Housing bias, Midwest chapters and Issei claims in 1956

Vol. 42, No. 23, June 8, 1956. 8 pages. View this issue

Discrimination in housing was a main concern of this eight-page issue. A Nisei veteran, Jerry Ushijima, was turned away on a home loan in Las Vegas, and the JACL regional office in Los Angeles moved to help him. A letter to the San Francisco Chronicle, sent by Arthur Klimack, described a neighborhood group that blocked a sale to a Japanese American family. The front page also covered the Midwest District Council meeting in Cincinnati, where Mayor Charles P. Taft addressed 116 delegates, and Shig Wakamatsu wrote of national director Masao Satow’s visits to chapters.

Elsewhere, Mike Masaoka reviewed the President’s priority bills, and the paper reported on the evacuation claims bill and on refugee visas. Bill Hosokawa and Larry S. Tajiri wrote columns. Chapter news came from Seabrook, Fowler, Mile-Hi and Clovis, and sports pages covered the San Francisco JACL Olympics and the Pro-Am golf meet at Fox Hills.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Seabrook Chapter Hits All-Time High at 320, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Seabrook JACL reported an all-time membership high of 320 for 1956, announced by chapter president George Noda. The report marks a record year for the New Jersey chapter.
• Dr. Harry Kita Reports Home Burglarized, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Thieves burglarized the Salinas home of Dr. Harry Kita while the family was out, taking $90 in cash and a $115 watch. Police said the burglar left the house looking undisturbed, delaying discovery of the loss.
• Larry Tajiri Honored at Downtown L.A. Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Larry and Guyo Tajiri of Denver were honored at a Downtown L.A. JACL luncheon while visiting Los Angeles. Tajiri, a PC columnist, spoke about his experiences as a newsman before a group of 40.
• Oregon Nisei Finishes at Harvard Medical School, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Oscar Iseri, son of Mr. and Mrs. Iseri of Ontario, Oregon, was to receive his doctor of medicine degree from Harvard Medical School on June 14. The brief notes his earlier studies at Tokyo.
• Membership Roster, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Honda praises the Southwest Los Angeles JACL for compiling a detailed membership list and asks other chapters to submit similar rosters for the Pacific Citizen. He notes such listings help connect local news to members.
• Clovis Nisei Float Wins First Prize, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A flower-decorated horse-drawn cart entered by the Clovis Kyowa Kai and JACL won first prize in the Clovis Day parade. The group also ran a booth whose proceeds went to the local hospital building fund.
• Fresno Auxiliary Assists Chest X-Ray Mobile Unit, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sixteen members of the Fresno JACL auxiliary assisted the local chest X-ray mobile unit. Their names are listed in the report.
• Mile-Hi JACL Signs Up 500 Members, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Mile-Hi JACL reported 500 members signed up as of May 20, with Betty Suzuki leading solicitors. Membership chairman Mieko Mayeda announced the figures.
• Fowler JACL Anniversary Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 4. More than 175 people attended the Fowler JACL’s anniversary barbecue steak dinner, planned to build better community relations. Bill Hashimoto led the evening program.
• Philadelphia JACL Maps Summer Season Events, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Philadelphia JACL planned a discussion meeting titled Your Culture Is Showing, led by Henry Tani, and an outing in July. The annual community picnic was scheduled for August 18.
• Chicago Buddhist Church Carnival Set, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Chicago Buddhist Church will hold its twelfth annual carnival June 29 through July 1. Doors open Friday at 7 p.m. and at noon on Saturday and Sunday.
• Changing Perspectives Convention Planning Progresses, by P.C. Staff, page 5. San Francisco convention committees are preparing the Changing Perspectives Biennial, including a souvenir booklet and an opening program. A Jr. JACL youth project is also developing discussion topics for young members.
• Venice-Culver JACL Booth Raises Funds at International Smorgasbord, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Venice-Culver JACL ran a Japanese food booth at the International Smorgasbord to support the American Field Service student exchange program. Volunteers served senbei and other items to guests.
• Gardena Valley Calls General Meeting to Reactivate JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A community meeting was held to revive the Gardena Valley JACL chapter in the growing local Japanese American population. Invitations were signed by prominent Nisei leaders.
• Twin Cities Schedule Fishing Derby July 15, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Twin Cities JACL fishing derby will be held at Forest Lake No. 3 on July 15. George Yanagita and Shig Iseri are co-chairmen.
• Los Angeles Newsletter: Nisei Politicos Active, by Henry Mori, page 7. Nisei are increasingly active in political campaigns, with several JACL-linked candidates running for the 63rd Assembly seat. The column notes growing Nisei political influence and the first Oriental candidate for a legislative seat.
• Clovis JACL Potluck Honors Naturalized Issei, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Recently naturalized Issei and pioneers were honored at a potluck dinner sponsored by the Clovis JACL and Japanese Community Organization. Judge Ben Boulton presented scrolls to the new citizens.
• Fiscal Accountant Gets Man of the Month Award, by P.C. Staff, page 8. S. Frank Sakurai, a Stockton-born Nisei fiscal accountant with the San Francisco customs service since 1948, was honored as Customs Man of the Month for May. The citation praised his accuracy and smooth administration.
• Rep. Walter Thanks Colorado Issei, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Congressman Francis E. Walter wrote to Z. Kanegaye of Denver thanking the local JACL and Japanese American Association for their appreciation of his efforts to win citizenship for Issei. The Denver groups had sent a message of thanks during his visit.

National

• Nisei Vet Bucks Housing Bias in Las Vegas, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Jerry Ushijima, a Nisei World War II veteran, was denied a home loan in Las Vegas after a deposit on a tract home despite assurances. The JACL regional office in Los Angeles moved to support him in resolving the discrimination.
• President Eisenhower Signs Hawaii Land Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. President Eisenhower signed a law allowing Japanese ancestry charitable organizations in Hawaii that had lost prewar property to the government to file claims within two years. JACL supported the bill as a major legislative aim for 1956.
• Letter to San Francisco Editor Bares Discrimination Against Nisei Home-Buyer, by Arthur Klimack, page 1. A letter to the San Francisco Chronicle described a neighborhood group that blocked a sale to a Japanese American family after a real estate agent had found no objections. The writer said the community felt ashamed but helpless to act.
• Director’s Report: Washington, Eastern Chapters and Midwest Tour, by Masao Satow, page 4. National director Masao Satow reports on visits to Washington, Eastern chapters, the Midwest District Council, and Chicago, noting strong chapter enthusiasm. He describes Seabrook’s 320 members and Philadelphia’s hospitality.
• 25,000 Japanese Married to American Servicemen Since 1947, Embassy Reports, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The American embassy in Tokyo reported that GIs are marrying Japanese women at about 100 per week, with over 25,000 such marriages since 1947. Officials attributed the recent increase partly to servicemen nearing the end of their tours.
• Washington Newsletter: President’s Must Bills, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka reviews the President’s list of 28 priority bills, 11 of which he says matter to Japanese Americans, including foreign aid, housing, and refugee relief. He notes few major bills have passed this session.
• Senate Amendment to Evacuation Claims Bill Draws No JACL Objection, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the evacuation claims bill with an amendment capping Attorney General compromise settlements at $100,000. JACL said it had no objection, and the bill must return to the House for approval.
• Close to 4,000 Japanese Admitted as Permanent Residents in 1955, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Washington JACL office reported 3,984 Japanese were admitted to the United States in 1955, most as wives of U.S. citizens. The total included 413 refugees under the Refugee Relief Act.
• Visas for Indigenous Asian Refugees Nearly Exhausted, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Only about 150 of the 3,000 visas for indigenous Asian refugees had been issued by recent figures, though thousands of Japan applicants qualify. Mike Masaoka urged reallocating unused quotas to indigenous Asian refugees.
• North Carolina Merchant Group Issues Mild Slap on Japanese Textiles, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The North Carolina Merchants Association dropped a proposed statewide embargo on Japanese textile imports in favor of a milder call for a federal study. The shift reflected a softer stance on trade restrictions.

JACL

• Director’s Visitation of Midwest Inspires, by Shig Wakamatsu, page 1. National director Masao Satow’s visits to Midwest and Eastern chapters, including the Cincinnati Midwest District Council meeting, were praised as invigorating for local members. The writer argues for restoring travel funds and adding an assistant director to the national staff.
• Mayor Taft Cites C.L. for Progress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Cincinnati Mayor Charles P. Taft addressed the Midwest District Council banquet, which drew 116 delegates and was the weekend’s highlight. Taft was presented a scroll recognizing him as a national JACL sponsor during wartime.
• MDC Reports and National Committee Activity, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Reports at the Midwest District Council meeting covered membership, finances, public relations and civic affairs, with National JACL committee chairmen providing updates. Delegates from eight chapters attended the Cincinnati session.

Commentary

• From the Frying Pan: Henpecked Husband, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa recounts a henpecked Nisei friend who complains that propaganda about obedient Japanese wives makes him look bad to coworkers. The friend argues Nisei women adopted the worst American ways rather than traditional submissiveness.
• Nisei Public Relations, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. Murayama, reporting from Tokyo, says Japanese officials underestimate JACL and that no Japanese-language publication explains its work. He suggests a Tokyo JACL chapter or Japanese-language publication to improve Nisei public relations.
• Vagaries: Tenney Defeated, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri celebrates the defeat of Jack Tenney, the former state legislator who led wartime attacks on the Nisei, in a Los Angeles municipal judge race. He argues the Yellow Peril politics of California is finished and calls for repeal of the Alien Land Law.
• Very Truly Yours: Non-Nisei Membership, by Harry K. Honda, page 7. Honda highlights non-Nisei members of JACL chapters, including Omaha’s chapter, which has grown through non-Nisei neighbors. He suggests membership solicitors plan carefully for 1957 and rely on house-to-house canvassing.

Arts & Entertainment

• Utah Painter’s Collection Reviewed, by Carol Selby, page 2. Salt Lake Tribune critic Carol Selby reviewed a Salt Lake City exhibit of paintings by Nisei artist John Mizuno, tracing his shift from loose atmospheric works to firmer compositions. The show marked his transition to oil paints.

Military & Veterans

• JACL Participates in Traditional May 30 Ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL was represented at Memorial Day rites at Arlington, where Kathleen Iseri and Ben Nakao placed the national JACL wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. JACLers also decorated the graves of 20 Nisei soldiers buried there.
• Reno CL Restores Graves of Early Nevada Japanese, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Reno JACL cleaned and restored neglected graves of the community’s first Japanese settlers. One headstone identified a Wm. Takahashi who died in 1907 and claimed to be the first Japanese to land in the United States.
• Nisei Vets Hold Memorial Day Service in Seattle, by Elmer Ogawa, page 6. Seattle’s Nisei Veterans Committee held its annual Memorial Day service at the Nisei Vets monument at Lakeview Cemetery. Ogawa reflects on the aging Issei generation and calls for a lasting memorial to them.

Sports

• Downtown L.A. Wins Nisei Olympics; Records Shattered, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Records fell in wholesale fashion at the fourth annual San Francisco JACL Olympics at Kezar Stadium, with Downtown L.A. winning the class A title. Bob Kameoka set three new records, and Tom Sano broke both shot put and discus marks.
• 36 Pros Join 110 Nisei in Golf Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The second annual Pro-Am at Fox Hills Country Club brought 36 professionals and 110 Nisei golfers together, hosted by the Southern California Nisei Golf Association. Grable Duval and George Fukushima won the pro-am competition.
• Weightlifter Kono Loses AAU Title, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Tommy Kono lost the middleweight championship at the National AAU weightlifting meet to Clement Warner of New York. Kono had failed to make a successful clean and jerk on his final attempts.
• Colorado Nisei Sets 100-Yard Record in 10.1, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Robert Fujimoto of Alamosa High School broke the district class A 100-yard dash record with a 10.1 time. He also finished sixth in the state meet finals and anchored a relay team that placed third.
• Tommy Umeda Fails on Comeback Trail, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Former California bantamweight champion Tommy Umeda lost a 10-round decision to Larry Bataan of Manila at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. Umeda was knocked down in the second round.

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