Vol. 66, No. 12, March 22, 1968. 6 pages. View this issue
Nominations for the Nisei of the Biennium, JACL’s highest award, opened in this six-page issue, with a June 15, 1968 postmark deadline and the award to be conferred at the 20th biennial convention in San Jose. National President Jerry Enomoto used his column to urge support for Jeffrey Matsui’s Green Power project in Watts, and Matsui continued his Sounding Board series on the Nisei dilemma. Bill Hosokawa’s address to the national bowling tournament banquet in Seattle recalled the fight against racial exclusion in bowling.
Elsewhere, a Nisei woman spoke on Chicago radio about prejudice after Pearl Harbor and her brothers’ service in the 442nd and 100th Battalion. Roger Nikaido wrote on casting in Oriental roles, William Marutani on the Vietnam War, and Rep. Patsy Mink on the draft. A KNXT rebroadcast of Ralph Story’s Little Tokyo documentary was announced.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- Nisei of the Biennium Nominations Now Open, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Nominations are open for JACL’s highest award, the Nisei of the Biennium, honoring Japanese Americans who advanced community welfare over the past two years. Entry forms are being circulated to chapters with a June 15, 1968 postmark deadline, and the award will be conferred at the 20th biennial convention in San Jose.
- Japan Air Lines-JACL Summer Fellowships Awarded, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Four winners of the 1968 JAL-JACL Summer Fellowships will study at Sophia University in Tokyo and tour southern Japan, staying at the New Otani Hotel. Applications are due April 15 through district governors, with eligibility limited to applicants at least 21 years old.
Commentary
- Echoes from the Sounding Board, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. National President Jerry Enomoto urges JACL members to support Jeffrey Matsui’s Green Power project in Watts, a plan to harness the energy of unemployed youth for productive work. He also reflects on Frank Chuman’s $2,500,000 challenge and asks readers whether National JACL should provide financial aid to the project.
- Getting into Show Biz, by Roger Nikaido, page 2. Washington Newsletter columnist Roger Nikaido reports on the Oriental Actors of America’s complaint against casting non-Orientals in Oriental roles on Broadway and in media. He argues Japanese American performers and the JACL must promote authentic Asian images in entertainment.
- Make-Girai & Vietnam, by William Marutani, page 2. Attorney William Marutani reflects on the Japanese American trait of make-girai, the stubborn aversion to losing, and how it shapes his views on the Vietnam War. He ponders whether the war should be seen through to a conclusion despite his doubts about the moral direction of the conflict.
- Nisei Dilemma II, by Jeffrey Matsui, page 4. Matsui argues Japanese Americans should move beyond complacency and become active citizens working for a better America. He questions whether the community’s acceptance is secure and calls for greater engagement.
- Hair Cuts, by Yosh Hotta, page 4. Yosh Hotta humorously reflects on generational conflicts over long hair and school busing. He suggests the JACL’s executive reorganization must genuinely serve members rather than merely changing its structure.
- Editorial: The Sunday Papers, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. Editor Harry Honda reflects on how Sunday newspapers now feature serious commentary on Vietnam, civil disorder, and population growth. He summarizes views from Barbara Tuchman, Sen. Henry Jackson, and others on the war and national crises.
- Letter: About a Caption, by John J. Saito, page 6. John Saito objects to a caption on the Boise Valley Jr. JACL officers photo that attributed particular qualities to individuals. The editor agrees and closes the matter.
- Letter: Not a Dilemma, by Ronald S. Iseri, page 6. Ronald Iseri responds to Jeffrey Matsui’s column, arguing that the Issei and Nisei earned their acceptance through sacrifice and that dissent that invites hostility is unwise. He calls for continued law-abiding conduct and education.
Military & Veterans
- White Racism Rapped Hard by Nisei on WBBM’s Town Meeting of the Air, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hawaii-born Nisei Mrs. James Tanabe spoke on WBBM’s Town Meeting of the Air about prejudice she experienced after Pearl Harbor and as a young woman in Japan. She described how her brothers served in the 442nd and 100th Battalion while her family faced suspicion, and she urged listeners to reconsider discrimination against children.
- Orange County Sansei Killed in Vietnam, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Lance Cpl. Roger K. Yamanaka of Costa Mesa was killed by shrapnel wounds in February 1968 while serving in Vietnam. The 20-year-old was the son of YMCA secretary James Yamanaka and is survived by two sisters.
- Nisei Ex-Airman Flying with United as Flight Engineer, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Former US Air Force veteran Morita, a Reedley native, is now a second officer and flight engineer with United Air Lines, flying out of Los Angeles. He completed United’s training after 12 years of Air Force service where he learned to fly.
- Bill Hosokawa Address: The Nisei, Bowling and Civil Rights, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. In an address to the 1968 National JACL Bowling Tournament banquet in Seattle, Bill Hosokawa recounts the fight against ABC and WIBC racial exclusion policies, which Nisei bowlers won with help from many allies. He urges Nisei to remember their friends and extend a helping hand to others facing discrimination today.
Community
- PSWDC Prepares for May 3-5 Confab Rally, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Southwest District Council will hold its pre-convention rally May 3-5 at the Hacienda Hotel in El Segundo, featuring oratorical finals, a Miss Jr. JACL contest, and a banquet with Congressman Spark Matsunaga. The event also includes nominations for national offices and discussions of issues facing chapter delegates.
- Nisei Selected to Local Draft Board, by P.C. Staff, page 1. William Tanaka, a Madera clinical laboratory technologist and community leader, was appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan to serve on Selective Service Board No. 64. He has lived in Madera for 14 years with his wife and four children.
- Sounding Board: Jeffrey Matsui on Nisei Dilemma II, by Jeffrey Matsui, page 4. Jeffrey Matsui continues his column on Nisei dilemmas, arguing the community must question its complacency about having ‘made it’ and must act for social change. He urges Nisei to become more politically active and engaged in civil rights issues.
National
- Alien Land Law Ruling Benefits Nisei Family Favorably in Income Tax Saving, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An accountant helped the Kobayashi family save about $20,000 in income taxes after the IRS recognized that land bought in the son’s name was actually purchased with the father’s money under the unconstitutional Alien Land Law. The case relied on tracing bank records and the Oyama precedent, and the family benefited from a stepped-up basis at death.
- Rep. Mink Wants Draft Modernized, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Patsy Mink will co-sponsor legislation to modernize the Selective Service System, including a lottery selection method, vocational training for rejected men, and deferments for students and apprentices. The bill parallels a Senate measure introduced by Sen. Edward Kennedy.
Arts & Entertainment
- Ralph Story’s ‘Li’l Tokio’ Repeated on KNXT, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Ralph Story’s documentary on Little Tokyo, seen through the eyes of Charles Kamayatsu, will be rebroadcast on KNXT Channel 2 on March 24 at 6:30 p.m. The program offers a look at the community’s history and character.
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