Vol. 59, No. 2, July 10, 1964. 6 pages. View this issue
The JACL national convention in Detroit filled most of this issue. Kumeo A. Yoshinari was elected national JACL president, defeating incumbent Dr. Kiyoshi Kosoke. Delegates approved a $425,000 budget for the 1965-66 biennium and set aside proposed chapter quota changes. Senator Wilkins closed the meeting with a challenge to Nisei to take a larger role in civil rights, and JACL honored Americans who had stood up for the civil rights of Japanese Americans. Jerry Oka of Portland won the oratorical contest and Janet Okamura of Denver won the essay contest.
On the inside pages, Bill Hosokawa wrote about Tokyo’s rapid changes before the 1964 Olympics and about Nisei who settled in Japan in the 1930s. Masao W. Satow reported on the effort to put Proposition 14 on the November ballot, and Mike Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter covered Congress. Henry Ohye’s solo flight across the Pacific and a San Francisco scholarship winner, Kent Kobuchi, are on the last page.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- Yoshinari Elected National JACL President, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kumeo A. Yoshinari was elected national JACL president at the biennial convention in Detroit. The election followed a contested race in which incumbent Dr. Kiyoshi Kosoke was defeated.
- JACL Budget Approved; New Quota Proposals Shelved, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National Council approved a $425,000 JACL budget for the 1965-66 biennium. Proposed chapter quota changes were set aside and the council debated membership quota formulas.
- Fitting Climax to Convention: Senator Wilkins’ Challenge to Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senator Wilkins delivered a closing address to the Detroit convention challenging Nisei to take a larger role in civil rights. His speech was among the highlights of the biennial meeting.
- JACL Honors Americans Who Fought for Civil Rights of Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL recognized individuals who had supported the civil rights of Japanese Americans during and after World War II. Honorees were presented awards at the Detroit convention.
- Jerry Oka of Portland Wins Oratorical; Janet Okamura of Denver Wins Essay, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Jerry Oka of Portland won the national JACL oratorical contest and Janet Okamura of Denver won the essay contest. Both winners were recognized at the Detroit convention.
- Washington Newsletter, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka reports on Congressional developments and JACL legislative priorities following the convention. He discusses pending civil rights legislation and PC subscription policy.
- JACL Credit Union Founder Recognized, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The founder of the JACL Credit Union was honored at the convention. The credit union endowment fund reached $14,286.
Commentary
- Outstanding Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editors praise the Detroit convention for its hospitality, accommodations, and organization. They thank the local planning committee and express regret that more JACLers could not attend.
- From the Frying Pan: Nisei in Japan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Hosokawa reflects on the Nisei who settled in Japan in the 1930s and their changed role in Japanese society. He argues that bilingual ability will determine their future prospects in Japan.
National
- Proposition 14 Repeal Initiative Gains Ballot Approval, by Masao W. Satow, page 3. Efforts to repeal the Rumford Fair Housing Act through Proposition 14 gained enough signatures to reach the November ballot. Japanese Americans were urged to oppose the measure.
Community
- Detroit Area Residents Contributed to Evacuee Welfare, Remembered by JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL recognized Detroit-area residents who had contributed to the welfare of evacuees during and after World War II. A delegation from the Japanese Canadian Citizens Association also attended the convention.
- Kent Kobuchi Named San Francisco JACL Scholarship Winner, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Kent Kobuchi was named the winner of the San Francisco JACL scholarship. The award recognizes academic achievement among local Nisei students.
In-Depth
- Tokyo Swiftly Changing for Olympics, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Hosokawa describes the rapid transformation of Tokyo in preparation for the 1964 Olympics, including new highways and the monorail. He notes that traffic problems remain unsolved despite construction.
Military & Veterans
- Henry Ohye Crosses Pacific Solo, First Nisei to Accomplish Feat, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Henry Ohye, a California-born Nisei, arrived in Tokyo after flying solo across the Pacific. He became the first Nisei to complete the flight.
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