite 313 Los Angeles, CA90012 BETTER YOUR JOB STAFF Executive Editor Allison Haramoto By Ron Mori and Kara Baskin for AARP was awesome. It can be small. Maybe Business Manager you nailed an email response to a snarly Susan Yokoyama Our office is going through a major colleague, or maybe you sealed a huge Production Artist Marie Samonte makeover, and in several months, the new deal. Doesn't matter. Keep a written (or open concept design will be my reality. Part Circulation texted, or whatever works for you) log Eva Ting of my new work life isflexible telecommuting of one triumph each day. Review it at options, as we have fewer offices and an open The Pacific Citizen newspaper week's end. You can weave it into future (ISSN: 0030-8579) is published floor concept with huddle rooms. It's also conversations with your boss, use it when semimonthly (except once in almost six months into 2017, so we all know you're writing a self-evaluation for your December and January) by the thai the midyear perfonnance conversations Japanese American Citizens performance review or just use it for a Leagu e, Pacific Citizen, 123 need to take place. If you're like me, the last boost when you're feeling down. Ellison S. Onizuka St. , Suite 313 thing you want to do is pound your chest and Los Angeles, CA 90012 2. Twice a week: Share news about your tell your manager how good you've been. Periodical postage paid at L.A., career on social media. Social media's CA But, as a hard-working Sansei, it's part of 5. Monthly: Meet witb people in your industry very nature is self-serving, so leverage this. POSTMASTER: Send address my DNA to let my work results speak for me. to swap news, gossip and, yes, brag a little. changes to National JACL, 1765 Maybe you're working with a dynamic new That's not the best strategy, so I asked my It helps to let colleagues know what you're up Sutter St., San Francisco, CA client who has a fantastic message to share. 94115 colleague to expand and put into writing tips to. Networking sustains your industry profile Maybe your company just signed a big deal tbat thai we should consider. and can help you land new leads down tbe JACL President: Gary Mayeda made the news. Done well, social media mixes Interim Assistant Executive -RonMori road. Whetber it's a regular coffee date witb Director: Stephanie Nitahara tbought leadership witb quiet self-promotion. a mentor or a formal networking dinner with hen you work at home, you can't Maximize it. You needn't crow about your an industry group, show your face and share P.C. EDITORIAL BOARD Gil Asakawa, chairperson; Jody just pop into your boss' office witb latest raise or new tax bracket (actually, please your expenences. You never know when it will don't), but you can spread newsworthy items to Mitori, MDC; Joy Goto, CCOC; Jim W good news. A casual hlllCh meeting payoff. Duff, NCWNPDC; Chip Larouche, - with a few strategically placed nudges - enhance your image in a diplomatic, useful way. PNWOC; Kayla Watanabe, IDC; 6. Yearly: Get brutally honest about your won't happen organically No, when you work John Saito Jr., PSWOC; Juli 3. Weekly: Schedule recurring check-ins. finances and happiness. Not in a rote, going• Yoshinaga, Youth rep. remotely, you might end up singing your praises If your boss or client doesn't suggest it, you through-the-motions annual review way, but to your coffeemaker or your cat. SUBSCRIBE should initiate. This is a helpful organizatioml in a soul-searching way Are you getting paid Get a one-year subscription of I've telecommuted for nearly a decade, tool, but it's also a built-in opportunity to enough? Do you feel recognized for your efforts the Pacific Citizen newspaper at: interviewing top career experts. Each year, I' ve www.pacificcitizen.org or call discuss goals that you've accomplished in a in whatever way matters to you - whether grown my business (knock on wood). Part of (213) 620-1767 natural, recurring setting. it's money, title or fulfillment? Has tbe past this involves the delicate art of being visible, of ADVERTISE 4. Biweekly: Share your knowledge witb your year been meaningful and nourishing? Think To advertise in the Pacific Citizen, bragging without seeming to. You want to tout supervisor. See an article, Tweet or juicy tidbit about it. Then, refer back to tbat log you've call (213) 620-1767 or e-mail: your accomplishments to further your career - [email protected] tbat your boss might care about? Share itl You'll kept of your accomplishments. Thus buoyed, and you deserve it, like any other worker! - look like a team player, and you'll also show set a meeting with your boss to reflect and, yes, LEGAL without seeming smarmy. I get it, and I cOllllsel No part of this publication may be your boss that you're on top of current trends. maybe brag. It's time. people about this diplomatic dance all tbe time. reproduced without the express Should you bombard him or her witb "helpful" permission of the Pacific Citizen. Here's how to stay top of mind with your boss Editorials, letters, news and the news every day? Of course not. Make a point This guest column was written by opinions expressed by columnists when you work at home. to do tbis every couple of weeks, and fold in Kara Baskin for Ron Mori} co-president of other than the national JACL Keep a written log of one triumph each day president or national director a tie-in to your company's work in the note. the Washington, D.C., JACL chapter and You can weave it into future conversations with do not necessarily reflect JACL This says: I get it. We're on tbe same page - manager of community} stales and national policy. Events and products your boss. advertised in the P.C. do not but I'm also independent enough to work hard affairs multicultural leadership for carry the implicit endorsement of 1. Daily: Jot down something you did tbat witbout checking in. AARP. the JACL or this publication . We reserve the right to edit articles. © 2017 Periodicals paid at Los Angeles, Calif. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• and mailing office. The Pacific Citizen's mission is to "educate on the past Japanese American experience and to preserve, promote and help the current and future AAPI communities." JACL member? [Y] [ill 0 $50 0 $100 0 $150 0 $200 O other If you've moved, Name ...... please send new information to: National JACL Address """'""""""'"""'"'"'"""'"""""'"""'"""""'""'""""""'"""''"'""".""""'" 1765 Sutter SI. San Francisco, CA94115 City '"".""".,."""".""". "",.""'"""".,"' """."""".""".,."""".11 111111.1111111111.1111.11'.11 11 11. (415) 921·5225 exl. 26 State '""'"""'"""""'""""""'"'"""""'""" Zip ""'""'""""'"""""'""""'""""'"""' 2017 Q mf1~i Allow 6 weeks for address changes.
Phone '""""'"'""""""'"""""'""""'"""""'"""'""""'""""'""""""'"""'"""""'"""' ~[P w D[J\JJ~ avoid interruptions in delivery, Email '""'"""""'""""'""""'""'"""""'""""" "'"""'"""""'"""'""""","""'""""'""" CAMPAIGN please notify you r b ostm"st,erto include Pacific Citizen Newspaper odicals in you r 123 Ellison S. Onizuka St. #313 (213) 620-1767 www.PacificCitizen.Org Lellarlae of address e Los Angeles, CA 90012 Form 3575) ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• PACIFIC. CITIZEN COMMENTARY June 2-15, 2017 3 NIKKEI VOICE WHY DO PEOPLE STILL HOLD HATEFUL FEELINGS
FOR JAPAN FROM WWII? Brandon Friedman 0
PHOTOS GILASAKA'NA interviewed by a local TV By Gil Asakawa reporter for my reaction, and the report focused on wasn't surprised that anti-Japanese sentiments were Terry Frei 0 my father, whose name is exp~essed ~hen Takwna Sato, a Japanese driver, won the @TFrel etched on the Nisei War Me• Indiampohs 500 race - he is tbe first driver from Japan I morial, on tbe back where all to take the flag. But I was shocked, and disappointed, tbat Nothing specifically personal, Colorado lAs who served in tbe hateful sentiment was blurted by a jourmlist in Denver, but I am very uncomfortable with tbe US. military, no matter where I live, and that it was someone I had once worked with. a Japanese driver winning the tbe war, are listed after tbey Terry Frei, a veteran sports writer for the Denver Post Indianapolis 500 during Memorial pass away. My dad fought whose main beat was the Colorado Avalanche hockey Day weekend . during tbe Korean War, but he team, tweeted shortly after Sato's historic victory, "Notbing never held on to any animo- specifically persoml, but I am very uncomfortable witb sity toward Koreans, and a Japanese driver winning tbe Indiampolis SOO during he certainly never passed on any negative attitudes about Memorial Day weekend." Koreans to me. The comment sparked a social media furor, and within George After he deleted his tweet, Frei posted a terse message: 24 hours, on Memorial Day, the Denver Post annOllllced that Hisayuki "I apologize," which was followed by a link to an excerpt of Frei no longer worked for the newspaper. Asakawa a book he had written about a college football team from tbe I didn't know Frei well, but I worked witb him when fought in early 1940s, on which his fatber played. His fatber went on I managed the DenverPost.com website. I was bewildered the Korean to fly missions in the Pacific against Japan, and his father's tbat he would post such a blunt, etbnically charged statement. War for the best friend was killed during tbe Battle of Okinawa. In a sub• He deleted tbe tweet, but not before a lot of people copied U.S. Army. sequent explanation, Frei said his research for that book had it and spread it across the Internet. I saw it when a friend made him emotionally connected to Americans who fought forwarded me a link. I criticized Frei for posting it with a against Japan. He had also gone to Fort Logan, Denver's quick post of my own, on Facebook: most highly decorated unit in tbe history of tbe United States military cemetery, to pay respects to his father after he "I worked at the Denver Post, I'm embarrassed to say. military????? What was he tbinking?" posted his tweet. I wonder what my former colleague, Terry Frei, tbought Witbin a few hours, Frei's blunder had made mtional and As it happens, I was at Fort Logan, too, witb my motber about my running the website that featured his sports co• then international news. By the morning of Memorial Day, and my wife, tbe day before to pay respects to my dad at verage? Was he 'very uncomfortable' with me having po• the Denver Post must have felt it had no choice. For the his final resting place. It's a pilgrimage we make every wer over his content? What's his logic for this now-deleted record, I think tbe Post should have punished him but kept Memorial Day weekend with my mom. tweet? What does he feel about Italians, or French drivers, or him on staff and then assigned him to cover the annual I don't think Frei is racist. But I do tbink his tweet came Latino or African-Americans behind the wheel? !fhis objec• commemoration of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, then from someplace deep down in his soul, and that it was an tionis because it's Memorial Day weekend, would he feel the spend a week filing a story a day getting to know tbe people honest statement in that moment. Although it's 72 years same about a German (or Italian) driver winning the race? and culture of Japan. since World War II ended and Japan and tbe US. are now And does he have A NY IDEA about tbe lOOtb I found out about Frei's fate after the annual Japanese very close allies, the thought of a Japanese man in the Battalion!442nd Regimental Combat Team, which fought American Commllllity Memorial Day Service at the spotlight on Memorial Day weekend bugged him. - and died - during WWII and remains to tbis day tbe Nisei War Memorial at Denver's Fairmount Cemetery. I was » See FEEUNGS on page 9 A YONSEI TRANSPLANTED FONDESS, IN SHORT, FOR EVERYTHING I realized we do not remember all, just the very good in great detail every small word and happening. Memory and sometimes the very bad, but never the long stretches is a revisionist, an amnesiac novelist, and it is my suspicion of boredom, tbe flyover country of memory peopled only that memory serves only as a counterpart to the present, a By Matthew Onnseth by frustration, dreariness and the occasional, forgettable reminder that things were not always this way. Memory is t was graduation weekend and campus was swarming victory. also the sensual promise that things can one day return to with misty-eyed alwns, and in their eyes and even I was reminded of a quote from John Steinbeck, who wrote tbe way tbey were. I tbose of tbe newly minted graduates I could see nostal• in "East of Eden": "It is tbe dull eventless times tbat have no As children, we're told to live in the present. It's an gia stealing over their memories, tinging the years spent in duration whatever. A time splashed with interest, wounded impossible request because who we are is who we were. On Itbaca witb fondness and regret and batbing it all in tbat witb tragedy, crevassed witbjoy - tbat's tbe time tbat seems what else can you form an identity, apart from tbe things dusty, gentle light tbat forgives wrinkles and blemishes and long in tbe memory. And tbis is right when you tbink about you've done and tbe places you've lived and tbe people grave missteps. it. Eventlessness has no posts to drape duration on. From you've known and loved? Who we are is also who we want Universities know how to rev the nostalgia generator; nothing to notbing is no time at all." to be - our dreams and hopes are as much of who we are as it is, after all, tbe locomotive behind multimillion-dollar And even as I write this, I know that those times - the anything we hold in tbe present. donations, the key to new libraries and computing labs and eventless times, the empty stretches that lie between me• And so time pulls us simultaneously forward and back; we administrative halls. mories - will gradually be expunged from tbe record, and oscillate between remembrance and dream; and it is difficult Nostalgia requires no break in period; it sets in the moment tbat I'll look back on my four years here witb fondness - not to resent the present when the past seems so comforting you are told you've lost something you will never get back. fondness for the wonder I felt as a freshman, wide-eyed in and tbe future so alluring. Before we had even graduated, my classmates and I were front of Cornell's great halls and booming waterfalls; fond• And where I stand now, on tbe cusp of adultbood's jobs besieged witb entreaties for donations - "$17 from tbe ness for those last, dwindling days when we were aware we and obligations and mortgages but irretrievably beyond tbe Class of '171" - and already my classmates, misty-eyed, were about to lose something all those alwns and desiccated wonder and hope of childhood, is treacherous ground. The were reaching for debit cards and checkbooks. trustees wanted so badly to get back; fondness for nights past beckons, but I cannot step back: It was then that I realized that memory is less a record spent in libraries; fondness for walks to and from class· Matthew Onnseth is a graduate of Cornell University. than a devious and continuously revised palimpsest; then fondness, in short, for everything. , Memory is not the court scribe in the comer, recording He is a Yonsei} a hapa} a Millennial and a journalist. 4 June 2-15, 2017 COMMUNITY PACIFIC tIP CITIZEN 'RETURN & REMEMBRANCE': IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF E.O. 9066 Hundreds gather at the Portland Expo Center to honor the Japanese men, women and children interned at the Portland Assembly Center during World War II.
By HeidiKimiko Tolentino) tone changed. "Hold it, holdit! What is Contributor this? Executive Order 9066? We have 'Return & Remembrance," apilgrim• to leave everything behind? We can age to the Portland Assembly Center only take what we can carry?" Slowly, commemorating the 75th anniver• the actors, now solenm, picked up their sary of Executive Order 9066, washeldatthe suitcases, held the hands of their loved Portland Expo Center on May 6. Sponsored ones and quietly walked down the center (From left) Event by the Ore gall Nikkei Endowment and the aisle, away from Nihonmachi. As they speakers Dale Minami, Portland JACL, the event welcomed more walked, Todd Yuzuriha of the Minidoka Peggy Nagae and than 700people who all returned to honor the Swing Band played a haunting rendition Weston Koyama looks on at Japanese men, women and children interned of "Taps." In the audience, eyes filled artist Chisao there 75 years ago. Portland was declared with tears as survivors remembered Hata's nametag Nakata. Nakata grew the first city on the West Coast to be free of their own walks from Nihonmachi, and oth• rope. up in Portland's Ni• all people of Japanese ancestry during ers imagined their parents, grandparents and honmachi and came World War II. great-grandparents making that painful walk to the Portland Assem• Guests that entered the center had the away from their homes, into the unknown. bly Center as a young opportunity to experience the "Architecture LyIlll Fuchigami, executive director of the Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) greets boy. "Three thousand, of Internment" exhibit by AIllle Galisky and Oregon Nikkei Endowment, and Marleen Lynn Fuchigami (center) and six hundred, seventy• continued the fight Graham Street Productions. The exhibit Wallingford, president of Portland JACL, Marleen Wallingford. six - we came. Young after camp. examines Oregon's role in the decision to then welcomed the audience to "Return and old, Issei, Nisei, Nakata was intern Japanese and Japanese Americans & Remembrance." They both reminded Sansei," he recalled. "We came with only followed by Jim Tsugawa, who was also in• during the war. It was a powerful way for attendees that the day was in honor of all what we could carry, and that wasn't much. terned at the Portland Assembly Center as guests to gain a greater understanding of the of the people affected by EO. 9066, espe• We came with a tag. We committed no crime. a boy. Tsugawa remembered following the impact of EO. 9066 as they walked into the cially those that had to report to the Portland We had no due process. We lost our homes, older kids around camp and becoming their very space that was once used to incarcerate Assembly Center onMay 6, 1942. our friends and our pets. We came." "mascot" as they used sJXlrts as an outlet for Portland's Japanese communi ty. Master of ceremonies David Ono, an Nakata took the audience back to December life behind the barbed-wire enclosure. The program began with upbeat songs anchor for ABC7 Eyewitness News in Los 1941 and recounted stories of Issei men who Oral history interviews by the Densho played by the Minidoka S wing Band, as Angeles, opened with a historical back• were incarcerated. He spoke of Gen. Jo1m L. Project and the Oregon Nikkei Endowment well as a reading by award-winning poet ground. Ono pointed out that Portland was DeWitt, who supported the internment and collection were shown to give the audience Lawson Inada, who presented a piece the first city to have all of i ts Japanese popula• said many times, "AJapis aJap. Doesn'tmat• a broader view of life at the center. Jean entitled "Nihonmachi." As actors in period tion report to an assembly center. To com• terifhe's a citizenornot." DeWitt called Port• Matsumoto, Mabel Shojii Boggs, Alice E outfits wandered the stage, Inada reminded memorate that life-altering event, he asked all land the first"Japfree city on the West Coast. " Sumida, George Katagiri, Shizuko "Suzie" the audience of thriving Japanese businesses of the internees present to stand so that they Nakata also described the living condi• Sakai, Henry "Shig" Sakamoto and Tsuguo in Old Japantown, and actors greeted one could be honored, and in that moment, the tions of the Portland Assembly Center when "Ike" Ikeda were eachfeatured. They spoke of another as they went about their day. true impact of EO. 9066 was apparent to all. they arrived. He recalled that it was a home the food, the recreation, the sickness that so Then suddenly, the music stopped. Inada's The first Internee to speak was George of horse stalls and chicken coops and fly many faced, the constant presence of armed paper hung everywhere. Theylivedin l4x14 guards and the difficult realization that being "rooms" with plywood walls. They slept on interned was wrong. cots with canvas bags filled with hay for a Ono reminded the audience of the ways mattress. When friends "visited," they had to that internees survived such harsh condi• talk through barbed wire. tions. Two such distractions were music and Nakata remembered lining up for every• dancing. Ono explained that the center held thing; there were lines for eating, showering, dances, where young people would gather to using the bathroom. The center had a news• try and gain some sense of normalcy while paper, the Evacuzette, and that was where incarcerated. The Minidoka Swing Band then everyone got the facts. According to Nakata, performed two songs, "Sentimental Journey" there were rumors flying around about what and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, "inmemory would happen next. Minoru Yasui wrote for of the music playedat the center. the E vacuzette,. N aka ta remembered Yasui as Lawson lnada (far right) is pictured with a cast of local actors featured in » See REMEMBRANCE on page 12 his piece "Nihonmachi." "our voice" both during internment and as he
MNHS Recruiting Youth Conservation Corps Members the valley in order to gain a more complete understanding of Owens Valley history and anzanar National Historic Site 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Those selected will summer, the crew included members from the issues facing the protection of these will sponsor a six-weeklong need to provide their own transJXlrtation to Bishop, Independence and Lone Pine, resources in the future. M Youth Conservation Corps pro• work and will be required to have their own so we look forward to seeing this year's Applications may be obtained from gram this summer. Youths 15-18 are en• checking or savings account for payroll applications." the MNHS Visitor Center. The completed couraged to apply, provided they do not direct deposit before they begin. The YCC team will focus on the application must be received at Manzanar reach their 19th birthday before Aug. 4. "We have had Y CC crews since 2002 and preservation of resources associated with no later than June 7. Participants will be YCC team members will work June 26- have given local youth an opJXlrtunity to the confinement of Japanese Americans notified by June 16. Aug. 4, earning the Federal minimum wage learn about American history and to par• during World War II, the Manzanar orchard of $10 per hour. The YCC team will work ticipate in preserving resources associated community and the local Paiute. For more information) contact Facility at MNHS under the supervision of Nation• with this part of the Owens Valley," said The crew will also have opportunities to Manager Jim Baker at (760) 878-2194, al Park Service staff Monday-Friday from Superintendent Bernadette Johnson. "Last visit other historically significant areas in ext. 3337. PACIFIC. CITIZEN NATIONAL June 2-15, 2017 5
changing experience. JOIN WITH OTHER JACLERS TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE In addition to continuing to learn and grow within JACLs supportive CIVIL RIGHTS AT JULY'S NATIONAL CONVENTION environment, I also wanted to join with other JACl.ers on a mission PH OT OS: COJRTESY CF SAMANTHA MJ'II sed what many would see as typical hands on "history" and work on we can all agree on - to continue ~ American cultural norms; however, what eventually became the Smith• to promote and protect civil rights. at home, I was accustomed to cultu• sonian exhibit "Righting a Wrong," One way to show y:mfsllHJOrt for rally Japanese mannerisms but still which is now on display. In fact, JACL is to attend the 2017 JACL felt as if Japan was out of reach. some of my family's artifacts and National Convention in Washing• In 2013, all that changed. I got photoo are featured in this exhibit ton, D.C, this July 6-9. There will the amazing owortunity to study So, it is only natural that I became be an exclusive showing of the abroad for the whole summer in a JACL member, where I am able Smithsonian's "Righting a Wrong" Okinawa. I connected with my cul• to embrace both sides of my identi• exhibit, a private reception at the tural heritage, and this sparked a ty. What better way to combine the Japanese Ambassador's residence renewed interest in all things Japan. two than to be a participant in the and booster activities, including But my connection to Japan is only JACLs Kakehashi Project, which a special docent-Jed tour of the a part of my heritage. I was able to do in January 2016. Samantha Mori (bottom, center) is pictured with fellow National Japanese American Another part is my family's his• The Kakehashi PrQiect comple• Kakehashi Project participants during their trip to Japan Memorial to Patriotism. There will tory in the United States. To learn tely exceeded my expectations as in 2016. Also pictured (center, middle) is Michelle Amano, also be events specifically for youth more about that part, I was for• my understanding of Japan and my JACL vp for general operations. and )oUung professionals. tunate to have the oHJOrtunity to own identity found new depths I In addition to meeting other intern in 2014 at the Smithsonian could not even fathom prior to the By Samantha Mori youth from around the country, National Museum of American trip. :Making wonderful friends interested in Japan, but it often see• there are a couple of other great s a fourth-generation History, where I worked clooely from both America and Japan, med like a faraway land that was reasons to hurry up and register for Japanese American and with artifacts concerning the Japa• experiencing a homestay in the more dream than reality. As a ho• the convention. A second-generation Taiwa• megrown American raised in the nese American story. countryside and immersing my• » 5ee nese American, I've always been Midwest, my public life encompas- I was able to literally put my self in Japanese culture was a life- CONVENTION on page 12
OUR STORY: RESILIENCE, REMEMBRANCE, RESOLVE JACL NATIONAL CONVENTION WASHINGTON DC 2017
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D, ROOSEVELT'S SIGNING OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066
Highlights include: The 48th Japanese American Citizens League A PRIVATE RECEPTION National Convention OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXHIBIT "RIGHTING A WRONG," HIGHLIGHTING THE EXPERIENCE OF JAPANESE July 6-9,2017 AMERICANS DURING WORLD WAR II INCLUDING ORIGINAL PAGES FROM EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066, Omni Shoreham Hotel 2500 Calvert Street, NW AN EXCLUSIVE RECEPTION Washington, DC HOSTED BY THE EMBASSY OF JAPAN AT THE AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE. Register by June 4 to receive the Early Bird discount. Sign up early, the event will sell out. ON PORTRAYALS OF AAPIs IN THE MEDIA AND ARTS AND A WORKSHOP ON IDENTITY, To register or for more infonnation, visit i jad.orgl2017mnvention FEATURING THE PRESENTATION OF THE GOVERNOR RALPH L. CARR AWARD T"Joo"""", A,,.,.,Ooo,C.-. "'''''' ~1Ll} ~ ' ho "'" .., .... ~ .,...A> ~ ' Amo ' _ 00-. ,~ ... "'_"""" ~ ., . u,, " d stotm. T' . J1Ll~. , """,., ,,,,,,,,, ,,",,,,,, ___ "...,,,, 5b ""","" ,,,, FOR COURAGE. "'"" .. ~ ' ho "". ' ~ ... "'J_"""'A_co"'. ", .. o.,... _ . .. vd_"., ..... b .... _ "'. Tho JACl • .., wo ," to ''''''''''" ou .,'.l_''''... . ''' ='" .."", . ", ...... ' ho "",_. ", ~ "' '' . J _"" .. A_'''''''''''''''''' 6 June 2-15,2017 IN-DEPTH PACIFIC II CITIZEN
PftJTO WJRTESY Cf' 'BRONZEVILLE, LITTLE TOKYO' VISUAl. Ca.. ... u-.ICATICNS PI-tJTO: JLlIET wa.G BRO-NZEViuENEWS I r I I I I " . 1 ------
"BRMlEVILlE, Un LE TDKrD" - , -----•....- - ~ -
UtHe Tokyo became home to the multimedia installation "Bronzeville, UtHe Tokyo" in April to remember the moment in history when the space became home to the African-American enclave known as "Bronzeville." Termiual Island in South Los Angeles be• came home to the California Shipbuilding Corp, also known a; CalShip Community Intersections are revisited at the 33rd Los Angeles Asian After the atack 00 Pearl Haroor in Decem• ber 1941, the U.S. shipbuilding industry was Pacific Film Festival. at an all-time high a; defense contractexs wocked in a mad rush to repla:e the dam• By Rob Buscher, Little Tokyo ma1e the pr~ect more persooal hosted a mixed-media perfonnance piece aged ship> of the United States' PacificFleff. Contributor to its staff. Abraham Ferrer, VC staff mem• called ''Memory Bank," which incocpocated With a mpoctunities foc African• E Americans left behind during the "Amoog Veers of a certain
A map from Little Tokyo's '" Sanborn Insurance that · " · : : ~ <'"' - o:- · · "'-"tt't.ii2:;~ '!':' - - 7 !Y''';' '\ii1'."'~ details businesses in the area during the 1940s.
(Top) 01 Nlstonc lirsl Slrrtl lVorlh A family living in * * Bronzeville, , circa 1940s • • (Left) An excerpt , ' > from the ..- __ ... _ ..... -tw Bronzeville• , • MI STDR IC HISM I iii! MUSIC BY TH! BRlSS, Little Tokyo -':S;;U, BUII DIH G BRDHl£V1UE UNION newspaper Jill" DEBUTS TMIS pur REIDIRSS, IRD ICTliITED WIT H for the WEEKEMD MDRE! PRDJECTl DHMA P LAAPFF
Interestingly, Little Tokyo was not the only Said Ferrer, "This internection of Japanese case in which African-Americans began A merican and African-American commu• lot about what L.A. was, what it still is and Asked about his involvement in theprojec~ inhabiting Japantowns during WWII. The nities would play itself out for decades after can be. I'm inspired by the intergenerational Story wrote, "When:Maya Santa> invited me California State Division of Immigration and WWII, when these communities established and multiethnic community here and learned to put together the music for 'Bronzeville, Housing states in its 1943-44 Biennial Re• homes in the nearby Seinan District (what a lot about how geuerations work together, Little Tok)U,' I started reading articles and port, "Negroes are moving into the deserted we know as Crenshaw, at the foot of Baldwin inclusive of a 130-plus-year history yet open listening to music from the period. I hadn't Japtown districts of our metropolitan centers Hills} During the 194(B, [Bronzeville]would to something new. Though it's not easy to heardofBronzeville, butl kuew about WWII in vast numbers, and conditions of sanitation become known as a second hub of African• propooe things people have sometimes never internment I allowed the many facets of are generally JXXlf, and overcrowding is a ma• American culture and society, rivaled only by heard of, I'm in awe at [the neighborhood's] that Japanese/African-American experience jordifficulty.... We havesllCceeded in clean• Central Avenue in South Central L.A." openness that has allowed us to experiment inform my compooing and out came 'The ing out several of the smaller abandoned As to<:lay's social justice campaigns seek in the ways we have." Bronzeville Little Tokyo Suite.' The mem• Japtown districts throughout California, and to build solidarity amongst communities of Much of Santos' work over the past several bers of Bronzeville Union were handpicked through abatement and misdemeanor pra>• color, a reuewed interest in the internectional• yearn has been connected with Little Tokyo. for their professionalism and heavy involve• ecutions, we have had a large number of old ityofthesecommunities has emerged. Bronzeville was the original inspiration for ment with the Los Angeles live music scene. dilapidated frame shacks razed to make way :Maya Santa> is a community organizer, her 2016 project "Interactive Little Tokyo," Coincidentally, pianist :Mark de Clive-Lowe for new buildings." neighborhood advocate and filmmaker who which was featured at the 32nd edition of is half-Japauese, so his involvement provided Sadly, this combination of institutional rac• co-founded FORM follcws FUNCTION. LAAPFF, but she decided to separate the a special element" ism in government policy and gra>s neglect The consortium of artists responsible for this story into smaller strands given its scope Since there are few individuals remain• by a majority of white Japantown property project relied heavily on Santa>' vision as and limited resources. The 2016 portion con• ing who can give a firnthand account of creative director, as well as a nuanced under• cwnern led to a culling of California's many sisted of a VR piece called "Walking With Bronzeville's history, an impressive amount Japantowns from a prewar number of nearly standing of the ueighborhood. Grace" and video map installation "312 of research went into the conceptualization four dozen to just three: La> Angeles, San About her relationship to Little Tokyo, San• Azusa Street," both of which highlighted of this project. Santos wrote, "Because there Francisco and San Jose. tos wrote, ''Having screened my firnt short overlooked Japanese American histories and are so few quality archives of Bronzeville, In subsequent decades, JAs have undertak• film at Union Center and yearn later making local pernpectives within the neighborhood. we knew we needed to create art out of frag• en tremendous efforts to preserve and main• a short doc about how the church became an The success of "Interactive Little Tokyo" ments of history. [Eckly Vajarakitipongse of tain the legacy of these last surviving Japan• arts space, I learned a lot about Little Tokyo helped pave the way for her most recent yaknowlike studia>] came up with the audio towns, pernevering against identity erasure through this one place. I have always been project. Santos wrote, "[We] learued from reactive projection technology and mawed it and gentrification in all three cities. Some• drawn to the history and internectionality the 2016 project that there was a unique out in the space, and I came up with the open how, the internectional histories of JAs and of people of color in Little Tokyo. The resil• intergeuerational interest in VR and his• mic and coined the [':Memory Bank'] name. los~ African-Americans seems to have been ience of community and layern of history is toric site-specific installations that could be Together, it was a success in creatively recon• which is why "Bronzeville, Little Tokyo," is fascinating and inspiring, and I think learn• expanded upon. Our partuernhip with VC textualizing Bronzeville history with the soul so important ing about Little Tokyo as a place tells us a was awesome, and the festival is a great that people brought through their memories." platform, yet there was room for more While "Bronzeville, Little Tokyo" existed collaboration and partnernhip through which for only a brief period of time, itseems fitting other organizations could benefit from being given the fleeting nature of this neighbor• part of this creative endeavor telling more of hood's identity as Bronzeville. Perhaps with Little Tokyo's story." acklitional interest and funding, this proj• Given the significance of jazz during the ect can eventually live in a more permanent Bronzeville yearn, finding the right partuern location. In the meantime, video segments for the closing musical performance was par• recorded during the "Memory Bank" amount to its success. That is why Santa> en• installation will soon be available online, and trusted this role to talented multi-instrumen• the VR piece "Bronzeville, Brass, Jazz" is talist composer and bandleader Dexter Story. accessible via YouTube. Story was a clear choice, having spent much of the last 15 yearn at the epicenter of Visit www.fffmedia.comibronzevillefor L.A.'s popular music culture as a touring jazz more information on the project and www. musician and former marketing director at vconline.orgllatest-newslreleasing-bronze• bass-jazz-into-the-world for instructions Musician Dexter Story Def Jam Records. to watch the VRpiece. 8 June 2-15, 2017 NATIONAL/COMMUNITY PACIFIC. CITIZEN GO FOR BROKE NEC AWARDED CIVIL LIBERTIES GRANT 0' GO FOR BROKE he Go R" Broke Ce",« announced 1fuy Natio.,i19 that Ed""tiO"it has received NAT I0 NAL T a $50,000 grant from the California ::a,~:m~~g~:fm::i,;iV~o~~be'~" ,:~~~~ EDUCATION CENTER Californians of the civil liberties violations suffered by Japanese Americans during World War II. The grant will enable GFBNEC to transcribe a incarceration. series of audiovisual oral histories from its Hanashi "These intensely personal oral histories reflect on Oral History Collection for integration into lesson the hysteria, bigotry and flawed public policy that plans and a public program that will be offered free to forever changed the lives of Japanese Americans during World WarII,"saidMitchellT.1.-hki, GFBNEC's Several members of Congress attended the gala, public schools. president and CEO. "We continue to debate many of including (from /eft) Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Congressman The Hanashi (Japanese for "talk" or "story") Oral these important issues today - national security ver• Mark Takano, Congressman AI Green, Congresswoman History Collection captures the first-hand accounts of sus individual freedoms, the civil liberties of Ameri• Grace Meng, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congresswoman Japanese American veterans of WWII who served in can citizens and the need to protect the rights of in• Stephanie Murphy and Congressman Bobby Scott. segregated military units throughout Europe and the Facific. dividuals from all religious and cultural backgrounds. It represents the nation's largest audiovisual We're grateful for this opportunity, made possible by In Recognition Cory Booker (D-NJ). &veral other collection of Nisei veterans' life histories, with more the California State Library, that will help us educate members of Congress were also in than 1,200 interviews of veterans from the 100th students about the Nisei soldiers' experiences and their of Asian Pacific attendance, including &n. Tammy Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, lasting contributions to our democracy." Duckworth (D-IL) and Repre• Military Intelligence &rviceand related units. The California Civil Liberties Public Education American Heritage sentatives Al Green (TX\ Grace The un ique oral histories recall Nisei soldiers' lives Program, created in 1998, provides support for pro• 1-1eng (NY), Stephanie Murphy jects and activities to ensure that the events surroun• Month, the before the war; the military and combat experience; (FL), Bobby &ott (VA) and 1.-hrk the incarceration of Japanese Americans living on din g the exclusion, forced removal and incarceration of organization honors Takano (0\). the West Coast; and the rebuilding of communities people of Japanese ancestry during WWII will be Tribute was paid to two O\.PAC and neighborhoods following military service and remembered and understood. • those who 'continue members who passed away since the last gala, the fun. Eni Faleo• to politically mavaega and the Hon. 1-1ark Takei. The evening also honored former empower the AAPI APAICS Congressional fellows community' Nisha Ramachandran and Jason Tengco. This year's APAICS Con• WASHINGTON, D.C. - The gressional Fellows are Adi Sathi, Asian Pacific American Institute AnnaByon, Howard Ou, SaifInam for Congressional Studies held its and Tejeswara Reddy. 23rd annual Gala Awams Dinner Awards and recognition were on 1hy 16 during Asian Facific also given to Verizon, recipient American Heritage 11onth. The of the Corporate Achievement event, which was attended by more Award. The Community Leader than 800 guests, was held at the Award was given to Chanchanit Washington Hilton Hotel in the 1-1artorell, executive director of nation's capital. the Thai Community Development The annual event honors Asian Center, a nonprofit organization American and Facific Islander based in Los Angeles. 1furtorell Veterans from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War and other conflicts gathered leaders, both current and pioneers, was recognized for her advocacy for a group photo following the Memorial Day ceremony at the Japanese American as well as "recognizes outstanding work in human rights causes. And National War Memorial Court in Los Angeles' Uttle Tokyo on May 27. The event's keynote individuals and organizations that Randall Park, a popular actor born speaker was Akira Chiba, consul general of Japan in Los Angeles. Master of ceremonies continue to politically empower and raised in Los Angeles, was wasCol. Russell Nakaishi, and guest speaker was David Miyoshi. Helen Otaperformedthe the AAPI community." presented with the Vision Award. national anthem as well as "God Bless America." (Photo: Bacon Sakatanij Elaine Quijano, an anchor for RUK currently stars in the ABC comedy "Fresh Off the Boat." CBSN and correspondent for CBS News in l'kw York City, served as the gala's mistress of ceremonies. Greetings and remarks were also extended by Polaris Tours 2017 Schedule Floyd 1-klri, president and CEO Jun. 18 - Jun. 30 England & VVales & Scotland: "London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh" of APAICS; Susan Jin Davis, APAICS board chair; and Tariq Jul. 02 - Jul. 11 Japan By Train: "Hiroshima, Kurashiki, Okayama, Kyoto, Tokyo" Khan, APAICS Gala Commit• Jul. 10- Jul. 21 Newfoundland & Labrador: "Corner Brook, Rocky Harbour, St. John's" tee chair. Sep. 03 - Sep. 14 Let's Go Hokkaido: "Sapporo, Sounkyo, Shiretoko, Tomamu, Toyako" In addition, Congresswoman Sep. 17 - Sep. 24 Iceland Adventure: "Reykjavik, Borgarnes, Hofn, Lake Jokulsarlon, Vik," Judy Chu, chair of the Congres• sional Asian Facific American APAICS Board Chair Susan Sep. 25 - Oct. 09 Western Explorer: "Scottsdale, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite" Caucus, spoke during the cer• Jin Davis (left) and APAICS Oct. 03 - Oct. 16 Eastern US & Canada Discovery: "Boston, Quebec City, Toronto, NYC" emony, and the fun. :Norman President and CEO Floyd Oct. 15 - Oct. 24 Autumn Japan: "Tokyo, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Hiroshima" Mineta, one of the founders of Mori (second from right) are Oct. 29 - Nov. 08 Islands of Okinawa & Shikoku: "Naha, Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Kochi" APAICS and CAPAC, was III pictured with gala honorees attendance and participated in Randall Park (Vision Award) the program as well. and Chanchanit Martorell ~ Toll Free : (800) 858-2882 PolarisTours www.tourpolaris.(ominfo@tourpolaris .com The keynote speaker was &n. (Community Leader Award). PACIFIC 1ft CITIZEN COMM UNITY /COMM ENTARY June 2-15, 2017 9
PHOTOS COJRTESY IT THE TCf'AZ MUSEU M
ore than 20 years in the making, the Topaz Musewn is set to Mopen officially on July 7-8, with a grand opening celebration that is expected to draw hundreds to the community of Delta, • Utah. Sano of Richmond, Cali!', The museum tells the story of the 11,000 gestures to show where he lived, asa child, people of Japanese descent who were sent in the barracks of Block 35 of the Topaz to the Topaz internment camp near Delta internment camp near Delta, Sano toured during World War Il, unjustly accused of the museum in mid-May, threatening the nation's security. Grand opening events begin July 7, featuring an evening reception, dinner and program at the Sheraton Hotel in Setsuko Ogami (second from right) toured the Topaz Museum's recently More than 110,000 Japanese people living Salt Lake aty. Reservations are required by completed permanent exhibits with her daughter, Nancy Ogami, in mid-May, along the West Coast were forced to move June 26 for the events in Salt Lake aty and Setsuko Ogami, who lives in San Mateo, Cali!', was an internee at the Topaz to inland camps after President Franklin D. Delta. internment camp near Delta, Utah, as a teenager, Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on The featured speaker for the July 8 Feb. 19, 1942. program will be Don Tamaki, an Topaz, located 16 miles northwest of Delta, attorney who was on the appeal team for Visitors to Delta will also be able to watch art exhibit in 2015 The permanent exhibits was one of 10 such camps. It opened on Sept. the play "E.O. 9066" by the San Francisco Fred Korematsu, whose case went to were completed earlier this year. 11, 1942, and by the time it closed on Oct. 31, the US. Supreme Court during the war. troupe Lllllatique Fantastique, as well as tour The daily life of internees is shown in 1945, more than 11,000 people had lived in Franklin Odo, former director of the the musewn. Bus tours of the square-mile re-created barracks inside the gallery, and its tarpaper barracks. Asian Pacific American Program at site of the camp, owned by the musewn, will one-half of a recreational hall from Topaz is be available. No buildings remain on the site. also on display In addition, the museum has The Topaz museum is locmed at 55 W. the Smithsonian Institution and visiting Main St. in Delta} Utah. For more infor• professor at Amherst College, is also The musewn is now open to visitors and 120 pieces of art, most of it created in To• is operating on swnmer hours, which are paz, in its collection, and 25 of them - oils, mation about the grand opening} visit scheduled to speak http://www.topavnuseum.org. To buy tick• The grand opening registration will begin 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday. The charcoals, watercolors and block prints museum's 4,OOO-square-foot gallery are on display at present. ets} visit Eventbrite or call Austin Ashcraft at 9:30 a.m. on July 8 at Delta High School, at (801) 842-9691. with the program begiuning at 10:30 a.m. chronicles the immigration of Japanese Charter buses from Salt Lake aty will people into the US. and their settlement in carry those who order tickets to the Topaz Utah. musewn. The new musewn building was com• pleted in 2014, and it hosted an inaugural
FEELINGS » continued from page 3
In 1947) the grateful but still ravaged City The new element is based on the shoulder of Bruyeres France built near Hill 555 a patch of the 100/442nd RCT. Please simple stone monument in honor of the see the "Torch" element depicted in the Americans ofJapanese descent who in background. With the final design and The Japanese American Community Memorial Day Service at the October 1944 liberated their city from placement approved by the Mayor and Nisei War Memorial at Denver's Fairmount Cemetery the German invaders. This historically City Council) work will be completed for important monument is now showing the the rededication ceremony on October 15) effects of its age) exposure to the weather 2017. You are invited to attend. What's sad is the raw, naked nationalism Terri Frei made a huge mistake as a public and occasional vandalism. Friends and Every penny collected will be used to reflected in his tweet isn't rnrique to Terri figure who should have given a little thought family of the 100th/442nd RCT seek to reimburse the City of Bruyeres on a Frei. It festers with more people than I care before he pressed the "Tweet" button. But renew the monument and add a new progress basis. None of the contributions to think about. 1 know that because 1 wrote he's not the only one out there who thinks memorial element in memory of all those will be used for any personal purpose. about the wave of anti-Japanese social me• the same way. who fought and sacrificed in this heroic We are a third ofthe way to our goal of dia attacks in the days following the March That's the challenge. The problem is much effort -- the 100th/442nd RCT, the 522 $35,000. 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami that de• bigger than Terri Frei. FAB and the 232 ENG. vastated a large swathe of northeast Japan. The most common comment was that the Gil Asakawa is the Editorial Please go to hill555.org and help push us over the finish line. Board Chair for the Pacific Citizen and disaster was God's revenge for Japan's at• Thank you. tack on Pearl Harbor at the start of WWlI, writes a blog at www.nikkeiview.com.Heis as if the US. bombing of Hiroshima and also the author of ((Being Japanese This advertisement paid for by donors to the Hill 555 Project. Nagasaki didn't count as retribution enough. American)} (Stone Bridge Press) 2015). 10 June 2-15, 2017 CALENDAR PACIFICO CITIZEN
Medal of Honor, who was killed of the first Japanese American Ramada Inn in service during World War II. farm labor camp. A number of 2216 W. Landis Ave. Munemori is an Abraham Lincoln documents from Ontario can also Price: Early bird registration $50 HS alumnus who graduated in be seen in the exhibit. until June 28 1940. Help support this effort by Inlo: Call (541) 889-8191. Join the Seabrook JACL chapter purchasing tickets to this concert, at its annual awards banquet, which is being presented by where the chapter will com• also includes appearances and Ishibashi Entertainment Group. CCDC memorate its 70th anniversary performances by G Yamazawa, Inlo: To purchase tickets, visit and celebrate city's rich history, National Trace Repeat, San Jose Taiko and www.purplepass.comlishibashi Lantern Making Workshop where more than 2,500 Japanese much more. or call (800) 316-8559. Please use Fresno, CA Americans relocated to start new 2017 JACL National Convention Inlo: Visit www.soyandtolu code LHS. June 23 and 24; 1:30-4 p.m. Fri. lives following the end of World Washington, D,C, lesl.org. and 9:30 a.m.-Noon Sal. War II. The Hon. Norman Mineta July 6-9 Calilornia State University, Fresno will receive the inaugural John Dmni Shoreham Hotel MDC Henry Madden Library Fuyuume Citizenship Award and 2500 Calvert SI. N,W, 5200 Barton Ave. John Seabrook, author and writer Come join JACL as it hosts its PSW Twin Cities JACL Afternoon at Price: $28; registration limited to for New Yorker magazine, will also 48th annual National Convention, 'Growing Up Sansei' '365 Days/365 Plays' 12 each class, sign up by June 16 be a featured guest speaker. "OurStory: Resilience, Oxnard,CA June 11; 2-4 p.m. (Show runs Irom Shining a light on remembrance, Inlo: To register and support Remembrance, Resolve." The June 17; 1:30-4:30 p.m. May 26-June 11) join artist Judy Shintani as she this event, visit http://www. convention's opening reception Oxnard Buddhist Temple SI. Paul, MN guides participants in this lantern seabrookeducation.org/. will feature an exclusive viewing 250 S. H SI. Penumbra Theater workshop focused around of the Smithsonian's "Righting a Price: Donation $15 270 N. Kent SI. celebration and the remembrance FOR Library's Images 01 Wrong" exhibit, commemorating "Growing Up Sansei" is a commu• Price: $10 each (regular price $25; of loved ones. It is open to Internment Exhibition the 75th anniversary of Executive nity event and dialogue about Jap• seniors/students $1 0) adults and children (10+ with Hyde Park, NY Order 9066." anese American upbringing. The Full Circle Theater artistic co• parental supervision), and no Thru Dec. 31 Inlo: Visit https://jacl. event is presented by the Ventura directors and JACL members prior art experience is necessary. FOR Presidential Library & orgI2017convention/. County JACL in partnership with Rick Shiomi and Martha B. Participants can also bring photos Museum the Grateful Crane Ensemble. Johnson invite JACL members (not larger than 3.5x3") to place on 4079 Albany Post Road "GUS" combines a live play read• to enjoy a matinee performance the lanterns. Price: Regular hours and NCWNP ing and a community dialogue!Q of "365 Days/365 Plays," which Inlo: Visit www.judyshintani.com admission apply. &A session facilitated by Satsuki intertwines 46 short plays or email [email protected]. This exhibit provides a visual Eden Bazaar 2017 Ina, a Northern California-based selected from Suzan-Lori Parks' record of the forced removal of San Lorenzo, CA psychotherapist who specializes original playas viewed through Japanese Americans during WWII June 10 and 11; 3-8 p.m. Sal. and in cross-cultural counseling and a 2017 lens. The play addresses EDC and displays morethan 200 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun. trauma. past and current issues using photographs by WRA photog• Eden Japanese Community Center Inlo: Email venturacountyjacl@ a racially mixed Mikio Yoshimura: 'Japan and the raphers Dorothea Lange, Clem 710 Elgin SI. hotmail.com or call cast playing multiple roles. Red Sox, a View From Inside' Albers, Francis Stewart and Come and support this year's (805) 469-5487. Postplay discussions follow Boston, MA Hikaru Iwasaki from the National Eden Bazaar, as the weekend every performance. June 13; Noon-l p.m. Archives. The exhibition also will be filled with delicious food 'Hold These Truths' by Inlo: Visit www. Japan Society 01 Boston features photographs taken by such as chicken and rib dinners, Jeanne Sakata lullcircletheatermn.org or call Meridian Room Ansel Adams at Manzanar and a udon, sushi, curry, shave ice, corn, Pasadena,CA (800) 838-3006. To reserve 50 Milk SI., 5th Floor selection of photos from the chicken salad and spam musubi, Thru June 25 tickets, use "JACL" code Japan Society of Boston presents WSU George and Frank C. as well as raffle drawings, Bingo Pasadena Playhouse lor online reservations at a Brown Bag Luncheon featuring Hirahara photo collection of and games. It promises to be 39 S. EI Molino Ave. www.365days365plays.bpl.me Mikio Yoshimura, Asian business Heart Mountain. a weekend offun forthe whole Produced in association with East or contact Cheryl Hirata-Dulas development specialist forthe Inlo: Visit https:/IIdrlibrary.org/ family. West Players, this play, directed at (952) 925-2429 or dulas001@ Boston Red Sox, who will share exhibitions or call (800) FOR-VISIT. Inlo: Contact Pam Honda at by Jessica Kubzansky and written msn.com by June 6. JACL discount stories about how the Red Sox (510) 676-3820 or Ed Oda at by Jeanne Sakata, follows the true applies to all shows. and Fenway have worked with (510) 538-6380. story of civil rights hero Gordan Japan overtheyears. Mikio has ADVERTISE HERE Hirabayashi. been with the baseball organiza• AARP Senior Driving Inlo: Visit pasadenaplayhouse.org PNW tion since 2007. Bring your lunch Events in the calendar section Relresher Course or call (626) 356-7529. and join in on the conversation. are listed based on space San Francisco, CA 'New Years All Year Round' Inlo: To register, visit http:// availability. Place a 'Spotlight' June 15; 1-5 p.m. Miso Made Easy Seattle, WA www.japansocietyboston.org/ JCCCNC ad with photos of your event Los Angeles, CA ThruJune 18 event-2550095. for maximum exposure. 1840 Sutter SI. June25; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wing Luke Museum Price: $15 JCCCNC/AARP Japanese American Cultural & 719 S. King SI. Seabrook JACL 70th Anniversary FOR MORE INFO: Members; $20 general public; Community Center Asian Pacific Islander Americans Banquet [email protected] limited to 16 students come from many communities, Vineland, N.J. Garden Room (213) 620-1767 This seminar, presented by 244 S. San Pedro SI. each with its own New Year's July 16; 12:30 p.m. JCCCNC and AARP, is AARP's Price: Demonstration $20 (10-11 celebration. Come see featured Smart Driver Course for drivers a.m.); Hands-On Class $95 (1-3 celebrations from the Chinese, age 50+. This four-hour class is for p.m.) Laotian and Polynesian American those who have already taken the In this class, a collaboration communities, along with the Please come to the reading eight-hour class and are in need between the JACCC and the Indian American Festival of Lights. and discussion 01 of updating their certificate (every Institute of Domestic Technology, Inlo: Visit www.wingluke.org. three years). Graduates may be participants will learn howto make Garage Door Opener: able to qualify for a discount on miso, as well as a simple dashi Soji Kashiwagi's play about auto insurance. stock from scratch. Join Instructor IDC a dyslunctional JA lamily Inlo: Contact Matt Okada, director Yoko Lamn, a County of Los 01 programs, at (415) 567-5505. Angeles Certified Master Food Architecture 01 Japanese Sansei baby boomers dread Preserver and instructor at the Internment: Oregon Exhibit going through deceased Seventh Annual Northern Institute of Domestic Technology. Ontario, OR Calilornia Soy and Tolu Festival Inlo: Tickets are available at ThruJuly27 parents' garage! San Francisco, CA www.jaccc.org. Harano Gallery June 17; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Four Rivers Cultural Center Saturday, June 17, 2017 The Event Center at SI. Mary's The Stonebridge Rhythm and 676 S.W. Fifth Ave. Cathedral Blues Fest Price: Free 1 :30pm - 4:30pm 1111 Gough SI. (at Geary Redondo Beach, CA This traveling exhibit explores how Boulevard) July 23 Oregonians participated in the Oxnard Buddhist Temple Social Hall Price: $10 advance purchasel$15 Redondo Beach Perlorming decision to incarcerate Japanese 250 South H Street, Oxnard at the door (Buy three, get one Iree) Arts Center Americans and Japanese This exciting culinary and cultural 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. immigrants during World event showcases soy and tofu Tickets: From $35 Warll. This inaugural After the reading, Dr. Satsuki Ina will facilitate vendors, free samples, cooking This concert proudly supports the exhibit shows the opinions demonstrations, live music, Medal of Honor Memorial, which leading up to the incarceration, dialogue about the play. cultural entertainment, interactive will be placed at Abraham Lincoln 1941-42, with letters, resolutions, Donation: $15 (reading and discussion) games, tofu-eating contests High School to honor Sadao blueprints, photos and archival and the Soy and Tofu Dessert Munemori, a U.S. Army soldier documents from across Oregon. Reserve seat now: [email protected] Competition. This year's lineup and posthumous recipient ofthe Malheur County was the site 805-469-5487 PACIFIC. CITIZEN OBITUARIES June 2-15, 2017 11
Kuwada; sisters, Helen (Steve) Robert, Susan (Danny) and Fran• Palley; gc: 1. Sako and Esther Sakata; she is ces (Yoshito); uncle, Masato; "MEMORIAM also survived by nieces, nephews aunts, Chiyome, Georgia and Paul, Tomiko Sato, 98, Morgan and other relatives; gc: 1. Nancy; several cousins. Hill, CA; May 3; she is survived by her daughter, Kathi; son-in• Aizawa, Arney, 94, San Francis• Ito, Philip Noel, 71, Pasadena, Kobata, Haruko, 101, Tustin, CA; Mayeno, James 'Jim' Minoru, law, Don; sister, Hisako Ohno; a co, CA; April 23; she is survived CA; May 17; he is survived by his by her siblings, Lily Kuwamoto, May 16; she is survived by her 91 , April 30; during WWII, he was nephew; gc: 3. ""';fe, Barbara; daughters, Les• children, Roger (Grace) Kobata, incarcerated atthe Minidoka WRA Elaine Higashi and Katsumi (Bon• lie (Steven Wong) and Noelle Sharon (Charles) Wakamoto and Center in Idaho and later served Shimazu, Bertha Yoneko, 89, nie) Yamane; she is also survived (Cliff Okada) Ito; sister, Patty Ito Linda (Gary) Yamauchi; siblings, in the MIS during the occupation Torrance, CA; May 24; she is by many nieces, nephews, grand• Nagano; he is also survived by Aiko Wada and Sumifusa (Kiyo of Japan; he is survived by his survived by her children, Robert nieces and grandnepheW'S. several nieces, nephews and Anne) Fujimoto; she is also sur• ""';fe, Mary; children, John (Shari), (Esther) Shimazu and Carol other relatives; gc: 3. Azuma, George, 88, Los vived by nieces, nephews and Susan Kaeka (Alika) and Glen Shimazu; she is also survived other relatives; gc: 7; ggc: 16. (Sarah Davis); siblings, Art, by several nieces, nephews and Angeles, CA; May 5; he is sur• Ishimitsu, Yoshiko (Yo), 85, vived by his children, Cynthia Dorothy and Nancy; gc: 4. other relatives; gc: 2; ggc: 2. Seattle, WA; May 17; she was pre• Matsumiya, Tomiye, 92, (Lee) Knight, Fredrick Azuma, deceased by her husband, Kiyo; Culver City, CA; May17; sheis sur• McLaughlin, Toshiko 'Lola,' 83, Tamaki, Mary Akiko, 91 , Vale, Julia Azuma and Carole (Natsu• she is survived by her children, vived by her children, Don (Yayoi) Lodi, CA; May23; she was prede• OR; May 16; she was prede• chika)Aboshi; he is also survived Steve (Diane), Gayle (Ricky) Matsumiya, Terry Matsumiya, Su• ceased by her husband, Richard; ceased by her husband, "Sonny" by many nieces, nephews and Taira, Roger (Laynette) and Carol zanne (James Allen) Matsumiya; children, Linda Wolfe and James Yoshio Takami and son, Wayne; other relatives; gc: 5. (Fred) Demise; gc: 7. sister, Sumie Dohara; she is also (Marlene); gc: 3. she is survived by her daugh• survived by nieces, nephews and ters, Janet (Steve) Koda, Janis Chow, Jeffrey W., 85, Hacienda Kanai, Noritoshi, 94, Los Ange• other relatives; gc: 2. Mulholland, Machiko, 78, Sara• (James) Couey and Carol (Roger) Heights, CA; May 18; he is sur• les, CA;ApriI22; he is survived by toga, CA; May 23; she is survived Tolman; siblings, Robert Ouchida vived by his Vvife, Sarah; children, his ""';fe, Fusako; children, Scott Matsuoka, Paul, 82, Culver City, byherhusband, Fred. and Rosie Kuroye; she is also Gary (Margo) Shan, Alvin (Linda) Hiroto (Taeko) Kanai and Atsuko CA; May 13; he is survived by his survived by many nephews and Shan and Joanne (Glenn) Itagaki; Kanai; gc: 3. gc: 6; ggc: 2. ""';fe, Jane; children, Myles Riki Naganuma, George, 87, San nieces; gc: 6; ggc: 4. (Akemi) Matsuoka and Donna Francisco, CA; May 21; dur• Kamida, Robert Eiichi 'Bob,' 96, Matsuoka; sister, Mae Fukunaga; ing \/\.WII, he was incarcerated Tsujimoto, Ernest Kiyoshi, Furuta, Carl Kenichi, 83, Portland, OR; May 24; he is sur• he is also survived by nieces, at the Gila River WRA Center in 82, Torrance, CA; May 10; he Manhattan Beach, CA; April 26; vived byhis""';fe, Setsuko; daugh• nephews and cousins; gc: 2. Ariz.; he is survived by his ""';fe, is survived by his ""';fe, Jeanne he is survived by his ""';fe, Sally; ter, Kathy Fuerstenau; gc: 2. son, Ken; he is also survived by Mary; children, Gary (Debbie), Michiko Tsujimoto; children, Craig Matsutani, Hatsuko 'Hatsie,' 92, Richard (Maureen) and Kenneth Tsujimoto and Kim Kiyoko (Kevin many nieces, nephews and other Kashiwabara, Jean Kazue, 74, relatives. Walnut Creek, CA; May 9; she (Suzanne), Kathleen and Clau• Hamer) Tsujimoto; gc: 2. San Gabriel, CA; May 8; she is was predeceased by her hus• dine (Joel); stepchildren, Glenn survived by her husband, Shuji band, George. (Karen), Judith and Ruth (Ken); Yamamoto, James Isamu, Hirose, Hatsumi, 73, Grapevine, Kashiwabara; daughters, Cindy sister, Jean Shigematsu; gc: 6; Sacramento, CA; May 4; he is TX; May 13; she is survived byher and Jessica Kashiwabara; she is Martinez, Louise Hanako, step-gc: 4. survived by his ""';fe, Suzie; daughter, Tina (Michael) BroVvTl; also survived by nieces, a nephew 70, Sacramento, CA; April 15; daughter, Sasha Yamamoto; sib• Mas Fujinami, Paul Fujinami, Don and other relatives. Fujinami and Fujiko Fujinami; she she was predeceased by her Nishimoto, Yoshio, 84, Los An• lings, Ann Goto, Fusako Nakano husband, Felix, and step-son, geles, CA; May 1; he is survived and Katsumi Yamamoto; he is is also survived by several nieces, Kuwada, June Itsuko, 96, Albert; she is survived by her byhis""';fe, Yoshiko; sons, Rei and also survived by several nephews a nephew and other relatives; Granada Hills, CA;ApriI26; she is mother, Yoshiko Marion; siblings, Dan; daughter-in-law, Barbara and nieces. • gc: 2. survived by her son, Kevin (Mary) TRIBUTE lRlBUTE PLACE A TRIBUTE GEORGE TORU HIGASHI RALPH SUGIMOTO, JR, 'In Memoriam' is a free Ralph Sugimoto, Jr., 75, IMlS born on Nov. listing that appears on a George Toru Higashi, 91, of Salinas passed 12,1941, in Sacramento, Calif. He IMlsthe limited, space-available basis. alMlyon May 17, 2017. He was born on June son of Ralph Takao Sr. and Elizabeth Yoshi• Tributes honor your loved 17, 1925, in InglelM)od, Galif., to Iso and ko SUgimoto. After oo.ttling with pancreatic ones with text and photos and Gozaemon Higashi. cancer for nearly two years, Ralph passed appear in a timel y manner at Son of Japanese immigrants, George be• alMlY peacefUlly on May 25. He is survived the rate of $2O/column inch. gan a long career in the agricultural busi• by his wife of 50 years, Pearl; dau!jlter, Contact: ness in InglelM)od, Calif. Under Executive Stefanie Abdelnour; and her three children, [email protected] Order 9066, the farrily moved to Brighton, Kyle, Kevin and Kyra; and son, Douglas, or call (213) 620-1767 Colo., where they continued farming during and daughter-in-la~ Isabelle, and their three World War II. In 1949, the family set roots in children, Madeline, Mason and Marie. the Salinas Valley, where they began farming 38 acres on Garr Lake, Shortly after birth, Ralph was relocated along with his family to the George's final residence. George spent over 70 years in the agricultural Amache internment camp in southeastern Colorado. After the IMlr, his business, farming in Inglewood, Calif., Brighton, Colo., the San Joaquin family returned to Walnut Grove, Galif., Vutlere Ralph attended Court• Valley and throughout the Salinas Valley. In 2001, he was recDglized land High School and was an active mermer of the Walnut Grove Bud• by the United States Department of Agriculture for his contributions to ~ KUBOTA NIKKEI dhist Church. He graduated from Galifornia State University, Sacra• '0" J,lOR'I1JARY American Agriculture. mento, in 1963 with a degree in accounting, then began working forthe George enjoyed traveling all over the IM)rld - often visiting places Office of the Auditor General. From 1964-66, he served with the U.S. ~g:/mML~"'f<> more than once, growing his own summer garden and spending time Army, attaining the rank of Sergeant (E-5). He joined the accounting u..,MI ..... LII!IVlI<. "' 1!I.1Ii::!'..rT""'~"T'" T _ with his grandchildren. George IMlS a board member of the Salinas firm of Pfanner & Tate in 1974 and became a partner shortly thereafter; Valley Japanese American Citizens League and Yamato Cemetery. He in 1989, he joined the original partners of Pfanner & Tate as a found• T (2 13)749-1449 was also a supporter of many organizations, including the Japanese ing member of the accounting firm of Tate, Propp, Beggs & SUgimoto F (2 13)749·0265 American National Museum, National Japanese American Memorial (tpbs, LLP). Ralph served tirelessly as an officer and director of many 91 1 V ~J REMEMBRANCE » continued from page 4 community will never happen again to CONVENTION» anyone. The event's keynote speaker, Dale many Japanese Americans faced to find The program came to a close with the continued from page 5 Minami, was introduced by Peggy Nagae. their place in a society that often asks "Remember Us" processional Chisao Nagae worked alongside :Minami duriog them, ''Where are you from?" Hata, a Portland artist, art teacher the long fight to overturn the cases of To find his own place, Koyama worked and performer, created a tag project Fred Korematsn, Gomon Hirabayasbi with the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center in memory of all the internees at the and Yasui that upheld E.O. 9066. to look into hi<> fam ily history. He found Fbrtland Assembly Center. Hata was For Minami, his work was not just 100 letters that were written by his inspired by the African saying that as about winning in court, but also about grandfather and grandmother while in Ioug as someone's name is mentioned, educating the public. During the original camp; these letters gave him insight into they will always be here. cases of Korematsn, Hirabayashi and their experiences during a tnmultuous To remember the name of eac h in ternee, Yaso~ government lawyem lied to the time. Hata spent hundreds of hours on the Supreme Court. People like Gen. DeWitt Through his research , Koyama project and held events throughout the falsified information to make it seem as discovered that out of tragedy, great city where community members wrote though people of Japanese descent living things can happen. A fter camp, people the names a nd family numbers of each in America perpetrated acts of sabotage like Yasui continued to fi ght injustice internee on a tag, similar to those given and espionage against the U.S ., when and became inspirational fo r young law to internees when they arrived at the in fact, no s uch acts ever occurred. The students like Koyama. In fact, Koyama's ceute[ Each lag was tied to a rope and overturning of the original decisions in research into his past brought him to the displayed as an art piece. these cases brought light to what truly realization that Nikkei people do not The entire rope was carried down the transpired. need to be defined by oppression, b ut aisle, accompanied by Unit Sonzou, one Minami recounted the preparation it lather by pride in the resiliency and hope of Portland's premier taiko companies. Fir.;t, the discounted early bin:! registJation deadline took to retry these th ree cases, how be they carry for their futo reo The rope spanned the entire length of the is June 4. Second, room rates at the Omni Shoreham convinced Yasui that the dec i<>ion conld Other promi nent g uests at the event stage as a reminder of the 3,676 people Hotel have been cut to an incredibly low rate of $1101 be overturned and hi<> realization abont included Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), who were forcib ly removed from their nig ht This is an exceptionally low price, especially for how CO Ula geous these three individuals who reminded the a udience that he i<> homes and interned in the very place a four-star hotel that has been ranked by US. News as were to stand up to and speak out fig htin g alou gside the JapaneseAmerican where the audience was gathered. oneofthe besthoteh in Washington, D.C against EO. 9066. He then reminded the community to make sure that atrocities As actor Heath Hy nn Houghton read I look fo rward to welcoming and seeing yon all aud ience that descent does not make one like the internment never happen again. A the final words that Yasui wrote in the in Washington, D.C! To regi<>ter, visit https:lljacl. non patriotic. representative from Sen. Jeff ~ rlde y's Evacuzette, ''Rtith in Conviction," the orgn 0l7conventioni. "We have a moral obligation to speak (D-OR) office read a letter from the rope stayed onstage as a remiuderof each out for the rights of a ll people," Minami seuator in honor of the day. And Tom internee. Aud with the resonance of the Samantha Mori is a third-year student at the said. Hughes, president of ~tro , read the taiko drums, the presence of those 3, 676 Uni,'ersity of Virginia, member of the jACL D.C. Weston Koyama, the filSt Minoru Yasui fo rmal apology to the Internees written men, women and children whose lives Chapter, a january 2016 KakehashiParticipant and Fellow, followed Minami's keynote by Gov. Kate Browu. The proclamation were forever altered on 11ay 6, 1942, current staff member of the 2017 jACL Convention speech. Koyama spoke of the struggles stated that what happened to the Japanese filled the space. • Committee Uyou LIVING TRUSTS don' already STACI Y AMASIllTA-ImA have II, ATIORNEY-AT-LAW gellhe besl • M EDI-CAL PLANNING plallnum • WILLS & TRUST • PROBATE VISA • P OWERS OF A TTORNEY Card! • CONSERVATORSHIP O FFICE L OCATIONS: 9.9% APR Axed Rate T ORRANCE NO Annual Fee Los ANGELES (LAX) P ASADENA With Reward Points E NCINO More Serure Chip Card F OUNTAIN V ALLEY JuckI MalJunaga S AN D IEGO Sloel YOlflo.hlto-li