February 2009 - Japanese American Citizens League

THE
GRAINS OF RICE
Cincinnati Chapter Japanese American Citizens League
Published Quarterly
February 2009
GENERAL ERIC SHINSEKI APPOINTED AS SEVENTH SECRETARY OF US
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. VOWS 21ST CENTURY SERVICE TO
VETERANS AND FAMILIES
(Courtesy JAPANESE AMERICAN VETERANS ASSOCIATION)
Sen. Daniel Inouye (right), former Senator Bob Dole (left) and Gen. Eric Shinseki (center). Inouye and
Dole supported Shinseki during his confirmation hearing on January 14, 2009 at the US Senate in
Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Washington, DC. Retired General Eric Shinseki was sworn in on January 21, 2009, in a
White House ceremony as the seventh Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs
(DVA). “The overriding challenge I am addressing from my first day in office is to make
the DVA a 21st century organization focused on the Nation’s Veterans as its clients,”
Shinseki said. One week before, the US Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, chaired
by Senator Daniel K. Akaka, endorsed Shinseki unanimously, praising him as the right
person for the job. The Committee room was filled to capacity mainly by Shinseki’s
classmates at the US Military Academy, the press, representatives of veterans
organization, including a dozen members of the Japanese American Veterans
Association, representing Asian American veterans.
(See Shinseki p.3)
From the President
2009 JACL National Youth Conference
Betsy Sato
Akemashite omedoto gozaimasu – Happy New
Year everyone! This greeting is a little late for
January 1 New Year but just about on time for
Lunar New Year. It feels as though we are not only
starting a new year but a new era. We have a new
president with a new and challenging vision for our
nation.
Many of us are “old timers.” We can recall with
some clarity earlier days when times were tough
economically with social stresses on the fabric of
our community. What I remember, more than the
hard times, is how our friends and neighbors helped
us make it through. Even though almost everyone
was in the same situation, we shared and pulled
together. By doing so we grew and eventually
flourished.
In this time of renewal, let’s remember those
lessons from the past. If you know of someone who
needs help, reach out. Sometimes an encouraging
telephone call is all that’s needed. Or, maybe an
invitation to lunch or dinner. If you can’t be of
immediate help, let the JACL community know.
Some one of us will be able to make the call or
share the meal. Let’s work together to make sure
no one gets left behind.
Looking ahead to summer (as snow piles up
outside), our Chapter will be hosting the Bi-District
JACL Meeting, July 24 to 26. The Eastern and
Midwestern Districts come together to share ideas,
learn from workshops and keep the ties among
JACLers strong. I will be putting out a call for
volunteers as the time approaches. I hope you will
be able to give a few hours to make sure that the
meeting is a worthwhile experience for everyone.
Let’s show our fellow JACL members what a great
place Cincinnati is.
Race: Are we so Different?
In conjunction with the Museum Center’s
exhibition, Dr. Roger Daniels, Professor Emeritus,
University of Cincinnati, will give a lecture on
Thursday, April 23 at 7:30 pm. The lecture is free
and open to the public. There will be a reception
and dinner preceding the lecture open to JACL
members for a cost of $60. E-mail
kbato@yahoo.com if you would like to be invited.
The exhibition is open now and continues through
April 26, 2009.
2 The Grains of Rice February 2009
“IMPACT: Your Community, Your Generation, your
JACL” had been scheduled for June 26 to June 28 at
Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. We ask
the Midwest District to send 75 youth to this year’s
conference and each chapter identify one youth to
serve as main contact for the Youth Conference as
well as for future Midwest District related activities.
Stephanie Nitahara, Midwest District
Youth Representative
Welcome New Student Members
Kenjiro LeCroix
611 Chardonnay Ridge, Cincinnati OH 45226
Torey Yoshikawa
1327 Roseland, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Welcome Friends of Cincinnati Chapter
Akiko Goens
4123 Lora Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
Kono Naegele
3937 Davis Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
Donation
Cincinnati Chapter gratefully acknowledges
donation to the Grains of Rice by Jean and Pete
Hironaka, Dayton, Ohio.
Request for e-mail addresses
Members who would like to be on Cincinnati JACL’s
e-mail list, please e-mail Gordon Yoshikawa at
gyoshikawa@cinci.rr.com
When necessary, we hope to disseminate news
items quickly through e-mail.
Sakura Ladies Chorus Performances
February 22 (Sunday) 3:00 pm
Sakura Ladies Chorus will sing as part of the Art
Sampler at the Art Museum in Eden Park.
May 17 (Sunday) 3:00 pm
11th Annual Concert with the Children’s Chorus will
be held at Greaves Hall located in the Fine Arts
Center of Northern Kentucky University.
(see Shinseki p1)
Immediately following Akaka‟s opening remarks, former Senator Bob Dole and Senator
Daniel Inouye introduced Shinseki. Dole said, “I cannot think of a better person to look
after our 25 million plus veterans than this true American hero who has done about
everything one can think of in serving his country…He will be a strong voice for vets …”
Inouye, after describing Shinseki‟s “unflinching devotion to country and duty” and his
integrity remarked, “This is the kind of man I want to see as Secretary of DVA.”
Ranking member Richard Burr told General Shinseki, “You would be entrusted with one
of the most noble missions of our Federal government – caring for the men and women
who have served and sacrificed on behalf of our entire nation…It is clear you have the
experience, leadership skills and determination.”
Secretary Shinseki is credited with the transformation of the US Army into a highly
mobile strike force deployable with minimum lead time. In his opening statement,
Shinseki expressed a similar far-sighted goal in DVA: Its “transformation into a 20th
century organization.”. Shinseki described his plans to bring state of the art remedies and
solutions to veterans in a timely manner. The driving force of his administration will be
“people-centric, results-driven, and forward-looking.”
He will rely heavily on
information technology and DVA‟s highly skilled work force to achieve these goals.
Following US Senate‟s confirmation by unanimous consent of General Shinseki to be
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Akaka commented, “I look forward to working with
Secretary Shinseki and President Obama to help VA fulfill its sacred obligation to
veterans and their families.”
“General Shinseki is an outstanding choice for the position of US Secretary of Veterans
Affairs,” remarked Norman Y. Mineta, the first Asian American appointed to the cabinet.
Mineta served as Secretary of Commerce in President Bill Clinton‟s administration and
as Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush.
Christine Sato-Yamazaki, President and CEO of the Go For Broke National Education
Center (GFBNEC), in a her statement to Japanese American veterans, wrote “It has been
a privilege and an honor to work with Secretary Shinseki over the past two years while he
served as national spokesperson for the GFBNEC. Though we miss him, we know that
Secretary Shinseki's visionary leadership is being put to good and needed use.”
Seattle, Washington Nisei Veterans Committee Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Yuzo
Tokita, US Air Force (Ret), Vietnam War fighter pilot, said “On behalf of NVC members
and its Foundation, I would like to add our congratulations to Secretary Shinseki. Mr.
Secretary, you continue to do us veterans and all Japanese Americans proud and we look
forward to your leadership and promise to work with you to help achieve your „forwardlooking goals.‟” JAVA
The Grains of Rice February 2009 3
Cincinnati/Dayton JACL Installation Dinner
On March 8, 2009
You are cordially invited to the annual Cincinnati/Dayton JACL Installation Dinner
KYOJIN JAPANESE BUFFET
(In Symmes Township)
www.kyojinohio.com
12140 Royal Point Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45249
(513)/683-2628
Schedule March 8, 2009:
4:00 Social Hour, Cash Bar
5:00 Dinner
6:00 Installation of officers
Cost of dinner: $30.00
(includes tax, gratuity, and other expenses)
Make Check Payable To: Cincinnati JACL
Please mail check by February 21st.
Cincinnati JACL
c/o Hiroko Nishiyama
2857 Ridgewood Ave.
Cincinnati OH 45213-1055
Speaker
Mr. William Yoshino,
JACL
Midwest Director
Bill Yoshino is the Midwest Director of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). In addition to his duties as the Midwest Director, he is responsible for managing JACL national programs related
to education, leadership development, discrimination and hate
crimes.
From Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
1. Take I-71 North and take Exit 19 as above.
Yoshino has served in a number of roles representing Asian Americans in Illinois. In 1983, he was appointed by Illinois Governor
James Thompson to serve on the Illinois Asian American Advisory
Council to the Governor, serving as chair in 1985. He served on the
Chicago Asian American Advisory Committee under mayors Harold
Washington, Eugene Sawyer and Richard M. Daley. He has served
on the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes and the Cook County
Hate Crimes Prosecution Council. He currently serves on an advisory committee to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. He testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the Hate Crimes
Statistics Act in 1988 and the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs on the Japanese American National Historic Landmark
Theme Study Act in 1991. In addition, he has testified before the
Illinois Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
on issues of discrimination and before committees in the Illinois
House on issues affecting Asian Americans in Illinois.
To Return
1. To get to I-71 South, turn right at Royal Point
2. Turn left at Fields-Ertel Road
(first traffic light).
3. Go under the I-71 overpass.
4. Turn left (2 lanes) at the entrance to I-71 South
During JACL’s campaign for redress in the 1980s, Yoshino assisted
in designing and implementing the strategy for JACL chapter involvement in the campaign to secure passage of legislation to establish the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. He was also involved in efforts in the Midwest to gain passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
Directions
From Dayton
1. From I-75 South, take I-275 East, then I-71 N
toward Columbus
2. Take the first exit (Exit 19, Fields-Ertel Road)
and stay on the middle lane
3. Go straight at the exit traffic light and the road
becomes Royal Point Drive
4. Immediately turn right into the shopping drive.
The first building is Circuit City on the right
and the next building is Kyojin Restaurant.
November 22 Cherry Tree planting: Ault Park
Shiro Tanaka, Betsy Sato, Setsuko LeCroix, Dr.
Nishiyama, Hiroko Nishiyama, Gordon
Yoshikawa
Certificate of Appreciation for participating
in the Cherry Tree Planting Project between
Japan America Society of Greater Cincinnati
and the Cincinnati Park Board
Omanju making: Barbara Neumann and Nicolle
Rauch
November 28 Reception for Jimmy Mirikitani
Betsy Sato with Jimmy Mirikitani
Linda Hattendorf, Frances Tojo, Jimmy
The Grains of Rice February 2009 5
Minidoka Update
By Emily Hanako Momohara
2008 has been a busy year for the Minidoka National Historic Site. The Issei Memorial Project is well on its way. Research
on the Honor Roll is taking place. And a coalition of local Idaho and national groups is working to keep a Confined Animal
Feeding Operation from opening near Minidoka. In addition, the 2009 pilgrimage is already being planned!
Issei Memorial
The Friends of Minidoka (FoM) is working diligently on the Issei Memorial Project. It is a site specific memorial at
Minidoka which will be a key component of a visitor’s experience at the National Park. It will be the first Issei Memorial in
our country. FoM board member, Jerry Arai formed a group of talented architects and artists to do the design: Valerie Otani,
Public Artist; Jerry Arai, Architect; Kenichi Nakano, Landscape Architect; John Buday, Project Manager for Bainbridge
Island Japanese American Memorial; Anna Tamura, National Park Service Landscape Architect; Alan Momohara as the
Project Manager. At the pilgrimage this year, the initial design ideas were presented and much feedback was collected. Now,
the team is refining the design and working on phases in which the Issei Memorial will be constructed. In addition, the
Friends of Minidoka has hired Bif Brigman as a part-time fundraising consultant to help us raise the $1 million dollars
needed for construction. Lastly, Alan Momohara is performing regional informational and outreach sessions about the Issei
Memorial design. So far, he has been to the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, Eastside JACL luncheon, and Seattle Nisei
Veterans Committee. More information sessions will be taking place. If you are interested in learning more about the Issei
Memorial and hosting an event, please contact Alan Momohara at alanmomohara@hotmail.com.
Honor Roll
The Honor Roll at Minidoka contained names of the brave men from Minidoka who were soldiers during WWII. Keith
Yamaguchi, FoM board member and Nisei Veterans Committee (NVC) Officer, has organized a group of yonsei and gosei
NCV members to research the names on the Honor Roll. The group is assisted by Anna Tamura and Keith Yamaguchi. Bill
Vaughn, FoM board member and architect, is drawing construction documents for the Honor Roll from historic photographs.
Confined Animal Feeding Operation
On September 23, 2008 a Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) was approved to be constructed one mile from
Minidoka. FoM and JACL National have partnered with several local and national organizations and neighboring farm
families to combat the CAFO: Dimond Family; Slone Family; Idaho Concerned Area Residents for the Environment;
Preservation Idaho; National Trust for Historic Preservation; Idaho Rural Council. Ranching, farming and agriculture are
vital to the region, however, this massive CAFO is in the wrong location. The air, water and soil borne contaminates caused
by 13,000 confined dairy cows would be a considerable detriment to the function of Minidoka as a public park and endanger
its historic assets. There are also road safety issues with pedestrian visitors at Minidoka and the traffic from the feedlot.
Currently, this coalition is legally challenging the permit allowing the CAFO.
2009 Pilgrimage
Save the Date! June 26-28th will be the seventh annual Minidoka Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage will include a tour of the
Minidoka site, visit to original barracks, story telling, and a ceremony in the Minidoka Victory Garden. The pilgrimages have
been a wonderful opportunity for families to learn about the sacrifices that the Issei, Nisei and some Sansei made during the
war. The incarceration experience and resilience after are pivotal in the Nikkei community’s legacy. Those who have attended
feel it was a life-changing moment. More information will be available at www.minidokapilgrimage.com.
There are other projects in the works at Minidoka such as the annual Civil Liberties Symposium and barracks move. In
addition, a new permanent superintendent has been appointed to Minidoka, Wendy Jansen. To learn more about these projects
or to see photographs from past pilgrimages and archeological digs visit www.minidoka.org.
6 The Grains of Rice February 2009
Celebration of the Life of Catherine Yoshikawa
Catherine Nobuko Muraoka Yoshikawa, 75, passed
away on Thursday, November 27, 2008, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Catherine was born in Sacramento, California, on May 27, 1933
to Kenji and Mary Muraoka. When World War II started, Catherine along with family was placed in the Santa Anita Assembly
Center, a horse race track. They were later transferred to Rohwer
Relocation Center near McGehee, Arkansas. The relocation center lay among canals, bayous, creeks and swampy areas replaced
now with rice, soybeans and cotton fields. The Muraokas relocated to Cincinnati in 1943 where Dr. Tamura, her Uncle, lived
and taught Biochemistry at the University of Cincinnati. After
graduating from Hughes High School in 1951, she attended the
University of Cincinnati graduating in 1955 with a B.S. in Medical Technology. After receiving certification from the American
Society of Clinical Pathology, she began working in the Hematology Lab at Drake Memorial Hospital.
In 1957 she married Gordon Yoshikawa. They met three
years earlier when she worked temporarily in a fruit market.
That led to the first date for a New Year’s Eve party. They celebrated their Golden Anniversary last year. She had a Siamese cat for 19 years and now a resident black
Maine Coon cat. She retired from Drake Hospital after 32 years as Lab Supervisor and Laboratory manager.
After retirement, one of her hobbies was Japanese flower arranging. She joined the Ikenobo Ikebana Society. The Society has displayed flower arrangements at the Cincinnati Home and Garden Show
at the Cincinnati Convention Center, The Cincinnati Flower Show at Ault Park and at Krohn Conservatory. Over the years she travelled with her husband throughout the contiguous United States and Canada.
When Gordon retired in 1991, they started travelling abroad to Australia, New Zealand, China, Great
Britain, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Italy, East Africa, Egypt, Brazil, Argentina, Chile,
Peru, Holland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and finally Sweden, Denmark and Norway in
2005. Her favorite trip was a safari to East Africa starting with Johannesburg, South Africa; Chobe, Botswana; Victoria Falls; Harare, Zimbabwe; Nairobi, Kenya and Treetops; Ngorongoro Crater; Olduvai
Gorge; Serengeti, Tanzania and Masai Mara, and a hot air balloon ride as the sun came up over the Masai Mara followed by a champagne breakfast where the balloon landed.
She felt she had seen and done all she wanted to with her travels and was content now to take it
easy at home.
In Memory of Cathy Yoshikawa, donations totaling $4,750 have been received from:
Anonymous(2), Roy & Momoko Aka, Harry & Patricia Andreadis, Bill & Marlene Beal, Dr. Jack Benmayer &
Staff, Betty & Jim Breyer, Ken & Mary Cahall, Kimiko Cloyd, Courtyard, Carole Gehlker, Akiko Goens, Jim &
Betty Heathcote, Bill & Mary Heck, Charles Heiger, Dan Hirabayashi, Haruko & Jerry Hood, Sam Honda, Judith
Ibarra, Carol & Charles Johnson, Jerry & Kathy Jones, Dennis & Theresa Jones, Julie Kadooka, Lillian Kimura,
Setsuko LeCroix, Charles & Kayoko Longbottom, Toki Morioka, Gail Murao, Theresa Muraoka, John Muraoka,
Laura Muraoka, Kono Naegele, Barbara & John Neumann, Hiroko & Hiroshi Nishiyama, Jim Nunn, Jo Okura, Yoshiko Parsons, William. & Kazuko Platt, Nicolle & Fred Rauch, Carol, Heather, Heidi Rauch, Perry & Elaine
Samuels, Betsy & Kazuya Sato, Toshi Shimoura, Charles Soucek, Yoriko Suhr, Wesley & Masako Takahashi, Ruth
Takeuchi, Frances Tojo, James & Peggy Tojo, Dale & Anne Van Vyven, Jacqui Vidourek, Paul & Tokie Wade,
Lillian Yamamoto, Linda Yamamoto, Chad & Svetlana Yoshikawa, Marvin & Shirley Yoshikawa, Gordon Yoshikawa, Bill & Carol Yoshino.
THE GRAINS OF RICE
Cincinnati Chapter
Japanese American Citizens League
7761 Gwenwyn Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.geocities.com/cincinnatijacl
2009 CALENDAR
March 8
4:00 pm
Cincinnati/Dayton Installation Dinner
Kyojin Japanese Buffet
March 29
1:30 pm
Board Meeting
Home of Lois Nizny
April 23
7:30 pm
Lecture by Dr. Roger Daniels
Cincinnati Museum Center
June 26-28
2009 JACL National Youth Conference
Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota
July 24-26
Bi-District JACL Meeting\
August 23
4:00 pm
Annual Potluck Dinner
Hyde Park Bethlehem Church, Cincinnati, Ohio
Non-profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit 3302
Cincinnati, Ohio