Veterans’ pensions, evacuation claims and Issei naturalization

Vol. 39, No. 2, July 9, 1954. 8 pages. View this issue

President Eisenhower signed a bill restoring Veterans Administration pensions to Japanese nationals in Japan who had served in the U.S. Navy, a measure JACL had backed, and that story led the front page. Mike Masaoka reported from Washington on the Hillings Amendment, which was unlikely to move before Congress adjourned, and on $200,000 appropriated to administer the evacuation claims program. The House also passed the Watkins Nisei Elections Bill. Columns by Lawrence Nakatsuka and Tamotsu Murayama looked at how Americans and Asians see one another.

Community news filled the later pages. Chapters in Mid-Columbia and New York honored newly naturalized Issei, and San Francisco friends gathered for a dinner honoring Dr. George K. Togasaki. Readers will also find a preview of the JACL Nisei Relays at Rancho Stadium, Larry Tajiri on kabuki in New York, and a prize-winning cookie recipe from Ed Kawahara of Merced.

What’s in this issue

National

• President Signs Japanese Veteran Pensioner Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. President Eisenhower signed legislation allowing Veterans Administration benefits for Japanese nationals in Japan to be restored to former recipients. The bill, backed by JACL, covers Japanese who served in the U.S. Navy during the Spanish-American War and World War I whose benefits were canceled in 1941.
• Japanese Brides Marry Americans in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Roughly 1,500 Japanese women married American servicemen in 1954, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. The ministry reported 472 June brides, down from nearly 3,000 such marriages the previous year.
• House Committee May Act on Statehood Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House Rules Committee may move the side-tracked Hawaii-Alaska statehood bill to a Senate-House conference this week or next. The measure has been pigeonholed since April 1, when the Senate approved statehood for both territories.
• Action Unlikely in Present Congress on Hillings Amendment, by Mike Masaoka, page 1. Congress is unlikely to act on the Hillings Amendment, which would let larger evacuation claimants settle or appeal to the Court of Claims, before adjournment. Masaoka reported the House Judiciary subcommittee appeared unable to consider the bill this session.
• Concrete Evidence of Discrimination Sought, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Min Yasui, Mountain Plains JACL regional representative, called for documented cases of discrimination in Denver for a human relations survey. The survey, requested by Mayor J. Quigg Newton, will cover employment, education, public accommodations and housing.
• Younger Bill to Remove Discrimination Against Air Transportation of Flowers, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Mike Masaoka testified before the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee supporting the Younger bill, which would allow California flower shippers to consolidate air freight. Current CAB rulings bar such consolidation, and the shipments continue only under a temporary court order.

Community

• Seek Japanese Nationals to Cultivate Southern Colorado Farms, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Bankers Life and Casualty Co. is exploring importing Japanese nationals to develop vegetable production on a thousand-acre farm project in the San Luis Valley near Alamosa. Storite Tanaka was recently named supervisor of vegetable crops.
• Denver Japanese Support College Development Plan, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Colorado Women’s College is running a $90,000 development campaign, and Mrs. Mitsu Matsuda was cited for subscriptions totaling $1,141 from the local Japanese community. Other contributors of $150 or more were also recognized.
• Menlo Park Exchange Club Disbands Over Racial Membership Rule, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Menlo Park Exchange Club decided to disband rather than keep a national rule requiring white membership. The Oakland Tribune editorially supported the decision, calling racial membership bars indefensible.
• Two Named Winners of $150 Oregon Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Cliff Morikawa of Ontario and Janet Lohrenz of Tigard won the 1954 Nisei War Memorial scholarships, funded by Japanese Americans in memory of Nisei Oregonians killed in World War II. Both are recent high school graduates with strong records and leadership.
• Salt Lake Youth Program Explained, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Salt Lake JACL member Dr. Shig Matsukawa described the chapter’s youth program to the Intermountain District Council, noting its success and its membership of 67. The program is expected to be discussed at the upcoming national convention.
• Teen-agers Slug Issei, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Frank Furukawa, 87, was beaten and robbed of $3 in Salt Lake City by two youths who offered to walk him home. Police were notified of the attack.
• Hilo Girl Flown to Chicago for Second Time to Save Life, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Eight-year-old Karen Ishibashi of Hilo was flown to Chicago for a second time for diagnosis of an internal hemorrhaging condition. Doctors hope specialists at Presbyterian Hospital can identify the cause and enable treatment.
• Southern Alameda County JACL Nisei Growers Win Prizes at Pleasanton Fair, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Southern Alameda County JACL Nisei growers received ribbons at the Alameda County Fair, with their agricultural exhibit placing fourth. Kaz and Chuck Shikano were credited as co-chairmen of the exhibit committee.
• Intermountain District Council Pre-Convention Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Intermountain District Council reported 322 Issei naturalized to date and discussed the Idaho alien land law repeal committee. Joe Saito was chosen as the IDC nominee for Nisei of the Biennium.
• NC-WNDC Chairman Yego Confident Membership Will Pass 4,000, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Tom Yego reported that the Northern California-Western Nevada District Council had 3,871 members as of June 30, up from 3,639 the prior year. Fifteen chapters had already surpassed their 1953 totals.
• Miss Central California YBA Crowned in Fresno, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Reiko Yagura of Fresno was crowned Miss Central California YBA and will represent the district at the Western Young Buddhist League queen race in San Francisco. She is a recent high school graduate.
• Dr. Togasaki Honored at San Francisco Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 5. About 80 friends honored Dr. George K. Togasaki at a dinner sponsored by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco JACL and UC Japanese American Alumni. Togasaki spoke of the Nisei’s responsibility to promote peace between East and West.
• Dr. Togasaki Honored at Dinner Ceremony, by Staff, page 5. Dinner honoring Dr. George K. Togasaki drew San Francisco community leaders and Japanese American organizational representatives. Speakers recognized his work as president of the Nippon Times and his Christian commitment.
• Mid-Columbia JACL Honors New Citizens, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Mid-Columbia JACL honored ten newly naturalized Issei and 29 more scheduled to receive final papers at a Hood River dinner. Dr. Arthur Collins and Mayor Garrabrant spoke at the event.
• New York JACL Honors 36 Recently Naturalized Issei, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The New York JACL honored 36 local Issei at a dinner marking the second anniversary of the law permitting Issei naturalization. Douglas Overton of the Japan Society was the main speaker.
• Georgia Lettuce Grower Grateful for JACL Effort, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Sachihiko Butsuyen of White Oak, Georgia, donated $100 to National JACL in appreciation for its work on Issei naturalization. He had earlier secured Gov. Herman Talmadge’s endorsement.
• Prize-Winning Cookie Recipe: Berliner Kranser, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Ed Kawahara of Merced, a Pillsbury Prize winning cook, shared his recipe for Norwegian Berliner Kranser cookies with Livingston-Merced JACL newsletter readers. The recipe includes butter, sugar, egg yolks, flour and cardamom.
• Nisei Track Meet Preview at Rancho Stadium, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The JACL Nisei Relays this weekend at Rancho Stadium will feature strong teams including Nisei A.C., Nisei Trading and the Lordes. The 100-yard dash is a featured event with several sub-10-second sprinters entered.
• 81 Athletes Compete for Track Medals, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A total of 81 athletes will compete in the third annual JACL Nisei Relays at Rancho Stadium, divided into Open and Junior divisions. Team rosters from several clubs were listed.
• Seattle Realty Firm Sends Nisei Couple on Merry Chase, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A Nisei couple seeking a home in Seattle was sent to a locked house by a real estate firm, a treatment the Northwest Times criticized. The couple then received satisfactory service from another agency.
• Yokohama Stone Lantern Dedicated in Long Beach, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Long Beach dedicated a stone lantern gifted by the Mayor of Yokohama at Recreation Park, a reciprocal gesture for roses sent from Long Beach. Mayor Lyman Sutter and Yokohama’s mayor letter emphasized lasting friendship between the cities.
• All-English Seminar on Buddhism Slated July 23-25, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Buddhist Churches of America annual seminar in San Francisco will feature five English-language lectures on Buddhist texts and concepts. Registration is $3.50.
• Magnolia Residence Director to Resign, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mrs. Kei Nagamori is resigning as director of Magnolia YWCA Residence due to ill health after seven years. Mrs. Kenzo Sugino was named chairman of the management committee.

Incarceration & Redress

• President Signs Evacuation Claims Administration Appropriations Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. President Eisenhower signed the fiscal 1955 Justice Department appropriations, including $200,000 for administration of Japanese evacuation claims processing. JACL noted that with prior payments, nearly two million dollars was appropriated in 1954 for Issei and Nisei claimants.
• California Youth Retains Citizenship Despite Japanese Navy Service, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Judge William Byrne ruled that Hiroshi Muraoka did not lose U.S. citizenship through forced service in the Japanese Navy. The decision rested on the finding that his naval service was under legal duress.

Military & Veterans

• House OKs Watkins Nisei Election Bill; Needs Senate Concurrence, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House passed the Watkins Nisei Elections Bill, which lets Nisei who lost citizenship by voting in postwar Japanese elections regain it through naturalization. A minor spelling amendment requires Senate concurrence, which is expected to be a formality.
• Congressmen, Guests Join Masaoka in Praise at Washington Banquet, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Speakers at the Washington JACL banquet honoring new citizens praised Mike Masaoka as an effective and respected representative. Commissioner Argyle Mackey and several congressmen commended his work.

Arts & Entertainment

• New TV Serial Draws on Secrets of Tokyo Police, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Material from the Secrets of Tokyo Police will be used in a new TV serial, Dateline Tokyo, being produced by Mickey Rooney Enterprises. Peter Lorre is being sought for the lead role.
• Hawaiian Goodwill Troupe Returns from Europe, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Hawaii’s goodwill troupe of five musicians and two hula dancers returned to New York after seven weeks touring Germany, Sweden, Denmark and France. The group was warmly greeted in Bruyeres, where the war memorial was well maintained.
• Dramatic Future in Kabuki, by Larry Tajiri, page 8. Tajiri reports on the successful New York tour of the Azuma Kabuki Dancers, which drew big audiences and critical praise. He also discusses the casting of Nisei actors in Teahouse of the August Moon and the status of the Sayonara stage production.

Commentary

• A Month to Go, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka reports on the Congressional adjournment push toward a July 31 target, including late sessions and a series of legislative victories for the President. He also reviews Senate membership changes following Sen. Hugh Butler’s death and the upcoming elections.
• Japan Topics: Japanese American Prestige in New York, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. Murayama, revisiting America after 16 years, observes that Japanese American prestige has risen markedly since the war in New York. He notes the changed public attitudes and the warm reception he received from former servicemen who had been to Japan.
• Hearings and Television, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial examines whether televised congressional hearings serve the public, contrasting the Army-McCarthy hearings with the earlier Kefauver crime investigations. It concludes that TV coverage can aid public understanding but needs structure to keep hearings focused.
• Battle of Minds in Asia, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 3. Nakatsuka reflects on a diplomat’s talk about winning the battle for Asian minds, highlighting how humility earned respect in India. He argues that America must practice two-way communication and listen to Asians rather than only selling its ideas.
• Sukiyaki Notes: Chicago Corner, by Smoky Sakurada, page 4. Sakurada’s Chicago column reports on Nisei graduates from the University of Illinois, the Buckingham Fountain show, and community events including a weenie bake and a patriotic prayer rally. It also notes local honors for Nisei students and artists.
• Picture of Redevelopment, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Japanese Americans in Sacramento are seeking reasonable changes to redevelopment plans that would relocate residents and businesses with less damage. The editorial argues minority communities have been pushed into marginal areas and that JACL should study the issue.
• New Horizons, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial urges Nisei to engage with international issues, citing Dr. Togasaki’s call for East-West peace and Nakatsuka’s warning about one-way communication. It argues that Japanese Americans are well positioned to promote understanding.
• Denver Picnic Column, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The writer describes a Fourth of July picnic at Eldorado Springs hosted by Frank Torizawa, reflecting on the Issei tradition of well-organized community picnics. The column praises the group outings and family fun.

JACL

• Chapter Reminded to Report Delegate Names for National Council, by P.C. Staff, page 4. National JACL Headquarters asked chapters to promptly report official and alternate delegates for the National Council meeting at the Los Angeles convention. Proxy delegation rules were also explained.

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