Vol. 68, No. 11, March 14, 1969. 6 pages. View this issue
The suspension of Los Angeles County Coroner Dr. Thomas Noguchi ran through much of this six-page issue. County officials raised complaints about his management, his wife alleged racial discrimination, and Dr. Noguchi withdrew his resignation and denied the charges. Bill Mayer and Hiro K. Bishiki each wrote about what the case might say about minority professionals in county government. On the front page, National JACL President Jerry Enomoto reflected on the militancy of some Sansei students and the racial imbalance in prisons.
Elsewhere, Dusty Mizunoue and Gary Yamauchi were the stars of the 23rd National JACL Bowling Tournament in San Jose. Nisei Hall was dedicated at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. Bill Hosokawa wrote about his children leaving home, and Mike Masaoka previewed the JACL National Executive Committee meeting. Elmer Ogawa retired as the paper’s Northwest columnist.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- Penologist in Me, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. National JACL President Jerry Enomoto reflects on the militancy of some Sansei students and the racial imbalance in prisons, arguing for fairness and honest self-examination in race relations. He recounts a conversation with a department boss and notes the value of national officers traveling to chapters.
- Racial Bias Charged Over Coroner Noguchi’s Release, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles County Coroner Dr. Thomas Noguchi was suspended for 30 days after county officials raised complaints about his management, and his wife alleged racial discrimination. Dr. Noguchi later withdrew his resignation and denied the charges.
- Executive Committee Meeting This Weekend, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Washington representative Mike Masaoka previews the JACL National Executive Committee meeting and the organization’s challenges amid social unrest. He urges greater funding for committees and better cooperation between JACL and Junior JACL and youth groups.
- A Time of Adjustment, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa writes about his family adjusting to their children leaving home, with son Pete moving into an apartment and daughter Christie attending college. He reflects on the quiet household and the question of whether to downsize the house.
- Questions in Wake of Dr. Noguchi’s Suspension, by Hiro K. Bishiki, page 4. Kashu Mainichi publisher Hiro Bishiki questions the County Administrative Officer’s harsh and unorthodox handling of Dr. Noguchi’s ouster. He suggests the matter raises broader issues about how county government treats minority professionals.
- Yaku-doshi Tolls for Man Who Had His Name in Lights, by Joe Hamanaka, page 6. Joe Hamanaka remembers Ted Tamotsu Tanaka, owner of Tanaka’s restaurant in Seattle’s Nihonmachi, who died in a traffic accident at age 42. The column traces Tanaka’s life from childhood in Seattle through time in Japan and his return to build a successful restaurant.
- Accent on Youth: Scholarship Protest, by Alan Kumamoto, page 6. JACL Youth Director Alan Kumamoto writes about a minority voice pushing for scholarship categories based on need rather than purely academic merit. He also notes a chapter objection to the early 1969 scholarship deadlines.
- Letters from Our Readers: 1000 Club Promotion, by Helen Kawagoe, page 6. Helen Kawagoe of the Gardena Valley JACL describes her chapter’s recognition of loyal 1000 Club members with a Japanese American Creed. She suggests a special pin for 1000 Club and Life members to boost membership solicitation.
- Editor’s Desk: Bail and Arrest, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. The editor discusses reactions to JACL’s Ethnic Concern Committee statement on arrests and bail, including questions about a legal defense fund. He raises issues about pretrial detention and the Constitution’s bail protections.
JACL
- Dusty Mizunoue, Gary Yamauchi Sweep JACL Bowling Honors, by Mas Satow, page 1. Dusty Mizunoue of Los Angeles and Gary Yamauchi of Gardena were the individual stars of the 23rd National JACL Bowling Tournament held in San Jose. The article details their scores, team championships, and other winners in the tournament’s events.
Community
- Elmer Ogawa Retires as PC Columnist; Three Seattleites to Share Assignment, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Elmer Ogawa has resigned as Pacific Citizen Northwest columnist after a long career in Seattle Japanese American journalism. Joe Hamanaka, Nagaoka, and Ute Hirano will alternate writing the Northwest Picture column.
- Human Rights Dept. Petitioned, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Seattle neighborhood human relations councils presented 1,645 signatures asking the city to make the Human Rights Commission a department with enforcement powers. Council president Floyd Miller formed a committee to study the proposal.
- JACL Waiting for Official Charges in Noguchi Case, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Los Angeles JACL office fielded many inquiries while awaiting formal charges against Dr. Thomas Noguchi. JACL officials said they would act once charges were presented to the Board of Supervisors.
- Seabrook JACL to Exhibit Rare Japanese Scrolls, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Seabrook JACL will display rare Japanese scrolls from David Hunt’s collection at its annual chow mein dinner. The exhibit will include a ceremonial robe worn in Shinto weddings.
- PSWDC Convention Pre-Registration Deadline Nears, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Pacific Southwest District Council convention in Anaheim, hosted by Orange County JACL, has a March 25 pre-registration deadline. Details of package rates, events, and hotel reservations at Disneyland Hotel are provided.
Incarceration & Redress
- Colorado Governor Asked to Probe Kitayama Strike, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Fort Lupton, Colorado American GI Forum chapter asked the governor and Civil Rights Commission to investigate alleged civil rights violations at the Kitayama greenhouse strike. The group protested that deputies sprayed tear gas on women strikers who had chained themselves to the gate.
- Defense Language Institute Building Dedicated in Memory of Nisei War Dead, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey dedicated Nisei Hall to honor Nisei soldiers who served in Military Intelligence during World War II. Speakers recognized the contributions of Nisei linguists whose work shortened the Pacific war.
Military & Veterans
- Former Nisei Intelligence Soldiers Honored at Presidio Dedication, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Nisei linguists of Military Intelligence Service were honored at the dedication of Nisei Hall at the Defense Language Institute. Their intercepted messages and translations helped shorten the Pacific war by two years.
National
- County Supervisors Face Test: Is It Racial Discrimination?, by Bill Mayer, page 4. Columnist Bill Mayer argues that the treatment of Dr. Noguchi reflects racial barriers in county government, where minorities rarely hold top posts. He notes Noguchi’s qualifications and the obstacles he faced in rising through the civil service system.
Sports
- Pinfest Winners, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Results of the 1969 National JACL bowling tournament list team, doubles, singles, and all-events winners. Top individual and team scores are reported across divisions.
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