Vol. 43, No. 5, August 3, 1956. 8 pages. View this issue
A.L. Wirin was the guest of honor in this issue. More than 400 people gathered in Los Angeles to mark his 25 years as counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, and Saburo Kido recalled Wirin’s wartime defense of Japanese American rights. Speakers named cases including Endo, Yasui and Hirabayashi. Mike Masaoka then took stock of the 84th Congress. He wrote that it enacted seven of twelve major bills of JACL interest, among them amendments to evacuation claims, while civil rights and immigration amendments failed in the final days. Jin Ishikawa wrote on chapter public relations in a Central California town.
The rest of the eight pages looked ahead to the JACL 14th Biennial National Convention, with rally reports from Redondo Beach and Northern California, a fashion show, and a greeting from Governor Goodwin J. Knight. Larry S. Tajiri wrote on Nisei in design, Elmer Ogawa covered sports, and Henry Mori traced the history of Nisei Week coronations.
What’s in this issue
Incarceration & Redress
- Value of Chapter Public Relations, by Jin Ishikawa, page 1. A Central California chapter contributed to changing attitudes toward Japanese Americans through active public relations work in smaller communities like Fowler. The author concludes that active chapters and sound public relations with the wider community go hand in hand.
Military & Veterans
- Wirin Honored by JACL for 25 Years, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Over 400 people honored A.L. Wirin at a Los Angeles banquet for 25 years as ACLU counsel, with Saburo Kido recalling his wartime defense of Japanese American rights. Speakers credited Wirin with landmark cases including Endo, Yasui, Hirabayashi, and the Oyama alien land case.
- Nisei Candidate in Washington State Primaries, page 1. Kunio Kuniyuki, a 442nd veteran and restaurant operator, announced his candidacy for the Washington state legislature. He becomes the second Nisei in state history to file for office.
- Congress Approves Private Bill for Prewar Donor of ‘Nisei of Year’ Award, page 3. Congress passed a private bill granting nonquota immigrant status to Shansho Yamagata and his wife Kouko. Yamagata donated the prewar Nisei of the Year trophy.
Community
- Fisherman Injured in Steep Fall Down Cliff, page 1. Jim Tsujimoto fell down a cliff while fishing near Forest Hill in Placer County and was hospitalized with serious injuries. His companion George Hirakawa found him unconscious after searching when he failed to return.
- PSWDC Pre-Convention Rally Attracts 1,000; Spirit High for 14th Biennial, page 4. Nearly 1,000 attended the Pacific Southwest District Council rally at Redondo Beach, where reports covered the alien land law repeal campaign and JACL finances. Sharon Nishimi extended the official convention invitation at the evening dance.
- Los Angeles Newsletter: Nisei Week Coronation, by Henry Mori, page 7. The column traces the history of Nisei Week queen coronations back to the 1934 origins when JACL began the festival to fund its Los Angeles office. It previews the 1956 coronation ball at the Hollywood Palladium with candidates from various districts.
- Nisei Really Men in $1-Million Deal, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A Nisei-owned firm completed the purchase of 15 acres in Crenshaw-Santa Barbara area of Los Angeles for approximately $1,000,000. The developers plan to subdivide the property for family dwellings, income units and business stores.
- Calif. Governor Extends Welcome to National Convention, page 7. Governor Goodwin J. Knight sent greetings to the JACL 14th Biennial Convention praising the organization’s citizenship emphasis. He credited Japanese Americans with demonstrating that Americanism is not monopolized by any race.
National
- 84th Congress Adjourns with ‘Good’ Average on JACL-Sponsored Bills, by Mike Masaoka, page 1. The 84th Congress enacted seven of twelve major bills of JACL interest, including evacuation claims amendments and repeal of the Mongolian labor bar. Civil rights and immigration amendments failed in the final days of the session.
- CAB Administrative Action Makes Bill Unnecessary for Farmer-Nurseryman Aid, by Mike Masaoka, page 1. CAB regulations issued in April 1956 accomplished the objectives of a JACL-backed bill exempting agricultural and horticultural air shipments from consolidation rules. The change reversed CAB operational procedure dating to 1938.
- Arizona Nisei-Tended Farms Eyed by Tract Developers, Realtors, page 1. Local residents in Glendale, Arizona are seeking incorporation as a separate city called Maryvale, which would affect Japanese American farm areas. Farmland long tended by Japanese Americans is being eyed by developers.
- Enthusiasm Runs High for 14th Biennial National Convention, by Masao Satow, page 4. The Pacific Southwest District pre-convention rally and Northern California-Western Nevada rally generated high spirit for the upcoming 14th Biennial convention. Membership races between San Francisco and Southwest Los Angeles chapters were close, and Proposition 13 campaign plans were outlined.
- Nofed S.F. Store Breaks Precedent to Outfit JACL Convention Fashion Show, page 7. San Francisco’s City of Paris provided fashions for the JACL Convention Fashion Show, marking a departure from its own programs. Fifteen Nisei models will present the convention’s Changing Perspectives theme.
- Washington Newsletter: JACL and 84th Congress, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka reviews the 84th Congress, noting JACL achieved seven of twelve program goals and that civil rights and immigration legislation failed. He highlights the confirmations of Nisei federal judges in Hawaii.
Commentary
- Midwest Sees More Nisei Job Opportunity, But Better Social Outlets in California, by Ruth Kono, page 3. Cleveland JACL Bulletin readers offered varied opinions on whether California or the Midwest offers more opportunities for Nisei. Respondents cited jobs, social life, racial prejudice, and family ties as factors.
- Affinity for Design, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri observes that many Nisei are finding success in design-related fields including advertising, record albums, film, and architecture. He profiles Neil Fujita, Columbia Records art director, as an example.
- Perspectively Yours, page 5. The column describes Convention promotional key chains sent from Detroit and recounts social gatherings during the Southwest Los Angeles pre-convention weekend. It also describes the Redondo Beach rally and a Salinas chapter dance.
Obituaries
- Scotty Tsuchiya’s Mother Dies in San Francisco, page 3. Mrs. Akino Tsuchiya, mother of Scotty Tsuchiya, died unexpectedly at her San Francisco hotel residence. Funeral services were held at the local Buddhist church.
Sports
- Covering Sports Beat, by Elmer Ogawa, page 6. Carl Ogawa became the first Canadian Nisei to compete in the Olympics as coxswain of the UBC eight, which set a new world record at the Canadian trials. The column also covers Art Kono’s junior tennis tour and Yukio Kuniyuki’s political candidacy.
Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.