Vol. 57, No. 21, November 22, 1963. 6 pages. View this issue
Civil rights ran through this six-page issue. Mas Hironaka of San Diego was re-elected to a third term as chairman of the Pacific Southwest District Council, which also approved “in principle” an EDC-MDC proposal for a National JACL civil rights fund. The front page reported on California’s Rumford Fair Housing Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act, a Tacoma housing law headed for a March referendum, and a regional equal employment conference where Nisei leaders heard from panelists. Mike Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter turned to state reapportionment.
Also inside: Kaz Horita’s column on the JACL’s public image and a report that JACL membership stood at 17,508, with San Jose in the lead. Larry Tajiri reviewed a television drama on Dr. Kildare that showed a Nisei doctor and his wife. Page 5 carries the next part of Tamotsu Murayama’s profile of Sazo Idemitsu, who rebuilt his oil company after World War II.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Mas Hironaka Re-elected Head of PSW District, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Masaaki Hironaka of San Diego was re-elected to a third consecutive term as chairman of the Pacific Southwest District Council at its Sunday meeting in Culver City. The rest of his cabinet, including Ronald Shiozaki, Mike Shimizu and Frances Ishii, was also re-elected.
- Linc Shimidzu Heads Chicago JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Lincoln Shimidzu was elected chairman of the Chicago JACL board and will be installed at the 19th annual inaugural dinner-dance on Nov. 30. Mark Yoshizumi is the outgoing chairman.
- Sacramento Organizations to Honor Judge Sakuma, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Newly appointed Sacramento Municipal Court Judge Mamoru Sakuma will be honored by VFW Post 8985, the Hiroshima Kenjinkai and the Sacramento JACL at a testimonial dinner on Dec. 5. Tickets are $5 per person.
- Civil Rights Chief Topic for CCDC Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 3. An agenda for the Central California District Council convention in Fresno shows civil rights as a major topic, with national JACL officers scheduled to speak. The council’s official position is that equal civil rights can be legislated but community acceptance cannot.
- Chapter Clinic and Leadership Session Held in Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The PSWDC chapter clinic at the Veterans Memorial Building featured discussion groups on leadership and an address by National Director Mas Satow. Awards were presented to newsletter editors at the luncheon.
- Civil Rights Task Force Organized for Northern California, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Northern California Democrats formed an 11-member civil rights task force headed by Assemblyman Byron Rumford. The group was announced by the northern section party chairman.
National
- EDC-MDC Proposal for Civil Rights Fund Approved ‘in Principle’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Southwest District Council approved in principle an EDC-MDC proposal to establish a National JACL civil rights fund, subject to approval of the purposes for which it would be used. Contributions would be voluntary, with no chapter quotas and no tax deductibility.
- San Fernando Valley Apartment Owners Cited by FEPC in Housing Law Test Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The first formal accusation under California’s Rumford Fair Housing Act charges a San Fernando Valley real estate agent with refusing to rent an apartment to a Negro retired government aide. The agent does not dispute the refusal and says he wants the law tested in the courts.
- State Supreme Court Upholds Unruh Act, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Supreme Court cleared the way for the Attorney General to proceed with suits charging builder Don Wilson with discrimination in sales of tract homes under the Unruh Civil Rights Act. The court denied Wilson’s petition for a hearing on a lower court decision.
- West Coast Nisei Leaders Hear Grievances at Regional Equal Employment Opportunity Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japanese American leaders attended a regional President’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity conference at the Ambassador Hotel, where no Nisei raised grievances from the floor. Panelists noted subtle bias and limited advancement for Nisei in supermarkets and other fields.
- Inferiority Feelings Among Whites, Negroes Viewed as Root of Racial Discrimination, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Two psychologists told the Southern California Psychiatric convention that racial discrimination stems from feelings of inferiority in both whites and Negroes. They argued that such feelings lead whites to project inferiority onto Negroes and that Negroes may internalize the myth.
- Tacoma Housing Law Certified for March Referendum, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Opponents of Tacoma’s open housing ordinance submitted enough valid signatures to force a referendum. The council must either repeal the ordinance or place it on the March ballot.
Military & Veterans
- Harry Matoba, Americanization Instructor for Past 12 Years in Denver, Honored, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Harry G. Matoba of Denver received a Certificate of Community Service from the United Veterans Council for teaching citizenship classes to Japanese immigrants for 12 years. He also assisted more than 500 Issei in becoming U.S. citizens after winning a court case on the wartime service bar.
- Waseda Hikers Complete Cross-Country Tour, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Five Waseda University students hiking across the United States from San Francisco arrived in New York on Nov. 14, nearly a month ahead of schedule. Their eight-month journey covered more than 200 cities and towns.
Commentary
- State Reapportionment, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Washington Newsletter examines the U.S. Supreme Court’s review of state legislative apportionment cases, including the imbalance in California where one senator represents Los Angeles County. The column explains how rural control of legislatures has been challenged in courts across several states.
- JACL Image, by Kaz Horita, page 2. The author argues that the JACL must communicate with all Americans of Japanese ancestry, members and nonmembers alike, to shape its public image. He suggests the organization study its image and listen to its own people to strengthen membership.
- Chairman’s Parting Remarks, by Idaho Falls JACL, page 2. Outgoing Midwest District Council chairman thanks colleagues and reports on the MDC’s support of the JACL civil rights statement. He calls on chapter presidents to recognize long-serving past chapter leaders.
- Vagaries, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. Tajiri’s column discusses the lack of Japanese American representation in entertainment and notes the few films and novels that touched on the wartime experience. He hopes forthcoming works will tell the story.
JACL
- JACL Membership Tops 17,500; San Jose Leads, by P.C. Staff, page 3. National JACL membership as of Nov. 3 stood at 17,508, nearly 300 more than 1962 despite a dues increase from $2 to $3. San Jose JACL led all chapters with 1,005 members.
Obituaries
- Mrs. Mutsu Takao Remembered, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Tribute to a longtime JACLer whose contributions to chapter life were recognized by members. The notice honors her service.
Arts & Entertainment
- The Japanese American Story, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. Tajiri reviews a television drama on Dr. Kildare that presented a Nisei doctor and his Japan-born wife in a fresh, non-stereotyped light. He surveys how the wartime evacuation story has been treated in film and literature.
In-Depth
- The Idemitsu Story, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 5. A multi-part profile of Sazo Idemitsu, who rebuilt his oil company after World War II by salvaging oil, defying critics, and securing deals with Iran and Kuwait. The story traces his rise to running one of Japan’s largest petroleum operations.
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