Satow Library, Korean American fallout and rising illegal immigration

Vol. 84, No. 4, February 4, 1977. 8 pages. View this issue

A county library in Gardena was set to be dedicated on Feb. 26 in honor of Masao W. Satow, national JACL director from 1946 until his retirement in 1973. Other front-page stories looked at Korean Americans in Washington who were affected by the South Korean payoff scandal, a Justice Department report on illegal immigration, and plans for a New York session on Nisei retirement. Dr. Masajiro Miyazaki and Dr. David Suzuki were named for the Order of Canada.

Inside are columns by Bill Hosokawa on live steers flown to Japan, Sachi Seko on a week that included Iva Toguri’s pardon, and Jon Inouye on simplicity. Shigeo Tanabe recalled the original cross at Tule Lake. Letters on the Wendy Yoshimura trial appeared on page 4. Page 6 and 7 carry news from JACL chapters, including installations in Stockton, Sacramento and French Camp.

What’s in this issue

Community

  • Satow Library to Be Dedicated in Gardena, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Masao W. Satow County Library in Gardena will be dedicated Feb. 26 to honor the late former national JACL director. A pastel sketch of Satow by Fred Ochi will hang in the library.
  • New Yorkers to Discuss Nisei ‘After-65’ Problems, by P.C. Staff, page 1. New York JACL will host a session on Nisei retirement on Feb. 12. Organizers stress that Nisei must prepare now for the unique challenges of their later years.
  • Canada to Decorate Issei and Sansei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Masajiro Miyazaki and Dr. David Suzuki will receive the Order of Canada. The article profiles their careers and civic contributions.
  • Chinese Restaurant in St. Louis Harassed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Owners of the Kung Fu restaurant in St. Louis believe neighborhood opposition is racially motivated. An alderman’s complaints led to a permit revocation that the owners are fighting in court.
  • Hate Messages on Phone Ignored, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Portland officials and minority groups are ignoring taped hate messages from the Alpha Circle. Portland JACL’s anti-defamation officer reported the strategy at a council meeting.
  • Korean Americans in D.C. Continued and Rhee’s Business Hurt, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Karate instructor Jhoon Rhee’s Washington business has suffered after bad publicity tied to the Korean bribery scandal. Rhee denies any bribery connection.
  • Salinas Museum Housing Issei Artifacts Opens, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Salinas Buddhist Temple opened the Issei Pioneer Museum in December 1976 with over 500 pioneer artifacts. Rev. Yoshiaki Takemura organized it to preserve the Issei heritage.
  • San Joseans Prep for City’s 200th, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Japanese American groups in San Jose will sponsor a week of cultural events from March 25 to April 2. The events commemorate the city’s bicentennial.
  • Berkeley JACL Valentine Dance, by Tad Hirota, page 6. Berkeley JACL will hold a benefit Valentine dance on Feb. 12 with proceeds going to the Alameda County Heart Fund. Tickets are available from chapter members.
  • Boise Valley Japanese Heritage Evening, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Boise Valley JACL and the College of Idaho held a Japanese heritage evening featuring Bob Nakamura’s film Watari-dori. About 200 people attended the discussion and judo demonstrations.
  • Eden Township JACL Installation Dinner, by Masako Minami, page 6. Eden Township JACL and Eden Asian American Youths held a successful installation dinner in January. Assemblyman S. Floyd Mori was the main speaker.
  • French Camp JACL Installs New Officers, by Lydia Ota, page 6. French Camp JACL installed new officers with John Fujiki as chapter president at its New Year’s party. The chapter elected leaders for both the chapter and its auxiliary.
  • Reno Tri-District Conference Planned, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Reno JACL is preparing the NC-WNDC tri-district conference for April 22-24. A sukiyaki dinner and picnic are also scheduled.
  • Floyd Shimomura Re-elected Sacramento JACL President, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Deputy state attorney general Floyd Shimomura was re-elected Sacramento JACL president and will be installed Feb. 6. His legal background and education are highlighted.
  • Santa Maria Valley JACL Election and Installation, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Santa Maria Valley JACL will combine its election and installation at a barbecue dinner on Feb. 4. The chapter is mourning the death of its president Ellen Kishiyama.
  • New Yorkers to Discuss Nisei After-65 Problems (Continued), by P.C. Staff, page 7. The New York JACL workshop on Nisei retirement will include opening remarks, group sessions and a lunch. Registration is free and should be sent to June Shimokawa.
  • Stockton JACL to Install George Baba, by Edwin Endow, page 7. Stockton JACL will install George Baba as chapter president on Feb. 6 with Don Hayashi as guest speaker. Baba is a long-time JACLer who serves on the district board.
  • West Los Angeles JACL Auxiliary Plans, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The West Los Angeles JACL Auxiliary has planned a cookbook kick-off, a wine tasting party and an Issei appreciation day. Its president was honored by the Los Angeles human relations commission.
  • Gold Watch Due on Stage in Seattle, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Asian Multi-Media Center in Seattle will present Momoko Iko’s play Gold Watch, about a Yakima Valley farming community during Evacuation. Performances run February 3-27.
  • Chinatown Library Dedicated in Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mayor Tom Bradley announced that Los Angeles Chinatown will have its own library after a five-year effort. The library will open February 7.
  • White River Valley JACL Elects Nakayama, by P.C. Staff, page 7. White River Valley JACL elected Hiroshi Nakayama to fill the term of chapter president John Hamakami, who resigned. Other cabinet positions remain unchanged.

National

  • Korean Americans in D.C. Affected by Bribery Scandal, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Korean Americans in Washington are suffering from the South Korean payoff scandal involving U.S. congressmen. Innocent community members have faced social and business consequences.
  • Illegal Immigration on the Rise in U.S., by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Justice Department report says illegal immigration is significant and growing, now exceeding legal immigration. The report recommends prevention of illegal entry rather than mass deportation.
  • WW2 Announcer Lauds Ford Pardon, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Tadaichi Hirakawa, a wartime Japanese broadcaster, praised President Ford’s pardon of Iva Toguri. He described her as having no thought of selling her country.
  • Next U.S. Envoy to Japan: Three Prospects Mentioned, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Three career diplomats, Philip Trezise, Marshall Green and David Osborn, are mentioned as candidates to succeed Ambassador Hodgson. All are well versed in Japanese affairs.
  • Sen. Hayakawa Assigned to Senate Committees, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Sen. S.I. Hayakawa was temporarily assigned to the Agriculture and Interior committees and requested Labor and Public Welfare assignments. Other Japanese Americans were noted for government appointments.

Incarceration & Redress

  • Wendy Yoshimura: One Juror Was ‘Pressured’, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A juror in Wendy Yoshimura’s trial described being pressured into a guilty verdict. Her attorney plans to appeal on several grounds.
  • Holiday Issue: Tule Lake Cross Memories, by Shigeo Tanabe, page 4. A former Tule Lake evacuee recalls digging the hole for the original wooden cross in 1943 and its dedication service. He thanks those who replaced it with a new steel cross.

JACL

  • Committee for Iva Toguri, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The committee thanks supporters for the campaign that won Iva Toguri’s presidential pardon. It credits Senator S.I. Hayakawa and others for their roles in the political process.

Commentary

  • Illegal Aliens, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial examines the scale of illegal immigration, now estimated at millions, and its burden on public services. It questions whether JACL should address barriers to immigration in light of the issue.
  • Yoshimura Trial Letters, by Lloyd K. Wake; Carol J. Suzuki, page 4. Rev. Lloyd Wake, chair of the Fair Trial Committee, thanks supporters and criticizes the verdict and courtroom conduct. Carol Suzuki responds that JACL members have a right to object to support given to Wendy Yoshimura.
  • From Happy Valley: Third Week in January, by Sachi Seko, page 5. Seko reflects on the week’s events, including the execution of Gary Gilmore, Iva Toguri’s pardon, President Carter’s inauguration and his draft pardon. She connects these moments to the Sansei experience and the Vietnam War.
  • From the Frying Pan: Beef on the Hoof, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa reports on Japanese cattle buyers who fly live American steers to Japan from Moses Lake, Washington. He explains the economic and cultural reasons behind the trade.
  • For Today & Tomorrow: Simplicity: The Essence of Japanese Greatness, by Jon Inouye, page 5. Inouye praises Japanese simplicity in art, architecture and engineering. He argues that simplicity and understanding offer a path to happiness.
  • Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award Renamed, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Denver’s monthly Community Volunteer Award has been renamed in honor of Minoru Yasui, a civil rights leader who challenged the West Coast curfew. Mayor Bill McNichols praised the tribute.

Arts & Entertainment

  • Fine Arts: Contemporary Japanese Calligraphy Exhibition, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Japanese calligrapher Kenyo Toshiro’s work is on display in a Contemporary Japanese Calligraphy exhibition at the California State Museum through Feb. 6. The show includes traditional and avant-garde works.

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