Vol. 74, No. 22, June 9, 1972. 6 pages. View this issue
Preparations for the 22nd Biennial National JACL Convention in Washington, D.C. ran through this six-page issue. Larry Nakatsuka, legislative assistant to Senator Hiram Fong and vice-chairman of the D.C. Chapter, organized orientation tours for visitors. National Treasurer Al Hatate explained what adopting all proposed major programs would cost, and the National Planning Commission debated staffing and regional offices. Paris designer Kenzo Takada’s ‘by Jap’ label drew protests, with Joan Chatfield-Taylor reporting on the furor and a second story on responses from publications and retailers.
Elsewhere, the Little Tokyo urban renewal project faced a HUD phase-out order, and a bomb threat was made on the San Francisco JACL building. Seventeen high school seniors were named JACL freshman scholarship winners. Page two carries letters and columns by Frank A. Iwama, Warren Furutani and Jeffrey Matsui, and Senator Spark Matsunaga argued the case for a federal Department of Peace.
What’s in this issue
National
- Senator Fong’s Aide Larry Nakatsuka Helps Prepare D.C. for JACL Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Larry Nakatsuka, legislative assistant to Senator Hiram Fong and vice-chairman of the D.C. JACL Chapter, organized orientation tours for convention visitors. He has a background in Hawaii journalism and a Nieman Fellowship, and says his work with Senator Fong has been rewarding.
- Furor Over Kenzo’s ‘Jap’ Label May Subside by Fall as French Tag Contemplated, by Joan Chatfield-Taylor, page 1. Paris designer Kenzo Takada’s use of the label ‘by Jap’ revived painful memories of wartime discrimination among Japanese Americans. Community leaders, including San Mateo JACL’s Eugene Moriguchi, protested to publications and retailers, while the designer maintained the name was chosen with humor and pride.
- Israeli-Japan Friendship Affirmed After Lod Airport Massacre, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir stated that the Japanese terrorists at Lod Airport did not represent Japan and that ties of friendship would endure. Japan sent a formal apology envoy as officials identified the attackers as recruits of a Palestinian terrorist group.
- Bomb Threat Made on S.F. JACL Building, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A bomb threat was phoned to the Nichi Bei Kai office in the San Francisco JACL building on June 1. Police searched the premises and found nothing suspicious but kept the building under surveillance.
JACL
- National Planning Commission Discusses Membership Services and Staffing, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Members of the JACL National Planning Commission debated whether district councils need full-time, part-time, or shared staff to boost membership and community involvement. Participants weighed regional office proposals, the cost of staffing, and how to attract more members.
- Nearly $148,000 More Needed If All Major Programs Adopted, by Al Hatate, page 2. National Treasurer Al Hatate explains that adopting all proposed major programs would require a dues increase of $5.50 to $6.00 rather than the $1.50 approved by the Executive Committee. He urges delegates to study the budget carefully before the convention.
- Seventeen Named JACL Freshman Scholarship Winners, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Central California District Council judging panel selected 17 high school seniors for 1972 National JACL freshman scholarships. Paul C. Kikuchi of Salt Lake JACL was ranked first and received the Pvt. Ben Frank Masaoka memorial award.
- Staff and Regional Office Debate Continues in Planning Commission, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Planning Commission members continued debating whether regional offices and secretaries should handle local social service needs or whether JACL should focus on national priorities. Participants considered costs ranging from $6,000 for a secretary to $25,000 or more for a regional office.
Community
- Phase-out Orders Handed Kunitsugu for Little Tokyo Urban Renewal Projects, by P.C. Staff, page 1. HUD notified the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency that its Neighborhood Development Program projects, including Little Tokyo, must close by July 31 after the City Council refused to approve Romex cable. Little Tokyo project manager Kango Kunitsugu said officials were seeking a reversal.
- Asian Cultural Week Highlights Japanese American History in Tacoma, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. A column describes Asian Cultural Week at Tacoma Community College, organized by Joe Kosai and the Puyallup Valley JACL. It recalls the region’s anti-Chinese history and argues schools must keep the Evacuation experience alive.
- Gardena Valley JACL Prepares Queen Coronation Ball, by Bob Tarumoto, page 4. The Gardena Valley JACL introduced four candidates for Miss Gardena Valley, who will be crowned at a June 17 ball. The winner will serve as the area’s Nisei Week queen candidate, with support from local businesses and community groups.
- Junior JACL Future Structure Under Review, by Dave Motoki, page 4. Dave Motoki reports that the structure of the National Jr. JACL will be considered at the senior convention and urges youth to voice their views. He argues the youth need fair representation on the National Senior Board to maintain their identity and programs.
Commentary
- Letters to PC: Response to Vaughn Greene and Views on Editorial Balance, by Phil Ihara, page 2. Phil Ihara criticizes a letter from a white reader for lacking merit and argues that Asian Americans must stop seeking acceptance through a condescending white society. The editor notes the PC welcomes diverse opinions though some letters run too long.
- A Long Journey: Raffaelli Case Ruled Unconstitutional, by Frank A. Iwama, page 2. Deputy Attorney General Frank Iwama reports that the California Supreme Court struck down the citizenship requirement for admission to the State Bar in Raffaelli v. Committee of Bar Examiners. He notes the decision advances civil rights principles the JACL has long supported.
- Ethnic Heritage: Letter on JACL Programming for Japanese Culture, by Selma Friedman, page 2. Selma Friedman, a reader from Detroit, questions whether JACL is doing enough to preserve Japanese heritage, culture, and language for younger generations. The editor responds that some chapters offer classes and that the newspaper focuses on current issues.
- Mental Health Conference Reporting Criticized, by Yoji Ozaki, page 2. Yoji Ozaki, of Chicago, argues that a previous PC article understated attendance at the Asian American mental health conference, which he says drew over 600 registrants. He says the larger issue is how Asian American communities can organize to meet mental health needs.
- U-No Bar: On Speakers, Dialogue, and JACL’s Forum Role, by Jeffrey Matsui, page 2. JACL leader Jeffrey Matsui defends the selection of a controversial speaker for the Congressional Banquet, arguing that free speech and open forums require hearing views one disagrees with. He also defends Mike Masaoka against unfair attacks on his integrity.
- What Happens to a Dream Deferred?, by Warren Furutani, page 2. Warren Furutani reflects on the Issei generation, recalling a 1967 column about their struggles under discriminatory laws. He describes the Japanese Welfare Rights Organization and a JACL-JWRO fund drive to support elderly and low-income members in Los Angeles.
- Low Cost Housing and the International Hotel Struggle, by Sounding Board, page 2. This column urges Senator Humphrey to press Walter Shorenstein, a Humphrey campaign finance chairman, to negotiate a settlement preserving low-cost housing at the International Hotel in San Francisco’s Chinatown. It argues the elderly residents’ needs should outweigh money and political considerations.
Military & Veterans
- Kenzo’s Jap Label Controversy Draws Protests from Readers and Retailers, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Abiko’s protest to publications over Kenzo Takada’s ‘Jap’ label drew responses from Women’s Wear Daily and The New York Times, which declined to bar the name. The article reports the designer’s position and notes the Japanese American Citizens League’s likely national response.
In-Depth
- A Department of Peace: The Historical Case for a Federal Peace Office, by Spark Matsunaga, page 6. Senator Spark Matsunaga traces the history of proposals for a federal Department of Peace from the early republic through the Cold War. He argues that current legislation combining research, education, and peace corps programs is a long-overdue step toward preventing war.
Obituaries
- Kelly A. Kageyama, Monterey Peninsula JACL President, Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Kelly A. Kageyama, 47, president of the Monterey Peninsula JACL, died of a heart attack on May 27. He is survived by his wife, three children, and several brothers.
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