Vol. 32, No. 9, March 3, 1951. 8 pages. View this issue
A third omnibus immigration and naturalization bill, introduced by Rep. Emanuel Celler, led the news. Like the McCarran and Walter bills before it, it proposed to repeal racial exclusions and give Japan a minimum quota of 185. Joint hearings were set to open March 5, with the JACL ADC among the first to testify. An editorial welcomed the bills and urged further reform of the quota system. The front page also asked ABC commentator Paul Harvey for a public retraction of his claim about Issei disloyalty at Pearl Harbor.
Nisei in the military appeared throughout: Corp. Kenjiro Asato talked six Chinese soldiers into surrender in Korea, and Joe Akagi was commissioned as a Navy flyer. Heroes of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team were honored in Imperial Valley. Larry Tajiri wrote about a letter from Korea, and Bill Hosokawa wrote on the cost of meat. Lawrence Nakatsuka reported on Nisei legislators in Hawaii, and the JACL convention panel looked ahead.
What’s in this issue
National
- New Version of Bill to Rewrite U.S. Immigration Codes Sponsored by Celler, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Emanuel Celler introduced a third omnibus immigration and naturalization bill, technically similar to the McCarran and Walter bills. All three propose eliminating racial exclusions and granting Oriental countries minimum quotas, including Japan at 185.
- JACL-ADC Plans Testimony At Hearing on Omnibus Bills, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Joint Senate-House hearings on three omnibus immigration bills open March 5, with the JACL ADC among the first to testify. The bills propose historic firsts including elimination of racial requirements and quotas for all Oriental nations.
- Nisei Legislators Take Active Part in Ceremonies Opening Hawaii Territorial Legislature, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 3. Senator Tom Okino and Rep. Thomas Sakakihara opened the Hawaii territorial legislature for the first time, with Nisei in featured roles. Twelve Nisei serve in the 1951 session, with Tsukiyama reelected senate president.
- Miracle on Orchard Street, by P.C. Staff, page 5. This feature describes the bustling bargain district on Orchard Street in New York’s lower east side and its peddlers. It explains how many successful merchandisers learned their trade there.
Military & Veterans
- Nisei Corporal Talks Chinese Into Surrender, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Corp. Kenjiro Asato, a Japanese language specialist with the 1st Cavalry Division in Korea, used a public address system to persuade six Chinese Communist soldiers to surrender. Two other GIs assisted him over three nights.
- Nisei Awarded Freedoms Prize For Cartoon Strip, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Robert Kuwahara, creator of the cartoon strip Miki, won a third-place prize among 800 Freedoms Foundation awards. Robert Y. Nishiyama also won for an American Magazine article titled What America Means to Me.
- Heroes of 442nd Honored at Fair In Imperial Valley, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Heroes of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team were honored at a Japanese day ceremony during the 22nd annual California Midwinter Fair in Imperial. Susan Yamashita was named queen of the fair for the day.
- First Japanese American Wins Commission as Navy Flyer, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Joe Akagi became the first Japanese American commissioned as a U.S. Navy flying officer on February 24 at Alameda Naval Station. He joined the Navy in 1949 and trained at Pensacola after attending Texas A&M.
- Brothers Fly Home From Korea to Father’s Bedside, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sgt. Yoshio Kato and Corp. Kaneichi Kato were flown from Korea to Oahu after their ill father’s illness was reported. Sgt. Kato also described conditions at the front and the morale of Hawaii soldiers.
- A Navy Officer Is Commissioned, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial marks Ensign Joe Akagi’s commissioning as evidence that Nisei are now accepted in Navy service on equal terms. It recalls the Navy’s wartime exclusion of Nisei and the JACL’s 1945 appeal to Admiral Nimitz.
JACL
- JACL Asks ABC Commentator For Public Retraction of Story of Issei Disloyalty, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL requested that news commentator Paul Harvey publicly retract his February 11 claim that Japanese aliens guided attack planes at Pearl Harbor. National President Dr. Randolph Sakada cited FBI, War Department and other officials who denied any sabotage occurred.
- Future Program of JACL Charted at Salt Lake Meet, by Elmer R. Smith, page 5. Panelists at the tenth biennial JACL convention discussed the organization’s future after Japanese American problems were largely solved. Recommendations included broader community service, anti-discrimination work, and cooperation with other groups.
- Sacramento Seeks National JACL Bowling Tournament, by Stirling Sakamoto, page 6. The Sacramento JACL will bid to host the 1952 National JACL bowling tournament, backed by the city’s Nisei bowling league of over 100 bowlers. The chapter cites its experience staging a successful regional tournament.
Arts & Entertainment
- Vagaries, by P.C. Staff, page 2. This entertainment column covers Hollywood and entertainment news involving Nisei, including the buzz for MGM’s Go for Broke and plans for Tokyo File 212. It also notes Dr. Hideki Yukawa’s Nobel Prize donation and James Shigeta’s upcoming Mocambo engagement.
Community
- Rep. Holifield Sponsors Bill To Aid Wartime Strandees, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Rep. Chet Holifield introduced JACL-ADC proposed legislation allowing Nisei who lost citizenship by voting in Japanese elections in 1946 and 1947 to regain it through naturalization. The bill would expire two years after enactment.
- Gardena Chapter Plans Installation At Dinner Dance, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Gardena Valley JACL will hold an installation dinner dance on March 10 at the Eleda Restaurant. Officers including president Henry Ishida will be installed by Regional Director Tats Kushida.
- Coachella Valley JACL Holds Annual Installation Program, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Coachella Valley JACL held its annual installation dinner in Indio, with Frank Chuman speaking on JACL’s future leadership. New president Jack Izu leads the incoming cabinet.
Commentary
- Rewriting the Immigration Codes, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial welcomes three omnibus immigration bills as a step toward modernizing outdated naturalization laws and eliminating racial requirements. It urges future reforms to overhaul quotas and remove the concept of race from immigration.
- A Letter from Korea, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. Tajiri responds to a Nisei GI’s letter from Korea, reflecting on Korea’s history under Japanese occupation and the division at the 38th parallel. He argues that the UN intervention is necessary and that the United States must also win the ideological battle in Asia against racial discrimination.
- The High Cost of Eating, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa reflects on rising meat prices and how Asian families stretch meat through cooking methods. He also describes trying yogurt and a family birthday with his daughter Susan.
- Letter-Box: Pearl Buck, by Mrs. Max L. Moore, page 5. Mrs. Moore praises the Pacific Citizen editorial on the withdrawal of an invitation to Pearl Buck to speak in Washington. She argues Buck’s wartime loyalty is beyond question.
Sports
- Sait Lake Trades Yonamine To Oregon Baseball Club, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Wally Yonamine, who hit .335 for the Salt Lake City Bees in 1950, was traded to the Salem Senators of the Class B Western International League. The Bees received Bobby Cherry in return.
- Watanabe Wins Mat Title in Pullman Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Sosh Watanabe won the 121-pound division title at the Northwest AAU wrestling tournament, helping Washington State College take the team championship. He also holds the Pacific Coast Conference title in his division.
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