Vol. 52, No. 7, February 17, 1961. 4 pages. View this issue
A record 174 teams, 126 men’s and 48 women’s, were set to bowl in San Jose from March 6 to 11 at the National JACL Bowling Tournament, and the front page of this four-page issue carried the plans. Chapters were asked to send membership cards to headquarters promptly as the event drew near. Also on page one: Maj. George Kanegae of West Los Angeles was retiring from the Army after joining in 1941.
Columnists took on Hollywood and the paper itself. Larry Tajiri traced anti-Japanese villains in film from 1909 onward, and readers wrote in about the Pacific Citizen’s new newspaper-size format. John Ball, Jr. argued that Little Tokyo needs careful redevelopment to draw visitors. Saburo Kido continued his recollections of early JACL history, and National President Frank Chuman spoke to chapters in Coachella Valley and Orange County. The Issei Story looked at pioneers of the Puyallup Valley.
What’s in this issue
Community
- San Jose to Greet 174 Teams for National JACL Bowling Tournament Mar. 6-11 at Mel’s Palm Bowl, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A record 174 teams, including 126 men’s and 48 women’s teams, will compete in the National JACL Bowling Tournament in San Jose March 6-11. Chapters are encouraged to submit membership cards to headquarters promptly as the tournament nears.
- Out-of-Towners Scoop Wins at Sacramento NBA Bowling Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Bowlers from outside Sacramento won most of the top prizes at the Sacramento Nisei Bowling Association tournament held at Country Club Lanes. Benkyo-Do of San Francisco took first place in the men’s team event.
- San Francisco JACL Chapter of Year Report, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. Dr. Clifford Uyeda reports on San Francisco JACL’s activities in 1960, which earned it the chapter of the year award for the fourth consecutive year. Highlights include Issei recognition events and community programs.
- NC-WNDC Exposes Housing Discrimination on Peninsula, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Members of the San Francisco Council for Civic Unity exposed housing discrimination on the San Francisco Peninsula at the NC-WNDC banquet. The district council also voted on several measures including opposition to honoring Dr. Lechner.
- Community-Minded Coachella Valley JACLers Can Be Greater Help to National, by Harry Honda, page 4. National President Frank Chuman urged Coachella Valley JACL members to help document the Issei story and address community issues like housing and immigration. He praised chapters that are deeply integrated in local community life.
- Orange County JACLers Urged to Take More Active Interest in Community Affairs, by P.C. Staff, page 4. National President Frank Chuman urged Orange County JACL to take a more active role in community affairs at its inaugural dinner. Civic leaders and officials attended the installation of Henry Kanegae as chapter president.
- Monte Carlo Night Enjoyed by Mt. Olympus JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Mt. Olympus JACL staged a Monte Carlo night with games of chance using play money, drawing over 50 members. Prizes were awarded to the top winners.
Military & Veterans
- West L.A. JACLer Due Military Retirement, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Maj. George Kanegae, an active West Los Angeles JACLer, is retiring from active military service after joining the Army in 1941. He served in military intelligence during World War II and is among the first Nisei volunteers from West Los Angeles.
Obituaries
- Dr. Mitsuda, Japan Authority on Leprosy, Wins Award, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Mitsuda, a world authority on leprosy, is receiving an international award for his research and pamphlets on the disease. The award ceremonies are planned for Tokyo early this year.
National
- Cal-Neva JACL Credit Union Has 4 Percent Dividend, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Cal-Neva JACL Credit Union reported its best year since formation and will pay a 4 percent dividend to shareholders. The credit union holds its annual dinner meeting in Sacramento.
Commentary
- Li’l Tokio as a Tourist Mecca, by John Ball, Jr., page 2. A downtown L.A. JACLer responds to Henry Mori’s column by arguing that Little Tokyo needs careful redevelopment to attract visitors. He suggests relocating the district to a planned area similar to San Francisco’s Japantown.
- Format Reaction, by Letters, page 2. Readers respond to the Pacific Citizen’s newspaper-size format, with some praising its dignity and readability and others preferring the older tabloid size. Letters from Orange County and San Luis Valley JACL members are included.
- Living with JACL: The First Biennial, Part I Conclusion, by Saburo Kido, page 4. Kido recalls early JACL history, including the 1930 convention in Seattle and the naming and organization of early chapters. He describes the rivalry between Northern California and Southern California districts in those formative years.
Arts & Entertainment
- Objectionable Filmfare, by Larry Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri traces Hollywood’s long history of anti-Japanese villain stereotypes from 1909 onward and the JACL’s protests against wartime films. He notes that other groups now object to similar stereotyping and argues that such protests are justified when they harm minorities.
- Nisei Artist Robert Kinoshita Quits TV Post to Organize Hollywood Film Company, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Nisei art director Robert Kinoshita resigned from ZIV Inc. to co-found Four Crown Productions, a film company capitalized at $200,000. The company’s first project is the science fiction film Phantom Planet.
Sports
- Fuzzy Shimoda Signs with Fresno Entry in Pro Keg League, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Bowler Fuzzy Shimoda of Santa Clara has signed with the Fresno team in the National Bowling League, which begins play in October. Shimoda, a multiple state champion, was originally on the draft list of the Dallas team.
In-Depth
- The Issei Story: Puyallup Valley Pioneers, by P.C. Staff, page 3. This installment outlines a committee plan for documenting the history of Issei pioneers in the Puyallup and White River Valleys near Tacoma. It identifies community leaders to interview and explains why Japanese immigrants settled in the area.
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