Issei citizenship classes and exams, and a Prudential reply

Vol. 36, No. 21, May 22, 1953. 8 pages. View this issue

Issei becoming American citizens ran through much of this 8-page issue. Over 200 Issei attended twice-weekly citizenship classes in Los Angeles, 148 Issei at Seabrook Farms passed their naturalization exams, and 145 Berkeley graduates prepared for theirs. Oaths and firsts were reported from Texas, New York, Utah and Hawaii, where Rev. Houn Tamayose became the first Buddhist priest naturalized under the new immigration act. The front page also carried Prudential Insurance’s letter denying it discriminated against Ensign Atsuko Emoto in a Long Beach home purchase.

Elsewhere, Lawrence Nakatsuka reported on Hawaii organizations seeking the return of property given to the government. Larry Tajiri recalled his 1942 trip out of the coastal evacuation zone to Salt Lake City, and wrote on National JACL’s eleven years there before its move back to San Francisco. Haruo Ishimaru began a new column on Northern California JACL, and Harry K. Honda wrote From the Frying Pan.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Prudential Denies Discrimination in Long Beach Home Purchase Deal, page 1. Prudential Insurance Company of America writes to correct an April 17 article alleging it discriminated against Ensign Atsuko Emoto in a Long Beach home purchase. The company states it approved her loan and does not question borrowers’ racial status.

National

• Japanese Organizations in Hawaii Seek Return of Property Given to Government, by By LAWRENCE NAKATSUKA, page 1. Japanese organizations in Hawaii are pursuing return of land and properties transferred to government during World War II. The Legislature asked Congress to create a commission to investigate and settle the claims.
• OK Measure to Restore Crosses at Punchbowl Crater, page 1. The Senate Military Committee recommended a measure asking Congress to restore crosses at Punchbowl. The resolution was introduced by Delegate Joseph R. Farrington.

Community

• Issei Willing to Miss Favorite TV Programs for Citizenship Study, page 1. Over 200 Issei attend twice-weekly citizenship classes at Sixth Ave. School in Los Angeles sponsored by the Southwest JACL chapter. The chapter newsletter suggests Nisei should brush up on civics to answer their parents’ questions.
• Nampa Toastmaster Speaks on JACL to Other Toastmasters, page 1. Manabu Yamada, Nampa and Boise Valley JACL chapter president, spoke on the JACL and its purposes at a Canyon County Toastmasters meeting. He is the only Nisei member of the club.
• Seabrook Japanese Community to Celebrate 10th Anniversary July 11, page 1. The Seabrook JACL chapter plans a July 11 banquet marking the 10th anniversary of the arrival of Japanese at Seabrook Farms and honoring 148 new Issei citizens. Speakers will include Mike Masaoka.
• Volunteer Interpreters Sought for I&NS Work, page 1. The Los Angeles naturalization office needs volunteer Japanese interpreters to help process Issei naturalization petitions during a late August work period. Interested persons should contact the Southern California JACL regional office.
• Pioneer Woman First in Rio Grande Valley, page 2. Mrs. Namyo Bessho became the first Issei woman of the Rio Grande valley of Texas to receive American citizenship in a ceremony at San Benito High School. Her daughter had pursued the petition, and her family’s service record is noted.
• New York Judge Swears in Wall Street Clerk, page 2. Thomas Torazo Nishio, a Wall Street clerk, became an American citizen in a Brooklyn ceremony, believed to be the first Japan-born person to gain citizenship in the New York area without a special act of Congress in nearly 100 years.
• Two Salt Lakers Feted by Elks, DAR at Rites, page 2. Masuo Namba and Mrs. Miwako Kaneko were the first persons of Japanese ancestry naturalized in Utah, sworn in by Judge David T. Lewis. Namba had been instructor of the Issei citizenship class.
• First Buddhist Priest Naturalized: Happy Day for Him, page 2. Rev. Houn Tamayose, a 72-year-old Buddhist priest in Hawaii, became the first priest to win citizenship under the new immigration act. He was escorted to the House of Representatives where it passed a resolution wishing him success.
• 148 Seabrook Issei Pass Citizenship Exam, Oaths Near, page 2. One hundred forty-eight Issei passed naturalization examinations over five days at Seabrook Farms after three months of citizenship classes. Oaths of allegiance will be administered by a federal judge on June 29.
• Exams Readied for Berkeley Issei, page 2. Of 181 graduates of the local Issei citizenship classes, 145 are preparing to take written naturalization exams, the Berkeley JACL chapter announced. Volunteers are helping complete the applications.
• ’53 Graduates to Be Nominated for Pvt. Ben Frank Masaoka Scholarship, page 3. Nominations are open for the $200 Pvt. Ben Frank Masaoka Memorial Scholarship for 1953 Nisei high school graduates. Candidates must be nominated by a JACL chapter by June 30.
• Nebraskan Dies in Auto Accident, page 3. Lloyd Hatano, 30, of Henry, Nebraska, died after a four-car crash on Highway 26 west of Scottsbluff. He was a passenger in a car driven by Tom Morimoto.
• Japanese Rice-Farmers Amazed at Large Scale Operations on Koda Rice Ranch, page 3. Three Japanese rice farmers touring U.S. agriculture visited the 4,000-acre Koda rice ranch in Merced County. They were impressed by its scale and machinery but noted their own yields per acre were higher.

Military & Veterans

• Senate Committee Backs Measure to Restore Crosses at Punchbowl Crater, page 1. The Senate Military Committee recommended passage of House Joint Resolution No. 32 asking that white crosses be restored at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The measure has broad backing from local and national organizations.

JACL

• No. Calif. Regional Office to Be Maintained Until End of Year, page 1. Delegates from 22 of 24 chapters in the Northern California-Western Nevada district council voted to finance $2,400 to keep the San Francisco JACL regional office open through year’s end. A committee will decide financing methods.

Commentary

• Cabbages and Kings, by Haruo Ishimaru, page 6. Haruo Ishimaru launches a new column on JACL activities in Northern California. He describes the district council’s size and history as the birthplace of the JACL.
• Keep Moving, by Larry Tajiri, page 8. Larry Tajiri recalls his 1942 trip with Teiko Ishida and his wife out of the Pacific Coast evacuation zone to Salt Lake City, where the National JACL headquarters was established. He describes Mayor Ab Jenkins welcoming evacuees and how the Beason Building became the JACL base.
• Editorial: File First, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial urges Issei in Los Angeles county to file naturalization forms early so processing can finish before they complete citizenship classes. It notes that naturalization classes are a major JACL project this year.
• Vagaries, by Larry Tajiri, page 8. The column reflects on the National JACL’s eleven years in Salt Lake City as it prepares to move back to San Francisco. It credits Intermountain chapters with funding the organization during wartime.
• From the Frying Pan, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. A parent recounts Mike’s school international day, when the family searched for Japanese items and found only dolls and a monkey figurine. The column reflects on the loss of cultural artifacts across generations.
• Very Truly Yours, page 8. A brief column of opinions on the Louisiana Purchase stamp, discrimination in taxation, and National Baby Week. The writer offers pointed observations on each topic.

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