State Latinos Angered at Nakasone Back Boycott of Japanese Products

Local chapters of the League of United Latin American Citizens joined Tuesday in calling for a nationwide boycott of all Japanese products because of Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone’s remarks about the literacy levels of blacks and Latinos in the United States.

State representatives of LULAC said that the national boycott is the only option left for the organization’s leaders, who have tried to meet with Nakasone since October. The Japanese prime minister made his remarks in early September in a speech to Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and he apologized shortly afterward.

“The level of Japanese society far surpasses that of the United States,” Nakasone said. “There are many blacks, Puerto Ricans and Mexicans in the United States whose average level is extremely low.”

The remarks touched off an international uproar, and Nakasone apologized three days later. “It was not my intent whatsoever to imply any racial discrimination nor to criticize any aspect of American society,” Nakasone said.

Apology Not Enough

LULAC officials said the apology was not enough.

“We want to sit down with him and talk about the wrong information that is generated about Hispanics in his country,” said Mario A. Rodriguez, director of publicity for LULAC’s state office. “We want a better relationship with Japan on the whole, but his statement does not lead us anywhere.”

LULAC’s efforts to have representatives meet with the prime minister have been futile, Rodriguez said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference in Santa Ana. “Our national office has tried to meet with Nakasone to try to resolve this mistake. But he refuses to meet with our people,” Rodriguez said.

LULAC state executive director Alfredo Lugo said: “This is not intended as an attack on the Japanese people. We are attacking the prime minister’s statement and his refusal to meet with us. This is a result of ignorance.”

At the Japanese Consulate in Los Angeles, Deputy Consul General Yoshihiro Nakamura said: “The statement has long passed. But since the matter is important, we will look into this carefully.”

Rodriguez said no particular Japanese product will be targeted.

“We are aiming at any product made in Japan. That means electronics, clothing and other components,” Rodriguez said.

U.S. Workers Not Target

Although there are products made in Japan and then assembled in the United States, Lugo said American workers will not be hurt by the boycott.

“We are only asking that boycotts be on products that specifically say ‘made in Japan,’ ” Lugo said. “The consumer will have to differentiate the products.”

Lugo said the boycott hurts him personally. “I like the food, the music, the products, but this is to catch the people’s attention and make them aware,” he said.

LULAC has 49 chapters in the state and more than 100,000 members nationwide.

LULAC chapters in Washington and Texas have been boycotting Japanese products since national officials called for it on Dec. 12. GI Forum, a Latino organization with about 165,000 members, has boycotted Japanese products since October.