Kennedy takes office, and JACL turns to housing bias and aging

Vol. 52, No. 3, January 20, 1961. 4 pages. View this issue

John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the youngest elected President in history, and Mike Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter on the front page reflected on the mood of the country as the Eisenhower years ended. The same page followed discrimination in housing and jobs: San Francisco’s mayor said he was surprised housing was more segregated than ever, and the President’s Committee on Government Contracts called discrimination America’s most destructive social and economic problem. John Yoshino reported on the JACL policy on aging adopted at the White House Conference.

Elsewhere, Saburo Kido’s Living With JACL series recounted the 1930 road trip to the first National JACL Convention. Fred Takata was honored at a testimonial dinner as he left his post as regional director. Chapter news covered Mile-Hi, Monterey Peninsula, San Jose and Detroit, and the Nisei VFW reunion at Anaheim and the National JACL Bowling Tournament in San Jose were announced.

What’s in this issue

National

• Kennedy Era Dawns as Youngest Elected President Sworn In, by Mike Masaoka, page 1. John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the youngest elected President in history, ending the Eisenhower administration. The article reflects on the public mood of concern and the new President’s stated vision for the Presidency and the nation.
• San Francisco Mayor Surprised Housing Is More Segregated Than Ever, by P.C. Staff, page 1. San Francisco’s mayor responded to charges that housing was more segregated than ever before, stating he was surprised by the claim. Council for Civic Unity leaders warned that racial discrimination was stunting the city’s development and called for private action to end housing segregation.
• Discrimination Labeled America’s Most Destructive Social Problem, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The President’s Committee on Government Contracts, after seven years of combating job discrimination, labeled discrimination America’s most destructive social and economic problem. It recommended expanding the equal opportunity principle to grant-in-aid programs, federal housing subsidies, and government agreements, and renewed its call for a permanent statutory commission.
• Expansion of State Anti-Bias Law in Housing Urged, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Washington State Board Against Discrimination proposed legislation to extend anti-discrimination rules to private sellers and renters of real property. The action followed an incident in which a University of Washington football player was refused an apartment because he is Negro.
• Nisei Assigned to U.S. Embassy Post in Moscow, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ichiro Mori, a former St. Louis JACL president, has been assigned as an attache at the American Embassy in Moscow, believed to be the first Nisei named to serve in the Soviet Union. He is a State Department architect who previously supervised U.S. consulate buildings in Japan.
• Emperor Would Give Warm Welcome to Ike in Japan Visit, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Imperial Household officials said Emperor Hirohito would extend a warm welcome to President Eisenhower should he visit Japan in September or October. The Emperor would follow a precedent set by his grandfather in welcoming President Grant.
• How 5,200 50-Star Flags Were Flown Over Nation’s Capitol Last July 4, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hawaii’s senators and representative purchased about 100 of the 50-star flags flown over the Capitol on July 4 for distribution to schools, offices, and veterans’ groups. Each recipient received a certification letter confirming the flag’s history.
• Seattle General Hospital Charged With Race Bias, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seattle General Hospital was ordered to desist from racially discriminatory hiring after a state board found a job application form was used to screen out a Nisei woman seeking dietary kitchen work. Investigators found the hospital employed only white workers in that department.

Community

• Mile-Hi JACL Installs New Board at Annual Recognition Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Mile-Hi JACL in Denver installed a completely new 21-member board at its annual recognition and installation event on New Year’s Eve. Outgoing president Oki Taniwaki reviewed the chapter’s activities and recognized those responsible for the year’s projects.
• Tulare County JACLer Named to Irrigation Board, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hisao Yoshieu was appointed to the board of directors of the Stone Corral Irrigation District by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. He will serve a four-year term.
• Nisei Student Helps Put Out Dormitory Fire, Gets Burnt, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Howard Kato, a senior at Oregon State College, suffered serious burns on both legs while helping a friend extinguish a fire in a dormitory room before the Christmas holidays. The incident is reported as a brief news item.
• Selma Nisei Preparing Geologic Maps for State, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Thomas Iwamura of Selma is assisting a statewide project to prepare geologic maps of California for the State Department of Natural Resources. He and a colleague have been mapping portions of the area around Ukiah.
• Reedley Chapter Puts JACL Plaque on City’s Welcome Sign Posts, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Reedley JACL chapter posted its emblem on the welcome posts at both city entrances as a community public relations project. The project was largely completed through the efforts of Eddie Yano, and Selma JACL followed with a similar post.
• Denver Nisei Chosen for 1961 Grand Jury, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Henry Mabe of Denver, believed to be the first Nisei selected for a grand jury in a metropolitan area, was among 32 jurors chosen. The panel will continue investigating matters including the Denver jail.
• Sansei Youth Group Presents Panel of Americans Program, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The San Francisco Sansei Jr. JACL sponsored a Panel of Americans program at San Francisco State College, featuring speakers of diverse backgrounds discussing differences in American culture. The panel’s purpose is to foster understanding through exposure to diverse perspectives.
• Ex-San Francisco Nisei Bound for Brazil Position, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Frank Fukui, a former San Francisco resident who studied at Hitotsubashi University in Japan, stopped briefly in the city en route to Rio de Janeiro to manage a Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha branch office. His parents operated a grocery store on Sutter and Buchanan before the war.
• Bakersfield JACL Prepares for CCDC Session, Supports AID Program, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Bakersfield JACL, with 66 members, pledged full support for the local AID program at its first general meeting of the year. The chapter will host the next CCDC meeting on February 5.
• Downtown L.A. JACLer Earns Bank Promotion, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Frank Omatsu, an active Downtown Los Angeles JACLer, was promoted to assistant cashier at the Sumitomo Bank of California’s Los Angeles branch. He is the third Nisei appointed an officer at that office and will serve as a loan officer.
• Reedley JACL Plans Activities and Community Picnic, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Reedley JACL named five members to committees for 1961 activities and planned a community picnic co-chaired by Hitomi Shimizu and Hiso Tokioka. A newly completed trophy case was donated to the Japanese Hall by Kimura Trucking and Ben Uyeda.
• Eleven Children Aided During 1960 by Shonien Program, by Henry Mori, page 2. The Shonien program aided 11 children in 1960 through placement and support services. The article describes how families are assisted with board and care costs under the program.
• Downtown LA JACLer Earns Bank Promotion, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Frank Omatsu was promoted to assistant cashier at the Sumitomo Bank branch in Los Angeles, the third Nisei officer there. His promotion was unanimously approved by the board of directors.
• Tulare County JACLer on Citrus Society Board, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Don Kurihara of Orosi, a Tulare County JACLer, was elected to the board of directors of the California Citrus Nurserymen’s Society. The society is concerned with orange seedling propagation and variety improvement.
• Left-Turn Divider Causes Auto Mishap, Four Injured, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Four Japanese Americans were injured when their car struck a divider on State Highway 11-G near Moses Lake, Washington, skidded into a ditch, and overturned. Driver Nobuo Moriwaki was charged with negligent driving.
• New Quarters Planned for Philadelphia I.I., by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Philadelphia International Institute plans to move to the Locust Club building to accommodate expanded services and additional space. Local JACLers attended an open meeting about the proposed purchase.
• Issei Poem Read Before Emperor, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mrs. Chino Koga of San Francisco attended the Imperial New Year’s Poetry party in Tokyo, where her prize-winning tanka was read before the Emperor. She described the honor as the best memory of her life.
• Yamasaki on Jury to Pick Architectural Honoree, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Minoru Yamasaki of Michigan was named to the five-member jury selecting the 1961 R.S. Reynolds Memorial Award for architecture. Yamasaki is an active 1000 Club member of the Detroit JACL.
• Publisher’s Wife Beaten by Thugs, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mrs. Akahori, wife of the publisher of the Town Crier in Little Tokyo, was attacked by a would-be robber while waiting near 1st and Clarence Streets. She was hospitalized with a concussion and skull fracture.
• National JACL Bowling Tournament Award Dinner Features Congressman Inouye, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The 15th National JACL Bowling Tournament in San Jose will feature Hawaii Congressman Daniel K. Inouye at the awards dinner on March 11. Hawaii bowlers will be prominently represented in honor of Hawaii statehood.
• Sacramento Bowlers Continue to Support JACL, Three-Fourths Renew for 1961, by Shig Sakamoto, page 3. Despite dropping the JACL membership requirement for the local Nisei bowling tournament, three-fourths of Sacramento bowlers renewed their JACL memberships for 1961. The tournament will be held February 4-5 at Country Club Lanes.
• Monterey Peninsula JACL Installs New Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Frank Tahara was elected president of the Monterey Peninsula JACL, which hit an all-time membership high. National JACL Director Mas Satow will serve as installing officer at the February 5 ceremony.
• Sonoma County Chapter Membership Drive Undaunted by Dues Increase, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Sonoma County JACL is nearing its goal of 300 members despite the national dues increase, with 282 memberships turned in by early January. A tentative calendar of chapter activities for 1961 was also outlined.
• Chicago JACL Kid Basketball Off to Successful Start, by P.C. Staff, page 4. More than 50 youngsters enrolled in the Chicago JACL Youth Commission’s first season of Kid Basketball. The program is coached by volunteers including Waller High School coach Shig Murao.
• Portland JACL Starts 1961 Membership Campaign, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Portland JACL launched its 1961 membership drive with fees of $5 per person and $9 per couple. Past president George Gokami is campaign chairman.
• Chicago JACL Credit Union Declares 4½% Dividend, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Chicago JACL Credit Union declared a 4½ percent dividend for 1960, the highest in its 13-year history. Members elected a new board of directors at the annual meeting.
• San Jose JACL Elects Eiichi Sakauye President, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Eiichi Sakauye, the first chapter president after San Jose JACL was reactivated in 1946, was elected 1961 president. Akiji Yoshimura, past national vice-president, will be the guest speaker at the installation.
• Idaho Falls JACL Winter Carnival Set for Saturday, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Idaho Falls JACL will hold its annual Winter Carnival at the remodeled Armory with homemade noodles, bazaar booths, and games. The chapter earlier heard a cancer society presentation at its first meeting of the year.
• Detroit JACL Installation Dinner to Feature Michigan Supreme Court Justice, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Michigan Supreme Court Justice George Edwards will speak at the Detroit JACL installation dinner-dance January 28 at the Statler Hilton. Tickets are $6.50 for dinner and dance.

JACL

• JACL Policy on Aging Adopted by White House Conference, by John Yoshino, page 1. The White House Conference on Aging adopted a policy favoring financing of medical care for the aged through Social Security, despite opposition from the health section. The recommendations will be sent to the President for enabling legislation.
• Issei Background Cited as Factor in JACL Policy Statement, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The JACL adopted a policy statement at the White House Conference on Aging recognizing the cultural, language, and heritage backgrounds of Issei and their Nisei children. The statement called for these backgrounds to be respected in social service planning.

Commentary

• Living With JACL: Saburo Kido Series Recovers Historic Files, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Saburo Kido’s Living With JACL series prompted him to search the historic files of the New World Sun and related Japanese newspapers, which he located in a San Francisco shop. The editorial praises the series and the rediscovered archives.
• One More Column, Fred, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editors pay tribute to Fred Takata as he concludes his service as regional JACL director, praising his dedication to meeting deadlines and his contributions to the Pacific Citizen. They note his reliability as a contributor despite his preference for handwritten drafts.
• Changing of the Guards: Hawaii Democrats in Dilemma Over 1962 Senate Race, by Dan Horio, page 2. Hawaii Democrats face a potential conflict between Senator Oren Long and Congressman Daniel Inouye over the 1962 Senate seat. Long may seek a full term, while Inouye is anxious to move up to the Senate.
• U.S. Dollar Policy Rapped by JAL Head, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Seijiro Yanagita, president of Japan Air Lines, criticized the recent U.S. dollar policy as an informal American boycott of foreign carriers. He argued that such policies undermine international trade and tourism.
• Ruth Mayes Reports on Masaoka’s Lobbying Career, by Saburo Kido, page 4. Saburo Kido argues that Mike Masaoka, the most successful lobbyist in Washington, deserves recognition for his decades of work benefiting Japanese Americans and Issei. He reflects on the Walter-McCarran Act and the Evacuation Claims Act as major achievements.
• U.S. Lagging on Understanding of Problems in Africa, by Emily Higuchi, page 4. Congressman Robert O’Hara warned at the Washington D.C. JACL installation dinner that the United States is failing to respond to Africa’s needs for development and self-rule. He noted that African states increasingly associate the U.S. with colonial powers.
• Living With JACL: Part Two, The Trip to the First National Convention, by Saburo Kido, page 4. Saburo Kido recounts the 1930 road trip from San Francisco to Seattle for the first National JACL Convention with five companions. He describes the convention’s opening session, resolutions passed, and the early constitution of the organization.

Military & Veterans

• 442 Veterans Club Elects G-2, 442 RCT Veteran as President, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Kenneth Saruwatari of Honolulu, a 442nd RCT veteran who served in Military Intelligence, was elected 1961 president of the 442 Veterans Club. He also serves as executive director of the Hawaii Cancer Society.
• Cal-Vet Rights for Evacuees to Be Assured, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A bill introduced in the California State Senate would qualify Nisei veterans who were evacuated and enlisted from other states for Cal-Vet farm and home loans. The bill is referred to the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.
• National Nisei VFW Reunion at Anaheim, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The 11th annual National Nisei VFW convention will be held at Disneyland Hotel February 17-19, hosted by the newly organized Kazuo Masuda Memorial Post in Orange County. Seiji Yamauchi is general chairman.
• Japanese Decorations Conferred on Maryknoll Bishops and Priests, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Two bishops and two priests of the Maryknoll order were among 298 Americans honored in Tokyo as benefactors of Japan. The honors recognized their contributions to Japan’s progress over the past century.

Obituaries

• Great Kato Dies After Wrestling Bout in Canada, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Stanley Mayeshiro, 42, who wrestled as The Great Kato, died following a match in Vancouver in January. Funeral services were held at Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple.
• Fred Takata’s Testimonial Ends With Overflow of Praise and Thanks, by Harry Honda, page 4. Southern California JACLers honored outgoing regional director Fred Takata at a testimonial dinner, presenting him with a scroll and wrist watch. Takata will join the Taiyo-Do Travel Bureau, and no successor has been named.

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