Repealing Title II and the Noguchi case: the June 27, 1969 issue

Vol. 68, No. 26, June 27, 1969. 8 pages. View this issue

The campaign to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act, the Emergency Detention Act, ran through this eight-page issue. Representative Spark Matsunaga and Representative Chet Holifield each argued for repeal, citing the wartime treatment of Japanese Americans, and 44 more House members signed on as co-sponsors. Support also came from the Berkeley NAACP, the Citizens United board in Pleasant Hill and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. JACL National President Jerry Enomoto wrote about the organization’s backing of Dr. Thomas Noguchi, and page 3 reported the final week of testimony in his hearing.

Other pages include Bill Hosokawa’s Tokyo Diary and Bill Marutani’s column on Tokyo. Mike Masaoka wrote on Okinawa, and Patti Dohzen previewed the 1970 National Junior JACL Convention. There is also a story on a Navy chaplains manual that contained racial slurs, and a Seattle profile of the new Asian Coalition for Equality.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Perspectives, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. JACL National President Jerry Enomoto reflects on the commemorative Wakamatsu Colony centennial coin and the JACL’s support for Dr. Thomas Noguchi after his dismissal as coroner. He argues the organization’s stand is justified because it protects the rights of persons of Japanese ancestry.
• Tak Kako of ABC Directs TV Programming, by Joe Oyama, page 1. Tak Kako, son of rice importer Tokuya Kako, rose from film traffic controller at ABC to Director of Programming for WABC-TV in New York. The profile covers his career, his family background, and his views on race in the business.
• Tokyo Diary: The Unbelievable City, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa describes the modern highway system between Tokyo and Osaka, with its tolls, and contrasts it with the traditional temples and nightlife of the city. He also comments on the high cost of dining and drinks in Tokyo for visiting Americans.
• East Wind: Maze of ‘Maze-Moi’, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Marutani offers observations on Tokyo, including its confusing address system, the prosperous and the destitute, polite customs, and restaurant tipping. He also recommends Ambassador Ichiro Kawasaki’s book Japan Unmasked while disagreeing with parts of it.
• By the Board: Mid-Western Trip, by Henry Kato, page 4. Kato recounts his trip to Columbus, Ohio, for his daughter’s Ohio State graduation, where Vice President Agnew spoke. He also describes visits to JACL members and former camp residents along the way home.
• Editorial: L’Affaire Noguchi, by Mark Schwartz, page 4. The Beverly Hills Courier editorial argues that Dr. Noguchi’s dismissal reflects a wider attack on a minority official and draws parallels to the wartime treatment of Japanese Americans. It praises attorney Godfrey Isaac’s defense.
• One Way for Mr. Warren to Correct His Past, by Cheryl Yoshimura, page 4. Yoshimura urges former Chief Justice Earl Warren to publicly apologize for his role in the wartime evacuation of Japanese Americans. She suggests he could lend his name to the campaign to repeal Title II.
• Letters: Nisei—Quiet Americans, by Michael C. Hosokawa, page 4. A letter writer defends the title of Bill Hosokawa’s book as accurate and appropriate, arguing it chronicles a history of quiet, industrious Nisei rather than current events. He rejects the criticisms raised by Okamura and Rev. Sano.
• Repeal Detention Camp Law, by P.C. Staff, page 5. An editorial from the McClatchy newspapers urges repeal of the Emergency Detention Act, which permits political concentration camps. It notes bipartisan support from Senator Murphy and Senator Cranston.
• Impressive Legacy of Shade, by Frank Sakamoto, page 6. Sakamoto reflects on the Chinese proverb that one generation plants trees and another enjoys the shade, applying it to JACL’s legacy. He expresses pride in the organization’s growth to roughly 25,000 members.
• More Unmasking, by Jim Henry, page 8. Henry’s Sakura Script column discusses the Gallup Poll and Japanese sanitation, including the shortage of flush toilets in Tokyo. He notes the contrast between Japan’s advanced technology and its toilet facilities.
• Okinawa Denationalized, by Allan Beekman, page 8. Beekman reviews M.D. Morris’s book Okinawa: A Tiger by the Tail, which argues the U.S. position on Okinawa is ambiguous. He critiques the author’s claim that Okinawans are not Japanese and discusses the Shiroma case on residual sovereignty.

National

• U.S. Navy Use of Racial Slurs in Manual Cited, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Navy chaplains manual contained racial slurs, which ACLU Washington director Lawrence Speiser brought to the attention of Senator Inouye and Representative Matsunaga. Elimination of the slurs was assured in the next revised edition.
• Pill Epidemic Rages in Gardena, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Three teenagers, one of them Sansei, committed suicide after taking pills within two weeks in Gardena, shocking the community. The Gardena Valley News reported that a third of the city’s felony arrests involved drug abuse.
• 44 More Congressmen Join Matsunaga-Holifield Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Forty-four House members co-sponsored the Matsunaga-Holifield bill to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act, the emergency detention provision. Companion Senate legislation sponsored by Senator Inouye has also gained more than 20 cosponsors.
• Court Challenge to Title II Dismissed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Judge William B. Bryant dismissed a suit challenging the constitutionality of Title II of the Internal Security Act of 1950 after the Attorney General argued the law had never been used. Plaintiffs, including Gail Nakahara Unno of Berkeley, announced they would petition for rehearing and possibly appeal.
• Census to Count Spanish-Speaking, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Census Bureau will conduct its most comprehensive count of Spanish-speaking people in the United States next year. Race and ethnicity categories will include Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian and Korean among others.
• Okinawa Issue, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka argues that the reversion of Okinawa to Japan is the most significant issue in U.S.-Japan relations and that JACL members will be looked to for guidance. He explains the military concerns of the United States and Japan’s constitutional limits, and reports that JACL reactivated its Committee on International Affairs under Dr. Mary Watanabe.

Community

• Seattle Oriental Communities Form ACE, by Phil Hayasaka, page 1. Filipino, Chinese and Japanese community members in Seattle formed the Asian Coalition for Equality (ACE) to advance human rights for all people. The coalition aims to address injustices faced by Asians and to join other minority groups in the struggle for equality.
• Oriental Garden Designed by Issei Dedicated, Accepted by Austin, Tex., by P.C. Staff, page 1. Isamu Taniguchi, a retired Issei farmer, donated the Taniguchi Oriental Garden to Zilker Garden Center in Austin, Texas, after 18 months of work. The garden was dedicated in April in the presence of city officials and Japanese consular representatives.
• Seattle Seeks Community Queen, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sixteen candidates are competing in the Greater Seattle Japanese queen contest to participate in community activities. The coronation ball will be held at the Seattle Center, co-sponsored by Seattle JACL and the Japanese Cultural Festival Committee.
• Young Adults in Northwest Called by District Council, by Henry Kato, page 4. The Pacific Northwest District Council is organizing a young adult committee to involve Sansei in senior JACL activities. Each chapter president has been asked to appoint an adult representative to the council committee.
• Library Founded for Far West Black History, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A library in San Francisco was founded to preserve the history of black Americans in the Western United States. The collection honors figures such as stage driver George Monroe.
• Sansei Slant: Unconventional Convention, by Patti Dohzen, page 6. Patti Dohzen, chairman of the National Youth Council, previews the 1970 National Junior JACL Convention plans, which will be unconventional. She also reports on parent donations supporting Jr. JACL.
• Cincinnati-Dayton JACLers Hustling for EDC-MDC Convention, by Stogie Toki, page 6. Stogie Toki invites JACLers to the joint EDC-MDC biennial convention over Labor Day weekend in Cincinnati. He describes the planning committee, the cultural attractions of Cincinnati, and the YJA participation.
• Jr. JACL Planning Tri-District Summer Conference in California, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Jr. JACL leadership in California’s three district youth councils is planning a statewide conference for August 23-24. The theme will be Yellow Power and Sansei identity, with adults invited to attend.
• Shopping for Bowling Shoes, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A guide for bowlers on selecting shoes covers price ranges, sole construction, and heel quality. It advises buyers to check the sliding sole and heel before purchasing.
• Sumitomo to Register ‘Igeta’ Mark in U.S., by P.C. Staff, page 8. Sumitomo Bank plans to register the Igeta trademark in the United States. The report also covers Expo 70 visits from Osaka.

Incarceration & Redress

• Berkeley NAACP Votes Support of Title II Repeal, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Berkeley chapter of the NAACP unanimously voted to support the campaign to repeal Title II after a presentation by Ray Okamura of JACL. The chapter will seek national NAACP involvement and prepare a resolution for district and national adoption.
• Highlights of Noguchi Case, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Final week of testimony before the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission included witnesses who praised Dr. Noguchi’s performance and psychologists who gave conflicting readings of his personality tests. Attorney Godfrey Isaac cross-examined witnesses on their methods and bias.
• Matsunaga Urges Repeal of Emergency Detention, by Spark Matsunaga, page 5. Representative Matsunaga’s floor speech urges repeal of Title II, the Emergency Detention Act, which he says violates constitutional guarantees. He recounts the wartime evacuation and the military and legal issues surrounding the statute.
• Detention Camps: Could They Happen Here?, by Chet Holifield, page 5. Representative Holifield speaks in favor of repealing Title II and recalls the wartime removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast. He argues that the provision threatens citizens’ liberties and should be stricken from the statute books.
• Arizonan Explains Title II Repeal, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Edwin McDowell’s Arizona Republic column explains JACL’s campaign to repeal the Emergency Detention Act and the reasons for its concern. McDowell argues the campaign deserves broader support.
• Contra Costa Group Backs Title II Repeal, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Citizens United board of directors in Pleasant Hill called for repeal of Title II of the Internal Security Act at its June 11 meeting. The civic organization has membership throughout Contra Costa County.
• Title II Repeal Resolution: City and County of San Francisco, by William C. Blake, page 5. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution urging repeal of the Emergency Detention Act. The resolution cites the wartime treatment of Japanese Americans and the lack of due process in the law.

Military & Veterans

• Over 300 Sansei ‘A’ Students in So. Cal., by P.C. Staff, page 2. Some 340 Sansei were among the 12,000 Southern California students listed as California Scholarship Federation members in the Los Angeles Times. Montebello High led with 84 Sansei and Gardena High followed with 29.

Sports

• Gardena JACL Tourney, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Ninety-four golfers competed in the second annual Gardena JACL golf tournament at Dominguez Park. Craig Ota won with a 67 and the women’s title went to defending champion Shig Maeda.

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.