Vol. 51, No. 24, December 9, 1960. 8 pages. View this issue
Chapter leadership took up much of this eight-page issue. Mikio Uchiyama of Fowler was elected chairman of the Central California District Council, and Reedley was named Chapter of the Year. The paper also revived its series profiling chapter presidents, and installation reports covered Ellen A. Kubo in Placer County, Jane Yamashita in Venice-Culver, Dr. Roy Okamoto in Sonoma County and Joe K. Sagami in Chicago. On civil rights, California groups, JACL among them, put a fair housing law at the top of their program for 1961.
Elsewhere, a Holiday Issue novelette by Take and Allan Beekman recounted Hawaii’s 1908 plantation strike. Harry K. Honda and Tamotsu Murayama wrote about Japan’s Diet election, and Mike Masaoka reviewed the incoming 87th Congress. John J. McCloy, who approved the 442nd, was named as a possible secretary of defense. Sports pages followed Nisei football and bowling honors.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Sketchbook of Chapter Presidents, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Citizen is reviving its series profiling chapter presidents, with plans to run up to four per week. Chapters are asked to submit a 250-word biography, a black-and-white photo, and information on their goals for 1961.
- Uchiyama Elected CCDC Chairman; Reedley Wins ‘Chapter of Year’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mikio Uchiyama of Fowler was elected chairman of the Central California District Council at its convention in Fresno. Reedley JACL was named CCDC Chapter of the Year, and Attorney General Stanley Mosk addressed the banquet.
- Youth Commission in Chicago Formed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Chicago JACL Youth Commission under Lincoln Shimidzu launched its first program, a kids basketball program at Olivet Gym for ages 12 to 15. Former Chicago Nisei basketball stars assisted the coaches.
- Tokyo Topics: Socialist-Communists Gain, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. Tokyo correspondent Tamotsu Murayama analyzes the Japanese Diet election results, showing the Socialist-Communist share rising while the Liberal-Democrats held power. He notes that many U.S.-educated politicians were elected.
- Ellen A. Kubo Elected Placer County JACL President, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Ellen A. Kubo of Penryn became the first woman president of the Placer County JACL at a potluck dinner in Loomis. She is secretary to the Placer County TB and Health Association.
- Mile-Hi JACL Reorganizes, Reveals Slate of 21 for 15-Member Board, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Mile-Hi JACL adopted a new constitution changing the chapter from a cabinet system to a 15-member board of governors. A 21-person nominating slate was presented for membership vote on Dec. 11.
- Venice-Culver JACL Elects Jane Yamashita President, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Venice-Culver JACL elected Jane Yamashita as president for 1961 along with a new cabinet. The chapter launched its membership drive and planned an installation dinner-dance in January.
- Sonoma County Elects Dr. Roy Okamoto as President, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Dr. Roy Okamoto of Sebastopol was elected president of the Sonoma County JACL for 1961. The board also pledged financial support for a 1962 campaign to repeal Washington state’s alien land law.
- Chicago JACL Installs Joe K. Sagami as President, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Joe K. Sagami succeeded Hiro Mayeda as president of the Chicago JACL at installation ceremonies. The board also approved a dues increase from $4 to $5 for singles.
- Gil Furusho Installed as Chicago Jr. JACL Prexy, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Gil Furusho succeeded Harold Arai as president of the Chicago Jr. JACL. The new cabinet was installed alongside the chapter board at North Park Hotel.
- Dale Okazaki Named Selma CL President, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Dale Okazaki was elected president of the Selma JACL, and the cabinet was announced. The women’s auxiliary also named new officers and the chapter donated $25 toward a whirlpool at Selma High School.
- Long Beach Chapter Nominations Told, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Long Beach-Harbor District JACL presented a slate of 12 nominees for its board, with ballots to be tabulated later in the week. The chapter planned to install its 1961 board on Dec. 10.
- Puyallup Valley JACL Elects Tosh Tsuboi; Works on Issei Story, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Puyallup Valley JACL announced Tosh Tsuboi as its 1961 president. The chapter also began work on the national Issei Story project by listing outstanding Issei and their contributions.
- Five Denver Sansei Become Eagle Scouts, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Five AJA Scouts in the Denver area were inducted as Eagle Scouts at ceremonies at George Washington High School. Ray Okumura and Ronald Sakayama were the first CSMC-unit Scouts to achieve the rank.
National
- Strong Anti-Bias Housing Law No. 1 Target of Cal. Civic Groups, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A coalition of California civil rights groups, including JACL, adopted a legislative program led by a fair housing law barring discrimination in all housing. Attorneys representing the organizations are drafting bills for the 1961 legislative session.
- Washington Newsletter: 87th Congress Organization, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Mike Masaoka reviews the final results of the November congressional elections and the expected organization of the 87th Congress. He highlights the re-election of Nisei-relevant members including Congressmen Inouye, Saund, and Kastenmeier.
- President Declares Conference on Aging ‘A Great Step Forward’, by P.C. Staff, page 8. President Eisenhower called the White House Conference on Aging, set for January 12, a great step forward for older citizens. JACL’s Mike Masaoka was named an official participant by Frank Chuman as part of the California delegation.
- Movies to TV Held Anti-Trust Violation, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A federal judge ruled that Loew’s Inc. and five other film firms violated the Sherman Antitrust Act through block-booking old movies to TV outlets. JACL had long protested television broadcasts of films that impugned the loyalty of Japanese Americans.
Incarceration & Redress
- Supreme Court Orders Bus Terminal Restaurants in South to Serve Without Bias, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that bus terminal restaurants are an integral part of interstate bus service and may not segregate passengers. JACL’s Washington Office recalled WWII incidents in which Nisei and Negro troops were refused service while German prisoners were served.
Military & Veterans
- McCloy, Who Approved Formation of 442nd, May Be Secretary of Defense, by P.C. Staff, page 1. John J. McCloy, who as assistant secretary of war approved the formation of the all-Nisei 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry, may be named secretary of defense in President-elect Kennedy’s cabinet. McCloy is a former U.S. High Commissioner to Germany.
Commentary
- Editor’s Desk: Japanese Elections, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. The Liberal-Democrats were returned to power in Japan’s Lower House election, though with fewer votes than in 1958. The editorial notes the steady growth of the Socialist-Communist front, particularly among young urban voters.
- To Our PC Reader in Afghanistan, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. The editor notes surprise that a PC subscriber, George Hiraga, is receiving the paper at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. The piece adds a brief history and geography of Afghanistan.
In-Depth
- Hawaii’s Great Japanese Strike of 1908, by Take and Allan Beekman, page 2. A 12,500-word novelette in the Holiday Issue recounts the Higher Wage Association’s 1908 effort to win equal pay for Hawaii’s Japanese plantation workers. It describes the strike, the jailing of the Association leaders, and their legal defense.
Sports
- Larry Iwasaki Picked First Stringer in All-Conference Eleven, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. Seven members of the title-winning Fresno State Bulldogs were named to the first team of the AAA California Collegiate Athletic Association football squad. Nisei fullback Larry Iwasaki was among those selected despite injuries that sidelined him.
- Nisei Grid Players Earn Additional Honors, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Rod Somera of Washington High was named to the San Francisco Examiner’s All-Metropolitan team. Rin Minamide of Vacaville received All-Inland Empire backfield honors despite a leg injury this season.
- Two Oregon Nisei Prep Gridders Share Honors, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Bob Shiraishi and Butch Ogawa shared the 1960 Unsurpassed Football Player award from the Ontario Youth Activity Committee. Both were co-captains of the Ontario High School team that won its league championship.
- Match Game Champ Averages 203, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Thomas Bones Yamasaki won the 1960 Hawaii State Individual Match Game bowling championship. He became the first Hawaiian to reach 300 Petersen points.
Obituaries
- 1934 JACL President Dr. T. T. Hayashi Honored by UC Alumni, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Dr. Tokutaro Terry Hayashi, a former JACL president, was honored by the Japanese Alumni Association of the University of California. The article traces his dental career in San Francisco and his community leadership.
- Ed Yamato, Downtown L.A. JACLer, Dies of Heart Attack, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Ed Yamato, a prominent Los Angeles Nisei employment agency operator and 1000 Club member, died of a heart ailment at 59. He had helped thousands of Nisei from Hawaii resettle and was active in community affairs.
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