Yen deposit claims, Issei naturalization and Hawaii leadership in 1954

Vol. 38, No. 7, February 12, 1954. 8 pages. View this issue

Legislation touching Issei and Nisei lives ran through the news. For the second time, a bill to dismiss yen deposit claims against the Office of Alien Property was blocked in the Senate at the request of the JACL Washington Office. Other stories covered Social Security proposals for domestic workers, more funds for immigration processing, and an extended deadline for vested property claims. From Honolulu, Lawrence Nakatsuka reported that Motohiro Tanimura became the first Nisei president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce. George Inagaki described a courtesy flight to Tokyo, and Mike Masaoka wrote on Hawaii statehood.

Chapter installations filled page 4 and page 5, with new JACL officers named in Salinas, San Diego, Santa Clara County, French Camp and Arizona. Lists of newly naturalized Issei ran on pages 3 and 6. Bill Hosokawa wrote on American interest in Japanese culture, Larry Tajiri compared two accounts of visiting Japan, and the sports page followed the National JACL bowling tournament in Chicago.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Bigger Role for Japanese Chamber of Commerce Emerges in Honolulu, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 1. Motohiro Tanimura became the first Nisei president of the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, marking a generational shift in leadership. The Honolulu Chamber of Commerce has also proposed closer ties and eventual merger with the Japanese chamber, including shared office space.
• Issei-Nisei Supported Bank in Hawaii Chartered, page 1. The first bank charter issued in Hawaii since 1922 was presented to Koichi Iida, president of the Central Pacific Bank. The bank’s capital of over $1,000,000 was put up by local residents, a majority of Japanese ancestry.
• 800 War Brides Pass Through Seattle in One Year as Non-Quota Immigrants, page 2. Twenty-four Japanese war brides arrived in Seattle on a Navy transport, part of roughly 800 who passed through the city in the past year under the McCarran-Walter Act. The brides, including Sumie Andreen and Miyuki Hawkins, were headed to various small American towns with their husbands.
• Sumitomo Bank Optimistic After First-Year Operation, page 2. The Sumitomo Bank (California) reported total deposits of more than $4,232,000 after its first 11 months of operation ending Dec. 31. More than half of its $1,352,000 in loans were for real estate, with the bank expressing appreciation to stockholders and the community.
• Spokane Bussei Confab Set for Feb. 19-21, page 2. The seventh annual Northwest YBA convention will be held in Spokane with the theme ‘World Peace through Buddhism,’ expecting about 500 delegates from the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Highlights include an oratorical contest, basketball, dinner and dance.
• Fresno Farm Camp Fire Kills One, Injures Two, page 2. A fire at a Fresno farm labor camp resulted in the death of an elderly Issei man and serious burns to two others. The remains of S. Takagi, 70, were found six hours after the blaze began in a building housing 25 men.
• Report of Gakuen Published in Vancouver, page 2. A documentary report titled ‘History of the Japanese Language School Educational Society, 1923-1942’ was published in Vancouver, B.C., edited by Tsutae Sato. The book, written in Japanese, chronicles the development of Japanese language schools in Canada.
• Names of 300 Issei Naturalized Dec. 9 Published for Northern California, page 3. The Nichibei Times published a list of roughly 300 Issei who were naturalized in San Francisco’s second mass naturalization ceremony on Dec. 9. Most of those sworn in were women, as naturalization processing for Issei men faces delays due to 5-F technicalities.
• 18-Year-Old Vote Question Answered, page 3. Hideo Okanishi, a Korean War veteran wounded twice and now attending Woodbury College, won $15 for his letter supporting lowering the voting age to 18. He argued that most 18-year-olds are responsible citizens entitled to vote regardless of age-based discrimination arguments.
• Chicago Corner, by Smoky Sakurada, page 4. A Chicago community column covering a church building fund campaign, a City-Widers winter outing, Art Institute film showings, and a bowling tournament queen crowning. The column also profiles bowling queen Marji Kikuchi and her large family scattered across the country.
• Issei, Nisei Sacrifices Recalled by Satow in Central Cal Keynote Installation Talk, page 4. National JACL Director Mas Satow addressed 200 attendees at the Central California District Council joint installation banquet, recalling Issei sacrifices in educating their children and Nisei wartime efforts by Dr. Thomas Yatabe. Kenji Tashiro presented past-president pins to several chapter leaders.
• Salinas JACL Installation Rites, page 4. William Enomoto of Redwood City addressed the Salinas JACL installation dinner, emphasizing the organization’s ongoing work against discriminatory ‘cinch bills’ in the state legislature. Nearly 70 members and guests attended, including Superior Judge Henry Jorgensen.
• Mrs. Rae Fujimoto Heads Salt Lake JACL Auxiliary, page 4. Mrs. Rae Fujimoto was announced as the 1954 chairman of the Salt Lake City JACL Auxiliary, succeeding Mrs. Amy Doi. Installation was held at the home of Mrs. Jean Konishi with several other officers named.
• Four Pro-Tem Presidents to Head Santa Barbara JACL, page 4. Santa Barbara JACL will be led by four pro-tem presidents serving quarter-terms throughout the year: Mrs. Lillian Nakaji, Tom Hiroshima, Ikey Kakimoto and John Suzuki. Other cabinet members were also named to assist them.
• San Diego JACLers Map Program; Sponsor Six-Team Basketball League, page 4. San Diego JACL president Hi Nakamura outlined an active schedule of events including a membership drive, skating party, and citizenship dinner for recently naturalized Issei. Dr. Peter Umekubo announced a six-team JACL basketball league starting at Memorial Junior High School gymnasium.
• George Matsuoka Heads French Camp Chapter, page 4. George Matsuoka was elected 1954 president of the French Camp JACL and announced appointments for standing committees. A full cabinet and committee chairmen list was published.
• Venice-Culver JACL Establishes Age-Interest Groups Within Own Chapter, page 4. The renamed Venice-Culver JACL announced its 1954 cabinet and established separate ‘Adult’ and ‘Beta’ interest groups to better serve community needs. The chapter also sponsors a new high school girls’ group called the Lauries and plans to develop junior high and father-son programs.
• Pacific Southwest District Schedules Cabinet Clinic, page 4. An all-day series of discussions on JACL background, organization, and chapter programming will be held Feb. 28 at the Chase Hotel in Santa Monica, chaired by David Yokozeki. National JACL officials including George Inagaki and Mas Satow will participate as discussion leaders.
• Tom Kadomoto Heads ’54 Arizona JACL, page 4. Tom Kadomoto of Glendale, a citizenship class instructor, was named to head the 1954 Arizona JACL cabinet following recent chapter elections. A 12-member cabinet was announced by outgoing president Mas Inoshita.
• Scene from Golden Gate: Eden Township, Livingston-Merced, Cortez Chapter Visits, by Haruo Ishimaru, page 5. Ishimaru recounts installing new officers at Eden Township, Livingston-Merced, and Cortez JACL chapters over a busy weekend of chapter visits. He also praises the Berkeley chapter’s successful dinner honoring 76 new Issei citizens.
• Four Jewels of Citizenship Offered to New Citizens by Noted Berkeleyan, page 5. Galen Fisher addressed a Berkeley JACL banquet honoring 76 newly naturalized Issei citizens, speaking on the four jewels of citizenship: equal opportunity, honorable work, liberty under law, and voting rights. Mrs. Sugi Togasaki responded on behalf of the new citizens, expressing gratitude for naturalization rights granted under the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act.
• Chapter Memo, page 5. Brief news items cover Pasadena JACL’s membership competition, Mile-Hi JACL’s donated bowling patches, Cleveland JACL’s membership drive, Gardena Valley JACL board changes, and Salt Lake City JACL’s membership and benefit recital plans. Albuquerque JACL will have Medal of Honor winner Hiroshi Miyamura install new officers.
• Detroit JACLers Schedule Feb. 27 Installation, page 5. The 1954 Detroit JACL chapter cabinet will be installed Feb. 27 at the Belcrest Hotel, with Detroit city council president Louis C. Miriani as guest speaker. Peter Fujioka chairs the installation dinner-dance.
• Clevelanders Slate Six Chapter Activities, page 5. The Cleveland JACL program committee, headed by John Matsushima, announced six events for the year including a theater outing, community workshop, picnics, square dance, and inaugural ball. Committee members were also listed.
• Hawaiian Judge Appointment, page 5. Clinton I. Shiraishi of Maui, a newly-licensed attorney, was appointed district magistrate for Koloa, Kauai, by Chief Justice Edward A. Towse of the Territory. He is a graduate of the University of law studies.
• Salt Lake Chapter Eyes 300 Members for 1954, page 5. Salt Lake City JACL launched a membership drive with the slogan ‘You bet I’m joining JACL’ aiming to triple last year’s membership to 300. Chapter president Rupert Hachiya announced several committee appointments including junior membership and constitutional revisions.
• New Citizens List Continued; Livingston Issei Expected Naturalization in June, page 6. A continuation of the Northern California naturalized Issei list from Lodi and surrounding areas was published. The Livingston-Merced JACL chapter also reported sixteen Issei who recently passed naturalization exams and expect to be sworn in around June.
• The Sou’wester: Enthusiastic Cabinet Session, by Tats Kushida, page 6. Kushida describes an enthusiastic East Los Angeles JACL cabinet meeting with strong attendance and plans for a chapter clinic and membership drive. He also reports on the Pacific Southwest JACL Credit Union’s successful annual meeting with a $3,023.91 net profit for 1953.
• Los Angeles Newsletter, by Henry Mori, page 7. Mori reports on a violent incident at a Nisei dance, a housing discrimination case in Bellflower resolved by attorney Frank Chuman, and Councilman Edward Roybal’s bid for lieutenant governor. He also profiles a visiting Lincoln High graduate who became an international business executive in Tokyo.
• Nisei Dies in Tractor-Automobile Collision, page 7. Noble Tashiro, a 30-year-old Henderson farmer, died in Colorado General Hospital after suffering a skull fracture when his tractor was struck by a car on US Highway 85. The impact threw him from the tractor seat and caused both vehicles to overturn on top of him.

National

• Yen Deposit Claims Bill Fails to Pass Again in Senate, page 1. For the second time, legislation to dismiss yen deposit claims against the Office of Alien Property was blocked in the Senate at the request of the JACL Washington Office. The bill, introduced by Sen. Dirksen, would affect over 17,500 Issei and Nisei claimants who argue it unconstitutionally deprives them of property without due process.
• Social Security Proposals to Aid Domestic Workers Endorsed by JACL, page 1. The JACL Washington office announced support for a bill by Rep. Daniel Reed that would relax Social Security qualification requirements for domestic workers, benefiting many Issei. The proposal would replace the 24-day work requirement with a simpler $50 per calendar quarter wage threshold.
• Colorado Senator May Seek More Funds for Immigration Service, page 1. Sen. Ed C. Johnson assured Mile-Hi JACL chapter president Sam Y. Matsumoto he would work to alleviate the overload in the Immigration and Naturalization Service caused by inadequate funding. Matsumoto urged other Nisei to contact their representatives about earmarking funds for processing Issei naturalization applications.
• Vested Property Filing Deadline Extended; House OK’s, Now White House-Bound, page 1. The House approved legislation extending the deadline for filing claims for return of vested wartime property by a year after enactment, with the bill now headed to the President for signature. JACL representative Mike Masaoka called it a meritorious measure benefiting many persons of Japanese ancestry who missed the original 1949 deadline.
• Japanese Immigrants Work in Upper Amazon Valley, page 1. Japanese immigration to Brazil is expected to rise sharply with 9,000 families relocating to work converting jungle areas in the upper Amazon valley. The group now produces 80 percent of Brazil’s pepper requirements along with jute and rice production.
• A Decade Ago, page 8. This historical retrospective column covers news from ten years prior including Colorado’s alien land bill, RKO Studio’s assurance about ‘Betrayal from the East,’ Sgt. Ben Kuroki’s speech against intolerance, and WRA protests of discriminatory actions against evacuees in Ogden. It also notes legal challenges to evacuation orders and WRA reports on resettlement figures.
• Minority: Enlightened Public Opinion Won’t Permit School Abolition, page 8. NAACP executive secretary Walter White declared that enlightened Southern public opinion will not permit abolition of state public schools even if the Supreme Court rules against segregation. Georgia and South Carolina governors had threatened constitutional amendments to avoid integrating their educational systems.

Military & Veterans

• Officer Who Aided Buddhist Grave Markings to Retire, page 1. Col. James B. Clearwater, commanding officer of Sharpe General Depot, announced his retirement after 35 years of military service. He was instrumental in permitting the Buddhist Wheel of Righteousness symbol to be placed over gravesites of Buddhist soldiers.

In-Depth

• Aboard Japan Airliner to Tokyo: Hospitality-Plus Is By-word, by George Inagaki, page 1. National JACL President George Inagaki describes his experience on Japan Air Lines’ pre-inaugural courtesy flight to Tokyo aboard the new DC-6B liner City of Tokyo. He praises the airline’s hospitality, comfort, and service throughout the 28-hour journey with stops in Honolulu and Wake Island.

Commentary

• Washington Newsletter: Statehood for Hawaii, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka analyzes the political dynamics behind the Hawaii statehood debate in the Senate, noting Republican support for Hawaii statehood versus Democratic preference for linking it with Alaska statehood. He discusses how Southern opposition stems partly from racial concerns about Hawaii’s Asian population affecting the Senate’s political balance.
• Very Truly Yours: Is There a Recession Coming!, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Honda muses on population trends and birth rates as potential indicators of economic health, comparing depression-era declines in marriage and birth rates to postwar booms. He notes business has a stake in population growth trends and extended life spans due to medical science.
• Topics: ‘Nisei Era’ in Japan, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 3. Murayama describes the special recognition given to Nisei journalists Saburo Kido and George Inagaki during their visit to Japan as guests of Japan Air Lines. Tokyo Governor Seiichiro Yasui expressed hope that the true picture of Nisei achievements be widely introduced to Japan to strengthen US-Japan friendly relations.
• Editorials: Treaty Booby-Trap, page 8. This editorial examines the Bricker Amendment debate in the Senate, which would require legislative approval before treaties become internal law. The piece argues this ‘non-self-executing clause’ would undermine American credibility in international commitments.
• Editorials: Lincoln’s Achievement, page 8. A brief editorial notes that Lincoln’s birthday is less remembered than tax day, pointing out that Lincoln organized the bureau of internal revenue in 1862. It notes the $600 tax exemption has remained unchanged since that era.
• Editorials: Teen-Age Dances, page 8. This editorial responds to the stabbing incident reported in the Los Angeles Newsletter, calling for drastic preventative measures against juvenile delinquency. It argues that words alone are no longer sufficient to address the problem among youth.
• From the Frying Pan: Of Things Japanese, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa reflects on the growing American interest in Japanese culture, food, and art, noting his family’s regret at resisting their heritage while growing up as they focused on becoming American. He also discusses the changing social focus of the Nisei Intermountain College Conference and his children’s observance of Valentine’s Day.
• Vagaries: Two Strangers in Japan, by Larry Tajiri, page 8. Tajiri compares James Michener’s novel Sayonara with Nisei writer Jobo Nakamura’s Holiday magazine article about visiting his mother and sisters in Japan after 17 years apart. Both works explore American and Nisei perspectives on Japan, romanticism, and the realities of postwar hardship.

JACL

• JACL Credit Unions Declare ’53 Dividends, page 3. The Pacific Southwest JACL Credit Union declared a 3% dividend to 231 shareholders, while the San Francisco JACL Credit Union declared 3.2%. The meeting also revealed a $1,750 life insurance payout to a credit union member’s husband-beneficiary following her death.
• Scholarship for Reed College Opened to Men, page 3. The National JACL has been invited to submit candidate names for George F. Baker Foundation scholarships at Reed College for the fall 1954 term. Applicants must be young men from the western United States demonstrating leadership potential in business, government or the professions.
• Tom Mitsuyoshi Heads Santa Clara County UCL, page 4. Tom Mitsuyoshi was installed as 1954 president of the United Citizens League of Santa Clara County, with a full cabinet announced. Dr. Tokio Ishikawa served as master of ceremonies at the installation event.

Sports

• Sportscope: National JACL Bowling Schedules Due, page 6. The schedules committee for the National JACL bowling tournament in Chicago is preparing starting times for the three-day classic after the entry deadline passed, with teams entered from across the country. Three San Jose teams qualified through a 20-game rolloff, with Mike Murotsune leading at 3821 total pins.
• Figure Skater Wins Second Trophy, page 6. Francis Sakakibara, 17, of Tokyo won his second trophy in the Northern California figure skating competition at Sutro ice rink. He is preparing for an upcoming Pacific Coast tournament in Berkeley.
• Golf Trophy Won by Yoshioka, page 6. Henry Yoshioka won the Mrs. Kiyomura Memorial trophy with a score of 76-12-64 at the Hillview golf course. The tournament was held last Sunday.

Arts & Entertainment

• Okinawa-Born Violinist Gets Boston Scholarship, page 7. Hiroshi Hatoyama, a top Japanese violinist, won a three-year scholarship to study at the Boston Conservatory of Music after competing against more than 400 contestants throughout Japan and Okinawa. He was previously a member of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra at age 11.

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