Vol. 76, No. 15, April 20, 1973. 6 pages. View this issue
Henry T. Tanaka, National JACL President, opened the issue by asking why the Japanese American Youth program matters and why interest had slipped in some chapters. He wrote that the purposes of JACL and JAY are essentially the same. Also on the front page, Gardena City Councilman Paul T. Bannai filed for the 87th District State Assembly seat, and a Memorial Day weekend pilgrimage to Rohwer in Arkansas was planned from Chicago. Several stories followed the fight against whites-only membership at Elks lodges, and Harry K. Honda’s editorial took up fraternal discrimination.
Columns on page 2 include Sachi Seko on her mother, William Marutani on cherry blossoms in Washington, and Tanaka on a talk in San Francisco. Inside, more than 500 California Nikkei won state scholarships, the Pride and Shame exhibit grant was renewed, and Richard Gimm reviewed the novel The Forty Days. The issue ran six pages.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- Why JAYs?, by Henry T. Tanaka, page 1. National JACL President Henry T. Tanaka asks whether the Japanese American Youth (JAY) program still serves a useful purpose and why some chapters show declining interest. He argues that the purposes of JACL and JAY are essentially the same and that the current transition period requires patience, commitment, and cooperation.
- Fraternal Discrimination, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. The editorial argues that fraternal groups with whites-only membership rules should lose their tax and alcohol licensing privileges. It points to pending California bills that would penalize discriminatory clubs.
- Between Me and Thee, by Sachi Seko, page 2. Sachi Seko reflects on her mother’s death in Salt Lake City and the quiet strength of a life lived without seeking attention. The column ties this personal memory to the idea of barriers between ‘me’ and ‘thee’ in bridging identity and culture.
- National JACL Committees, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editors note that many national JACL committees have vacancies and that some listed committees replace others that should not exist. They suggest the National Board address committee structure at its upcoming interim meeting.
- Letters to the Editor: Honoring Warne Collins, by H. Quintus Sakai, page 2. Walnut Creek reader H. Quintus Sakai argues that JACL should give proper recognition to Wayne Collins for his principled challenges during wartime. He contrasts Collins’s stance with JACL’s wartime compromises.
- Guest Column: Wind, by William Marutani, page 2. William Marutani reflects on a visit to Washington during cherry blossom season and on the value of looking for what is right, not only what is wrong. He connects the fleeting sakura to the transience of life.
- ‘Seppuku’ = ‘Harry Carey’?, by Wakano-Uta, page 2. A humorous column traces Japanese words that entered English, such as tsunami, tempura, sukiyaki, and kamikaze. It closes with a lighthearted note on how such terms have been altered over time.
- Speaking in San Francisco, by Henry T. Tanaka, page 2. Henry Tanaka recounts a talk to the Japan Society on subtle problems facing Japanese Americans in relation to Japan. He notes the Nisei’s imperfect knowledge of Japanese culture and reports that Japanese firms are increasingly promoting Nisei managers.
National
- Bannai Files for State Assembly Special Election, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Gardena City Councilman Paul T. Bannai filed to seek the 87th District State Assembly seat vacated by the death of Assemblyman Larry Townsend. If elected he would be the first Japanese American to hold a state office in California, and he cites his veteran service and local ties as qualifications.
- Colorado Nisei Draws Complaint Over ‘Mail Order’ Degrees, by John Toohey, page 1. A Colorado Nisei is the subject of a complaint over degrees issued by a mail-order institution. The article examines the solicitation practices involved.
Community
- College Teacher Quits Elks, Raps ‘White’ Policy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. American River College instructor Frank Walter resigned from the Sacramento Elks Lodge after a racist sign was posted there. In his resignation letter he argued that the organization’s whites-only membership rule is hypocritical.
- Rotary Club Rejects Meeting Site at Elks, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Watsonville Rotary Club voted to keep meeting at the Resetar rather than move to the Elks Club for buffet lunches. Members weighed food, parking, location, and a price difference in reaching the decision.
- Cleveland Home and Flower Show Enhanced by Nikkei Participation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Asian Occasion program at the Cleveland Home and Flower Show featured Nikkei participation in demonstrations and exhibits. Organizers and local JACL leaders highlighted the community’s contribution to the nine-day show.
- First Woman Installed Head of YMCA Board in San Francisco, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mrs. Fagerhaugh was installed as the first woman president of the San Francisco YMCA board at its annual dinner meeting. Her installation marked a milestone for the organization.
- JACLer Harry Teshima Presented First ‘Good Egg Award’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Harry Teshima of Park Forest received the first Good Egg Award from the Park Forest Commission on Human Relations for his efforts to improve human relations and fair housing. His 1971 report on the Beacon Forest Heights housing situation shaped the commission’s work.
- CL-ER Advocates Use of ‘JPN’ in Library Work, by P.C. Staff, page 1. UCLA’s biomedical library was directed to use the code ‘Jpn’ instead of the derogatory ‘Jap’ where possible, following complaints raised by Dr. Minoru Masuda. The article explains that federal library coding standards still require the older abbreviation.
- Ohio Withholding Offensive Auto Plates, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ohio officials assured JACL that no license plate combinations using the prefix ‘JAP’ have been or will be issued. A reserve license plate review board is charged with preventing derogatory plates.
- Over 500 California Nikkei Awarded State Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 3. More than 500 Nikkei students in California received state scholarships from a field of about 44,000 applicants. The total exceeds last year’s number of Japanese American awardees.
- Chicago JACL: Ron Yoshino, A Bid for More Participation, by Ron Yoshino, page 4. Chicago JACL is seeking more active community participation through programs such as a Las Vegas Night and expanded scholarship and cultural activities. The column notes that active membership has dwindled and calls for greater outreach.
- Salt Lake JACL Dinner-Dance Bolsters Chapter Roster, by Tomoko Yano, page 4. A dinner-dance drew one of the largest turnouts in years for the Salt Lake JACL chapter. The Pacific Northwest-Intermountain regional director met with local members during the event.
- Clergymen Uncertain About Pastoral Role in Modern World, Survey Shows, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A survey reports that clergymen are uncertain about their pastoral role in the modern world. The findings are summarized for readers interested in religious leadership trends.
JACL
- JACL Staff Openings: Youth Coordinator, Regional Director Posts Still Vacant, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL continues to seek a youth coordinator in Los Angeles and regional directors in Chicago. The positions carry salaries between $9,000 and $12,000 per year.
Incarceration & Redress
- Chicagoans Plan Rohwer Pilgrimage, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Memorial Day weekend pilgrimage to Rohwer War Relocation Center in Arkansas has been planned from Chicago. Participants will reflect on the camp’s history and on how local residents have come to terms with it.
Military & Veterans
- Grant Renewed for ‘Pride and Shame’, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A federal grant of $5,000 was renewed to continue the Pride and Shame traveling exhibit on Japanese American history. JACL members in the Pacific Northwest served as panelists wherever the exhibit appeared.
- Kenneth Okuma Named to 442nd Veterans Club Post, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Kenneth Okuma was recognized in connection with the 442nd Veterans Club. The brief item notes his role within the veterans organization.
Arts & Entertainment
- The Thirty Days: A Review of ‘The Forty Days’, by Richard Gimm, page 5. Richard Gimm reviews a novel about Japanese and Hawaiian prisoners of war in Singapore during World War II. The review discusses the book’s treatment of wartime suffering and the moral conflicts of its characters.
Obituaries
- Oldest Hawaii Nisei Leader Remembered, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A tribute recalls the life and service of a longtime Hawaii Nisei community figure. The article summarizes his contributions to civic and cultural life.
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