Fresno’s 35th anniversary, Little Rock and a Nisei vice-consul

Vol. 47, No. 13, September 26, 1958. 8 pages. View this issue

Little Rock and the nation’s schools drew comment in this 8-page issue. An editorial, “Youth in the South,” argued that students were the victims of a clash between federal law and state segregation traditions, and Mike Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter reported on the Supreme Court order to proceed with integrating the city’s high schools. Closer to home, the front page announced that Tadao Kobayashi had been appointed vice-consul in Karachi, Pakistan, and that the Fresno JACL’s 35th anniversary banquet had been moved to Oct. 19, with Saburo Kido as keynote speaker. Masao Satow also wrote about the chapter’s early history.

Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa described the changes he found in Tokyo, Harry K. Honda previewed the 1958 Holiday Issue, and a reprinted Washington Post and Times Herald editorial, “Erasing a Shame,” looked back at the wartime removal of Japanese Americans. Chapter news came from San Mateo, Long Beach, Chicago and Detroit, and the sports pages reported two new world weightlifting records set by Tommy Kono.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Fresno JACL’s 35th Anniversary Banquet Date, Site Shifted to Oct. 19 at Edison High, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Fresno JACL’s 35th anniversary banquet has been moved to Sunday, Oct. 19 at Edison High School auditorium. Saburo Kido will be keynote speaker, and the event will be followed by entertainment.
• Man Who Helped 1,200 Former Aliens Gain U.S. Citizenship to Be Recognized, by P.C. Staff, page 1. James M. Hirano of Hilo will receive public recognition at a picnic on Oct. 12 for helping more than 1,200 former aliens gain citizenship. He began this work in 1946 and has volunteered as an interpreter at naturalization hearings since 1953.
• San Mateo JACL to Host Nov. 2 NC-WNDC Annual Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The San Mateo chapter has begun preparations for the Northern California-Western Nevada District Council convention, with Tomeki Nis Yamada as general chairman. Planned events include a bridge night, golf and bowling tournaments.
• San Diego JACL Sets Dr. Hara Memorial Scholarship Fund Winners, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Two San Diego honor graduates, Carolyn K. Inouye and Tetsuden Kashima, were named winners of the new scholarship fund established in memory of Dr. George Hara. Each received $50.
• Bussei Leaders Rap Commercialization of Obon Dances, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Honolulu Buddhist leaders criticized Obon dances held in Waikiki’s tourist area as commercialization of a sacred ritual. They argued such dances should remain under religious temple custody.
• Nisei Reporter for San Rafael Daily Wins State Fair News Writing Contest, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Walter Takeshita of the San Rafael Independent-Journal received a plaque for his coverage of a 1957 downtown fire. He noted that isolated incidents of racial bias have occurred in Marin County.
• Salt Lake JACLers First to Hear Recordings of 15th Biennial, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Salt Lake JACL chapter held its first general meeting of the fall season to review convention highlights and play recordings made during the conclave. Officers for 1959 were also under consideration.
• Nisei Partner to Huge Apartment Development, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Ground was broken in Mountain View for a $5,000,000 garden apartment development called Cloverdale Courts. George Tsukagawa is co-owner of the project covering 14 acres with 473 units.
• Nisei Heads 240-Home $6 Million Development, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A 240-home development on the Lake Alhambra project in Antioch began with ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Mitsuteru Nakashima, president of the Lake Alhambra Development Co., leads the project.
• Son of Potato King Heads Electronics Job, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Rindge Shima, a former San Francisco appliance businessman and son of George Shima, was named director of new product development at Pioneer Electronics Corp. He will oversee the company’s military and industrial cathode ray tube programs.
• Movie Star Vincent Price Accepts WLA Auxiliary Bid, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Actor Vincent Price accepted an invitation to be a guest at the West Los Angeles JACL Auxiliary Jobs for Junior benefit dance on Oct. 4. Tickets are being sold by Auxiliary members.
• Long Beach Thumps Ear for PSW District Council Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Long Beach-Harbor JACL chapter is preparing to host the Pacific Southwest District Council biennial convention in May 1959. Chapter president Dr. David Miura shared his impressions of the Salt Lake national convention.
• Southwest Los Angeles JACL Board of Governors System Adopted, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Southwest Los Angeles JACL members voted to adopt a 20-member board of governors to direct chapter affairs starting in the new year. Joe Yasaki explained the advantages of the staggered-term board system.
• Berkeley JACL to Join NAU AA Basketball League This Winter, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Berkeley JACL will sponsor a team in the NAU AA basketball league, with John Oshida named head coach. Practices and tryouts will begin in October.
• Fashion Show Planned for CCDC Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A fashion show will be held in conjunction with the CCDC annual convention on Nov. 30 at the Hacienda Motel Yosemite Room in Fresno. Auxiliary members from district chapters are handling arrangements.
• Sonoma County Bowling Tourney Set Oct. 18-19, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Sonoma County JACL Bowling League will hold its fourth annual tournament on Oct. 18 and 19 at the Santa Rosa Bowl. Entry blanks will be mailed to teams throughout Northern California.
• Jean Kamita to Head Junior Tri-Villes, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Jean Kamita, a senior at Menlo-Atherton High School, was elected president of the Junior Tri-Villes of the Sequoia JACL. The new officers are planning a New Member Party.
• Active Sports Program for Chapter Revealed, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The San Francisco JACL plans several fall sports events, including a possible ski club, a chapter bowling tournament, and a possible tennis club. Program chairman Tats Sumida announced the plans.
• Chicago JACLers to Fete, Elect Board Members, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Chicago JACL will honor past 1956-57 board officers at an appreciation dinner and elect 1959 board members. An inaugural ball will follow on Nov. 29 at the Edgewater Beach Hotel.
• Pioneer Chapter: Fresno JACL Marks 35th Anniversary, by Masao Satow, page 4. The Fresno chapter, originally the American Loyalty League, marks its 35th anniversary on October 19. Satow notes it predates the national organization and recalls Dr. Thomas Yatabe’s role in its founding.
• Detroit Scene: Gov. Williams Pays Surprise Visit at JACL Teen Club, by Bebe Horiuchi, page 6. Michigan Governor G. Mennen Williams made a surprise visit to the Detroit JACL Teen Club during its election meeting. The column also covers scholarship winners and the formation of a Detroit Issei Club.
• Cleveland JACL Plans Scholarship Fund Talent Show, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Cleveland JACL is organizing a talent show to launch a scholarship fund to encourage local youth to continue their education after high school. Tickets will be sold to local organizations.
• Los Angeles Newsletter: Food Importers Merge, by Henry Mori, page 7. Modern Import Co. of Los Angeles and Pacific Mutual Sales of San Francisco merged to form the Japan Food Corporation with $1 million in capitalization. Wesley K. Oyama will serve as executive vice-president.

National

• Nisei Appointed to Vice-Consul Post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Tadao Kobayashi, one of the few Nisei in the U.S. foreign service, has been appointed vice-consul in Karachi, Pakistan. He is the first Nisei to hold such a post.
• JACL Endorses ‘Give a Buck’ Plan for Political Campaigns, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL president Shigeo Wakamatsu urged Nisei to contribute at least one dollar to the political party of their choice. The campaign, endorsed by former Presidents Truman and Hoover, aims to broaden popular financial support for political campaigns.
• Nat’l Council Minutes, by Masao Satow, page 4. National director Masao Satow reports that the official minutes of the National Council sessions are being prepared for reproduction and should reach delegates soon. He also summarizes district gatherings and chapter anniversaries.
• Washington Newsletter: 85th Congress Resume, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Mike Masaoka reviews the work of the 85th Congress, which passed 936 public laws and considered over 20,000 bills. He highlights major accomplishments including the first civil rights statute in 82 years and Alaska’s statehood.
• Washington Newsletter: Supreme Court Decision on Little Rock, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. The Supreme Court ordered Little Rock to proceed without delay in integrating its high schools, rejecting further resistance. Masaoka notes the decision as the nation’s highest tribunal refusing to back down before violence.

Commentary

• Youth in the South, page 1. The editorial argues that students in Little Rock and elsewhere are victims of the collision between federal law and state segregation traditions. It contends that the struggle is costing young people valuable classroom time that cannot be recovered.
• Nat’l JACL Director’s Report: Tokyo Impressions, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Bill Hosokawa describes the rapid changes in Tokyo since his last visit eight years ago, including booming construction, Westernized fashion, and congested traffic. He also notes the declining number of Nisei journalists working in Japan.
• Truly Yours: Holiday Issue 1958 Edition, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Harry K. Honda previews the 1958 Pacific Citizen Holiday Issue, which will include a new JACL Manual with reference material. He urges chapters to solicit advertising and one-line name greetings to sustain the paper.

Sports

• Ontario High Victory, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Bob Shiraishi led Ontario High to a 7-6 victory over Parma High in the Snake River Valley league opener with an 80-yard run. Other Nisei gridders in the area are also noted.
• Kono Breaks Two More World Records, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Tommy Kono of Honolulu and Sacramento set two world weightlifting records at the world championships in Stockholm. His performance helped the United States even the team competition with Russia.

Incarceration & Redress

• Erasing a Shame, by Washington Post and Times Herald, page 8. This reprinted editorial draws an analogy between the Athenian decision against Mitylene and the wartime removal of Japanese Americans. It notes that Justice Department efforts have restored citizenship to thousands of Nisei and paid out $35.5 million in restitution.

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