A year in review for JACL president Henry T. Tanaka

Vol. 77, No. 12, September 21, 1973. 6 pages. View this issue

JACL National President Henry T. Tanaka looked back on his first year in office on the front page, naming gains such as reevaluated goals, new staff and regional directors, and disappointments such as the unfilled Youth Director position. Fresno JACL prepared to honor Fred Hirasuna at its 50th anniversary dinner, with chapter historian Jin Ishikawa recounting how young members founded the American Loyalty League in 1923. Julie Emery reported on Dr. James K. Morishima’s concern about Sansei moving away from the Japanese American label, and Robert L. Jackson covered the coming resumption of the Senate Watergate hearings, with Sen. Daniel Inouye weighing in.

Elsewhere in this six-page issue, Bill Hosokawa profiled architect Raymond Moriyama, Harry K. Honda thanked the volunteers behind chapter newsletters, and Tom Shimasaki traced early Japanese settlement in Tulare County. Shosuke Sasaki wrote about his bid for a Federal Communications Commission seat, and Sen. Inouye’s reunion with 442nd comrades in Portland was reported. Chapter news came from San Diego, Hollywood, San Francisco, Placer County and others.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• State of JACL, by Henry T. Tanaka, page 1. National JACL President Henry T. Tanaka reflects on his first year in office, noting accomplishments such as reevaluated goals, new staff, and regional directors. He acknowledges disappointments, including the unfilled Youth Director position, while expressing optimism about community-based services and greater membership access to board sessions.

Community

• Fresno JACL to honor Hirasuna at 50th anniversary dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Fresno JACL, the chapter’s oldest, will celebrate its golden anniversary on Sept. 29 with a dinner honoring Fred Hirasuna for nearly 50 years of service. Chapter historian Jin Ishikawa recounts the founding of the American Loyalty League in 1923 by young members.
• Meals by car project feeds 60 shut-ins daily, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sacramento’s Meals by Car program, directed by Elsie Takeguchi, delivers hot lunches to about 60 homebound residents each weekday. Volunteer drivers are needed to expand the federally funded service.
• Retired dairy man heads Optimists, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Nobu T. Kawai was installed as president of the Crown City Optimist Club in Pasadena after retiring from the dairy industry. His long record of community service includes wartime leadership of the Pasadena JACL and years of civic involvement.
• Senate confirms Quello appointment; Sasaki bid for FCC post, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL district councils and the national executive committee endorsed Shosuke Sasaki for a Federal Communications Commission seat. The endorsement came during the EXECOM meeting in Detroit held alongside the EDC-MDC convention.
• Japan embassy accepts denial of FBI break-in, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A Japanese embassy official said he is personally satisfied with the FBI’s denial of break-ins at the Seattle Japanese consulate. The alleged 1957 and 1965 break-ins were reported by former agent William Turner and KING-TV.
• Spirit of Buddhism Today, page 3. A review-style notice promotes Rev. Koin Takada’s book on everyday Buddhism, translated by Philip Yampolsky. The book is described as a must-read on the Japanese way and its relevance to modern life.
• City dedicates Japanese pagoda from Kanemotos, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Longmont, Colorado dedicated a 40-foot Japanese pagoda in Kanemoto Park as a memorial to pioneer farmer Goroku Kanemoto. The gift from his family was meant as a reminder of compassion.
• San Diego JACL preps for 40th anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 4. San Diego JACL plans its 40th anniversary dinner-dance on Nov. 17 at Hotel del Coronado with Denver Post editor Bill Hosokawa as speaker. The Pacific Southwest District Council will meet the same day.
• Hollywood JACL calls special election, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Hollywood JACL held a special meeting to reorganize its leadership after the resignation of its chapter president. Candidates for the election were discussed.
• San Francisco appeals to young adults, by P.C. Staff, page 4. San Francisco JACL is organizing programs to attract young adults to its activities. The chapter says it hopes to better serve the next generation.
• Placer County holds benefit movie night, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Placer County JACL is hosting a benefit movie night as part of its fundraising activities for the year.
• Tulare County slates Oct. 29 dinner meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Tulare County JACL announced an Oct. 29 dinner meeting featuring a guest speaker. Members are encouraged to attend.
• St. Louis reports on Fair ’73, by P.C. Staff, page 4. St. Louis JACL reported on its participation in the Fair ’73 community event. The chapter highlighted its booth and volunteer efforts.
• Monterey Park notes Ethnic Studies classes, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Evening Ethnic Studies classes are being offered in the Monterey Park area this fall. The course listings describe topics relevant to Asian American history.
• Japanese classes underway at S.F. jr. highs, by P.C. Staff, page 6. San Francisco Unified School District began Japanese language classes at Presidio and Roosevelt Junior High, and at Emerson Elementary. Classes were developed by a Nisei citizens steering committee and are offered without school credit.
• Konko young people conference, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Konko Young Peoples Federation held a conference in San Francisco on the theme of building a new faith. Earl Rabb of the San Francisco Jewish Community Relations Council was guest speaker on Japanese and Jewish religious identity.

National

• Surname of Sansei just as American as Swedish, by Julie Emery, page 1. Dr. James K. Morishima expresses concern that some Sansei are distancing themselves from the Japanese American label in favor of Asian American identity. He traces this shift to ethnic studies movements and argues that the community must confront historical and racial sensitivities.
• Watergate probe to resume next Monday, by Robert L. Jackson, page 1. Senate Watergate hearings will resume with a focus on campaign finance and dirty tricks. Sen. Daniel Inouye expresses doubts about how to distinguish improper campaign conduct from criminal acts.
• Japan’s Self-Defense Force issue to be appealed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japan’s Tanaka cabinet decided to appeal directly to the Supreme Court a district court ruling that the Self-Defense Force is unconstitutional. The decision followed a recommendation from Justice Minister Tsaji Tanaka.
• EEOC becomes major force in job market, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has become a significant enforcer of equal employment following the AT&T decree. Major and smaller corporations are scrambling to comply with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• Humane ways for police handling of people studied by Iowan in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Iowa officer Bruce Brown returned from Tokyo after training in the jutte, a Japanese police baton, and other martial arts. He advocates replacing blackjacks with humane restraint methods in American policing.
• Asian Americans surpass national average: Census, by P.C. Washington Bureau, page 2. A Census Bureau report shows Japanese and Chinese American families had higher median incomes than the national median in 1969 and lower poverty rates. Japanese and Chinese Americans also had higher rates of high school and college completion.
• American Indians most impoverished, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Census data shows American Indians have the lowest median income and highest poverty rates of any group, with 40 percent of Indian families below the poverty level. The Indian population grew to 792,730 by 1970.

Commentary

• Ye Editor’s Desk: Chapter newsletters, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. The editor recognizes the volunteers who produce chapter newsletters and lists the 38 chapters that published them this year. Newsletters remain a vital communications link between chapters and members.
• Fakujin mistakes Nisei for native from Japan, by Ben Takeshita, page 2. Ben Takeshita recounts being mistaken for a native of Japan and reflects on the persistent innuendo Asian Americans face. He links such remarks to recent controversies including Bob Hope’s jokes and Sen. Inouye’s treatment.
• Guest column: Governor’s workshop on family values, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A Utah community leader reports on a three-day Governor’s Workshop on family values attended by about 150 leaders including several Japanese Americans. The workshop aimed to identify state priorities that strengthen families.
• From the Frying Pan: Toronto, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa profiles Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama, designer of the Ontario Science Centre and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. Moriyama was interned as a child during the WWII evacuation and later built a distinguished career.
• Fashion conscious women rely on local shops, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This page is largely advertising for Japanese American businesses and does not contain editorial content beyond the commentary on the FCC nomination; the primary editorial is the Sasaki statement.
• A Bid for FCC Post, by Shosuke Sasaki, page 4. Shosuke Sasaki writes that he was asked by an East Coast group to be considered for a Federal Communications Commission seat despite preferring younger Nisei candidates. He describes his retirement plans and his reluctant willingness to serve.
• Aloha from Hawaii Today, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A Hawaii column covers local news including water shortages on Maui, unemployment changes, and sugar and pineapple revenue trends. The column also reports on Japanese investment and political developments.

In-Depth

• Tulare County Japanese settled in 1880s, by Tom Shimasaki, page 2. Tom Shimasaki’s history traces early Japanese settlement in Tulare County, beginning with oak cutting and including a colorful account of a Japanese woodcutter in the Three Rivers area. The piece also describes a racist incident involving Sansei scouts.
• California: Where the Twain Did Meet, by David Odama, page 5. David Odama’s book review examines the history of Japanese Americans and the gold rush era in California. The piece covers early discrimination and the state’s treatment of minorities.

Military & Veterans

• 442 buddies reunite with Sen. Inouye, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sen. Daniel Inouye reunited with former 442nd comrades during a Portland fundraising visit. Among them was Utaka Morishita, his wartime messenger in Italy.
• All-Nisei Army Reserve unit sought in Seattle area, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Efforts are underway to form an all-Nisei Army Reserve unit in the Seattle area, and NVC members are being asked to help recruit volunteers. Interested men and women are encouraged to contact the local military headquarters.

Sports

• Taiwan wins Little League title over Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Taiwan’s Little League team defeated a Japanese squad, and Taiwan has dominated international Little League play. Officials discuss why Taiwanese youth programs have been successful.

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