April 2008 - Japanese American Citizens League
Transcription
April 2008 - Japanese American Citizens League
THE GRAINS OF RICE Cincinnati Chapter Japanese American Citizens League Published Quarterly April 2008 Cincinnati Dayton JACL Installation February 17, 2008 Cincinnati Board 2008 President’s Thoughts As I write this, the early blossoming trees in the yard are about to burst into bloom promising not only immediate beauty but future fruit. Spring brims with hope. As we look forward, both local and National JACL have much to be hopeful about. On the local front, our Chapter will be one of the partners in a series of Community Forums discussing the ethical and human rights issues surrounding the “Bodies” exhibit now on display at the Museum Center. The exciting thing about the Community Forums organized by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is that they allow everyone interested enough to show up a respectful and safe atmosphere to discuss issues from all points of view. It has been clear from the committee discussions as we worked on putting the forums together that there are many differing views and many nuances. The committee took a quick walk through the exhibit so we would be familiar with it. Setsuko LeCroix and I spent more time going through on a different day. It is definitely educational and demonstrates what a marvelous organism the human body is. My personal issue is with the provenance of the bodies. Please attend the Community Forums and let your views be heard. At the end of May, the Midwest District Council will meet in Omaha. One of the main items of business will be to prepare any items necessary for JACL’s National Convention to be held this July in Salt Lake City. Under discussion will be whether or not to have annual rather than biennial conventions. JACL will also be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the signing, by President Reagan of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 which authorized payments to those incarcerated during WW II. Betsy Sato 2 The Grains of Rice December 2006 President Betsy Sato [email protected] Hiroko Nishiyama [email protected] m Frances Tojo Membership Shiro Tanaka Scholarship Ruth Takeuchi Newsletter Editors Gordon Yoshikawa Frances Tojo Chad Yoshikawa [email protected] Treasurer Secretary Board Members Setsuko LeCroix Emily Momohara Gail Murao Lois Nizny Jacqueline Vidourek Chad Yoshikawa [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Cincinnati/Dayton Installation Dinner Speaker John Tateishi Betsy Sato and Former National Executive Director John Tateishi John Tateishi was a dedicated and tireless champion of the redress campaign in the late 1980’s. Without Mr. Tateishi’s efforts the Civil Liberties act of 1988 would almost certainly not have passed. During his speech, Mr. Tateishi relayed to us the stories of how he had to learn to play politics with our representatives in order to get the resolution passed. One interesting story he relayed to us is how, when speaking to Senator Inouye in Washington, he had initially maintained that the most important issue of redress was the money – the proposed $20,000 payment to all living former internees. Senator Inouye asked if he was sure – that the apology should be the most important issue. Mr. Tateishi responded that he had already got commitments for the apology, but if he made the money a lower priority that the money would not be granted. After a sleepless night, Mr. Tateishi realized what Senator Inouye was getting at – that if the apology to the internees was made of most importance, then there was no way that the money would not follow. 4 The Grains of Rice Eyewitness to the signing of Civil Liberties of 1988 By Gordon Yoshikawa (Excerpt September 1988 Grains) August 4, H.R. 442 passes the House 257-156 and is sent to President Reagan. August 5, JACL National Convention convenes on the University of Washington campus in Seattle, WA. August 8, Grayce Uyehara, chair of the Legislative Education Committee, announces that the Civil Liberties Act would be signed on August 11. August 9, National Council session starts at 8:30 am. Around 9 am Jerry Enomoto breaks in with the announcement that the signing would be at 2 pm tomorrow. LEC had the task of paring down an original list of 200 names to approximately half. The delegates quiet down as the names are read. Frances Tojo and I are the lucky ones to represent Cincinnati JACL. We are given less than two hours to decide whether to attend or not (absolutely no hesitation there), get information for security clearance and get plane tickets. Frances, as a convention booster, is visiting Keiro Nursing Home. I went through my necessary paperwork while Jacqui Vidourek tried to find a phone that wasn’t being used (no cell phones then). I couldn’t process paperwork for Frances without her social security number. We were running short of time but Jacqui got the information before the deadline. Landmark Travel Service did an excellent job of lining up reservations for the 54 who went from Seattle. Others around the country who were notified by the White House went on their own. We pack a change of clothes and nervously wait for the 8:30 pm bus to the airport. Some snacked in the dorms; others attend the beginning of the Sayonara Banquet. Plane leaves Seattle at 10:30 pm. We arrive in Washington, D.C. at 8:10 am and take cabs to the Rayburn Office Building for a luncheon given by Congressman Norman Mineta. Since there is time, Fran and I visit Congressman Bill Gradison. We had contacts with him over the years from Town Meetings to phone calls preceding HR 442. Although he was not for reparations, he was for the bill and said he would vote for it should it come through without limiting amendments. He was true to his word. We didn’t have time to see Rep. Tom Luken or Senators John Glenn and Howard Metzenbaum. At the luncheon, Congressman Mineta spoke to us. Due to the heat (90◦ with humidity to match), the ceremony location has been rescheduled from the White House Rose Garden to the White House press briefing room in the Old Executive Office Building. We took “air-conditioned” cabs - with windows rolled down (did I mention it was HOT? Security is tight. One man who came from Sacramento, CA, has to step aside since his name does not appear on the final list. He barely makes it into the room before the signing. The Ceremony: The atmosphere in the briefing room is charged with anticipation and excitement just knowing that a historic moment is about to take place. Everyone is chattering and taking pictures. The briefing room is theatre style. Television cameras are lined in the back. Press corps and accredited photographers are seated on the floor between the stage and the first row. A spokeswoman welcomes us. Rep. Patricia Saiki of Hawaii and the Nikkei congressmen mentioned earlier along with other dignitaries line the stage in assigned places. Everyone is at attention as President Reagan comes through the door. It is 2:30 p.m. He starts his remarks with “My fellow Americans, we gather here today to right a grave wrong.… No payment can make up for these lost years…So what is most important in this bill has less to do with property than with honor. For here we admit a wrong.” After his remarks, the President moves to a desk and chair and signs the bill. As the President holds up the pen, there is applause, congratulations of one another, sighs of happiness and the tremendous pride in finally seeing our efforts come to fruition. Tears are also part of the scene…sorrow that leaders such as Min Yasui and Edison Uno are not here to share this moment as well as our Issei parents and friends. As quoted in the New York Times, Senator Matsunaga said, “By fighting for this legislation, Japanese Americans have done far more than win their own vindication. They have left a legacy for their children and indeed, for all immigrant minorities who continue to migrate to this great country of ours, founded not on race but ideals.” The Reception sponsored by Congressman Robert Matsui is a happy one. His wife Doris and son Brian welcome us cordially. When Congressman Barney Frank, Jim Wright, and Mike Lowry are introduced and asked to say a few words, it is interesting that they all expressed their thanks that we raised the awareness of this issue for if the Japanese Americans did not, no one else would have. I feel we have the Sanseis and Yonseis to thank for making the Nisei and Issei who went through the relocation experience bring it out into the open and to release the feelings that have been locked inside for over four decades. We leave Washington, D.C. at 7:48 p.m. through Atlanta and Salt Lake City and arrive in Seattle around 2:00 a.m. Landmark Travel Service has thoughtfully provided a bus to transport us back to the dorms. The key person I would like to thank is Grayce Uyehara, LEC Executive Director, and our contact in Washington, D.C. With her ACTION ALERTS, she single-handedly stirred up the grassroots into action. Thanks to all of you for responding by writing letters and making phone calls to your congressmen and to President Reagan. Each one helped! Appreciation also to Betty Breyer, former Redress Chair, and Jo Okura, current Cincinnati Chapter Redress Chair. PERSONALS DONATIONS Cincinnati Chapter gratefully acknowledges the following donations: General Fund We received a donation from Hiroshi and Hiroko Nishiyama in memory of Mr. Earl Heintzelman, neighbor. Mr. Heintzelman passed away on December 23 at the age of 86. Lois Nizny Hiroko Nishiyama In memory of Kate Brinton Toki Morioka, Cincinnati, Ohio Frances Tojo, Cincinnati, Ohio To the Grains of Rice Lillian Yamamoto, Morrison, Colorado Hiroko Miller, Moores Hill, Indiana To the Okura Family Scholarship Fund Leon and Patti Okura Leiberg, Washington DC To the Rufus Tojo Scholarship Fund Lillian Yamamoto, Morrison, Colorado Chad Yoshikawa, Cincinnati, Ohio Welcome Friends of Cincinnati JACL Akiko Goens, Cincinnati, Ohio Kono Naegele. Cincinnati, Ohio Welcome new Members of Cincinnati JACL Jojiro LeCroix 611 Chardonnay Ridge Cincinnati, Ohio Gordon Morioka 1425 Shenandoah Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio Tristan Morioka, Cincinnati, Ohio 1425 Shenandoah Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio. The Grains of Rice 5 Interview with a Ninja by Chad Yoshikawa Stephen K. Hayes and Chad Yoshikawa at the Installation Dinner In 1985, I was a 13 year old kid fascinated by martial arts and martial art movies. Most of all, my friends and I were into the recent Ninja phenomenon made famous by Hollywood and Sho Kosugi movies like “Enter the Ninja” and “Pray for Death.” We even bought Ninja costumes (I still have mine) from a mailorder company – complete with mask and tabi boots. For my birthday that year, I was given a book “The Mystic Arts of the Ninja” which contained hundreds of photographs of how to practice Ninjitsu – the art of the Ninja. My friends and I practiced these moves over and over again. Every time they would come over to my parents’ basement, they would ask me to get out ‘that book by Stephen K Hayes’. Stephen K Hayes was the author of that book, and while Sho Kosugi was an actor that I knew played a Ninja on TV, to me, Mr. Hayes was a Ninja. Fast forward more than 20 years later to the Cincinnati/Dayton JACL installation dinner held recently at the China Cottage in Centerville Ohio. I had just taken my seat for dinner and I noticed a man next to me with the words “Stephen Hayes” written on his nametag. I thought that Stephen K Hayes lived in California somewhere (didn’t all famous people live in California?), but, recognizing the similar name, I asked him what he did. His reply – “I teach martial arts”. “Oh”, I said – “there’s another martial artist with a name similar to yours – Stephen K Hayes.” He said – “That’s me” and the entire table laughed while I remembered to pick my jaw off the table. Recently, Mr. Hayes granted an interview with the “Grains” which is printed below. First, let me describe some interesting tidbits from Mr. Hayes background: First, he has his own Wikipedia page which is cool in its own right (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_K._Hayes) He has served as the bodyguard of the Dalai Lama (which is even cooler) He appeared in the TV mini-series Shogun as both an actor and stunt-double He is a 10th degree blackbelt and trained in Japan under Masaaki Hatsumi He currently operates the SKH Quest network of martial arts schools (www.SKHQuest.com) He has published 20 books (See http://skhquest.com/store/index.php ) Black belt magazine called him “one of the 10 most influential living martial artists in the world” and the “grandfather of American Ninjutsu 6 The Grains of Rice What sparked your initial interest in martial arts? That’s a difficult question because I really don’t have an answer. As a kid, growing up in the 1950’s I somehow knew about martial arts. There certainly weren’t any movies, books or anything -- somehow I had heard about Judo. Ever since I was really little I was interested in Asian culture, especially Japanese culture. It’s not that my parents were involved in anything like that. I didn’t even know an Asian person until I went to university. It’s kind of a mystery. Somehow it just appealed to me to be a protector. When I was a small child, I would see some other child bullied or picked on and pushed around and I would want to be able to intervene and make that kind of behavior stop. I think that’s what it really represented to me. You know, what if I could know how to make there be peace. What brought that on, do you think? Was it growing up post-war? At the time, I wasn’t aware at all of what happened in the war – I was born in 1949. By the time I was 5 or 6 I remember seeing a Lassie TV show as a little kid and there was a Japanese boy in the show and I remember a bunch of kids bullying this Japanese boy and he used Judo to defend himself and then he went around kind of repairing their arms. I remember thinking, I’ve got to learn that – to be able to make there to be peace but also to heal. Where it came from in my life, other than these few odd things, I would say LIFE magazine had a lot of pictures of Japan but by now it was 10 years after the War. Somehow I was always attracted to do this. Did Bruce Lee have any influence? Bruce Lee appeared on the scene in the late 1960’s and by then I was already a University student and studying Karate and Bruce Lee died in 1973, so I never knew him. I was kind of a local Ohio guy in those days and I wasn’t really well known. Certainly, his writings and his movies were inspiring but then I was already involved in the martial arts. You went to Miami University? I had a theatre major and a minor in German language. I read that you speak Japanese and German? Interestingly, in the 1960’s there was a Japanese language program at Miami University and there wasn’t even one at Ohio State back in those days. Somehow, there was this Japanese teacher. Finally, in my senior year I was able to take this Japanese language course. I got to take 1 year of Japanese and then after that I continued to teach myself Japanese using Japanese language records. I had a limited amount of Japanese by the time I actually moved to Japan in 1975 to start my training in the Ninja martial art. How long before you met Rumiko and how did that come about? I met her in 1979. She had just graduated from Sophia University in Tokyo. She got a job working in advertising. I also had a contract with this same company. How did you support yourself? I had several companies – Canon, I did some work for Sony. I would do text-editing and writing in English and then also I did English-language voice recordings. I did some TV and movie work as well when I was over there. It gave me a lot of time free to train at the Dojo. The Grains of Rice 7 Your sensei was Masaaki Hatsumi. His teacher was considered the last Ninja? Well, I think that is just kind of a cool thing to say, but what does it really mean? What it referred to is that my teacher was the 34th Soke or headmaster of the Ninja tradition. His teacher was the 33rd headmaster. The 33rd spent a lot of time in China in the early 1900s when Japan, and the European and U.S. nations were involved in imperialist expansion. So there were a lot of scary stories of what he had to do overseas. Whereas my teacher wasn’t really involved in that kind of warfare – so maybe that’s why they call his teacher the last Ninja. I read that you were a security guard for the Dalai Lama? That’s right. That was in 1994. In 1999 we were finally able to get US Department of State security services to take over that job. Before that, the US government did not have any kind of designation as a significant visitor… Because they didn’t recognize Tibet? Well, yes, in 1972 the Nixon administrator, as part of diplomatic relations with China, one of the agreements is that we would no longer support the concept of Tibetan independence. When the Dalai Lama would show up, thousands of people would show up. He had his Tibetan security team on his right side and then I would accompany him on his left. I was his liaison with a lot of state and local police. I was able to do that for 10 years. How in the world did that happen? It’s a very long, bunch of small strange coincidences. My Ninjitsu teacher, Masaaki Hatsumi, had mentioned that the roots of the Ninja martial art were way west --- meaning the Himalayas. So I wanted to go there. In 1985/1986 I went to Tibet and I came out of Tibet. I was able, by a fluke, to get a meeting with the Dalai Lama. Somehow I did that – maybe because I was a book author and had just come from Tibet. After that, I got to know his family. His brother is actually a professor at Indiana University. So there were a couple of other meetings with the Dalai Lama and his family. In 1989, I just happened to be in LA when he got the word that he would be chosen for the Nobel Peace Prize. Right away, reporters and all kinds of people started showing up. They were just totally unprepared from a security standpoint. So with this Ninja mind and martial art technique, I just started to help him out right there, and then that led me to be invited to be there during the other visits in 1990/1991 when he was coming over to the U.S. How long have you been involved in the Dayton JACL? Actually, Rumiko and I were married in 1980 and then we flew back to Ohio. I wanted Rumiko to get to know some Japanese people in the area. In fact, in 1980, that is when Shogun the mini-series had come out. So a lot more people in Dayton had become aware of Japanese historical culture. So in the winter installation dinner, Dr. Kaz Kimura invited me to be the speaker so we got to know everybody in Dayton JACL. We were not really involved for much of a political reason, although I’m very aware of the important civil rights challenges that still exist for a lot of people in the U.S. It was more that we enjoyed the people – it was 20 years ago – we’ve been involved for 28 years in the JACL. 8 The Grains of Rice How was your experience with the movie Shogun? I was a stunt double for Jonathon Rhys-Davies (a star of Indiana Jones and other films). There is a scene where Jonathon’s character was drowning…that was me in the water. Richard Chamberlain had to jump in and save my life. In order to look as big as Jonathon, I had on a water-ski life-vest underneath the costume. But I was supposed to look like I was drowning but I kept popping out of the water! Richard Chamberlain had this very 1500’s looking English costume on and it was soaking with water and he was being pulled under. It took us 5 takes to get that one scene done. How did that come about? I had heard that they were taping that when I was in Japan. I said to my agent that I heard that they were taping Shogun, and he said “Well, the pay scale is under what you’re used to working for”. I said it doesn’t matter, get me in that movie! So he arranged an interview and I ended up working for them for a month and a half. I had a wonderful time with all of those people. Part of the fun is being able to say, “I was in a Samurai movie with Toshiro Mifune which is cool even to this day.” You had a book that recently came out? It just came out in this Spring – it was my 20th book. In there, I talk about some of the historical momentums of how a martial art is handed down from one generation to the next. Which hadn’t really been explained very much to people in the past. I’ve been doing a lot with DVDs and the Internet. We have a new version of the website (SKHQuest.com) which will come out in the spring featuring new training videos and new content. I’d like to continue to expand on that. The other focus which is important – there is a lot of inner work, inside the mind and spirit which is associated with real martial arts. And a lot of that gets overlooked in the western world and so that whole aspect of how to be more at peace with one’s self –self understanding – understanding where violence comes from, about conflict, about terrorism. Maybe there are a lot of lessons we can take from martial arts that we can teach people to be at peace and adjust to all the changes that we’re going through in the world right now. How are your children doing? I have 1 daughter, Reina, who is 25 who is a tax accountant. I have another daughter, Marisa, who is 22 and just about to finish up at the University of Cincinnati. Marisa is studying at the DAAP school at UC. She’ll graduate in June – she’d like to work in New York City in fashion. She’s interned about 6 times in New York so far. A few years ago Marisa entered a JACL oratory contest and ended up going to Las Vegas and winning first place. We were so proud that she was finalist, even, and went to Las Vegas to hear her words about the role of JACL into the future. We were also able to attend the National JACL convention that year. The Grains of Rice 9 In Memoriam Kate Keith Brinton 1917-2007 Kate Brinton, 89, died due to congestive heart failure on January 26, 2007, at DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. She was born December 11, 1917, in Lowell, MA. She was educated in Geneva, NY, and graduated from Smith College, Northampton, MA, in 1939 with a degree in mathematics. Her first employment was as a mathematics teacher at George School, a Quaker boarding school in Newtown, PA, from 1939 to 1942. It was at George School that Kate met Arthur H. Brinton and they were married in August 1940. Kate had a concern for others and the will and ability to act on their behalf. For Art’s alternative service during World War II (1943-1944) Kate and Art managed a hostel in Cincinnati, OH, for Japanese-American families who had been in internment camps and subsequently released. The Cincinnati Hostel was opened in the spring of 1943 at 2820 Winslow Avenue. It was a former fraternity house, a square, three-story building with spacious first floor rooms, a broad staircase, several bathrooms, and many bedrooms – an antithesis of flimsy barracks. . As many as 30 persons had beds (with the third-floor a men’s dormitory) and upwards of 40 ate on special occasions. As the hostel was established to operate cooperatively, there were always willing hands to help with meal preparations, washing dishes, and cleaning the first floor. Residents took care of their own sleeping quarters and laundry. The Brinton’s young son, Keith, had many grandmothers who rejoiced in looking after him when Kate was tied up. Kate had to plan menus, purchase foods, and learn about Nisei customs, food, ideals, and recent history. The hostel became a convenient center for visiting, sharing news, finding a letter, or just resting. The hostel was homey, fostering feelings of forgiveness and peace. Some of the friendships formed in those two years have lasted over 50 years. Arthur made countless trips to Union Terminal to welcome evacuees to Cincinnati. His was the first friendly face to greet them. He accompanied scores of couples searching for apartments and fearing rejection, but who showed courage and integrity – not demanding perfection, but not lowering their stands. Apartments were scarce. Gas was rationed but Arthur also drove evacuees to places of employment. Before her heart surgery, Kate hosted a 100th birthday party for Art. Other survivors include four children, Keith Brinton of Davis, California, Anne Brinton of Brooktondale, NY, Dan Brinton of Ludlow, VT, Erica Brinton of Norwich, VT, a foster daughter Clara Coan of New Hope, PA, and seven grandchildren. 10 The Grains of Rice Reds Box Suite Tickets Raffle Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America has donated ten Reds Suite Tickets for JACL Kazuya and Betsy Sato will host ten lucky winners for the Sunday, July 27, 2008, game vs. Colorado Rockies at 1:15 p.m. The Box/Suite tickets are located on the 3rd base line. The five pairs of tickets will be picked on July 4th, 2008. Winners need not be present. Winners will be contacted. The first two pairs of tickets include a parking pass in the Great American Ballpark Garage. All tickets include a pre-game lunch in the suite. Donation is $10 for one ticket. Three for $25. No more than 200 tickets will be sold. Contact a board member to purchase tickets. Sakura Ladies Chorus – May 11th at NKU 10th Annual Concert with Greater Cincinnati Children’s Chorus and Kentucky Kids Bell Choir The concert will be held on Sunday, May 11 at Greaves Hall, located in Fine Arts Center of Northern Kentucky University. Time of concert is 3:00 p.m. Admission is free. For more details, contact [email protected] Asian Symposia on Health – April 26th and 27th Organized by Asian Community Alliance (ACA) -- Free Hepatitis B screenings ($40 savings) The ACA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring together resources to provide quality, compassionate and culturally sensitive services to the Asian Communities in the Greater Cincinnati Region through education and outreach. Hepatitis B, labeled a silent killer among Asian Americans will be the main topic. Free Hepatitis B screening (regular cost $40) will be available. In addition, Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes will be addressed as they impact a disproportionate part of the Asian community. The Symposia will also focus on Cessation of Teen Smoking. The symposia will be held on April 26 at Xavier University from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and at the Cincinnati Museum Center on April 27 from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. For reservations and directions, contact 321-3178, 339-9855, 8919855. JACL National Convention – July 16-20th in Salt Lake City Celebrating 20th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 This year’s convention theme: “Legacy of Leadership” will highlight the accomplishments and history of the organization in the pursuit of justice and equality. JACL will also commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 with special activities and events highlighting the JACL campaign for redress. Wanted: Bakers and Cooks Ohanami Bazaar and Bake Sale May 3rd at Hyde Park Bethlehem Church We are asking you wonderful bakers to bring in cakes, cookies, brownies, or some specialty from your own family recipe to sell at the bazaar. We will be selling Japanese sushi and mazegohan. Free green tea will be served to all who come. The Grains of Rice 11 THE GRAINS OF RICE Cincinnati Chapter Japanese American Citizens League 7761 Gwenwyn Drive Cincinnati, OH 45236 www.geocities.com/cincinnatijacl 2008 CALENDAR April 27 1:30 p.m. Board Meeting Home of Lois Nizny May 3 9:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. Ohanami – Cherry Blossom Viewing Party Japanese Bazaar and Bake Sale May 30-31 Midwest District Council Meeting Omaha, Nebraska July 16-20 National JACL Convention Salt Lake City, Utah August 17 4:00pm – 8:00pm Potluck Dinner Hyde Park Bethlehem Church
Similar documents
December 2010 - Japanese American Citizens League
receive it that way. Just be sure to let Gordon Yoshikawa or Frances Tojo know. We want to keep everyone informed. In early September, Kazuya and I used traditional technology and drove to Washingt...
More informationJuly 2012 - Japanese American Citizens League
THE GRAINS OF RICE Cincinnati Chapter Japanese American Citizens League July 2012
More information