Claims payments, a school-book protest and chapters at work in 1957

Vol. 44, No. 20, May 17, 1957. 8 pages. View this issue

JACL’s work on several fronts led this eight-page issue. A request for $1,654,158.93 went to the House Appropriations Committee to pay the evacuation claims of 1,327 claimants, the first such request cleared since the Lane-Hillings Act took effect. JACL’s protest over the shortened term for Japanese in the Fuzz Young story won an initial response from a California curriculum committee. George Sugai wrote about Intermountain District chapters busy with spring planting, and Mike Masaoka marked three years since Brown v. Board of Education.

Inside are columns by Bill Hosokawa, Elmer Ogawa, Henry Mori and Harry K. Honda, who reported Pacific Citizen circulation rising to 5,700. Chapter news came from Seabrook, Cortez, Chicago and Long Beach, along with scholarship winners, sports results and a new Imperial Valley chapter taking shape.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Majority of IDC Chapters Busy Farming, by George Sugai, page 1. Members of Intermountain District Council chapters, largely rural farmers, are busy with spring planting and hopeful for a good season. The next IDC convention in Idaho Falls this fall will mark the 10th anniversary of the JACL 1000 Club.
• Japanese Americans Among First Winners of California Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 1. At least six Japanese Americans have received the first state of California scholarships covering tuition up to $600 a year. The statewide program was initiated last year and awards are renewable for students maintaining top grades.
• Los Angeles-Born Nisei Successful in Transition to Life in Detroit Circles, by Bebe Horiuchi, page 1. Charles Yata, Detroit JACL second vice-president, has successfully integrated into both Nisei and Caucasian circles since relocating from Arkansas in 1944. He is now a civil engineer, instructor, and active church member.
• Washington State PTA Elects Nisei Officer, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mrs. M. Paul Suzuki was elected vice-president of the Washington Congress of Parents and Teachers from the Seattle area. The election took place at the organization’s 44th annual convention.
• Imperial Valley JACL Reactivation Meeting Successful, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A reactivated Imperial Valley JACL chapter drew nearly 20 prospective charter members at a May 12 dinner meeting in Calipatria. The new chapter will become the 19th unit in the Pacific Southwest District Council.
• Sansei Wins Reno High Cadet of Year Award, by P.C. Staff, page 1. First Lt. Eugene Shimomura of Reno High School ROTC was named Cadet of the Year, earning five honors at the corps federal inspection. His academic award was a .22 calibre rifle donated by the American Legion.
• Nisei Joins Ex-Gov. Lee in Calif. Mining Firm, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mas Yano, Salt Lake JACL past president, serves as secretary and legal counsel for Seiad Chrome, Inc., which owns chromite properties in Siskiyou County, California. The firm is headed by former Utah governor J. Bracken Lee.
• Salt Lake City Plans Memorial Day Events and Benefit Show, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Salt Lake City JACL has arranged a cherry tree dedication, Memorial Day services, and a graduates’ dance for June 1. Participants in the benefit talent revue are listed, along with JACL Auxiliary involvement.
• CINO Membership Ruling Changed, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The California Intercollegiate Nisei Organization amended its constitution to require members also belong to a non-predominantly Nisei organization, effective January 1, 1958. The change drew opposition from some who viewed it as forcing unwanted action.
• 3,000 Attend Marysville JACL-Sponsored Picnic, by P.C. Staff, page 2. An estimated 3,000 people attended the annual Marysville JACL picnic on the Thomas Sperbeck ranch, held to promote racial understanding. Good weather made the event especially successful.
• Annual Epworth Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Mile-Hi JACL representatives attended the annual dinner of the Epworth Community Center in Denver. Leonard Uchida and Mrs. Uchida attended as guests of Yutaka Terasaki, a center board member.
• Nagasaki, St. Paul in Seed Exchange Program, by P.C. Staff, page 2. St. Paul sent petunia seeds to Nagasaki as a goodwill gesture in the twin affiliation program, following Nagasaki’s earlier gift of cherry trees. Barbara Rokutani received the seed packet in a Pioneer Press photo.
• Salt Lake City Talent Revue Plans Cherry Tree Dedication, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Salt Lake JACL details an upcoming benefit talent revue with a cherry tree dedication, Memorial Day services, and a graduates dance. Named participants and committee chairs are listed for each event.
• Seabrook Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Community Picnic, Banquet, by Ayako Nakamura, page 4. The Seabrook JACL marked its tenth anniversary with a community picnic and installation dinner, presenting a $1,800 pledge balance to Bridgeton Hospital. Chapter members also honored past presidents and launched new community awards.
• Hits 800 in Drive to Keep ‘ICBG’, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Southwest Los Angeles JACL reached about 800 members in its 1957 membership drive, led by Team No. 1 under Kay Iizuka. The chapter will celebrate with a square dance social on June 2.
• Turlock Officials Honored at Cortez 10th Anniversary Celebration, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Cortez Chapter in Turlock celebrated its tenth anniversary with a potluck dinner honoring civic officials who helped pass Proposition 13. The event featured Japanese dances, exhibits, and arts displays.
• Chicago Sights 1,000 Members, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Chicago JACL reached 802 members in its membership contest, won by Nancy’s Nannies with 3,525 points. The campaign for 1,000 members continues with anticipated renewals.
• Turnabout: Caucasian Show Floral Arranging, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Mrs. R.J. Hicksun of Reedley demonstrated simple flower arrangements at the Parlier JACL Auxiliary meeting. Mrs. Ruri Masuda won the door prize.
• Booster Club for EDC-MDC Convention Formed; Exempted from Registration, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Chicago Booster Club supports the joint EDC-MDC convention over Labor Day weekend at the Sheraton Hotel. Members paying $5 or $10 are exempt from the regular registration fee.
• Long Beach Reports 300 Members for ’57, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Harbor District JACL held a general meeting in Long Beach reporting over 300 members in its current campaign. The program included a film of Mike Masaoka on ‘This Is Your Life’ and regional director Tats Kushida’s talk.
• Nisei Leaps 6 Ft. 4 In. in High Jump, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Okawachi of Alhambra High set new Diablo Valley League records in the high jump and broad jump. Ron Fujino also posted a strong broad jump at the CIF preliminaries.
• JACL Track Meet Changes Told, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The sixth annual JACL Nisei Relays moved from June 23 to June 30 at Rancho Cienega Stadium. San Francisco JACL also extended its Olympics entry deadline to May 19.
• Broadjumps 22-5 1/2 for New Prep Conference Mark, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Eddie Hayashi of McClatchy High set a conference broad jump record in the class Bee division at Sacramento. He also won the 160 lows in the same meet.
• Petaluma Nisei Wins B’nai B’rith Award, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Tom Yoneda, Petaluma High student body president and basketball star, was named outstanding senior and recipient of the Frankel-Rosenbaum Memorial Plaque. The award was given by the local B’nai B’rith Lodge.
• Minneapolis Nisei Irene Urashi Competes in National Badminton, by Mary Yoshida, page 6. Irene Urashi competed in the national senior women’s badminton tournament in Philadelphia after years of regional competition. The 22-year-old Minnesota graduate plans to teach physical education at Mt. Pleasant High.
• Nishita Pitching Now for St. Paul Nine, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Former Hawaii Nisei pitcher Bill Nishita, who once pitched in Japan, joined St. Paul of the American Association. He pitched briefly in his first game and may later be considered for Los Angeles if the Dodgers relocate.
• Atty. Mitsumori to Head Li’l Tokio Optimists, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Attorney James Mitsumori, a Michigan law graduate and 442nd veteran, will be installed as president of the Japanese American Optimists of Los Angeles in June. He succeeds Willie Funakoshi.
• San Francisco Optimists Name Kobuchi New Head, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Tom Kobuchi succeeds George Oyuma as president of the Japanese American Optimist Club in San Francisco. Other officers and board members were elected at the same meeting.
• Tatsuno to Serve Third Term as Youth Work Head, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Dave M. Tatsuno has been reappointed for a third term as chairman of the San Jose YMCA youth work committee. The committee sets YMCA youth policies for San Jose and Santa Clara Valley.
• CBS-Hollywood Appoints Shindo Music Director, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Tak Shindo has been named permanent music director at CBS-Hollywood, with his first major assignment on the radio show Suspense. He was recommended by director Ricki Marino.

Incarceration & Redress

• Curriculum Body Acts on CL Protest of ‘Fuzz Young’ Story, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL’s protest to the California Board of Education curriculum committee over the derogatory shortened term ‘Jap’ in the Fuzz Young story has met initial success. The committee will ask publishers and the author to spell out ‘Japanese’ in future printings.
• Claims Payment Appropriations Within Reach, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A request for $1,654,158.93 to pay evacuation claims of 1,327 claimants has been sent to the House Appropriations Committee. This is the first appropriations request cleared since the Lane-Hillings Act took effect last summer.

Arts & Entertainment

• Cleveland Nisei Awarded Music Fellowship in Rome, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Higo Harada, formerly of the Cleveland Institute of Music, has been awarded the Rome Prize fellowship in musical composition. The fellowship begins October 1, and Harada holds a master’s degree from the institute.
• Artwork Picked for Chicago May Exhibit, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Local artist Okamura has one of his works selected for display until June 9 at the Chicago Acterian Art exhibit. The brief notice announces the honor for the Nisei painter.

National

• Permanent Stay Offered Skilled Japanese on Temporary Visa, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Non-immigrants from oversubscribed areas with a first preference quota eligibility may now file for pre-examination, allowing skilled Japanese already in the U.S. to remain. The change follows JACL Washington Office inquiries with the Immigration Service.
• Calif. Pension Bill Passes Assembly, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A bill expanding California’s old age assistance to aliens who have lived in the country since 1932 passed the Assembly and moved to the Senate. The bill was introduced by Assemblyman Bruce F. Allen.
• Hawaii Governor Names Kashiwa Attorney General, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Gov. Samuel Wilder King appointed Shiro Kashiwa, 44, as attorney general of Hawaii, succeeding Richard K. Sharpless who resigned. King also recently named Michael Miyake as territorial auditor.
• Japan’s Teachers Union Problem Grows; New Teachers Association Formed, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Japan’s left-wing Japan Teachers Union, with 580,000 members, has become a dominant influence in Sohyo, prompting a counter-organization of about 10,000 teachers. The new Federation of Japan Teachers Associations opposes the union’s communist leanings.
• Wire File: Displaced Persons in Paris and the Caribbean Federation, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa comments on some 95,000 African-born French ‘Colons’ returning to France amid political strife, drawing parallels to wartime Nisei expatriates. He contrasts this with the British Caribbean Federation, where racial prejudice is almost nonexistent.
• Japanese Overseas Friendship Meeting Fails, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A three-day Overseas Japanese Friendship Meeting in Tokyo drew few visitors from America despite publicity. Its resolutions, including a Diet bill to educate Nisei abroad, were criticized as politically motivated and misguided.
• Racial Battle Looms in Dental Hygienist Association Proposal, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A Texas proposal to limit dental hygienist membership to Caucasians, excluding Negroes, prompted opposition led by national president Mrs. March K. Fong. The national board’s approval was later ruled invalid without a membership vote.
• Rep. O’Hara Honored on 75th Birthday in Chicago, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Civic groups honored Rep. Barratt O’Hara on his 75th birthday in Chicago for his public service. Chicago JACL representatives attended, recognizing his help for minority groups including Japanese Americans.

Commentary

• 110% Americans, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa recounts how a Caucasian boyhood friend never tasted Japanese food because Issei mothers served American meals to appear fully assimilated. He observes that this sort of overcorrection left cultural richness unshared.
• PC Circulation-Membership Survey, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Honda reports circulation rising to 5,700 with renewal mortality around 5 percent and suggests chapters help push subscriptions toward 7,000. He notes subscription commissions cover shipping for extra copies chapters order.
• All Unions Not Bad, by Elmer Ogawa, page 6. Ogawa critiques Teamsters boss Dave Beck’s treatment of Nisei but argues most union executives are honest workers. He profiles Seattle labor leaders Bill Finn and Charles Turner, who helped Nisei find foundry jobs after evacuation.
• Los Angeles Newsletter: Education in U.S., by Henry Mori, page 7. Mori responds to newspaper reports of low grades and disturbances among Japanese students studying privately in Los Angeles. He argues screening in Japan was inadequate and that students’ struggles with language should not bar serious students.
• Washington Newsletter: School Integration, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka marks the third anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education and describes Southern resistance that followed implementation orders. He notes JACL’s concern for integration because Nisei children faced segregation in the 442nd’s training era.

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