Interracial marriage in Hawaii, and a decade after the war

Vol. 41, No. 8, August 19, 1955. 8 pages. View this issue

Interracial marriage in Hawaii led the front page of this eight-page issue. Larry Nakatsuka wrote about an anonymous letter criticizing GIs who married Oriental women, and about the quick rebuttals from island residents and servicemen. His Honolulu Newsletter on page 3 traced the history of such marriages and found public criticism lessening. Harry Honda’s editorial column looked at the Cold War, and Bill Hosokawa recalled V-J Day with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Leghorn, Italy, and the progress Japanese Americans had made in the ten years since.

Other pages report that Judge Louis Goodman restored U.S. citizenship to nearly 500 Tule Lake renunciants, and that a federal judge ruled Kenji Namba had not lost his citizenship. JACL asked Rep. Francis Walter to look into foreign visa restrictions. Page 5 carries Isamu Noguchi’s sets for King Lear, plus the Los Angeles fashion show and Nisei Week queen candidates.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Slur Against Interracial Marriages, by Larry Nakatsuka, page 1. A anonymous letter criticizing GIs marrying Oriental women prompted quick rebuttals from Hawaii residents and servicemen defending interracial marriages. The article traces the history of such unions in Hawaii and notes growing acceptance of them.
• Vagaries: Documentary Cinematographer Toge Fujihira, by Larry Tajiri, page 1. Profile of Toge Fujihira, a Nisei documentary cameraman who has filmed around the world for productions including The First Americans series. The piece recounts his early career and notable films.
• Very Truly Yours, by Harry Honda, page 2. Editor Harry Honda comments on U.S.-Soviet relations and the depressing side of East-West affairs, including Red China’s detention of airmen and conflicts in Korea and Viet-Nam. He argues that Communist world domination remains the underlying threat despite diplomatic thaw.
• Very Truly Yours: Continued Editorial on Cold War, by Harry Honda, page 4. Honda argues that Soviet peaceful gestures should not obscure the underlying world-domination goals of international communism, especially Red China. He warns that Pacific defense perimeters are vital to American security.
• The Southwester: You Only Live Once, by Tats Kushida, page 6. Columnist Tats Kushida humorously recounts gourmet adventures, a San Diego chili feast, and profiles of JACL supporters. The column also notes the PSWDC meeting and new regional chairman activities.

National

• Alleged Discrimination Against Nisei Getting Travel Visa Due Congress Eye, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL asked Rep. Francis Walter to investigate foreign countries that discriminate against American citizens of Japanese and other ancestry in visa issuance. The Clipper travel guide cited several Latin American countries and others imposing such restrictions.
• Proposed Changes for Deportation Regulations Cited as Humanizing, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL Washington office commended proposed Immigration Service rules replacing arrest warrants with show-cause orders and separating examining and special inquiry officers. The changes were praised as more humane and consistent with due process.
• Noguchi’s King Lear Set, by Harold Hobson, page 5. Harold Hobson reviews the Stratford company’s London production of King Lear, with Sir John Gielgud and scenery by Japanese-American designer Isamu Noguchi. The critic finds the futuristic set eye-catching but feels it undermined the play’s somber tragedy.

Community

• Los Altos Builds Japanese Tea Garden, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A 10,000 square foot Japanese tea garden is under construction in Shoup Park in Los Altos, funded by the Los Altos Garden Club. Nurseryman Tom Furuichi is contributing labor and materials.
• Nakatsuka Selected for Far Eastern Goodwill Tour, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hawaii Nisei journalist Lawrence Nakatsuka was chosen by the State Department for a goodwill tour of Asian countries. He is the first Nisei from Hawaii selected for the International Educational Exchange Program.
• Sumio Doi Experiments With Early Variety of Plum Named for Child, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Auburn grower Sumio Doi developed an early, sweeter variety of Duarte plum on his 80-acre ranch, tentatively named Sharon Duartes for his daughter. University of California horticulturists found it promising.
• Parlier Orchardists Graft Plum Into Near-Dead Peach Trees, Project Successful, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Kubo family of Parlier grafted plums onto old, nearly dead peach trees in 1950 and the grafts thrived. Harry Kubo says the grafted trees are stronger than newly planted ones.
• Supermarket in Flames, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A fire at the Garden Basket Market in North Sacramento was brought under control after an hour, causing an estimated $80,000 in damage. The produce department was operated by the Kunibe brothers and partners.
• Tokyo Topics: Refugee Relief Act, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 3. Tokyo Bureau Chief Tamotsu Murayama reports on slow progress of the Refugee Relief Act of 1953, with few Japanese refugees admitted. He profiles Seiichi Mikami and Kiichiro Uchida for their efforts helping refugees reach America.
• Chicago Corner: Resettlers Committee, by Smoky Sakurada, page 4. The Japanese American Service Committee in Chicago, formerly the Chicago Resettlers Committee, plans a 10th anniversary program. The column also covers the Presbyterian church’s growth and Chicago JACL carnival preparations.
• Open Mail Bid for Issei Members, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Southwest Los Angeles JACL invited more than 600 newly naturalized Issei to join the chapter. Plans include a recognition program and voter registration information.
• Chicago JACL Prepares for Oct. 22-23 Carnival, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Chicago JACL announced new concessions and surprises for its annual carnival at Olivet Institute and listed board members. A splatter party will prepare the carnival grounds in September.
• Fashion Interlude Sparkling Affair, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Los Angeles JACL Women’s Auxiliary presented a Japanese-themed fashion show featuring 22 Nisei models in designs by Kow Kaneko and others. The event drew some 350 guests to Gyosei Hall.
• Los Angeles Newsletter: Nisei Week Queen Candidates, by Henry Mori, page 7. Six candidates are vying for queen of the 15th Nisei Week Festival, with the winner to be revealed at the Coronation Ball. The article profiles the finalists and the festival’s reception for civic officials.
• Travel Restrictions, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial criticizes foreign countries that restrict visas for certain American citizens despite the economic benefit of tourism. It also praises the New York Hokubei Shimpo for its community reporting.
• Nisei in Graphic Arts Field, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bill Hosokawa reports on Nisei professionals succeeding in New York’s graphic arts, design, and publishing fields. He lists several named designers, illustrators, and photographers.

Incarceration & Redress

• Rule Tacoma Nisei Citizenship Not Lost, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Federal Judge Edward Murphy ruled that Kenji Namba did not lose U.S. citizenship by serving in the Japanese army during WWII, since the government failed to show clear evidence of renunciation. The judge noted that citizenship conditioned on such behavior would belong only to martyrs.
• 600 Tule Lake Renunciants Get Citizenship Back, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Nearly 500 Nisei Tule Lake renunciants had their U.S. citizenship restored by Judge Louis Goodman after Justice Department clearance. Another 100 were scheduled for final judgment, bringing the total near half of the 4,374 involved.
• Honolulu Newsletter: Interracial Marriages in Hawaii, by Larry Nakatsuka, page 3. The Honolulu Newsletter describes the history of marriages between servicemen and island girls during and after WWII and how Japanese families reacted. It concludes that public criticism of interracial marriage is lessening in Hawaii.

JACL

• National Director’s Report: Judges for Pvt. Ben Frank Masaoka Scholarship, by Masao Satow, page 5. JACL national director Masao Satow reports that judges are finalizing the 1955 Ben Frank Masaoka scholarship winner from 14 candidates. He also describes the San Francisco JAC Women’s Auxiliary fashion show and chapter news.

Sports

• Two Japan Boxers Work Out for San Jose Appearances, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Japanese boxers Masaji Tonami and Takeshi Yamaguchi are training in Stockton for upcoming California bouts promoted by Abe Acquistapace. Yamaguchi’s bout with Memo Diaz is set for San Jose.

Military & Veterans

• From the Frying Pan: Rebroadcast of Aug. 14 Revives Memories of World War II, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bill Hosokawa recalls V-J Day for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Leghorn, Italy, and their eagerness to fight Japan despite prejudice at home. He reflects on the decade since the war and the progress of Japanese Americans.

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