THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF THE JACL May 18-31, 2018 » PAGE 6 HOMECOMING FOR HOUSTON Acclaimed author Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston’s book celebrates 45 years and is chosen as the selection for the 16th annual Santa Monica Reads. » PAGE 5 » PAGES 8 AND 9 Arlington National Cemetery Set to Moving Recaps of the Poston Hold Its 70th Memorial Day Program and Rohwer/Jerome Pilgrimages WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG #3321 / VOL. 166, No. 9 ISSN: 0030-8579 2 May 18-31, 2018 SPRING CAMPAIGN LETTER/COMMUNITY HOW TO REACH US IT’S VITAL TO CONTINUE TO Email: [email protected] Online: www.pacificcitizen.org Tel: (213) 620-1767 Mail: 123 Ellison S. Onizuka St., SHARE OUR STORIES — Suite 313 Los Angeles, CA 90012 STAFF SPRING CAMPAIGN 2018 Executive Editor Allison Haramoto Senior Editor n a recent discussion with my cousin, like part of a community, even though I may not with their people.” The stories in each issue help Digital & Social Media Robin Hattori, we talked about the value of see those people ever again,” she said. us connect to our fellow Japanese Americans. George Johnston “being with your people.” She and I grew up I had been to Rohwer more than a decade Even those who are thousands of miles away still Business Manager Itogether in St. Louis, Mo., and we both still live earlier when I traveled there with my parents and feel like part of our community. Susan Yokoyama here. When we were teens, we found our people siblings. My cousin and I compared notes about As readers of the Pacific Citizen, we have a Production Artist in JAYS (Japanese American Youths), where all our experiences. My father died about a year after responsibility to be informed and share what we Marie Samonte Circulation of the kids in our youth group felt like family our trip, and I am so grateful I had a chance to learn. We also have a responsibility to help support Eva Ting as we shared similar histories and experiences go to Arkansas with him. the publication in its efforts to continue onward The Pacific Citizen newspaper growing up in the Midwest. Robin had a similar feeling of appreciation as a vital historical resource for generations to (ISSN: 0030-8579) is published Robin, her husband and her parents visited of hearing her mom and dad’s stories firsthand. come. semi-monthly (except once in Arkansas last month as part of a pilgrimage to “They were able to get in touch with that time of Please invest in the future of the paper and December and January) by the Japanese American Citizens the Rohwer and Jerome internment camp sites. their life,” she said about their visit. “My parents participate in the P.C.’s Spring Campaign at League, Pacific Citizen, 123 Ellison Both of Robin’s parents (and my father, her are getting old. Once their generation is gone, no https://www.pacificcitizen.org/donations. Show S. Onizuka St., Suite 313 mother’s brother) were interned in Rohwer when one will be left any more to tell their tale.” that you want to continue to be with your people. Los Angeles, CA 90012 Periodical postage paid at L.A., CA they were children. It was my cousin’s first trip to We need to hear our parents’ stories, and, just POSTMASTER: Send address see where our family lived for four years. as important, we need to continue to share them. Sincerely, changes to National JACL, 1765 She remarked on how comfortable she felt with That’s why the Pacific Citizen is so essential today Sutter St., San Francisco, CA the other Japanese Americans on the pilgrimage and for generations to come. Jody Mitori, 94115 and how easy it was to establish a rapport. “I felt The Pacific Citizen also helps readers “be P.C. Editorial Board Member, MDC JACL President: Gary Mayeda Executive Director: David Inoue P.C. EDITORIAL BOARD Gil Asakawa, chairperson; Jody Mitori, MDC; Marcia Chung, BERKELEY JACL AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS AND CCDC; Jim Duff, NCWNPDC; Chip Larouche, PNWDC; Kayla Watanabe, IDC; John Saito Jr., HONORS PIONEER RECIPIENT LEE NAKAMURA PSWDC; Juli Yoshinaga, Youth Rep. SUBSCRIBE he Berkeley JACL chapter interview. recipient of the Terry Yamashita also the recipient of the Bea Kono Get a one-year subscription of the Pacific Citizen newspaper at: awarded scholarships to six This year’s scholarship recipients Memorial Scholarship. Memorial Scholarship. www.pacificcitizen.org or call high school seniors, one are: • Alexander Tsuetaki (Durham • Sydney Wong (El Cerrito High (213) 620-1767 Tcollege undergraduate and presented • Ryan Akiyama (Berkeley High Academy — North Carolina) School) will attend San Jose State ADVERTISE its Pioneer Award to Lee “Cubby” School) will attend San Francisco will attend Tufts University University and major in graphic To advertise in the Pacific Citizen, Nakamura during its awards luncheon State University and major in as a computer science/science call (213) 620-1767 or e-mail: design. [email protected] held at the Richmond Country Club journalism. technology and society major; The chapter also awarded a college LEGAL in Richmond, Calif., on April 29. • Alyssa Cho (El Cerrito High he is also the recipient of the undergraduate scholarship to Maya No part of this publication may be The chapter awarded scholarships School) will attend Dominican Dan/Kathleen Date Memorial Kashima, who is currently attending reproduced without the express permission of the Pacific Citizen. to the high school seniors based University of California as an Scholarship. Berkeley City College. Kashima is Editorials, letters, news and the upon their academic achievements, occupational therapy major. • Luka Uchiyama (Castro Valley set to transfer to the University of opinions expressed by columnists other than the national JACL community involvement, school • Kailee Nabeta (Rio Americano High School) will attend California California, Berkeley, in the fall as president or national director do activities, work history, JACL High School — Sacramento) will Polytechnic University, San Luis a media studies major. not necessarily reflect JACL policy. Events and products advertised in involvement, written essay, letter attend Boise State University as a Obispo and major in bioresource the P.C. do not carry the implicit of recommendation and group kinesiology major; she is also the and agricultural engineering; he is >> See BERKELEY on page 4 endorsement of the JACL or this publication. We reserve the right to edit articles. © 2018 Periodicals paid at Los Angeles, Calif. and mailing office. JACL MEMBERS Change of Address If you’ve moved, please send new information to: National JACL 1765 Sutter St. San Francisco, CA 94115 (415) 921-5225 ext. 26 2018 Allow 6 weeks for address changes. To avoid interruptions in delivery, please notify your postmaster to include periodicals in your change of address (USPS Form 3575) COMMENTARY May 18-31, 2018 3 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CONVENTION 2018: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE be done — but all very important. There will be many opportunities for so- heart of downtown just steps away from Breakout sessions will be aplenty for cializing and networking, beginning with some of the greatest museums in the world. all to join in and participate. Many of the the welcome reception and youth mixer Walking down Ben Franklin Parkway, themes will be recognizable as traditional on the first night of convention. Thursday you will pass the Franklin Institute, Barnes By David Inoue, topics from past conventions, and in going evening will be a rejuvenation of what has Foundation and Rodin Museum — ultimately JACL Executive Director with our theme of “Redress, Resistance been referred to as the “Wingding” in the finding on your path the iconic Philadelphia and Reconciliation,” we will be looking past and rechristened as our Premium Art Museum. If you’re up to it, run up the hy should I go to convention? It’s at the tensions between the resistance and Member’s Reception. JACL has featured steps to re-create the famous scene from the a valid question. Convention is reconciliation in the advocacy work that three levels of membership beyond the stan- original “Rocky” movie. expensive to attend, and honestly, JACL focuses on today and in obtaining the dard annual dues: the Thousand, Century Continuing past the art museum and up WNational Council can be pretty boring if you’re progress for civil and human rights for all. and Millennium Clubs. We hope that many the Schuylkill River, you will be able to not a delegate and therefore not voting on behalf We will particularly focus on some women’s of you will upgrade your membership levels see Philadelphia’s famous boathouse row, of your chapter. I, myself, had only attended a issues as a part of JACL’s response to the to attend this special reception and elevate followed by the zoo and on to the Shofuso few conventions before becoming Executive #metoo movement. your support for the work of JACL. Japanese House and Garden. Let’s not forget Director. I hope to change that mind-set though. What about having some fun? Philadelphia Friday’s event at the Barnes Foundation that as the birthplace of our nation, you can First, the business aspects of convention convention chair Rob Buscher also happens features a special performance by critically also visit Independence Hall, site of the are obviously very important. Hopefully, to be the festival director for the Philadelphia acclaimed spoken word artist G Yamazawa. signing of the Declaration of Independence even if you are not a voting delegate, your Asian American Film Festival. This year, Yamazawa is a Shin-Nisei who won the and U.S. Constitution. And just outside representatives will listen to you! We will be we are looking to benefit from Rob’s vast 2014 National Poetry Slam Competition Independence Hall is the iconic Liberty Bell, holding elections of our officers this year for expertise with a rich explosion of films about and has obtained numerous other accolades, which is located in Independence National the next two-year period; that alone should the Japanese American experience as part including the Individual World Poetry Slam Historic Park.