JACL’s gerontology dispute and a bill to recall slur license plates

Vol. 77, No. 4, July 27, 1973. 6 pages. View this issue

JACL National President Henry Tanaka opened this six-page issue by explaining why the National Board withdrew its proposal to the Office of Economic Opportunity but kept the suspended Social Gerontology Project, saying the board needed time to consult other Japanese American groups. A second front-page story reported that Governor Ronald Reagan signed a JACL-backed bill allowing California to recall offensive personalized license plates, and David Ushio urged recall of plates bearing a racial slur. Letters on page 2, including one from Lillian Baker, argued over both disputes.

Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa profiled Jim Sugioka, and Don Estes wrote on the lemoto system in Japanese arts. Page 3 reported that the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency approved a 400-room hotel agreement with Kajima for Little Tokyo. Other items covered the Elks ending their whites-only rule, Salinas Mayor Henry Hibino, and a review of the novel Alien Rice.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Why JACL Withdrew OEO Proposal but Retained Social Gerontology Project, by Henry H. Tanaka, page 1. JACL National President Henry Tanaka explains why the National Board withdrew its proposal to the Office of Economic Opportunity while keeping the suspended Social Gerontology Project funded by the Administration on Aging. He says the board needed time to consult other Japanese American groups before proceeding.
• Let’s Make Sure We Do It Right: JACL Building Fund Poll, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Chapters are voting on whether to raise the National JACL Building fund goal from $175,000 to $250,000. Midwest Governor Ross Harano supports the increase, citing committed building plans, staff growth, and rising construction costs.

Community

• ‘Education and Ethnicity’ Set as Theme, Focus on Role of Local Nikkei Communities, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Tenth Biennial EDC-MDC Joint Convention in Detroit will take the theme ‘Education and Ethnicity’ with a focus on the Japanese American community’s role. Workshops and panels are planned along with a National Executive Committee meeting held during the district convention.
• H. Hibino Elected Mayor of Salinas, Calif., by Harry Uda, page 1. Henry Hibino, a Salinas city councilman since 1971, was chosen by his fellow councilmen to serve as mayor. He had previously served on the city’s Parks Commission and is a JACL member.
• Las Vegas Gambling Operators Change Ways for Japanese Visitors, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Las Vegas casinos are adjusting to affluent Japanese tourists who travel with large amounts of cash, including high-denomination bills. The shift is prompting operators to rethink their traditional business methods.
• Gardena Card Club Literature Accuses Mayor and Other Councilmen, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Gardena’s mayor and councilmen were named in campaign literature as political puppets, prompting a court judge to rule the charges were not grounds for a libel suit. The literature was distributed by the Gardena Card Club before the May election.
• Japan Center Site of Aug. 4 Cultural Festival, by P.C. Staff, page 3. San Francisco’s Japan Center will host a cultural festival on August 4 as part of community programming. Organizers are preparing performances and exhibits.
• Little Tokyo Hotel Agreement Approved by Community Redevelopment Agency, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency unanimously approved a participation agreement with Kajima to build a 400-room hotel in the Little Tokyo Redevelopment project area. The 15-story hotel will front First and Second Streets.
• Coast Guard Ensign Honored; Community News Briefs, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Brief community news items on page 3 include honors for individuals and local events. Each item reports a short update on local Japanese American residents.
• Fresno Robbery Investigated; Victim Pistol-Whipped, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Police are investigating a robbery in Fresno in which Kaichi Sakota was pistol-whipped and robbed of $100 by two men who entered his home. He was treated for a cut above his left eye.

National

• South African Marries Japanese Bride in Swaziland After Refusal at Home, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A white South African dairy farmer and his Japanese fiancee were married in Swaziland after South African authorities refused her permission to live and work there. The Interior Minister had vetoed the wedding in February.
• Elks Abandon ‘Whites Only’ Member Policy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks voted to end its 105-year-old whites-only membership rule at its national convention in Chicago. The change requires ratification by at least two-thirds of the membership by ballot in September.
• U.S. Soybean Export Control ‘Shock’ Upon Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japan’s decision to cut purchases of U.S. soybeans by 50 percent, effective Sept. 15, was described as a shock to the American soybean market. Trade officials warned U.S. farmers could lose a major foreign market.
• Life Under TV Lights Not All That Glamorous, Sen. Inouye Complains, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senator Daniel Inouye describes the rigors of testifying on the televised Senate Watergate hearings, including blinding lights and public attention. He has been wearing tinted glasses and has sent his family back to Hawaii.

Incarceration & Redress

• Gov. Reagan Signs JACL-Backed Bill Allowing Recall of ‘JAP’ License Plates, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Governor Ronald Reagan signed legislation authorizing California’s DMV to recall personalized license plates deemed offensive, prompting JACL Executive Director David Ushio to urge recall of plates bearing ‘JAP.’ Copies of the letter were sent to state and federal officials.

Commentary

• The Lemoto System Survives in Japan’s Fine Arts, Music, by Don Estes, page 2. The lemoto system, a hereditary teacher-disciple structure, has persisted for centuries in Japanese arts and remains an important link to cultural continuity. The author argues it is not an anachronism but a living touchstone of Japanese history.
• Temoto: A Touchstone With History, by Don Estes, page 2. This installment of a series on Japanese culture examines the lemoto system and its role in traditional Japanese arts. The author traces how the system helps people see their past in living form.
• JACL and Community, by Toshimiko Kamada, page 2. The author reflects on attending an Asian American studies conference and on JACL’s relationship with community organizations and the National Board. She calls for trust, listening, and open communication between the national organization and local chapters.
• Jobs for Women, by Vernon T. Yoshioka, page 2. The author discusses equal employment opportunities for women, noting parallels with minority treatment and the gradual acceptance of women in male-identified jobs. He concludes the concept is right and things will work out.
• Chiaroscuro: Various Views on JACL and the JAP Plate Controversy, page 2. Letters from Sacramento and other chapters debate the JAP license plate issue and the Gerontology Program dispute. Writers argue over the proper role of the National JACL and the need for dialogue with community groups.
• Letter: Lillian Baker on JAP License Plates and Mrs. Ishii, by Lillian Baker, page 2. Lillian Baker defends JACL’s protest of the JAP license plates and criticizes a critic’s letter as immature. She argues the term is racist and has no place on official state plates.
• Nisei: Quiet Americans (book notice), by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Bill Hosokawa’s book ‘Nisei: The Quiet Americans’ is offered to readers at a special price. The notice is brief and promotional.
• Bill Hosokawa From the Frying Pan: Jim Sugioka, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa profiles Jim Sugioka, a Nisei electrical contractor and former JACL national staff member who joined the Christian Church during the war. The column recounts Sugioka’s wartime experiences and his later career.

Military & Veterans

• Fiesta Floats and Groundbreaking for New Japanese Hospital Facility, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Community events and groundbreaking coverage on page 3 highlight local Japanese American activities. Officials and community members attended the ceremonies.

Obituaries

• Hidetaka ‘Tak’ Nakaki Dies; WW2 Veteran Served in Customs Bureau, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Hidetaka ‘Tak’ Nakaki, a World War II veteran retired as a lieutenant colonel, died July 16 in Los Angeles. He had worked for the Customs Bureau in Los Angeles and Washington and is survived by his family.

Arts & Entertainment

• Alien Rice: A Novel of Mixed Marriage Reviewed, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A review of Tehiro Kawasaki’s novel Alien Rice follows an international marriage between Alice and Saburo Tanaka in London and Japan. The reviewer notes the story’s strengths and its stilted dialogue and uneven prose.

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