Vol. 80, No. 4, January 31, 1975. 4 pages. View this issue
A four-page issue weighed what JACL members owed their organization and what they got back. East Los Angeles Chapter President Mas Dobashi wrote to National Director David Ushio about the national dues increase and even raised the idea of seceding, and Ushio replied with his reasons. Gail Nishioka explained a new National JACL Scholarship program for 1975, and Patricia J. Nakano was named director of the JACL Ethnic Heritage Project. The National JACL Credit Union announced new insurance coverage for its members.
Other front-page stories covered the headquarters Building Fund campaign and the planned groundbreaking for Little Tokyo Towers, a senior housing project in Los Angeles. Columns by Bill Hosokawa, Edison T. Uno and Kats Kunitsugu fill the commentary pages, and installation dinners for the Monterey Peninsula, Puyallup Valley, Salt Lake, Downtown Los Angeles and Fremont chapters round out the issue.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Ethnic Heritage Project Underway, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Patricia J. Nakano has been appointed director of the JACL Ethnic Heritage Project, which will address pluralism and minority representation in education. The project aims to develop materials that better reflect Japanese American history and culture.
- Little Tokyo Towers Groundbreaking Set for Feb. 2, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Groundbreaking ceremonies will be held for a 16-story, 300-unit senior citizen housing project in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo redevelopment area. The project, long awaited by the Issei community, was delayed by numerous problems over four years.
- Oregon-Idaho Nikkei Pioneers Feted, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Consul General Masatada Higaki gave the keynote address opening the Japanese American Heritage series at the College of Idaho, tracing early Japanese settlement in Idaho. Area recipients of Japanese government decorations were honored at the event.
- Ed Takahashi Joins Quality of Life Council in Spokane, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Spokane JACL president Ed Takahashi was appointed by Mayor David Rogers to a 12-member Quality of Life Council overseeing community development under the Housing and Community Development Act. The appointment ensures Japanese community representation in planning Spokane’s future.
- Monterey JACL Installation Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 3. George Uyeds took over as president of the Monterey Peninsula JACL at the third annual installation dinner, where Assemblyman Frank Murphy was the speaker. Awards were presented to Dr. Tak Hattori and the Nakasukos for their service to the chapter and JACL.
- Tulare County JACL to Celebrate 40th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Tulare County JACL will observe its 40th anniversary with a banquet on Feb. 8 in Dinuba, co-sponsored by the Reedley, Delano and Parlier chapters. National director David Ushio will be the principal speaker.
- Puyallup Valley JACL Installation, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Dr. Paul Ellis was installed as president of the Puyallup Valley JACL, becoming the first Caucasian chapter president since its founding in 1931. Dr. John Ishii was the main speaker, discussing opportunities for Nikkei to bridge East and West.
- Gene Sato to Lead Salt Lake JACL, by Tomoko Yano, page 4. Gene Sato was installed as the new president of the Salt Lake JACL at the chapter’s year-end 1000 Club dinner-dance. Awards were presented and David Ushio installed the retiring 1000 Club board.
- George Fujita Heads Downtown L.A. JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 4. George Fujita will succeed Joe Hazama as president of the Downtown Los Angeles JACL at an installation dinner featuring Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent Dr. William Johnston. Fujita has long been active in community affairs and Nisei Week.
- Margie Yamamoto Speaks at Fremont Installation, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Wallace Terui was installed as Fremont JACL president at a dinner where Margaret Yamamoto gave a history of Japanese immigration and anti-Japanese stereotyping. Her talk connected historical prejudice to current economic tensions over US-Japan trade.
National
- Matsunaga Predicts Health Bill Passage, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Spark Matsunaga predicted that a national health security act will be reintroduced in the new 94th Congress. He argued it would bring basic health care within economic reach of everyone.
- Toshiba Story Irks Union Call for Boycott, by Howard Imazeki, page 1. An IBEW Local 684 leaflet alleged that Japanese companies were stealing American jobs, prompting criticism from Hokubei Mainichi editor Howard Imazeki. Imazeki condemned the leaflet as racist and reminiscent of pre-World War II anti-Japanese agitation.
JACL
- Bldg. Fund Launched ‘One Last Push’ Campaign, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National JACL Headquarters Building Fund reached $366,889 from 4,572 donors as of Dec. 31, 1974. Campaign leaders urged chapters to make one final push to personally solicit support before the building dedication.
Commentary
- Dobashi-Ushio Duologue, by Mas Dobashi, page 2. East Los Angeles Chapter President Mas Dobashi wrote to National JACL Director David Ushio questioning the national dues increase and the value of JACL programs, and floated the idea of seceding. Ushio responded by acknowledging the concerns and explaining the reasons for the dues increase and JACL’s national role.
- Nishioka: New Directions in Scholarship Program, by Gail Nishioka, page 2. Gail Nishioka explains the new National JACL Scholarship program for 1975, which emphasizes financial need over purely academic excellence and expands to include arts and vocational education. She addresses questions about the March 1 deadline and the definition of academic merit.
- Thoughts on Becoming 60, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa reflects on turning sixty, remembering friends lost over the years and the hardships of the Evacuation. He expresses gratitude for his family and good health while hoping to continue meaningful work.
- Omens of a Good Year—1975, by Edison T. Uno, page 3. Edison Uno cites several hopeful signs for 1975, including Newman Mineta’s swearing-in to Congress and the House Internal Security Committee losing its independence. He also welcomes the new California governor as a positive sign for the Japanese American community.
- Take It From Me, by Kats Kunitsugu, page 4. Kats Kunitsugu recounts a telephone call from her daughter who quit graduate architecture studies after finding the training not worth the suffering. The daughter’s relief and new sense of freedom contrasts with the family’s earlier expectations.
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