confinement in the land of enchantment (cloe) updates

New
M ex ico
JAC L
Sagebrush Shinbun
New Mexico Japanese American Citizens League Newsletter
 For Better Americans in a Greater America 
Editor: Esther Churchwell
2015 NMJACL Board
Co-Presidents:
Keiko Johnson
Yuuki Nakayachi
505-280-0806
415-234-0961
Treasurer:
Calvin Kobayashi
505-343-1180
Interim Secretary:
Yuuki Nakayachi
415-234-0961
Membership Chair:
Esther Churchwell 505-883-5320
Special Projects Coordinator:
Victor Yamada
505-856-8523
Activities Coordinator:
Erik Nishida
916-267-7277
Marketing/Publicity:
Shira L’Heureux
Anime/CosPlay Coordinator:
Michael Sepulveda 505-440-3209
Youth Representative:
Joseph Day
Youth Volunteer:
Ashley Gregory
Liaison, Anti-Hate Program:
Sei Tokuda
505-266-2480
Grant Writer:
Jennifer Yazawa
505-328-0104
Graphic Design Coordinator:
Robert Reznik
505-247-4175
Webmaster:
Terri Teshiba
Honorary Board Member:
Mary Burnett de Gomez
President, JASNM, Inc 505-291-1177
NMJACL is a 501(c)(3) Organization
Design layout/printing: Valliant Printing
www.nmjacl.org
NMJACL PRESENTS:
An art event and
musical evening
Date:
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Time:
5:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Place:
September 2015
other participants with more artwork
and donations from galleries that will
be on display on Saturday, September
19, 2015 from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. The
artwork on display will be available
for auction throughout the evening
and continuing until the following day
during Aki Matsuri to 4:30 p.m.
New Mexico Taiko, under the direction
of NMJACLer and former president,
Calvin Kobayashi, will resonate the
opening of the event with their taiko
drumming.
National Hispanic Cultural Center
1701 4th St. SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(Corner of Avenida Cesar Chavez & 4th St. SW.)
C
ome out and enjoy this FREE
event showcasing portfolios of
internationally renowned artist
and photographer, Patrick Nagatani,
along with objects d’art collections of
other distinguished artisans such as
Betty Hahn, artist/photographer, Wendy
Kawabata, Hawaii-based artist, Takashi
Murakami, Japanese artist/entrepreneur,
Yoshiko Shimano, printmaker, and Shira
L’Heureux, historical depiction artist
raised and educated in Japan. Artist Avi
Thaw, woodworker/furniture designer/
artist Emi Ozawa, Leigh Anne Langwell,
prominent photographer/artist, and
Gene Kimura, local artist/former public
education teacher, are just a few of the
To set the ambiance for an artistic
experience, the event will also include
musical interludes by celebrated guest
performers, Keiko Kawashima, singer/
dancer/actress, and Scott Nagatani,
prominent pianist, all the way from
Southern California.
Admission is FREE, and light snacks and
refreshment will also be served during
this one-of-a-kind Art Event & Musical
Evening to benefit NMJACL projects
on Saturday, September 19, 2015 from
5:30 – 9:00 p.m.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Art Event & Musical
Evening............... page 1
CLOE update
............................page 12
Aki Matsuri 2015 Welcome new consul
................................. page 2
general ............. page 13
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nmjacl
Get ready!
Aki Matsuri 2015
September 2oth
J
oin NMJACL for a full day of culturalsharing festivities for a nominal
donation of $5.00. This year promises
to offer a few surprises, especially that of
special guest performers traveling all the
way from California.
Keiko Kawashima, highly accomplished
singer, actress and dancer, will appear
on stage at 11:30 a.m. and again at 2
p.m. with renowned musical director,
composer, arranger, and pianist, Scott
Nagatani. Some of the songs that they
will be performing will include those
of Misora Hibari, one of Japan’s most
popular singer and actress who began
her career at age 12 in 1949.
Another special guest performer will
be Chizuko Matsumoto, initially from
Houston,TX, and currently of Santa Fe,
who is a licensed traditional Japanese
dance instructor of the prominent
Hanayagi sect.
Another newcomer to the Aki Matsuri
stage is a group known as ALJ06. They
include six vibrant young ladies who
perform traditional folk art dances to
the popular Japanese-Pop songs and
dances of today. They initially performed
as youngsters with the Japanese Play
Group but “graduated” to teens with a
new twist to their routines and a name
that is just as unique. ALJ06 signifies
the location where they are from, their
ethnicity, and the number of performers
in the group: Albuquerque (A), Los Lunas
(L), Japanese (J), and 06.
The adorable, crowd-pleasing toddler/
children’s Japanese Play Group will
once again grace the stage with their
delightful bilingual singing and dancing
numbers. If you have never seen this
group of charismatic youngsters, you will
have to visit Aki Matsuri 2015 at least this
one time and I can assure that you will
be back next year just to see them again.
They are usually on stage somewhere
around the noon hour as the children’s
daily nap time is shortly after their
performance.
Aki Matsuri would not be the
typical Japanese Festival without the
reverberating sounds of the popular taiko
drummers. Albuquerque is home to two
taiko dojos and both have been sharing
their drum beats at our annual Fall Festival
every year. This year is no exception so
stop by and hear the pulsating sounds of
these Japanese drums.
Martial Arts is an essential part of
Japanese history, dating back to the
existence of the samurai warriors
with the caste system restricting the
use of weaponry by other members
of the public. The Japanese Martial
Arts is diverse with vast differences in
philosophy, weaponry, style and training.
The Art involves discipline, mental,
physical and spiritual development
along with a form of self-defense. Aki
Matsuri attempts to showcases several
styles of Japanese Martial Arts, including
Kendo which descended from the Art
of Swordsmanship, Shotokan Karate, a
form of karate originating in Okinawa,
another style of karate that has origins in
Japan and Okinawa, and Judo, a modern
form of martial arts that translates to the
“gentle way.”
NMJACL will once again have food
booth with their popular chicken wings
plate as their main dish, and sides of
onigiri (rice balls), SPAM musubi, and
Okinawa mochi. In addition, there will
be a variety of other menu items to savor
with the addition of three food trucks
and an authentic shave ice (sweetened
ice) vendor this year to help satisfy the
hunger pangs of Aki Matsuri visitors,
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vendors, performers, demonstrators
and volunteers. The food truck vendors
include Kimo’s Hawaiian BBQ, Soobak
Foods, and Spork the World, and the
shave ice vendor is Dakine Hawaiian Ice.
The booth vendors include a mixture
of new and former businesses or
organizations. NMJACL is honored to
have for the first time, the American
Friends Service Committee, a Quaker
organization, who offered invaluable
assistance to the Japanese Americans
following the issuance of Executive Order
9066, join our group of Aki Matsuri
vendors.
Another newcomer is The Image Shark,
selling a variety of arts & crafts items,
White Sands Co.,LTD, offering gift items,
and Kinesio Taping, partnering with its
local authorized dealer, A&R Medical
Supply.
NMJACL thanks the returning participants
for their continued support year after year:
UNM College of Pharmacy for offering
FREE Health Screening to our event
visitors, UNM Medical Reserve Corps for
providing FREE First Aid Services to our
guests, The Fragrant Leaf, Hanayagi: The
Japanese Garden Shop, NM Asian Family
Center, Santa Fe JIN, Con-Jikan, Sierra
Club, T’ai Chi Chih Association, Yakult
USA, and Sierra Club.
A huge appreciation goes out to Insitus
Biotechnologies and the In Kim family
for again sponsoring a special corporate
tent, in memory of the late Hiroko Kim,
specifically for their friends and families
next to the entertainment/demonstration
stage.
In addition, NMJACL appreciates all
those who have placed an advertisement
in the glossy, brightly colored, Aki
Matsuri Program for helping to allay
some of the expenses for publishing the
“informational” program.
a
Sagebrush Shinbun
AKI MATSURI 2015 INFO GUIDE
GINZA PROMENADE
NMJACL will be bringing back the “Ginza
Promenade” during Aki Matsuri this year
as several individuals have donated a
variety of Japanese-styled items, including
kimonos and accessories, ceramic ware,
dolls, furoshiki (square cloth used for
wrapping items or framing as artwork),
craft books, and other giftware.
If you have any Japanese wares or
merchandises that you would like to “regift” to the Ginza Promenade, please
bring them to the NMJACL Membership
booth on Sunday morning, September
20, 2015, or contact any of the board
members listed on the front page of
this newsletter for a pick-up before the
event, or contact Esther Churchwell at
echurch64@gmail.com or (505) 8835320 for additional information.
If you also have some Japanese
decorations such as “chochins” (paper
lanterns – large or small), we would
appreciate the loan or donation to spruce
up the Promenade area to make it look
like a festive district (Ginza).
The proceeds from the Ginza Promenade
will be used to fund NMJACL projects.
Stop by the booth to drop off your
donations or to support our efforts
with your purchases. We thank all our
generous donors for the excellent gifts
we have received thus far for our Ginza
Promenade.
Children’s Activities &
Storytelling Booth
Aki Matsuri (Japanese Fall Festival) is an
annual cultural sharing event sponsored
by NMJACL that specifically targets the
entire family. There is something for all
ages to enjoy, whether it may be the
food, entertainment, demonstrations,
various vendors, arts and crafts, or handson activities.
The theme for this year’s festival is,
”Mukashi Banachi: Japanese Folk Tales,”
and we plan to have some children’s
activities related to this theme, just as
we have had for the past several years,
that are organized by Robert Reznik of
Valliant Printing.
In addition, Laurie Brau, Associate
Professor of Japanese in the Department
of Foreign Languages and Literatures
at the University of New Mexico, and
author of “Rakugo: Performing Comedy
and Cultural Heritage in Contemporary
***** COOLERS/ICE CHESTS NEEDED *****
NMJACL needs several coolers/ice chests for the Art Event & Musical Evening
on Saturday, September 19th, and for Aki Matsuri on Sunday, September 20th,
to keep some refreshments cool for our volunteers who will be hard at work
on those days. If you have some large coolers/ice chests that we may borrow,
please contact any of the board members listed on Page 1 of this Sagebrush
Shinbun, or contact Esther Churchwell at echurch64@gmail.com or (505)
883-5320. Please clearly mark the coolers/ice chests with your name so we will
be sure to return them to you when the events are over.
Tokyo” will be demonstrating her Rakugostyle of theatrical art of comic storytelling
that originated in the Edo period for part
of the day during Aki Matsuri, adjacent
to the Children’s Activities table.
Thank you, also, to Robert Reznik of
Valliant Printing for creating life-sized,
kimono clad male and female “standins” where visitors stand behind the
stand-ins and place their head in the cut
out for a photographic memento of their
experience at Aki Matsuri 2015.
Exhibition Pavilion
NMJACL once again thanks Machiko
Bomberger, Instructor in the Department
of Foreign Languages and Literatures
at the University of New Mexico, for
volunteering her expertise and talents
to our Shodo or Japanese calligraphy
table in the Exhibition Pavilion. For a
donation, our Aki Matsuri visitors may
have their name or a word written in
Japanese. In the past, individuals have
purchased (or brought their own) fan,
booklet, or even an umbrella on which to
have Bomberger Sensei write the brushstroked calligraphy of your choice. The
Shodo has been one of the most popular
activities in the Exhibition Pavilion over
the years, keeping Bomberger Sensei
so busy that she can barely take a break
from the long lines.
This year’s Origami (Japanese Art of
Paper Folding) demonstrations will be
presented by the students of Bushido
Kenkyukai Karate and Taiko Dojo, under
the direction of Anita Lee Gallegos
Sensei. This hands-on activity affords our
visitors the opportunity to create various
3-D objects merely through the folding
...continued on page 4
3
nmjacl
...continued from page 3
and sculpting techniques of the origami
paper. Like the Shodo/calligraphy, the
Origami demonstration is also a very
popular activity for all ages. Try your
hands at this unique Art of Paper Folding.
We will also have a Caricature sitting
area for anyone who would like to have
a souvenir sketching of your striking
characteristics that are exaggerated to
create a comical “portrait” by our local
artist, Gene Kimura, former long-time art
instructor in the public school districts.
Some of his water color art will be on
sale in the auction room at the Pete V.
Domenici Education Center. Stop by the
Caricature sitting area or the Education
Center to view some of Gene Kimura’s
work.
COSPLAY PARADE
This year, Aki Matsuri 2015 will feature a
“Cosplay Parade” rather than a contest,
per se, as there have been too many
exceptionally creative costumes in prior
years to narrow the judging down to
only one or two as the “best” in the
show when there were many more that
should have been in that category.
Hence, in all fairness to all the cosplay
characters who spent a lot of time and
expense to display their creations publicly
for all to adore and appreciate, Aki
Matsuri 2015 will not host a contest.
Cosplay costume participants will,
An Art Event & Musical Evening Appeal
For the first time in NMJACL’s Aki Matsuri history, a special “Art Event & Musical
Evening” the Saturday eve before Aki Matsuri is being arranged to feature some
distinguished artwork donated by highly respectable artists and photographers
for auction to benefit NMJACL projects such as the “Confinement in the Land of
Enchantment: Japanese Americans in New Mexico During WWII” (CLOE) project.
We are extremely grateful to these generous individuals and galleries for their
support of our effort, and special recognition is extended to Patrick Nagatani,
renowned artist and photographer, for helping to lend his assistance in influencing
his contacts within the art community to donate an art piece and for bringing
the “Musical Evening” performers, Keiko Kawashima and Scott Nagatani, to
Albuquerque for the event.
This FREE event is open to the public with refreshment and light appetizers.
Japanese Kitchen and another donor has generously offered to provide sushi for
the evening, but we still need more donations of appetizers/finger foods for the
large number of visitors that we anticipate. If you are able to donate additional
food for the Art Event and Musical Evening, please contact Victor Yamada at
vymada@yahoo.com or at (505) 856-8523, or Esther Churchwell at echurch64@
gmail.com or (505) 883-5320.
In addition, if you are looking for a relaxing evening on Saturday, September
19th, between 5:30- 9:00 p.m., stop by the National Hispanic Cultural Center
in the Pete V. Domenici Education Center at 1701 Fourth St. SW, Albuquerque,
NM 87102 to browse through a wide variety of artwork, pick out a few special
pieces, and savor the refreshment and enjoy the music by guest performers from
California, Keiko Kawashima and Scott Nagatani.
however, be free to show case their
creativity by strolling among the crowd
and parading their costumes on stage
between 4-4:15 p.m.
Since the Aki Matsuri 2015 theme is,
“Mukashi Banashi: Japanese Folk Tales”
there may be opportunities to fashion
New Mexico
Shotokan Karate
Randy Sanders
Chief Instructor, Rokudan
2808 Girard Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(South of Candelaria NE)
(505) 872-0725
4
a costume after various characters in
ancient Japanese stories. We encourage
cosplay enthusiasts to dress in their
costume and astound the event goers
with their elaborate creations.
a
Sagebrush Shinbun
AKI MATSURI 2015
PERFORMANCE & DEMONSTRATION SCHEDULE
10:00 - 10:20 a.m. Welcoming
Remarks & Introduction of esteemed
Guests: Yuuki Nakayachi
1:45 – 1:55 p.m.
Okinawa
Dance: Emi Williamson & Hana
Milani, and Yaeko Miyazato
10:20– 10:40 a.m. Opening
ceremonial performance: Bushido
Kenkyukai Taiko: Anita Gallegos
Sensei
2:00 - 2:30 p.m. Special
Guest Performers: Singer, Keiko
Kawashima & Pianist, Scott Nagatani
10:45 - 11:05 a.m. ALJ06 Japanese
Youth Group: Singing & Dancing:
Michiko Sibley Sensei
11:05 – 11:25 a.m. Martial Arts:
New Mexico Kendo Kai: Davis Begay
Sensei
11:30 – 12:00 p.m. Special
Guest Performers: Singer, Keiko
Kawashima & Pianist, Scott Nagatani
12:05 – 12:25 p.m. Traditional
Japanese Dance Group: Chizuko
Matsumoto Sensei
12:25 – 12:35 a.m.
Announcements/Art Exhibit &
Auction/ Introduction of Vendors:
Yuuki Nakayachi
12:35 – 12:55 a.m. Japanese Play
Group: Maki Janert Sensei
2:30 - 2:45 p.m.
Thomas Berkes
Jiuta Shamisen:
2:45 – 2:50 p.m. Announcements/
Art Exhibit & Auction/Ginza Sales:
Esther Churchwell
2:50 – 3:10 p.m. Martial Arts:
Bushido Kenkyukai Karate: Anita
Gallegos Sensei
3:10 – 3:40 p.m. Japanese Folk
Dance & Audience Participation Bon
Odori: Natsuko Edelman Sensei
3:40 – 3:55 p.m. ALJ06 Japanese
Youth Group: Singing and Dancing:
Michiko Sibley Sensei
3:55 - 4:00 p.m. Last Call for Art
Auction/Recognition of Vendors:
Esther Churchwell
Martial Arts and Japanese
Drumming Classes
Web: www.bkwow.com
E-mail: info@bkwow.com
AZUMI
Japanese Embroidery Studio
Come Learn the Beautiful
Art of Silk Embroidery!
4:00 – 4:15 p.m. Cosplay Costume
Parade: Michael Sepulveda
12:55 – 1:15 p.m Martial Arts:
New Mexico Shotokan Karate:
Randy Sanders Sensei
Phone: (575) 623-3146
Duane: (575) 313-3535
Kathryn: (575) 313-6193
4:15 – 4:35 p.m. Martial Arts:
Sandia Judo: Mark Fraser Sensei
9 El Arco Iris Drive
Roswell, NM 88201
1:15 – 1:45 p.m.
NM Taiko:
Calvin Kobayashi Sensei
4:35 – 4:50 p.m. Closing
Statements: Yuuki Nakayachi
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elms.duanekathryn0@gmail.com
nmjacl
Sample of Artists & Artwork Participating in the
FREE Art Event & Musical Evening
Saturday, September 19, 2015 • 5:30 – 9:00 p.m.
A
s time and space will not allow for a comprehensive list to be included in this article of all the artists who will be
participating in the Free Art Event & Musical Evening, a sampling of some of the individuals and their work will be
offered for your review and hopefully, interest you to attend the event to view the rest of the collections that will be
auctioned off. Various artistes are still contacting the exhibit coordinator, Shira L’Heureux, to extend their willingness to donate
pieces of their artwork to this worthwhile charitable event and so the register of contributors may not be fully complete until
the very minute the event begins at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Pete
V. Domenici Education Center.
Patrick R. Nagatani, Professor Emeritus
in the Department of Art & Art History,
University of New Mexico from 1996
to 2007, author of several published
books,
renowned
photographer
with works exhibited nationally and
internationally; principal contributor to
the Art Event & Musical Evening.
22 x 26 framed archival, signed
photographs by Patrick Nagatani of
WWII Japanese American incarceration
camp sites will be available at the Art
Event. The photograph above is of the
Heart Mountain, WY, site that opened
on August 12, 1942 and closed on
November 10, 1945 with a peak
population of 10,797 internees during
that time.
Betty Hahn did her graduate studies
at Indiana University in the Department
of Photography, lived in NY before
relocating to NM as a visiting professor
at UNM and subsequently a full
professorship in Photography until her
retirement in 1997. Her works are in
Art Institutes, galleries and museums in
Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and
Ottawa, Canada.
“Starry Night” is one of her donations
to the Art Event auction.
6
Leigh Ann Langwell, originally from
CA, received her graduate degree in
Fine Arts from UNM and has been
an Adjunct Lecturer there with an
interest and employment as medical
photographer for over 17 years in
medical and scientific imaging, and
utilizing the photogram process about
7 years ago.
“Shadow 022” is of a photogram
image donated by Ms. Langwell.
Sagebrush Shinbun
Avi Thaw, born and raised in Israel,
began showing his artistic talents at
his first show in an established gallery
at age 12. After moving to the United
States in 1965, his work steadily gained
international acclaim.
Shira L’Heureux, described as a
historical depiction artist and portrait
artist, was raised in Quebec, Canada, and
subsequently moved to Tokyo, Japan,
at a young age where she graduated
from Sophia University in Tokyo with a
major in Asian Art and History. She is
noted for incorporating gold and silver
leaf in her artwork, and has had her
work exhibited internationally. She is
also a certified appraiser, specializing in
Antiques and Asian Art.
For a more comprehensive exhibit of
extraordinary artwork for sale, stop by
the FREE Art Event & Musical Evening
on Saturday, September 19th from 5:30
– 9:00 p.m. NMJACL thanks all of the
donors from the artistic community
for their generous contributions to
benefit NMJACL projects such as
the “Confinement in the Land of
Enchantment:
Japanese
Americans
in New Mexico During WWII” grant
project.
a
“Art Gallery Owner in Paris” is one
of Avi Thaw’s artistic creations that will
be on auction.
“Two Pilgrims to Nara, Japan,” is an
original oil painting on canvas by Shira
L’Heureux, donated to the Art Event.
Japanese Kitchen
Teppan, Sushi &
Japanese Cuisine
Experience the Splendor
& Excitement of Japan
“Omakase” is available at Sushi Bar
ALBUQUERQUE
Steakhouse
88 Louisiana Blvd. SE
Albuquerque, NM 87108
(505) 268-0206
SANTA FE
Sushi Bar
Sushi Bar
505-872-1166
6511 America’s Parkway
Albuquerque
Steakhouse
505-872-1166
6511 America’s Parkway
Albuquerque
505 Cerrillos Rd. Ste. B-101
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 780-5073
7
nmjacl
YOUTH
REPRESENTATIVE
CORNER
By JOSEPH DAY
HELLO ALL
M
y name is Joseph
Day,
recently
appointed to be
the New Mexico Japanese
American Citizens League’s
Youth Representative. I have
had the pleasure of meeting
quite a few of you in my years
of being a part of this organization and am
happy and honored for the opportunity to
represent our local chapter. As your Youth
Rep, I hope to further our local chapter’s
participation on the National JACL level
as well as increase participation among
my peers. In order to accomplish this I
plan to represent NMJACL at national
conventions and possibly start a JACL club
at the University of New Mexico where I
am currently enrolled.
I would like to give you a little insight as
to why I joined the JACL. My major is
Classics at UNM, which is Greco/Roman
history, language, and mythology, with
a minor in Asian studies. My interest in
Classics started early when I saw the
Walt Disney movie, “Hercules.” I already
knew that Disney had a track record of
not conveying the original stories and so
I began researching as many of the real
accounts as possible since then.
As for my minor in Asian Studies, this
interest sprouted when I was very young
and my mother told me that I was
Japanese. Being only a quarter Japanese,
I always thought I was white. I was so
excited and proud of my heritage that
I wanted all of my class mates to know
that I was Asian. When my third grade
teacher assigned a “Country of Origin”
assignment, I thought that was my
chance to reveal my ancestry. At first
this seemed fine, until I discovered that
racism was not primarily associated with
the discrimination and harassment of
African Americans. Many of the adults
around me could not believe that, “in this
day and age,” a person could be bullied
for their race. I found that the ignorance
around me was quite baffling. Luckily for
me, my mother, Wanda Day, a member
of NMJACL since she was quite young,
informed me about JACL and how this
civil rights organization lashes out against
such discrimination, and strives for
better understanding of all people and
cultures. I decided that I had to be a part
of such an admirable civil rights group
as this. The decision to join JACL was a
good choice for me as I have had many
amazing opportunities to experience my
culture, meet great people, travel around
the United States to attend conventions,
and even go to Japan in 2014 on an allexpense-paid trip as part of the Kakehashi
Project.
In fact, this past July, the JACL National
Convention was held in Las Vegas, NV,
and a fellow NMJACL board member,
Victor Yamada, and myself, represented
our chapter. There I had a chance to
participate in the Kakehashi reunion and
visit with a few people whom I went to
Japan with just over a year ago. I also
had the opportunity to meet others who
went on previous and consecutive trips.
There was an air of nostalgia as we all
shared experiences and expressed how
life changing the trip to Japan was for all
of us.
Looking back, I think about how
Kakehashi, meaning “bridge” in
Japanese, was put in place to create
interpersonal relationships between
America and Japan. It accomplished this
and so much more, for not only did we
have the chance to meet some incredible
people overseas but we have created ties
here at home with people from all over
the United States. This I feel is why the
Kakehashi Project has been continued
indefinitely and will double the number of
participants each year! Not only that, but
they will be extending the invitation to all
Asian Americans. I am ever thankful to the
Laurasion Institute, the Japan Foundation,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan,
and of course, JACL, for giving me the
8
opportunity of a lifetime to participate
in the Kakehashi Project and for giving
countless others in the future the chance
to have a similar experience in Japan.
During the National Convention in July, I
also attended a Youth Orientation where
the National Youth Student Council (NYSC)
did a presentation. They addressed voting
etiquette and also emphasized how we,
as the youth, are the future of the JACL.
They wanted the NYSC to carry on the
JACL’s tradition of “firsts” where we were
the first civil rights organization to come
out in support of the LGBT community
and how we were the first to support
the Muslim Americans in the aftermath
of 9/11. They wanted to accomplish this
by having the unanimous vote of the
youth in favor of the JACL’s support of
HR 40, a House Resolution of the United
States government to look into how
slavery has affected the African American
communities in the U.S. The resolution is
to address what can be done in terms of
reparation. This is nearly identical to how
Japanese Americans received redress for
their incarceration in internment camps
during WWII. I am happy to write that
the vote was indeed unanimous, not only
among the youth, but by all of the voting
representatives at the JACL Convention.
We are now in full support of HR 40.
It was amazing to participate in the
convention and to see just how large and
strong JACL is. Having the opportunity
to meet people my own age who feels
the same way about civil rights and basic
human equality was eye opening for me.
We are an international community and
together we can make a difference.
This is what I hope to inform my peers
about: opportunities and the chance to
be a part of an organization that will help
those who are facing discrimination for
something they have no control over such
as their race, gender, or sexual orientation.
I am thankful to JACL and I hope that my
participation as Youth Representative will
allow me to give back in some way.
Thank you,
Joseph Day
a
Sagebrush Shinbun
The NEW
MEXICO JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE Presents An
art
event
&
musical
evening
SATURDAY • SEPTEMBER 19 2015 • 5:30 - 9:00
TH
ART EXHIBIT AND SILENT ART AUCTION BENEFITING THE NMJACL PROJECTS
PM
Free Admission & Refreshments!
FEATURING OVER 20 ACCLAIMED ARTISTS
INTRODUCTORY PERFORMANCE BY NEW MEXICO TAIKO
SPECIAL GUEST MUSICAL PERFORMANCE - 7:00 PM
SCOTT NAGATANI
KEIKO KAWASHIMA
FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED GRATEFUL CRANE ENSEMBLE - LOS ANGELES, CA
patrick nagatani
INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED
ARTIST/PHOTOGRAPHER
GENEROUS DONATION OF SIGNED PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTFOLIOS FROM SERIES OF JAPANESE
AMERICAN INCARCERATION CAMPS IN THE UNITED STATES DURING WORLD WAR II.
SAMPLE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM PORTFOLIO BELOW:
MANAZANAR
CALIFORNIA
MINIDOKA
IDAHO
HEART MOUNTAIN
WYOMING
ART EXHIBIT & AUCTION CONTINUING
SUNDAY • SEPTEMBER 20TH 2015 • 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
(WITH $5 ADMISSION TO NMJACL’S AKI MATSURI)
HISPANIC CULTURAL CENTER • PETE DOMENICI EDUCATIONAL BUILDING
1701 FOURTH ST. ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87102
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT NMJACL.ORG OR FIND US ON FACEBOOK
THIS PROJECT IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY AN AWARD BY THE PACIFIC SOUTHWEST DISTRICT OF THE JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE
9
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10
Sagebrush Shinbun
L
ittle is known about the role that
the American Friends Service
Committee (AFSC), a Quaker
organization that was founded during
WWI, played in helping the Japanese
Americans following the issuance of
Executive Order 9066.
When President Roosevelt signed
Executive Order 9066 on February
19, 1942 most of the country was
either unaware of or in support of
its provisions. The resulting military
proclamations victimized a large group
of peaceful Japanese-Americans who
were residents of the United States and
believed in its principles. They stripped
them of their property, their means of
livelihood, and their personal freedom,
and placed them in concentration
camps behind barbed wire perimeters.
A few, mostly pacifist, religious
groups protested the treatment of
the 120,000+ of their fellow citizens
and their U.S. resident parents who
were interned in violation of their
civil rights. Among these groups were
the Quakers (Religious Society of
Friends) and its social justice and relief
organization, the American Friends
Service Committee. In addition to
protesting Executive Order 9066, the
Quakers and the AFSC attempted to
protect the property forcibly vacated by
the internees, visited them in the camps
bringing packets of supplies, provided
breakfast and personal accompaniment
when they were placed on trains
carrying them to the camps, organized
transitional hostels and services for
those able to be conditionally released,
and administered a program whereby
college-age Japanese-Americans might
matriculate into colleges in the U.S.
Midwest.
In May of 1942, Milton Eisenhower
(War Relocation Authority) asked the
American Friends Service Committee/
Quakers if they would run that program
that enabled college students in the
proscribed zone to attend college in
the Midwest. The organization agreed
to do so, but continued to speak out
against the oppressive racism of Order
9066 and the internment.
Yuki Hashiguchi, mother of NMJACLer,
Lois Kennedy, was assisted by the
Quakers during WWII. She reported
that through their kindness the group
helped her find a place to live so that
she could leave the Jerome camp. She
was relocated to a boarding house in
Cincinnati where she eventually met
her husband.
The American Friends Service Committee
(AFSC) is a Quaker organization that
promotes lasting peace with justice, as
a practical expression of faith in action.
Drawing on continuing spiritual insights
and working with people of many
backgrounds, they nurture the seeds of
change and respect for human life that
transform social relations and systems.
During the National JACL Convention
of July 2014, in San Jose, CA, the AFSC
was awarded the Governor Ralph Carr
Award for Courage for their opposition
11
to Japanese American incarceration
during WWII as well as for their
continued commitment in the pursuit
of peace, social justice, and human
rights. They were recognized as one of
the few groups to publicly support and
aid the 120,000 persons of Japanese
ancestry who were incarcerated in
camps. The honor was well deserved
and recognized with a standing ovation
for the group and their representatives.
This year, Aki Matsuri 2015 is honored
to include the American Friends Service
Committee (AFSC) booth which will
contain information about its work
and those of other Quakers in support
of the interned Japanese Americans
during WWII, and a profile of the more
recent AFSC program that has operated
in New Mexico since 1974.
Stop by their booth at Aki Matsuri to
thank them for their support and help
to Japanese Americans during WWII
and for the work they are doing all over
the world.
a
photo by M. Burnett de Gomez
Hanayagi
The
Japanese Garden Shop, Inc.
The
Art of
Japan
2935 Louisiana Blvd. NE,
www.hanayagi.net
.
Albuquerque, NM 87110
505.291.1177
nmjacl
National Park Service Grant Project:
Confinement in the land of enchantment (CLOE) UPDates
N
MJACL has partnered with
the Public Lands History
Center at Colorado State
University and has named
the project, “Confinement in the Land
of Enchantment: Japanese Americans
in New Mexico during WWII” (CLOE).
The goal of this internment sites project
is to relate that part of New Mexico’s
little known history during WWII with
stories about detainees held at each of
the facilities and how the surrounding
communities interacted with the
camps as well as stories of how various
communities treated the Japanese and
Japanese Americans in their midst. At the
core of this project are thought-provoking
issues of citizenship, identity, and civil
liberty.
At present, the project team continues
to work towards completing an outreach
publication draft that will share the
history of each of the four confinement
sites at Santa Fe, Lordsburg, Old Raton
Ranch, and Fort Stanton. It will include
many images, interviews, and written
communications collected from Japanese
American people who were confined in
the New Mexico camps as well as the
Nikkei residents of the state who lived
outside the camps.
State University. Dr. Payne now serves as
the Co-Principal Investigator for CLOE
Phase Two, along with Dr. Andy Russell,
a subject area specialist who teaches at
CNM. This partnership has grown to
include several scholars from New Mexico
and Colorado, student interns from CSU,
and perhaps a dozen members of the
NMJACL who have been collaborating
to collect the personal and family stories
and other documentations that will be
used to tell a complex history that is
not well known, even among Japanese
Americans.
Although most of the research has been
completed, the CLOE team is looking
forward to the results of the NMJACLled translation of letters written by an
internee named Mr. Hanzawa, as well
as an album or scrap book belonging to
a Dr. Tanaka, both of whom were held
captive in the Santa Fe camp. In Phase
Two we are also documenting the recent
experiences of former residents of Clovis,
NM, who suffered terribly during the war
but who were invited as honored guest
of the Clovis “Welcome Back to the
Homestead” celebrations of June 2014.
In addition to the outreach publication, the
CLOE project is organizing the installation
of historic markers at Lordsburg and Fort
Stanton and is working with the New
Mexico Office of the State Historian to
add pages about the camps to the state
history website. In 2002, after much
heated debate by the Santa Fe City
Council, a marker was finally erected
above the site of the Santa Fe Camp.
As part of the NPS grant, recipients
like CSU and the NMJACL are required
to match a portion of the funds the
government has provided for the
Implementation Grant. Victor Yamada
has spearheaded the efforts that raised
several thousand dollars in matching
funds from agencies like the National
JACL and the New Mexico Humanities
Council. We have also witnessed project
support and some generous donations of
our friends and families in New Mexico
and elsewhere.
The outreach publication, historic
markers, and web pages are part of
a multi-year project that began as
collaboration between NMJACL and Dr.
Sarah Payne, who worked for Van Citters
Historic Preservation in Albuquerque
before she took a position at Colorado
A couple of months ago, we initiated a
friendly, regional challenge to see whether
one area could “out do” the other in
terms of the amount of donations from
each regional site. The Midwest/East still
has the lead, with $2,100 in donations,
followed by the Southwest states, with
12
$1,450 and the Pacific Northwest, with
$1,050. We appreciate the generous
support from donors across the country,
and we are hopeful we can solicit the
remaining $10,000 we need for full
funding by December.
If you are interested in joining the growing
list of individuals and families who are
supporting these efforts to educate the
public about the WWII experiences of
Japanese Americans in New Mexico, your
contributions will be most appreciated.
Santa Fe New Mexico Internment Camp – from a Dr. Tanaka’s Album
in the New Mexico History Museum, Santa Fe, New Mexico Original
Watercolor by Santa Fe Internee Jiro Haneda dated August 14, 1944.
Courtesy of NM Museum Archives, Santa Fe
New Mexico Locations of Japanese
American Internment Camps
Sagebrush Shinbun
Checks can be made out to the CSU
Foundation, with CLOE in the memo line,
and sent to: Public Lands History Center,
Colorado State University, 1776 Campus
Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1776.
All contributions are greatly appreciated
and also tax deductible as NMJACL
and the Public Lands History Center
are non-profit, 501(c)(3) organizations.
Those individuals who initially sent
their checks to NMJACL will receive
written acknowledgement directly from
NMJACL for their contributions, and the
Public Lands History Center will send
out acknowledgements for donations
received by their office.
Please contact Victor Yamada (vyamada@
yahoo.com),
Esther
Churchwell
(echurch64@gmail.com),
or
Tessa
Moening (tesmoe@rams.colostate.edu)
for additional information about the
project.
a
NMJACL Welcomes the new consulgeneral of Japan in denver
M
akoto Ito has assumed the position of the new Consul-General
of Japan in Denver as of April 2015. He brings with him years of
experience within the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, having
served in various capacities while posted at missions in Europe, Canada, and
Central and South America.
The Office of the ConsulGeneral of Japan in Denver
serves
Colorado,
Utah,
New Mexico and Wyoming.
Consul-General
Ito
has
remarked publicly that his
intention is “ … to further the
strong relationships between
Japan”
and
this
region,
culturally and economically,
while serving the needs of Japanese residents living in the area.
To this end, Consul-General Ito has already reached out to some Japanese
American community representatives in New Mexico, including NMJACL’s
Albuquerque - (505) 256-1610
Santa Fe - (505) 469-0510
Rio Rancho - (505) 917-9344
www.ARMedical.com
President, Yuuki Nakayachi.
NMJACL has extended an invitation to Consul-General Ito to attend our Aki
Matsuri and his office has relayed his acceptance. We are privileged to have
Consul-General Ito honor us with his presence at Aki Matsuri 2015, and
welcome him to New Mexico.
“We Supply Your
Independence”
a
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations are in order to Corinna Yonemoto and Justin Brown on
their recent wedding. Corinna is the daughter of Ken and Ada Yonemoto,
whose large extended family was part of the founding families of NMJACL.
Corinna essentially grew up in the midst of NMJACL events and activities
when she was a young child. Best Wishes to both as they venture into
another chapter of their lives.
13
nmjacl
NATIONAL JACL:
FEED BACK ON THE
PACIFIC CITIZEN
JACL membership whenever we can.”
feedback to the staff at National JACL’s
This editor responded that she was
Pacific
particularly interested in a movie review
them at pc@pacificcitizen.org. You
of sorts of the various JA-related films
can tell them what you like about their
that are currently out on DVD since
publication and what you would like to
there have been quite a few of them in
see more of covered in the paper.
the last several years, alone. This way,
individuals may have an idea of what
Citizen
newspaper,
contact
a
the film is about, where it takes place,
and what time period in our history it
may involve.
State Farm®
Providing Insurance
and Financial Services
When NMJACL offered the free viewing
Home Office,
Bloomington, Illinois
61710
of “Cats of Mirikitani” a couple of
N
years ago at the North Domingo Baca
MJACL received a request for
Multigenerational
all readers of National JACL’s
individuals remarked that they would
semi-monthly
newspaper,
have attended the viewing of the film
Pacific Citizen, whether you are a
had they known what it was about,
member of National JACL or have seen
although
their Pacific Citizen publication online
provided in our newsletter and flyer. At
or via a family member’s subscription.
that time, we were extremely fortunate
to
have
a
Center,
brief
had
the
several
description
director,
was
Linda
The staff at the Pacific Citizen is
Hattendorf, who befriended Jimmy
interested in receiving your feedback
Mirikitana on the streets of New York
about their newspaper, and whether
give a very moving presentation of her
there is anything that you or the
friendship with him at this event.
NMJACL chapter may be interested in
seeing more of in the Pacific Citizen’s
There are other well-produced films,
coverage.
particularly relating to WWII, but little
may be known about them. A “movie
The request stated, “We’re really
review” section in the Pacific Citizen
looking
the
may help to inform/educate the general
members, understanding what we can
public of the existence of films/stories
do better and improve on … Are there
about Japanese Americans in our midst,
any notable members that come to
including films that portray our history
mind with extraordinary stories to tell
and heritage.
for
feedback
from
about their JA heritage or AAPI culture?
We’re always looking to highlight the
If you would like to provide your
14
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Sagebrush Shinbun
Report from
2015 jacl
national
convention
By Victor Yamada
J
oseph Day & I attended the JACL
National Convention held in Las
Vegas, NV, from July 13 – 15, 2015
as representatives from the NMJACL
Chapter. Joey served as NMJACL’s
youth/ student representative while I
was the Chapter’s delegate.
I attended the National Council business
sessions, the Civic Engagement
presentation, and Sayonara Banquet.
The Civic Engagement session provided
some guidance to local organizations
on how to register people and ways to
get them out to vote during elections.
Two Chapter highlights of the
convention included Pacific Southwest
District’s report on Program for Action,
citing some NMJACL Chapter’s work in
hosting a Teacher Training Workshop,
partnering with Colorado State
University on the “Confinement in
the Land of Enchantment: Japanese
Americans in NM during WWII” (CLOE)
Chapter, District, and NY/SC representatives accept their 2015 Legacy Fund Grants at the JACL National
Convention Sayonara Banquet. Victor Yamada, second from left, NMJACL representative, accepts our
chapter’s Legacy Fund Grant.
Project, having a student accepted
for and participating in the Kakehashi
Program, and allowing young adults
the opportunity to take part in Anime/
Cosplay activities, to name a few of the
Program for Action examples of this
chapter.
The other highlight was the formal
recognition and award of a Legacy
Fund Grant to our chapter by the
National Board during the Sayonara
Banquet. The grant for $2500 is being
used for Japanese to English translation
of documents and materials from the
Santa Fe & Lordsburg Confinement
Camps.
An exhibit of interest at this Convention
was a booth by the Smithsonian
Institute, offering access to artifacts
for potential use in the 2017 National
Museum of American History event
marking the 75th anniversary of
Executive Order 9066.
NMJACL
is considering participation in this
milestone event.
The July 24-August 6, 2015 Pacific
Citizen publication has been dedicated
as a 2015 JACL Special Convention
Issue. Further news and photos are
included in that particular issue.
We thank the National JACL Board &
Pacific Southwest District for helping
defray some expenses for the NMJACL
representatives to attend and participate
in this year’s Convention. Next year’s
Convention will be held again in July,
in Las Vegas.
a
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15
SAGEBRUSH SHINBUN
2712 Kentucky St. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110-3404
Local NMJACL Membership
Individual (L)........... $15 /yr
Family (LF)............... $25 /yr
Local Life Individual (LL)..... $125
Local Life Family (LLF)......... $175
Supporting Member $100 /yr
Business & Newsletter Ad Member (Ad) $100 /yr
Local Membership does not include Pacific Citizen (National JACL’s Newpaper)
National JACL Membership Rates
Individual ................. $60 /yr
Couple/Family.......... $105 /yr
Student ..................... $25 /yr
1000 Club ................. $100 /yr
1000 Club Spouse $36 1000 Club Life.......... $3,000
Century Club....................$175 /yr
Century Club Spouse......$36
Century Club Life............$5,000
Millennium Club.............$1,000 /yr
Millennium Spouse.........$36
Any membership category includes Pacific Citizen, Biweekly paper
For membership info/application(s) contact:
Esther Churchwell
2712 Kentucky NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110