The Issei Story project and the 1960 JACL convention

Vol. 51, No. 1, July 1, 1960. 8 pages. View this issue

The Issei Story project was at the center of this July 1960 issue, which went out as delegates gathered for the 16th Biennial National JACL Convention in Sacramento. Dr. T. Scott Miyakawa was preparing a prospectus to seek foundation funding for a scholarly history of the Issei, and delegates weighed how much control JACL should have over the study. An editorial by H.H. Bre urged Nisei to support it. Mike Masaoka previewed the convention and looked at what the riots in Japan might mean for Japanese Americans, while a column asked JACL to take an open interest in Japanese affairs.

Elsewhere in the eight pages, Frank F. Chuman sent civil rights recommendations to the Democratic platform committee. Readers will also find scholarship news, including Denson Gen Fujikawa of Long Beach and the national selections committee, a profile of an Issei in New York who gave away cherry trees, and a report that Congress approved $6 million for Bonin Island claims.

What’s in this issue

In-Depth

• League plans definitive Issei history, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 16th Biennial National JACL Convention considered the Issei Story project, a scholarly documentary history of Japanese immigrants to America. Dr. T. Scott Miyakawa was preparing a prospectus to seek foundation funding, and delegates weighed questions of JACL control over the study.

Commentary

• A project all Nisei can be proud of, by H.H. Bre, page 1. The editorial urges Nisei to support the Issei Story project as a lasting contribution to American history. It argues that the project honors Issei sacrifices and may become one of JACL’s greatest 1960-70 objectives.
• Tokyo riots and JACL policy, page 4. The writer argues that the Tokyo riots have revived Nisei anxiety about their status in America and that Nisei cannot avoid commenting on Japanese events. The column urges JACL to take an official, open interest in Japanese affairs and develop competence in them.
• Democratic platform recommendations on civil rights, by Frank F. Chuman, page 4. JACL legal counsel Frank Chuman submitted recommendations to the Democratic platform committee, calling for federal civil rights, fair employment and housing laws. He also urged repeal of racially discriminatory immigration provisions affecting Asians.
• Lever Brothers and Shig Wakamatsu, by Mike Masaoka, page 7. Mike Masaoka praises Lever Brothers for allowing employee Shig Wakamatsu time to lead JACL. He argues that civic-minded corporations can benefit communities through such support.

JACL

• California senator invited to JACL convention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL president Shig Wakamatsu invited Senator Clair Engle to attend the 16th Biennial National JACL Convention in Sacramento. The invitation was extended during Wakamatsu’s visit to the Nation’s Capitol.
• Reappoint D.C. JACLers to judge national scholarship committee, by P.C. Staff, page 5. JACL president Shigeo Wakamatsu reappointed Dr. George Furukawa as chairman of the National JACL Scholarship Selections Committee, with Harvey Itano, Saburo Hasegawa, and John Yoshino. Dr. Takehiko Yoshihashi was added as the fifth member.

Community

• Issei ‘Johnny Appleseed’ distributes cherry trees, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Manken Toku Ishii of Turkey Hill, near Kerhonkson, New York, gives away Japanese cherry tree cuttings free of charge. After a 1956 accident he dedicated his life to planting trees and hosting city children on his farm.
• Nisei appointed acting county manager in Reno, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Washoe County commissioners appointed George Oshima, county engineer since 1958, as acting county manager. Oshima is a former Reno JACL chapter president who has served in county government for 12 years.
• Payette Sansei active in Idaho Key Club work, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Jan Iseri of Payette High School was elected governor of the Utah-Idaho District of the Key Club. He also earned DeMolay’s Order of Chevalier for outstanding service.
• Long Beach JACL picks straight A student as nominee, by Dave Y. Aoki, page 3. Denson Gen Fujikawa was chosen as the Long Beach-Harbor District JACL nominee for the 1960 National JACL scholarship. He graduated with a 4.0 average from Woodrow Wilson High and plans to attend Harvard.
• Nisei scientist finds vegetable oil as radiation antidote, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. James K. Ashikawa of the University of California reported promising results treating irradiated mice with vegetable oil injections. The treatment improved survival rates, though it must be given after radiation exposure to be effective.
• Over 66,000 Japanese estimated residing in Los Angeles County, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A savings and loan application cited a 1959 directory showing 18,143 Japanese families in Los Angeles County. Applying an average family size, the estimated population is about 66,948.
• Sansei named winner of Sears Roebuck scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Alan Terakawa of Salinas was selected to receive the Sears Roebuck scholarship from the Salinas Union High School board. He is a senior active in the California Scholarship Federation and other school programs.
• San Fernando JACL plans two scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The San Fernando Valley JACL will award two $50 scholarships to high school graduates showing leadership and scholastic achievement. Winners will be announced at the next general meeting.
• Chicago Club 1000 revue, by Jean Kimura, page 5. Jean Kimura describes the one-night Chicago Club 1000 revue at the Sheridan-Plaza Hotel, featuring comic acts, fashion, and sports skits. The performance was emceed by Mark Yoshinari and drew a lively crowd.
• Nisei bowling alley ground broken in Santa Fe Springs, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Groundbreaking took place for Premiere Lanes, a 32-lane Brunswick bowling center in Santa Fe Springs. The project is expected to cost over $1,250,000 when completed.
• Visiting novelist from Japan compares ‘children of setting sun’ with U.S. beatniks, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Novelist Yasunari Kawabata spoke at the University of Washington about Japan’s postwar lost generation and the Tribe of the Sun movement. He also commented on Zen Buddhism’s appeal among American intellectuals.
• Nisei seamstress voted Grange state sewing honors, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mrs. Henry Kondo of Vale, Oregon, won top honors in the Oregon State Grange sewing contest. Her coral Schiffli embroidered linen dress advanced to the national contest in New York.
• Los Angeles Issei social worker cited with DAR Americanism gold medal award, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Mrs. Minoru Hori, a longtime International Institute social worker, received the DAR Gold Medal of Americanism. She became the third person of Japanese ancestry to receive the award since 1957.
• Japanese students face hostility in New York after Tokyo riots, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Reports from New York describe Japanese Americans encountering hostility after the riots that canceled President Eisenhower’s visit. English editor George Kanazawa of the Hokubei Shimpo recounts these incidents.

National

• Washington Newsletter: National JACL Convention, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka previews the 16th Biennial National JACL Convention in Sacramento and credits convention board chairman Bill Matsumoto. He analyzes the long-term implications of the Japan riots for Japanese Americans.
• Congress approves $6 million to settle Bonin Island claims, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The House of Representatives passed a bill authorizing $6,000,000 to the Japanese government to settle claims of former Bonin Islanders. The payment resolves compensation for land taken during the war.

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