Reparation, a wartime committee and JACL’s year ahead

Vol. 80, No. 3, January 24, 1975. 6 pages. View this issue

JACL’s direction for 1975 ran through the issue. National President Shigeki Sugiyama looked at the year ahead, from inflation’s effect on JACL’s costs to the defeat of the Holt Amendment. Edison Uno urged the organization to take up reparation for the wartime incarceration, criticizing it for neglecting the issue despite repeated convention resolutions. A front-page story recalled the Dies Committee and its actions against JACL and Japanese Americans during World War II, after the House voted to abolish its successor.

Other pages cover a questionnaire on space needs for the proposed Los Angeles cultural and community center, the Pasadena Japanese Credit Union shutdown, and a JACL Building Fund appeal. Harry K. Honda reported the Pacific Citizen’s 1974 finances, Kats Kunitsugu wrote about Frank Chin’s play, and Mas Manbo covered sumo. This six-page issue also has a profile of Hawaii attorney general Ron Amemiya.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

  • The Year Ahead, by Shigeki Sugiyama, page 1. JACL National President Shigeki Sugiyama reflects on the challenges of 1974 and the outlook for 1975. He discusses inflation’s effect on JACL’s costs, staffing plans, and the defeat of the Holt Amendment.
  • PC Financial Report—1974, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Editor Harry K. Honda presents the Pacific Citizen’s 1974 financial report, detailing income, expenses, and subscription trends. He explains how cost-per-copy and advertising rates are calculated.
  • Bowling tournament, by Mildred West, page 2. A reader criticizes JACL for excluding teams based on ethnic background from event-sponsored bowling tournaments. The editor notes JACL has changed to a National JACL tournament open to all.
  • Nisei Bowling tournament, by Naomi Kashiwabara, page 2. A reader recalls Sadakichi Hartmann, an art critic and poet who spent the war years on an Indian reservation near Banning, California. The letter recommends a book about him.
  • Rising rates and otherwise, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A collection of brief commentary items on crime trends, personal opinions on international policy, and assorted observations. Topics include juvenile crime and California politics.
  • Sacrifice (JACL Building Fund ad), page 3. A JACL Building Fund appeal frames the planned National Headquarters as built from the sacrifices of Japanese Americans. It asks members to make pledges and gifts to the campaign.

Community

  • 2nd questionnaire to update needs of L.A. center, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japanese American community organizations in Los Angeles are being sent an updated questionnaire to determine their space needs in the proposed cultural and community center. Responses are due by January 31.
  • Nikkei credit union shut down, by P.C. Staff, page 1. State regulators revoked the certificate of the Pasadena Japanese Credit Union and seized its assets due to insufficient capital. The article also notes a similar shutdown of a Korean credit union in Los Angeles.
  • Korean Americans organize council, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Korean American community council was organized in Southern California to serve the growing Korean community. Its leadership and office location are described.
  • George Yuzawa: New York JACL Chapter’s Man of the Year, by P.C. Staff, page 1. George Yuzawa was named New York JACL’s Man of the Year for his decades of youth work, community service, and civil rights advocacy. Details of his career and personal life are profiled.
  • Friends to honor Dr. Terry Hayashi, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A testimonial dinner is planned in San Francisco to honor Dr. Terry T. Hayashi. The event is organized by friends and colleagues.
  • Milwaukee to hear Rep. Zablocki, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Rep. Clement Zablocki will speak at the Milwaukee JACL inaugural dinner on February 1. The chapter’s outgoing and incoming presidents are named.
  • State rehab office to open in Gardena, by P.C. Staff, page 3. California’s Department of Rehabilitation plans to open new district offices in Gardena by April. The plans were discussed with Assemblyman Paul Bannai.
  • Defamatory license plate holders sold, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A license plate holder reading ‘Made from Jap Beer Cans’ was removed from Sunset House stores after JACL objected. JACL asks members to report similar products.
  • Doing what he wants as an artist, by Cindy Buzzard, page 3. Gardena Valley artist Frank Gikiu discusses his career as an independent painter who has supported his family through art for a decade. He describes his work methods and difficulties with galleries.
  • Push continues for Asian counselor, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian American students and community members are pressing Foothill College to hire a full-time Asian counselor after the position was cut. The college trustees were expected to consider the request.
  • Asian Rehab unit seeks 1975 goals, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Asian Rehabilitation Workshop in Los Angeles is seeking to become a comprehensive agency for handicapped Asians. A fundraising drive is underway to expand staff.
  • Businessmen’s impression of Canton, by Toru Kanazawa, page 6. Shig Kariya, a New York JACL member, describes his impressions of Canton during a November visit to the People’s Republic of China. He notes the outdated facilities and the drab appearance of daily life.
  • Home for Aged slates open house on weekends, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A guided tour of the new Japanese Home for the Aged in Boyle Heights is offered on weekends through mid-February. The facility is expected to open in April.

National

  • Navy says pie-thrower wasn’t able to cope, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Navy Seabee veteran who threw a pie at a Navy official was reported by East-West to have had difficulty adjusting to military life. The Navy’s secretary responded to the incident.
  • Dies Committee vs. JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House voted to abolish the Internal Security Committee, the successor to the Dies Committee that targeted Japanese Americans during WWII. The article recounts the committee’s wartime actions against JACL and Japanese American evacuees.
  • Ethnic survey of Hawaii teachers held, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A Hawaii Department of Education survey found most teachers and administrators are of Japanese ancestry. The survey also revealed a shortage of men in elementary teaching and women in higher-paid positions.

Obituaries

  • Ron Amemiya, by Mary Cooke, page 2. Profile of Ron Amemiya, one of Governor Burns’ youngest cabinet appointees and attorney general of Hawaii. He discusses his upbringing on a plantation, his parents’ work ethic, and his career path.

In-Depth

  • Evacuee reparation a sleepy issue in JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Edison Uno, speaking at the San Diego JACL installation dinner, urged JACL to actively pursue evacuation reparations. He criticized the organization for neglecting the issue despite repeated national convention resolutions.

Arts & Entertainment

  • The Year of the Dragon, by Kats Kunitsugu, page 4. Kats Kunitsugu praises Frank Chin’s play ‘The Year of the Dragon’ as seen on KCET’s Theater in America broadcast. He criticizes Los Angeles Times critic Cecil Smith for dismissing the work.
  • First translation of famed author, by Richard Gima, page 4. A review of a novel about an eta protagonist torn between his father’s commandment to keep his caste secret and his desire to publicly fight discrimination. The reviewer assesses the plot’s structure and resolution.

Sports

  • Sumo Assn. demotes Big Jess, by Mas Manbo, page 5. Hawaiian-born sumo wrestler Takamiyama was demoted from ozeki after a poor run in late 1974. The article reviews the year’s sumo tournaments and the performances of top wrestlers.

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