A Buddhist bishop at Placer County’s dinner, and the 1968 election

Vol. 67, No. 21, November 22, 1968. 6 pages. View this issue

A Buddhist bishop’s praise for the Issei opened this six-page issue. Bishop Kenryu Takashi Tsuji spoke at the Placer County Japanese American Citizens League’s 28th annual dinner, honoring the Issei for their pioneering spirit, as reported by Roy Yoshida. Elsewhere on the front page, Bill Hosokawa urged veterans at the second national MIS reunion to take on social ills at home, and Senator Daniel K. Inouye told California’s county supervisors that U.S. attitudes toward Asia needed rethinking.

The election shaped much of the rest. Mike Masaoka reviewed Richard Nixon’s record on Japanese American issues, Allan Beekman reported on Hawaii’s results, and Raymond S. Uno looked back on his narrow loss in Utah’s state senate race. Also inside: a Seattle crime report from Elmer Ogawa, Al Hatate’s election as Pacific Southwest District Council governor, and Cincinnati JACL’s variety show, Autumn in Japan.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Buddhist Prelate Lauds Placer Fete as Americanism at Its Best, by By ROY YOSHIDA, page 1. Bishop Kenryu Takashi Tsuji praised the Placer County Japanese American Citizens League’s 28th annual dinner as a living testimony to Americanism at its best. He honored the Issei for their pioneering spirit and their counsel to Nisei to look to the future rather than dwell on the prejudiced past.
• PSWDC Board Elects Al Hatate District Governor, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Alfred Hatate of Downtown L.A. JACL was elected Pacific Southwest District Council governor at the quarterly meeting in Pasadena. The council also amended its constitution, raised per capita dues, and heard National JACL President Jerry Enomoto call for chapters to become relevant again.
• Not Safe Anymore to Walk, Drive Through Seattle Central District, by Elmer Ogawa, page 1. Robberies in Seattle’s central and Capitol Hill areas rose sharply in early November, with Japanese Americans among the victims. The author describes muggings and armed holdups occurring even in daylight near his home.
• Hawaiians Reject Constitutional Change to Drop Voting Age to 18, by Allan Beekman, page 1. Hawaii voters approved 22 of 23 constitutional amendments on November 5 but rejected the Eighth Amendment lowering the voting age to eighteen. The amendments include legislative reapportionment following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
• Japanese Garden Design for Orange County Civic Center Adopted, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Orange County Japanese American Community Service board unanimously adopted a design for a Japanese garden at the new civic center complex in Santa Ana. Landscape experts donated their design work, estimated at over $5,000.
• Florin JACL Stages Week-Long Bass Derby, page 1. Florin JACL announced a striped bass derby running December 1 through 8 with cash and merchandise prizes. Weigh-in deadline is December 8 at local bait shops.
• Post-Election Reactions: Japanese Business Circles Cautious, page 3. Japanese business leaders expect little basic change in U.S. policy toward Japan under Richard Nixon but fear trade protectionism and tariffs. Financial circles anticipate demands for greater Japanese international economic cooperation.
• West Los Angeles JACL Auxiliary Aids Local Charities, page 4. The West Los Angeles JACL Auxiliary elected new officers and reported donations to local charities, churches, and institutions from cookbook sales. A Christmas party is planned for December 8.
• Cincinnati JACL Production Autumn in Japan Enjoyable, page 4. The Cincinnati JACL staged its first theatrical variety show, Autumn in Japan, at the Taft Theater before an audience of about 1,200. Performers included Japanese Wives, Jr. JACLers, and the National School of Self-Defense.

Commentary

• Tribute to Hubert Humphrey, page 1. The writer reflects on Vice President Hubert Humphrey’s defeat in the presidential campaign, praising his decades of work for equal opportunity and minority rights. The column argues his lasting accomplishments outweigh campaign criticisms from disillusioned liberals.
• Nixon and JACL, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Mike Masaoka reviews Richard Nixon’s record on Japanese American issues, from his congressional votes on evacuation claims and naturalization to his support for minority employment. He argues Nixon has an unusually strong understanding of Japanese Americans.
• Hosokawa Reunion Column, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa recalls the second national reunion of MIS veterans, describing reminiscences about language school training and wartime exploits. He highlights the special contributions of Kibei members as true language experts.
• Buddy Uno Always Rocked Niseidom With His Stories, by Iwao Kawakami, page 3. Iwao Kawakami recalls his acquaintance with journalist Buddy Uno, whose Nisei Melodrama series impressed readers in the 1930s. He describes Uno’s energy and interest in Japanese heritage.
• Uno Campaign Reflections, by Raymond S. Uno, page 5. Raymond Uno reflects on his narrow defeat in the Utah state senate race, describing a campaign run on personal qualifications and issues. He hopes the effort showed voters that Japanese Americans are good citizens and opened the way for other minorities in politics.

Military & Veterans

• Hosokawa Calls MIS Veterans to Battle Present-Day Social Ills, by Bill Hosokawa, page 1. At the second national MIS Veterans reunion banquet in Los Angeles, Bill Hosokawa urged veterans to fight hunger, disease, poverty, and racial injustice at home. He described civil rights as an unfinished mission belonging to all Americans.
• Early Nisei Trio Served in Military Intelligence, by Allan Beekman, page 3. Allan Beekman reports on the election success of Senator Dan Inouye and Representatives Spark Matsunaga and Patsy Mink in Hawaii. He describes the campaigns and how Honolulu Mayor Blaisdell’s late candidacy failed.

National

• U.S. Attitude on Asia Needs Rethinking, Inouye Tells Supervisors, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senator Daniel K. Inouye told the County Supervisors Association of California that any Vietnam cease-fire should be supervised by neutral Asian troops. He urged Americans to prepare for coexistence with Communist China and to treat Asians as equals.
• Naturalization Eased, page 1. Brief report on changes easing naturalization requirements. Content is limited in the OCR text.

Obituaries

• Rev. Fujii Remembered, page 5. A tribute recounts the life of Rev. Fujii, a Buddhist-born convert to Christianity who served Northern California congregations for decades. His devoted service to Nisei youth conferences is remembered.

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