Takahashi goes to the Supreme Court; a ship named for Pvt. Sadao Munemori

Vol. 26, No. 12, March 20, 1948. 8 pages. View this issue

Two stories led the March 20, 1948 issue. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the Takahashi case, which challenges California’s bar on commercial fishing licenses for aliens ineligible for citizenship, with the JACL taking part as counsel. In Brooklyn, the Army renamed the transport Wilson Victory the USAT Pvt. Sadao S. Munemori. Tosuke Yamasaki described the ceremony, and the paper also printed remarks from Capt. Richard Noboru Hamasaki and Congressman Willis W. Bradley.

Elsewhere in these eight pages are the aftermath of the Oyama case and California’s Alien Land law, a New York law against bias in education, and a dispute in Stockton over seven Issei hotel workers who were fired. Bill Hosokawa wrote about planting a garden in Denver, and Lawrence Nakatsuka wrote about Rev. Takie Okumura’s work in Honolulu. Sports and chapter news fill the back pages.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Supreme Court to Review Takahashi Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the constitutionality of California’s Fish and Game Code provision barring aliens ineligible for citizenship from commercial fishing licenses. The Takahashi case challenges the law, with JACL participating as counsel.
• Supreme Court Grants Review of Takahashi Case, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Supreme Court’s review of the Takahashi case will involve the same attorneys who argued the Oyama case, with JACL counsel presenting arguments on equal protection and federal authority over high seas fisheries. The JACL will argue there is no reasonable basis for denying resident aliens the right to earn a living from commercial fishing.
• New California Budget Contains No Provision for Funds to Enforce State’s Alien Land Law, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Governor Warren’s budget for 1948-49 includes no appropriation to enforce the Alien Land law, according to legislative auditor Rolland Vandegrift. Vandegrift said enforcement funding was dropped because the Oyama case went against the state.
• Report ‘Gestapo Fund’ Used to Investigate Nisei Properties, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Henry Taketa and Joe Grant Masaoka charged that California funds for enforcing the Alien Land law were spent on secret investigations of Nisei property owners. They reported that detailed maps of Japanese American property holdings were prepared.

Military & Veterans

• Wilson Victory Becomes Cargo Vessel In Honor of Nisei Hero, by Tosuke Yamasaki, page 1. The Army renamed the transport Wilson Victory as the USAT Pvt. Sadao S. Munemori at a Brooklyn Army Base ceremony on March 16, the first U.S. Army vessel named for a Japanese American soldier. Officials, the Munemori family, and JACL representatives attended the dedication.
• Nisei Officer Hails Renaming Of Army Ship, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Capt. Richard Noboru Hamasaki, who led Pvt. Munemori’s platoon in Italy and France, praised the renaming of the ship in his honor. He described Munemori as a dependable soldier who volunteered for dangerous patrols.
• Congress Hears Rep. Bradley’s Tribute to Nisei War Hero, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Congressman Willis W. Bradley paid tribute to Pvt. Sadao S. Munemori on the House floor, describing his heroic actions that earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. Bradley argued the ship’s renaming reflects a national commitment to recognizing courage regardless of race.
• Invite Nisei Veterans to Join 34th Division Association, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The 34th Infantry Division Association invited Japanese American veterans of the 442nd and 100th Battalion who served with the division in Italy to join. Interested veterans were directed to contact the association secretary.
• Nisei Girl Gets Appointment As Navy Ensign, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Grace Yoshiko Tanigawa was confirmed as an ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps, believed to be the first Japanese American woman to receive this distinction. She works at a Veterans hospital in Minneapolis.
• Munemori Sidelights, by Tosuke Yamasaki, page 3. Yamasaki describes the Munemori renaming ceremony in New York, including ship whistles honoring Port of New York Day and the attendance of officials and press. He also profiles Colonel James M. Hanley and the luncheon hosted by Captain Chemnitz.
• Seattle Group Starts Drive for Memorial, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Nisei War Memorial Committee in Seattle launched a $5,000 fundraising campaign to fund memorial services for Nisei war dead and a monument at Washelli Veterans Memorial plot.
• Gen. Clark Sends Message on Munemori Rites, by P.C. Staff, page 3. General Mark W. Clark sent a congratulatory telegram to the JACL on the renaming of an Army transport for Pvt. Sadao Munemori. Clark praised the gallantry of Japanese American soldiers who fought under his command in Italy.
• To Honor Nisei War Hero, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The article details the Munemori renaming ceremony, including the JACL bronze plaque inscription and remarks by officials. It also recounts Pvt. Munemori’s heroic actions at Seravezza that earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor.

National

• JACL Urges Inclusion of Issei Group in Havenner Proposal, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The JACL Anti-Discrimination Committee asked Congressman Havenner to amend H.R. 5780 to protect Japanese nationals who did strategic wartime work for the U.S. from deportation. Masaoka argued that the Attorney General lacks discretion to suspend such deportations without Congressional action.
• New York Passes First State Law Against Bias in Education, by Ina Sugihara, page 2. New York enacted the first state law prohibiting discrimination in educational institutions, backed by about 30 organizations including the JACL. The Olliffe-Quinn bill empowers the state education commissioner to investigate institutional policies and handle complaints.
• Kitahara Land Case Judgment Set Aside by Fresno Judge, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A Fresno judge vacated an escheat judgment against the Kitahara family covering 175 acres after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled alien parents may buy land for their citizen children. The state stipulated to dismiss related Alien Land law actions.

Community

• Stockton JACL Asks City Council For Race Relations Group, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Stockton JACL president Jun Agari testified before the city council urging creation of a race relations committee. The request followed an incident in which seven Issei hotel workers were fired after being denied union membership.
• Nisei Open New Floral Business, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Richard and Rodney Toma opened the Hotel Congress Florists in Salt Lake City. The shop was scheduled for a grand opening on March 19.
• Plan Reception For Mrs. Kuroiwa, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A reception was planned in San Francisco to honor Mrs. Kuroiwa, a former JACL regional director. She was the first Nisei representative on a committee for reopening evacuation areas to persons of Japanese ancestry.
• Intermountain Council To Meet in Boise, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The JACL Intermountain district council will meet in Boise to discuss the Anti-Discrimination Committee’s projects, the national convention in Salt Lake City, and chapter membership and fund drives. Agenda items also include constitutional revisions and alien land laws.
• Seems That Video is Here to Stay, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The column explores how Manhattan bars are handling television sets and charging patrons for sports broadcasts. It notes that television studios are looking to Japanese and Oriental themes for new programming.
• Honolulu Minister Continues Work Among Nisei Youth, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 6. Rev. Takie Okumura continues to operate a home for young people of Japanese ancestry in Honolulu, which enrolled 112 residents in 1947. He reflects on his decades of work promoting Americanization and loyal citizenship among Hawaii’s Nisei.
• Shiro Kashiwa Heads Young Buddhist Group in Honolulu, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Attorney Shiro Kashiwa was installed as president of the Young Buddhist Association of Honolulu at a February membership dinner. The group plans to renovate its clubhouse and build a gymnasium.
• Four Philadelphia Groups Back Naturalization for Issei, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Four Philadelphia organizations endorsed the JACL program to secure naturalization rights for resident aliens of Japanese ancestry. They expressed support for the Judd bill, H.R. 5004, which would remove racial restrictions from naturalization law.
• Eastern Buddhists Slate Third Confab, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Eastern Young Buddhist League will hold its third annual conference in Chicago May 28-31 under the theme ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’ Delegates from the east, midwest, and Canada are expected.
• Stockton Hotel Issei in Union Dispute, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Stockton JACL announced it would investigate the racial policies of the Culinary and Hotel Service Workers Union after seven Issei workers were dismissed from the Hotel Stockton. The union reportedly sent replacements and told the hotel to fire the Issei or face picketing.
• Veterans Group Says Disabled Ex-GI Evicted from Hotel, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Nisei Veterans Association reported that a disabled 442nd veteran from Hawaii was asked to leave a Los Angeles apartment under an OPA ruling limiting occupants. The veteran, who lost an arm in Italy, found new quarters.
• Portland JACL Plans to Maintain Rose City Cemetery, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Issei meeting approved transferring ownership of the Rose City Cemetery to the Portland JACL. An advisory committee will oversee maintenance, with a $2 maintenance fee per plot and no segregation by age or ability to pay.
• Rally Will Launch Reorganization of Pasadena Chapter, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A social and rally on April 3 will launch reorganization of a Pasadena-San Gabriel valley JACL chapter. Former national president Saburo Kido and regional director Biji Tanabe will speak.
• Southwest Council To Hold Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Pacific Southwest JACL district council will hold its first general meeting March 27 in the Miyako Hotel conference room in Los Angeles, according to chairman Frank Chuman.
• Joe Masaoka Beaten by Two Thugs in S. F. Robbery Attempt, by P.C. Staff, page 8. JACL regional representative Joe Grant Masaoka was beaten in a robbery attempt in front of the Buchanan Street Washington Center in San Francisco. Two suspects were identified and held by police.

Obituaries

• Issei Passes Away In Detroit, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Kura Nikaido, formerly of Oakland, died in Detroit at age 70 following a heart attack. She is survived by her daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Commentary

• House for Sale, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial recounts how John T. Walker, a Black veteran, faced threats and arson while building a home in Dumbarton Oaks, and now must sell it. The editors describe his decision as a result of ongoing race hatred and legal costs.
• Oyama Case Aftermath, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial argues the Supreme Court’s Oyama decision undermined California’s Alien Land law and saved Japanese American property owners millions. It warns that remnants of anti-Japanese groups may still seek enforcement, recommending that owners file disclaimer suits to quiet title.
• Affair in Stockton, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial criticizes the Stockton Culinary and Hotel Service Workers Union for refusing membership to Issei workers, which led to their firing. It argues this exclusion is inconsistent with the trade union movement’s role in broadening democracy.
• Radio is Looking for New Ideas, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The column reviews past radio portrayals of Japanese characters, including the Frank Watanabe program, and wartime depictions of Japanese villains. It also discusses the NBC series and the Morimitsu story script depicting Japanese American families.
• The Coming Battle, with the Weeds, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Hosokawa writes about the springtime impulse to plant a garden in Denver, recalling past gardens in Iowa and Colorado. He describes the challenge of keeping weeds under control to enjoy a good harvest.

Sports

• Wally Yonamine May Be Farmed to Hawaii Pro Grid Team, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Wally Yonamine, a Nisei player for the San Francisco Forty-Niners, may be sent to the Honolulu Warriors for further seasoning. The report notes this would be an unusual arrangement between rival leagues.
• Nisei All-Stars Upset Favored Chinese Saints, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The San Francisco Nisei All-Stars defeated Willie Wong’s Chinese Saints 46 to 43 in a benefit game for war victims in Japan and China. Danny Fukushima and Mits Kojimoto were among the Nisei scorers.

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