Vol. 82, No. 9, March 5, 1976. 4 pages. View this issue
The JACL National Board’s budget was the lead story of this four-page issue. After several rounds of cuts, the board settled on a balanced budget of $490,000 for the coming biennium, down from a preliminary $612,000. A second article explained the zero-based approach behind it. Edison T. Uno wrote that the campaign to rescind Executive Order 9066 had succeeded, with President Ford issuing a proclamation nullifying the 1942 order. Uno also previewed the NBC telecast of Farewell to Manzanar, which a page 3 article said would air March 11.
Also inside: Dr. Gordon Hirabayashi’s remarks on the wartime evacuation orders at a Los Angeles dinner, and Wayne Miyamoto’s update on the Topaz monument in Utah. Jan Yanehiro interviewed Wendy Yoshimura, and the Iva Toguri Committee sought support for a pardon petition. Dr. Melvin Takaki announced a run for Congress in Colorado. Barry Saiki wrote about the Japanese business mind.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- JACL National Budget: Where Do We Start Cutting?, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National JACL Board developed a balanced budget of $490,000 for the coming biennium after several rounds of cuts to a preliminary $612,000 proposal. Further contingent cuts were identified should income continue to falter.
- Iva Toguri Committee Seeks Support for Presidential Pardon Petition, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Iva Toguri Committee circulated a petition asking the President to grant a pardon in the case of Iva Toguri, distributed to chapters Feb. 15. The committee said accurate publicity can help her case, and attorney Wayne Collins concurred.
- The New Art in Budgeting, by P.C. Staff, page 2. National JACL leadership adopted a zero-based budgeting approach, reviewing each program for necessity and cost-effectiveness. The article explains how the board categorized programs as must or want items before setting the budget.
Community
- Colorado Nisei Dr. Melvin Takaki Announces Congressional Bid, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pueblo, Colorado dentist and city councilman Dr. Melvin Takaki announced his candidacy against incumbent Rep. Frank Evans. Takaki argues Evans is vulnerable due to his voting record and failure to communicate with constituents.
- Monterey Peninsula and Other Chapter Installations, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Several JACL chapters including French Camp, Berkeley and Santa Barbara held installation dinners in early 2026 with national officers attending. Honors and scholarships were also announced at these events.
National
- President Ford Signs Rice Act, Lifting U.S. Controls for 1976-77, by P.C. Staff, page 1. President Ford signed a bill lifting federal controls on rice production, a measure supported by the National JACL. Opposition came from farm groups in Louisiana, Texas and California, while the Central California JACL District Council expressed concern about possible price effects.
Incarceration & Redress
- Topaz Monument Project Nears Completion in Utah, by Wayne Miyamoto, page 2. A monument honoring the people who lived at the Topaz relocation center in Utah is nearing completion, with more than $1,000 still needed. A brochure with photos is available to help fundraising efforts.
- Reflections on Evacuation by Dr. Gordon Hirabayashi, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. Gordon Hirabayashi, who defied the wartime curfew and evacuation orders, urged Nisei to pursue reparations at a Los Angeles dinner honoring him. He recounted his wartime experiences in jails and road camps.
- Campaign to Rescind Executive Order 9066 Succeeds, by Edison T. Uno, page 2. Nisei activists urged President Ford to rescind Executive Order 9066, and the President issued a proclamation nullifying the 1942 order. The campaign is described as a significant JACL achievement.
Commentary
- The Japanese Business Mind, by Barry Saiki, page 2. Japanese Diet hearings into alleged Lockheed payments to foreign persons have damaged public trust and may strain future US-Japan business relations. The author explains cultural business practices, such as go-between arrangements, that may be misread by American standards.
- Farewell to Manzanar, by Edison T. Uno, page 2. Edison Uno reviews the upcoming NBC telecast of Farewell to Manzanar and praises director John Korty and the Asian American cast. He encourages readers to watch and share their comments with the network.
- Let Freedom Ring, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A column cites government statistics on poverty among various racial and ethnic groups. It is a brief commentary on economic disparities in the United States.
Arts & Entertainment
- Interview with Wendy Yoshimura, by Jan Yanehiro, page 3. Wendy Yoshimura spoke at a press conference about her arrest and her feelings of support from the Japanese American community. She reflected on her upbringing in Japan and Fresno and her growing political awareness.
- Farewell to Manzanar to Air on NBC, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The dramatized story Farewell to Manzanar, based on the memoir by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James Houston, will air on NBC on March 11. The film was produced with Asian American actors in the major roles.
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