Vol. 83, No. 22, November 26, 1976. 4 pages. View this issue
Iva Toguri d’Aquino’s petition for a presidential pardon was a main story of this four-page issue. She delivered it at the San Francisco Post Office on November 17 with her attorney Wayne Collins, and chapters were urged to send signed petitions to the White House. Michi Weglyn wrote in support of full exoneration. Central California chose Robert Kanagawa as district governor, Charles Kubokawa was elected in Northern California-Western Nevada, and John Yasumoto was named chairman of the 1980 JACL National Convention in San Francisco, marking the organization’s 50th anniversary.
Other pages carry columns by Bill Hosokawa and Edi Uno, and Prime Minister Trudeau’s own account of his Tokyo toast. Chapter news covers Hoosier, Seabrook, Tri-Valley and Fremont, and the Wendy Yoshimura trial and a report on Vietnamese refugees appear on the front page. Thirteen 1977 flights to Japan were confirmed for the JACL travel program.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Central Cal Picks Kanagawa for District Governor, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Robert Kanagawa was chosen as the new Central California JACL District governor at the 27th annual district council convention in Fresno. He succeeds Judge Mikio Uchiyama in the post.
- Chicago Movie Benefit Helps Midwest Office, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Chicago JACL benefit movie held October 23-24 is expected to net around $1,000 for the Midwest Regional Office. The funds help sustain the office, which faces staff cutbacks due to reduced national budget.
- NC-WNDC Elects Charles Kubokawa New Governor, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Charles Kubokawa of Palo Alto was elected governor of the Northern California-Western Nevada JACL District Council at its session in Reno. He succeeds Wesley Doi, and Harry Hatasaka received the district’s first Arigato award.
- Asian Students Protest Use of JAP Joke, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Asian American Union at Washington University persuaded the campus paper Student Life to stop using the term JAP after a billboard joke sparked complaints. The group argued the term is derogatory and rooted in racism.
- Customs Barred from Blocking Japanese Film, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A federal judge in New York barred Customs officials from interfering with a Japanese-language film that had been removed from a film festival over obscenity concerns. The judge ruled that regulations did not allow reinspection of a film cleared at another port.
- Wendy Yoshimura’s Appeal Refused by State Supreme Court, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Supreme Court declined to hear Wendy Yoshimura’s appeal that an explosives possession charge was unconstitutionally vague. The charge stems from a 1972 discovery in Berkeley.
- Jury Selection Nears Completion in Yoshimura Trial, by Lee Ruttle, page 1. Jury selection in the Wendy Yoshimura trial in Oakland neared completion, with a panel of 52 remaining after extensive questioning. Peremptory challenges and opening statements were expected to follow the next week.
- Gardena’s Pacific Square Attracts Visitors, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Square shopping complex in Gardena, open for six months, has become a popular destination with merchants opening on Sundays due to heavy weekend traffic. Landmarks include the Mitsubishi Bank and the historic Kawafuku Restaurant.
- Hoosier JACL Goes Public at Indianapolis Fairgrounds, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Hoosier JACL chapter participated in the International Bicentennial Festival at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, running a chicken teriyaki booth that cleared nearly $500. The chapter also presented a Minyo dance troupe and cultural demonstrations.
- Seabrook JACL Hosts Bicentennial Dancers, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Seabrook Buddhist Church and JACL co-sponsored a Japanese program during the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in South Jersey in August. About 700 people attended the two-hour performance by visitors from Japan.
- Tri-Valley Pushes for Second Sister City, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sam Cohen of Tri-Valley JACL is working to establish a Sister City relationship between Livermore and Yotsukaido, Japan, alongside its existing Guatemalan affiliation. The city council must act on a formal request before the affiliation can proceed.
- Eastbay Groups Co-Sponsor New Year’s Eve Party, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Alameda, Berkeley, Contra Costa JACL chapters and Oakland Buddhist Church will co-sponsor a New Year’s Eve dance at the El Cerrito Community Center. Tickets are $12.50 per person.
- Midwest Plans Monthly Page in Pacific Citizen, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Midwest District Council announced a monthly page in the Pacific Citizen beginning with the Holiday Issue, edited by Anna Peterson of St. Louis. It invites feature articles on chapter programs and commentaries on issues important to JACL.
- Fremont Kotoists Perform at Foreign Language Fair, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Fremont JACLers participated in the Foreign Language Fair at Irvington High, with koto players performing and volunteers running a teriyaki booth, origami workshop, and aikido demonstration. The event served as a chapter community service project.
- Little Tokyo and Los Angeles Community News, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Community briefs from Los Angeles and Seattle covered events including the Koyasan Boy Scout Troop anniversary, the Asian American business conference, and the Little Tokyo PRO Unity Night at the new Higashi Honganji. Also reported were business expansions and new openings.
JACL
- Yasumoto Heads 1980 National JACL Convention Committee, by P.C. Staff, page 1. John Yasumoto was named chairman of the 1980 JACL National Convention to be hosted by San Francisco JACL. The convention will mark the organization’s 50th anniversary and be held in August.
- Contra Costa Turns in First 1977 Memberships, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Contra Costa JACL was the first chapter to submit its new and renewal memberships for 1977 to National Headquarters. California chapters were reminded to check with their regional offices for membership kits.
- Pins and Awards Ordering Information, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL chapters were reminded to order recognition pins and awards from National Headquarters with advance notice. Prices and application requirements for Past President, Silver and Sapphire pins were listed.
- Travel Program Flights Confirmed for 1977, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Thirteen flights to Japan have been confirmed for the 1977 National JACL Travel Program, along with a European tour departing June 9. Details on pricing and application are available through local chapters and JACL offices.
National
- Trudeau’s Toast in Tokyo Ruffles Nisei Veterans, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Nisei veterans of the Canadian armed forces objected to press reports that Prime Minister Trudeau apologized for wartime treatment of Japanese Canadians during a Tokyo speech. Trudeau later said his remarks were an acknowledgment of injustice, not an apology.
- Vietnamese Refugees Settling Down to New Lives in America, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Congressional Task Force report found most of the 138,000 Indo-Chinese refugees are adjusting well, with many finding jobs. The task force recommended congressional action to declare refugees resident aliens to speed citizenship.
- JAL Seeks More Routes to U.S., by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japan Air Lines managing director Tomoo Senda said JAL was shortchanged by the 1952 U.S.-Japan air agreement and seeks five new U.S. cities. He also spoke of the impact of the 1976 tax reform act on multinational businesses.
- Montgomery County Law Aimed at Pockets of Prejudice, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Montgomery County, Maryland ordinance allows victims of discrimination based on race, sex, religion or national origin to collect monetary damages. The law covers housing, employment, loans and public accommodations.
Incarceration & Redress
- Iva Toguri Files Pardon Plea, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Iva Toguri d’Aquino delivered her petition for a presidential pardon at the San Francisco Post Office on November 17. Her attorney Wayne Collins accompanied her, and the event drew wide media coverage.
- Iva Toguri d’Aquino Petitions for Pardon, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Iva Toguri d’Aquino publicly submitted her petition for a presidential pardon to restore her citizenship, which was stripped after a 1949 treason conviction. Chapters were urged to send signed petitions to the White House.
Military & Veterans
- MIS Vets Honor Judge John F. Aiso at 35th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 1. MIS veterans gathered for the 35th anniversary of the Military Intelligence Service language school and honored retired Judge John F. Aiso, who devised its curriculum. Veterans from several cities reminisced and praised his influence on Nisei public service.
Commentary
- Trudeau’s Toast in Tokyo, by Pierre Trudeau, page 2. Prime Minister Trudeau’s toast in Tokyo praised Japanese Canadians for their contributions and acknowledged the wartime evacuation as a decision taken in fear. He invited Prime Minister Miki to visit Canada as the Japanese Canadian centennial approaches.
- Letter: Tokyo Rose Case, by Michi Weglyn, page 2. Michi Weglyn urges readers to write letters supporting the full exoneration of Iva Toguri before President Ford leaves office. She calls on writers to publish articles and letters to editors in support of the cause.
- A Sentimental Reunion, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Bill Hosokawa recounts the friendship between May Kikuchi and American teacher Katherine Merrill, which began in Matsuyama, Japan in 1928. The two reunited in Denver decades later, reflecting on a bond that endured through war and distance.
- Minority of One: The Canadian Connection, by Edi Uno, page 3. Edi Uno describes attending a Japanese Canadian conference at the University of Lethbridge and praises its scholarship and organization. He suggests JACL consider expanding northward to build ties with Canadian Japanese Canadians.
Obituaries
- Dr. Kazumi Kasuga Retires from USPHS Indian Health Service, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Dr. Kazumi Kasuga was honored at a retirement dinner in Albuquerque after 33 years of federal service, including as Assistant Surgeon General and Deputy Director of the Indian Health Service. He was also a former JACL Nisei of the Biennium honoree.
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