Vol. 45, No. 13, September 27, 1957. 8 pages. View this issue
The paper’s own future shared the front page with news of the community. An editorial signed H.H. asked whether the Pacific Citizen should move from tabloid to standard-size pages, since a planned 12-page issue could not be printed. Other front-page stories covered the 1958 JACL National Convention theme, “Past Is Prologue,” chosen by the Salt Lake chapter, Rep. Walter Judd’s appointment to the U.S. delegation at the U.N., and author Gwen Terasaki’s talk on Nisei as a bridge to Japan.
Inside are Bill Hosokawa’s review of John Okada’s novel No-No Boy, Larry S. Tajiri on Nisei journalists, and Mike Masaoka’s Washington newsletter on the first session of the 85th Congress. Chapter news appears on page 5, and Thomas Toyama reports on Nisei football players in Central California on page 6. Page 8 notes a visit to Los Angeles by Judge Benjamin Masaru Tashiro.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- Should PC become a standard-size paper?, by H.H., page 1. The Pacific Citizen could not publish 12 pages this week despite extra advertising, prompting consideration of switching from tabloid to standard 8-column pages. Standard pages would add roughly 40 column inches immediately and make adding extra pages easier, with rising paper costs also pressing for change.
- About places and people, page 1. The President’s Corner recounts recent community events including a testimonial banquet for Katsuma Mukaeda, a CACA national convention, a Pasadena 1000 Club luau, and a Long Beach-Harbor JACL installation dinner. The column praises the volunteer leaders involved and the promise of JACL’s youth programs.
- Nisei Voters League formation commended as political realism, by Howard M. Imazeki, page 1. San Francisco editor Howard Imazeki commended a new bipartisan Nisei Voters League formed by attorney Sam Fusco to endorse candidates in November supervisorial elections. He argued Nisei have been ignored by politicians and criticized JACL’s political education efforts as inadequate.
- Nisei by-liners in the newspaper business, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Columnist Larry Tajiri surveys Nisei working as journalists and editors across the United States and Japan, including at INS, the Minneapolis Tribune, the Denver Post, and Japanese dailies. The column highlights careers ranging from small-town weeklies to foreign correspondence.
- Congressional boxscore, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Mike Masaoka’s Washington newsletter summarizes the legislative activity of the First Session of the 85th Congress, including the number of bills enacted, introduced, and vetoed. He reports partisan disagreement over whether the session was productive or a ‘Do Nothing’ Congress.
National
- Rep. Judd named U.S. delegate to U.N. Assembly, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Walter Judd (R., Minn.), a longtime JACL ally and drafter of the naturalization provisions in the Walter-McCarran Act, was named to the U.S. delegation to the 12th UN General Assembly. Judd’s appointment is noted as recognition of his advocacy for legislation important to Japanese Americans.
- Author Gwen Terasaki urges Nisei to serve as U.S.-Japan ‘bridge’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Author Gwen Terasaki told a Washington, D.C. JACL chapter gathering that Nisei are uniquely placed to bridge understanding between the United States and Japan. She drew on her experiences in Japan and her marriage to diplomat Hidenari Terasaki to argue the war was between governments, not peoples.
- Japanese request for continuing U.S. importation of temporary farm workers hinges on special gov’t survey; no decision yet, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japan’s request to continue short-term farm worker immigration to California hinges on a government report being prepared by State, Labor, and INS officials. Labor groups oppose the program, while growers support it, and the outcome will determine whether the roughly 1,000 Japanese workers’ program is extended.
- West Indies farm labor urged as experiment to combat future shortage, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Stockton rancher John Zuckerman urged the State Board of Agriculture to test importing British West Indian farm workers on an experimental basis to address anticipated labor shortages. He proposed a pilot group of 250 to 300 workers, noting the national farm labor force may decline from 6 million to 5 million.
- Dr. Judd, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A continuation of the story on Congressman Walter Judd’s appointment to the U.S. delegation at the UN, noting alternate delegates and Judd’s longstanding support of JACL legislative priorities. The piece lists the full slate of U.S. representatives.
- Dillon S. Myer and Mrs. Myer to visit Far East, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Dillon S. Myer, former WRA director, and his wife will visit Japan and Hawaii in October, according to the Washington JACL office. Myer is credited with humanitarian leadership during the wartime evacuation and was honored by JACL on his retirement.
- 1st Nisei confirmed as federal judge ‘at home’ in JACL office, by Harry Honda, page 8. Judge Benjamin Masaru Tashiro of Kauai, the first Nisei federal judge, visited the Pacific Southwest JACL Regional Office in Los Angeles. He was honored by JACLers for his postwar support of naturalization, claims, and anti-discrimination legislation.
Community
- Issei woman dies in auto crash with bottling truck, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mrs. Yae Takahashi, 76, of Garden Grove died in a collision with a water-bottling company truck-trailer, and her husband Shiro was hospitalized with broken ribs. The truck driver had pulled onto Newhope St. when Takahashi struck the trailer while turning from Westminster Ave.
- Convention plans change in Tokyo, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Nisei Businessmen’s Association in Tokyo renamed its planned October convention the International Nisei Convention because non-businessmen would attend from the States. The Oct. 24-27 meeting at the Imperial Hotel will feature streamlined programming on trade, travel, finance, and other topics.
- Sequoia chapter luau admission rate lowered, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Sequoia JACL luau at Palo Alto Buddhist Hall was reduced in price for adults from $1.75 to $1.50, with children 6-12 admitted for 75 cents. The event is scheduled for the coming Sunday afternoon.
- Long Beach chapter to stage second 1000ers feted; October dinner-dance also announced, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Long Beach-Harbor JACL announced a sukiyaki dinner for its 1000 Club members on Sept. 28 and an October 19 dinner-dance at the Lafayette Hotel. Additional fall and winter activities include a youth basketball tournament and a Christmas party for area children.
- Japan farm students treated to luncheon, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Eden Township JACL hosted a luncheon at Mt. Eden Nursery in Hayward for 20 Japanese farmers touring Alameda County to learn American agricultural methods. The farmers are part of a nine-month University of California Extension program.
- Display Japanese arts at Turlock Garden Club tea, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Cortez JACL members displayed Japanese doll collections, bonsai, flower arrangements, and ancient kakemono at a Turlock Garden Club membership tea. Demonstrations of Japanese dance and tea service concluded the exhibit.
- Fashion spectacular planned by San Francisco JACL Women’s Auxiliary, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The San Francisco JACL Women’s Auxiliary will present a luncheon fashion show on Oct. 26 at the Mark Hopkins Hotel featuring gowns from the White House Gown Salon. Twelve local models were selected, several of whom were interviewed for a film role.
- Sakahara injures back, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Seattle JACL president Toru Sakahara has been under observation at Providence Hospital for a back injury, with release expected early the following week.
- Nampa little league team wins championship, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Boise Valley JACL-sponsored Pony League team won its summer league championship in Nampa with a 6-2 record. The team was organized three years ago and coached by Dyke Itami, who played in the Northwest Nisei leagues.
JACL
- ‘Past Is Prologue’ picked as 1958 JACL National Convention theme by Salt Lakers, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 1958 National JACL Convention board selected ‘Past Is Prologue’ as the theme for the 15th Biennial, hosted by the Salt Lake chapter in August. Chairman Rupert Hachiya said the theme reflects a decade of achievement and the maturing Nisei’s readiness to look toward the future.
In-Depth
- Nisei chemist aids in study of cancer-producing elements in smog, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A UC Berkeley team including Nisei chemist Mitsu Mukai developed a ‘fractional sublimation’ technique to isolate pollutant components in smog in quantities sufficient for animal cancer testing. The research, sponsored by the U.S. Public Health Service, aims to determine whether smog is a biological cancer hazard.
Arts & Entertainment
- Nisei No-No Boy novel reviewed, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Reviewer Bill Hosokawa praises John Okada’s novel ‘No-No Boy’ about Ichiro, a No-No boy returning to Seattle after prison, for its authentic characters and strong dialogue. He notes weaker passages in action scenes but calls it a gripping story and a promising debut.
Military & Veterans
- Central Cal gridmen prep for ’57 games, by Thomas Toyama, page 6. Nisei football players across Central California are competing this season, including John Sato with the semi-pro Fresno Hellcats and Ken Fujii on the Yale freshman team. Several Reedley College players, including Larry Iwasaki and Hideo Sakamoto, are highlighted.
Sports
- Number to look for, by P.C. Staff, page 6. University of California player Pete Domoto distinguished himself on defense and in blocking in his first varsity game, and other Nisei athletes in the state are noted in brief items. The column also covers a Mesa, Arizona high school coach and a Nisei golfer’s hole-in-one.
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.