Hawaii’s immigration idea, a JACL tribute to Mas Satow, and redress

Vol. 84, No. 5, February 11, 1977. 8 pages. View this issue

Gov. George Ariyoshi’s idea of a federal constitutional amendment letting states set residency rules for new arrivals led the front page, and reactions in Hawaii were mixed. Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi called it provincial and possibly racist, while Sen. Daniel Inouye doubted it could pass. National JACL Headquarters will be named for the late Masao W. Satow, national director from 1947 to 1973. Mike Honda was named co-chairperson of the national redress committee, and a UC Berkeley oral history series showed Justice Department officials opposed the wartime forced removal of Japanese Americans.

Inside, Wayne Horiuchi tells how the pardon of Iva Toguri came about, and Bill Hosokawa describes the first Nisei study tours of Japan in 1926. Edison Uno offers a critical view of the Nisei retirement conference, and Don Hayashi pays tribute to Masao and Chiz Satow. Readers also write in on Japlish and the Yoshimura trial. This issue ran eight pages.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Reactions to Ariyoshi Plan to Control Immigration Mixed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Reactions in Hawaii to Gov. George Ariyoshi’s proposal for a federal constitutional amendment allowing states to impose residency requirements on new arrivals were mixed. Supporters cited economic concerns while critics called the idea provincial, selfish, and possibly racist.
• Colorado Issei Pioneer Naoichi Hokasono Depicted in State Capitol Stained Glass, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A stained glass window honoring Issei pioneer Naoichi Hokasono will be dedicated at the Colorado State Capitol on Feb. 18. Hokasono recruited Japanese laborers who built railroads, roads, and other projects in the early 1900s.
• Seattle Jury Acquits Nisei of Bribery Charge, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seattle city purchasing agent Tomi Terao was acquitted of accepting gratuities from Ohno Landscaping Construction Co. after a jury deliberated less than an hour. Terao maintained he was the victim of a plot to disgrace Mayor Wes Uhlman.
• Asian Americans Cool to School Busing in San Diego, by George Ramos, page 1. Asian American and Chicano communities in San Diego show little enthusiasm for the district’s voluntary busing program, fearing threats to bilingual programs. Educators argue for more culturally relevant curricula and faculty diversity instead.
• Seattle Keiro Home Gets Miki Calligraphy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A framed calligraphy by Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Miki celebrating U.S. Bicentennial now hangs in Seattle Keiro Home’s dining hall. The gift was presented by Consul General Sono Uchida as official recognition of the nursing home project.
• Mineta Recounts Nisei Civic Responsibilities, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Rep. Norman Mineta addressed the Gilroy JACL installation dinner, urging Americans to learn from past mistakes and praising Japanese American progress. He warned that threats to civil liberties against any group endanger everyone.
• Pioneering in Basic School, by P.C. Staff, page 8. June Okamoto, vice principal of the new East Sacramento basic school, reports strong results from its emphasis on academics and grading standards. Parents and teachers have responded positively to the program’s structure.

JACL

• JACL Headquarters Being Named for Late Mas Satow, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL Headquarters will be named in tribute to the late Masao W. Satow during rededication ceremonies on March 5. Satow served as national director from 1947 until his retirement in 1973, growing the League from 28 to over 90 chapters.
• Mike Honda Named Redress Co-Chairman, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Honda of San Jose was appointed co-chairperson of the National JACL reparations committee to continue work started by the late Edison Uno. The appointment was announced by National JACL President Jim Murakami.

Incarceration & Redress

• Anti-Evacuation Stance of Justice Dept., by P.C. Staff, page 1. A new UC Berkeley oral history series reveals that Justice Department officials opposed the wartime relocation of Japanese Americans but lost to the War Department. Officials interviewed describe the relocation as a fringe problem amid wartime hysteria.
• Terao Acquittal Continued, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Continuation of the Seattle bribery trial coverage details prosecution and defense arguments over free yard services and city contracts. Terao denied wrongdoing and attributed the charges to a plot and questionable bookkeeping.

Commentary

• Service and Sacrifice Amid Volunteers and Staff, by Don Hayashi, page 4. JACL staff member Don Hayashi honors the late Masao Satow and his wife Chiz for their decades of tireless service to JACL. He reflects on why staff and volunteers dedicate themselves to serving the organization and community.
• Gaman—Sacrifice, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial connects President Carter’s call for national sacrifice during a harsh winter to the Japanese concept of gaman, or endurance. It explores how Issei parents practiced gaman for their children’s benefit.
• Japlish Expression, by Lee Ruttle; Chizuko Crocker, page 4. Readers respond to Bill Hosokawa’s commentary on Japlish and Issei-ese, arguing that words like waya and neru are legitimately Japanese. They note that Americans have similarly adopted Japanese words into English.
• Nisei Retirement Planning Conference Summary, by Harue Ninomiya, page 4. A summary of the November 1976 JACL conference on Nisei retirement covers housing, finances, health, leisure, employment, and special needs of Nisei women and men. The conference recommended a new handbook and emphasized community support networks.
• Minority Report, by Edison Uno, page 4. Edison Uno offers a critical minority view of the retirement conference, questioning participant selection and arguing that successful Nisei have insulated themselves from the disadvantages their parents suffered. He calls for greater empathy toward those less fortunate.
• Pardon for Iva Toguri, by Wayne Horiuchi, page 5. JACL Washington representative Wayne Horiuchi recounts the campaign and behind-the-scenes events leading to President Ford’s pardon of Iva Toguri, the so-called Tokyo Rose. He credits grassroots JACL efforts, Senator Matsunaga, Senator Hayakawa, and the strength of Toguri’s case.
• First Nisei Tours of Japan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Columnist Bill Hosokawa contrasts the modern JACL Japan tours with the first organized Nisei study tours sponsored by the Nichibei newspaper over 50 years ago. He profiles the members of the 1926 group and their lasting friendships.
• Fact or Prejudice?, by Jon Inouye, page 5. Jon Inouye argues that racial and gender prejudice arise from failing to observe what is actually there, instead relying on preconceived ideas. He encourages readers to practice honest observation of their surroundings.

Obituaries

• Yoshimura Trial, by James Oda, page 4. A letter writer argues that Wendy Yoshimura, convicted for her role with the SLA, received a harsher outcome than Patty Hearst, whose participation was more direct. The writer links the case to Hearst family history of anti-Japanese activism.

Arts & Entertainment

• Yoko Morishita Makes West Coast Debut, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Japanese ballerina Yoko Morishita made her West Coast debut with American Ballet Theatre at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Feb. 7. The brief notice highlights her performance in Los Angeles.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.