Vol. 61, No. 10, September 3, 1965. 6 pages. View this issue
The death of Earl Finch, remembered by 442nd and 100th veterans as a friend to Nisei soldiers, led this issue. Mike Masaoka recalled his generosity at Camp Shelby and Camp Savage. Alongside it, JACL National President Kumeo Yoshinari wrote on civil rights after riots in Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles, urging members to remember their own wartime experience of discrimination. Seattle’s Elmer Ogawa asked whether unrest like Watts could reach his city.
Other pages followed immigration reform, as the Senate subcommittee ended national origins quotas and Masaoka reported on the House debate. JACL also objected to an FBI television episode about a Nisei traitor. Bill Hosokawa described the memorial dinner for Larry Tajiri in Denver, where the first Larry awards were given. Saburo Kido, Tamotsu Murayama and Richard Gima wrote columns on Hawaii and Japan.
What’s in this issue
Obituaries
- Earl Finch, Godfather of 442nd, Dies, page 1. Earl Melvin Finch, a longtime friend of Nisei soldiers, died after being hospitalized in August following a heart attack. He was widely honored among the 442nd and 100th veterans for his support during and after World War II.
Commentary
- Civil Rights and the JACL, by Kumeo A. Yoshinari, page 1. Yoshinari urges Americans to address the causes of racial unrest following riots in Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. He calls on JACL members to support President Johnson’s civil rights leadership and to recall their own wartime experience of discrimination.
- Larry Tajiri Memorial Tribute, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa recalls the memorial dinner honoring Larry Tajiri, the Denver Post drama editor, and the warmth of the gathering. He describes Tajiri’s remarkable mind, his theater passion, and his lasting influence on Japanese American journalism.
- JACL in Hawaii, by Saburo Kido, page 5. Kido urges the JACL to consider forming chapters in Hawaii now that Japanese Americans there have gained political strength. He suggests associate membership as an interim step and outlines the benefits chapters could bring.
- Tokyo Topics, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 5. Murayama offers observations on Japan’s entertainment industry, describing the demanding schedules of actors and singers. He also notes the rising costs of holiday expenses in Tokyo.
- Aloha from Hawaii, by Richard Gima, page 6. Gima reports on his three-week tour of Japan, focusing on the working lives of Japanese movie actors, actresses, and singers. He describes their heavy commitments across film, radio, and concerts.
Military & Veterans
- Mike Masaoka Remembers Earl Finch, by Mike Masaoka, page 1. Masaoka recalls Earl Finch’s generosity to Nisei soldiers at Camp Shelby and Camp Savage, including his hospitality toward Hawaii visitors and his support for servicemen. He describes Finch as a true friend in times of need.
Community
- Relief Items for Vietnam Solicited, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce, with the U.S. Marine Corps, is collecting relief supplies for the Vietnamese people through September 16. Donations such as bandages and medical items can be dropped at designated Marine facilities.
- Seattle Wonders if ‘Watts Riot’ Could Spark Local Violence, by Elmer Ogawa, page 3. Ogawa examines Seattle’s growing Negro population and the housing and school segregation issues that could fuel unrest similar to the Watts riots. He argues the community must address these conditions before they escalate.
- Nisei Assumes Position at East-West Center, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A Nisei scholar has been appointed to a position at the East-West Center in Honolulu. The announcement highlights the Center’s role in fostering understanding between the United States and Asia.
National
- Yoshinari Asks ‘Stand Up’ TV Play Be Prefaced, page 1. JACL National President Kumeo Yoshinari asked Warner Bros. to preface an upcoming FBI episode about a Nisei traitor with a statement reflecting the loyalty of Japanese Americans. He argued the program reinforces harmful stereotypes.
- Senate Tightens Immigration Bill, All Racial Quotas Removed, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee approved immigration legislation that ended national origins quotas but placed a ceiling on Western Hemisphere immigration. The bill removes the Asia-Pacific Triangle restrictions, which the Administration strongly opposed.
- House Immigration Debate, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka reports on the House debate over immigration reform, in which most speakers defended the national origins quota system. He notes that only a few members publicly opposed the proposed changes.
- Sponsors Deny Nisei Cast in Bad Light on ‘FBI’ Teleplay, page 3. Sponsors responded to JACL objections over the FBI episode ‘Will the Real Traitor Please Stand Up?’ and a private screening was sought. JACL and Japanese American leaders contended the episode unfairly portrayed Nisei loyalty.
Arts & Entertainment
- ‘Larrys’ Awarded at Tajiri Memorial Honoring Stars of Rockies, page 2. The Larry Tajiri Memorial Foundation presented its first Larry awards in Denver to four individuals and one group for contributions to community theater. The honors were established to perpetuate the memory of the late Denver Post drama editor.
In-Depth
- Hood River Issei Like Pennsylvania Dutch, page 2. This history project installment compares Hood River’s Japanese farmers to Pennsylvania Dutch settlers in their frugality and land ownership. It recounts the 1920s anti-Japanese campaign and the early Issei strawberry and orchard farming.
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