The 1961 membership drive and a final push to repeal Washington’s alien land law

Vol. 51, No. 15, October 7, 1960. 8 pages. View this issue

JACL chapters began their earliest-ever membership campaign for 1961, and the issue was built around it. H.H. called it an auspicious week for every JACL-er, while National President Frank Chuman wrote an open letter urging chapters to start the drive by October 1 and finish by March 31, 1961. National Director Masao Satow reported on chapter membership chairmen and restated JACL’s purposes. On the front page, the campaign to repeal Washington State’s defunct Alien Land Law entered its final phase, with fundraising at $21,209.51 as of Sept. 26.

Elsewhere in these eight pages, Mike Masaoka argued against renaming the Pacific Citizen, and Henry Mori described a visit to a Japanese Americans for Nixon headquarters in Little Tokyo. Bill Hosokawa wrote about Flower Drum Song and Taro Yashima’s children’s book. The sports pages covered Dan Inouye’s primary win in Hawaii, the Little Tokyo Giants’ baseball title, and a judo match between Southern and Northern California all-stars.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• An Auspicious Week for Every JACL-er, by H.H., page 1. JACL chapters begin their earliest-ever 1961 membership campaign this week, and the Pacific Citizen’s introductory issue is designed to alert members to the value of signing up early. The editor endorses National President Frank Chuman’s call for chapters to meet the membership and subscription deadlines.
• National Director’s Report: JACL Principles and Membership Drive, by Masao Satow, page 4. National Director Masao Satow restated JACL’s ten core purposes and reported on preparations for the 1961 membership campaign, with membership chairmen named across many chapters. He also noted that housing discrimination resolutions would be circulated to chapters.
• Frank Chuman Open Letter on Budget, Membership Drive, and P.C. Deadlines, by Frank Chuman, page 4. JACL National President Frank Chuman urges chapters to begin the membership drive by October 1 and complete it by March 31, 1961, warning that delays have left the organization behind in income. He stresses that the Pacific Citizen subscription drive and the Issei Story Project depend on timely completion.

National

• Washington Land Law Repeal Push in Final Bid, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The campaign to repeal Washington State’s defunct Alien Land Law entered its final phase with over 100,000 direct mail pieces being prepared, including Sen. Warren Magnuson’s endorsement. Fundraising totaled $21,209.51 as of Sept. 26, with contributions from JACL chapters, district councils, and individuals.
• U.S. Supreme Court to Consider Many Cases of Interest to JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S. Supreme Court opened its October term with nearly a thousand cases on its docket, including several involving civil rights, religious questions, and labor unions. The Court’s rulings on segregation, religious observance, and movie censorship may significantly affect Japanese Americans.
• Dan Inouye Supporters Warn Against Overconfidence After Primaries, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Congressman Dan Inouye received more than twice as many votes as his Republican opponent in Hawaii’s primary, but his wartime comrades and supporters warn against complacency for the November general election. The Bipartisan Volunteers for the Re-Election of Dan Inouye have launched a fundraising drive to support his campaign.
• Fresno Awaits Federal Decision on West Fresno Renewal Funds, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A decision was expected from the Federal Urban Renewal Agency on a planning and survey funds application for the West Fresno redevelopment project. Architectural sketches show a widened Chinese Alley with Chinese and Japanese design elements.
• Urban League Sets Golden Jubilee Events, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The National Urban League will observe its fiftieth anniversary in November with events including the issuance of a new 4-cent commemorative stamp. The organization works to improve living standards for America’s urban Negro population.
• JAL Starts Direct Jet Service to Seattle, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Japan Air Lines will begin direct jet service between Hong Kong and Seattle starting November 1, with a 12-hour, 55-minute flight including a three-hour stopover in Tokyo.

Community

• Seattle Japanese Community Participates in Seafair Festivities, by Elmer Ogawa, page 1. Seattle JACL’s Nancy Sawa served as a Princess-in-Waiting during the visit of Japan’s Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko, while the local chapter’s Seafair float and queen contest efforts produced a reserve balance for 1961. The chapter’s float won multiple parade awards, demonstrating Japanese community participation in summer festivities.
• Over 1,800 Attend Governor’s Conference on Aging, by P.C. Staff, page 1. More than 1,800 delegates gathered in Sacramento for the Governor’s Conference on the Aging to address the needs of California’s senior citizens. Recommendations included increased social security benefits, better medical care, low-cost housing, and changes to the Relatives Responsibility Law.
• Calorimetry Conference Elects Nisei Official, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. George Furukawa, an active Washington D.C. JACL member and physicist at the National Bureau of Standards, was elected secretary-treasurer of the Calorimetry Conference. He was also appointed chairman of a pilot project collecting calorimetric data from laboratories worldwide.
• Midwest JACL Office Moving by November 1, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Midwest Regional District Office, Chicago JACL, Credit Union Office, and Chicago Chapter Office will relocate on November 1 to larger quarters at 21 West Elm St. The move was necessitated by a Chicago Land Clearance Commission action requiring demolition of the current building.
• 13th Annual Christmas Cheer Fund Drive Proposes $3,000 Goal, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Los Angeles JACL Coordinating Council announced the 13th annual Christmas Cheer drive, aiming to raise $3,000 by mid-December. Jim Higashi was named chairman, and the program has served over 3,500 persons of Japanese ancestry in the past twelve years.
• Southwest L.A. JACL Plans Cheer Benefit Dance, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Southwest Los Angeles JACL will hold its 4th Annual Christmas Cheer Benefit Dance on November 5 at the Old Dixie Ballroom. The sports formal event will feature Victor Zola and his orchestra, with proceeds going to the holiday program for needy persons of Japanese ancestry.
• Shimanouchi Speaks at Nyssa Anniversary Dedication, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Henry T. Shimanouchi, counselor at the Japanese embassy in Washington, D.C., addressed an audience at the tenth anniversary dedication of the Nyssa Memorial bandstand in Oregon. He discussed the recent riots in Japan and the cancelled Eisenhower visit as evidence of the need for democratic unity.
• CCDC to Determine Chapter Quotas at Oct. 23 Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Central California District Council will set 1961 quotas for its chapters at a meeting on October 23 in Selma. Committees are also preparing reports for the December 4 CCDC Convention.
• Chicago Jr. JACLers Plan Election Tonight, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Chicago Jr. JACL will hold its annual election for the 1960-61 cabinet at the Olivet Institute. The group is also planning a fall and winter program and reevaluating its policy and goals.
• Sacramento JACL Calls for Cage-Minded Youth, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Sacramento JACL is sponsoring a fall youth basketball league for youngsters ages 12 to 15 at Joaquin Miller Jr. High on Saturday afternoons. Toko Fujii is in charge of the program.
• Pocatello JACL Plans to Raise Chapter Dues $1, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Pocatello JACL raised annual dues from $3.50 to $4.50 to cover the increase mandated at the national convention. The chapter also awarded its $200 National JACL Scholarship to Anne Kanomata, who is studying at Idaho State.
• Pocatello JACLyns Slate Annual Election Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Pocatello JACLyns auxiliary will hold its election of new officers at a November 14 meeting in Blackfoot. A baked goods auction will follow, with proceeds going toward the Christmas dinner.
• Sacramento JACL Chapter Dues Set at $4.50, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sacramento JACL set 1961 chapter dues at $4.50 per individual and $7.50 per married couple, a $1.50 increase. The dues now include a Pacific Citizen subscription, which previously cost extra.
• Selma JACL to Celebrate 10th Anniversary Oct. 22, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Selma JACL will mark its tenth anniversary with a dinner on October 22 at Bruce’s Lodge, where all past chapter presidents and Issei aged 70 and older will be honored. Harry Hoegh, a former Selma High teacher, will be the main speaker.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa praises the musical Flower Drum Song for its warmth and its gentle push for racial tolerance, and notes the need to document Nisei history for the JACL’s proposed definitive history. He also reviews Taro Yashima’s children’s book The Golden Footprints and Dan Kurzman’s biography of Nobusuke Kishi.
• Vacationers Moved by Small Town’s Big Heart, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Koki and Aya Kumamoto, Chicago JACLers, visited an injured Japanese war bride in a South Dakota hospital after a town waitress and residents showed her great concern. Her grateful reaction moved the couple deeply.
• Michener to Speak at New York JACL Installation Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist James A. Michener will be the principal speaker at the New York JACL Installation Dinner on October 20 at Grant Center. The dinner will feature several varieties of sushi.
• Chicago JACL Dinner Honors Chapter Leaders, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Chicago chapter held its annual business meeting and elected new board members, while Shigeo Wakamatsu spoke on JACL purpose. The evening concluded with refreshments and square dancing.
• Hawaii Republicans Talk Politics at Nisei Chapter Meeting, by Emily Higuchi, page 4. Dr. Tak Yoshihashi spoke at the Washington D.C. JACL chapter meeting about the Nisei’s Japanese heritage and how public attitudes toward Nisei may shift during US-Japan tensions. He urged caution by Nisei organizations in international matters involving Japan.
• Ballots for Fashion Show Proves Huge Success, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The San Francisco JACL Women’s Auxiliary held its seventh annual fashion show, Ballots for Fashion, at the Fairmont Hotel before nearly 300 guests. The event featured fall fashions including fur-trimmed suits, knits, and cocktail dresses.
• Imperial Gardens Sukiyaki Restaurant Welcomes JACLers, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Imperial Gardens in Hollywood welcomed JACL members with George Furuta as host. The restaurant advertised its sukiyaki cuisine to the community.

Arts & Entertainment

• Taro Yashima Publishes Fifth Book for Children, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Artist and author Taro Yashima has released The Golden Footprints, a children’s book he illustrated and translated from a story by his friend Hatoju Muku. The tale follows a hunter’s son who befriends a captured baby fox.

Commentary

• Juvenile Delinquency Report, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Japanese American Youth, Inc. reported on juvenile arrests in Los Angeles-area communities for May through July, noting relatively low numbers among Nisei youth. The column credits active parental supervision and encourages parents to chaperone teen dances.
• An Interesting Recipe, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. The editor shares a kamaboko (fish cake) recipe published in the Washington D.C. JACL News Note and wonders whether West Coast housewives will attempt the labor-intensive preparation. He notes that kamaboko is now readily available in local supermarkets.
• Washington Newsletter: Preserving the Pacific Citizen Name, by Mike Masaoka, page 6. Mike Masaoka opposes any proposal to rename JACL’s Pacific Citizen, arguing the name has earned a distinguished reputation through decades of advocacy for minorities. He contends that changing it would confuse readers and diminish the publication’s standing.
• Newsletter: Political Party Rivalry and a Nixon Headquarters Visit, by Henry Mori, page 7. Henry Mori recounts a telephone solicitation for Kennedy campaign funds and describes a visit to a Japanese Americans for Nixon headquarters in Little Tokyo. He ends with his children’s puzzlement over their father’s Nixon badges.
• Washington Newsletter: Comments on the Times, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Mike Masaoka argues that Americans of Japanese and other non-white ancestry have a unique role to play in reaching the newly independent nations at the United Nations. He also praises the Crown Prince and Princess’s visit to Washington and supports Japan’s pro-American Prime Minister Ikeda.

Military & Veterans

• Chicago JACL Votes 10 New Members to Executive Board, by P.C. Staff, page 3. At its annual business meeting, the Chicago Chapter JACL elected ten new members to its 21-member board and filled several other leadership posts. The meeting also approved a by-law amendment replacing the Issei liaison vice-president with a public relations vice-president.
• Inouye Sweeps Primaries with 92,000 Votes, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Incumbent Congressman Daniel K. Inouye won the Democratic nomination in Hawaii’s primary, defeating Phil Bird by a wide margin. Republican Frederick Titcomb was unopposed in the primary.

Sports

• Controversy Rises in Lottery for Olympic Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Japanese Premier Hayato Ikeda opposed a proposed lottery to finance the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, though Tokyo Governor Ryutaro Asuma supported it. The plan would sell tickets priced between 80 and 50 yen with proceeds divided among prizes, the Olympic fund, and miscellaneous expenses.
• Nisei Among Japan All-Stars to Meet S.F. Giants, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Shortstop Carleton Hanta and outfielder Wally Yonamine were selected for the Japanese all-star team facing the San Francisco Giants in a goodwill series. The first game is scheduled for October 22 in Tokyo against the Tokyo Giants.
• Vacaville’s Ron Minamine Tabbed Player of Week, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Vacaville High’s Ron Minamine, a Nisei running back, finished the 1959 California high school scoring race at the top and was named Prep Player of the Week by the San Francisco Examiner after scoring 45 points in one game. He amassed 1,735 rushing yards in his previous season.
• Tokio Giants Win Muny Baseball Crown, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Little Tokyo Giants captured their first Muni American flag title with a victory over the L.A. Calts, finishing with an 18-3 record and a 14-game winning streak. Ace pitcher Yosh Arima led the pitching staff.
• So. Cal Judoists Defeat Visiting No. Cal All-Stars, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Southern California judo all-star team defeated a Northern California squad at Koyasan Hall, winning the point-match competition 105-80. San Jose State’s Iwasaki was voted the tournament’s outstanding judoist.

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