April 1949: evacuee claims funding, the Judd bill and returning strandees

Vol. 28, No. 14, April 9, 1949. 8 pages. View this issue

Claims for wartime losses were at the center of this eight-page issue. The House Appropriations Committee approved $1,200,000 to pay claims from the 1942 mass evacuation, and the front page reported that a JACL study would help farmers estimate their losses. Edward J. Ennis answered claimants’ questions in his JACL ADC series on page 6. Togo Tanaka looked at the uncertain outlook for the Judd bill in the Senate, while the House passed HR 3875 on deportation suspension. One hundred and sixty Japanese Americans, many stranded in Japan by the war, arrived in San Francisco aboard the General Gordon.

Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa wrote about a Denver cemetery that refused a Nisei soldier’s remains, and Lawrence Nakatsuka reported on protests over Hawaii’s language school law. Page 3 describes funeral rites at Arlington for two soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Sports, chapter news and the Chicago JACL’s preparations for its 1950 convention fill the later pages.

What’s in this issue

National

• Two Nisei Strandees Win Return Home, by P.C. Staff, page 1. One hundred and sixty Japanese Americans, most of whom were stranded by the outbreak of war, arrived in San Francisco on April 7 aboard the General Gordon from Japan. The great majority of the Nisei strandees were persons who were under the age of 21 during the war and were cleared for return by American consular authorities.
• House Appropriations Group Approves $1,200,000 Fund for Payment of Evacuee Claims, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House Appropriations Committee approved $1,200,000 to pay claims of persons of Japanese ancestry for losses suffered in the 1942 mass evacuation, $100,000 less than requested. The Justice Department’s claims program has already been initiated under Public Law 886.
• Nisei Will Get Roles in Movie About Internees, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Nisei and Issei actors will fill the 50 Japanese roles in the Twentieth Century Fox production Three Came Back, which deals with a wartime internment camp in North Borneo. One major role went to Tokyo actor Ichiro Furokawa while the rest go to Japanese American actors.
• Center Co-op Funds Given ACLU Branch, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Trustees of the dissolved Gila River Cooperative Enterprises turned over $4,766.85 to the American Civil Liberties Union in recognition of its work on behalf of Japanese Americans. The funds were the remaining balance of the cooperative that operated at the Gila River relocation center.
• Test Case on Citizenship: Federal Judge Rules Voting in 1946 Japanese Election Not Violation of U.S. Law, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Judge Charles Cavanah of the U.S. Federal court ruled that two Nisei women who voted in the 1946 Japanese general elections did not lose their United States citizenship. The judge reasoned that Japan was under U.S. occupation and that the women’s votes were influenced by pressure and coercion.
• House Passes Bill to Amend Deportation Suspension Act, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House passed HR 3875 on April 5, allowing the Attorney General to suspend deportation proceedings without individual congressional approval, a change endorsed by the JACL Anti-Discrimination Committee. The bill would help approximately 2,000 Japanese treaty merchants, visitors, and students living in the U.S. since before the war.
• Justice Department Reports Forms Now Available for Claims on Contraband Losses, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Department of Justice announced that Issei and Nisei may now request claim forms for contraband articles such as firearms, short-wave radios, cameras, and binoculars lost or damaged while in custody of law enforcement. Claims up to $1,000 may be paid by the Attorney General and must be filed within one year.
• People of Japan Hope for Exclusion Repeal, Says Visitor, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Prof. Shichiro Matsui of Doshisha University said the Japanese people are highly interested in American legislation affecting Japanese and hope the U.S. will repeal its Oriental exclusion laws. He is in the U.S. for a year studying the trade union movement on a Rockefeller grant.
• Urge Legalization of Stay, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Nation magazine advocated legalizing the U.S. residence of approximately 300 Peruvian Japanese brought to the country for internment under the Rio de Janeiro hemispheric defense pact. The magazine argued deportation to Japan would be unfair since most lived in South America for years.
• Strong Protests Filed Against Hawaiian Wartime Statute Regulating Language Schools, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 2. Approximately 30,000 signatures were submitted to the Hawaii legislature requesting repeal of the 1948 law restricting foreign language schools. Language school supporters expressed willingness to accept liberalized regulation under the department of public instruction.
• San Jose Nisei Obtains Permit to Visit Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Juichi Ikuta of San Jose may be the first U.S. resident to arrive in Japan under the new 60-day visit program for immediate relatives of Japanese nationals. His permit was approved by both SCAP and Japanese authorities.
• Oregon Paper Hails Outlawing of Anti-Alien Land Law, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Oregon Supreme Court ruled invalid the 1923 and 1945 anti-alien land laws aimed at persons of Japanese ancestry, a decision praised in editorials by the Oregonian and Journal. The Oregonian called the 1945 amendment an unprincipled land grab.
• Nisei Student Questioned in Shooting Incident, by P.C. Staff, page 2. John Akahoshi, a Nisei student at the University of California at Davis, was questioned by district attorney E. L. Means after a pistol discharge wounded fellow student Norman Recht. The sheriff reported the three were discussing Russian roulette when the gun discharged.
• Story of Evacuation Amazes Japanese, Says Kawasaki, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Corky T. Kawasaki reported that the people of Japan are amazed to hear of the mass evacuation and relocation of persons of Japanese ancestry during World War II. He had toured Japan from January to March and described the postwar hardships and gratitude for American aid.
• Seek Housing for Potential Evictees in Little Tokyo Area, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A meeting of over 70 people in Los Angeles demanded immediate low-rent housing for approximately 2,000 tenants facing eviction for construction of the Civic Center police building. The meeting adopted a three-point program calling for municipal public housing and postponement of construction.
• Judd Bill Prospects: House-Approved Bill Faces Hard Sledding in Upper House, by Togo Tanaka, page 5. Togo Tanaka warns that the Judd Bill, which granted citizenship rights to Issei and equalized immigration, faces covert opposition in the Senate through delaying tactics rather than open objection. He notes that Senator McCarran has raised concerns about communism among Japanese Americans in Hawaii.

Military & Veterans

• Final Rites Held for Pacific Veteran Who Dies in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Final rites were held in Selma, California, for Sgt. Toshi Teramoto, who died in an accident near Osaka, Japan in 1945. He had served as a military intelligence interpreter in Australia, New Guinea, and the Battle of Leyte.
• Final Rites Held at Arlington for Two Heroes of Nisei Unit, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Funeral services were held at Arlington National Cemetery for Pvt. Ben Frank Masaoka and Pfc. Lloyd M. Onoye, both of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team who were buried side by side. Col. James M. Hanley, former executive officer of the 442nd, praised their courage and sacrifice.

Community

• Los Angeles YBA Gives Food Baskets, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Los Angeles YBA gave Hana Matsuri food baskets to eight families, according to social welfare chairman Tamiko Kosakura. The Junior YBA also helped with the food project.
• Dr. Ota Named First President of Wyoming JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. Minol Ota of Lovell, Wyoming was elected first president of the new Northern Wyoming JACL at a meeting in Worland. Roy Takeno, regional representative from Denver, installed the officers.
• Nisei Acrobats Prove Hit of Blossom Fete, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Kanazawa Trio, a famous Japanese acrobatic act with a quarter-century of American vaudeville experience, was the highlight of the Cherry Blossom pageant in Washington on April 2. The pageant featured ballet dancers in Japanese costumes and a young Chinese American girl as the cherry blossom seedling.
• Cortez JACL Slates Community Picnic, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Cortez JACL will sponsor a community picnic on April 23 at the ballpark with games and prizes for all age groups. Surrounding communities of Modesto, Turlock and Cortez have been invited.
• Recreation Workshop Planned by Chicago Resettlers Group, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Chicago Resettlers Committee will sponsor a four-meeting recreation workshop beginning April 13 to develop Nisei leadership in games, dramatics, music, and leadership techniques. Outstanding recreation leaders will serve as lecturers.
• Seven Nisei Picked for Oahu Grand Jury, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Seven Japanese Americans were among the 23 names drawn from a panel of 75 for Oahu County’s new grand jury. The jurors include Mitsugi Doi, Eric S. Ichida, and Harrison E. Uyeda among others.
• Los Angeles Nisei Veterans to Observe Third Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Los Angeles Nisei Veterans Association will celebrate its third anniversary with a dinner dance on Easter Sunday night at Ciro’s restaurant in Hollywood. Hawaii veteran Yoshinao Omiya of the 100th Infantry Battalion will be a special guest.
• Seattle GOP Group Backs Judd Measure, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Young Republicans club of King County approved passage of the Judd bill granting naturalization rights to aliens of Japanese ancestry. The resolution was sent to Senator Cain and the Washington Republican delegation in the House.
• Honolulu Girl Wins Scholarship for Cancer Study, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Jean Kawamura, a 22-year-old laboratory technician at St. Francis Hospital in Honolulu, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to study cancer diagnostic methods by smears. She will train at San Francisco city-county hospital before transferring to the University of California medical school.
• San Jose Sets Date for Pioneer Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A dinner honoring all Issei aged 70 and above will be held April 28 at the Buddhist gym in San Jose. Ray Taketa asked anyone knowing of Issei of pioneer age to send names to him immediately.
• Evacuee Claims Meet Held in New York City, by P.C. Staff, page 3. About 75 people attended a New York City meeting where attorney Tom Hayashi explained the procedures for evacuation claims. The meeting was sponsored by the New York City Nisei council and addressed questions from the audience.
• Hawaii Buddhist Mission to Open English School, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii will open a private English school in Honolulu offering classes from kindergarten through seventh grade. The school will be maintained at a level equivalent to public school standards with religious teaching twice a week.
• Salt Lake JACL To Take Part in Arbor Day Ceremony, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Salt Lake City JACL will join the Issei council in planting fifty blue spruce trees at the International Peace Gardens for Arbor Day. The trees will be dedicated to international peace as Sentinel Row.
• Expect Few Evacuees Back in British Columbia Coast Area as Wartime Ban Lifted, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Although the wartime ban on Japanese Canadians re-entering the British Columbia coastal area was lifted March 31, few evacuees indicated plans to return. About 5,000 remain in British Columbia outside the restricted zone while 15,000 have relocated to the prairies and eastern Canada.
• Reno JACL Meets Penryn in Bowling, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Reno JACL began a two-match bowling series with a Penryn team on April 3 in Reno. A return match will be held in Penryn in May.
• Fellowship Night Scheduled by Los Angeles YBA, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Los Angeles YBA will hold its second monthly fellowship night on April 14 at the Nisei Hongwanji temple with games, folk dancing, and refreshments. Nagao Tomita is chairman.
• Idaho Falls JACL Begins Remodelling of Clubhouse, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Idaho Falls JACL began remodelling its clubhouse into a larger meeting hall seating 225 people with a kitchen and caretaker apartment. The five-month project is directed by Katsuki Yamasaki and Leo Morishita.
• Introduce Bill to Permit Entry of War Bride’s Children, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Four-year-old twins Teiko and Yoshiko Higo are awaiting passage of House resolution 2084 that would allow them to join their mother in Seattle. Their stepfather is a University of Washington sociology instructor.
• Reedley JACL Holds Community Picnic, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Approximately 700 persons attended a Reedley JACL community picnic on March 27 at Pine Flat campgrounds in the Sierra national forest. A drawing was held with prizes donated by local merchants.
• Chicago JACL Prepares for 1950 Conclave, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Delegates to the 1950 JACL national convention in Chicago will meet at the Hotel Stevens, which hosted both Republican and Democratic conventions in 1944. The convention is expected to be the largest in JACL history.
• Noted Artists Will Appear Before Ellis Work Campers, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Dramatist Jessie Kawasuno and photographer Harry Shigeta will appear at Ellis community center Work Campers meetings in spring. Other events include an ice skating party and a Mother’s day program.

Incarceration & Redress

• JACL Study Will Aid Evacuee Farmers Estimate Loss Claims, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Orange County JACL published three studies designed to help farmers estimate production costs for claims purposes. The studies cover crop production data and will be available to interested persons for a nominal charge.

Commentary

• State Laws for Fair Employment, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial argues that fair employment practices legislation is essential to protect minority workers from discrimination regardless of race or ancestry. It notes that nine states now have FEP laws and that these commissions have been successful in opening jobs to Negroes and others.
• Notes on Nisei Writing, by P.C. Staff, page 5. This essay surveys Nisei literary history from the 1930s, noting early writers and poets who published in bilingual newspapers and little magazines. It observes that despite a quarter century of writing, Japanese Americans had not yet developed a distinct literature.
• Battle for Equality Not Ended, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Bill Hosokawa comments on a Denver cemetery’s refusal to accept the remains of a Nisei soldier based on an outdated racial exclusion rule. He argues the battle for equality extends even beyond death and the incident shows discrimination attaches to us from birth.
• Japanese Interested in Hairdos, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Bill Hosokawa reports that top Nisei hair stylists have been approached by Japanese women’s magazines to create styles for Nisei girls for publication in Japan. He notes that Nisei hairdressers have mastered styling straight, coarse Oriental hair that Japanese beauticians may learn from.
• Observing Traffic Regulations, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Bill Hosokawa describes riding with a highway patrolman and coming to understand the patrolman’s duty and commitment to highway safety. He concludes that prejudices disappear once we see things from another’s viewpoint.
• Chicago Nisei Mailing Firm Enters New Publishing Field, by Jobo Nakamura, page 6. Jimmy Nishimura’s Chicago Mailing Service and Sales Co. has grown from a small downtown shop to a south side plant employing over 200 Issei and Nisei. The company is now moving into publishing, including a Nisei directory and a pictorial newspaper called Scene.
• Questions on Evacuee Claims, by Edward J. Ennis, page 6. This installment of the JACL ADC evacuation claims series answers questions about rent differentials, proving ownership of businesses operated under assumed names, and claims for automobiles purchased by the Army. Ennis advises claimants on documentation and valuation approaches.

Arts & Entertainment

• Chicago Club Group Musicale Delights, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Members of the Japanese American Music club of Chicago enjoyed a musicale held March 26 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kankuro Matsumoto. Performers included Sue Sakuma, June Oda, and a male quartette.

Sports

• Grace Makabe Wins Fencing Honors, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Grace Makabe of Loomis, California won first place in the intermediate open foils tournament at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. She is training for the Pacific coast championships in May.
• Boston Bruins Show Interest in Canada Nisei Hockey Star, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Frankie Toyota, a 17-year-old right-winger for the St. Catharines Lions, is being considered for a professional contract by the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. He has been placed on the Boston negotiation list and is playing in the Ontario juvenile playoffs.
• Okada Insurance Cinches Top Spot, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Okada Insurance and New Sunrise Market secured first and second place in the fourteen-team Salt Lake JACL winter bowling league with one week left in the season. Four teams are racing for third place.
• Berkeley Nisseis Defeat Wah Kues, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Berkeley Nisseis, champions of the San Jose invitational basketball tournament, defeated the Wah Kues of Los Angeles 58 to 39 on April 3. The Wah Kues had recently won the Nisei championship of Southern California.
• Battling Star and Trojan Hurler, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Wally Yonamine won the batting championship of Hawaii’s AJA Senior league with a .448 average. USC’s Mas Kinoshita pitched two innings allowing one walk and no hits against Santa Clara.
• Brazilian Tour, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A Japanese Brazilian in Sao Paulo is considering inviting a California Nisei baseball team to tour Brazil, where baseball is popular among residents of Japanese ancestry. Tak Kusano reports the Brazilian baseball season starts in September.
• Doubles Champs, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Chinese American bowlers Don Gee and Warren Fong may claim the title of the nation’s top Oriental American doubles team after defeating Dick Ikeda and Tats Fujii in a special match. The match was played for the benefit of underprivileged children.
• Nisei Mat Stars Lose in Salt Lake, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Touring Nisei wrestlers Charles Shiranaga and Hisao Tanaka lost a tag team match to the Swedish Angel and Pat Gill in Salt Lake City on April 7. The match was a best of 3 out of 8 falls format.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.