A Survivor's Tale Solly Ganor survived the Holocaust beGause of a Japanese diplomat and a JA 522nd soldier.

NATIONAL NEWS PAGE 3

15 China the Japan of the 19805? Buying Japantowns Xenophobia and 'Made in the U.S.A.'? is a Boo",ing Business This all sounds dangerously familiar.

By LYNDA LIN Assistant Editor

A poisonous Dora the Explorer. A lead-laden SpongeBob SquarePants address book:. Even Thomas the Train's friendly face turned sinister. Almost overnight, these beloved children's characters changed into nightmarish predators with tainted exteriors and DANGEROUS: News' of the toy recalls, including 3D Investments ubiquitous "Made in China" labels. Thomas the Train (above) has set the mood for now owns key This was the summer of product recalls and it anti-Chinese sentiment. landmarks in seemed no one was safe - not you, your kids or your "Yes, I have to admit we bought into the hysteria a two out of three pets. bit," she said. "I now won't buy any foods prepared and of the last U.S. Like most Americans, Stefania Pomponi Butler packaged in China." Japantowns. couldn't ignore the unsettling news about dangerous Butler isn't alone. Eighty-two percent of Americans China-made products. The Silicon Valley, Calif. moth- · polled by Zogby International in August said they are By LYNDA LIN er of two did not have any of the recalled toys in her concerned about purchasing goods from China and Assistant Editor home, but she decided to toss out the kids' China-made over 60 percent' of American consumers said they plastic dishware and replace it with glass items made in would swear off Chinese goods. a different country. The country known as the land of the sleeping drag• Los Angeles' Little Tokyo didn't see it coming. In the afterglow of Nisei In April, after a China-made wheat gluten identified on has long been criticized for its political and human Week festivities, community members were blindsided by news of the sale in pet food caused the deaths of at least a dozen U.S. pet rights related issues, but the barrage of news about of two of its key landmarks to 3D Investments. cats and dogs, Butler tossed out a bag of frozen tainted products has created a more malicious kind of Yes. The same 3D Investments that snatched up two hotels last year in San edamame from China. Francisco' Japantown, now owns Little Tokyo's New Otani Hotel and backlash - and See CHINA-BASHINGIPage 11 Weller Court. The sale, which closed Aug. 17, was shrouded in secrecy and set tongues wagging about the intent of the private Beverly Hills, Calif.• National JACL Board Strengthens ~upport for Watada based real estate developer. A sale of any business in Little Tokyo is noteworthy for the tight-knit com• After much debate within the organization, the board issues With Watada's second court mar• ,munity, but in the last two years 3D has staked claim of two of the last three a statement calling for a fair and impartial trial and ~in­ tial on charges of missing troop historic Japantowns in the United States. forces Watada's right to be protected from double jeopardy. movement and conduct unbecoming Is 3D in the Japantown business? an officer set for October, communi• In the immediate aftermath of the sale going public, both 3D and the sell• By CAROLINE AOYAGI-STOM the current Iraq War - in person. ty activists and civil rights attorneys er, East West Development Corp., remained secretive about the details. The Executive Editor It was the first time Mori had met spoke out in support of the resolution sale price has not been disclosed and the new owners have remained tight• the 29-year-old Japanese American brought to the table by the NCWNP lipped about their intentions. Even local elected offipials were left in the dark. SAN FRANCISCO-For two with the notorious distinc• "Right now, I don't even know what their phone number is yet," said Los and a half hours over a lunch of tion of being the first Anny Angeles Councilwoman Jan Perry about 3D's difficult to find contact infor• curry Floyd' Mori, JACL's national officer to refuse deploy• mation. She wants to talk to them because they.are moving into her district. director, got a chance to hear about ment to Iraq. "I think the developers need to be respectful of the community's concern," 1st Lt. Ehren Watada's upcoming "I respect the process he East West Development is bound by a confidentiality agreement, said its court martial and why he's against went through, the conclu• president Takashi Ito exclusively to the Pacific Citizen. sion he came to -;- a per• 'They didn't want the closing of the deal to be delayed because of com• ~ ;I sonal, moral decision that munity uproar," Ito said about 3D. ~ n took courage to do so," ~ - said Mori. "He is a forth- National JACL board members discuss the ~ ... Taking Action ;-<- right, intelligent, sound Ehren Watada resolution on Aug. 18. East West was not planning to sell the New Otani or Weller Court, said Ito. 'Cnn.... person of integrity." The company has 'spent a lot of money renovating the landmarks in the last :n Mori's impressions of Watada set district. ~- few years. ~-t the tone for the Aug. 18 national 0_ "Look to the heart of the resolu• 3D contacted East West and made them an offer they could not refuse. JACL board meeting where board tion," urged Andy Noguchi, ;'N The private Beverly Hills company is making plans to meet with commu• ~I"II members were once again asked to NCWNP civil rights co-chair. ~Z nity leaders gradually and plans to make an announcement later this month, !!' increase their support for the first After a lengthy debate, which o said Ito. J> lieutenant, this time focusing on the included two time extensions, a CD 'They are not going to change any concept. They value Japanese culture. C> issue of double jeopardy, a fifth ~ They are not a company interested in N amendment right. See WATADAlPage 2 See LITTLE TOKYOIPage 12

Decathlete Bryan Clay O&A with 'Tie a Yellow 'Partnerships, withdraws from the Ribbon' filmmaker Joy Perspective, and Policy: World Championships Dietrich ~'POR"S I'AGE 10 . ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 9 FULL COVERFort Lewis where Watada currently serves in an administrative She asked the current national board to do the same. 'This statement Ozaki, EDC; Lisa Hanasono, MDC; position - told her to vote down any resolution calling for increased Kathy Ishimoto, CCDC; Nelson Nagai, calls for justice for Lieutenant Watada." NCWNPDC; Sheldon Arakaki, support for the officer. Last July in response to the community's call for JACL to take a PNWDC; Larry Grant, IDC; Ted . "We have a lot of fonner military people living in the PNW, since position on the Watada controversy, then national director John Tateishi Namba, PSWDC; Naomi Oren, Youth. Fort Lewis and Bremerton are here in Washington. The message I get issued a statement of concern over some of the charges he currently r------~------, from them is that Watada was wrong to not deploy when ordered to, faces. NEWS/AD DEADLINE: FRIDAY and as an officer of the U.S. Anny, had a duty to go," she said. 'They Ever since the statement was issued, some JACL chapters and mem• BEFORE DATE OF ISSUE. . Editorials, news and the opinions feel he must face the consequences of his decision, and· that the Anny's bers have pushed for a stronger show of support for Watada including expressed by columnists other than the fonn of trial will be fair and just." the Watsonville-Santa Cruz chapter. It was this chapter that urged the national JACL president or national The original resolution - which included stronger wording and a NCWNP district to bring the resolution to the national board's atten• director do not necessarily reflect JACL policy. Events and products advertised call for JACL to write letters to the courts - did not sit well with some tion. In the Pac/He CHizen do not carry the of the national board members. ''Today we are at a crossroads. What kind of organization are we implicit endorsement of the JACL or 'There are several things that 'trouble me about this resOlution," said going to be?" said Mas Hashimoto, of the Watsonville-Santa Cruz this publication. We reserve the right to edit articles. Kristine Minami, EDC governor and an attorney. 'This is military law. chapter. "We need to take a stand, a finn and dedicated stand." It is inappropriate to try to sway a judge's decision in any way. JACL Alan Nishi, NCWNP governor, echoed the same sentiments: "We ------~ was not there." PACIFIC CmZEN(ISSN: 0030-8579) is should take a more solid stance than we have in the past." published semi-monthly except once in But in the end, a diluted version of the original resolution seemed to December and January by the Japanese satisfy the majority of the national board. Double Jeopardy American Citizens League, 250 E. First On Oct. 9 Watada is scheduled to head back to court for a second Street, Ste. 301, Los Angeles, CA. 90012 A Civil Rights Issue trial. At his original court martial the judge declared a mistrial. If con• OFFICE HOURS - Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 "['The JACL's] role to me as a Japanese American is to be a voice ... p.m. Pacific Time. ©2007. victed of all charges, Watada faces up to seven years in jail. for civil rights. To stand up for what's right." Watada's attorneys are currently arguing that a second court martial Annual subscription rates: NON- As a member of the renowned coram nobis legal team, Karen Kai MEMBERS: 1 year-$40, payable in constitutes double jeopardy, a fifth amendment right that protects indi• advance. Additional foreign postage per brought a lot of credibility to the national board debate on the Watada viduals from being charged with the same crime twice. year (1st class) - Canada and Mexico resolution. She reminded them that when she and her fellow attorneys "Double jeopardy is an important constitutional right to protect all $30, Japan and overseas $55. First class U.S. $20. Periodicals postage paid at Los citizens from oppression. This is the issue presented here," said Robert Angeles, Calif. Rusky, who with Kai was a part of the coram nobis legal team. Permission: No part of this publication The JACL national board has already begun to disseminate their may be reproduced without express per- Letters to decision to strengthen support for Watada and the resolution also calls mission of the publisher. Copying for on the organization to help educate other groups on the controversial other than personal or intemal reference the Editor issue. use without the express permission of P.e. is prohibited. "Our belief ... is this will define JACL's continued effectiveness for future generations," said Paul Kaneko, a board member of the POSTMASTER: Send address changes Courage and Heroism to: Pacific Citizen, clo JACL National Watsonville-Santa Cruz chapter.• Headquarters, 1765 Sutter St., San This is in response to the two . article in the Sacramento Bee Francisco, CA 94115. ,articles supporting 1st Lt. Ehren newspaper about a member of National JACL Resolution on Watada's act as an act of courage the California National Guard JACL MEMBERS and encouraging the public's who was ordered to report for Watada (adopted Aug. 18,2007): sppport for his efforts as report• deployment to Iraq for the sec• Change of Address ed in the Aug. 17 - Sept. 6 issue ond time. The night before he ''The National JACL Board believes that all American cit• If you have moved, please of the Pacific Citizen. was to report for duty, he told his izens have the right to a fair and impartial trial, which send information to: ' If we are to support the action father that he did not want to go includes the right to have a trial presided over by an impar• taken by 1st Lt. Watada, I'm but he felt he had to honor his tial judge and to be protected from double jeopardy. National JACL concerned about the effect such commitment. Ten days later, his an act would have upon the father and family were advised 1765 Sutter St. ''The National JACL Board shall generate a strong public members of the National Guard that he was killed in action! Now San Francisco, CA statement supporting 1st Lt. Ehren Watada's right to a fair 94115 who are currently serving in this, to me, is an act of courage harms way in Iraq and and heroism. . trial. It shall engage in activities including, but not limited to, Allow 6 weeks for address changes. Afghanistan and in the recruit• disseminating this statement through letters of support to the To avoid interruptions in receiving your ment of replacements for the LM~,~~ appropriate officials as necessary and directing our National P. C , please notify your pcronaster to National Guard. • Director to educate other organizations on this civil rights include periodicals in your change of WWII and Korean War Veteran A few weeks ago there was an issues to raise awareness." address (USPS Form 3575) Roseville, CA PACIFIC iii CmZEN NATIONAL SEPT. 7-20, 2007 3 JACL May See a Budget Holocaust Survivor'S Lile Touched by the Japanese Solly Ganor and his family were part of the in the local newspaper announcing the visit of JA WWII Deficit by the End of the Year 6,000 Jews during WWII who received soldiers who had rescued Jews at Dachau. Solly called the listed number and arranged to meet with the soldiers; A push for members is needed to help curb the projected visas from diplomat Chiune Sugihara, among them was his hero Clarence. shortfall. 'It's all in our hands right now,' board members 'Japan's Schindler.' He credits 522nd sol• dier Clarence Matsumura with rescuing Although their dinner meeting was set for 6 p.m. Solly say. could not muster the courage to enter the hotel. He kept Membership 2007 Monthly him from the Nazis. 120.000 driving around the block for three hours until he was BY LYNDA LIN ~ actuals projections 110,000 finally able to gather his nerves. Assistant Editor 1\ . By CAROLINE AOYAGI-STOM 100,000 I! \ \ "It was very emotional. They looked at each other and \ Executive Editor 90,000 /f I hugged. They started crying," said historian Eric Saul SAN FRANCISCO- \ ! jh~~ ~ j \ J \ who helped arrange the reunion. "It was like opening up Despite a third quarter j 80,000 Ii Holocaust survivor Solly Ganor, 80, often jokes that \1 \ _ the flood gates. It was a real fulfillment for both of budget surplus, JACL 70,000 ~ \ ~"- he must have been a Japanese in a previous life. That them," he said, noting that Clarence had always wanted board members cau• 80,000 V \ '''''f may explain why a Japanese diplomat and a Japanese \. I ! to meet the people he had helped liberate. tioned of a projected 50,000 · ~ · A~ American solider came to his rescue during the most try- V "I credit Clarence with saving my life," said Solly. He $18,000 deficit by the 40,000 ing moments of his life. . can still taste the Hershey chocolate bar Clarence fed him end of the year. Solly was an ll-year-old boy in Kaunas, Lithuania after digging him out of. the snow, the hot broth that The culprit is member• when he first met Japanese Consul Chiune ship. GRAPH: MARK KOBAYASHI Sugihara at his aunt's ·shop. Little did he As of June 2007, PLUMMETING: JACt.:s membership is down by know then that the man with the "kind membership revenue is more than 1,100. eyes" who gave him money for Hanukkah down six percent. If the would go on to save the lives of thousands current trend continues, membership can be down up to 10 percent by year's of his fellow Jews from the Nazis. end, said JACL Secretarylfreasurer Mark Kobayashi at the Aug. 18 national . Five years after that fateful meeting, board meeting. . Solly was among the thousands of Jews on "Membership makes up the major prut of our revenue flow and when we a death march from Dauchau near the end see the kind of decline we are seeing, this is cause for concem," said JACL of World War II. Having gone days with• National Director Floyd MOll. out fodd or water, the pllsoners collapsed As of June 30, the JACL has a $59,607 surplus, but the organization is onto a bank of snow; many froze to death. heading into a time of year when traditionally membership revenues do not But as the Germans began to retreat, the cover expenses, said JACL National President Larry ada. American soldiers rurived including a Facing a possible fmancial pinch, board member said an end of the year Japanese American soldier of the 522nd deficit is not yet written in stone. The JACL can still finish in the black if Field Artillery Battalion. Soon Solly was Clarence Matsumura and members push for new membership recruits and renewals, and if the JACL's looking into the eyes of Clarence Solly Ganor (top two, upcoming Washington, D.C. gala dinner is a success. Matsumura, his rescuer. righ~ remained life long "Things can change," ~ aid Kobayashi at the meeting. "It's all in our hands "My destiny is connected with the friends after reuniting in right now." Japanese people," said Solly who spoke Israel. with the Pacific Citizen from his summer Anemic Membership Numbers home in La Jolla, Calif. (Righ~ Solly and Yukiko Membership, the lifeb~ood of the organization, is plummeting and board I Solly's unique story has been a part of a Sugihara have spoken at members are working aggressively to curb the drop. Currently, the member• number of exhibits in recent years ana is many events honoring ship coordinator staft'position at the JACL is still vacant. National JACL is documented in his book, "Light One Chiune Sugihara. interviewing candidates while a part-time contractor handles some of the Candle." For the past two decades he has work. . dedicated his life to telling his story of survival, a story warmed his frozen soul. "He brought me back to life." in which Chiune and Clarence are always featured "My major concem going forward for the organization is getting control After their reunion the two remained the best of prominently. of our falling membership numbers," said Kobayashi, who added that the friends until Clarence's death in 1996. In the exhibit "I promised my friends that if I survived I would tell organization's membership is down by "Unlikely Liberators" by Saul, Clarence spoke of rescu- . more than 1,100 members. MEETING/Page 13 the world what happened to us," said Solly. "When you See ing the Jewish prisoners in 1945: write things down it gives you some sort of catharsis. It ''They asked who we were, and I told them we were isn't easy to do. You go through the emotional upheaval Americans. I told them, 'You're free, you're liberated. A Name Change for the JACL? all over again. The war is over' ... They were obviously starving to "Many of the survivors don't want to talk about it. It's By Pacific Citizen Staff history and we must not relinquish death. We tried to feed them, and they couldn't take the a shame. We have a lot of stories that are important for that advantage we have as a result food. Some of them died in my arms, unable to swallow the world to know." Forget Japanese American of the hard work of our Nisei." the food that we had given them. I cried. I still feel guilty Citizens League. How about the Mori's suggested keeping the to this day.l1 . Courage to Speak Asian American Citizens League JACL name and including a pro• "Solly's story is tremendously important," said Lani Solly was just 16 years old when he was plucked out or just the acronym JACL? gressi ve tagline that appeals to the Silver, founder of the Holocaust Oral History Project of the snow by the 522nd soldiers and given a new lease National board members ru'e entire APA community. who has worked alongside Saul to tell the story of the on life. Soon after he regained his strength, Solly joined talking about a possible name In the last few years, other civil 522nd soldiers. ''The 522nd never got the credit they the U.S. Army as an interpreter, helping to prosecute change for the 78-year-old organi• rights organizations have been deserved. They ru'e heroes. They saved Solly Ganor and Nazi collaborators. When Israel was declared a State he zation in order to be more inclusive revamping their image with name 'hundreds of other people." to the Asian Pacific Amelican com• changes. The National Association joined the Israeli Defense Forces and fought in the War of Independence. Later he joined the Israeli Merchant munity. for the Advancement of Colored .MyHero "I am a strong proponent of Marine, rising to the rank of captain. People is now simply known as the Solly's reunion with Clarence could only be equaled becoming more inclusive rather In 1963 he met and married his longtime wife Pola and NAACP and the Organization of by the rediscovery of the Sugihara family. He got his than exclusive. This means.reach-, they had two kids: Daniel and Leora. By the mid-70s he Chinese Amellcans is just the chance in 1994. ing out to newer immigrant com• had relocated his family to La Jolla, Calif. where he ran OCA. In 2005, the National Asian Chiune had passed away in 1986 but at the Sugihara munities who are now facing the a textile factory. In the mid-80s he was once again back Pacific American Legal Memorial Park dedicatiHONOLULU-The Hawaiian advisory panel to the reevaluate their ongoing coverage of Attorney General Ronald Smetana York State Fair in Syracuse, N.Y. "I U.S. Civil Rights Commission is taking up the Akaka political· campaign donations by said outside court. think he's done the right thing turn• Bill. APAs. Judge H. James Ellis ordered Hsu ing himself in, and the process will . The panel is considering taking a new position on the "Asian Pacific Americans have handcuffed and jailed until he could go forward from here." . Native Hawaiian recognition legislation now pending in always been civically engaged, and post $2 million bail, which he did Hsu has said he thought the crim• the U.S. Senate. Until now, the Hawaii group has been a the involvement of all Americans in after spending about five hours inal charges had been taken care of staunch supporter of the bill. But the U.S. commission, the political process is critical. We behind bars. The judge declined . when he completed his bankruptcy which opposes the bill, has disregarded that position. hope that recent reports of individual Hsu's request to immediately reduce proceedings in the early 1990s. Members are taking testimony on both sides of the issue in their fIrst hear• malfeasance will not delegitimize the bail by half, instead scheduling a "I have not sought to evade any of ing on the issue. the role of APAs in the democratic Sept. 5 hearing to consider the my obligations and certainly not the pr~ss, who have voted and held request. law," Hsu said in a prepared s~te­ Turban Screening Measures Questioned . The -.uuomia businessman who ment. positions of political. power respon• WASHINGTON-A new airport screening policy for turb!rs and other remade himself in New York as a "An accumulation of stories sibly for decades," said Ginny Gong, headwear has the country's Sikhs concerned they are being unfairly targeted. benefactor of Democratic causes and focusing only on allegations involv• national president .of the The federal policy change went into effect Aug. 4, subjecting travelers to sec• candidates including presidential ing donors of Asian descent creates Organization of Chinese Americans. ondary screening at security checkpoints if they are wearing head coverings, contenders Sens. Barack Obama and an incomplete picture of Asian The media scrutiny came after such as cowboy hats, berets or turbans. Hillary Rodham Clinton. American civic involvement by news broke of Norman Hsu, a top The screenings could include a pat-down search of the head covering if the ''While any attempt to unlawfully neglecting to report on the over• Democratic fundraiser and fugitive. screener finds it necessary. direct campaign contributions whelmingly positive impact by ·Hsu appeared in San Mateo The New York-based Sikh Coalition believes the new policy singles out County Superior Court Aug. 31 should be investigated and prosecut• Asian Americans in the political Sikhs and others who wear religious head coverings. Since 200 I, federal pol• dressed in a suit and tie and accom- ed, the ethnic heritage of those under process," said Vida Benavides, icy has required screeners to search turbans only if they do not clear a metal scrutiny should not come into play. chair of APIAVote .• detector.• PACIFlC!iiI CmZEN NATIONAL . SEPT. 7-20, 2007 5 APAs· JACL Honors Veterans Aboard USS Hornet in the Eighty-five Nisei veterans of 'It is a day to thank each of you for serving the Constitution, our N World War II and the Korean nation and the principles of democracy and peace. ' ews Conflict were honored Aug. 12 Patty Wada, NCWNP regional director aboard the USS Homet, one of the By Pacific Citizen Staff most decorated ships in naval histo- ry. • Vee, VjJmada Inducted Into Silver Circle Sponsored by the NCWNP dis• 1\\'0 APA journalists have been inducted into the National Academy of trict, the sold-out "Salute to Our Television Arts and Sci~nces Silver Circle. Linda Yee is a general assign• Veterans" event paid tribute to the ment reporter for KPIX in San Francisco. Gayle Yamada is an award-win• men and women who served in the ning executive producer. Military Intelligence Service (MIS), The prestigious Silver Circle recognizes individuals who have been active• lOOth/442nd, Cadet Nurse Corp, ly engaged in television broadcasting for 25 years or more, at least half of Merchant Marine, and the Korean those years in the San FranciscolNorthem California Chapter Area. Conflict. MIS veteran Fred Kitajiina, JACL Welcomes New Nat ional JACL Board Members l00th/442nd veteran Lawson Sakai, Members from the Midwest and Eastem and USS Homet Events Manager District Councils elected Dr. Ronald Marcus Dorsey spoke at the event. Event Co-Chair Milo Yoshino spoke Katsuyama and former JACL Attendees wait in line for the Nisei Veterans' Exhibit. Washington D.C. Representative Kristine about the Merchant Marine in which his father served. Emcee and event Minami, respectively, as their govemors. ignored." the Korean Conflict," said NCWNP co-chair Emily Temya spoke on They will serve two-year terms. 1\\'0 screenings of Lane Regional Director Patty Wada. behalf of the Cadet Nurse Corp and Nishikawa's film "Only the Brave" "Some of you have joined us today, - the Korean Conflict veterans. JACL to be Honored with Spirit Award were screened at the event, a film some are being honored from afar, "All Japanese Americans owe a The Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno will be presenting the J A CL with a about the men of the lOOth/442nd and others we cherish in memory. It debt of gratitude to the World War II "Spirit of Abraham Award" for its defense of M\Jslirn Americans' ci viI rights who, against overwhelming odds, is a day to thank each of you for and Korean Conflict veterans for in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 th terrorist attacks. rescued members of the Texas "Lost serving the Constitution, our nation their sacrifices to bring home the The Sept. 7th event will take place at the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno. Battalion.'? Also included were and the principles of democracy and point that patriotism is not a matter JACL chapters are encouraged to attend. docent-led tours of the USS Hornet, peace." of race or ethnicity," wrote JACL self-guided tours of the Nisei Each veteran was presented with National. President Larry ada. Mineta Joins ITNAmerica as Adviser Veterans' permanent exhibit, and a the book "Patriotism, Perseverance, "Every one of us who received the Former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta has silent auction. Posterity: The Story of the National letter of apology and a token redress signed on as an adviser to a nonprofit program aimed at "It is a day for us to pause, Japanese American Memorial," a from the United States govemment providing rides to the nation's aging population. remember, learn and honor all the book dedicated to the loyalty and knows that without their patriotism. Seniors who use the service become dues-paying mem• ra e ap Americans dur- the dark history of the intemment bers of the Independent Transportation Network and can our country during World War II and ingWWII . • would have been hidden and call for rides in a regular car, not a van or bus. Mineta, who's joining ITNAmerica's Council of Advisers, was the only Democrat in Bush's cabinet and was the longest-serv• NAME CHANGE JACL Urges Thorough Investigation ing transportation secretary. He left the post in July 2006. (Continued from page 3) in Killing of APA Fisherman Considering demographic Assistant Attorney General Kim Resigns Amidst By Pacific Citizen Staff Doan, who couldn't swim, changes in the APA and JA commu• quickly drowned. nities, should the JACL follow suit? Controversy Asian Pacific American groups Police said the circumstances of "It is important to think of this Wan J . Kim, the assistant attomey general for civil are concemed with a pattem of vio• Doan's attack matched closely with new direction if we are serious about rights since November, resigned at the end of August. lence targeting APA fishermen in two other incidents, one from late Kim was closely questioned by qmgressional the future of the JACL," said Mori. Chicago's Lake Michigan area. July and another that occurred ear• Democrats about the administration's policy decisions and "We are fast becoming more Pan The Sept. 1 drowning of a lier the same day. allegations by former career officials of improper hiring Asian and I believe, from the discus• Vietnamese man ~~~~~~~~~~~ Another within the division, mostly under his predecessor. sions I have with young people, that who was shoved 'Our concern is heightened fisherman of they see themselves as APAs as well Officials said Kim is going into private law practice. into the water at because this does nQt appear Asian descent as Japanese Americans." was confront• Montrose Harbor to be an isolated incident and JCCH to Recognize Hawaiian Educators The time to think about this was the third inci• ed by the same change is now, Mori added. ''The perpetrators are still at-large. ' group, The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i is honoring four esteemed edu• dent since late July changing demographics of the -J ACL described as cators in Hawai'i's community and a corporate honoree at its Sept. 29 in which APA fish- Japanese American community four males and "Celebration of Leadership and Achievement Dinner" at the Hilton Hawaiian ermen were target- today dictates that we must think of ed in the area, according to Chicago one female, police said. Village. the future now." Police are looking for a white, Honorees will include Jane O. Komeiji, Richard H. Kosaki, PhD, police. "I'm more of a traditionalist con• Du Doan, 62, was fishing alone four-door Dodge Neon they Margaret Y. Oda, EdD, Dennis M. Ogawa, PhD and corporate honoree believe the suspects were driving, cerning our name," said JACL off the harbor's sidewalk at 5:30 Island Insurance Companies Ltd. at its gala event. The Makiki Japanese and are asking anyone with infor• National President Larry ada: who . a.m. when the attack occurred. Language School will also receive special recognition at this year's event. mation to contact poliG.e. also likes the JACL logo, but agrees "Our concern is heightened The suspects were described as: that a transition can be made. because this does not appear to be a white male, about 5-foot-6, JANM DYD Earns 2007 Silver Telly Award A name change for the JACL an isolated incident and pe~trators brown hair in a "buzz cut," wearing ,; The "Life Interrupted: Reunion and Remembrance ·in requires a bylaw amendment to be• are still at-large," said the JACL in a dark jacket; a white male, about Arkansas" DVD, created by the Frank H. Watase passed by the national council at the a statement. 6-foot-l, slim, large ears, Weating a Media Arts Center of the Japanese American Salt Lake City National Convention "Five individuals dressed in white T-shirt and a jacket; white National Museum, eamed a 7007 Silver Telly Award in in 2008 . • black gothic clothing walked past male, 18 to 19 years old; black him, and one of the individuals the outstanding non-broadcast video production catego• What Do You Think? male, bald, wearing a red shirt; breaks away from this group ... and ry, the highest honor presented by a judging panel of Should the JACL change its name white female, 18 to 19 years old. gives him a shove in the back and accomplished industry professionals. to be more inclusive to the Asian JACL urges the Chicago Police knocks him into the water," law The Watase Media Arts Center has been awarded several Bronze Telly Pacific American community? Department to spare no resources enforcement officials told the Awards previously, but this is its first Silver Telly Award. E-mail your responses to in pursuing those responsible for Chicago Tribune. The DVD was produced by Kaleigh Komatsu. • [email protected]. the vicious crime. • 6 SEPT. 7-20, 2007 COMMUNTIY PACIFIC iiIi CmZEN EDC-MDC Bi-District: 'Partnerships, Policy, -and Perspectives' Citizen journalists and young jACLers headed to Washington, D.C. for the Aug. 9-12 event. Hapa JACL: Part Inspiration, Part Socialization By BRIGHAM WALKER from citing England's history with the IRA and Blitzkrieg as a way to compare public hysterias to home• efore I dive into the conference itself, a bit of land attacks, to clearly defining what the ACLU supports B background on my exposure to the JACL is nec• in other contentious matters. essary. My first JACL experience was at the I even was able to find inspiration outside the formal 2004 convention in Hawaii. Despite workshops from an EDC youth member, Mari aye of the opportune vacation setting, the the New England chapter. She is a distinguished emphasis was clearly business rather Presidential Scholar who managed to meet President than social. In contrast, my first bi• Bush and hand him a lettf

FRIENDS AND LEADERS: (I-r) Heidi Tanakatsubo, Reiko Yoshino, Andrea Butler, Larry Schectman, famous presidential letter writer Mari Oye and Kenneth Oye.

A LITTLE WORK, A LITTLE PLAY: (I-r) Jane and Ron Katsuyama, EDC Governor Kristine Minami, Lillian Kimura and Etsu Masaoka.

'This ]ACL duality - lnsplnng. .. activism and encouraging socializing - is more balanced at bi-districts where we have more time to hang out.'

- Brigham Walker

(I-r) Nat'l JACL President Larry Oda, Laura Paige, Sherri Fujihira, Ron (ToA I-r) Alley Watada and David Kawamoto. (Bottom, I-r) Katsuyama, Kristine Minami and Brigham Walker. Yoshimi Watada, Elaine Akagi and Carol Kawamoto. 8 SEPT. 7-20, 2007 VOICES PACIACII CrnZEN

• fOHN TATE!. HI • • Yl! II SAKUGAWA • FOR THE RECORD MK IOIRS OF A NON:.GEISHA The Watada Issue, An Extended Visit · Once Again

n issue that, regretfully, will stood for. WQ summers ago, I was vacationing in Okinawa, time. In-between,my parents, brother and I modestly A never be resolved within Consequently, it was I who T visiting my father's side of the family for the celebrated our four-person Thanksgivings, Christmases the ranks of the JACL is brought this issue before the nation• first time in 12 years. I was 20 years old, just and New Year's all under a single roof. the issue of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, al board again at its November finished surnri1er school, and looking forward to My former bedroom in my parents' house, now a de whether his actions are those of a 2006 meeting, this time asking the exploiting the fact thai the Japanese drinking age is a facto storage space, is littered with long forgotten sou• man of coUrage. and conscience, or board to consider this as a civil year earlier than the one in America. venirs accumulated from those sporadic trips back to one of a soldier guilty of disobeying rights issue, as a First Amendment Eight summers ago, I was vacationing in mainland the homeland: Mt. Fuji key chains, little wooden fig• orders. He has become a cause issue, and as a moral issue. My Japan, visiting my mother's side of the family for the urines, and tiny enveloped charms intended to ward off celebre and a lightening rod for position would have taken the first time in three years. I was 14 years old, just fin• fatal accidents. those who support or condemn him organization beyond just the civil ished middle school, and both dreading and anticipating All I have left of those trips are these forgotten sou• for his actions. rights and legal positions because it the fact that I would be starting high school at the end venirs and brief, intensely vivid memories that spring As the JACL's national director, I ventured into the moral implications of the summer. up in· the iuind's eye in the most unexpected moments: crafted the language of the organi• of the war. I can count the number of times I've visited each of the sickly, suffocating smell of incense; swimming in zation's public statement, one In the final analysis, I believe that those places on one the emerald-sapphire which reflected the conflicting what Watada did was what every views of the board. The only board soldier should do, and that is to hand. Each visit is a ·· • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Okinawan ocean; fu;e• frozen snapshot from works exploding in the members who initi- . • •• • question the morality of a specific junction in 'Every visit, which sky to cOIlllIl,emorate ated conversations orders when they should be my life. lasted three weeks at the festival of the dead. with me at that time '[ laww that just questioned. It was in recall• Every visit, which Less than two weeks (July 2006) were raising this issue ing Nuremberg in the origi• lasted three weeks at the most, became a from now, I will be in Larry Oda, newly nal statement that I raised . is a bloodletting the most, became a I' . , the prefecture of elected national this issue, the excuse Nazi quantum leap in time quantum eap in tlme Chiba, in a small town president, with and I regret that. soldiers used in the system• atic extermination of over from the previous called Kimitsu-shi, whom I had numer• [ respect the visit. A toddler of a ... •• • • • ...... _-_11:1 which is a two-hour ous conversations six million Jews during cousin suddenly became a college-bound high school train ride from Tokyo. I will be there for an entire year on this topic, and opinions of the WWII: "I was only follow• student. Childhood playmates from bygone years were teaching English. Not only that, through pure happen• Ron Katsuyama, veterans who dis• ing orders." That cannot stance, I will be able to commute to my job from my MDC governor, in a stand the test of reason, as now working adults, all serious business. Conversely, agree with my relatives back home always marveled at how much relatives' house, where my matemal grandparents, my long and very the Nuremburg courts taller I've grown, how much more adult I've become. aunt and uncle and my cousin live, all of them whom I intense exchange of point of view ... ' decided, not in any My Americanized Japan and lac of 1 ha en't n in eight years. ideas. Theirs were verisimilitude of truth, not certain Japanese customs were endearing little quirks A year-long stay is drastically different from a three• th oughtful but- dif ••• • • • • • in any profundity of moral that came with being the sporadic relative visiting from week visit. As I learned from my five-month time fering views which were reflected righteousness, and certainly not afar. abroad in Singapore, the luster of being in another in the statement I ultimately issued. when we send troops to a war with• Every visit, I eagerly soaked in the feeling of being country wears off in a month's time. Strangers become It was a statement that toed the out honor. One need only recall the in a family - not in the nuclear family unit sense of lifelong friends. New rhythms and patterns of living line, stating that the JACL would be horror of My Lai to know that a the word - but an entire sprawling family tree where emerge and persist as day-to-day habits. Everything silent on the issue ofWatada's soldier who truly believes orders aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and extended rela• that was once foreign becomes mundane' and taken for refusal to deploy with his unit to questionable in their morality must tives all lived within driving distance of each other and granted. Iraq, but raised questions about the challenge them. all gathered each festival, holiday and event to eat big Maybe this is what I've been looking forward to all two other charges filed against him, If they are not, then who are we meals and share all the mundane and significant along. For once in my life, to no longer be a sporadic noting: as defenders of morality and updates of each other's lives. visitor from abroad, but just another family member "We agree with those who argue democracy, and what are we as a Yet - just when I was getting accustomed to the liv• living under one roof.• that soldiers must obey orders as nation? ing, breathing rhythm of being reincorporated into the part of the discipline of the military. family - our brief stay eventually came to an end and Yumi Sakugawa recently graduated from UClA and is On the other hand, one cannot *** I wouldn't see them again for another long period of heading to Japan to teach English. ignore the lessons of Nuremberg I know that just raising this issue and the pefSonal and moral respon• is a bloodletting and I regret that. I sibility of soldiers to question respect the opinions of the veterans orders that raise grave moral ques• who disagree with my point of wow.' LOOK AT GRANDPA! tions. No individual should ever be view, especially those who faced silenced in this regard." death in battle and shed tears for WHAT'S HAPPENED? illtimately, it was a statement that those they left behind. For many of expressed my view of the issue; or them, Watada's action is a personal rather, it expressed what I felt was a affront, and I understand that, fair and balanced view that would This issue will never rest easily in HE.'S BEEN GOING reasonably articulate the JACL's our community or in the JACL position on the issue. because there's no easy re olution. FOR BROKe EVER This was the statement that the There's no right or wrong answer, SINCE. HE SAW national board officially adopted at and maybe we'll have to agree to its meeting in August 2006. disagree. "ONLYTHE BRAVE/' During the next two months, I So why bring the issue up again? researched the issue, talked to attor• Because the national board faced neys on both sides of the argument, this issue at its August meeting. read endlessly on military law and Also because this is something we articles relevant to this type of case, have to deal with, despite its contro• and thought about it at length. I was versy. It's a military issue, ye . but bothered by the position I had writ• it's also a civil rights issue. We can• ten because it did not consider the not ignore the lessons of one factor that I thought we should Nuremburg and the injunctions of consider, the First Amendment its moral imperative .• issue. More than'that even, it did . not consider the moral implications John Tateishi is the immediate past of Watada's position and what he JACL national director. PACIACe CITlZEN ENTERTAINMENT SEPT. 7-20, 2007 9

Filmmaker on the Verge he women in "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" Tteeter on the tiny border of greatness and madness with no promise of a happy ending. It's reality, says Dietrich, who wrote, directed and prOduced the film. In the end, not everything is neat• ly wrapped in shiny paper and topped with a bow. All three of the film's women struggle in their own gilded cages. Especially Jenny Mason (Kim Jiang), the film's Korean born adoptee who was born at an airport as a 45-pound, 45-inch baby bounced into the arms of her white Midwestern family. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JED FILMS For her first critically acclaimed feature film, Dietrich chose to put a little of herself onscreen. Dietrich throws open the door on "1 was born in South Korea, lived in an orphanage for almost four years APA women harboring a dirty somewhere in Seoul, then got adopted by white American parents living in Texas at five years of age." little secret called depression. But Dietrich mostly wanted to make a film about often ignored subjects. (counterclockwise) Jenny, Sea "Enter the world of young Asian American women," the film's tagline almost and Sandy battle against their dares you. Are you ready? - Lynda lin own personal plight.

~C-JIi:Jl&' ' --...... " ".1# .'. ~l:asjiienr .. home up on that hill. It's like Jenny, it's like Bea, it's like ...... ~ ..~&e! Sandy. All three girls searching for a place, for a connec• Joy Dietrich: I know there's going to be a lot of questions about whether tion, a comfort zone, for home that is so near but so far See the film is autobiographical and my answer is the film's a work of fiction. away. Also, because I wanted to make a film about Asian Tie a Yellow There are certain elements in the film that are inspired by my own experi• American young women, I thought I would choose the ence, such as the feeling of alienation, the disconnection I felt growing up in most iconic American painting and have the woman who a white family and in a small town in the U.S. turns her head around to be an Asian woman. I am a Korean adoptee and I do have a white brother, but he's also adopt• "ft ... die ...... dr- San Diego Asian Film Festival a~'! ed like me. Apart from those similarities, the film is not my personal story. ailJIIJ __5 ..a ...... Oct. 11- 18 kne~ Unlike the film, my brother and I were never close. We never really JD: Working on it. It's tough out there. 'TIe a Yellow Info: www.sdaff.org/festivaV2007 each other because of the battle raging between him and my adoptive parents. Ribbon' has won two great prizes: the Special Jury Prize It was a very dysfunctional family. for Best Director at CineVegas and ·the Best Narrative Mannheim-Heidelberg International Aim Festival, IT::: w. 'Nft ~ a - I11III: "'cW lID ...... Film Award at Urbanworld Vibe Film Festival in New Germany "! York. Even so, with no known stars, and an Asian Oct 10-21 JD: I didn't feel passionate about journalism though I really liked it. Also American cast and the fact it's a difficult drama make it , Info: www.mannheim-filmtestivaLcom to be a reporter, you have to have a certain personality - an aggressive one, hard to convince distributors to take the risk of taking the which I can't sometimes maintain. I'm more introverted and insular than peo• film theatrical. Usually in the independent film world, Delray Beach Film Festival ple think. the common thing is you lose money when you go the• Delray Beach, Florida However, I developed a passion for films. I was an avid film buff, espe• atrical. But I haven't lost hope! December 2007 cially the art house films from the U.S. and abroad. I lived for two years in ~ "laC'", ...... ,.,.-.... , Paris working as a journalist over there and J would go to the cinema two to -,--1IaII! For more infonnation: www.yellowribbonmovie.com. sho~ld three times a week. I suddenly thought I try filmmaking and moved JD: I've got a lot of ideas and am working on devel• www.myspace.com/yellowribbonmovie to New York to do just that. However, I still have to rely on my work as a oping one with a p~oducer. Top secret! • journalist. I currently work as a research editor at the New York Times. 1£; (t'IU)'IfIi:a:r.w.6"THrilr..t ill _4 ~'~'fCDf! i$1inl smne6r :$ ...... - .-=a.u6 .... e • SECRET ASIAN MANTM By Tak [email protected] • www.secretasianman.com • C2007 Tak Toyoshirru • iilb!lrJU~lIi. · a'1> • ~ blelll~ ~~ :If JD: I started as an art major at the beginning of college, but then I had some family troubles and found out I had to pay for college by myself and got scared. I tried to think of all the things I could do as a career. I thought being an artist would be hard and I would not make a living doing it. I knew I liked to travel and I liked politics and studying cultures, so I switched majors to international relations. I thought I could be a diplomat. Even though I went into another field, I always kept my creative side going. K : Uf (\a~' . ~It' mUtt df ~ . ~ • .s. JD: I think that reflects reality. Not everyone's going to make it out at the end and most of the time people barely hang on. It's a tough world out there. . .11(,:; 1f; •. a ~ . . .," \.,' .,. . JD: I don't know. I would say it's a drama about young women searching for connection and a place to call home. PC: . ~ 1 ~ .fo( - '~· ""'JIf":':" · :.a.wnmtil~m_~ ..Ili .. u; ~ .11' ~ JD: I remember always wondering what Christina looked like. Her home was so near, but crippled it was going to be a challenge for her to make it 10 SEPT. 7-20, 2007 SPORTS PACIFIC II crnZEN DECATHALON TENNIS Defending World Champ Injures Quads, Quits Michael Chang to Open OSAKA, Japan-Bryan Clay the acupuncture. After running to applied ice to his injured quadriceps test the leg, then conferring witlr Tennis Academy .in Shenzhen muscle, got ·a quick massage and doctors, he decided it was best to HONG KONG-Michael nis in China," Chang was quoted even turned to acupuncture. pull out. Chang, the youngest male player to saying. "I believe I have the ability Nothing helped ease the pain. So "I wanted to keep going," said win a Grand Slam tennis title, will to do that." the reigning decathlon champion Clay, the 2004 Olympic silver open an academy in the southern He planned to open his academy withdrew from the competition at medalist. "But it just got tighter and Chinese city of Shenzhen, media in Shenzhen's Mission Hills Country the world track and field champi• tighter. Maybe I could've run the reported recently. Club, where there are 51 tennis onships. He tweaked his right leg 400. But I would've run it in 52 sec• The announce• courts. while competing in the high jump, onds, and it would've been point• ment of Chang's Chang, who retired in 2002, has the fourth of five events on Aug. 31. less." plan came as worked with Peng Shuai, one of the "It was just too painful," said It was almost like a home meet for China is counting• country's tennis hopes in next year's Clay, who had 3,558 points. ''It was Clay. His mother is Japanese, and he down for the Beijing Olympics, since March. going so well, too." painted the distinctive red circle of Beijing Olympic After winning the French Open• Clay still can't figure out what the rising sun on a white background next August. his oruy career major - in 1989 at exactly happened. He hurt his right on both shoulders. The Osaka crowd Chang said he age 17 years ~d three months, quadriceps as he went to plant his quickly warmed up to him. Chang rose to a career-high No. 2 foot for his seCond attempt at 6 feet, ''They were cheering for me. aimed to nurture young Chinese players in a bid to ranking in 1996. 6 3/4 inches in the high jump. He That's why this is disappointing," he PHOTO: BRYANCLAY.COM heard a pop arid slumped under the said. "Anytime you~re in the top part bring the level of Chinese tennis up He finished seven seasons inside 'It was just too painful: said Bryan to the international standard, the offi• the top 10 and won 34 tour titles, bar, falling onto the mat. He limped of the pack and having a decent day, Clay about his Aug. 31 injuries. off the track and didn't return. it's never an easy decision to pull cial news agency Xiilhua quoted him also reaching Grand Slam finals at "I think my heel may have out. I couldn't do anything about it." as saying in a press conference Roland Garros in 1995 and at the slipped," he said. "At least I think Clay had hoped to find a way to too, a difficult decision less than recently. Australian Open and U.S. Opens in that's what happened. I really don't get through the first day, but then he . 12 months from the Beijing "I have a wish, which is to con• '96. know." thought about the looming hurdles. Olympics. tribute my experience accumulat• He is very popular in China, After the injury, Clay tried to get ''That would've been tough. I Clay has had an injury-plagued ed from playing in world tourna• where he is better known by his ready for the last event of the first would've struggled," he said. "It was season, pulling out of the U.S. cham• ments to the development of ten- Mandarin name Zhang Depei.• night - the 400 meters. A massage better calling it quits." pionships in June with nagging sore• didn't alleviate the knot, neither did He might do that with the season, ness in his left knee.• BASKETBALL PACIFIC CITIZEN No.6 Pick Vi Jianlian Finally Signs with Milwaukee Bucks National business anci Professional Directory Your business card in each issue for 22 issues is $15 per line, three-line minimum. Larger type (12 pt.) counts MILWAUKEE-Yi Jianlian is as two lines. Logo same as line rate as required. P.C. has made no determination that the businesses listed the same impact as Yao Ming, his in this directory are licensed by proper government authority. • finally going to play for the national earnmate selected by the Milwaukee Bucks Houston Rockets with the first pick Sacratnento,~. Oaldand,~. Yi, the Chinese star who was in 2002. picked sixth overall in the NBA draft Last season, Yi posted career-high NAMBA LAW OFFICES KITAZAWA SEED CO. in June, signed a standard rookie averages with 24.9 points, 1l.5 Curtis R. Namba SINCE 1917 scale contract with the Bucks in rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 30.7 min• Personal Injury The Asian Vegetable Seed Source for Hong Kong on Aug. 29. utes for the Tigers of the Chinese Small Business Gardeners, Retailers, Growers Request a Catalog A contingent of Bucks officials Basketball Association. [email protected] (916) 922-6300 p.o. Box 13220 Oakland. CA 94661-3220 that included owner and U.S. Sen. Questions remain about Vi. But there are questions about his pi\: 5101595-1188 Ix: 5101595-1880 Herb Kohl met with Yi's family and kijaseedClpacbell.net kijazawaseed.com defense, strength and age, and while . Greater Los Angeles Chen Haitao, owner ofYi's Chinese 2006 world championship team, he flashed some skills with Team Phoenix, Ariz. professional team, over the last day would get significant playing time China in the Summer League in Las Dr. Darlyne Fujimoto, to finalize the deal. against the NBA's best players in an Optometrist & Associates Vegas, he also showed he had a lot to Kaoru 000 ''We had a very successful trip A Professional Corporation effort to sharpen his skills for those learn, being pushed around by first 11420 E. South St, Cerritos, CA 90703 here," Kohl said from Hong Kong. games. and second-year players instead of (562) 860-1339 . 'j-%HiWf "We came with the hope, but not the . There's no guarantee Yi will make the NBA's eli~ .• EXI TO REALTY certainty that we would, in fact, be Howard Igasaki, D.D.S., Inc. Dir: (623) 521-5800 able to sign a contract with Yi." Alan Igasaki, D.D.S. Fx:(623) 877-2225 Dental Implants / General [email protected] The Bucks could not say when the JACL CredH Union Holds Volleyball 'Tourney 22850 Crenshaw Blvd., Ste. 102 Power forward would be in the U.S. 2400 W. Dunlap Ave., Suite 100 Torrance, CA 90505 Phoenix, AZ 85021 or meet with American media, but (310) 534-8282 Kohl expects him to be in Seattle, Wash. Milwaukee at the start of training Cambridge Dental Care. camp on Oct. 1, or shortly afterward. Scott Nishizaka D.D.S. On draft night, Yi said he was sur• Family Dentistry & Orthodontics UWAJIMAYA 900 E. Katella, Suite A ... Always in good taste. prised he was picked for the Bucks, Orange, CA 92867 • (714) 538-2811 .::...... 0;. but" thought he'd play for them. www.cambridgedentalcare.com After the interview, he said noth• LAW OFFICES OF ~ ing more while he was in the U.S., SEI SHIMOGUCHI leading to speculation that he would General Civil Practice never show up. Estate Planning, Personal Injury "Certainly Mr. Yi and his repre• 1M' So_ CaL (310) 862-4024 sentatives want him in Milwaukee as No_ CaL (415) 462-0428 - For the Best of .shimoguchi@sbcgJobaLnet soon as possible," general manager Everything Asian Larry Harris said. The winners of the Credit Union's 6th annual tournament in Salt DAVID W. EGAWA, Lawyer Fresh Produce, Meat, His agent, Dan Fegan, had pushed Seafood and Groceries Lake City were the Ohana's: (picturwabove, top l-r)Jeff Watanabe, bnmigration, Criminal for Yi to be drafted or traded to a city A vast selectlon of Steve Chan, John Briones, Marcus Miya, Thomas Mori; (boUom I• & Regulatory Law with a 'large Asian influence - or at Gift Ware least a larger city. I) Cheryl Nakano, Faye Mitsunaga, Gloria Briones, and Julee MorL 30 N. Raymond Ave. Suite #409, Pasadena, CA 91103 With the Olympics in Beijing next Winner of the Competition Division was the Jumbo Shrimp team (626) 792-8417 Seattle, WA • (206) 624-6248 summer, Chinese officials wanted which included~ Soni Hirasuna, Landon Kawabata, Stacy Nisogi, 6003 Seashore Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92663 (949) 646-2138 Bellevue, WA • (425) 747-9012 assurances that Yi, who played oil Tho Dinh, Danelle Eto, and Jeff Hirasuna .• c: (949) 903-4142 Beaverton, OR • (503) 643-4512 China's 2004 Olympic team and PACIHC i:l CmZEN NATIONAL SEPT. 7-20, 2007 11 CHINA BASHING Remember' Japan the U.S. now doesn't make it 'made in USA.'" (Continued from page 1) Bashing'? At Madeintheusa.com, individu• America's negative attitude the epicenter is on the internet. als and businesses can register as towards Japanese-made products• Over a dozen Web sites are dedi• "patriots" and unite in their commit• which spiked in the 1980s because cated to boycotting not only Chinese ment to buy American-made prod• of the floundering American auto• goods, but relations with China ucts. Registered patriots can also motive industry - hasn't gone out itself, including Boycott-China.com, leave inspirational messages on the of style with shoulder pads and Aqua a bare site which hawks items like site's "Patriot's Page" where Amelia Net hairspray. In fact, history has "Boycott China" license plate of Sacramento, Calif. wamed: showed us it's contagious. frames. For some Asian Pacific ''If you don't buy American today, The scapegoating of Asians Americans, the growing anti• your kids will be speaking Mandarin inevitably occurs when America Chinese sentiment is eerily reminis• tomorrow." experiences economic insecurity, cent of another era in American his• "Buy American cars!" Adam of said Scott Kurashige, an tory involving another vilified Asian Chesterfield, Mich. wrote in a mes• AsianlPacific Islanders American country and the blood of a man sage right next to Amelia's. "Just Studies assistant professor at the named Vmcent Chin. because Toyota has a .few plants in University of Michigan. "Within the U.S. there is insecuri• CHILD'S PLAY: Austin Tanaka, 3, plays with his train. Thomas and ty with rising competition coming friends, Polly Pocket, Elmo collectibles and Birthday Dora are from Europe and Asia. Because Asia among some of the recent recalled China-made products. appears as a racial 'other,' they are easily scapegoated for American "In that era [1980s], we had companies involved. economic woes," he said. Vincent Chin. Let us hope that histo• "Even if we kept the argument to Kurashige, who is also a Detroit ry does not repeat itself," she said. products made in foreign countries, JACL board member, has lived in we can note that there have been "Motor City" since 2001. America's 'China Free' Labels Today issues with toys and food from . automotive industry's "Big Three" The U.S. and Asia have always Mexico as well as European coun• - General Motors, the Ford Motor been partners in a violent Apache tries and yet in those cases, individ• Company and DaimlerChrysler - dance of attraction and repugnance. ual companies were held responsible have also been Detroit mainstays, On the one hand, American con• rather than the countries them• but with increased global competi• sumers want what Asia has to offer selves," slle said. . tion, many Americans famously - Anime, Japanese inspired horror In fact, China and Hong Kong blamed Japan's dominance of the films, electronics and of course accounted for 60 percent of product automotive industry for snatching cheaply priced goods. But consumer recalls in the U.S. last year, accord• away industrial jobs and eroding the demand is quickly followed by . ing to Edward Kang, a spokesperson American dream. repulsion. for the U.S. Consumer Protection Then, just like now, patriotic - Today, concern over Asia being a Safety Commission. The percent has and often xenophobic - campaigns cause for the.demise of the American been on the rise in the past few years were mounted to encourage con• manufacturing industry is still preva• because American companies are sumers to "buy American" and seek lent, said Kurashige. increasingly attracted to China out the "Made in the U.S.A." labels. A day after toy giant MatteI "With tremendous growth comes Lawmakers symbolically smashed recalled 19 million toys that either lack of oversight just like what hap• Japanese products and Japanese cars .contained lead paint or magnets that pened in this country in the 19th cen• were vandalized in the darkness of could be deadly if swallowed, Shau tury," said Kurashige about the night because of growing anti• Zavon opened up her local American industrial revolution. Japanese sentiment. Cincinnati newspaper and read dis• Some American businesses are In 1982, sentiment turned into turbing letters to the editors and taking proactive steps to inform con• murder when 27-year-old Highland opinion pieces about China. sumers about the safety of their Park, Mich. resident Vrncent Chin "When you read something like products. Food for Health was violently beaten to death with a that ... you feel a little uneasy," said International, an Orem, Utah-based baseball bat by two recently laid-off Zavon, the I st vice chair and a co• organic vitamin company has begun white autoworkers who assumed founder of the Greater Cincinnati placing "China Free" labels on its Chin was Japanese and therefore the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. "I product as a "safety designator," said reason for their lost jobs. The mur-der understand their concern, but we're Geoffrey Power, their marketing became emblematic of the APA all affected." director. struggle at that time, . and the inci• The negative pUblicity has been '''The labeling is in part meant to Health Plarls dents leading up to it sound jarringly a popular subject at their chamber alert consumers that not all products similar to what is happening today. meetings where members say it from China are safe. Seemingly "The reports on Chinese made feels like an outright attack on everything we touch daily is labeled product recalls, outside of being China. Don't get them wrong - 'Made in China.' This statement is for California unfair, reflect a history of distrust they recognize that China needs to meant as an alert,- hopefully that Americans have had against improve the safety and quality prompting investigation' about what Chinese as barbaric and uncivilized standards of its products, but we ingest and how safe it is," said JACL Members people who would do anything for a blame shouldn't be dealt to just Power. "Our product sits in a store buck," said Lien Murakami, a 29- China, Zavon argued. where 'fat-free' 'gluten-free' 'carb• year-old mother . of two from "We need to develop a global free' are designators - this is meant Call the JACl Health Benefits Administrators at Oakland, Calif. The recalls have not standard for product safety, not just as a similar alert." changed her spending habits because focus on China," said Zavon, who With the Christmas buying season her young children have countless also pointed out that products from a few months away, two U.S. sena• other perfectly safe China-made other parts of the world also need to tors have also launched an offensive 1.800.400.6633 products in their toy chest. A few be scrutinized. specifically against toys manufac• product recalls shouldn't be a reflec• Murakami alSo noticed the tured in China. Democratic Sens. or visit tion on the entire country, Murakami hypocrisy. When products made in Dick Durbin and Amy Klobuchar argued. the U.S. are recalled there are no have asked the Consumer Product www.jaclhealttj.org Japan.esc American Still, she's scared of where U.S. calls to boycott American-made Cilil~n's L~ag u e attitude is heading with China. products or even the products of the See CHINA BASHING/page 14 12 SEPT. 7-20, 2007 NATIONAL PACIFIC =cmZEN Kosakura Tours & Travel Presents: 2007 Escorted Tours & Cruises Oct. 5 Korea Highlights & K-Dra , m~ "HALLYU" Tour 'We have already seen Oct. 18 Autumn Highlights of Japan (HURRY, ALMOST SOLD OUT) Nov. 8 Islands of "Okinawa & Kyushu" Japan signs ... I guess it was only D~. 2 Exotic Vietnam & Angkor Wat a matter of time. ' - Tom Kamei, about the 2008 Exciting TDurs & Cruises (Escorted) changes in Little Tokyo Soon to Come

In" July, American Commercial We will be glad to send you a detailed brochure! We also sell: . Equitie.s bought the Japanese International & Domestic Air Tickets including ANA, JAL, UAL Village Plaza, a 29-year-old Japan & Euro Rail Pass, Hotels, Car Rental, and Cruises outdoor mall, for an undis• Packages to any destination around the world! closed amount. Kosakura Tours and Travel 4415 Cowell Road, Suite 110, Concord, CA 94518 LITTLE TOKYO The new ownerS said they are look• Street, according to Kamei, past Tel: (925) 687-4995, Calif. Toll Free 1-800-858-2882 ing to maintain the quality of the president of the Little Tokyo (Continued from page 1) hotel and shopping center, but they Community Council and a board just making money," he added. don't have any specific plans yet, member of the Japanese Chamber of Ito points to 3D's track record. said Aihara, who gave them a copy Commerce. KOKUSAI-PACIFICA Right now, they are handling over of the Little Tokyo Planning and It was also the hub of Japanese 140 projects and they've kept all Design Guidelines and discussed the American community activity with a 2007 TOURS their projects longer than 10 years, importance of the district's history. three-story brick building that he said. 'They said the success of Little ' housed a number of community and Sept. 26 Autumn in New England - $1995 - Boston - Maine &·New One of 3D's holdings famously Tokyo is to their best interest," said cultural organizations. At the corner Hampshire. includes San Francisco Japantown's Aihara. of Weller and East 1st Streets a very Oct. 8 Hokkaidoffohoku - $3895 - Sapporo - Sounkyo Gorge - two hotels plus two-thirds of the The fact that 3D has now bought popular restaurant once served Sahoro - Ainu Village - Hakodate - Aomori - Towada - property in two of the last three authentic sushi for the first time in Japantown mall. Last year's sale of Hachimantai - Matsushiimi Bay - Sendai - Tokyo. the key landmarks in the lOO-year• Japantowns raises red flags, she Los Angeles. But it all had to be sac• Oct. 15 Uranihon "Othersid.e of Japan" - $3795 - Tokyo - Japan added. rificed for the nt;W hotel and retail old area created turmoil and a "Save Sea - Sado Island - Kanazawa - Amanohashidate - Kinosaki - Japantown" movement that required "I think that's one of the things shopping mall that stands today. Matsue - Izumo Taisha - Mt. Daisen - Kyoto. that we would like to talk about. I The 2 I-story, 434-room New 3D to maintain a Japanese theme Oct. 29 Japan Classic "Fall Foliage" $3595 - Tokyo - Takayama - and to not sell the mall for 15 years. know the sale in San Francisco was Otani Hotel opened in 1977 despite Nara - Kobe - Takahashi - Isle of Miyajima - Hiroshima - A year after the Japantown sale, not easy and not without controver• community protest. In Weller Court, Inland Sea Cruise - Shodo Island - Kyoto. sy," she said. "We would like to Kamei put a little of himself in the 3D and Joie de Vivre Hospitality, the ov.7 Okinawa/KyushulShikoku - 3995 - 3 Days Okinawa, San Francisco-based hotel operator, work in unity in the community to design of the structure. Now, the Kyushu - Karatsu - Nagasaki - Kumamoto - Beppu, Shikoku has revamped the 125-room Best establish stronger objectives and set blind sale has embittered the com• - Ashizuri - Koehi - Takamatsu - Osaka. munity that originally sacrificed its Western Miyako Hotel with J-Pop a precedence for future develop• Preview of 2008 ment." space for the landmarks. and anime themed decor. Renamed F~b.9 Tahiti Cruise "Paul Gauguin" - 7 Days - From $3394. Hotel Torno, the rooms burst with Little Tokyo's First Street has "I feel very bad about this," said . Mar. 3 Italian Vistas - 13 Days - "All of Italy" - $3395. vibrant wall paintings of Japanese national historic .designation, but not Kamei. "I put my heart and soul into Mar. 17 China - 11 Days - $2695 - Beijing - Xian - Guiling - art and Harajuku inspired photogra• the community overall, added it and to see it taken away from us is Shanghai phy. Aihara. "I think the next step is we terrible. " Mar. 31 Japan Classic "Cherry Blossoms" 11 Days - $3595 - Tokyo The hotel's new owner must need to push for area protection." During. a recent weekend Ondo - Takayama - Nara - Maiko - Okayama - Takahashi But Little Tokyo isn't the same Festival, talk centered around the understand the difference between Miyajima - Hiroshima - Shodo Island - Kyoto. Japanese culture and Japanese place the Nisei called home - it's sale. Amidst the dancing and festivi• Apr. 14 New Japan "Off the Beaten Track" 11 Days - $3795 - Ameiican culture, critics say. changing and the sale of its key land• ties, people passed around newspa• Fukuoka - Hirado - Amakusa - Kokura - Kushimoto - Nagoya per articles and expressed amaze• "Both cultures are important to the marks may be signifying a new - Lake Kawaguchi - Mt. Fuji - Shimoda - Tokyo. future out of the hands of JA com• ment and irritation that the sale had holistic JA community. However, a May 6 New Zealand & Australia - 15 Days - $4295 - Queenstown munity groups. gone on without any input from the community cannot simply be a col• Christchurch - Melbourne - Sydney - Cairns - Reef. lection of Japanese restaurants and "Even though the name is Little community. $150-$250 discounts on Alaska Cruise - limited time only! Tokyo ... a lot of the businesses The New Otani and Weller Court anime shops. It must also include June 15 Alaska "htside Passage Cruise" 7 Days - From $1593 - historical residents, community have now been sold to non-Japanese are important landmarks and back• Minisuite $2373 - Vancouver - Ketchikan - Juneau - Sawyer based organizations, community companies," said Ito. drops for community celebrations Glacier - Skagway & Vancouver - NCL. events and gatherings," said Craig and events, said Perry. June 30 Summer Japan Classic ''Family Tour" 10 Days - $3195 Ishii, JACL Pacific Southwest . Little Tokyo's Changing With all the ownership changes, Child $2895 - Tokyo - Takayama - Nara - Maiko - Okayama - regional director who stayed at Hotel Face the community has been grappling Takahashi - Miyajima - Hiroshima- Shodo Island - Kyoto. Torno for the recent JACL board ''We have already seen signs," with an unsettling feeling. In July, July 19 Normandy to Paris River Cruise 8 Days - From $3278 - meeting. said Tom Kamei, a former structural American Commercial Equities Discounts - Full payment by 7/31/07 = $500 by 10/3/07 = In Los Angeles, where questions engineer who helped' build and bought the Japanese Village Plaza, a $350 and by 12119/07 = $250 - VIKING. continue to linger weeks after the design about 20 buildings in Little 29-year-old outdoor mall, for an Sept. 3 Scandinavia & Russia Cruise - 15 Days - From $3051 - sales were fmalized, community Tokyo. These days, the Kibei Nisei undisclosed amount. The new owner Minisuite $3661 - L.ondon - Copenhagen - Tallinn - St. leaders are demanding answers. from Pasadena walks the streets of announced upgrade plans for the Petersburg - Helsinki - Stockholm - Oslo - London - NCL. A special task force was constitut• the community he helped to redevel• plaza, but longtime tenants worry . Sept. 27 NYC - Boston - Nova Scotia - Canada - Prince Edward ed to investigate and address the op and sees corporate names like about rent increases or worse - get• lsI. Cruise - 12 Days - From $1976 - Minisuite $2656 - NCL. recent sales after an Aug. 29 infor• Subway and Pinkberry. ting pushed out. More to Come in 2008 mal meeting, said Chris Aihara, "I guess it was only a matter of American Commercial has met executive director of the Japanese time." . with community leaders a few times, ''Early Bird savings - call for new 2007 brochure" American Cultural & Community Little Tokyo has always been in but more follow up is needed, said INCLUDES - flights, porterage, hotels, sightseeing & MOST MEALS. Center in Little Tokyo. flux. Before Weller COU1t's retail Aihara. Representatives from 3D met with shops and restaurants, the now Almost overnight, luxury loft and KOKUSAI INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, INC. Aihara for lunch Sept. 4 to discuss pedestrian-only Astronaut E. S. 4911 Warner Ave., Suite 221, Huntington Beach, CA 92649 concerns and plans for the future. Onizuka Street was named Weller See LITTLE TOKYOlPage 15 714/840-0455 - FAX 714/840-0457 [1006444-10] PACIAC =CmzEN NATIONAL SEPT. 7-20, 2007 13 SOLLVGANOR Today, more than 40,000 MEETING A Robust Present, An Eye on A Strong Finish "Sugihara survivors" continue to Board members emphasized that (Continued from page 3) (Continued from page 3) the Future spread the story of Chiune Sugihara, At present, JACL is doing well, the organization's continued finan• book, "Visas for Life," she includes a man who defied direct government In April, membership dipped sig• according to June financial reports. cial health will be based on member• the passage: "Chiune Sugihara's orders to do the right thing. nificantly. because membership Fundraising goals are slightly ahead ship and the Sept. 12 inaugural decision to issue visas may have "Sugihara followed his heart. He renewal m~lings went out .late, of schedule and the May 19 tribute_ JACL gala dinner. been influenced by an eleven-year• always did in many aspects of his Kobayashi reported to the national dinner..for John Tateishi, immediate "A Salute to Champions Gala Dinner" will honor community lead• old boy named Solly Ganor." life," said Anne Akabori, chair of board. past JACL national director,.brought ers and groups like Sen. Daniel K. It is something Solly humbly the Visas for Life Foundation. "He "It appears that the switch to the in approximately $11,000. Inouye and State Farm Insurance. acknowledges as he helps spread the always believed human life was new version of Raiser's Edge With Mori's leadership, the organ• The event also has lofty fundraising story of the Japanese consul who God's most precious gift." [fundraising software] database may ization is also beginning to develop saved 6,000 Jews during WWII. have caused some problems in our goals - revenue from the gala din• new revenue sources. ner is hoped to reach $200,000 with "He was the only lighthouse in a Spreading the Word membership process. Going for• "We are developing new corpo• From his home in Herzalia, Israel an allocation of $55,000 to go sea of darkness at the time," he said, ward, I believe these issues will be rate partners who'are anxious to part• recalling his days in Lithuania play• . Solly spends his days writing articles ironed out and it will be key for towards helping the budget's bot• ner with the JACL and we will for tom-line. Proceeds from the ing with the Sugiharas two young about his Holocaust experiences and everyone to get behind developing the first time have a major founda• fundraising event will help fund a boys as Yukiko brought them sweet running his own Web site. and increasing membership," he tion who will be funding some of our Sen. Daniel K. Inouye fellowship. desserts and tea. Solly's personal experiences have added. new activities," said Mori. "This Overall·, board members agree Although Solly's family was one also served to form a close bond Edwin Endow, JACL vice presi• renewed interest.in the JACL comes that the first half of the biennium has of the first to receive the precious between the Japanese and Jewish dent of membership, has answered from the fact that we are moving in been productive for the JACL - visas from Sugihara, the Russian communities. At many of his speak• the call to action. He announced at new directions and are filling staff many national staff positions have occupation of ~eir country at the ing engagements the rooms are filled the meeting that he is launching a positions that will help us complete been filled, the organization success• time had rendered their Lithuanian with members from both communi• one-month push for new and return• our organizational objectives." fully completed an audit and mem• passports invalid. They could not ties. ing members "to get it back in JACL's investment funds are also bership software has been upgraded. escape the Nazis and the family "There are a lot of similarities September." all in the positive. But with the help of JACL mem• found themselves in the Kovno ghet• between the two communities - the bers, the organization needs to close to. Later Solly and his father were World War IT internment, the ghet• As of June 30, the Legacy Fund is Solly. "It's important to keep doing the year strongly.• sent to a satellite camp of Dauchau, toization of Jews," said Saul. "For at $6.6 million, the National . ·this. We should tell everybody about Lager X. Solly's sister and mother both groups they became canaries in Endowment sits at $465,878, the For more information about the such a cataclysmic event. .. a warn• were sent to the Stutthof concentra• a mine, a warning bell that this Life Trust is at $509,120 and the JACL Gala Dinner, go to ing of what happens when you allow tion camp. His mother passed away shouldn't happen again." Reserve Fund is at $402,003. www.jacl.org. dictators to take over your lives. It's .. at that camp of typhoid fever. "It's a fantastic story. It gives an important message that goes Although Solly's family did not everyone hope that we can learn to directly benefit from the visas, Solly • do the right thing," said Silver. through to our younger generation." (irnerican HOlidQ\{1favel treasures the kindness of a man will• At 80, Solly shows no signs of • 2007 Tour Program ing to help his fellow Jews during a slowing down. Later this year he will attend an event at New York's Solly Ganor's Web site: www.ron• OKINAWA-KYUSHU HOUDAYTOUR ...... OCT 11-24 time when many turned their backs. Naha, Beach Resort, lbusuki, Kagoshima. Kirishima Onsen, Miyazaki Sugihara "enabled the next gener• Carnegie Hall and will also travel to greene.com/solly.htrnl Visas for Life Foundation: Kumamoto. Nagasaki, Fukuoka. ation to flourish. We were like pe0- Toronto, Canada. wWw.visasforiife.org SOUTH AMERICA PATAGONIA HOUDAYTOUR ...... NOV 9-26 ple saved from death," he said. "I'm spreading the word," said Buenos Aires. TreIew, Ushuaia. GaIaIaIe Torres del Prune. Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt, Lake Crossing, Bariloche, Santiago. Meet local Nikkeis. Extension to Peru. 2008 Tour Preview PANAMA CANAUCARIBBEAN HOUDAY CRUISE ...... JAN 11·22 Ft. Lauderdale, Bahamas. Curacao, Aruba. Panama Canal. Costa Rica. HOLLAND AMERICA Volendam Ship. HOKKAIDO SNOW FESTIVALS TOUR ...... FEB 3·11 • See 5 Snow/lce Festivals, Sapporo, Shiretoko. Abashiri, Sounkyo, Asahikawa, Otaru, Shiraoi, Noboribetsu. Ride icebreaker ship ' Aurora ~ BRANSONIMEMPHISINASHVILLE HOUDAYTOUR ...... MAR 26-APR 3 st. Louis, Branson, Little RockITunica, MemphiS, Nashville. Shoji Tabuchi Show, And all this tillle you thought Elvis Presley's Graceland, Clinton Presidential UbrarylMuseum, Grand Ole Opry Show. JAPAN SPRING HOUDAYTOUR ...... MAR 26-APR 7 Fukuoka, Hagi, Iwakuni Kintaibashi, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Matsuyama. Kochi, Takamatsu, you were saving for retirelllent. Shodo Island, Okayama, Himeji Castle, Kyoto. Cherry blossom season. NEWYORKILAKE COUNTRY HOUDi\YTOUR ...... MAY 10-17 New York City. Corning, Finger Lake, Cooperstown. Lake George, Kingston, Hudson Valley, West Point Military Academy, FDR National Historic S~e. SOUTH AMERICA HOUDAYTOUR ...... JUNE 12-23 100th Year Anniversary Celebration of Japanese Immigration to Brazil in Sao Paulo. Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires. OPTION: Peru·Uma, Machu Picchu. GRANDPARENTS/GRANDCHILDREN JAPAN TOUR ...... JUNE 29-JULY 8 Tokyo, Lake Hakone, Atami, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto. Don't let a serious a(:cident or illness force you to dip into your savings to cover your ALASKA HOUDAY CRUISE ...... : ...... JULY 20-27 Seattle, Glacier Bay, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Victoria City. medical bills. Enhance your current coverage with the JACL.s\X>nsored Group HOLLAND AMERICA Westerdam ShiP. Catastrophe Major Medical Insurance PIan. The plan strengthens your current coverage CANADIAN ROCKIES TRAIN HOUDAYTOUR ...... AUG 7-14 and includes convalescent home care, home health care, private duty nursing coverage Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise, Karnloops, Vancouver, Victoria City. Rocky Mountaineer Train. and more. WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN HOUDAY CRUISE ...... SEPT 11-24 'Rome, FIorence/Pisa, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Palma de Majorca, Tunisia, For more information, call Palermo, Naples. HOLLAND AMERICA Noordam Ship. HOKKAIDO-TOHOKU HOUDAY TOUR ...... OCT 6-17 Lake Akan, Shiretoko, Abashiri, Kitami, Sounkyo, Sapporo, Otaru, Noboribetsu. Lake Toya, Hakodate, Aomori, Morioka, Matsushima, Kinugawa, Nikko, Tokyo. AUSTRAUA-NEW ZEALAND HOUDAYTOUR ...... : ...... NOV

We can also assist you with: Low-cost airiares to Japan, Japan Individual Tour arrangements, Japan Railpass, Hotels, Cars, Cruises, 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 Hida CST #2000326-10 14 SEPT. 7-20, 2007 CALENDAR/NATIONAL PACIRC 51 CmZEN CHINA BASHING from January to June 2007 is $117.5 billion, a 15.3 percent increase from (Continued from page 11) Calendar the same time last year, said Norton. Safety Commission to launch a People tend to blame international National "detain and test" program for toys trade for economic issues, he added. Wed., Sept. 12--Gala Dinner, "A made in China. Norton remembers members of Salute to Champions Gala Dinner"; "A family going inside a toy store Congress smashing Japanese-mad~ lW. Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; honorees shouldn't have to play Chinese goods in the 1980s and books warn• include Sen. Daniel Inouye, . roUlette to try to guess what toys are ing of a Japanese takeover. But then Ambassador Ryozo Kato, Sen. Larry safe for their kids," Durbin said at an Japan went into a 12-year recession. Craig, ~en Narasaki and State Farm Aug. 27 news conference at the Before people get terrified that Insurance Company;$2oo/person, Bemice E. Lavin Children's Care China is going to take over, remem• $2,OOO/table of 10; proceeds will help Center at Northwestern Memorial . ber that the American economy is fund a Sen. Daniel Inouye Fellowshj.p;. Hospital in Chicago. doing remarkably well, added Info: 2021223-1240 or [email protected]. Norton. Who Do We Blame? "Blaming China and blaming PJldwest SING!: Asian Pacific Americans on Broadway visits Los Angeles' DENVER "When I heard that Elmo and Asians is' a form of stereotyping and AratanilJapan AlT)erica Theater Sept. 16. The performance features Sat., Sept. 22-Mile-Hi JACL and racism, but it also evades the serious new songs and classic hits from Broadway shows. Dora toys were tainted I felt more Denver OCA Potluck Dinner, Social anger towards the money-grubbing responsibilities we have about the and Program; Tamai Towers American companies than the meaning of work and ways to make Penthouse, 1255 19th St.; please bring JACL, 213/626-4471 or of Compassion, Co'mmunity & Justice. Chinese manufacturers," said a living in postindustrial society," a homemade ethnic dish; featuring a SAN JOSE [email protected]. Pomponi Butler. "It just really said Kurashige. "We decry outsourc• demonstration of Japanese and Sat., Oct. 27--6th Annual San Jose Sun., Sept. 16-Perfomlance, Asian became clear that they don't have ing to China and other countries, but Chinese dishes and Keiko Kawahara JACL Community Recognition Americans on Broadway; 3 p.m.; our kids' best interests at heart, they at the same time we go shopping at of Guarantee Bank will speak on pro• Dinner; Holiday Inn San Jose; $75/per• AratanilJapanAmerica Theatre, 244 S. just want to make money." places like Wal-Mart that are ped• tecting yourself from fraud scams. son; dinner will also feature a silent . San Pedro St.; featuring some of the dling to China. At what point do we Sat., Sept. 29-Japanese Association auction and benefit drawing. Info: Jeff top Asian American artists on Although product safety is a prob• of Colorado lOOth 'Anniversary Yoshioka, 4081363-8191 or jyoshio• Bro'adway performing new songs and lem both countries need to tackle, stop seeing ourselves as victims?" Celebration; 6-7 p.m. social hour, 7-lO [email protected]. classics from hit Broadway musicals. the recent recalls would most likely It's a wake up call, he added. p.m. banquet and ' program; Arvada Info: www.jaccc.org. not affect trade relations between the "Stereotyping China gets us Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Central Calforria U.S. and China, said Stephen nowhere. We need to think about Arvada, Colo. ; keynote speaker, for• Sun., Sept. 30--Aki Matsuri FRESNO these decisions we make as con• mer Denver Mayor Wellington Webb; Boutique; 9:30-3:30 p.m.; Venice Norton, a spokesperson for the Sat., Oct. 13--Fresno Gumyo Taiko's $25. Community Center, 12448 Braddock Office of the U.S. Trade sumers. Everyone needs to make 20th Anniversary Concert; 7 p.m.; Dr.; featuring clothing, jewelry; hand• Representative in Washington, D.C. healthy chpices rather than go after PacifIC Northwest Fresno High Auditorium; featuring a made gifts, food and much more; ven- "Do we need to make sure toys the cheapest product." • PORTLAND special performance by Las Vegas . dors accept cash or check only. Info: are safe? Yes. Do we tenninate trade Wed.-Jl'ri., Sept. 26-28--Annual For more information on product Kaminari Taiko; $lO. Tickets can be Jean, 3101390-6914. with your fourth or fifth largest trad• Moonviewing Celebration; 6:30-8:30 purchase from any Fresno Gumyo recalls: www.cpsc.gov ing partner because some products p.rn.; Portland Japanese Garden, 611 Taiko member, Fresno Buddhist are potentially unsafe? No," said Old 'Made in the USA' commer• SW Kingston Dr.; write a few lines of Church, 'Kubo Orthodontic Group of HONOLULU Norton. poetry, taste miso soup and toast the Sophie Nagao at 559/896-6283. Sat., Sept. 29-"Celebration of cial: http://y6utube.com!watch? rising moon; $25/members, $35/non• Leadership and Achievement Dinner The US. trade deficit with China v=xm3lXeAYEVg members and reservations are Southern Calforria presented by the Japanese Cultural required. RSVP: 5031542-0280, LONG BEACH Center of Hawaii; 5 p.m.; Hilton www.japanesegarden.com!events/moo Sun., Sept. 16-PSW District JACL's Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom; . Nisei Cadet Nurse of World War II: nviewing#reservat1ons or events@ Dinner Show; Long Beach Maniot; $ 150/person. Info: JCCH, 808/945- 7633 or [email protected]. japanesegarden.com. reception begins at 5 p.m.; this year's Patriotism in Spite of Prejudice Interl1'lOll1tain dinner will feature the Grateful Crane Nevada By Thelma Robinson ALBUQUERQUE Ensemble's production "Nihonmachi: LAS VEGAS Sun., Sept. 3O-Aki Matsuri 2007 The Place to Be"; $100/person. Info or Oct. 2-4--Jerome Reunion, "The JAPANESE VERSION "Shodo: Way of the Brush, Where sponsorship opportunities: 2131626- Last Round-Up"; California Hotel COMING IN NOVEMBER Wri~g Becomes Art"; 10-6 p.m.; 4471 or psw@jacLorg. and Casino; buffet luncheon, National Hispanic Cultural Center, LOS ANGELES $25/person, RSVP by Aug. 20 to: FromJapanes~AJnerican Jerome Reunion Committee, 519 W. 1701 · 4th St., SW; $3 Sat., Sept. IS-Workshop, "Finding Internment Camps to the fundraising/admission fee; Info: Esther 157th St., Gardena, CA 90248; the Next Chapter President"; 9-4 p.rn.; U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. Churchwell, [email protected] or JACCC, 244 S. San Pedro St.; a broad Nisei Charter Bus Lines is available 505/883-5320. from Gardena and Long Beach. range of topics from how to recruit This is the story of Nisei . new chapter presidents, clinical ~ls Info: George Nakayama, 310/323- 4789, Masato "Milt" Fukuda, cadet nurses - of their Northern Calforria of being chapter president and Chapter SACRAMENTO 310/327-3923 or Margie experiences in wretched Presidency 101; deadline to sign up is Fri., Sept. 21--Shigin Presentation; 7 (Nakamura) Tanaka, 562/402-3326. camps, of people who risked Sept. 11. Info or to register: PSW p.m.; Asian Community Center, 7375 public scorn to support Park City Dr.; shigin is an ancient form • Japanese Americans, of prej-' of chanting poetry; registration begin udicial difficulties in enter• at 6:30 p.rn.; $5/donation. Info and ing nursing schools, and of a reservations, 916/422-9893 or government that reversed its policy against a people of jkpca21 @yahoo.com. Japanese descent. SAN FRANCISCO Sat.-Sun., Sept. 15-16-Intemational \( tmlml~ Taiko Festval2007; Sat. 2 and 7 p.rn., If you are over age 50 www.cadetnurse.com and have $100,000 or Sun. 2 p.m.; Yerba Buena Center for more in the bank, ------ORDER- FORM: $20.00 + $4.50 sth the Arts Theater, 700 Howard St.; $42 investments or NAME: ______(senior and student discounts avail• retirement accQunts, what you don't know able). Box office, 415/978-2787 or could wipe out a ADDRESS: ______-.- ______ybca.org. Info: 415/928-2456 or lifetime of hard• sftaiko.com. earned savings. CITY: ______STATE: _____ ZIP: _____ Thurs., Sept. 27-American Friends Service Committee's 65th Anniversary Mail to: Black Swan Mill Press, 2525 Arapahoe Ave., Suite E4, dinner, "Across Generations: 65 Years PMB 534, Boulder, CO 80302 PACIFIC iii CmZEN OBITUARIES SEPT. 7-20, 200715 LllTLE TOKYO In Los Angeles, however, the ten• sion is palpable. Pioneering .Journalist ' (Continued from page 12) In Memoriam - "Even right now I don't know condominIum complexes have why [Kajima] sold it," said Shigeki 2007 '.Jookie' Ku Dies at 97 Ma~uda, By Pacific Citizen Staff Missouri School of Journalism. changed the skyscape and face of owner of Orochon Ramen, All the towns are In Little Tokyo. Next to the Hikari, a' a popular restaurant on the third California except as noted. Ah Jook "Jookie" Ku, the first During the 1940s she headed to China covering the government of multi-level apartment building on floor of Weller Court. 'They may Abe, Tomiko Sugi, 90, Livonia, Asian American reporter for the President Chiang Kai-Shek. After the comer of Second and Alameda change everything. They may put in Mich., June 19; survIved by daugh• Associated Press and the- first AA returning to Hawaii she worked in Streets, sushi restaurants stand like American shops. I don't know any• ter, Caryn (Dennis) Haupt; 1 gc.; female writer the public relations field and retired sentinels from Little Tokyo's past. thing. Of course I'm concerned." brother, Chihiro and Charles Sugi; for the Starting at $1,650, Angelenos can Matsuda is in an especially vul• sister, Furniko Kobayashi; and sis• Honolulu in 1975 after working as a public live in Hikari's one-bedroom studio nerable position - his restaurant's ter-in-Iaw, Miyo Abe. Star-Bulletin, information specialist with the state Department of Education. and overlook Honda Plaza, an old five-year lease is up at the end of the passed away Little Tokyo mainstay. month. He has another five-year This compilation appe8(S on a space• on Aug. 6. She For more than 25 years Ku was "Little Tokyo is in danger," said option, but he doesn't know who to available basis at no cost. Printed obit• was 97. involved with the Honolulu uaries from your newspaper are wel• Ishii. "I see Little Tokyo in danger of talk to. Community Media Council, contin• come. "Death Notices, n which appear One of 15 uing her dedication to Ihe principles further losing the sense of communi-, On a hot weekend as the lunch in a timely manner at request ofthe children, Ku ty that it used to have." hour crowd begins to stream into his family or funeral director, are published was born in Kailua, Hawaii on April of fair and honest journalism. restaurant, Matsuda says if he opens at the rate of$20 per column inch. 7iJxf 24, 1910. After winning scholar• In 2002, the Council presented is rewolded as necessaty. a Japanese Enclaves of the up another restaurant, he would ship to the Mid-Pacific Institute, in Ku with the Fletcher Knebel Award for outstanding contributions in Future scout out locations in other Japanese 1933 she earned an education enclaves in West Los Angeles" Higano, Dr. Norio, 86, journalism. It didn't take long for Little Westborough, Mass., June 16; sur• degree from the University of Sawtelle District or Torrance. But he She is survived by sister Yuk Jun Tokyo's news 'to get to San Jose vived by wife, Dorothy; daughters, Hawaii. 1\vo years later she attend• wants to maintain a presence in "Jutmie" Joseph of Honolulu.• Japantown. At an Aug. 28 communi• Dr. Celestia Higano (Dr. Jack ed the prestigious University of Little Tokyo .. ty meeting, talk was focused on 3D's Singer) . and Priscilla (Jon) Rohrer; 'This is where my customers are," purchases in San Francisco and now son, Dr. Stuart (Karen); 7 gc.; and Mary; sons, Richard (Eileen) and law, Mitzi Nakao. Bob (Kathleen); daughters, Kaisy Los Angeles. he said. sister, Dr. Aiko Higano Kodama. Uno, Shigeko, 92, Bellevue, and Violet

COMMENTARY workshops on college 'Now I look back at the year I spent with journey as a law student at campuses and tried to JACL and see it as a crossroads ofmy future.' Howard University and in large involve myself with part, my reasons for going to one Capitalizing on a Dream - Brandon Mita, former JACL fellow the JACL National of the most prestigious historical By BRANDON MITA need to start looking for jobs. In fact, Youth/Student Council black colleges stems from my time many of my friends who- stood on as much as I possibly at JACL. I hope to leave Howard I wonder how many school chil• the picket lines with me for the cre- could. - with a well-rounded perspective dren, when asked by their grade ation of an Asian American Studies In reflection, what I on how I may be able to combat school teachers what they want to be program at UlC, eventually sold was doing could not be the many forms of oppression, when they grow up; stand up with themselves out for a cushy corpOrate considered real work racism and injustice that are still both hands waving frantically in the job. I can't blame them for looking because of the amount ongoing within and towards com• air and shout, "I want to be a not-for• for any type of inceme to offset the of fun I had. From the munities of color. profit civil rights attorney!" costs of their high-priced education. two years I spent on Lastly, having worked for the This is not to say that I boldly I won't hide the fact that I was one of the Chicago chapter majority of my year empowering stood before a classroom and pro• the few lucky ones. board before signing students to become more involved nounced my undying aspirations to When Bill Yoshino called me and on the dotted line for within various communities and remain at a non-profit pay grade for asked if I would be interested in a national JACL, I was with JACL, I want to encourage the majority of my career. Instead, one-year national JACL fellowship already hooked on vol• more of my Japanese American for the longest time, I followed at the Midwest office, I kept my cool unteering. Frankly, the brothers and sisters to take advan• trends without understanding and on the phone, but was actually jump-- fellowship stipend I tage of the amazing opportunities said I wanted to be an astronaut, a ing up and down in jubilation in the received for the work each month I cannot find too many instances JACL has to offer. professional basketball player or a crowded hallway. Looking back at was just a huge bonus. where a person in a fellowship My Facebook networks have video game tester. _ that exact moment, the kids walking More than the great contacts I position can have the ability to be grown tremendously and my It was not until my undergraduate by me must have thought I was a made, and more than overcoming heard and have hislher opinions United Mileage Plus bonus miles years at the University of Illinois at raving lunatic. my fear of public speaking, the one taken seriously. This position have racked me a couple of free Chicago (UlC) that I began to solid• Now I look back at the year I spent thing that this fellowship gave me allowed for such open dialogue trips back and forth from my ify my moral compass. I knew I with JACL and see it as a crossroads that I will truly cherish is the family and it has done nothing but boost future home in-Washington, D.C. wanted a career that worked towards of my future. From the many things - I now feel I have with the national my belief in myself to move for• to myoid neighborhood in the many notions of equality that, to I worked on, I have come to under- JACL program staff. Having a star• ward. I will miss the work and the Chicago. So, if you are interested this day, are severely lacking for stand the complex nature of the old- studded array of people, which staff dearly, but I hope that one in the fellowship and are looking people of color; be it affordable est and largest APA civil rights , include Bill Yoshino, John Tateishi, day I will be able to rejoin their for more detailed information, housing, access to quality healthcare organization in the U.S. As a quasi- Karen Yoshitomi, Patty Wada and rws and help JACL reach its contact the JACL. • or the education we receive in our member of the national JACL staff, I _ Floyd Mori, gave me the confidence goals for the future. I thank Bill classrooms. assisted with the research and forrna- to struggle with the issues day-in and Yoshino and the Ford Fund for its Brandon Mita recently served as As many of my friends who have tion of national JACL policy, day-out as well as voice my opinion generosity in giving me the oppor• the JACL Fordfellow. For more recently graduated will openly say, addressed issues of hate crimes and when I felt that something needed to tunity to work for the JACL. info .on the fellowship contact: the hardest part of it all is when we hate incidents, assisted in presenting be addressed. . This fall, I will be starting a new [email protected].

100% Financing on New Cars 100% Financing on Used Cars

Existi~g Refinance Loans National JACL

..... ~ __.w._ ...... No-Fee Auto Loans Credit Union New or Used Cars (800) 544-8828 www.jaclcu.com *OAC DOES NOT INCLUDE: Tax, License, & Extended Warranties **This offer-not valid to existing car loans with the credit union