Proposition 13 and the alien land law, October 1956

Vol. 43, No. 15, October 12, 1956. 8 pages. View this issue

The campaign to repeal California’s alien land law ran through this eight-page issue. Proposition 13 was on the November 6 ballot, and the paper reported the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce voting yes, an American Legion post in Venice endorsing it, and a list of 34 organizations and 18 individuals backing repeal. Central California JACL officials sought volunteers for the San Joaquin Valley. Dr. Roy Nishikawa, the new National President, wrote about his first weeks in office, and National JACL membership passed 16,000.

Other pages followed the arrival of Japanese temporary farm workers and Mike Masaoka’s postponed trip to Japan. Columns by Bill Hosokawa, Larry S. Tajiri, Masao Satow and Harry K. Honda appeared, along with Hawaii primary results, chapter news, the Sixth Annual 442nd reunion in New York, and sports pages on Nisei football and weightlifting.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• “Break In” Period Brings Challenges, by Dr. Roy Nishikawa, page 1. The new National JACL President reflects on the challenges of his first weeks in office, noting the increased responsibility compared to his prior role as National Treasurer. He identifies pressing policy issues, including Japan-America affairs and the Farm Labor program, and expresses hope for wise leadership in the coming biennium.
• Unfortunate Strandees, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa recounts conversations with George Kyotow, a Nisei caught in Japan during the war, describing the hardships of enemy alien status and wartime deprivation. He notes that the stories of Nisei who endured the war in Japan deserve to be recorded in a book.
• Purposeful Pete, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa shares a humorous anecdote about his eight-year-old son Pete, who defiantly insisted on asking questions. The brief column is light and personal.
• One Way to Beat Traffic Jam, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa jokes that Japanese ingenuity in using limited space might help solve America’s automobile congestion problem. He compares a three-hour drive over the Continental Divide with a faster flight home in a small aircraft.
• Gadget Impresses Visitors, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa describes how visitors from Japan were amazed by a car radio device that opens garage doors, seeing it at Frank Torizawa’s large new Denver home. The column highlights American conveniences that impress foreign visitors.
• Plea for Freer Trade, by Tamotsu Murray, page 2. Murray reports that Mike Masaoka’s congressional plea for freer trade with Japan received prominent coverage in the Japanese press. He also comments on the lack of coverage of the national JACL convention in San Francisco and on Elaine Harada’s selection as Miss San Francisco.
• Manjiro: First Issei, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri profiles Manjiro, later known as John Mung, a Japanese fisherman shipwrecked and rescued by an American whaling ship in 1841. He later joined the Gold Rush in California and returned to Japan, where he influenced the nation’s opening to the world.
• Nat’l Director’s Report: Marysville Comes Back, by Masao Satow, page 4. National Director Masao Satow reports on the Marysville chapter’s recovery from last winter’s flood and plans for the NC-WN District Council meeting. He also discusses the JACL’s shift to a calendar fiscal year and the 1956 Ben Frank Masaoka scholarship selection.
• Operation Unity, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Honda describes the JACL’s participation in a national $5,000,000 campaign to build the American Museum of Immigration at the Statue of Liberty. He explains the donor categories and notes that Japanese immigrants’ contributions to the West Coast will be recognized.
• Washington Newsletter: Trip to Japan, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Mike Masaoka writes from Washington as he prepares to travel to Japan, noting the close presidential race and increased Nisei-Issei political interest. He also discusses concerns about Japan-Soviet relations and their effect on Japanese Americans.

JACL

• National JACL Membership Passes 16,000 Mark, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL membership surpassed 16,000 after the Cleveland chapter submitted its 1956 rolls, according to National Director Mas Satow. The full director’s report appears in this week’s issue.
• Southwest Los Angeles Tallies 1,211 Members for ’56, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Southwest Los Angeles JACL chapter reached 1,211 members for 1956, including 907 Nisei and 304 Issei, an all-time high for a single chapter. Membership vice-president Tom Shimazaki released the final tally.
• National JACL Endowment Fund Reaches $95,000, by P.C. Staff, page 5. National JACL President Dr. Roy Nishikawa announced that gifts totaling $3,971.02 were received since August, bringing the Endowment Trust Fund to $95,000. He thanked donors from California and Oregon and reported $3,507.79 in interest for fiscal 1956.
• Jerry Enomoto Handed Scroll with C.L. Award, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Jerry Enomoto received a scroll to accompany the JACL Biennium award at a San Francisco JACL meeting. Enomoto and Abe Hagiwara of Chicago also received the Dr. Randolph M. Sakada memorial award for most active JACL members.

National

• Masaoka Ill, Postpones Trip to Japan a Week, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Masaoka postponed his trip to Japan due to illness brought on by a rugged schedule that included the party conventions and the JACL national convention. He plans to travel the following week and will investigate immigration, refugee, and temporary worker matters while visiting in his individual capacity.
• Tabulate 141,000 Japanese in U.S.; 85,000 in California, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Census figures show 141,760 persons of Japanese ancestry in the United States, with 84,956 in California. A separate consulate count found 72,360 Issei, recent arrivals, and unexpatriated citizens nationwide, including 25,563 in California.
• Temporary Farm Workers Continue to Arrive by Air, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Two groups of 66 Japanese temporary farm workers arrived in California this week, bringing the total to 267 under the temporary workers agreement. The California Growers Association requested a halt, and remaining arrivals may be postponed until spring.
• Coast Guard Exams Due in February, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Entrance examinations for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy will be held in February 1957, with California exams in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fresno, and Eureka. Candidates must be high school seniors or graduates aged 17 to 22 and submit applications before January 15.
• One of 25 Hiroshima Maidens Marries Nisei Cousin, Resides in Gardena, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Mitsuko Kuramoto, one of the 25 Hiroshima Maidens who came to the United States for plastic surgery, married her cousin Frank Sakamoto of Gardena. She was among the first released from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
• Last Group of Hiroshima Maidens Leave Hospital, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The final group of 13 Hiroshima girls who came for plastic surgery on atomic bomb wounds was discharged from Mount Sinai Hospital on October 1. They were expected to return the following week.
• Farm Laborers Continue to Arrive by Air, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Two groups of 66 Japanese temporary farm workers arrived in California, with the remaining seasonal laborers possibly postponed until spring. The Federation of Japan Overseas Associations maintains an office in San Francisco to supervise selection.

Military & Veterans

• First Nisei Chaplain for U.S. Navy Named, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Lt. Peter I. Ota, son of the Rev. Tosuke Ota of Salt Lake City, has become the first Nisei chaplain in the U.S. Navy. He graduated from Union Theological Seminary and was ordained in June before beginning his Navy chaplaincy course in Newport, R.I.
• First Hawaii Guardsman Named for West Point Test, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Clarence G. Matsuda, an outstanding ROTC cadet at Farrington High School, was appointed to take the West Point examinations next March. He is the first Hawaii National Guardsman accepted for the test and is currently at West Point Preparatory School.

Community

• Pasadena Chamber Favors ‘Yes on Prop. 13’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce voted to support Proposition 13, which would repeal the alien land law on the November 6 ballot. The Pasadena Independent-Star News had previously endorsed the measure editorially.
• Volunteers Needed for ‘Yes on Prop. 13’ in San Joaquin Valley, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Central California JACL District Council officials are seeking volunteers to campaign for Proposition 13 in the San Joaquin Valley between Madera and Bakersfield. Ten chapters have adopted areas, with Delano covering the Bakersfield area and Fresno covering several nearby communities.
• 55 of 65 Nisei Public Office Seekers Win in Hawaii Primaries, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Fifty-five of 65 Nisei candidates advanced in Hawaii’s territorial primaries, including four incumbents already re-elected. Mrs. Betty Farrington led the congressional race, while Democrats outnumbered Republicans in total party votes.
• Japanese Artist Teaches Painting at Alabama, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Tatsuhiko Heima, a Japanese artist teaching painting at the University of Alabama, has works on exhibit at the Peridot Gallery in New York. Heima, a Waseda graduate, studied at the Chicago Art Institute in 1950.
• Ontario, Ore., Youth Wins 1956 Pvt. Ben Frank Masaoka Memorial Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Theodore Kiichiro Sakano of Ontario, Oregon, a valedictorian with a perfect scholastic record, was named the 1956 Pvt. Ben Frank Masaoka Memorial Scholarship recipient. Lucille Inami of Madera received honorable mention, and the judges were Nisei for the first time.
• Election Forum Slated by Berkeley Chapter, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Berkeley JACL will hold an election forum on October 19 at the Berkeley Free Methodist Church Annex. Speakers including Yoshio Takakuwa and Tom Hoshiyama will discuss Nisei political responsibility and debate issues from the Republican and Democratic perspectives.
• Fresno-Born Nisei Interprets for Japanese Emperor, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Yasuhiko Nara, a Fresno-born Nisei, has assumed an interpreting post for Emperor Hirohito, according to Tokyo correspondent Kamenosuke Sakakibara. His first assignment was interpreting for the Emperor and Sir Selkirk during a luncheon.
• First Ph.D. Conferred to Nisei at McGill, by P.C. Staff, page 2. McGill University in Montreal conferred its first Ph.D. degree on a Nisei, Yurika Kumamoto of Toronto. Her study concerned radioactivity in relation to the nervous system.
• Arizonan Raps Use of Japanese, P.I. Temporary Laborers, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Arizona farm labor committee member Nicholas C. Dragon opposed the possible importation of Japanese and Filipino farm laborers, calling it pressure tactics against Mexico. The committee deferred action pending further study.
• Native N.Y. Nisei Prepares for Debut in Town Hall Concert, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Lily Miki, a New York-born pianist and Juilliard graduate, will present her first Town Hall concert on October 17. Her program includes works by Bach, Mozart, Franck, Debussy, Weber, and Brahms.
• JACL Credit Union Votes to Aid Pasadena Group, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Pacific Southwest JACL Credit Union board voted to take over acceptable loans up to $10,000 from the troubled Pasadena Japanese Credit Union. The Pasadena problems stemmed from over-extended loans to a local shrimp company.
• Sanger Booth Wins Fresno Fair Trophy, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Sanger booth took first place in the community theme booth competition at the Fresno District Fair, its second Class A win in a row. The exhibit, titled ‘One Hundred Year Champions,’ was designed by a Chamber of Commerce committee chaired by Robert Kanagawa.
• Christmas Cheer Opens Campaign, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Chi Alpha Delta alumnae of UCLA became the first organizational donor to the Christmas Cheer campaign, sending $13.50 to the Southern California JACL. The campaign officially opens October 15 to aid several hundred Japanese in need.
• Church Group to Invite Non-Nisei Leaders, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Leaders of non-Nisei Christian young people’s groups will be invited to participate in the 1957 Bay Region Young People’s Christian Conference. The conference is tentatively set for April 27 and 28 in San Francisco.
• Roh’t Sakata Earns Skelly Recognition, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Robert Sakata, a Brighton, Colorado farmer who overcame a car accident that killed his father, received the W.G. Skelly Agricultural Achievement Award. He was recently honored as Nisei of the Biennium at the national JACL convention.
• Sixth Annual 442nd Reunion in N.Y. Set, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The 442nd Veterans will hold their sixth annual reunion in New York from November 2 to 4, with a talent show, luncheon, and reunion dance. Events will be held at the Westside YMCA, Miyako restaurant, and Hotel Diplomat.
• Faithful Servant Given $15,000 Through Will, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The will of the late Mrs. Sigmund Stern included a $15,000 bequest to Genkuro Nishioka, a faithful Issei employee who served the family for more than 30 years. The bequest reflects the family’s gratitude for his long service.
• Venice-Culver to Host Final PSWDC Session Nov. 18, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Pacific Southwest JACL District Council will hold its final quarterly session hosted by the Venice-Culver chapter on November 18 at the American Legion Hall. Delegates from 18 chapters will attend.
• San Francisco JACL Credit Union Considers Home Improvement Loans, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The San Francisco JACL credit union has over 150 members and nearly $200,000 in capital assets. The committee is considering home improvement loans, and the union offers a life-insured savings plan.
• Legion Post Endorses ‘Yes on Proposition 13’, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Luke Mandemaker American Legion Post 689 in Venice unanimously endorsed Proposition 13 to repeal the alien land law. It joins 34 other organizations statewide in supporting the repeal.
• New Voters Prepared, by P.C. Staff, page 5. An official from the Detroit Election Bureau explained election procedures to 35 recently naturalized Issei. Mrs. Miyo O’Neil and Walter Miyao of the local JACL assisted with the session.
• Make This List Grow: ‘Yes on Prop. 13’, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Committee for Yes on Prop. 13 reported 18 individual endorsers, including Governor Goodwin Knight and Attorney General Edmund Brown, and 34 organizations. The list includes labor groups, chambers of commerce, farm bureaus, and newspapers.
• CCDC to Handle 25,000 Proposition 13 Brochures, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A Central California committee for Proposition 13 launched a vigorous campaign in the Central Valley to repeal the alien land law. Seiichi Mikami and Hiro Mayeda are co-chairmen, working with chapter presidents across the region.
• Home Improvement Loans Through SF JACL Credit Union Being Considered, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The San Francisco JACL credit union, organized in 1948, has over 150 members and nearly $200,000 in capital assets. The committee is considering home improvement loans in addition to its existing car, personal, and appliance loans.
• Chicago JACL Candidates’ Night Rally, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Chicago JACL will sponsor a city-wide Candidates’ Night rally on October 19 at the McCormick YMCA, inviting congressional candidates from the 2nd, 9th, and 12th districts. Approximately 1,000 newly naturalized Issei are expected to attend.
• Operation X-6 Infects Chicago With Carnival Air, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Chicago JACL will hold its annual carnival-bazaar at Olivet Institute on October 27 and 28 as its main fundraiser of the year. Operation X6 raffle tickets will be drawn on Sunday with prizes including a color TV set.
• Sacramento Young Talent Show Date Set Nov. 17, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Sacramento JACL annual ‘Your Stars of Tomorrow Revue’ will be held November 17 at the local Buddhist hall. Emphasis will be on younger children performing in the show.
• Gardena Chapter to Meet for Constitution Ratification, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Gardena Valley JACL will meet October 13 to ratify its new constitution at the Japanese Community Center. A social hour will follow the business meeting.
• Bowling Tournament Results, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Ray Yamada won the men’s all-events title at the seventh annual Long Beach Nisei bowling tournament with a 174 handicap, while Tod Yamanaka paced the scratch scores. Over 50 teams competed in the Virginia alleys.
• Shonien’s Appeal, by Henry Mori, page 7. The Japanese Children’s Home of Southern California, known as Shonien, needs an additional $35,000 to continue operations after its dedication five months ago. San Diego JACL president Dr. Tad Imoto has agreed to lead a fund drive in his community.
• Lunch Box Auction Falls Short, by Henry Mori, page 7. The East Los Angeles JACL lunch box social raised $50 for the campaign to repeal the Alien Land Law despite low attendance. Organizers had hoped to raise $200.
• Operation Unity and Japanese Confectionery, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Japanese American community events and fundraising continue across the country. This item is a placeholder and should be ignored.
• New Officers Elected by Ohio Junior Matron Group, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mrs. Amy Ono was elected president of the Cleveland Junior Matrons at its first meeting of the season. The group meets on the second Friday of each month and plans a children’s Halloween party on October 28.
• Buddhist Temple Opens in Watsonville, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A new $100,000-plus Buddhist temple opens for services in Watsonville, with a hall for dances, meetings, and basketball. The parsonage for Rev. Junpo Tsumura and his wife is nearly complete.
• Seattle Nisei Veterans Oppose Japanese Language School, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Nisei Veterans Committee of Seattle unanimously passed a resolution opposing a new Japanese language school, fearing it could create divided loyalties. The resolution warns the committee will oppose any deviation from the school’s stated educational purpose.
• Growth of Plant’s Use of Atomic Energy Studied by Arizonan, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Kaoru Matsuda, a Phoenix honor student at the University of Arizona, is studying how radioactive strontium is absorbed by plants under an Atomic Energy Commission grant. His findings could help the atomic power industry dispose of radioactive waste safely.
• Nippon Student Gets 2nd Draft Notice, Willing to Serve, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Akiyoshi Kazama, a 26-year-old Japanese student in Chicago, received a second draft notice and said he was willing to serve in the U.S. armed forces. He came to the U.S. on a practical commercial training scholarship and works at the Toguri commercial company.
• S.F. Chinese Endorses Proposition 13 Measure, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The San Francisco lodge of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance endorsed Proposition 13 to repeal the state alien land law, announced local president Dr. Theodore C. Lee. The endorsement joins other organizations supporting the measure.
• Hawaii Primary Results for Nisei Candidates, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Detailed vote tallies from Hawaii’s territorial primaries show Nisei candidates advancing in Senate, House, city-county, and county races. Names set for the November general election are highlighted in the results.

Sports

• Domoto’s 75 Wins Golf Outing, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Members of the Chicago 1000 Club enjoyed a golf outing at Mohawk Golf Course on September 30 with pranks and friendly competition. Domoto’s 75 was the lowest score of the day.
• Yoshida Lifts for Olympic Berth, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Specialist Ralph N. Yoshida, a 20-year-old weightlifter from Maui stationed at the Presidio, is aiming for the U.S. team at the Melbourne Olympics. He plans to attend Springfield College in physical therapy after his army tour.
• Nisei Gridders in Action, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Nisei football players across California and other states had notable performances in high school games. Reedley’s Larry Iwasaki scored multiple touchdowns and Ontario High snapped a 10-year losing streak against Vale.
• Modoc High Refereeing: Shinny Yamagata, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Shinny Yamagata, a prominent Nisei athletic official in Northern California and Southern Oregon, is refereeing Modoc High School football games this season. He has also served as supervisor of the Alturas city softball league since 1948.
• Chinese Saints to Compete in Taipei Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The San Francisco Chinese Saints basketball team will compete in the Taipei, Formosa tournament October 31 to November 16. The team has won the JACL invitational basketball crown for several seasons.

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.