Vol. 65, No. 22, December 1, 1967. 6 pages. View this issue
The Pacific Southwest District Council re-elected Ron Shiozaki as governor at its quarterly meeting, hosted by Arizona JACL. Delegates also voted to study reorganizing the district, including having the governor elected by chapters. Harry Honda reported from Phoenix. National President Jerry Enomoto praised the Ichiban District’s last meeting of the year in Salinas and urged support for the 1968 San Jose convention. Rep. Patsy Mink announced that a House committee had reported a more liberal citizenship bill.
On page 2, Mike Masaoka wrote about the return of the Bonin Islands to Japan and about Japan’s investment in Alaska. Bill Hosokawa looked back on a visit to Tokyo. Page 6 reprints three Arizona Daily Star editorials from 1942 and 1943 on the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans, along with a letter from Don Hayashi on how JACL could reach Sansei. Masao W. Satow paid tribute to Frank M. Nonaka.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- PSW Re-elects Gov. Shiozaki, Eyes District Reorganization, by Harry Honda, page 1. The Pacific Southwest District Council re-elected Ron Shiozaki as district governor at its quarterly meeting hosted by Arizona JACL. Delegates voted to study reorganizing the district council, including having the governor elected by chapters.
Commentary
- Keep It Short, Shirley, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. Enomoto praises the Ichiban District’s last quarterly meeting in Salinas and its informative dinner speakers. He also urges members to support the 1968 San Jose convention and the district youth fundraising efforts.
- Return of the Bonins, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka describes the Bonin Islands, which the United States will return to Japan, and JACL’s concern that the Navy discriminated against former residents of Japanese ancestry in allowing returns. He notes Hawaii’s congressional delegation helped those seeking to return.
- Japan in Alaska, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Japan has committed over $125 million to Alaska’s development, more than to all other states combined. Seattle JACLer Harry Kawabe is among leaders bringing Japanese and Americans together in Alaska’s economic growth.
- Tokyo Revisited, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa reflects on Tokyo’s persistent traffic, population and inflation problems on his latest visit, along with observations on Japanese fashion and physical appearance. He also describes dinner with a diverse group of Asian journalists and diplomats.
- Defense, the Japanese and State Laws, by Arizona Daily Star, page 6. A 1943 editorial criticizes an Arizona law requiring triple newspaper publication of business dealings with Japanese residents, citing a fine against Standard Oil for selling gasoline to a Japanese farmer. It calls the law ridiculous given the lack of any sabotage by these residents.
- Can We Continue?, by Don Hayashi, page 6. Hayashi argues JACL must address civil rights and ghetto tensions to attract Sansei, who feel disconnected from its Nisei-centered concerns. He urges the organization to broaden its focus to human rights for all minorities.
- Aware of Elk’s, by Buzz Noda, page 6. Noda explains the Watsonville JACL held its installation dinner at the Elks Club because few local facilities were available. He notes the local Elks have sought Oriental members and expects discrimination to end.
- Inouye Books, by Norman Ishimoto, page 6. The Washington D.C. Jr. JACL apologizes for delays in delivering Senator Inouye’s autobiography ordered through the group. The chapter explains delays from the publisher and the inadvertent rerun of an advertisement.
- On Being Exact, by Joe Oyama, page 6. Oyama corrects his earlier report on Sansei soloist Hiro Imamura, noting a misspelled word and a misleading headline. He clarifies that New York critics gave a good review rather than raves.
National
- More Liberal Citizenship Bill Reported, page 1. Rep. Patsy Mink announced the House Judiciary Committee reported a bill incorporating two of her proposals. It would waive the English requirement for naturalization for older residents and protect citizenship of children born overseas to alien parents who naturalize.
Obituaries
- Nonaka Dies, Was 82, page 1. Frank Masakazu Nonaka, a San Francisco pioneer merchant and community leader, died Nov. 18 at age 82. He chaired the JACL-ADC Committee in 1953 and was San Francisco JACL’s first 1000 Club Life Member.
- Frank M. Nonaka, by Masao W. Satow, page 3. Satow pays tribute to Frank Masakazu Nonaka, a San Francisco merchant and philanthropist who supported community organizations and JACL. Nonaka became a JACL 1000 Club member after naturalizing in 1954.
Community
- Oriental Ban on Marriage With American Samoans Not Against Them, But to Stop Ship-Jumping, page 1. American Samoa Governor Owen Aspinall defended his ban on a Korean fisherman marrying a Samoan woman as a measure to prevent crews from jumping ship. The couple filed suit challenging the refusal.
Incarceration & Redress
- Racial Question and the Japanese, by Arizona Daily Star, page 6. A 1942 Arizona Daily Star editorial questions the wartime uprooting and confinement of Japanese American citizens without evidence of disloyalty. It warns that if constitutional rights can be removed for one group, they can be removed for others.
- The Relocation of Japanese and Arizona, by Arizona Daily Star, page 6. A 1943 editorial responds to Governor Osborn’s committee report opposing Japanese American resettlement in Arizona. It argues the government’s relocation plan does not include aliens or defense areas and warns against stripping citizens of constitutional rights.
Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.