Remembering Dr. Randolph Sakada, past national JACL president

Vol. 40, No. 22, June 10, 1955. 8 pages. View this issue

The death of Dr. Randolph M. Sakada of Chicago, immediate past national JACL president, shaped much of this eight-page issue. The editorial on the front page mourned him, and colleagues including Saburo Kido, Mari Sabusawa and Abe Hagiwara shared tributes. Columns by Tats Kushida, Larry Tajiri, Harry Honda and Mike Masaoka recalled his friendship and his years of service, and two pages of profile and biographical notes traced his life in JACL.

Other news ran alongside. The Senate confirmed Benjamin M. Tashiro as a circuit court judge in Hawaii, and the California legislature passed a pension bill for Issei. Bill Hosokawa wrote about a Denver veterans’ awards dinner, and Haruo Ishimaru continued his Cherry Blossom Tour. Sports pages covered the San Francisco JACL Olympic meet and the coming Nisei Relays in Los Angeles. Mike Masaoka also filed a Congress summary.

What’s in this issue

Obituaries

• Death Paid an Untimely Call: Dr. Randolph Sakada, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Citizen mourns the death of Dr. Randolph M. Sakada, immediate past national JACL president, who died June 4 in Chicago at age 42. The editorial praises his leadership and dedication to the Japanese American community.
• What Others Are Saying: Tributes to Randy Sakada, by Saburo Kido, Mari Sabusawa, Abe Hagiwara, Shig Wakamatsu, Kumeo Yoshinari, page 1. Colleagues including Saburo Kido, Mari Sabusawa, Abe Hagiwara, Shig Wakamatsu, and Kumeo Yoshinari recall Sakada’s warmth, energy, and commitment to JACL. Each describes him as a dedicated leader and friend.
• JACLers Mourn Death of Past National President Dr. Sakada in Chicago, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Funeral services were held in Chicago for Dr. Sakada, with national JACL representatives in attendance. He is survived by his wife Shizu and several siblings.
• Sakada Active in JACL Past Twenty Years, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Dr. Sakada, a prominent Chicago optometrist, died June 4 of stomach cancer after a lengthy illness. The article chronicles his long JACL service, including national presidency and designing the JACL pin.
• Highlights of Dr. Sakada’s Life, by Midwest JACL Office, page 4. A detailed resume lists Dr. Sakada’s birth, education, JACL offices, fraternal and civic roles, and professional affiliations. It documents his service from pre-war Oakland to his death in Chicago.

National

• Tashiro Appointment as Judge in Hawaii Gets Full Senate Consent, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Senate unanimously confirmed Benjamin M. Tashiro as circuit court judge in the Territory of Hawaii, making him the first Nisei given a full four-year federal judgeship. JACL hailed the confirmation as a tribute to the democratic process.
• California Pension for Issei Approved, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Masterson bill, AB 2255, granting old age pensions to Issei who became eligible for citizenship under the 1952 McCarran-Walter Act passed the California legislature. It now goes to the Governor, who has expressed no objection.
• President Vetoes Private Bill for Exchange Student, Asks Change in Law, by P.C. Staff, page 1. President Eisenhower vetoed a private bill that would have let an Austrian exchange student remain permanently in the U.S. He urged Congress to require exchange students to return home, and Mike Masaoka expressed concern over Japanese students seeking to stay.
• Minority Week, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Brief notes cover Harry Belafonte’s Constitution Hall concert, Minnesota’s new FEPC law, and airlines beginning to hire Negro reservation clerks. Each item highlights progress against employment discrimination.
• In Memory of Randy, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka eulogizes Dr. Sakada as a model All-American Nisei dedicated to community service and eliminating racial discrimination. He credits Sakada with designing the JACL pin and securing landmark legislation in 1952.
• Congress Summary, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka reports on the progress of the 84th Congress through May 31, 1955, including bills passed, nominations confirmed, and appropriations status. He notes the session is ahead of recent schedules.

Community

• Two Eastbay Nisei Die in Stockton Boat Mishap, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Shigemi Yasuda and Joyce K. Tsushima died when their motorboat capsized in the San Joaquin delta. Three others were rescued.
• Yatabe’s Mother-in-Law Dies in Redwood City, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mrs. Mata Hashimoto, mother of Mrs. Thomas Yatabe and Mrs. Susumu Inouye, died June 5. The Yatabes had hurriedly left Chicago to attend the funeral after helping with arrangements for Dr. Sakada.
• Organize Tokyo Committee to Assist Needy Institutions and Orphanages, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. Earl Finch’s gifts to Japanese orphanages led to a Tokyo committee chaired by Gov. Seichiro Yasui to handle donated used clothing from Hawaii and the U.S. Murayama explains the committee’s plans and remaining red tape.
• Nisei Ordained as Benedictine Monk, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Rev. Patrick George Okada, son of Iwakichi Okada of Colusa, became the first Nisei ordained a Benedictine monk at St. John’s Abbey. He celebrated his first solemn Mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Marysville.
• West L.A. Teacher in Study of Ainu Race, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Midori Nishi, the first Nisei woman to earn a Ph.D. in geography in the U.S., arrived in Tokyo to study the Ainu and Japan’s racial background. She teaches at L.A. State College.
• George K. Yamauchi Assigned to Tokyo Consulate, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Customs appraiser George K. Yamauchi of Portland will serve as the second-ranking Treasury Department representative at the American Consulate in Tokyo. His three-year assignment begins July 1.
• Sakada Organized Two Chapters, Active in JACL Past Twenty Years, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This obituary profile details Dr. Sakada’s career in JACL from Oakland chapter founding through national presidency. It also covers his civic, fraternal, and professional affiliations.
• State FEPC Law Over First Hurdle, by Smoky Sakurada, page 4. Illinois Rep. Clyde Choate talked the state FEP bill to passage by a 80-35 vote after it had stalled. The bill prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, or ancestry.
• Fowler JACL Scholarship Made Community-Wide, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Fowler JACL voted to award its scholarship without regard to race, color, or creed. Previously the award had gone to a deserving Nisei.
• Placer County JACL Awards Two Scholarships, by James Kaneko, page 4. Helen Asazawa and Douglas Decker received Placer County JACL scholarships. Asazawa plans to attend Sierra College and Decker will study education at Sacramento State.
• Three Outstanding Buddhist Youth Earn Rev. Kyogoku Awards, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The first annual Rev. Kyogoku Achievement Awards were presented at Fresno and Dinuba Buddhist churches. Nominations came from across the United States via the Western Young Adult Buddhist League.
• Detroit CL Signs New High of 349, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Detroit JACL chapter reached a record 349 members through a house-to-house drive by 18 teams. Paul Nakamura and Friday Yoshida led the effort.
• Driver Skids Off Road, Found Dead in Accident, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Frank Masao Kawakami of Long Beach died when his car left Alameda Highway and overturned in a field early Wednesday. The California Highway Patrol investigated the crash.
• Oregon Nisei Veterans Scholarships Presented, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Oregon Nisei Veterans Club awarded $150 scholarships to Ada Shibahara and Charles M. Long in memory of Oregon Nisei soldiers killed in WWII.
• Yen Depositors Sue Uncle Sam, by Henry Mori, page 7. Several thousand former depositors of the Yokohama Specie Bank filed a $10 million suit against the U.S. Attorney General to recover funds confiscated at the start of WWII. The dispute centers on the yen-dollar exchange rate.
• New Citizens, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Issei residents in western Colorado and other states were naturalized in May 1955 ceremonies. Lists of new citizens by town are provided.
• O.C. JAYs Invite Clubs to Man Booths July 9, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Orange County JAYs will hold a carnival at Buena Park Recreation Park on July 9. Organizations may reserve booths for a $10 fee.

Military & Veterans

• Veterans Skip Recalling Wartime, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa describes a Denver American Legion Cathay Post awards dinner where veterans talked fishing instead of war. He also traces the post’s history and its community service activities.
• Transferring to Ft. Ord, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Pvt. Dudley Yatabe, son of Dr. T. T. Yatabe, is being transferred from Camp Chaffee to Fort Ord. He had earned a master’s degree in music from Northwestern before entering the Army.
• 1st Nisei Annapolis Grad in Engineers, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Lt. (jg) Takeshi Yoshihara, the first Nisei Annapolis graduate, will be permanently assigned to the Navy Corps of Engineers pending Senate approval. He was appointed by Congressman Tollefson after JACL urged the nomination.
• JACL Holds Individual Graveside Services for Nisei Buried at Arlington, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Washington JACL members held individual Memorial Day services at Arlington for 20 Nisei WWII veterans. Ruth Kuroishi placed the National JACL wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Arts & Entertainment

• Crusade in Asia for Nisei, by Larry Nakatsuka, page 3. Nakatsuka reviews Carlos Romulo’s book Crusade in Asia on the Communist plot in the Philippines. He finds its message especially valuable to Nisei, though he notes Romulo’s skepticism about Japan’s democratization.
• Capsules, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Brief items note Machiko Kyo being brought to Hollywood for MGM’s Teahouse of the August Moon. They also report John J. Hopkins visiting Tokyo to share atomic energy expertise.

Commentary

• I Won’t Forget, by Tokuzo (Harold Gordon), page 4. A personal tribute poem to Randy Sakada recalls his warmth, energy, and leadership in organizing the Chicago national convention. The author says he will not forget his friend.
• So Long, Randy!, by Tats Kushida, page 6. Kushida recalls his decades-long friendship with Randy Sakada, from YPCC days to recruiting him to the Midwest JACL regional post. He remembers Sakada as both a fine athlete and a great person.
• Randy’s Minister Writes, by Larry Tajiri, page 8. Tajiri recounts Randy Sakada’s life, education, marriage, and wartime relocation to Chicago. He describes Sakada’s leadership in JACL during the 1950-52 presidency and his concern for others at the end.
• Making It Better for the Next Guy, by Harry Honda, page 8. Honda remembers meeting Sakada in Denver in 1946 and how Sakada strengthened his belief in organization. He reflects that Sakada and others like him quietly improve life for the next generation.

In-Depth

• Cherry Blossom Tour (Part 5), by Haruo Ishimaru, page 5. Ishimaru continues his travelogue covering Nara, Kyoto, and a rapids boat ride on the Hozu River. The tour concludes in Hiroshima, where he reflects on the atomic bombing and rebuilding.

Sports

• Nine Records Fall at San Francisco JACL Olympic Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Nisei athletes broke nearly half the JACL Olympic records at the third annual San Francisco meet. Hatsuo Kanazawa set personal records and was the meet’s high-point man.
• L.A. Nisei Relays Entry Deadline Near, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Entries for the June 26 JACL Nisei Relays at Rancho Cienega Stadium are due June 15. The article lists open and junior division events and entry requirements.
• Durocher Given Good Luck Scrolls from Japan Pros, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Japanese professional baseball leagues presented decorated scrolls to New York Giants manager Leo Durocher. Durocher was honored for his goodwill role during his 1953 exhibition tour of Japan.
• Weightlifter Moscow, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A U.S. weightlifting squad including Tommy Kono left for Helsinki en route to compete in Moscow June 15. Kono had won the national AAU title the previous week.

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