Vol. 64, No. 16, April 21, 1967. 6 pages. View this issue
Immigration and civil rights ran through this six-page issue. Senator Hiram Fong introduced six bills to amend immigration law, including naturalization for Vietnam veterans. The California Senate voted 23 to 15 to repeal the Rumford Fair Housing Act, and Jerry Enomoto’s column took up the vote along with the yen deposit claimants’ favorable court decision. Mike Masaoka wrote about William Marutani’s argument before the Supreme Court in Loving v. Virginia, and Marutani closed his series on volunteer legal work in Mississippi and Louisiana. The UCLA Japanese American Research Project began its Nisei Survey.
Other pages looked back. Sainosuke Kubota recalled the 1917 battle at Vimy Ridge, Joe Grant Masaoka wrote about the Issei gandy dancers, and former residents of the Rohwer camp returned to plant trees. Harry K. Honda answered a college student’s questions about the wartime incarceration (often called internment), and Tamotsu Murayama reported on the Tokyo governor’s race.
What’s in this issue
National
- Sen. Fong Eyes Six Amendments to Immigration Law, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senator Hiram Fong introduced six bills to amend immigration law, including naturalization for veterans of the Vietnam hostilities and re-enlistment rights for alien GIs. He argued the changes would bring the Immigration and Nationality Act closer to principles of fair play and justice.
- Nisei Survey Now Underway, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The UCLA Japanese American Research Project began its Nisei Survey, interviewing 3,600 Nisei offspring of Issei respondents across the country. Director Robert A. Wilson urged cooperation, noting the data is held in confidence for scholarly statistical analysis.
- Bill to Eliminate Age Bias in Jobs Filed, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Rep. Spark Matsunaga introduced legislation to eliminate arbitrary age discrimination in employment, setting minimum standards for workers aged 45 to 65. He argued that denying equal job opportunities based on age runs counter to principles of freedom and fair play.
Incarceration & Redress
- Canadian Issei Veteran of Vimy Ridge Battle Recalls WW1, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sainosuke Kubota, one of 80 Canadian Issei volunteers who fought at Vimy Ridge, recalled the 1917 battle while celebrating its 50th anniversary in Toronto. He described trench conditions and the sense of pride Japanese Canadian veterans felt in serving Canada.
Military & Veterans
- Sole Survivor of Japanese Immigrant Group to Hawaii in 1885 Discovered, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Japanese government search for early immigrants to Hawaii to bestow awards found only one survivor of the first group of government contract immigrants who sailed in January 1885. The findings were revealed as part of the effort to honor these pioneers.
Commentary
- A Proud Day, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Mike Masaoka describes JACL counsel William Marutani’s amicus curiae argument before the Supreme Court in Loving v. Virginia, the first Japanese ancestry attorney to argue a civil rights matter there. He notes Marutani’s eloquent presentation of the case against Virginia’s anti-miscegenation laws.
- Yen Claimants, by Jerry Enomoto, page 2. National JACL President Jerry Enomoto discusses the favorable Supreme Court decision for yen deposit claimants, crediting JACL’s Washington office and attorneys. He also addresses partisanship, criticizing Republican senators for voting to repeal California’s fair housing law.
- What Happens to a Dream Deferred?, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. The editor reflects on the Issei’s sacrifices and their limited success, which was largely realized through the Nisei after discriminatory laws barred them from full participation. He urges chapters to honor the Issei with recognition events.
- Question from Students, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. The editor answers questions from Occidental College student Stuart Takeuchi for a research paper on the WWII evacuation. Responses address wartime loyalty, reimbursement, and whether Sansei understand the evacuation experience.
- Tokyo Elections, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 6. Murayama analyzes the Tokyo gubernatorial election won by Socialist-Communist backed Dr. Ryokichi Minobe over Dr. Masatoshi Matsushita. He notes the Liberal Democrats’ declining popular support and the Socialist gains that may affect the U.S.-Japan Security Pact renewal in 1970.
- Closing Vignettes, by William Marutani, page 6. Marutani concludes his series on his volunteer legal work in Mississippi and Louisiana with vignettes of civil rights workers, Negro communities, and school desegregation struggles. He reflects on why he returned to the South and urges continued volunteer effort.
Community
- ‘On to Japan’ Theme to Unfold at NC-WNDC Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Northern California-Western Nevada-Downtown Los Angeles District Council quarterly session will be held May 7 in Santa Rosa, hosted by the Sonoma County Chapter. The program includes Japan Air Lines films, a dance recital, and a banquet address on Irish and Japanese immigrant similarities.
- Libraries Receive Bosworth Books, by P.C. Staff, page 3. An additional 95 copies of Capt. Allan Bosworth’s book America’s Concentration Camps were ordered by chapters for donation to schools and libraries. Total distribution has reached 1,045 copies.
- Press Boosts Philadelphia JACL, by Philadelphia Sunday Bulletin, page 3. The Philadelphia Sunday Bulletin profiled Howard Okamoto, the new chapter chairman of the Philadelphia JACL, which has over 200 members and works on legislative and cultural activities. Okamoto described the chapter’s efforts on citizenship issues and Japanese culture programs.
- Ex-Rohwer Group Revisit WW2 Camp, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Former residents of the Rohwer, Arkansas WRA camp returned to the site to plant cherry trees and crape myrtle. The memorial site is now maintained by the State of Arkansas.
- UCLA Alumni to Honor Frank Chuman, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Attorney and community leader Frank F. Chuman will receive a silver medallion from the UCLA Alumni Association for outstanding community service at UCLA 67 on May 6. Chuman’s record includes national JACL presidency and leadership in civic and interfaith work.
- Senate Votes 23-15 to Repeal Rumford Act, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The California Senate voted 23 to 15 to repeal the Rumford Fair Housing Act, with all Republicans in favor and most Democrats opposed. The repeal bill now goes to the Assembly, where its passage is considered less likely.
- Ex-Councilman Kageyama Not Guilty, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Former Honolulu City Councilman Richard M. Kageyama was found not guilty of filing fraudulent tax returns for 1959 and 1960. Judge C. Nils Tavares said he found no intent to willfully evade taxes.
- Gwen Crowned 1967 Cherry Blossom Queen, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Gwen Nishizawa was crowned 1967 Cherry Blossom Queen at the 15th annual festival in Honolulu before more than 500 guests. Telegrams from Hawaii’s congressional delegation were read at the ceremony.
In-Depth
- Issei Gandy Dancers, by Joe Grant Masaoka, page 3. This Footnotes to History column recounts the Issei railroad laborers known as gandy dancers, who were fired by western railroads after Pearl Harbor despite decades of service. It traces the migration of Issei like Saburo Suzuki who came to America seeking higher wages.
Obituaries
- Deaths, page 5. A list of recent deaths in the San Francisco and Hawaii communities is reported. Entries include names, ages, locations, and surviving family members.
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.