Vol. 33, No. 24, December 22, 1951. 76 pages. View this issue
The Nisei and what they inherited from Japan ran through much of this 76-page holiday issue. The staff editorial and Elmer R. Smith’s essay asked how that heritage shaped Nisei lives, while Aiji Tashiro wrote a satire of a Nisei architect who denied it. Mike Masaoka weighed the chances that the McCarran-Walter bills would bring citizenship to the Issei, and Allen H. Eaton described the art made in the War Relocation Authority camps.
Other pieces include Toshio Mori’s tales of the Issei and Hisaye Yamamoto’s reports on the Community Service Organization and on Shig Iitomi. Beatrice Griffith, Arline Winchell Moore and Wilson Makabe each contributed reports, and there are profiles of Nisei musicians, a silversmith and an athlete. About 69 of its 76 pages carry holiday greetings, some from Omaha, St. Louis, Denver, Dayton and Milwaukee.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- The Nisei and Their Heritage, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial reflects on how Nisei have come to acknowledge a cultural inheritance of language, food and custom alongside their American upbringing. It argues that the Nisei are shaped by two cultures and that their impact will depend on how they use this heritage.
- An Appraisal of the Heritage, by Elmer R. Smith, page 2. Smith argues that American culture is itself a product of many foreign influences, and that Nisei heritage from Japan has been absorbed and transformed within the American setting. He describes Japanese values such as industriousness, courtesy and group responsibility as positive contributions to American communities.
- We Look to Tomorrow, by Beatrice Griffith, page 5. Griffith profiles Nisei and Issei who showed courage in facing prejudice after the evacuation, including an Issei who refused to dwell on past losses and a veteran who fought for a home. She calls on Americans to honor that courage and uphold democratic principles.
- Crusade for the CSO, by Hisaye Yamamoto, page 10. A report on the Community Service Organization in Los Angeles, which mobilizes Mexican Americans and others to register voters and address police abuse and discrimination. It describes the CSO as an effective community organization.
- Brownstones and Gentle Living, by Mitsu Yasuda, page 18. Yasuda offers humorous vignettes of life in New York apartment houses, including burglaries, neighborly quarrels and superintendent troubles. The sketches capture the variety of urban tenants.
- Mako Discovers America, by Mako Iwamatsu, page 25. Mako, a young Japanese immigrant, recounts his early experiences in New York after reuniting with his parents, including school, work and cultural adjustments. The letter reflects his impressions of American life.
- Welcome House, by Wilson Makabe, page 29. Makabe profiles the Ruth family of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, who adopted Asian-American children through the Welcome House project founded by Pearl Buck. The article highlights interracial family life and the program’s aims.
- To Hasten the Day, by Masao W. Satow, page 33. Satow distinguishes integration from congregation and argues that JACL should help Nisei develop into participating citizens. He describes JACL’s role in breaking racial barriers through public education and legal action.
- His Parish the World: Father Joe, by P.C. Staff, page 65. The article profiles Rev. Joseph Kitagawa, an Episcopal minister whose work in religion, education and social welfare has aided Japanese Americans from wartime camps to Chicago. It highlights his counseling and community service.
- Point of View, by Allan Beekman, page 66. A short story about a Nisei man’s infatuation with a former girlfriend and his eventual disillusionment after a surprise engagement announcement. The narrator reflects on responsibility and self-deception.
- Short Story: Dagger in the Gate, by Yurii Kyogoku, page 67. A short story set in a Japanese American household, where a mother receives a neighbor’s visit and reflects on her hardships and lost family. The tale portrays the emotional burdens borne by Issei women.
Arts & Entertainment
- East is Still East, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The article surveys how Nisei artists, singers, dancers and designers relate to Japanese influence, noting debates over whether their work reflects Oriental or Western roots. It describes a renewed public interest in things Japanese in the early 1950s and the question of whether the trend will last.
- Space Composition in Two Dimensions, by John Nakamura, page 51. Nakamura profiles artist Nobuo Kitagaki, whose abstract collages with an Oriental touch drew attention in Bay Area galleries. The piece describes his influences and aspirations.
National
- Will This Be the Year? Citizenship for the Issei, by Mike Masaoka, page 3. Masaoka assesses prospects for the McCarran-Walter omnibus immigration and naturalization bills in the 82nd Congress. He concludes that chances for equality in naturalization are better than before but still uncertain given political obstacles.
Incarceration & Redress
- They Made Beauty Live, by Allen H. Eaton, page 4. Eaton describes the artistic activity that flourished in WRA relocation camps, including bonkei, embroidery, flower arrangement and rock gardens. He argues the Issei’s love of beauty persisted despite confinement and urges that they be granted citizenship.
- Two More Tales of the Issei, by Toshio Mori, page 9. Mori recounts a grandmother’s memories of Issei life, including debates on education and her own struggles in America and a decision to return to Japan. The story conveys the hopes and hardships of the immigrant generation.
- Return to Hood River, by Arline Winchell Moore, page 26. Moore reports on the return of Nisei to Hood River, Oregon, after wartime evacuation, describing how a church bazaar marked a new spirit of friendship. She notes the community’s growing respect for Nisei war service.
- A Home for the Golden Years, by John Y. Yoshino, page 27. Yoshino argues for establishing a non-sectarian home for aged Issei and examines costs, staffing, funding and location. He concludes that such a facility would meet a pressing need.
In-Depth
- Carroll Tewkes Tsugomoto, Architect, by Aiji Tashiro, page 6. Tashiro satirizes a Nisei architect whose success draws on Japanese design traditions he denies knowing. The piece questions whether such Nisei can escape their cultural inheritance despite claiming to succeed on their own merits.
- In Search of a Happy Ending, by Hisaye Yamamoto, page 17. Yamamoto recounts the story of Shig Iitomi, a Berkeley-born Nisei who was taken to Japan as a youth, served in the Japanese army, and later sought to regain U.S. citizenship. The unfinished tale ends with his hope of returning to America.
Community
- The Strange Case of Carroll Tewkes Tsugomoto, by Aiji Tashiro, page 6. Tashiro examines a Nisei architect’s success in design and landscape architecture and how it reflects centuries of Japanese tradition. The piece also questions whether the architect’s disavowal of heritage can hold.
- Harry Osaki, Silversmith, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The profile follows Pasadena Nisei Harry Osaki from farm labor and college through war service to a career as a hand-crafted silversmith whose work has been shown in many museums. It highlights his diverse talents and rapid output.
- Year of Opportunity, by Toshio Mori, page 9. A grandmother describes her years as an Issei in America, her attempts to learn English, and her decision to remain with her husband rather than return to Japan. The piece reflects on education and opportunity for immigrants.
- Music Is Their Way of Life, by Aiko Tashiro Hiratsuka, page 49. Hiratsuka profiles several Nisei musicians including Kei Imai, Tomi Kanazawa, Lily Miki, Ruth Watanabe, Ruby Yoshino and James Shigeta. Their diverse careers show Nisei achievement in music.
Sports
- Pound for Pound, by Elton Foreman, page 59. Foreman profiles Fresno State athlete Satoshi Hirayama, whose skills in football and baseball earned him top honors. The article celebrates his versatility and popularity on campus.
- The Foreign Trade Game, by Roku Sugahara, page 61. Sugahara analyzes the prospects for Japanese-American trade after the peace treaty, noting the decline of prewar trading houses and the struggles of Nisei importers. He predicts Japan’s exports will grow but the Kaisha will not regain prewar dominance.
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