The loss of Walter Tsukamoto, and Kennedy’s inauguration

Vol. 52, No. 4, January 27, 1961. 4 pages. View this issue

The death of Colonel Walter T. Tsukamoto filled much of this four-page issue. A former national JACL president and Army judge advocate, he died of a heart attack in Heidelberg, Germany. Tributes came from Frank F. Chuman, Dr. Thomas T. Yatabe, Mas Satow, Mike Masaoka, Min Yasui and John Yoshino, along with friends in Sacramento. The paper also reprinted a 1956 tribute and excerpts from his 1940 convention address. Mike M. Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter turned to John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address and its call for national unity and sacrifice.

Chapter news ran through every page: installations in Southwest Los Angeles, Venice-Culver, Stockton, Berkeley, Oakland and Milwaukee, plus membership drives and scholarships. Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa wrote on diet and heart disease among Nisei, Saburo Kido recalled the first national JACL convention in Seattle in 1930, and a California bill to expand fair housing law was reported.

What’s in this issue

National

• Washington Newsletter: Kennedy Inauguration, by Mike M. Masaoka, page 1. Masaoka reflects on John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address and its call for national unity and sacrifice. He outlines the new administration’s early moves toward its promised frontiers program.
• U.S. immigration policy rapped by Ohio prelate, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Auxiliary Bishop John J. Krol of Cleveland criticized current U.S. immigration laws as based on an economic fallacy. He argued they effectively deny the right of migration.
• California Assembly bill to expand fair housing law sought, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Assemblyman Augustus Hawkins introduced a bill to strengthen California’s fair housing law against discrimination. The measure would expand enforcement and cover more housing types.

Community

• Mark Kiguchi elected ’61 president; Sunday set for installation rites, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Southwest Los Angeles JACL launches its 1961 membership drive with a goal of 1,500 members. Mark Kiguchi leads a newly elected board and a slate of chapter programs for the year.
• Jane Yamashita to head Venice-Culver, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Venice-Culver JACL board under president Jane Yamashita will be installed at a dinner with national JACL president Frank Chuman as speaker. Several local school and civic leaders will be honored as guests.
• Long Beach C.L. to enter bid for ’63 Kegfest, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Long Beach-Harbor District JACL plans to bid to host the 1963 National JACL Bowling Tournament. The chapter board made the decision at its December meeting.
• U.N. conference in Tokyo postponed, says Albuquerque Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ruth Hashimoto reports that a United Nations Association conference in Tokyo has been postponed. She was elected New Mexico state president of the association in the meantime.
• San Luis Valley CL installs Kunugi, honors Issei of fete, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The San Luis Valley JACL installed its 1961 cabinet headed by Jim Kunugi and honored Issei pioneers of the area. Seiji Horiuchi gave the principal inspirational address at the event.
• San Francisco Jr. JACL changing name, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The San Francisco Youth Group has renamed itself Junior JACL to affirm its affiliation with the organization. Dues and the reasons for the change are explained.
• Stockton JACL to install new officers Feb. 5, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Stockton JACL will hold its installation dinner-dance on February 5 at a local hall. A twenty-three member membership committee is pushing to top last year’s campaign.
• Nisei postmaster’s name sent to Senate, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Norlyuki Tashima has been appointed postmaster of Livingston, California, with his nomination sent to the Senate. He had served as acting postmaster for several years.
• Lechner resolution nipped by JACL intervention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A proposed California Assembly resolution commending Dr. John R. Lechner was blocked after JACL protested his wartime anti-Japanese record. The Assembly referred the resolution back to committee.
• Chapter index and news briefs on page 1, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Brief items report chapter installations, scholarships, membership drives, and local events across several JACL chapters. Each item notes officers elected and upcoming activities.
• Contra Costa CL to host NC-WNDC Feb. 12 quarterly, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Northern California-Western Nevada District Council will hold its quarterly meeting in Concord on February 12. Workshops, a banquet speaker, and chapter installations are scheduled.
• JACL-er’s daughter wins high school honors, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Nancy Endo, daughter of a San Fernando JACL leader, was named an Ephebian in her graduating class. She was also a winner of a JAY scholarship to a summer conference.
• Eden Township JACL elects S. Kawahara, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Eden Township JACL announced its 1961 officers and board members, to be installed at a February dinner. Speaker George Alcorn will discuss his recent visit to Japanese farmlands.
• Large turnout hears talk on juvenile delinquency, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Bonneville County prosecutor Eugene Bush spoke to a large joint JACL and JAYs meeting in Idaho Falls on juvenile delinquency. The chapter held a dance afterward.
• Girl named winner of first Alameda chapter scholarship award, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Victoria Shigeko Kadota received the Alameda JACL’s first annual $100 scholarship. She is studying to become a teacher at the University of California, Berkeley.
• Fresno chapter tells of program for 1961, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Fresno American Loyalty League outlines its membership drive and its planned events for the year. Events include an Issei recognition dinner and a community picnic.
• Rexburg JACL fetes Issei at chapter installation rites, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Rexburg JACL held a combined installation and Issei appreciation dinner. Speakers and a film on Japan were part of the evening’s program.
• Frank Yamasaki to head Berkeley JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Frank Yamasaki was elected president of the Berkeley JACL with a full cabinet and board for 1961. The article lists officers and returning board members.
• Idaho Falls Nisei cited by clubwomen, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mrs. Fred Hikida was one of eight finalists in the Idaho Falls Jaycettes’ Woman of the Year contest. Her church, teaching, and community work were recognized.
• Sanger JACL committee chairmen appointed, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sanger JACL president Kelly Ishimoto announced committee chairmen and cabinet officers for 1961. The list covers membership, Issei story, and youth adviser roles.
• Bank appoints Nisei assistant cashier, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Seizo Francis Oka was appointed assistant cashier of the Bank of Tokyo of California in San Francisco. His background includes wartime Counter Intelligence service and claims work for the Justice Department.
• Milwaukee installs Denis Makiya; Silver Pin awarded to Nami Shiio, by Cliff Dykstra, page 4. The Milwaukee JACL installed Denis Makiya and its new board and honored Nami Shiio with the JACL Silver Pin. Shig Wakamatsu reviewed progress on the Issei Story project.
• Cortez JACL bass derby winners for year announced, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Cortez JACL awarded its grand prize portable TV to Kelichi Yamaguchi for the year’s biggest bass. Runners-up in the derby are also listed.
• Long Beach elects Art Noda chairman, eyes 600 members, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Arthur Noda was chosen chairman of the Long Beach JACL as it sets a goal of 600 members. The chapter also outlined its 1961 calendar of events.
• Oakland JACL: Roy Endo elected president, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Roy Endo was elected 1961 president of the Oakland JACL, with Ken Matsumoto becoming board chairman. A joint installation dinner with Berkeley JACL is planned for February.
• Alien address report forms due by Jan. 31, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Aliens in Southern California are reminded that Address Report forms must be filed by January 31. The JACL regional office offers help to Issei filing their forms.

Obituaries

• Walter Tsukamoto succumbs, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Colonel Walter T. Tsukamoto, a former national JACL president and Army judge advocate, died of a heart attack in Heidelberg, Germany. His career, military service, and JACL leadership are recounted along with his survivors.
• Eulogies pour into Pacific Citizen for distinguished JACLer Frank F. Chuman, by Frank F. Chuman, page 2. JACL President Frank Chuman pays tribute to Colonel Walter Tsukamoto’s leadership during the turbulent prewar years in California. He praises Tsukamoto’s service and his role in protecting persons of Japanese ancestry.
• Old Friends in Sacramento remember Colonel Tsukamoto, by Old Friends, Sacramento, page 2. Sacramento friends recall Tsukamoto as the founder and five-time president of the Sacramento JACL. They honor his thirty years of military service and his devotion to his fellow Japanese Americans.
• Tsukamoto remembered by Min Yasui and the Washington D.C. chapter, by Min Yasui; John Yoshino, page 2. Min Yasui and John Yoshino remember Tsukamoto’s leadership and his chairing of JACL meetings. They note his lasting contributions to the organization.

Commentary

• Eulogies pour into Pacific Citizen for distinguished JACLer Walter Tsukamoto, by Frank F. Chuman; Dr. Thomas T. Yatabe; Mas Satow; Mike Masaoka; John Yoshino; Old Friends of Sacramento, page 1. Several JACL leaders and friends pay tribute to Walter Tsukamoto’s leadership, legal career, and devotion to Nisei rights. They remember him as a loyal American and a dedicated national leader.
• Eulogies for Walter Tsukamoto: Dr. Thomas T. Yatabe, Chicago, by Dr. Thomas T. Yatabe, page 2. Dr. Yatabe recalls meeting Tsukamoto as a student and remembers him as a tireless builder of the early JACL. He mourns the loss of a dear friend and devoted leader.
• Sick Walter T. Tsukamoto’s JACL contributions recalled in 1956 tribute, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A reprinted tribute from the 1956 Pacific Citizen anniversary edition recalls Tsukamoto as a loyal American and Nisei leader. It notes his Nisei of the Year honor and his service in the Army.
• East of the River: A Visit to a National Institution, by Richard Akagi, page 2. Akagi describes an interview with Marilyn Monroe at her New York apartment. He recounts the meeting and the atmosphere of her residence.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa examines research by physiologist Ancel Keys linking the American diet to higher cholesterol and heart disease among Nisei. He compares diets and rates of heart attacks in Japan, Hawaii, and Los Angeles.
• Living with JACL: The First Biennial, by Saburo Kido, page 4. Kido recalls details of the first national JACL convention in Seattle in 1930, drawing on a 1930 Japanese American Courier report. He discusses the convention’s round table topics and speakers.

Military & Veterans

• Gilroy Nisei cadet at Air Force Academy compiles outstanding record in 1st year, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Cadet William Sakahara of Gilroy earned places on the Dean’s and Superintendent’s Lists during his first year at the Air Force Academy. Congressman Charles Gubser praised his academic and military performance.

JACL

• Tsukamoto’s 1940 convention address on JACL’s purpose and chronic complaints, by Walter T. Tsukamoto, page 2. Excerpts from Tsukamoto’s 1940 opening address to JACL delegates describe the organization’s purpose and its defense of American ideals. He also addresses internal complaints and the need for a paid executive secretary.
• Chuman warns West L.A. JACL members to be registered voters, by Harry Honda, page 4. At the West Los Angeles JACL installation dinner, Frank Chuman urged all members to register to vote. He also called for chapters to take up community issues such as narcotics.

In-Depth

• First Day of School: Circa 1921, by Elmer Ogawa, page 2. Ogawa recounts a story told by an old friend about being sent to an all-white first-grade school and facing taunts. The story recalls prejudice and the struggles of a Nisei child in the 1920s.

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