A fight over a trademark slur, and a letter to graduates

Vol. 72, No. 24, June 19, 1971. 6 pages. View this issue

Two subjects led this six-page issue. JACL National President Raymond Uno wrote “Sir, I Exist!” about young people leaving school for adult life and the indifference they often meet. The other front-page story was the New York JACL chapter’s suit in Manhattan supreme court to stop designer Kenzo Takada and his marketing firm from using “JAP” as a trademark on women’s clothing. The chapter called the word a racial slur, and the New York Times agreed to stop running store advertisements that used it. Taxie Kusunoki reported on an Asian Coalition picket outside Bonwit Teller.

Elsewhere, Mike Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter covered the effort to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act. Bill Hosokawa wrote about reviving the Denver JACL chapter. Sachi Seko offered a Memorial Day elegy for Nisei war dead and the wartime incarceration. A short note on page 3 covered Bob Nakamura’s film “Manzanar,” shown at a UCLA student festival, and the Little Tokyo redevelopment display.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Sir, I Exist!, by Raymond Uno, page 1. JACL National President Raymond Uno reflects on the challenges facing young people graduating into adulthood and the indifference they often meet from society. He recounts his own family’s experiences and his neighborhood’s changes, noting persistent discrimination against Japanese Americans despite their apparent success.
• U-No Bar, by Raymond Uno, page 2. JACL President Raymond Uno reflects on his neighborhood’s transformation and his own civic involvement, including his acceptance of a role in a neighborhood improvement group. He concludes he understands the concerns of many communities.
• Why—The Quiet American!, by Frank Iwama, page 4. Sacramento JACL member Frank Iwama argues that Japanese Americans should speak out publicly on discrimination rather than remain quiet. He notes that despite many qualified employees, few reach administrative positions in state government.
• Frying Pan: The Trials of Organization, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa examines the difficulties Denver’s JACL chapter has faced and the encouraging signs of renewed community cooperation. He credits national president Raymond Uno’s visits with stirring local interest.
• Letters: Furutani’s Column, by Bill Doi, page 5. Minneapolis reader Bill Doi writes in defense of Warren Furutani’s column, arguing that JACL must keep attracting young leaders like Furutani. He says the Pacific Citizen is his only reliable source of information about Japanese American affairs.
• Letter: JACL Personnel, by Katsumasa Yawata, page 5. Westminster reader Katsumasa Yawata objects that JACL did not address the religious affiliation of new Washington representative David Ushio, a Mormon whose church he says holds Blacks as inferior. JACL officials responded that Ushio’s faith and effectiveness are not in conflict.
• Hear Now the Bugler’s Call This 30th Day of May, by Sachi Seko, page 5. Salt Lake JACL editor Sachi Seko writes an elegy for Nisei war dead and the wartime incarceration, urging current generations to reflect on history and their responsibilities. The piece calls on JACL to move beyond neutrality on pressing issues.

National

• New York JACL Fights in Court to Have ‘JAP’ Trademark Banned, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The New York JACL chapter sued in Manhattan supreme court to stop designer Kenzo Takada and his marketing firm from using ‘JAP’ as a trademark on women’s clothing. The chapter argued the term is derogatory, and the New York Times subsequently agreed to stop running store advertisements using the word.
• L.A. School Board Seeks Asian Administrator, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Asian American Education Commission of the Los Angeles Unified School District is seeking a certified employee to serve as commission coordinator for Asian communities. Applications were due by June 21 and the position is for 12 months.
• Industrialist Predicts Private Clubs Will Drop Restrictive Policy in ’70s, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sonesta Hotels president Roger P. Sonnabend predicted racial and religious discrimination in private social clubs would be eliminated within 10 years. He pointed to a U.S. Supreme Court review of a Pennsylvania club’s liquor license as a sign of mounting legal pressure.

Community

• Asian Coalition Picket Educates Store, Passers-By, by Taxie Kusunoki, page 1. A group calling itself the Asian Coalition picketed outside Bonwit Teller in New York to protest the ‘Jap’ label, handing out leaflets explaining its derogatory meaning. Bonwit’s public relations department later said the sign had been taken down, though the store claimed no authority over the trademark.
• Ford’s Statement in Japan Questioned, by P.C. Staff, page 1. SF JACL Ethnic Concerns chairman Dr. David Miura questioned whether Henry Ford II used the term ‘Japs’ in remarks reported by the Wall Street Journal. He noted UPI quoted Ford differently and criticized the derogatory term in any case.
• Henry Hibino Elected Salinas Councilman, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Henry Hibino, a former Salinas JACL chapter president, becomes the first non-Caucasian elected to the Salinas City Council. He assumes office July 6.
• St. Mary’s Drum & Bugle Corps Rejects Elks Parade Invite, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The St. Mary’s Chinese Drum and Bugle Corps of San Francisco declined an invitation to march in the Santa Maria Elks Club parade, protesting the lodge’s all-white membership policy. JACL praised the decision as a contribution against racism.
• Seattle Human Relations Dept. Needs More Bite in Subpoenas, From Budget, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seattle Human Rights Department director Y. Phillip Hayasaka says the agency is little more than tokenism due to its tiny budget and lack of effective subpoena power. He argues the department cannot address subtle hiring discrimination without more resources.
• Budget for L.A. Human Relations Bureau Restored, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Los Angeles City Council voted 7-6 to restore funding for the city Human Relations Bureau after the finance committee had recommended abolishing it. Councilmen Gilbert Lindsay and Billy Mills led the fight to keep the agency.
• Denver JACL Chapter Revival Efforts Underway, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa describes efforts to revive the Mile-Hi JACL chapter in Denver after years of dormancy, including a community council and a successful Memorial Day service and scholarship banquet. He notes that the turnout suggests a worthwhile program can rekindle community cooperation.
• Licensing of Gardeners Up Again in Sac’to, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Southern California Gardeners Federation opposes two California bills affecting landscape gardeners: AB 3058, which would redefine contractor scope, and AB 2988, which would create state licensing for maintenance gardeners. Critics say the measures would unfairly limit Japanese American gardeners bidding on jobs.
• Sakura Sextet: Compatible Cabaret Partners, by Jim Henry, page 3. Jim Henry reports on Tokyo cabaret operator Tadashi Nemoto, who used an electronic computer to match hostesses with customers based on personality tests. The column treats the story with light satire.
• Black U.S. Students in Tokyo Back Home Disheartened by Bias, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Two Black students from Santa Clara University returned home after a year at Sophia University, describing everyday discrimination they faced in Japan. Their experiences included taxi refusals and exclusion from clubs.
• Ruth Asawa Designing Bronze Relief Frieze for Downtown San Francisco, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sculptor Ruth Asawa is creating a bronze relief frieze to cover the circular wall of a fountain in the Union Square Hyatt House complex. The panorama will depict San Francisco life, history, and people.
• Little Tokyo Community Development Project Display, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A display of the Little Tokyo Redevelopment Project is on exhibit at the Sumitomo Bank at First and San Pedro through June. The project will include a new community center designed by Kiyoshi Sawano.
• Host Families, Summer Jobs Sought for Japan College Exchange Students, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The International Student Visitor Service seeks host families and employers for 180 Japanese college students arriving for summer exchange programs on the West Coast. Interested sponsors in Southern California should contact the JACL office.
• 600 Well-Wishers Honor Physician on 60th Birthday, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Over 600 people gathered at the Fresno Buddhist Church annex to honor Dr. Kikuo H. Taira on his 60th birthday. Speakers recognized his community service, and Fresno’s city councilman presented him with the Key to the City.
• Morimitsu-Witcher Engagement Announced, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The engagement of Carol Morimitsu, a special education teacher at the University of Oregon, to Victor Witcher was announced. A summer wedding in Chicago is planned.
• Japan-Born Designer Opens N.Y. Boutique, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Japan-born fashion designer Kandi Ohno opened a boutique on Manhattan’s East Side about a year ago. He studied at Parsons School of Design and apprenticed under Charles James.

In-Depth

• History of Issei in English Lacks Personal Feelings, by P.C. Staff, page 1. UCLA researcher Yuji Ichioka told the San Francisco Center for Japanese American Studies that English-language secondary sources on Japanese Americans neglect the human element. He urged scholars to use Japanese-language primary sources such as diaries, vernacular newspapers, and autobiographies.

Incarceration & Redress

• Hiroshima Atomic Bombing Survey Made Public, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A 1946 Hiroshima City Office survey of atomic bombing damage has been made public, estimating 118,661 killed, 9,130 injured, and 3,677 missing. The survey covered 141,472 surviving citizens and estimated the city’s population at 320,081 at the time of the bombing.

Military & Veterans

• Washington Newsletter, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Mike Masaoka reports on JACL efforts to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act, which failed to reach the House floor when displaced by military procurement legislation. He also discusses the pending Okinawa reversion treaty and the implications of President Nixon ending the trade embargo on Red China.
• Mike Masaoka Family Set for World Tour, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Washington JACL representative Mike Masaoka and his family will begin a two-month world tour on June 26, a trip presented to them at the 1970 National JACL Convention. The itinerary covers Europe, Asia, and Hawaii before they return August 27.

Arts & Entertainment

• ‘Manzanar’ Film Impresses Critic at UCLA Transit Mix Student Festival, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Bob Nakamura’s 16-minute film ‘Manzanar’ was among the most impressive works at UCLA’s Transit Mix student film festival, according to Los Angeles Times critic Kevin Thomas. The film recalls the author’s childhood at the Manzanar War Relocation Center.

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