Vol. 64, No. 14, April 7, 1967. 6 pages. View this issue
Housing and civil rights ran through this six-page issue. The Washington JACL Office hailed Maryland’s new open occupancy law as a breakthrough for the Border States, and National President Jerry Enomoto wrote about the continuing shadow of Proposition 14 in California. On page 6, William Marutani described meeting Negro leaders in the South, and Harry K. Honda welcomed a federal ruling on school integration in six Southern states.
Other items include a profile of a Nisei soldier killed in Vietnam, and Los Angeles voters restoring pension rights to four Nisei water and power employees forced out in 1942. JACL announced its October tour of Japan and the Japan Air Lines summer fellowships. Bill Hosokawa wrote about Toyota and Datsun, and Joe Grant Masaoka traced the first Europeans in Japan. Plans for the 1967 Nisei Veterans Reunion in Hawaii were also announced.
What’s in this issue
National
- JACL hails Maryland housing bill as Mason-Dixon breakthrough, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Maryland’s General Assembly passed an open occupancy housing law before adjourning in late March 1967. The Washington JACL Office hailed the watered-down measure as a significant breakthrough, being the first such law passed by a Border State.
Commentary
- Prop. 14 Shadow, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. Enomoto comments on the continuing legacy of the struck-down Proposition 14 and the Senate confirmation of Burton Smith as Real Estate Commissioner. He commends Senator Song for opposing the appointment and argues that supporters of Prop 14 were wrong.
- Slavery & Evacuation compared, by Elmer Ogawa, page 2. Seattle Superior Court Judge Charles Z. Smith, speaking at the Seattle JACL installation dinner, praised Washington State for democratic opportunities for minorities. He noted Negroes suffered longer-lasting indignities under slavery than Japanese Americans did during evacuation.
- Heave Ho, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa reflects on the rise of Japanese automakers Toyota and Datsun in the American market since his 1950 visit to Tokyo. He highlights Toyota’s growth and profiles Toyota’s U.S. executive Shoji Hattori.
- Won’t all of you join the 1000 Club, page 3. The 1000 Club column urges members to join and encourages renewals, noting plans for a playful contest at the San Jose national convention. It also thanks Bill Hosokawa and Pete Hironaka for recognizing 1000 Club members.
- Quiet Dignity, by William Marutani, page 6. Marutani, JACL’s man in the South, recounts meeting Negro leaders with quiet dignity and describes a Carroll County, Mississippi, incident in which parents blockaded segregated school buses. Young Willie Blackman stood firm despite being struck by a deputy.
- Tokyo Topics: Centennial Poems, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 6. Murayama reports on Japan’s Meiji Centennial committee collecting materials about Japanese Americans from the early Meiji era. He includes poems dedicated to Kanaye Nagasawa, a pioneer who settled in Santa Rosa.
- Leadership Headache, by Roy Yoshida, page 6. Yoshida argues that leaders of organizations must expect criticism and that constructive criticism strengthens leadership. He praises National President Jerry Enomoto for sincere, tireless service despite disagreements over his positions.
Military & Veterans
- Kaneshiro killed in Vietnam trying to help wounded GI, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Nisei soldier Kaneshiro, 38, was killed March 6 near Bong Son while trying to rescue a wounded point man during a firefight. He had earlier received a Silver Star and was recommended for the Medal of Honor for the same action.
- Okinawa leader, page 1. Okinawan leader Matsuoka, chief executive of the Ryukyu Islands government, is profiled. The brief covers his background and political role.
- Nisei Veterans Reunion 1967 in Hawaii anticipated, page 3. The 1967 Nisei Veterans Reunion in Hawaii, June 27 to July 2, expects about 2,500 veterans and families. Senator Dan Inouye will be keynote speaker and Medal of Honor winner Hiroshi Miyamura will attend.
Community
- L.A. voters restore pension rights, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles voters appeared to approve Charter Amendment No. 4, restoring full pension rights to four Nisei Department of Water and Power employees forced out by evacuation in 1942. The measure needed only a majority to pass.
- Dayton JACL a charter member of new human rights council of 19 groups, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Dayton JACL chapter is a charter member of a newly formed Dayton Human Rights Council comprising 19 liberal-minded local organizations. The chapter sees its participation as a meaningful way to advance civil rights.
- Seattle JACL installation dinner, page 1. Seattle JACL installed new officers at its dinner, with Judge Charles Z. Smith and outgoing president George Iwasaki pictured. Tom Iwata took over as 1967 president.
- Teaching the Disadvantaged, page 2. Micki Nakagiri, wife of National JACL Youth Commissioner, took part in a summer institute for teachers of disadvantaged youth in Venice. She has taught at Pacoima Elementary School for years, and describes the school’s changing demographics and programs.
- Dr. Taketa president, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. Tom Taketa was re-elected president of the San Jose Community Youth Service, a post he has held since its founding six years ago. The organization offers athletic and social programs for boys and girls funded through community fundraising.
- Language school, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Valley Japanese Community Center in Gardena received three acres of land from a donor, with proceeds to fund a reestablished Japanese language school. The land was formerly the site of the Old Gardena Gakuen.
- Ye Ed’s: School Integration, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. The editorial welcomes a federal appeals court ruling requiring integration of public schools in six Southern states by fall 1967. It cautions that JACL must ensure the ruling is enforced and not evaded.
JACL
- JACL-Japan tour itinerary firmed, leaving Oct. 14, by P.C. Staff, page 2. JACL’s first national goodwill tour of Japan is set for October 14 to November 5, 1967, covering Tokyo, Nikko, Kamakura, Hakone, Nagoya, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka. Tour cost is $849 per person plus a $100 deposit.
- Evaluation sheet to select finalists for JAL summer fellowships revealed, by P.C. Staff, page 2. JACL’s national selection committee released a 125-point evaluation sheet for choosing two finalists per district for the JACL-Japan Air Lines summer fellowships. Districts must select finalists by April 21 for the July-August program at Sophia University.
- 3 more districts name JAL fellowship judges, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Akiji Yoshimura announced judges appointed to district screening committees for the 1967 JACL-Japan Air Lines Summer Fellowships. Eastern, Midwest and Intermountain districts named their representatives.
Sports
- PSW Nisei Relays slated at Venice High, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The 16th PSW Nisei Relays are scheduled for June 4 at Venice High School in Los Angeles. Application forms are available from the JACL Regional Office and competition divisions are listed.
In-Depth
- Japan Discovered, by Joe Grant Masaoka, page 3. Masaoka traces the arrival of the first Europeans in Japan to 1543, when three Portuguese castaways landed on Tanegashima. He examines the disputed claim of Fernando Mendez Pinto and the early history of Japanese contact with the outside world.
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