Vol. 53, No. 25, December 22, 1961. 44 pages. View this issue
The forced removal of some 110,000 Japanese Americans in 1942 was the subject that ran through this 44-page holiday issue. An editorial on the front page, “An American Crown Jewel,” argued that the community’s recovery since the war showed democracy at work. Mike Masaoka reviewed an Army history of the War Department’s decision-making in his “Command Decision” piece. Excerpts from a 1954 JACL statement to a House Judiciary Subcommittee described the property losses of the World War II incarceration (often called internment), including the families of Terminal Island, who had 48 hours’ notice. Saburo Kido recalled the days at JACL headquarters after Pearl Harbor.
Other pages looked at the present. Bill Hosokawa urged Nisei toward a broader outlook, Larry Tajiri wrote on Nisei actors, and Henry Mori asked what lay ahead for Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. About 33 of the 44 pages carry holiday greetings from JACL chapters and others.
What’s in this issue
Incarceration & Redress
- An American Crown Jewel, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The editors argue that the Japanese American redress and recovery since WWII demonstrates democracy at work in the United States. The editorial reflects on the 1942 mass evacuation as a violation of constitutional rights that must never be repeated.
- Evacuation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. This introduction to the holiday issue’s evacuation-themed coverage recalls the arbitrary removal of some 110,000 Japanese Americans to inland camps after Pearl Harbor. It frames the Command Decision series and JACL case histories as a reminder of the lasting sting of the evacuation.
- Command Decision, by Mike Masaoka, page 1. Masaoka reviews an Army history chapter detailing the War Department decision-making behind the 1942 mass evacuation of Japanese Americans from the West Coast. He argues the decision reflected political pressures and was ultimately made by the President as Commander in Chief.
- JACL Statement: Losses Incurred by Evacuees, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Excerpts from a 1954 JACL statement to a House Judiciary Subcommittee catalog property losses suffered by evacuees during forced removal. The article documents urban and rural losses, sacrifice-price sales, vandalism, and government policy failures.
- Terminal Islanders Were Evicted on 48-Hour Notice, by P.C. Staff, page 6. This JACL statement article describes the hardships of Japanese families evacuated from Terminal Island on short notice. It details forced sales of property, losses on leases and goods, and the difficulties evacuees faced in disposing of belongings.
Commentary
- A Broader View, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa’s speech to the CCDC convention urges Nisei to move beyond self-consciousness and embrace a broader role as Americans in a world struggling with democracy. He argues Americans of Asian ancestry can contribute to developing nations and urges a wider outlook.
- Living With JACL: After Pearl Harbor, by Saburo Kido, page 8. Kido recounts events at National JACL Headquarters after December 7, 1941, including emergency council meetings and the rush to respond to growing anti-Japanese hostility. He describes the pressures leading to evacuation and the organization’s efforts to demonstrate loyalty.
JACL
- Nisei of the Biennium, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The article explains the JACL’s Nisei of the Biennium awards, which recognize distinguished community leadership and outstanding achievement, and describes the nomination and selection process. Past recipients are listed.
Military & Veterans
- Nisei Actors Come of Age, by Larry Tajiri, page 8. Tajiri surveys the growing presence of Japanese American actors on Broadway and in Hollywood during the 1950s, from Teahouse of the August Moon to Flower Drum Song. He notes how roles have moved beyond stereotypes toward leading performances.
Community
- Whither Li’l Tokio?, by Henry Mori, page 9. Mori examines Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo, which has rebounded after wartime removal and now faces redevelopment and rezoning pressures. He discusses merchants’ hopes and the possibility of large investor-driven projects reshaping the district.
- Hi-Co Conference: Sound Investment in Youth, by P.C. Staff, page 9. The article describes the Hi-Co Conference, an annual Southern California gathering for high school and college students of Japanese ancestry that promotes leadership, cultural heritage, and career awareness. It traces the event’s founding and notable participants.
- Dawn on the Desert, by Hutchion Ohnick, page 10. This In-Depth feature profiles Hutchion Ohnick, an Issei pioneer who established gas and electric utilities in Phoenix, Arizona in the 1880s. It traces his business ventures and the development of the city’s early lighting infrastructure.
Obituaries
- Hutchion Ohnick Biography Summary, by Henry Unger, page 10. A brief closing note on the Ohnick saga traces the later history of Arizona’s utilities through the merger that formed Arizona Public Service Co. It credits Ohnick as a pioneer of the state’s utility industry.
Sports
- Chapter Reports: Long Beach-Harbor Year in Review, by Ruby Mio, page 13. A rhyming chapter report recaps the Long Beach-Harbor JACL’s 1961 activities, including dance classes, blood bank cooperation, a benefit movie, and sports programs. It highlights leaders and events throughout the year.
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