Vol. 75, No. 20, November 17, 1972. 6 pages. View this issue
A six-page issue built around Dr. Thomas T. Yatabe, who was set to give the keynote address at the Central California District Council convention hosted by Fremont JACL. A profile on page 2 follows his career from his Fresno dental practice through the American Loyalty League to his postwar service to JACL. Elsewhere on the front page, protests followed a union subway poster reading ‘Made in Japan,’ demonstrators disrupted the groundbreaking for Seattle’s domed stadium, and Allan Beekman reported on Hawaii’s election results.
The commentary page includes Jerry Enomoto’s ‘Our Wishbone Offense’ and Dr. Roy Doi’s look at conformity in Japanese society. Page 4 carries General Charles Willoughby’s account of Nisei linguists during the Occupation of Japan, and page 5 has book reviews of Yoshiko Uchida’s ‘Samurai of Gold Hill’ and a manual for reading Japanese. An exhibit of art from the camps, ‘Months of Waiting,’ was shown at the California State Capitol.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Dr. T. T. Yatabe to Address CCDC, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Thomas T. Yatabe, founder of the National JACL, will deliver the keynote address at the Central California District Council convention hosted by Fremont JACL. The convention includes installation of new officers and a panel on Nisei and Sansei issues.
- Seattle Domed Stadium Groundbreaking Disrupted by Protesters, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Demonstrators, including Asian American activists, disrupted the groundbreaking ceremony for Seattle’s domed stadium, objecting to construction in the International District. Officials stated the stadium would proceed despite the protest.
- 5th Generation Japanese American Installed as San Diego JACL President, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Vernon T. Yoshioka was elected and sworn in as San Diego JACL president, joining a board whose members were chosen by ballot. The chapter also recognized outgoing board member Mrs. Karen Ishizuka Capp for securing funding for a sports program.
National
- Seattle’s Anti-Import Subway Poster Protested by ILGWU, by Craig Smith, page 1. The ILGWU ran a subway poster reading ‘Made in Japan’ in New York, prompting protests from Asian American groups who argued it fosters racism. The union’s leadership had already been pressed to withdraw the campaign.
- Hawaii Elections Return Incumbents; Republicans Gain Ground, by Allan Beekman, page 1. Incumbent Democrats including Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi and Reps. Patsy Mink and Spark Matsunaga won reelection, though facing stronger Republican competition. Democrats retained their majority in the State House and won Hawaii County’s mayoralty.
- Little Tokyo Denizen Paul Nakaoka Hijacks JAL Jet in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Paul Tateuji Nakaoka, a Los Angeles resident and former Japanese army officer, was captured after hijacking a Japan Air Lines flight demanding $2 million and passage to Cuba. Police said he had lived in Little Tokyo and Eagle Rock and had been a familiar figure in the community.
Incarceration & Redress
- ‘Months of Waiting’ Art Exhibit Displayed in State Capitol, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An exhibit of art by Japanese Americans depicting wartime relocation was displayed at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The works document life in the camps during World War II.
Commentary
- Our Wishbone Offense, by Jerry Enomoto, page 2. The columnist argues that Sansei and Nisei have distanced themselves from their heritage and rural roots, and urges Japanese Americans to confront that history. He calls on the community to take responsibility for its own identity.
- Perspectives, page 2. The writer reflects on recent JACL developments, including the appointment of Barry Matsumoto as Washington Representative and efforts to recruit regional staff. He also praises JACL’s opposition to Proposition 21 and the revived JAY youth program.
- A Nisei View of Japan: Factions and Conformity, by Dr. Roy Doi, page 2. Dr. Doi examines conformity and factionalism in Japanese society, drawing on his experiences as a researcher in Japan. He contrasts these pressures with the more individualistic attitudes of Nikkei in America.
JACL
- Dr. Thomas T. Yatabe: Father of the National JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 2. This profile traces Dr. Yatabe’s career from his Fresno dental practice and founding of the American Loyalty League through his wartime internment and postwar service to JACL. He is recognized as the first national JACL president and a leading advocate for Japanese Americans.
Military & Veterans
- Nisei Cultural Efforts in Post-War Japan Recalled by Gen. Willoughby, by Gen. Charles Willoughby, page 4. General Willoughby recounts the role of Nisei linguists in MacArthur’s intelligence operations during the Occupation of Japan. He argues their contributions deserve fuller recognition in the historical record.
- Draft Evader Gets Two-Year Prison Term, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A draft evader was sentenced to two years in federal prison for refusing induction. The case is noted as part of broader debates over the Vietnam-era draft.
Arts & Entertainment
- Samurai of Gold Hill by Yoshiko Uchida, by Allan Beekman, page 5. Yoshiko Uchida’s children’s book follows a young samurai’s journey from feudal Japan to the failed Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony in California. The reviewer praises its characterization and illustrations.
- Breakthrough in Japanese Teaching: Manual for Reading Japanese, by Hilary Conroy, page 5. Dale Crowley’s manual teaches Japanese characters in order of usage frequency, using Japanese government research to guide study. The reviewer notes its strong pedagogical structure and extensive example sentences.
Obituaries
- Jun Okazaki, Former Washington D.C. JACL President, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Jun Okazaki, 64, the first Washington, D.C. JACL president in 1946, died after an illness. He was born in Seattle and is survived by his wife and several siblings.
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