December

DECEMBER 2012 • VOLUME 18, ISSUE 5
December 25
• Merry Christmas!
January 11-13
• Congressional Gold Medal
Tour Launch at WWII
Museum New Orleans, LA
January 13, 4-7 p.m.
• JASO Shinnenkai,
Montgomery Park
January 27
• Mochitsuki, Scottish Rite
Center
February 14
• Valentine’s Day
February 17
• Day of Remembrance, PSU
Hoffman Hall, Keynote by
Floyd Mori
February 23
• JACL National Board
Meeting, San Francisco, CA
March 2
• ACLU Dinner, Oregon
Convention Center
March 3
• Spring Bazaar, OBT
March 10
• Daylight Savings Time
Begins
Our Stake in Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Board Members Message by Jean
Yamamoto
Now that the 2012 campaign
and vote are over, the harder
part of democracy is ahead of us,
that is to hold our elected officials
accountable. One surprising bit
of information about how Asian
American and Pacific Islanders
(AAPI) voted in the November
election is that 73% voted for
Barack Obama, up from 66% in
2008. AAPI are still a relatively
small in number, but they have the
fastest rate of growth of any racial
minority group and the fastest
growing immigrant population in
America. Not surprising is that
among the issues AAPIs care
about is immigration and civil
rights.
President Obama admitted
that passing comprehensive
immigration reform eluded his
presidency in his first term but that
he is confident that this will be
accomplished next year. According
to White House website on
immigration reform, the President’s
plan includes:
• Securing our borders
• Holding employers responsible
when they undermine
American workers and exploit
undocumented workers
• Creating a legal immigration
system that reflects our values
and diverse needs
• Holding people who are
here illegally to certain
responsibilities
Japanese Americans care
about immigration reform because
it is our families’ stories, too, not
so very long ago. We can take up
this fight for others in honor of our
ancestors who didn’t have anyone
to speak up for them.
It is a sad story of America that
although we take pride in the fact
that we are a nation of immigrants,
there were too many instances of
scapegoating, racial profiling, and
exclusionary policies aimed at the
newcomers. We saw this in the
exclusion of Chinese laborers in
the 19th century, the incarceration
of Japanese Americans in World
War II, and the post-9/11 Special
Registration Program targeting
South Asian and Muslim men.
In each of these examples, the
government reversed itself: in
the 2012 apology by the US
House of Representatives for
the 1882 Chinese Exclusion
Act; in the Civil Liberties Act of
1988 apology and redress for the
wartime incarceration of Japanese
Americans; and the reversal of the
domestic registration program of
Muslims , a program that produced
zero charges of terrorism.
We are hopeful for bipartisan
support for a sensible change to
our broken immigration system.
Yes, we need to secure our
borders and make sure that we
keep out those that mean to
do us harm but we also need a
reasonable pathway for others to
enter our country. It is especially
(continued on next page)
Board Members Message Continued
important to have a family reunification plan so that
people don’t have to wait years or decades to rejoin
their family members. It is estimated that there are
1.5 million Asian family members of U.S. citizens and
lawful permanent residents who are caught in this
backlog.
We need to make sure that all workers are
afforded protection under federal and state labor
laws to protect against exploitation, intimidation, and
dangerous working conditions. There must be legal
channels for those who are already here, contributing
to our economy, so that they may eventually become
citizens. The President’s directive, the Deferred Action
for Childhood Arrivals is a good start. The Deferred
Action will stop deporting undocumented youth
brought to America as children if they meet certain
conditions.
Finally, Comprehensive Immigration Reform
has to reverse some of the methods utilized by law
enforcement and homeland security in the name
of immigration enforcement and national security.
These tactics include a program called Secure
Communities in which individuals who are detained by
law enforcement for any reason, even a minor traffic
violation, may be turned over to the Immigration and
Customs Enforcement for indefinite detention and
deportation. The problem with Secure Communities
is that it is prone to racial profiling and suspicion and
fear of local police that does not help public safety.
We call on our newly elected officials to take up
this long overdue work to reform our immigration
practices to a more humane system that will provide
a pathway to full participation in our country and
that recognizes the contributions of all people in our
society.
Best wishes to our extended Portland JACL
community for a peaceful and prosperous New Year!
My Dynamo Role Model
By Sharon Takahashi
Thanksgiving is gone but the sentiment of gratitude
blossoms in December. Many of us have had mentors from the community and I would tell you about
one of mine, for whom I am very grateful. It was 1982
when I first met Harue Mae Ninomiya. It was through
Patsy Abe, a third grade teacher in my neighborhood
that we worked together on the Japanese American
Graduation Banquet committee. The committee put
on the annual banquet which honored graduating high
school seniors from the Nikkei community.
In the years since, I have learned a lot from Harue
as we worked on various projects together. Each year
she provides carnations and a centerpiece for the
head table at the graduation banquet and individual
carnations as mementos for the students who attend.
She purchases her ticket and attends each year to
support the youth. That had been going on for many
years prior to my first experience. When attendance
is high, she smiles in celebration and when it’s low,
she cringes when she asks if the banquet is “winding down.” Until a few years ago, she laboriously
arranged the seating with Dr. Connie Masuoka for all
the families, making sure that parents and family sat
together –or didn’t if they chose that option.
The Japanese Ancestral Society’s board visits elders in our community of limited mobility with holiday
wishes, sushi, poinsettias from Koida Greenhouses,
and oranges from Hiroshi’s Anzen. It is our chance to
tell these homebound friends that they are not forgotten and we remember those days that they were the
active ones, doing good deeds for others and providing leadership for community groups. It’s our way of
telling them the baton has been handed off to the
next runner. For years Harue took care of the list and
coordinated the event; then she showed me how it
was put together, working with me to be sure we got it
right. Her system is still working.
She is one of the charter members of the Veleda
Club, a service organization which began many years
ago. Many meetings were held in her basement and
Valentine Day visits to the elders in the community
were planned there. During February, Harue would
purchase African violets from the Flower Market on
Swan Island for the visits and design cards to go with
them. The club continues this project.
As an Ikebana International teacher, she spent
many days driving from school to school all over the
metro area, trucking tuna cans, oasis and greenery in
her car. We’d bump into each other as we did our volunteer work, she in flowers and me in reading class-
My Dynamo Role Model Continued
rooms. Harue’s energy level is phenomenal. I was
burnt out way before she gave up driving and had to
stop the Ikebana demos.
Harue is an embodiment of peace, beauty and
cultural richness. She is a long time member of the
Johrei Fellowship. Its vision is to create a world of
truth, goodness and beauty. I think she is a remarkable example.
Harue does have a quirk that I think is weird. She
loves to extremes…really, have any of you seen how
much bling she dresses Lady Di in? For those who
don’t know, Lady Di is a teeny white pooch.
I know others out there have mentors like Harue
that they really have appreciated. Pick up the phone
and let them know how you feel. It starts a chain
reaction—almost as good as paying for the Starbucks
drink for the driver in the car behind you in the drive
through.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Note: In my last column I loosely translated “Ikoi No
Kai” and called it “a gathering place.” Henry Ueno
gently told me that it really means “a place to rest and
relax.” I thank you, Henry, because I always count on
you to correct me when I make errors.
Clark Center Meals on Wheels December 2012 Menu
2740 SE Powell Blvd., Portland OR
Monday 3 - Ginger chicken or veggie chili with quinoa
pilaf
Tuesday 4 - Meatloaf with gravy and mashed potatoes or veggie pizza
Wednesday 5 - Chicken curry with rice or shrimp
salad
Thursday 6 - Baked chicken provence or tuna melt
sandwich
Friday 7 - Alaskan pollock with brown rice or chicken
fajita
Monday 24 - Stir fry rice with egg and veggies and
mashed potatoes or tuna melt sandwich with tomato
soup
Tuesday 25 - Closed
Wednesday 26 - Fish with spicy asian sauce and rice
or tomato basil veggie burger
Thursday 27 - Hawaiian loco moco plate w/ gravy or
chicken enchilada
Friday 28 - Teriyaki chicken with rice or veggie lasagna
Monday 10 - Chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes or mushroom veggie burger and steak fries
Tuesday 11 - Cheese ravioli and italian veggies or
taco salad
Wednesday 12 - Chicken breast in honey sauce with
rice or cheese omelet with mushroom sauce
Thursday 13 - Cheeseburgers and tri-cut potatoes or
open face seafood sandwich
Friday 14 - Veggie stir fry or broccoli quiche
Monday 31 - Dijon crusted fish with couscous or
chicken breast sandwich
Monday 17 - Spaghetti and meatballs or chicken
breast sandwich and harvest vegetable soup
Tuesday 18 - BBQ chicken and red potatoes or veggie pizza
Wednesday 19 - Pork yakisoba with stir fry vegetables or meatloaf with potatoes
Thursday 20 - Cheese tortellini with tomato sauce or
open face roast beef sandwich and mashed potatoes
Friday 21 - Sliced roast turkey with gravy and bread
stuffing or other
Note: Meals are served “restaurant style” and include
fresh homemade soups daily.
Thank You from Portland JACL!
Portland JACL would like to thank everyone listed below for their generous donations during the past year to our
programs which include the Nikkei Community Picnic, our ongoing programs for civil rights advocacy, our youth
program and scholarships, the Minidoka Swing Band, the Nikkei Community Directory, our annual calendar, the
monthly newsletter, and the Pacific Citizen Holiday Issue advertising. Domo Arigato Gozaimashita!
Please note that all donations of $100 dollars or more are acknowledged by return mail. All others are acknowledged in our newsletter
unless the donor requests a mailed acknowledgement which we are very pleased to provide.
Al Abe Marilyn Achterman Elaine Akagi Yosh & Atsuko Akagi Diane Akasaka Charles Akiyama Ruth Akiyama Albertina Kerr Centers Grace, Katsuya Amagusa Roberta Ando Anonymous Grace Aoki Bessie Asai Paul & Chizu Ase George Azumano Laura & Karl Baxter Laura & Karl Baxter (IMO Roland, Shirley Cassens) Estate of Mable Boggs NJ Bogle Teresa Brandon Betty Brooks Carol Brunner Buddist Daihonzan Henjyoji Temple Hugh Burleson Sharon Yasui Carrell James & Lynn Charriere Randy Choy Darliss Clay Nancy Clayton Mary Winifred Coe Jeno Davidson Dan & Patty Durgan Chester Earls Betty & Donna Eki Joan Yasui Emerson Kay Endo Epworth United Methodist Church Mari & Daniel Fong Ed & Aya Fujii Susie Fujii Shig & Frieda Fujikawa Janet & Frank Fujitani Wasco Fujiwara Lori & Ray Fukunaga Cyndi Furukawa Kip & Diann Furukawa Brian & Nancy Furumasu William Gale Joyce Gee Glenn & Catherine Glass Shirley & Rodger Glos George & Jeanne Gokami Karen Grange Lynn & Scott Grannan Sandra & Verl Green Linda Guerber Victor Haburchak Jr. (IMO Lary & Mary Saito) Mae Hada Laila Hajoo Dwight Hamada Mary Hamada Dr. George & Yone Hara Jessie & Betty Harry Ethel & Richard Hedlund Rev Wako Henjyoji Hilltop Mall (Danielson's) Dan Hinatsu Diana Hinatsu Jane & Steven Hinatsu Katie Hirai Bill Hirata Mae Hirata Eisaku & Alice Hiromura Pat & Tom Hokama Yutako & Glenn Honma Joseph & Misako Hosch Kimberly Iboshi Sloop Sumiko Ikata Fusako Ikeda Sumi & Saburo Ikeda Ikoi no Kai Shige Imai Georgene & Al Inaba Sarah Inahara Toshio Inahara Yosh & Hiro Inahara Kurtis Inouye Robert & Racheal Inouye Lilly Irinaga Tex Irinaga Ben & Sumie Ishida Michael & Janice Ishii Shoun & Grace Ishikawa Fumi Itami Kimiko Iwamoto Art Iwasaki Ike & Mary Iwasaki Rich Iwasaki Makoto, Kyoko Iwashita Richard & Sammy Iwata Yoko Iwata Japanese Ancestral Society Johrei Fellowship Fude Kagawa Yoshie Kagawa George & Lily Kajiwara Dana Kakishita Ryuko Kakishita Setsuko Kamida James Kamikawa Shirley Kanada Shizuko Kasahara Terry Katayama Janice Kato Scott Kato Terry Kawamoto Dale Kawata Henry Kawata Katie & Ken Kawazoe Jim Kennedy Gerald & Rebecca Kibe Alice Kida Joyce Kikawa Emiko Kikkawa Jim Kimoto Joni Kimoto Ami Kinoshita August Kiso Yoichi Kitayama Gerry Kiyokawa Lillie Kiyokawa Mae Kiyokawa Randy Kiyokawa Robin Kiyokawa Yosh Kiyokawa John & Claire Kodachi Misako Kodama Emi Koe Bill & Nami Koida Peter & Karen Koida Jerry Koike Mary Komachi Janice Kondo Seiche & Shuko Konno Kim Kono Michiko Kornhauser Richard Koyama Rosie Kuroye Shige Kuroye Chip & Setsy Larouche Dennis & Yoko Lee Sherri Lee Chris & Susan Leedham David Lin Mariko Locke Patricia Locke Lynn Longfellow Ryohei Masuda Connie Masuoka Nobuko Masuoka Yoji ,Martha Matsushima George & May Matsuda Jean Matsumoto Yoji Matsushima Amy Matsushita Richard,Yomiko Mayeda Dale & Lily Meiners Mary & Mas Migaki Misao Minagi Mary Minamoto Emiko Mishima Terry & Kelly Mishiro Taro & Wanda Miura Taka Mizote Jim & Martha Mizuta Tsuyako Monas Irene & Floyd Mori Kenji Mori June Moriyasu Lorri & Richard Munekiyo Larry & Rose Murahashi Sumi Murakami JS Naemura Kiyo Nagae Peggy Nagae Sam Naito Verne Naito Jim Nakadate Lynn Nakamoto Harry & Betty Nakamura Calvin & Kay Nakao G Nakashima John & Sandi Nakashimada Dr. Gail Nakata Frank & Ruth Nakata Lorry Nakatsu Mark Namba Nichiren Shu Minori Kai James & Linda Nigo Rose Niguma Teruko Nishikawa Frank & Irene Nishimoto Richard Nishimoto Akira & Yoko Nishioka Debbie & Nick Nozaki Kazumi Oda Ron Oda Yoshio Oda Don Ogawa Ken Ogawa Kim Ogawa Dale & Nancy Oishi Roy & Jere Okada Janice Okamoto Lillian Okazaki Myrtle Okazaki Takashi Okazaki Setsuko Okino Mary Okita Fumiko Okubo Joe Onchi Harold & Elsie Onishi Oregon Buddhist Temple Oregon Hiroshima Club Oregon Nikkei Endowment Oregon Nisei Veterans Herb & Etsuko Osaki Ota Family Tofu Valerie Otani William Otani Robert & Fusako Ouchida Dr. Albert & Masuko Oyama Fran & Keith Palk Hatsumi Park Wendolyn Thea Peace Amy & John Peterson Portland Japanese Women's Club Joel & Carole Remme Atsuko Richards Larry Richardson Riverview Abbey Linda & Don Rutledge Carolyn Saiget Carrie Saito Fumi Saito Henry Saito Ken & Beatrice Saito May Saito Henry & A. Julianne Sakai Shiuko Sakai Henry Sakamoto Scott Sakamoto Ben Sato Victor Sato Toshiko & Dan Seeman Jeff Selby Ray & Tuesday Shellmire June & Stanley Shiigi Ann Shintani Kiyo Shioshi Jeff & Marilyn Sholian Tadako & Yukiko Simmons Mitzi Stansbury Bill & Ida Sugahiro Michelle Sugahiro Alice Sumida Etsu & Tokiko Sumida Robert Sumoge Gerald Sumoge Curtis & Mary Suyematsu Keiichi & Nahoko Suzuki Kay Sweeney Sahomi Tachibana Gregg & Laura Takashima Ned & Jean Takasumi Tetsuo & Jean Takasumi Ernest Takeda Minoru & May Takemoto Tomiko Takeuchi Kirk & Judi Tambara Katie Tamiyasu Linda Tamura Robert & Kazumi Tamura Lennie Tanaka Elsie Taniguchi Henry Tanino Alice & Benny Tano Chisato Tara Sandra Tashima Tenrikyo Portland Church Hajime & Shizumi Terao Gary Terusaki Jeffrey Tobias Jess & Kumiko Toda Heidi Tolentino Lew & Jean Tomita Sue Tomita Mitchell & Emma Tomita Thomas Tone Frances Toyooka George Tsugawa Himeko Tsugawa James & Amy Tsugawa Dr. James & Lolita Tsujimura Fumiko Tsunenaga Sharon & Kinya Tsuruta Henry & Atami Ueno Uwajimaya Barbara Uyesugi Aiko Vail Kaneko Wagar Joseph & Lora Wahl Michael Walcott Marleen Wallingford Del & Beti Ann Wantroba Alice Watanabe Alvin & Tamara Watanabe Dale Watanabe George Watanabe Ruth Sono Watanabe May Watari Jane Wing Scott Winner Jimmy & Grace Yabuki Kan & Miyeko Yagi Kenji Yaguchi Terry Yamada Mary Yamaguchi Grace Yamaki Ralph & Jean Yamamoto Skip Yamamoto Yutaka & Terumi Yamamoto Michael Yamamoto Takako Yamasaki Judy & Hiroshi Yamauchi Cathy & Jeff Yarne Frank & Amy Yasui Homer & Miki Yasui Steve Yokota Shiro Yoshida Anne Yoshitomi Roy & Tracey Yotsuuye Minnie Young Donna Yount Shig & Yo Yuzuriha Todd & Elaine Yuzuriha Janice & Tom Zyp Ikoi no Kai at Epworth
1333 SE 28th Ave, Portland
Monday 3 - Clam chowder / shrimp stir fry
Tuesday 4 - Nikujaga
(thin sliced beef & potatoes)
Wednesday 5 - Closed
Thursday 6 - Udon
kakiage (udon & veggie
tempura)
Friday 7 - Thai chicken /
fried rice
Monday 10 - Chicken &
seafood paella
Tuesday 11 - Satsuma
jiru
Wednesday 12 - Closed
Thursday 13 - Fish fried
in lemon butter
Friday 14 - Holiday meal*
Reservations only
Monday 17 - Lunch
Brunch - Asian stuffed
pork tenderloin
Tuesday 18 - Birthday
sushi
Wednesday 19 - Closed
Thursday 20 - Sukiyaki
Co-President:
Susan Leedham
Vice President:
Kirk Tambara
Membership:
Setsy Larouche
Co-President:
Jean Yamamoto
Treasurer:
Chip Larouche
Secretary:
Marleen Ikeda
Wallingford
susan@pdxjacl.org
jean@pdxjacl.org
kirk@pdxjacl.org
chip@pdxjacl.org
setsy@pdxjacl.org
marleen@pdxjacl.org
Newsletter/Historian:
Michael Yamamoto
michael@pdxjacl.org
Friday 21 - Orange peel
chicken
Monday 24 - Closed
Tuesday 25 - Merry
Christmas!
Wednesday 26 - Closed
Thursday 27 - Toshikoshi
soba / chicken karaage
Friday 28 - Dim sum
plate
Monday 31 - Closed
Ikoi no Kai December 2012 Menu Notes:
• Only the entrée is listed. Each day’s menu includes
soup or salad and dessert
• Dec. 4 - Wreathmaking w/ Mark V. & Joyce K.; sign
up required
• Dec. 14 - Huber’s Turkey Luncheon; reservations
required; prices +$1
Rich Iwasaki
John Kodachi
Jim Kennedy
Heidi Tolentino
Connie Masuoka
Jeff Selby
Lynn Longfellow
Diane Akasaka
rich@pdxjacl.org
jim@pdxjacl.org
connie@pdxjacl.org
lynn@pdxjacl.org
john@pdxjacl.org
heidi@pdxjacl.org
jeff@pdxjacl.org
diane@pdxjacl.org
Copies & Printing
Your Portland JACL Newsletter comes to you thanks to
DocuMart on SW Main in Portland, who prints it at a greatly
reduced cost. Please consider them for your printing needs:
503-228-6253.
A big thank you to Chris Onchi, as well, Chris has been
printing our labels, making data entry changes, and
assisting with the annual calendar for many years. Her
business is Chris’ Mailing Service: 503-452-6864.