Immigration under the 1952 law and citizenship for Issei, 1954

Vol. 38, No. 16, April 16, 1954. 8 pages. View this issue

Immigration and citizenship ran through this eight-page issue. The front page reported that 2,489 Japanese nationals entered the United States as immigrants in the first six months under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, far above the annual Japanese quota of 185. State Department Visa Office Director Edward S. Maney gave his views on the law. Naturalization ceremonies for Issei were held in Fresno, Seattle and Sacramento, and the Senate Judiciary Committee reported a JACL-sponsored bill on Nisei who voted in postwar Japanese elections. Mike Masaoka wrote about the 1954 elections.

Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa looked at the return of Japanese-themed songs like Poor Butterfly, Mary Oyama described a vacation in Hawaii, and Larry Tajiri profiled Ruth Hashimoto of the Albuquerque JACL. Chicago led the chapter membership race, and the Columbia Basin chapter brought the JACL to 88 chapters.

What’s in this issue

National

• Immigrant Quota Use Under the New Law, by P.C. Staff, page 1. During the first six months under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, 2,489 Japanese nationals entered the United States as immigrants, well above the annual Japanese quota of 185. State Department Visa Office Director Edward S. Maney described the new law as a considerable improvement that keeps families united and admits needed skilled immigrants.
• Texan Renews Old Dec. 7 Feelings, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Texas Gov. Shivers signed a bill outlawing the Communist party in the state, which provides a 20-year prison term for membership. Rep. Meridith’s comparison of Communist influence to Japanese influence at Pearl Harbor drew opposition from Rep. Maury Maverick, Jr.
• Statehood Measure Bogged Down in House Rules Group, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Hawaii and Alaska statehood bill, passed by the Senate 57 to 28, was stalled when Rep. Sam Rayburn objected to sending it to a conference committee. The measure was shunted to the House Rules Committee, where its fate is uncertain.

Incarceration & Redress

• 118 Central California Issei Get Naturalized, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A group of 118 Central California Issei were among 209 persons granted American citizenship in Fresno last week. Similar naturalization ceremonies were held in Seattle and Sacramento, where 64 Issei women became citizens.
• Early Senate Action Seen on Stranded Voting Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Early Senate consideration is anticipated on a bill restoring citizenship to Nisei who voted in Japanese elections during the American occupation. The Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported the JACL-sponsored bill introduced by Sen. Arthur V. Watkins.
• Senate Judiciary Committee Report on Strandee Voting, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Senate Judiciary Committee report recognized that Japanese elections during the occupation were held under American supervision and that former citizens faced pressure to vote. The committee concluded general legislation is the best remedy for those who unintentionally lost citizenship under duress.
• U.S. Appellate Court Rules in Nisei’s Favor on Citizenship Case, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a Justice Department motion to overturn a ruling by Judge J. Frank McLaughlin restoring citizenship to Fujiko Furusho, a Nisei who voted in a postwar Japanese election. The government had sought to set aside the proceedings after Dean Acheson was named a defendant.

Obituaries

• Pioneer Issei Asparagus Grower in Sacramento Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Tatsuki Sakata, 77, a pioneer developer of the Courtland delta area, died after a cerebral hemorrhage. He and his late brother Kameki were leading asparagus growers after developing the Clarksburg-Courtland delta lands.
• Minneapolis Issei Dies on Day Due to Be Called for Citizenship Exam, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kakunosuke Tsuchiya, 76, a Minneapolis resident for eight years, died suddenly at General Hospital on Apr. 5, the day he was to appear for his citizenship hearing. He had earlier lived in California, New York, Alaska, Australia and England.

Community

• Slam-Banging Truck Driver, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Nisei driver misjudged clearance on the right side of his pickup truck in Campbell, setting off a chain of collisions that damaged five parked cars in front of Campbell Union High School. Police cited him for driving too close to the right side of the road and for an expired license and no registration.
• Scene from Golden Gate, by Haruo Ishimaru, page 2. The Northern California regional office moved to the Immigration and Naturalization Office to help process about 400 Issei for citizenship. The District Council reports approximately 1,200 Issei processed or naturalized in Northern California.
• Nisei Collegians Hold Eighth Annual Conference at Colorado, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Nisei Intermountain Collegiate Conference held its eighth annual meeting at the University of Colorado, featuring a banquet, dance, and basketball tournament. Denver University won the JACL trophy, and new officers were installed.
• Chicago JACL Leads Nation-Wide Race for Chapter Memberships, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Chicago JACL chapter led the nation in membership with 432 members as of March 30, followed by Mile-Hi in Denver with 393 and San Francisco with 376. Membership solicitors in Denver were actively recruiting to regain the lead.
• Columbia Basin Chapter Makes JACL 88 Strong, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Columbia Basin chapter of Moses Lake, Washington, was accepted into the Pacific Northwest JACL District, bringing the JACL to 88 chapters. The chapter has already sponsored a citizenship class that graduated 17 Issei.
• Montana CL Installs Nagashima as Prexy, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Montana JACL installation banquet at the Shangri-La Club in Billings had full attendance. Joe Nagashima was installed as chapter president and pledged continued constructive work for persons of Japanese ancestry.

Commentary

• Elections, 1954, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka outlines the 1954 congressional elections, which will decide control of the Senate and House with narrow margins. He urges every eligible person, including newly naturalized Issei, to register and vote.
• Immigrant Quotas (continued) and Security Provisions, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Visa Office Director Maney explains that the new law expands skilled immigration and introduces an escape clause allowing former voluntary members of proscribed organizations to obtain visas. He argues the security provisions are not more exacting than before.
• Tokyo Topics: Boy Scouts Goodwill Envoys, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Japanese Boy Scouts travel to the Philippines for the first national jamboree as goodwill envoys, with Prince Mikasa acknowledging Japan’s grave wartime mistakes. The correspondent notes the scouting movement’s role in Japan’s national salvation.
• Mailbox: ACLU and 5-Fs, by Mas Yonemura, page 6. Mas Yonemura responds to a column by Min Yasui suggesting the ACLU let Issei down by not intervening in 5-F cases. He explains the ACLU’s limited resources and notes that Northern California ACLU did offer assistance in the Tsuji case.
• Smoglites: An Escape to Paradise, by Mary Oyama, page 7. The writer describes a five-week vacation to the Hawaiian Islands, praising the scenery, the clean air, and the aloha spirit of the people. She concludes that the islands surpass California in beauty.
• Poor Butterfly Comeback, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa observes that Tin Pan Alley songs with Japanese themes, such as Poor Butterfly, are regaining popularity after decades of being out of favor. He traces how the Japanese theme in American popular music has shifted with national attitudes.
• Editorials: House Should Pass Statehood, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial urges the House to pass the Senate statehood bill for Alaska and Hawaii, warning that defeat would require restarting the process. It notes national polls favor a fifty-state union.
• From the Frying Pan: New Mexico Live-Wire, by Larry Tajiri, page 8. The column profiles Ruth Hashimoto, president of the Albuquerque JACL chapter, and Medal of Honor winner Hershey Miyamura, who is burdened by constant public appearances. It also notes Nisei contributions to a Life magazine story.

Arts & Entertainment

• Japanese Color Film Wins Top Award at Cannes Festival, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Japanese color film Jigoku-Mon (The Gates of Hell) won the grand prix at the International Film Festival in Cannes. The 12th century tale follows a palace guard who accidentally kills his beloved while trying to kill her husband.

Military & Veterans

• Placer JACL Baseball Wins First Two, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Placer JACL baseball team defeated Lodi AC 14-10 on timely hitting, with Norm Matsuoka and Jackson Hayashida homering. The team also beat Folsom Globes 5-2 in a practice game.

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