April 1969: arms race warnings, ethnic studies and a Jr. JACL debate

Vol. 68, No. 16, April 18, 1969. 6 pages. View this issue

Hawaii Senator Daniel K. Inouye warned a Stockton dinner crowd of about 200 about the danger of a US-Soviet nuclear arms race. Elsewhere in this six-page issue, ethnic studies and the role of young members ran through the columns. Mike Masaoka argued that Asian American studies should be open to all students, and Patti Dohrzen, John Sugiyama and Richard Okabe wrote about what Jr. JACL does and should do. Ray Okamura answered critics of Sansei student activism, and an editorial urged support for repeal of the Emergency Detention Act.

Other items include Jerry Enomoto’s column on sending the Pacific Citizen to elected officials, plans for the PSWDC convention at the Disneyland Hotel, and Governor Reagan’s expected visit to the Wakamatsu Centennial dedication. Bill Hosokawa wrote about a visiting Tokyo university choir, and Tomi Knaefler reported early results of a Hawaii heart survey of Issei and Nisei.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Sen. Inouye Paints Grim Picture of A-Bomb Race Before Stockton JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hawaii Senator Daniel K. Inouye addressed about 200 people at a Stockton dinner co-sponsored by the Public Affairs Institute and Stockton JACL, warning of the danger of a Soviet-US nuclear arms race. He argued the race must be ended before it leads to mutual destruction, citing the enormous cost and destructive force of current arsenals.

Community

• Orange County All Set for PSWDC Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Orange County JACL hosts the PSWDC convention April 25-27 at Disneyland Hotel, its first JACL convention there. Dr. S. I. Hayakawa and Yuji Ichioka are the main speakers, with banquet and Disneyland-related events planned.
• Sen. Jackson Keynotes Seattle Chapter Installation Banquet, by Eira Nagaoka, page 1. Sen. Henry M. Jackson delivered the keynote at the Seattle JACL chapter installation banquet, which also included scholarship awards. The event featured speeches, music, and recognition of chapter leaders.
• Salinas Valley JACL to Beautify Urabe Park, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Salinas Valley JACL approved purchase of trees to beautify Urabe Park, which is being renamed in a ceremony. Henry Hibino, chapter president, announced the plans.
• Wakamatsu Centennial Dedication Program Set; Gov. Reagan to Attend Coloma Rites, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Governor Reagan is scheduled to help dedicate a state historical landmark plaque at Gold Hill commemorating the 1869 arrival of the first Japanese colonists at Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm. The Centennial Fund drive continues toward its $15,000 goal.
• PSWDC Chapters to Step Up Title II Repeal Campaign; Workshop Planned, by P.C. Staff, page 2. PSWDC will hold a strategy workshop April 19 in Los Angeles to push repeal of Title II of the Internal Security Act, the Emergency Detention Act. Chapters will also pursue resolutions from local governing bodies.
• Nisei as Race Intermediaries Topic for San Gabriel Panelists, by P.C. Staff, page 2. San Gabriel Valley JACL will hold a panel discussion April 19 on whether Americans of Japanese ancestry serve as intermediaries between Blacks and Whites. Panelists include community leaders and students, and a meeting to consider a Jr. JACL chapter follows in May.
• Ethnic Studies, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka examines the push for black studies programs and argues that Asian American and other ethnic studies should also be offered to all students. He notes JACL’s district council resolutions supporting Asian American studies and urges a national campaign for such courses.
• W.L.A. JACL Co-sponsored Japanese Cultural Fete May 3-10 at Westwood, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Westwood Village Japanese cultural festival, co-sponsored with West Los Angeles JACL, will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japanese immigration with a parade, exhibits, demonstrations and ondo dancing. Events run through the week.
• How Ladies Passing 50 Can Look Younger, by Dick Gima, page 2. Japanese actress Yoko Kozakura, mother of screen star Yuzo Kayama, shares her advice on diet, exercise and attitude for women wanting to look younger. She recommends raw vegetables, shellfish, moderate exercise and a cheerful outlook.
• Oriental Studies at Fresno State Slated for Fall, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Fresno State’s Oriental American Students Club is seeking candidates for a full-time Oriental American Studies chair to coordinate a program starting in fall. Izumi Taniguchi discusses the rise of ethnic studies and the case for pluralism.
• Ray Uno to Visit San Francisco Bay Area, by P.C. Staff, page 3. National JACL civil rights coordinator Raymond Uno will meet with Bay Area civil rights committees April 21-22 to discuss human rights issues and JACL’s role. Meetings are scheduled in Berkeley and San Francisco.
• UC Berkeley Commends Asian Studies 100X, Re-offered This Spring, by P.C. Staff, page 4. UC Berkeley’s Board of Educational Development called the Asian American ethnic studies course Asian Studies 100X academically meritorious, and it will be offered again in spring. The course drew large enrollment and community support, including from JACL.

Commentary

• Enomoto: Perspectives, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. National JACL President Jerry Enomoto urges chapter presidents to send the Pacific Citizen to their senators and congressmen to make JACL’s constituency visible. He also urges support for the Centennial Fund drive, asking each JACLer to give a dollar.
• From the Frying Pan: They Came to Sing, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa describes a visit by the 40-member Keio University Wagner Society Male Choir from Tokyo, noting their disciplined rehearsals and a powerful Denver concert. He reflects on what their dedication says about Japan’s postwar generation.
• Time Now for Golf!, by Joe Hamanaka, page 3. Hamanaka profiles the Puget Sound Golf Club in Seattle, its roughly 180 members, its history and its affiliated clubs in the Pacific Northwest. He observes the community’s enthusiasm for golf and suggests it may someday need its own course.
• Sansei Slant: An Open Letter to Junko, by Patti Dohrzen, page 4. National Youth Council chairman Patti Dohrzen responds to a Phoenix chapter officer about why she remains in Jr. JACL. She discusses illusions of acceptance, economic status, and the importance of awareness of issues affecting Japanese Americans.
• Jr. JACL Gets Involved: How Jr. JACL Gets Involved, by Richard Okabe, page 5. Okabe reports on a Midwest District Human Relations Workshop where Junior JACL delegates discussed how to get involved in civil rights. Participants were urged to start small, using existing service projects as a base.
• Open Letter to Miss Penny Nakatsu, by John Sugiyama, page 5. NC-WNDC chairman John Sugiyama responds to comments made by Penny Nakatsu about Jr. JACL being interested mainly in social activities. He argues Juniors are increasingly interested in civil rights, human relations and ethnic identity.
• Editorial: Ets Da, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The editorial urges support for repeal of the Emergency Detention Act and suggests April 25 as an Evacuation Day for JACL chapters to mount educational campaigns. It reviews the historical timeline of the Evacuation in 1942.
• Lincoln Must Have Turned Over in His Grave, by John M. Kanda, page 6. Kanda describes a Tacoma fundraising effort for black entrepreneurs that the Puyallup Valley JACL chapter’s potluck was meant to support, then withdrew its contribution request after resistance from members. He challenges Nisei to understand and help their black neighbors.
• Re: The Sansei, by Ray Okamura, page 6. Okamura responds to Tokuo Yamamoto and Fred Hirasuna criticizing JACL’s stance on Sansei student activism. He argues that Sansei students seek to reclaim ethnic identity and urges older members to learn from them.
• Accent on Youth: Flying High in Midwest, by Alan Kumamoto, page 6. Kumamoto reports on his travels to Midwest chapters, meeting youth and adult leaders and discussing human rights and youth involvement. He notes the region remains hospitable but increasingly wants JACL to take direction.
• Speaking of P.R.: JACL Brochure, by Harry Takagi, page 6. Takagi urges chapters to order and distribute the official JACL Brochure written by Bill Hosokawa as a public relations tool. He notes the brochure is an effective and inexpensive way to explain JACL to outsiders.
• Sounding Board: Earl Warren, by Jeffrey Matsui, page 6. The column recounts a Sansei student confronting Chief Justice Earl Warren on NBC about his role in the Evacuation and his failure to apologize. It discusses arguments on both sides of whether Warren should publicly admit error.

Military & Veterans

• Torii Not Dedicated, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A torii gift from Fukuoka Jaycees to the Oakland Jaycees was not erected in time for the Lake Merritt dedication ceremonies. The gift is pending completion.

In-Depth

• Early Results of Heart Survey of Hawaii Issei, Nisei Compared, by Tomi Knaefler, page 3. Preliminary data from the Honolulu Heart Program show Nisei men aged 60 to 64 have a death rate about 55 percent higher than Issei counterparts. The researchers note non-genetic factors appear to influence arteriosclerotic heart disease mortality.

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