Vol. 78, No. 15, April 19, 1974. 6 pages. View this issue
JACL president Henry Tanaka opened the issue by answering reader letters on a volunteer consultant’s appointment, a call for his own resignation, and intermarriage. Alongside it, the paper laid out the 23rd Biennial National JACL Convention in Portland, July 23-27, with Senator Daniel K. Inouye set to speak at the Masaoka Award Dinner. Nominations for six national offices were open, with Trumi Taniguchi and Tomio Moriguchi among the first three candidates named.
Elsewhere in the six pages, Brightwood School parents in Monterey Park challenged the Alhambra school board over school facilities, and a Gardena panel discussed stereotyping of Japanese American students. Bill Hosokawa wrote on issues before JACL, and Kats Kunitsugu reflected on Lt. Hiroo Onoda’s return. Readers will also find a Little Tokyo shooting report, news of San Francisco’s Sakura Matsuri, and the struggles of Seattle’s North American Post.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- Henry Tanaka: We Get Letters, by Henry Tanaka, page 1. JACL President Henry Tanaka responds to reader letters concerning the appointment of a volunteer consultant, calls for resignation, and inter-marriage. He addresses each concern and invites further discussion on intermarriage and cultural heritage.
- National JACL Convention Program in Portland July 23-27, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 23rd Biennial National JACL Convention will be held in Portland, co-hosted by the Portland and Gresham-Troutdale chapters. The article outlines the week’s schedule including National Council sessions, the Hito Okada Testimonial, the Masaoka Trust Award Dinner, and optional activities.
- Nominations Open for Six National JACL Offices, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Three candidates have been nominated thus far for national JACL offices, including Trumi Taniguchi and Tomio Moriguchi. Nominations procedures and deadlines for the remaining positions are outlined.
- Sen. Inouye to Address Masaoka Award Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senator Daniel K. Inouye will speak at the 23rd Biennial National JACL Convention dinner where the Masaoka Distinguished Service Award will be presented. His background and career highlights are summarized.
Community
- Brightwood School PTA Challenges Alhambra School Board on Facilities Inequity, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Parents of the Brightwood School PTA in Monterey Park protested inequitable facilities at schools with large Asian American enrollment in the Alhambra district. They passed a resolution demanding cafeterias and auditoriums, and seeking immediate rectification.
- 400 More Show Support for JACL Building Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 1. More than 400 pledges and donations have been received for the JACL National Headquarters Building Fund. Donors are encouraged to designate chapters for credit.
- San Francisco Set for 7th Sakura Matsuri, by P.C. Staff, page 1. San Francisco’s 7th annual Cherry Blossom Festival will run April 19 through 28 with events at Japan Center and a parade. Nearly 400 participants from Japan will attend the festival.
- Philadelphia JACL Installs New Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Koge Suto was installed as Philadelphia JACL chairman at a March 16 dinner. Outgoing chairman George Higuchi was recognized for his two terms of service.
- Chapter Pulse: April Events, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Multiple JACL chapters announced April and May events including fundraising, installations, and cultural programs. Events span St. Louis, Bay Area, Sequoia, and other chapters.
- NC-WN District Youth Meeting in Monterey, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Monterey JACL/JAY hosted a district and biennium youth meeting attended by about 40 youth on April 6-7. Organizers were thanked for making the event a success.
- Seattle Japanese Newspaper Faces Closure Pressures, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The North American Post, an old Nisei institution in Seattle, faces financial difficulties and may cease publication. The article describes the decline of Japanese-language newspapers in the Pacific Northwest.
- Monterey Park Parents Demand Equal School Facilities, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Parents from Brightwood and Monterey Highlands schools demanded equal facilities from the Alhambra school board. The statistical data shows these schools have the largest proportion of Asian American students.
National
- Linda Kato Participates in Presidential Classroom in Washington, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Stockton high school student Linda Kato attended the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans program in Washington, D.C. She met with congressional leaders and government officials and discussed Watergate and impeachment issues.
- U.N. Ends Sessions on Human Rights, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The UN Human Rights Commission ended its five-week session having failed to adequately address serious human rights violations in several countries. The commission was criticized for not inquiring into allegations of abuses.
Incarceration & Redress
- Little Tokyo Resident Found Fatally Shot on Freeway, by P.C. Staff, page 1. George Masami Kubo was found shot on the Hollywood Freeway and a Gardena man was arrested for murder. Police linked the suspect to a scuffle at a Little Tokyo cafe earlier that night.
Commentary
- Mixed Marriages, by Jarry Enomoto, page 2. A reader writes about the challenges mixed-heritage children face in identity and the pressures of being classified as other. The writer argues that children should affirm all aspects of their heritage.
- CCDC Pleased with Executive Changes Within National JACL, by Izumi Taniguchi, page 2. The CCDC governor describes the district’s farmer-oriented perspective and its frustrations with national representation. He explains the district’s positions on several national JACL decisions.
- Issues Before JACL: Perspectives, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. The columnist urges JACL to address the unresolved Tokyo Rose case and the constitutional legitimacy of the wartime evacuation. He argues that JACL leaders must be free to speak on important issues.
- A Romantic View of Duty, by Kats Kunitsugu, page 4. The columnist reflects on Lt. Hiroo Onoda’s return from decades in the Philippine jungle and critiques the romanticized view of military duty. He contrasts this with human concerns and historical atrocities.
- Book Review: A History of Chinese Literature, by Richard Gima, page 5. The reviewer examines Herbert Allen Giles’s survey of Chinese literature, noting its scholarly achievement and the author’s background as a British consular official. The review highlights the work’s translations and coverage of classical forms.
In-Depth
- Freedom to Fail, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Panelists in Gardena discussed the stereotyping of Japanese American students and the pressures they face. The discussion addressed drug abuse and the need for educators to avoid limiting students’ options.
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.