The fight honor of 2 FEB. 19:MAR. 4, 2010 LEITERS/WHAT'S INSIDE PACIFIC !!ill CITlZEN ...... ~ ...... ~ ...... •...... : ...... ~ : ~ . . PACIfiC II CmZEN
: ' :F§ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. . HOWTO REACH US E-mail: [email protected] was an inconvenient truth for .: Online: www.pacificcitizen.org An Open Letter you to mention. Tel:(800) 966-6157 You can continue forever to : Fax: (213) 620-1768 to John Tateishi try to make Ehren Watada look ; Mail: 250E.FirstStreet.Suite 301 honorable, and with many, you :' Los Angeles, .CA 90012 . In your column entitled, "About will succeed. However, for the : STAFF Honor," (Feb. 5-18) I find it inter• vast majority of people who : Executive Editor Caroline Y. Aoyagi-Stom esting that you would spend the have serve'd in America's armed : first six paragraphs of your col• forces, there will never be any- : Assistant Editor Lynda Lin umn praising the Nisei vets, thing honorable about abandon- : believing that this sets up the ing your soldiers as they prepare : Reporter One of the options Metro presented was a below ground plan. comparison to Ehren Watada with to deploy into combat, in viola- : NaleaJ. Ko this group of incredible heroes. tion of an oath that some of us : Business Manager ~ Support the Regional Connector This makes as much sense as hold very sacred. Vacant . spending several pages talking Circulation As a longtime visitor to Little Tokyo, I have seen how bad the traffic and about the greatness of President CHIP LAROUCHE : Eva Lau-ling parking can get in the downtown area. In fact, this traffic has become a Abraham Lincoln, then compar• Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Retired : major barrier to myself and other Japanese Americans who wish to attend ing that to the courage of The Pacific Citizen newspaper (ISSN: events in Little Tokyo. President Richard ·Nixon. This 0030-8579) is published semi-monthly The Downtown Regional Connector will help alleviate this problem. kind of logic leap is a bit too wide Tell Us What (except once in December and January) by the Japanese American for many of us. All construction, whether it is construction of the Budokan of Los You Think Citizens League. Angeles or the Nikkei Center or a new light rail line, will require mitiga• In your article, you mention that tion. Lt. Ehren Watada was allowed to Write to: Letters, Pacific Citizen JACL resign his commission from the 1765 Sutter St. My concern is that if the JA community does not show strong support 250 E. 1st St., Suite # 301 for .. the underground option, the MTA will likely go with the at-grade Army in September 2009. It is San Francisco, CA94115 Los Angeles, CA 90012 JACL President: Larry Oda option. By opposing both options, the JACLis standing in the way of solv• interesting, however, that you did or e-mail: [email protected] National Director. Floyd Mon ing one of Little Tokyo's biggest problems. not mention that . Ehren Watada Letters may be edited for length was actually discharged from the Pc. BOARD OF DIRECTORS JAMES FUJITA : U.S. Army "under other than hon• and darity. Margie Yamamoto, chairperson; Paul via e-mail ~ orable conditions." I suppose that Niwa, EDC; Lisa Hanasono, MDC; Jason Chang, CCDC; Judith Aono, NCWNPDC; Hugh Burleson, PNWDC; Jeff ltami, IDC; Cindi Harbottle, PSWDC; Sonya Kuki, Youth
SUBSCRIBE Get a one-year subscription of the Pacific Citizen newspaper at: FEB. 19-MAR. 4, 2010 -_--.... www.pacfficcitizen,org or call - .. (SOO) 966-6157 Honorary Degrees Power of Words ADVERTISE' If your education were interrupted Mako Nakagawa revisits the use of To advertise in the Pacific Citizen, call because of WWII, Calif. colleges euphemism to describe the WWII (800) 966-6157 or e-mail: [email protected] may be looki29 for you. treaunent of JAs. PAGE 12 PAGE 1u LEGAL . MarkKeam No part of this publication may be repro• Toyota Lawsuit The newly elected lawmaker keynoted duced without the express permission A JA family is suing the car company the Washi~ton, D.C, installation dinner. of the Pacific Citizen. over the death of Noriko Uno. PA(,iE 12 Editorials, news and the opinions PAGE 7' expressed by columnists other than the EfighSdhoolReundon national JACL president or national director do not necessarily reflect JACL Far East Movement Walk down memory 'Iane with other policy. Event and products advertised in The hip-hop group is moving on up in Manzanar High School alumni at their the Pacific Citizen do not carry the Ethnic Studies in ,",igh Schools the music world. summer reunion. PAGE 15 implicit endorsement of the JACL or this publication. We reserve the right to edit Educators say the pilot program will help students learn about their roots. PAGE 9 IN EVERY ISSUE . articles. Immigration Refunn JACL MEMBERS Vet8Stamp Bringing Back Mas To pass comprehensive reform legisla• VOICES ...... PAGE 8 Change of Address Leaders are continuing to push for a Naomi Hirahara talks inspiration in tion this year, all of JACL needs to get CALENDAR ...... PAGE 14 involved. PAGE 13 OBITUARIES ...... PAGE 15 If you've moved, please Nisei postage stamp. PAGE 3 the new Mas Arai series. PAGE 4: send new infonnation to: National JACL 1765 Sutter Sl San Francisco, CA ON- WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG 94115 More Web exclusive stories about the APA community at the click Allow 6 weeks fO( address changes.
Actress Gina To avoid interruptions ·Hiraizumi in delivery. please Ghost Hunter notify your postmas• talks about ' Joe Chin was ter to include penodi• cals in your change APAs in once bitten by of address (USPS Hollywood. a ghost. Form 3575) PACIFIC iii CmzEN NATIONAL NEWS FEB. 19-MAR. 4, 2010 3 Campaign to "onor Nisei Veterans Won't Be Sta~ped Out
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George Fujimori (above) served in the Military Intelligence Service during World War II and now volunteers at the Go For Broke Monument.
Supporters say despite rejection they will con• itself and it takes away from the internees." would be saying 'thank you' to the Nisei WWII veterans." tinue to work toward honoring Japanese Although it has been years since the campaign for a Nisei Although the Nisei veterans continue to wait for a stamp, American World War II veterans. veterans stamp began, supporters said they would continue to sailors from War World I were honored by the USPS . On fight indefinitely to honor the JAs who served in the war. Feb. 4 the USPS issued the 'Distinguished Sailors' stamps to By Nalea J. Ko ''The ~ssroots campaign to honor these veterans from commemorflte the service of William S. Sims, Arleigh A. Reporter our community will continue for as long as it takes: We have Burke, John McCloy and Doris Miller. Proponents of the actually been a campaign for about six yeats total," Nisei vets stamp said the same should be done to honor the Nisei veteran Jimmie Kanaya remembers how Issei par• explained Wayne Osako, co-chair and coordinator .of the JAs. ents would watch their children go off to fight in World War campaign. "Stamp campaigns are ·typically a very long ''The [Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee] has in the II from behind barbed wire fences. process. We must be prepared to just keep going until the past supported similar stamps which honor veterans groups: Many, he said, displayed a blue-star flag in their front win• Postal Service says 'yes.'" Hispanic Americans: A Proud Heritage (1984) and Buffalo dows, waiting in vain for their children to return. When they Soldiers (1994)," Osako said, adding that the stamp commit• did not, a flag with a gold star was placed in their windows. Preserving a Legacy tee altered its policy ~ 1994. ''There was no way to fight back at being termed a"yellow Since the proposal for a Nisei vets stamp has been turned The JACL is also supporting the campaign's decision to Jap', but to enter combat and be willing to give our all for the down, supporters are now focusing their efforts on changing change the USPS policy, explained JACL National President sake of our family, reputation and our country," Kanaya the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) informal policy against Larry ada. explained about serving in WWII. "Some 800 young men in issuing stamps for individual units, branches or divisions. ''The NVSC [Nisei Veterans Stamp Committee] argument their prime gave their all so that those of us who survived can The strategy is to appeal to the postmaster general, who is that the World War II Nisei soldiers served in different . retupl to our rightful place in our society, heads held high and overrules the advisory committee, to stop using this infonnal branches of the military, and their accomplishments are without shame or remorse." policy, said Yamada. He is scheduled to make a presentation unmatched in history and are encouraging our coalition part• Over 30,000 Japanese Americans like Kanaya served in to the National Military Veterans Alliance on Feb. 22, outlin• ners to support the effort," ada explained in an e-mail to the WWII. The Japanese American WWII Veterans ing the strategy and asking for its members' support. Pacific Citizen. A. resolution to consider supporting the Commemorative Stamp Campaign has been pushing for "If the alliance agrees to it, then hopefully they'll sign on memorial stamp was on the February agenda for the JACL years to honor JAs like Kanaya with a commemorate postage to the letter (on their letterhead) and send a letter into the post National Board meeting. The agenda item was removed at stamp. master general," Yamada added. The letter will be copied to the request of the resolution author, ada said, and asked to be It has been a long wait for Kanaya and other Nisei veter• the president, secretary of defense and secretary of vherans postponed and reconsidered at the convention. ans. The latest proposal for a Nisei veterans stamp was affairs. About 50,000 stamp proposals are submitted to the stamp rejected. The reason: the U.S. Postal Service's Citizens' Some said the USPS policy unfairly excludes Nisei veter• committee annually. Osako said he resubmitted a Nisei vet• Stamp Advisory Committee's policy against honoring sepa• ans. Ken Akune, 86, who served in the Military Intelligence erans stamp proposal Oct. 23. Supporters said they are pre• rate military sub-branches, units or divisions. Service (MIS) in the Pacific said he has seen stamps honor• pared to continue the campaign indefinitely. Instead the committee, which works on behalf of the post• ing individuals, military branches, units and divisions. He "I think what it may eventually, hopefully take is for the master general to evaluate stamp proposals, suggested creat• questioned why a Nisei veterans stamp could not be made. postmaster general to say, 'No we can't use this informal pol• ing a stamp honoring the National Japanese American Akune said he could imagine what he would do with such icy.'" Yamada continued, ."Even though the proposal has Memorial to Patriotism in Washington, D.C. But some sup• a stamp. been turned down, there's no prohibition to resubmitting it." porters of the Nisei vets stamp disagree with creating a stamp "It would be nice to pass it out," he said. Veterans like Kanaya said they would like to see a stamp to honor the memorial. Others are also thinking about the significance of having created not to honor any particular units, person or event, but "It's not a military memorial," said Gerald Yamada, Nisei the commemorative stamp. to honor Nisei veterans who served during a trying time in veterans stamp project liaison for the Japanese American . "Getting a Nisei veterans stamp will mean so much to us, the United States. While the campaign continues, Kanaya is Veterans Association (JAVA). "So just to take a Japanese especially the WWII veterans, who are dying at a very fast already planning on what he would do with his stamps. American memorial and say, 'Let's convert this into a mili• pace," said Grant Ichikawa, an MIS veteran. ''To me, every "I would purchase it and cherish it as a memento of a very tary memorial' I think diverts the purpose for the memorial time someone pastes the stamp on an envelope, he or she trying period in my lifetime," he said .• ... FEB. 19-MAR. 4, 2010 NATIONAL NEWS PACIRciI CITIZEN Bringing Back Mas Arai. The reluctant sleuth in Naomi Hirahara 5' mysrery series is back in 'Blood Hina. '
By Nalea J. Ko Reporter
PASADENA, Calif.-Author Naomi Hirahara said her father's history was her inspiration for the popular Mas Arai mystery series, but the rest of the protagonist's characteris• tics were fictionalized. Born in California, her father Isamu (or Sam) moved to Hiroshima as a baby. There he survived the atomic bomb, being only miles from where it dropped. He returned to California after World War II and worked in gardening. Parts of his life mirror the background of the fictional character Mas. And when her father read about the mystery series' leading character the similarities did not go unno• ticed. "And I gave one to my dad and my dad read it and he , goes, 'Oh my gosh! Koral Hey, this is me!' I go, 'Dad you took me to track - you know I was writing about a charac• ter like you,'" explained Hirahara, breaking into a smile. Also a Japanese American gardener, Mas is more intro• verted than her father, Hirahara explained. When Mas is not trimming lawns in Los Angeles, he is involved in some• times bloody and dangerous mysteries. Mas the reluctant sleuth returns again to solve another mystery in Hirahara's latest book in the series, "Blood Hina." The book is slated for release March 2. It is the fourth book in what is likely to be a seven-series set, said Hirahara. In the story, Mas is on the case again Hirahara didn't expect her mystery stories about a Japanese American gardener to become serialized, but fans wanted Mas. after his best friend's soon-to-be' wife reports that her Japanese dolls are missing from her home. The'elderly gar• dener sets out to help his friend, but gets mired in a case Southern California Booksellers Association's bestsellers "I think because I lived in that kind of [bilingual] house• involving all the elements of a mystery book: drugs, murder list. Hirahara explained tha:t when she began writing hold I wanted to reflect that," she explained. "That's proba• and deception. "Summer of the Big Bachi" she did not expect it to become bly the most controversial aspect of my books. . .. r mean Years after the first mystery book was penned, Hirahara serialized. But fans wanted Mas. some people have said, 'Well isn't it kind of disrespectful said she has fallen in love with the characters of the book. Carnations, gladiolas and bird of paradise flowers are the for like my character to speak in dialect?'" Fans and book reviewers also have an affinity for the char• backdrop for the latest novel, which is partially set in Los "You have to kind of make decisions that are· right for acters. But they have different ways of Angeles' flower market. your characters in the story and just work from there." showing their attachment to the books. Each book starts with a Born in Southern California, Hirahara worked as a "I think he [my father] is puzzled and clue. This book's clue: a reporter and editor for the Rafu Shimpo newspaper. There doesn't quite know what to make of it," Hina Matsuri doll, or Girls' she worked in the heart of downtown Los Angeles next to Hirahara explained about her father's reac• Day doll. Hirahara areas like Skid Rowand the flower market, which would tion to the series. "I know when I was leav• explained that she wanted serve as the setting to her mystery books years later. ing one time ... he stood on the porch and to incorporate the Japanese Hirahara said there is something more magical about creat• he goes, 'Hey, my friends are wondering dolls into the stories. ing nonfiction compared to working in journalism. when the next one is coming out. ", "So, this is the Girls' Day "It just so happened. I think my alter ego is like this doll that my relatives sent crotchety old man llaughs]," Hirahara said about writing Meet Mas Arai to my mother when J was from the male perspective of Mas. "But I'm kind of glad to . The process of researching, writing and fo'ur," Hirahara said, write it from a male perspective because I think for so long publishing her first mystery book in the pulling out a tattered case when you looked at a woman writing Asian American liter• series took about 15 years. When Hirahara containing two intricate, ature it's more like Amy Tan and you usually wrote from a sought feedback about her first book slightly worn Hina dolls female point of view." "Summer of Big Bachi," people advised wrapped in plastic. "I don't Hirahara is doing research for her next mystery book, her not to write about the JA experience. know I was just looking at which is likely to involve baseball and "more contemporary "Even some other people mentioned, the dolls and I was thinldng issues.·" Not ready to part with Mas, she hopes to publish well you sh()uld write about, you know, the it would be fun if I did more mystery books in the future. dominant culture - the white culture - something with them," "You know I know they're elderly and realistically prob• becaus~ that's the only way you could get 'Blood Hina' is slated for release March 2, Hirahara added about the ably some of them should be passing away," Hirahara a best selling hook." Hirahara added, "But dolls, which were sent to explained. "But there's 'no way I would do that. I mean I I think I wanted to write something that I her as a child from relatives shouldn't say that because who knows what happens in the would like to read, something that wasn't in Japan. future. I think in that way.that's what's wonderful about fic• readily available." - Incorporating JA culture into her books was important for tion and writing a mystery series character. Some of it can Not heeding their advice, Hirahara published her first Hirahara. Her characters reflect the JA California experi• be like a fantasy in some ways." • book in 2004. It was nominated for the Macavity Award and ence. Some of the dialogue portrays characters speaking in took the Chicago Tribune's 10 best mysteries and thrillers broken English and Japanese, which Hirahara said has been On the Web award. Her second book, "Gas a-Gas a Girl," was also on the controversial. www.naomihirahara.com PACIFlC Ii: CRlZEN NATIONAL NEWS FEB. 19-MAR. 4, 2010 5
Fredic H. Yamamoto, 56, pictured above in happier times with his sister Ellen Yamamoto, is believed to have taken an inflatable kayak out on Lake Washington (left) the day he disappeared.
------r------~ ---- ~amily Members Search For Answers in Mysterious Disappearance
Fredric H. Yamamoto was last seen Sept. 29 in with his sister Ellen. They were "American military depend• kayak out on Lake Washington the day he disappeared. Keams his hometown of Bothell, Wash. The 56-year-old ents," she said. Yamamoto later graduated from the Brooks said she intends to continue passing out posters in the lake area is believed to have taken an inflatable kayak out Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, Calif. where his par• in the hopes of shedding light on Yamamoto's disappearance. on Lake Washington. ents eventually retired. Yamamoto later moved to Washington "Anytime when someone goes missing and - a family State. His sister, who lives in California, described him as a member turns up missing - if there's something we could do By Nalea J. Ko, "skilled photographer" and "accomplished classiclrock guitar in terms of increasing public awareness we should do that," Reporter player." said Karen Yoshitomi, JACL Pacific orthwe t regional direc• "Fred did not leave a letter or any mes age . so I can't say tor. Missing-person fliers with Fredric H. Yamamoto's smiling it's a suicide or accident," Ellen Yamamoto said in an e-mail to "It's also a support to the family as well as knowing efforts photo are no longer hanging at the local Safeway store his the Pacific Citizen. ''The last time we spoke he was upbeat and are being made to at least try and bring some closure. I can't neighbors said he frequented. It was one of the only places there was no indication anything was wrong." image how difficult it might be not knowing." neighbors said the "quiet" Yamamoto went to when he left his Yamamoto's sister hired a private investigator on Nov. 16 His sister Ellen said she was devastated when he heard rented Bothell, Wash. townhouse. He disappeared, they said, as after traveling to Washington State when word of his disap• about her brother. She appeared on the local TV news stations if he had gone to the market and never returned. pearance surfaced. His family was notified when Yamamoto as cadaver dogs searched the park on Nov. 21 where his car In October Yamamoto's abandoned car was located by a did not pay his November rent. was found. security guard at Denny Park and eventually towed and Martin also called the Snohomish County Sheriff Martin said she never saw Yamamoto with a kayak or heard impounded on Oct. 14. Department to open a missing person's case. him mention camping, hiking or kayaking. Snohomish County Sheriff Department officials searched "Let me tell you about Fred," Martin said. "He was a total ''The lake is maybe 10 miles from here," she explained. the vehicle Nov. 20, finding no signs of foul play. One thing loner. Very much a stay-at-home and not-bother-anybody type "Why would he pick that place? It's like way off the beaten recovered of interest was an empty, inflatable kayak bag. The of guy. Absolutely one of the nicest people you'.
By Pacific Citizen Staff JAVA Honors Shinseki Sec. of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has received the Courage, Honor and Patriotism Award from the Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) in recognition of his 44 years of leadership in the US. Arnl.y and in the Department of Veterans Affairs. JAVA President Robert Nakamoto said Shinseki is "our ultirilate role model." Noriko Uno, who passed away in August, is pictured here with her husband Peter (left) and son Jeffrey. Tennis Aces at Longwood Cricket Club Dr. Yutaka Kobayashi of Wellesley, Mass. and his partner, Larry Lawsuit Seeks Acceleration Fix For More Toyotas McDonnell of Potomac, MD, won th~ bronze ball (third place) in doubles at the US. Tennis Association's (USTA) Men's 85 National Grass Court Noriko Uno's 2006 Camry suddenly accelerated despite Mardirossian, wants Toyota to Championship held at the Longwood Cricket Club. At the USTAMen's her attempts to stop, according to the suit retrofit 2002-06 model year vehicles National Clay Court Championships, they repeated their third place win in that are not equipped with a mecha• doubles. By Greg Risling the family's attorney. nism that overrides the accelerator if Kobayashi, a former Topaz internee and retired biochemist, won the Associated Press Writer "Now we are fmding it's not the gas and brake pedals are pressed bronze ball in singles. . human error. It's the vehicle," he at the same time. While such override systems are Hawaii JACL Honored With Civil Rights Award LOS ANGELES-A lawsuit filed said. . Feb. 4 against Toyota Motor Corp. Uno, 66, who ran a family restau• not required, some automakers do The Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights awarded its annual Dr. Martin Luther seeks to expand the automaker's rant, died after her car went onto a put them in their vehicles, King, Jr. Friends Award to the Hawaii JACL for its mission to protect the recall of millions of vehicles to fix center median, struck a telephone Mardirossian said. civil rights of JAs and all victims of inj~stice and discrimination. The sticking accelerators, saying the phone and then hit a large tree. She "Our goal is to get the message award celebrates King's life and vision. death of a Southern California . was traveling at up to 100 miles per out to get these cars fixed and make them safe," he said. . Eagle Scouts' Honor Japanese American woman could hour, Mardirossian said. She was have been prevented if her car had a wearing her seat belt and even pulled Toyota recently recalled nearly brake override system. her parking brake in an attempt to 4.6·rnillion vehicles to fix accelera• The lawsuit was filed in Los slow down or stop. tor pedals that could get stuck. The Angeles Superior Court on behalf of 'There is no way my mom would only Carnry models inclusled were the family of Noriko Uno, who was be going 90 to 100 mph, no reason," from the 2007-lO model years. killed in August in San Bernardino said Jeffery Uno, 34, who said his Mardirossian said adding a brake County when her 2006 Carnry sud• mother didn't like to drive on the override system would be a "simple denly accelerated on a residential freeway. "It makes no sense for her fix," without having the automaker street despite her attempts to stop. to willingly go that fast." to install heavy machinery. He The suit cites dozens of com• Uno's accident occurred the same couldn't estimate how much it plaints of unexpected acceleration day when a fiery crash of a 2009 would cost. made to the National Highway Lexus ES 350 killed California Uno's husband, Peter Uno, held a Traffic Safety Administration. Uno's Highway Patrol Officer Mark picture of his wife at a news confer• PHOTO: IWoY HAYASHIMOTO LAREAU death could have been prevented had Saylor, 45, and three members 'Of his , ence announcing the lawsuit and had a message for Toyota executives. (L-r) Rev. Gerald Sakamoto, Hirasawa, Tan, Matsumj)to, Doi and Sugano. Toyota not blamed the accidents on family in Santee. An inquiry into the driver error, said Garo Mardirossian, crash led to the recall. "Bring back my wife," he said.•
Troop 611 from the San Jose Buddhist ChurchBetsuin in San Jose, Calif. awarded five of their own the highest rank in scouting, the Eagle Scout Award. Jeffrey Doi, Kenneth Matsumoto, Robert Sugano, Kyle Bone Marrow Donor Needed For Natalie Nakatani , Tan and Garrick Hirasawa joined the more than one hundred Troop 611 ers. Nakatani, who family use at home kits can be requested Boy Scouts who recently became Eagle Scouts. members describe as from DKMS, the world's largest "joyful" and "artistic," marrow donor center. • . Knicks Honors Misaka suffered a relapse recent• Former New York Knicks player Wat Misaka was rec~ntly honored by ly. Order an at home kit: the basketball franchise at a game in Madison Square Garden. Misaka was Her greatest chance for https:llwww.dkmsamericas.org the first non-white person to play in the National Basketball Association. a bone marrow match is Misaka was drafted in 1947. from those of Asian HELP NATALIE descent. Lewis Suzuki Day Nakatani's supporters Mayor Tom Bates of Berkeley, Calif. has issued a proclamation declaring Natalie's Hometown Drive range from friends and Jan: 19 "Lewis Suzuki Day." The proclamation was made at the Jan. 19 Feb. 20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. . By Pacific Citizen Staff neighbors to celebrities li~e city council meeting. Gregory Gardens Elementary actress Alyssa Milano and director Suzuki is an 89-year-old JA watercolor artist who has lived in Berkeley School Community leaders are taking to Kevin Smith - who both called since 1962. 1 Corritone Ct the streets and the world wide web on their Twitter followers to help Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 to help fmd a bone marrow match save Nakatani. APAs Take the Bench for an 8-year-old Asian Pacific JACL and the Diablo Valley The Senate has confmned Judge Jacqueline Nguyen and Los Angeles Natalie's UC Berkeley Drive American girl stricken with chapter sent out an e-mail blast attorney Dolly Gee to federal district judgeships in the Central District of Feb. 22 leukemia. encouraging JACL members to California. 12 noon-6 p.m. . Natalie Nakatani, 8, of San get tested . Judg~s Edward M. Chen and Lucy H. Koh were also nominated by Pauley East, MLK Student Union Francisco, Calif., has just a few Bone marrow drives have been President Barack Obama to serve on the US. District Court for the weeks to find a suitable donor to scheduled across the U.S. But for For a complete schedule: Northern District of California.• save her life, according to support- those who cannot attend, easy to www.hopefornatalie.com 8 FEB. 19-MAR. 4, 2010 VOICES PACIFIC ill: CmZEN . THE SHIGEKI SHAKE DOWN Reset The Default 8'{ PETER SHIGEKI := RJ\f\JDSEN
Being Japanese American in '2050
OVER TIlE HOLIDAYS, it was surprising to find ners, many who .were half or part-Japanese. emanating from lllinois an online petition on peti• Community activist and teacher Mrs. Carolyn tiononline.com to preserve Little Tokyo addressed to Takeshita and consultants drew plaudits for a project Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry. It had gar• attended by 94 students, many of JA descent from nered over 6,500 signatures. Has California's across the city, between ages 8 and 14, at Westmont statewide undertaking of preserving the three Elementary School near Denver. The outcome Japantowns in Los Angeles, San· Francisco and San would be her book, "Kids Explore America's Jose widened its horizon? And why not! Japanese American Heritage" (1994). Looking through a 1993 bound volume of the Similar programs often tagged, Kodomo no Tame Pacific Citizen, one headline caught my eye, "Is the JA Ni (F.£>r Sake of the Children), are still sponsored by We need to make it easy to keep ourselves healthy. Just say no to the refills. community disappearing? Or is the choice up to us?" Churches and JACL chapters .. by Dr. Lane Hirabayashi for the Holiday Issue. He was Lane concludes: "In short, rather than intermar• then coordinator of Asian American Studies at the riage rates, our own perceptions, choices, and Five years ago this summer, I packed my University of C610rado at Boulder. Now, he's at the actions will play the deciding factor in whether the UCLA Asian American Studies department as the JA communities still exist in 2050 or whether it will bags and moved to the fabled city of New York to prove to George and Sakaye Aratani professor of Japanese indeed have vanished." Preservation means having a myself that if "I can make it there, 1 can make it anywhere." American intemment, Redress and community. choice worth saving. You may agree with Lane on that issue. He wrote: Fifteen years have passed since his essay ran in the To this day, one of my absolute favorite things about life in The City is the "While I always appreciate data on the current rates 1993 Holiday Issue. Your grandkids and mine will seemingly endless variety of dining possibilities. I cannot even come close to of Asian American intermarriage, as a person of be around to evaluate the legacy planted by our Issei naming my top 10 favorite restaurants in New York - let alone fabricate a· Japanese and Norwegian ancestry, I had a serious who came in good number to America after 1885. list of must-try-restaurants~ there are simply too many to consider. objection to UCLA Prof. Harry Kitano's assertion that THE 2009 Holiday Issue was a grand cavalcade of ~ Yet, despite the variety of great dining establishments, one thing is standard 'the Japanese American community ... thriving today JACL's 80 years. Yet nothing appeared from the among them all: you will pay for your drink refIlls. Pretty much anywhere will be no more in 2050 in the face of the rising rate of P.e.s .between Oct. 1929 and March 1942. Our else in the country, you can count on free refills with your meal when you intermarriage' (as I reported in the 1993 article, microfIlm of that era is very poor, although VoL 1, order a soda Not so, in the City That Never Sleeps. ''Diffusion of JA Community Seen by 2050.") No.1 (Oct. 13, 1929) was copied. When I was in college, my friends and I would joke that our server's tip "Simply put, Dr. Kitano seems to assume that the In the P.e. monthly dated January 1942, JACL would be based on the urgency in which our glasses were refIlled. If we had survival of Japanese American culture and comrilunity National Secretary Mike Masaoka's appeal in wake • to ask for a refIll, forget about it, that tip (in theory) would take a nosedive. revolves around the purity of Japanese 'blood' down of Pearl Harbor, ':Let this be our vow for 1942: To So when I moved to New York, I had to regulate my fluid intake to one glass through the generation ... Serve America," voiced some strong themes. .of soda per meal or get stuck paying $2 again and again for my Coca-Cola "Now, contrary to this view, most contemporary' "We stoutly and vociferously insisted that we were Classic. Plus who needs the additional calories?' It was an unwelcome change social scientists agree that culture is learned. In turn, all 100% Americans and that we only wanted a at first, but a change I would become accustomed to, and even enjoy. learning has to do with exposure within the family chance to prove it ... We cannot let America down Flash forward to 2010 in a new city, and ironically, I miss the stingy context as well as in institutions where the values, ... We are pledged to her preservation and perpetua• approach to soda refIlls. When my wife and I go out for dinner, servers would norms, and typical prac~ces of a given group are tion. often without asking bring me a new drink and take away my half full glass. enacted, whether this be a school, church, club, inter• "We must rally every American ... For this great Sometime later during the meal, it might happen again. As I feel fuller ~d est group, or even a 'slo pitch league'." task, we must be prepared to pay the supreme price, sometimes sicker, I ask myself, "Geez, how much soda did I drink?" Upon leaving San Francisco State where he had if need be, that the dignity of mankind may be con• It's the curse of the free refIll. been teaching for a decade, he and wife' Marilyn secrated for all eternity.... There are several points that can be emphasized from this simple illustra• moved to the Rockies and found time to go to Denver "For their preservation for future generations of tion. The most obvi9uS one deals with being healthy. Yes, it can be said that to meet members of the JA community. humanity, anything which we are called upon to do New York City leads the nation in healthy initiatives like: early smoking ban, Lane was pleased, for instance, to be scholarship is not too high a price ... Let this be our vow for trans-fat ban, and posting calorie content on menus so consumers can make . chair and run the Japanese Community Graduation 1942." • informed (albeit sometimes guilt-ridden) decisions. Program, which dates back to 1945. He was also Another point is that we should make it as easy as possible to keep our• pleased to see the awards going to 24 scholarship win- Harry Honda is the Pacific Citizen s editor emeritus. selves healthy. I'm not suggesting the practice of charging for refIlls is ~oti vated by an altruistic health drive. Rather, I'm saying we should take advan• WJ:Ll- HERE WE. ARE, •• 8REEZING ~~ tage of these types of scenarios to make it easier on ourselves to make and lHR'U _AN EVENTFUL MONTM. SUPER BOWL ..• ',II meet our fitness goals. VALEN,.~e.s .... BASl<.lSTBAU.5 eVER:' Peter Shigeki Frandsen is living in Biloxi, Miss. He is a Mount Olympus JACL member. PACIFlCS:; CmzEN ENTERTAINMENT FEB. 19-MAR. 4, 2010 9 Members of the Far East Movement say they avoid arguments on tour by cracking jokes, having fun and throwing snowballs laden with rocks at each other. Far East Movement is Moving On Up Radio hits like 'Girls on the Dance Floor,' have And after years of working to make it in the music industry, Choung. ''I think the cool thing about the generation right now propelled the rap group into the spotlight. they say there is'no time fo{ girlfriends or distractions. is that they really aren't seeing race as much anymore." ''I mean don't get us wrong," said Kev Nish or Kevin By Nalea J. Ko Nishimura, who is of Chinese and Japanese descent. "Shout out L.A. Grown Musicians Reporter to all the beautiful ladies out there. We've got to stay focused The FM members are high school friends. Prohgress went to right now." Palisades Charter High School where J-Spliff also attended. • It is hard to forget the astronaut helmets and monkey suit that Although their work schedules are hectic, touring around the Kev Nish attended Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. Their are part of the Far East Movement's stage act. To make sure that world has opened their eyes to new musical influences, said love of music would lead them to form the group ''Emcee's people remember the music, the four Asian Pacific American Kev Nish. Seeing an APA hip-hop group perform in other coun• Anonymous." A song titled "Far East Movement" would entice musicians said they network with fans directly online, some• tries sometimes prompts an unanticipated response. Children the group to adopt the new name. Longtime friends, the musi• times feverously typing backstage. before a performance. on the streets of Brazil slanted their eyes with their fingers when cians said they avoid arguments by focusing on their music. Networking with their community of fans was critical to the they sawFM. 'The only thing on tour I've ever seen anybody argue about performers success early on, when they occasionally performed "You know what was actually cool about that was the fact was purely NBA 2KlO." Kev Nish said about the video game. to audiences of about 15 people. There were more people on 'They had a battle going on between Vrnnan and Pro and all stage than in the crowd, they said. you could hear was, 'No! Pass the ball!'" On their recent world tour, the Far East Movement, or PM, The occasional snowball fight also releases any aggression, performed to thousands. In Brazil, over 1,000 concertgoers especially for Kev Nish, who is known to reinforce his with danced to FM's beats, vibrating the foundation of the packed rocks. _ ~ airplane hangar. It's a stark difference from their early perform• "Ever since Vrrmanjoined the group when ever we go tour• ances where audience members would throw fruit at the stage. ing or traveling or anything there's never a dull moment. We're Now the members of the rap group throw their bodies into the always cracking jokes or throwing snowballs with rocks in audience and crowd-surf with the support of their fans. them," J-Spliff sail! shortly before their Colorado performance Prohgress, J-Spliff, Kev Nish and DJ Virman are learning at the X Games. . that there are other perks to having the radio hit "Girls on the Their shared vision also keeps them focused. Dance Floor" and a growing fan base. But sometimes the" plus• 'This is a life-long joumey," Prohgress said, adding that he es of fame are completely due to mistaken identity. would be dead if he did not pursue music. "[There's] no plan B, "We do get perks by people thinking we are the PHOTO: GARRICK FUJII no plan C, no plan D. Nothing but the music and staying Jabbawockeez. Where ever we go people are always like, 'Hey, focused with it." you guys better bring it! Can you guys play basketball as well (L-r) J·Spliff, OJ Virman, Prohgress andKev Nish. As their fame grows, keeping up with fans is difficult. as you can dance?' And we're like, 'What are you talking The key, they said, is to stay humble. But the FM members about?'" said Prohgress about being misidentified as the first said that they have not reached the level of success they season winners of MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew." that a lot of these kids ... they were actually trying to communi• would like. Until then, their love of music fuels them. Making party music is their forte, so they will leave the danc- cate and that was all they knew [laughs]," said Prohgress, who "We always hear from more established people in the ing to the Jabbawockeez. . is Korean American. "Maybe next time when they see some industry and they .always say the second you get comfort• "We have no rhythm," Kev Nish said over the phone. 'We Asian faces they'll start playing some music or something." able or the second you feel like you've made it, YOll haven't make dance music strictly because we can't dance. So, we'd In the United States fans occasionally react with surprise and you really limit yourself," Kev Nish said. "[There] rather stay behind the DJ booth and watch the people dance." when they see the faces behind the radio hit. On YouThbe, never is reason, there's barely rhyme. You do itpurely out Fresh off the Party Rock Tour with LMFAO, FM is back in viewers comment that they did not realize the group's members of love and like J said passion." • . Los Angeles to fine-tune their next album. They are working are APA, which does not surprise the FM musicians. with the Stereotypes' producers for their third album, which "For awhile there just weren't a lot of Asian American musi• On the Web: showcases their "new sound." cians," J-Spliff explained, a Korean American born as Jae www.fareastrnovement.com 10 FEB. 19-MAR. 4, 2010 SPORTS! COMMUNITY PACIFIC a CmzEN Calif. Colleges Seeking Nisei Students 'For ice dancing, you have to be Members ot very talented but the Pasadena it won't be City College's enough,' said Triple J Club Chris Reed (right) in 1940. about competing in the Wint~r Olympics with By Pacific Citizen Staff Over 100 Nisei PCC students his sister. were affected by Executive Order California universities and com• 9066, according to the college. munity colleges are continuing California State University, efforts to grant honorary degrees to Fresno has gathered a preliminary their former Nisei students who list of 77 names of former students JA Siblings Dancing For Olympic Gold were forced to discontinue their edu• who may be eligible for honorary cation because of World War n. degrees. CSU Fresno officials are Chris and Cathy Reed had little chance of States because of the country's depth in ice dancing. Many are still searching for poten• searching for Nisei students who competing for the U.S., so they turned to That's when the opportunity to skate for Japan arose. tial honorees. were enrolled the fall of 1941 to the different nations. Singles figure skating is very popular - and success• Pasadena City College (PCC) in fall of 1942. Local JACL chapters ful - there, but ice dancing isn't. The Reeds found Pasadena, Calif. is seeking honorees and districts have been helping in the themselves in the perfect middle ground at the time: as part of the California Nisei search effort . By Rachel Cohen AP Sports Writer good enough to almost immediately be the top team in . College Diploma Project. Sacramento City College (SCC) is Japan, yet not good enough that U.S. officials would try Dorothy Fukutaki Potter, a PCC also searching for its former Nisei to block the move. librarian and alurimi, found her students as a part of its diploma proj• WARREN, New Jersey-If the ice dancing tearns from Japan and Georgia share the rink during Olympic The family briefly lived in Japan before Allison was father's name on the college's 1942 ect. born and would visit relatives there every summer. Cathy roster. Edgar Fukutaki was just The California Nisei College warmups, watch out. Some fierce trash-talking is bound to break out. and Chris are working to improve their Japanese, but it's weeks away from graduating from Diploma Project is the result of easy to get rusty when they can't practice often in the PCC (then known as Pasadena Assembly Bill 37, a bill introduced The three Reed siblings burst into laughter at that image. Joking aside, they'll feel only pride when they U.S. Junior College) before his education by Calif. Assemblyman Warren They hope to increase the popularity of ice dancing in was interrupted by Executive Order Furutani and signed into law by Gov. finally appear on their sport's biggest stage. Cathy, 22, and Chris, 20, 'Yill represent Japan in Japan, where they are often asked in interviews which 9066, the president's order to incar• Arnold Schwarzenegger. elements fans should pay attention to. They try to explain cerate over 100,000 Japanese The California Community Vancouver; their mother is Japanese, and they have dual citizenship. Allison, 15, will skate for the former Soviet that there isn't really the equivalent of a jump or spin, that Americans in internment camps. College, California State University what's important is the overall impact of the perform• "Dad did get his [pasadena Junior and University of California systems republic of Georgia, the home country of partner Otar Japaridze. ance. College] diploma while in camp," are all involved.• N~w But being the best team from Japan didn't guarantee a said Fukutaki Potter in a statement. In all their years of ice dancing, the Jersey natives have never before competed against each other. spot at the Olympics. The Reeds had to finish in the top "But he and other Nisei students did 17 at last year's world championships for the country to not have the opportunity to march in FOR M9REINFORMATION '1t's amazing how it all worked out," Cathy said. When she was 13 and Chris was 11, they didn't seem earn a berth. the graduation ceremony. They Fresno Student Affairs: esu destined for the Olympics: Both competed in singles fig• They took 16th. never got to experience this rite of 559/278.2541 ; ure skating and enjoyed the sport, but the Reeds were Allison, the third Reed sibling competing in passage." PCC 626/585-7315 or hardly prodigies - they never advanced beyond local Vancouver, got a far earlier start in ice dancing than her This June, PCC officials are hop• www.pasadena.edu/pccnisei; brother and sister since she followed them into it. She ing to make up for a six-decade-Iong events. sec: "My jumps, my spins were just not working," she said. was already an elite ice dancer by the age of 11, but had missed opportunity by honoring www.scc.losrios,edu/scc_niseLdipl It might have ended there, except a coach suggested one problem: She didn't have a partner. Edgar Fukutaki with his honorary oma-project.xml Her height - or lack thereof - had a lot to do with degree. ice dancing. Cathy had done ballet growing up, but Chris had no background in dance; football and karate were his that. In a sport where the partners must look right togeth• sports of choice. At first, he just thought ice dancing was er, she was just too short at 4 foot 10 inches. She tried skating. about eight potential partners and none panned out. "What is this?" he thought. "This is so easy." Then she found out Japaridze, who also trained in Not really. Chris was much shorter than his older sis• New Jersey, was seeking a new partner. ter at the time, so their lifts were more like him briefly Within -days of the tryout, she was back to home• throwing her in the air. . schooling. In September, the new pair went to an But the sport certainly proved more natural to the Olympic qualifying event in Germany that would deter• Reeds and before they knew it they were finishing 10th mine the final five teams in VaI}couver. They won the fifth and final spot. . at junior nationals. In 2004, the pair just missed qualifying for national~, In less than a year, Allison went from not having a and their family had a decision to make. Should they go partner to going to the Olympics. The ice dancing com• all in on this skating dream? petition is scheduled to begin Feb. 19. K9K9~9~~ The chance to work with coaches Nikolai Morozov Like any fan of the Olympics, their mother, Noriko, . I PHONE I I JACL MEMBER ID #I P.C. NON-MEMBER # E-MAIL I MAIL TO: Pacific Citizen, C/O Circulation Dept., 250 E. First St., Ste # 301, Los Angeles, CA. 90012 I >< ...... , •• , . , . " . ,." ...... , ...... , . . .. " • • " •• ,,~ ...... " , .". , ...... , . .... " . , . " •• " -c. , .... , ...... 7' ••. , .. , . , ... . . _...... _.. ,,'. , .. < . , . " . *Opting into the paperless P.C. program means you will no longer receive the print edition. I You can download the PDF ofthe entire issue at www.pacijiccitizen.org. ~~------~- -~-- -. (L-r) JACL's Phillip Ozaki texts for immigration reform along with the the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum's Kanav Bhatheja, Stephanie Soares and Melati Kaye. YAMATOTRAVELBUREAU® To get CIR passed in 2010, we need the number "69866" to join a mobile network (CST No. 1019309-10) support from every part of JACL. supporting AAPls' stake in immigration refonn. ESCORTED TOURS SCHEDULED FOR 2010 By Kristin Fukushima "Our generation is wired on text messag• ing," said Phillip. ''Texting is the fastest way The immigration system is broken. It is so to reach someone, and a great tool to spark April 2-'11 Linda & Sumire's Taste of Japan Tour Unda & Sumire Gant broken, in fact, that the only way to move for• interests and get younger community mem• 10 days! 8 nights visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima. ward in fixing the system is by creating an bers involved." April 3-9 Yamato Deluxe Discover India Tour ' Philippe Theriault 8 days! 6 nights visiting Delhi, Jaipur, Agra. entirely new system - comprehensive immi• New technology and the internet have April 12-16 Yamato Vancouver Cherry Blossom Tour with Seattle Philippe Theriault & gration refonn. . changed community organizing, and make it 5 days! 4 nights visiting Seattle and Vancouver. Lilly Nomura In the Asian American Pacific Islander easier for us tor each out to the youth in our May 22-29 Yamato Alaskan Cruise aboard the Golden Princess 8 days! 7 nights roundtrip from Seattle to Juneau, Skagway, (AAPD community, 63 percent of AAPls are community. Tracy Arm Fjord, Ketchikan, Victoria, BC. foreign-born. And we suffer the longest back• An issue JACL faces in our work on CIR is June 6-16 Yamato Essential Spain Tour Philippe Theriault the continuous framing of immigration as a 9 days! 8 nights visiting Bilbao, Basque Country, San Sebastian, logs. Barcelona, Seville, GibraHar, Costa del Sol, Marbella, Andalucia, Granada. The JACL, recognizing the need for refonn "Latino issue." There is an ongoing lack of June 19-29 Yamato Family Tour to China Rich & Joanne Hong in the APA community has made immigration AAPI voices, faces, and perspectives in the 11 days! 9 nights visiting Guangzhou, Guilin, Xian, Beijing. debate, so our issues are often overlooked. It Jun. 27- Yamato Hokkaldo Tour Peggy Mikuni refonn a top policy issue. In fact, JACL is Jul.S 12 days! 10 nights visiting Sapporo, Sounkyo, Kawayu Spa, working on this issue on both coasts, and on is critical that we ensure our community and Kushiro, Ikeda, Obihiro, Lake Toya, Hakodate. every level (local, regional, national), with the its issues are inserted into the discussion, and July 9-15 Yamato Niagara to Old Quebec Tour Philippe Theriault that our concerns are addressed in legislation. 7 days! 6 nights visiting Niagara Falls, Toronto, Thousand Islands, aim of passing comprehensive immigration Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec. There will be a 2 night optional extension refonn (CIR) in 2010. That is why JACL is involved with AAPI• to Charlevoix County for a seafaring villages'& seafood tour. Nationally, JACL is part of a nationwide focused immigration coalitions in addition to Aug. 8-17 Yamato Canadian Rockies & MajestiC British Columbia CO!IstTour Philippe Theriault our work with RI4A. These AAPI coalitions 10 days! 9 nights visiting Calgary, Banff, Jasper, rail to Prince George, campaign known as the Refonn Immigration rail to Prince Rupert, ferry through the Inside Passage to Port Hardy, For America (RI4A). Here on the West Coast, provide a space for the AAPI community to Campbell River, Victoria. that means participating in a subgroup of discuss and address specific immigration Sep.14-23 Yamato Tour to Ireland Philippe Theriault & 10 days! 8 nights visiting Dublin, Be~ast, Kilkenny, Cork, Killarney, Limerick. Peggy Mikuni RI4A known as the California Table. The issues unique to their ethnic community as Oct. 6-13 Yamato Exclusive Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Tour Philippe TheriaLJlt CA-Table, a multiracial collective of 50-plus well as the wider AAPI community. 8 days! 7 nights visiting Roswell UFO Museum, Carlsbad Caverns, White organizations, is' a statewide mobilization of With JACL working on immigration from Sands National Monument, Albuquerque Bailon Fiesta, Taos, Durango (Color,!do) Narrow Gauge Railway to Silverton, Mesa Verde National Park, Gallup. immigrant advocates. So far, JACL has par• both coasts, we are that much more effective. Oct. 10-17 Yamato Music Cities Tour with Collette Vacations Sharon Seto ticipated in press -conferences, marches, ral• However, to get CIR passed in 2010, we need 8 days! 7 nights visiting New Orleans, Memphis/Graceland, lies, legislative visits, town hall meetings, support from every part of JACL. Phillip and Nashville/Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame. Oct. 16-30 Yamato Deluxe Autumn Tour to Japan Peggy Mikuni community forums; and much more. There is I encourage chapter leaders to engage mem• 15 days! 13 nights visiting Kyoto, Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Beppu, Kumamoto, always an event to attend, so anyone interest• bers in ·the discussion. It's easy to get Hiroshima, Tokyo. involved - you can blog, write an op-ed, put Nov.1-B Yamato Exclusive SouthEast Tour Lilly Nomura ed should definitely contact me. 8 days! 7 nights visiting Miami, Florida, Keys, Kennedy Space Center, In addition to work with RI4A, we have something in your chapter newsletter, or sign OrlandolWalt Disney World, St. Augustine, Florida; Savannah & Atlanta, Georgia. also recently fonned a Los Angeles AAPI up to receive updates by texting "AAPI" to Nov. 29- Yamato Deluxe Discover Egypt Tour Philippe Theriault "69866." JACL staff members are ready and Dec. 9 11 days! 9 nights, includes 3 nights in Cairo, 2 nights in Giza, Immigration Task Force on the West Coast, then 4 nights Nile cruise aboard a 5-star riverboat. which JACL co-chairs. willing to help out in any way, by providing Dec. 8-11 Yamato Best of Branson Tour Peggy Mikuni On the East Coast, Phillip Ozaki; JACL's materials, workshops, or any other kind of 4 days! 3 nights including 4 shows, Branson sightseeing and visit to Silver Dollar City. Nonnan Mineta Fellow, is also working on support. the RI4A campaign and collaborating with There is a National Mobilization Day Yamato Travel Bureau® continues to be a full service travel agency. This means we will sell all phases of leisure other APA organizations on immigration march in Washington, D.C. on March 21, and corporate travel: airline tickets; hotel accommodations; car rentals; tours; cruises; rail passes, etc. We also issues. Most recently, this has meant partici• with similar events across the country. We have discounted airfare to many destinations. Please call on our experienced travel consultants for your travel need to make sure the AAPI and Japanese and tour arrangements. pating in a blogging camp?ign for the Professional Memberships: American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), Cruise Unes International Association National AAPI Week of Action, which JACL American voices are heard in the debate. This (CLlA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), VACATION.COM (a national consortium). was involved in on both coasts. is our issue too.• For the campaign, Phillip coordinated YAMATOTRAVELBUREAU® blogs from various JACL staff and board Kristin Fukushima is the public policy coor• 250 East First Street, Suite 1112 members, which you can check out at: dinator in the Pacific Southwest District Los Angeles, CA 90012-3827 Office. Phillip Ozaki is the current Norman (213) 680-0333 OR (800) 334-4982 www.apaforprogress.orglblogs/jacI4progress. Email: [email protected] Phillip also coordinated a national text MinetaFellow in the Washington,D.C. messaging campaign, utilizing the JACL office. Want to get bivolved? Contact Kristin National Youth Student Council's Facebook at [email protected] or Phillip at group. About 100 JACLers texted "AAPI" to [email protected]. 14 FEB. 19-MAR. 4, 2010 CALENDAR PACIFIC iiliI CmZEN mieres. $15/general; $10/students . $20/general admission Info: www.nejacl.org under 18 Info: Megan Gately Info: www.nctor.og or [email protected] or 480/929-0292 41 ;;a iII E.I; rg rn il E: 916/685-6747 ext.1 37 . Anti-Asian Violence in A NATIONAL GUIDETO NOTABLE COMMUNITY EVENTS* DOR Dedication Exhibition Baseball Game Philadelphia Schools STOCKTON TEMPE MERION Feb. 20, 9:30-12 noon March 2, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 20, 1:30·3:30 p.m. University of the Pacific Library Winkles Field Merion Friends Meeting 3601 Pacific Ave. 201 S. Packard Dr. 615 Montgomery Ave. Panelists Gordon Chang, Nelson Watch an exhibition baseball game Speakers Ellen Somekawa, execu• Nagai and Shan Sutton will discuss between Meiji University in Japa[l tive director of Asian Americans the history of Stockton's JA communi• and Arizona State University. $5 spe• United; Xu Lin, Philadelphia ty. The study room will also be dedi• cial. Chinatown Development Corporation ; cated. Seating will be limited to the Info: Ted Namba at Wei Chen , South Philadelphia High first 100 guests. [email protected] or Jim Shee at School student, Cliff Akiyama, moder• [email protected] ator. Info: Cliff Akiyama, 267/235-9426 Korematsu v. United States LOS ANGELES . 'Heroes' Feb. 20, 2 p.m. CHICAGO Installation and Graduate Japanese American Nat'l Museum Feb. 21, 2 p.m. Recognition Luncheon 100 E. Central Ave. Chicago History Museum CHERRY HILL The Little Tokyo DOR event com• 1601 N. Clark St. March 27, 12 noon-4 p.m. memorates the landmark civil rights Monologist Alton Takiyama-Chung Maggiano's Little Italy , case of Fred Korematsu . Dale will present his original one-man per• 2000 Rt. 38, Ste 1180 Minami, the lead counsel on the legal formance piece, 'Heroes,' about two The keynote speaker will be the team will keynote. brothers in their journey from basic ambassador and consul general in WASHINGTON. D.C. Info: NCRR, 213/284-0336; JACL training to fighting with the 100th New York, Shinichi Nishimiya. March S-Jan. 30. 20 I I PSW, 213/626-4471 JANM, 213/625- Battalion/442nd RCT. $40/member; $45/non-member; 0414 $20/children. For the second time, the Smithsonian Institution is mounting an National JACL Convention Info: Cliff Akiyama internment camp exhibit. The Art of Gaman' exhibition will be Riverside JACL Installation CHICAGO [email protected] or Scott held at the Smithsonian American Art Museum s Renwick RIVERSIDE June 3O-July 4 Nakamura, [email protected] Gallerv. It is based on a book by Delphine Hirasuna S, a San Feb. 27, 12 noon Swissotel Francisco JACL ~embel: The exhibition is expected to draw Riverside Marriott 323 E. Wacker Drive upwards of 200,000 visitors. 3400 Market Street Chicago, IL 60601-9722 The Riverside JACL's program will Join other JACL members from JACL's Salute to Champions include a special performance by For information across the nation in this biennial con• WASHINGTON, D.C. PISA (Pacific Islander Student vention hosted by 'the Chicago JACL. Sept. 16 www.americanart.si.edu or 2021633-7970 Alliance) from UC Riverside. PISA Activities include workshops, special The National JACL Gala Awards was established to promote the cul• 'speakers and banquets. Dinner is an annual fundraising event Marysville Buddhist Church tures of Polynesia, Micronesia and Register: $250/before June 10; that seeks to honor individuals and 125 "B" Street Melanesia through the art of dance $200/youth ages 25 and under organizations that have championed Festival of Children's Stories and music. . SAN FRANCISCO The Marysville JACL and the Arboga before June 10. the causes of the JACL. Info: Irene Ogata [email protected] Feb. 28, 1:30 p.m. Assembly Center Committee will ded• Info: Info: www.jacl.org or 9511784-7057 Palace of Fine Arts Theater icate the Arboga No. 934 plaque. www.jacl.org/news/2010ChicagoJMT 3301 Lyon Street John Tateishi, immediate former EMP033009/home.html After the War Ventura County JACL The children of Nihonmachi Little JACL national director, will keynote. WASHINGTON, D.C. Installation Friends, a community based non• Info: arbogaassemblycenterpro• Feb. 20, 2 p.m. NEWBURY PARK, profit child care organization, will [email protected] Carmichael Auditorium Feb. 28, 1"2 noon present their annual theater produc- Japanese Cultural Festival Nat'l Museum of American History Tomodachi Restaurant . tion and auction, 'Dowa no Omatsuri: Merced Assembly Center SANTA FE 14th Street & Constitution Ave., NW 771 North Wend? Drive A Festival of Children's Stories.' Memorial Dedication March 13, 10 a.m.-Sp.m. Playwright Philip Kan Gotanda and Artist Wendy Maruyama will speak at $25/advanced; $30/at the door; MERCED Santa Fe Community Convention historian Dr. Scott Kurashige will talk about her latest project, 'Executive $10/youth (5-17) Feb. 20, 3 p.m. Center about their latest work - 'After the Order 9066,' which deals with recre• Info: [email protected] or Merced Fairgrounds 201 W. Marcy Ave War,' a play about postwar ating the names of WWII internees. 415/922-8898 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way The 6th annual Japanese Cultural Japantown in San Francisco and ' Info: Anne Chilcott 805/492-0146 or The memorial to honor former incar• Festival will feature music, taiko, Kurashige's latest book, 'The Shifting [email protected] entra a I • cerees will be dedicated. food, martial arts, a silent auction and Grounds of Race: Black and DOR Dinner & Groundbreaking John Tateishi, immediate former workshops. Japanese Americans in the Making of FRESNO JACL national director, will keynote Arizona Info: www.santafejin.org or Multiethnic Los Angeles.' the gala dinner ($40/general). 505/471-9022 Info: www.apa.sLedu Feb. 21, 4:30 p.m.; dinner 5 p.m. Security vs Freedom Fresno Fairgrounds TEMPE 1121 S. Chance Ave. Dawn's Light: The Journey of March 6, 8 a.m-4 p.m. Break ground at the site of the former Gordon Hirabayashi The Arizona Historical Society Remembering Internment: Fresno Assembly Center where com• SACRAMENTO Museum CAMBRIDGE munity leaders have been working to Feb. 20, 1 p.m. 1300 N. College Ave Feb. 20, 3-5 p.m. build a memorial. Secretary of State's Auditorium Arizona JACL and the Arizona Mass. Institute of Technology Dinner tickets ($50/general): 1500 11th Street HistoriCal Society presents 'Security MIT Building E25, Room 117 Travis Nishi at 559/298-7379 A play about University of vs Freedom: What is America Willing Featuring Elena Tajima Creef, co-edi• Washington college student Gordon to Give Up?', which examines how tor of 'Following Her Own Road: The _ Historical Landmark Unveiling Hirabayashi, who chose to coura• terrorism should be dealt with. Life and Art of Mine Okubo.' The pro• MARYSVILLE geously say, 'no' to the curfew, evac• Workshop also features panel discus• gram will include a short documen- Feb. 27, 11 a.m. uation and WWII internment, pre- sions ab9ut post Sept. 11th issues. tary film on Michi Weglyn. PACIAC ill CmZEN OBITUARIES! COMMUNTIY FEB. 19-MAR. 4, 2010 15 TRIBUTE Professor Helped Established Amy Hashiguchi-Kawaoka August 21, 1927-December 20,2009 Asian American Studies Amy Hashiguchi-Kawaoka, a resident of Under her leadership, the Asian American Gardena, Calif., left this earth to enter Heaven to Studies Center developed its Master's Degree be with Christ on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 at the program, Cheng served as the first permanent Torrance Memorial Medical Center after her coura• director of the center from 1972-1987 succeeding geous battle with an ongoing illness. then interim director Harry Kitano, She was born on Aug. 21, 1927 in Sunnyside, Cheng also helped establish the university'S Calif., in the county of San Diego. She is survived first endowed chair in Japanese American by her son, Alan Kawaoka; daughter, Beth Studies, Edwards; brothers Henry, James, John and Bill After she retired from teaching, Cheng Hashiguchi; and sister Betty Inahara. She was worked as a publisher and journalist for two preceded in death by brothers Leo, Roy, Fred Lucie Cheng, the former University of newspapers in Taiwan, including the Lipao Hashiguchi and her son Christopher Kawaoka. California, Los Angeles' director of the Asian Newspaper founded by her father, Cheng She• Services were held Jan. 10 at Rice Mortuary in American Studies Center and a pioneering social Woo In 2006, Cheng established the Cheng Torrance, Calif. She will be missed by all the lives scientist, passed away Jan. 27 in Taipei, Taiwan She-Wo Institute for Chinese Journalism at she touched. from cancer, Shih Hsin University, • Attend the Manzanar School Reunion IN MEMORIAM An locations are in Callfornia except as noted. Reunion Naramura, Aiko, 86,-San Angeles, Calif., July 18; 2009 he and Eric; daughters Linda Aug. 9-11 Francisco, Jan. 14; wife of late was the father of Cynthia A. Nakamura and Cynthia California Hotel, Jack Hoichi; survived by children, Tanaka, Sanders M. and Phyllis Nakamoto; brother David; sister las Vegas Katherine (Walter) Dillon, May Ishisaka (past JACL Cincinnati Alice Yano; 8 gc; 4 ggc. For reservation: Sa'm Desharnais, Glenn (Maria Teresa) chapter president); also survived Ono, 310/327-5568 or Naramura; and Irene Naramura; 3 by 5 gc; 3 ggc. Nishida, Jitsuo, 81, Hilo, Haw., [email protected] gc. Jan. 20; survived by wife, The Manzanar school reunion will be held Aug, 9-11 For info: Lillian Fukuhara, Terri, Honolulu, Hamako; daughters, Arlene Terry, at California Hotel in Las Vegas, said Hank Nakano, Kawasaki, 562/754-8850 Takei, Katsuto, 94, Stockton, Haw., Nov 28,2009 beloved wife Lori Taketa, Cori Lee Rapoza and reunion committee chair. or lilliany@aoLcom; Dec. 12; 2009 survived by daugh-' of fame MISer Harry FUkuhara. JoAnn; sisters, Peggy Hamano, Buses will be available from Los Angeles, Gardena, ~ eda , Cherry 818/981- ter Patricia Okamoto--(Allen); sons Molly Yamaguchi, Carol Honma Venice and the San Fernando Valley, 2629; Henry Nakano, Dr. Russell Takei (Linda) and Dr. Izumi, Seizo, 96, Seaside Dec. and Betty Sanehira; gc and ggc. Reunion events will include a slot tournament at the 714/871-8178; Kanji Glenn Takei (Janice); 4 gc; 1 ggc. 20; 2009 he was preceded in Main Street Station Casino and a banquet. Rangers from Sahara, 310/539-3733, death by his wife, Kimi. He was a Oishi, Robert Haruo, 76, the Manzanar National Historic Site will also provide the [email protected] Fujii, Larry Noboru, 89, Boise, long-time member of the Monterey Honolulu, Haw., Jan. 13; survived by latest information on park activities .• Idaho, Nov. 27; 2009 survived by Peninsula Buddhist Temple. wife, Elaine; son Stanton; daughter wife, Miyo; son, Ken; daughter-in- Elna Ward; brother Noboru; sisters Veterans' Group Calling For Scholarships Applicants law, Anna Riggs; 2 gc. Takisaki, Raymond Jiro, 85, Grace Kaga~ and Nfjye Oishi; 2 Seattle, Wash., Dec. 10,2009; gc. The Japanese American Veterans members can also apply. Sugano, William "Bill," 70, survived by wife, Louise Kashino; Association has increased the dollar Each applicant must submit an essay Chicago, 111., Nov. 27; 2009 daughters Phyllis Campbell and Okubo, Shigeru, 85, Kaneohe, amount and number of scholarships it on the topic, "What winning a JAVA respected commercial office interi- Ann Wentzke; sons Tom, Greg Haw., Dec. 30, 2009; survived by will be awarding this year, according to scholarship award will mean to me." or designer. and Walt; brother Jim; sisters wife Shirely T.; son Wesley S.; Calvin Ninomiya, JAVA scholarship Applicants must also provide documen• Mary Yuasa and Agnes Havlis; 10 daugher Sharyn I. Tabios; 5 gc; 3 chair. tation that they have been accepted to an Harada, Yosh, Chicago, 111., gc; 1 ggc. ggc. The awards will be $1,500 each, said accredited college or university. Oct. 4; 2009 Chicago JACLer, Ninomiya. The deadline is April 21. JAVA's 2010 scholarship program has Earlier this year, Harada received Fukaye, Mitsugu, 83, Oxnard, Oshiro, Edward Y., 87, Honolulu, To be eligible, applicants must be been augmented by three new scholar- . the Japanese American Dec. 26,2009; preceased by son Haw., Jan. 5; survived by wife Ruth; graduating high school students related ships including: a scholarship fund in Community Service Award. David; survived by his wife of 56 sons Edmund and Jon; daughter lineally to a veteran of the 100th Infantry Col. Douglas Ishio's name and scholar• years, Lily; sons Larry (Denise), Lynn Ikeda; brother Roy; sisters Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat ships from the estate of Kiyoko Tsuboi Hanamura, Harvey, Riverside, Rodney (Sharon), Gregory (Cathy) Masako Hiyane, Lily Watts, Bette Team or the Military Intelligence Taubkin and in memory of Teru Sept. 7, 2009; predeceased by , and Brian (Jean); 7 gc. Wong, and Mabel Scales; 2 gc. Service. Kamikawa Matsui .• wife, Kiyo; survived by sons, Japanese Americans who have or are Michael and Steven. Horiuchi, Edwin Hajime, 85, Sugihara, Roy 5., 78, serving in the U.S. armed services are For more information or to download Seattle, Wash., Dec. 28, 2009; Commerce City, Colo., Jan., 18; sur- also eligible. And relatives of JAVA forms: www.javadc.org Morihiro, George, 85, Oct. 25, survived by sons, Mark (Kassie), vived by daughters Sharon Farr 2009; predeceased by wife, Elsie Grant (Nancy); daughter, Nicole (Craig), Sharla Sugihara (Chan h); (Urakawa); .parents Gunjiro and (Gus Pecoulas); 6 gc; brother, sister Mary Maxell; brothers Tom Tsuru; and brother Fred; survived Lucius (Maynard) and si~ter, Stella (Alice), Frank (Elaine) and Floyd by son, Alan (Kim); sisters Patricia (Kiyo) Hashimoto; nieces and (Ruby); tgc. Kihara, Sally Kinoshita; 2 gc. nephews. In Memoriam appears on Ono, Kazuo "Shorty," 88, Oct. Watanabe, Marnelle, 91, a limited, space-available RELlABL,E. COMPASSJONATE, PERSONAUZED 12,2009; survived by wife, Kiyo Cincinnati, Ohio, July 25, 2009; basis at no cost. 707 East Temple Street Nagai; children Leslie (Bill) survived by children David, Donna 91 1 VENICE BOULEVARD Gerald Fukui Tributes appear in a time- Los Angeles, CA 90012 and Carol Starretti 3 gc; 1 ggc. Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 900 t 5 President Wittman, Stuart (Allison), and Iy manner at the rate of TEL (2 t 3) 749-1449 Ph. 213/626-0441 Kevin (Joel); sister Emi "Amy" $20lcolumn inch. FAX (213) 749-0265 Hirasawa; 2 gc. Nakamoto, Albert Masaru Jr., 8*,,'«tll~I~.b!!!U.J It n'ftt:"·(~'lf. Fax 213/617-2781 For info: 87, Pearl City, Haw.; survived by [email protected] 'nn\. kuhutaniklnlTlorll1 ary .('0111 Ishisaka, Ted Minoru, 90, Los wife, Yaeko; sons Gary, Wayne Health plans for students and young professionals 2010 rates starting at just Can today to $.!et your loan from National JACL Credit Union! $108/month! (800) 544-8828 • www.jaclcu.com Call the JACL Health Benefits Administrators at National JACL. Credit Union 1.800.400.6633 or visit www.jacihealth.org What's important to you is important to us. ' Union Bank understands the importance of community. We are deeply grateful for the personal and professional ties we have developed throughout the years. And with our proven history of solid financial policies. we will continue to put our strength to work foryou. Togetherwith you, we look forward to building a successful future for generations to come. Union ~nk is a proud supporter of the California Nisei College Diploma Project. We are honored to be involved with an initiative that recognizes the important history of our Nikkei community. For more information or to obtain an application. stop by ane of our select local branches or visit unionbank.com/niseicollege. 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