Cherry trees for Salt Lake City and the film Go for Broke

Vol. 32, No. 16, April 28, 1951. 8 pages. View this issue

A shipment of Japanese cherry trees that never arrived was the story on the front page. Quarantine officials in Seattle destroyed the saplings, a gift from the Tokyo Boy Scouts to Salt Lake City, and residents began a drive to pay the $1800 freight bill. Mayor Earl J. Glade gave the first check, and Tamotsu Murayama, the Scout executive behind the gift, had offered to sell his home to cover the cost. Another front-page story looked at the Congress and the omnibus immigration bills, reported through Mike Masaoka. Marion Tajiri wrote two columns on fair employment bills in the state legislatures.

MGM’s film Go for Broke! drew several pieces, including a feature on how the story was developed and a note on a Denver opening with 442nd veterans. Bill Hosokawa wrote about returning to Los Angeles and to Little Tokyo, and Elmer R. Smith and Joe Oyama also had columns. The sports pages cover Nisei players in baseball, track and bowling. This issue runs 8 pages.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Salt Lakers Raise $1800 to Repay Tokyo Boy Scout for Cherry Tree Freight Costs, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Salt Lake City residents launched a drive to pay the $1800 air freight bill for Japanese cherry tree saplings that were destroyed by quarantine officials in Seattle. Tamotsu Murayama, the Tokyo Boy Scout executive who initiated the gift, had offered to pay the charges himself by selling his home.
• Salt Lake City Will Decline Offer of Additional Trees, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Salt Lake City officials planned to discourage Tokyo Boy Scouts from sending replacement trees for the destroyed shipment. Mayor Earl J. Glade said the Peace Gardens were progressing well and no other trees were needed at the moment.
• Long Beach JACL Seeks to Double 1950 Membership, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Long Beach JACL chapter set a goal of doubling its 1950 membership of 133 through a two-week drive beginning May 1. A general meeting and social will be held May 31 at the Harbor Area Japanese Community Center.
• Nampa Issei Named President of Rotary Club, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Henry Fujii was named president of the Nampa Rotary Club, believed to be the first Issei to lead a Rotary club in the nation. He has long been active in community affairs and as a supporter of the JACL.
• New York Chapter Holds Forum on Housing Problems, by P.C. Staff, page 1. New York JACL members heard from a New York City Housing Authority official that public housing projects had no racial segregation. A forum on public housing and private home ownership followed a chapter business meeting on April 20.
• Nisei Named Head of County P-TA, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mrs. Ben Nagai, Jr., past president of the Mitchell-Union Parent Teacher Association, was elected president of the Merced County Council P-TA. Other officers were also chosen at the installation led by Mrs. Ruth Sanderson.
• Salinas JACL Aids Red Cross Drive, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Salinas JACL, led by president Lefty Miyanaga, raised $104.50 for the Red Cross. Several members assisted in the drive.
• Four Nisei Named to Council Posts, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Four Nisei were named to posts in the Jackson Street Community Council in Seattle. Toru Sakahara, C.E. Chihara, Ralph S. Shinbo and Fudge Sakanishi took on leadership roles.
• Coast Buddhists Hold Convention in Sacramento, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Buddhist young people from California and Arizona gathered in Sacramento for the Western Young Buddhist League convention. Five candidates competed for the title of convention queen, and a memorial service for Nisei war dead was planned.
• Three Seek Placer JACL Queen Title, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Three young women sponsored by local clubs will compete for the Placer County JACL community picnic queen title on May 6. The candidates are Kaye Horikawa, Sakaye Tenma and Janice Makimoto.
• Veteran of 442nd Teaches Printing in California School, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Frank Fukuzawa, a 442nd veteran, became the first Japanese American industrial arts instructor in the Los Angeles school system, teaching printing at Emerson Junior High. He had once been discouraged from pursuing teaching by his instructors.
• Nine Escape Death as Fire Razes Building, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Nine Nisei narrowly escaped serious injury when fire gutted an apartment building at 2663 California Street in San Francisco. Most lost their personal belongings in the early morning blaze.
• JACL ADC’s Need for Funds Stressed as $9,500 Raised in Pacific Southwest Area, by P.C. Staff, page 8. More than $9,500 had been raised toward the 1951 ADC goal of $22,775 for the Pacific Southwest area. Regional director Tats Kushida urged local committees to complete their drives quickly.
• Checks Totaling $700 Reported Taken From JACL Office, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Burglars ransacked offices in the Booker T. Washington Community Center in San Francisco and stole about $700 in checks collected for the Sacramento Kika Kisen Domei committee. Regional director Sam Ishikawa immediately requested payments be halted.
• L.A. Court Hears Church Libel Case, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Trial began in Los Angeles on a $175,000 libel suit filed by Shozen Yasui against two priests and the Koyasan Betsuin over an article in a church newspaper. The article concerned Yasui’s earlier back pay lawsuit that had been settled out of court.
• Japanese Canadian Company Builds Fast Fishing Boats, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Philip Matsumoto and Sons shipyard in Dollarton, British Columbia, is one of the busiest boatbuilders in the province’s fishing boom. The firm is building 25 gillnetters for British Columbia canneries after resuming operations following wartime evacuation.
• Visalia Chapter Completes Drive, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Tulare County JACL met its 1951 ADC fund quota and increased its membership to 121, up from 112 the previous year. Chapter president Kenji Tashiro reported the successes.
• National JACL Credit Union Will Hold Annual Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Shareholders of the National JACL credit union will meet May 11 in Salt Lake City to re-elect directors and officers and announce interest rate changes. The credit union has 405 members and about $102,000 in shares.
• Yoshino Will Speak at Chicago Forum, by P.C. Staff, page 8. John Yoshino of the Illinois Public Aid Commission will speak on the problems of Nisei and other racial minorities at a Chicago Sunday forum on April 29. A discussion and question period will follow.

Military & Veterans

• Mother Holds Hope for Son Missing in Action in Korea, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The mother of Pfc. George Y. Minakata of Seabrook, N.J. continues to hope her son is alive after he was reported missing in action in Korea since February 13. Minakata, who served with the 88th Infantry Division, last wrote home in January describing bitter cold conditions.
• Report Chicago Nisei Killed in Korea War, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Department of Defense announced casualties in Korea, including Pfc. Mark Inokuchi of Chicago, who was killed in action. Several Hawaii Nisei soldiers were listed as wounded and one returned to duty after being previously missing and held as a prisoner of war.
• 442nd Veteran Shows Works, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 442nd Veterans Club of Honolulu sponsored a one-man art exhibition of works by Bunpei Akaji, a 442nd veteran who studied art in Italy. The show featured oils, etchings, sculpture and mosaics completed during his years abroad.
• War Veterans To Participate in Film Opening, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Denver’s Cathay Post 185 announced that 442nd veterans and other Nisei ex-GIs will take part in a parade and the Rocky Mountain premiere of Go for Broke! on May 18. Several decorated Nisei veterans will ride with Mayor Quigg Newton.

National

• Joint House-Senate Committee Prepares to Print Testimony on Omnibus Immigration Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A joint congressional subcommittee closed hearings on omnibus immigration and naturalization bills and began preparing testimony for printing. JACL ADC legislative director Mike Masaoka reported informal efforts to reconcile the McCarran and Walter versions, with floor action expected around June.
• California Legislature Plans Hearings on Remedial Bills, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Two bills benefiting persons of Japanese ancestry were scheduled for hearings in the California Legislature: one to restore liquor licenses revoked in 1941 and another to repay money Nisei paid in alien land law settlements. Joe Grant Masaoka of the Committee for Justice to Japanese Americans sponsored both measures.
• Oren Long Selected as Hawaii’s New Governor, Popular Choice with Nisei, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 3. President Truman appointed Oren E. Long, a longtime educator and champion of racial equality, as governor of Hawaii, effective May 1. His appointment was widely praised, especially by Nisei, who valued his advocacy for fair play since 1917.
• Illinois Lt. Governor Praises MGM Film on 442nd Outfit, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Illinois Lt. Governor Sherwood Dixon, a former 442nd battalion commander, praised the MGM film Go For Broke after a special preview. Veterans attending agreed it provided an excellent documentary of the combat team.
• Marquis Asks Divorce from Nisei Wife, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Former Japanese marquis Dr. Masauji Hachisuka filed a divorce suit in Tokyo charging adultery against his Nisei wife, Chie, who lives with her parents in Los Angeles. He submitted love letters from her alleged lovers as evidence.

JACL

• First Committee Named for 1952 JACL Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL President Dr. Randolph M. Sakada appointed a leadership criteria committee, chaired by Patrick Okura, to set standards for national recognition awards ahead of the 1952 San Francisco convention. The committee will guide awards to be made by the national recognitions committee.

Commentary

• This Year in State Legislatures On Fair Employment Proposals, by Marion Tajiri, page 2. Fair employment practices (FEP) legislation advanced in several states this year, but most bills stalled in committees or were defeated. Tajiri argues FEP is a simple guarantee of equal employment opportunity and that Colorado’s law, lacking enforcement power, shows the need for stronger measures like those in New York and Cleveland.
• Veteran at Home, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial praises Masato Doi’s keynote speech at the 442nd Veterans Club anniversary, which urged veterans to prioritize their role as citizens and participate in community affairs. The editors commend the club for seeking service rather than special favors.
• Example of Friendship, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial celebrates Salt Lake City’s voluntary campaign to raise $1800 in air freight charges for Tokyo Boy Scouts’ cherry tree shipment. It highlights the spontaneous community response as a heartwarming example of friendship.
• Unrecognized Citizens, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial notes that Japanese aliens would again be excluded from I Am an American Day in 1951 by law. It expresses hope that citizenship eligibility will be won by 1952.
• Today’s National Alternatives, by Elmer R. Smith, page 5. Smith recounts a Salt Lake discussion on avoiding World War III and the proposal for a federated world state led by Western nations. He cautions that colonial exploitation has left Asian and African peoples skeptical of Western ideals of freedom and cooperation.
• Fear of War: Minidoka Issei’s Views on Russia’s Entry into the War, by Elmer R. Smith, page 5. Smith recalls his 1945 report as Minidoka’s community analyst on Issei reactions to the Soviet declaration of war against Japan. He notes that the Issei’s predictions about Soviet intentions in the Far East proved prophetic.
• From the Frying Pan: Land of Smog and Sunshine, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa offers impressions of Los Angeles after thirteen years away, describing its sprawling freeways, contradictions and glitzy Miracle Mile. He also reflects on the resurrected Little Tokyo and the Nisei who have returned to the neighborhood.
• Smog-Lights: Saturday Night Visit, by Molly Oyama, page 6. Oyama describes visiting a new Mexican American neighbor family to present a copy of the CSO publication and discuss a local election. The visit leads to observations about generational tensions between parents and teenage children.
• Little Accomplished This Year On Fair Employment Bills, by Marion Tajiri, page 8. Tajiri concludes that voluntary FEP programs fail because employers who discriminate will not be influenced by them. He argues that a national FEPC, either by Congress or presidential order, is needed, though neither appears likely soon.

Arts & Entertainment

• Behind the 442nd’s Film Story, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This feature traces the development of MGM’s Go for Broke!, from producer Dore Schary and writer-director Robert Pirosh’s early ideas through production with Hawaiian 442nd veterans. It explains how the story shifted focus to a single platoon rather than the mass evacuation.
• Mannahatta, by Joe Oyama, page 5. Oyama’s column covers a quiz show answer about Peter Minuit, veterans’ reactions to the film Go for Broke, and reflections on the Nisei generation transitioning to the Sansei. Lighter items include notes on Japanese American life in New York.

Sports

• Few Nisei Excel Around Initial Sack, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The column observes that few Nisei have played first base in college or semipro baseball, despite a shortage of first basemen generally. It surveys Nisei players at other positions, including catchers, pitchers, infielders and outfielders.
• Nishita’s Steady Hurling Goes for Naught, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Bill Nishita pitched well for the University of California but lost to USC 8-7 due to four costly errors. Ray Fukuchi won for the Cal Aggies while Joe Tom led Oregon to a win over Idaho.
• Texan Runs 9.5 Century, 220 Yard Dash in 20.5s, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Carl Otsuki of East Texas State College broke school records by running the 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds and the 220 in 20.5 in a dual meet. The 9.5 century is believed to be the fastest time recorded for an athlete of Japanese ancestry.
• Hirayama, Zenimura Aid Bulldogs, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Fresno State’s baseball team, with a 28-2 record, benefited from Fibber Hirayama’s strong play, including stealing eight bases in two days. Howie Zenimura also contributed with hits and a triple.
• Nishiguchi Tops Nevada Bowlers, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Art Nishiguchi of Reno finished the season with a 190-plus average, the highest of any bowler in Nevada. Several Nisei bowlers also placed in Los Angeles and Denver tournaments.
• Three Nisei Named Among Utah’s State Bowling Champions, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Deseret News named Dr. Jun Kurumada to its state bowling second team and Sho Hiraizumi and Tom Nakamura to honorable mention. All three bowl for the Okada Insurance team in the Salt Lake City Majors.
• Placer JACL Loses Opener in Northern California League, by Homer Takahashi, page 7. The Placer JACL baseball club lost its league opener 9-3 to Nevada City and will open its home season against Grass Valley. The team’s pitchers Aki Hada and George Goto struggled in the loss, which was marred by baserunning mistakes.
• Judo Given Recognition by AAU as National Competitive Sport, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The AAU recognized judo as a national competitive sport and formed a national judo committee, which hopes to seek Olympic recognition by 1956. The first sanctioned AAU judo tournament will take place in Berkeley on May 18.

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