BILL WAS RESPECTED as dean of Nisei journalism. We remember the Q & A in "Now and Then with Bill Hosokawa" (1993 P.C. Holiday Issue) that candidly relate much of his life as a journalist and editor. We found in Bill's book, "Out of the Frying Pan" (1998), that the P.C. questioner was Gwen Muranaka, then assistant editor.
Here we repeat most of the questions and show some answers - many too long to repeat.
1. How are you doing these days; how's your health? I'm old.
2. What were the early days of JACL like? Well, the organization and its members were all young ...
3. As a journalist reporting on the past and present, what do you think of JACL's position as it relates to society and government today? Are we tuned in, are we effective, are we being listened to? Basically, where are we? The situation has changed since 1935. Back in those days ...
4. You wrote a book about JACL's great leader Mike Masaoka, who died [in 1991]. How did he influence your life? How about Min Yasui? Joe Grant Masaoka? Mike was a man of action, he had vision, he had know-how ... I credit Min for Denver's avoidance of great violence during the "burn baby burn" time ... Joe Grant and Min worked together during the war years here in Denver. Joe was a real bulldog in pursuing the rights of Japanese Americans.
5. How would you compare the leadership from those days to today? That is a very difficult question because the problems today are different ...
6. After Redress, has the leadership today articulated its own vision? I think that our leadership today is more interested in the problems of all minorities, rather than Japanese Americans themselves.
7. You have written much about the Issei and Nisei generations with humor, warmth and insight. You have written that the Sansei, the 30-50 age group, is here. What advice would you give to those who are making their way in business, leadership and government? Giving young people advice is really presumptuous. That's very difficult ...
8. In your view, has JACL been proactive enough? Have we reacted more to crisis and problems, rather than having a game plan? Have events shaped the image of the organization or has the organization been able to shape events in relation to its own goals for the Japanese American community? Well, that is a very complex question ...
9. U.S.-Japan relations are controversial even among members of the JACL. Some members still feel it is not a worthwhile organizational pursuit. What is your feeling about this topic? In other words, why? Even though we are 100% Americans, we are affected profoundly by the state of relationships between Japan and the United States ...
10. Harry Kitano says that the out-marriage rate of Japanese Americans will become increasingly higher in years ahead. Do you think this will mean the loss or diffusion of the Japanese culture? I think very definitely it will ...
11. You have been a staunch supporter of the P.C. and a constructive critic when necessary. What do you think P.C. can do better at this point? I think that one thing P.C. needs is an editorial column ...
12. You've written many books from a historical perspective. Are we missing any of the lessons of history? Yes. I think that ...
13. Is JACL leadership missing any significant issues? Sometimes I get a feeling we are looking for issues to become indignant about ...
14. What about the future? What are your plans?
15. Here's an old interview question: When you are gone what would you like people to say about you? The kind of person you were, your career, your contributions to JACL? I'd be interested in hearing what they say (laughs) ... I don't know. That's a very difficult question. I think I would be pleased if somebody said: "He cared." Two words.
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