Japan’s treaty protests, JACL youth orators and a call to meet budget quotas

Vol. 50, No. 23, June 3, 1960. 8 pages. View this issue

Japan’s security treaty protests ran across the front page and the editorial column. The editorial argued that President Eisenhower’s planned June visit should go ahead, and in his Washington Newsletter Mike Masaoka made a similar case. On the JACL side, Joan Yasui of Mid-Columbia won the Pacific Northwest oratorical title, William Hayashi took the Northern California-Western Nevada contest and a $1,000 Bank of America award, and both will speak at the Sacramento convention. National Treasurer Akira Hayashi pressed chapters to meet their quotas, and Masao Satow reported on his Midwest trip. A proposal to put 1000 Club memberships on a calendar-year basis was also weighed.

Other pages bring Ben T. Furuta, set to graduate from the Air Force Academy, a feature on Jimmy Shigeta and Nobu McCarthy by Lorry S. Tajiri, and Hal Noguchi’s account of life as a Chicago census taker. Richard Akagi writes from New York, and the sports pages cover bowling, softball and bridge.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

  • Giad Ike’s still planning Japan trip, by H-H., page 1. Leftist groups in Japan’s Parliament staged violent demonstrations against Prime Minister Kishi’s policies and the U.S.-Japan Mutual Security Treaty, which was ratified despite opposition. The editorial argues Eisenhower’s planned visit should proceed as cancellation would be a victory for communist opposition to the alliance.
  • Biennial 1000 Club consolidation proposal, by Editor, page 2. National JACL Director Mas Satow raises the question of placing 1000 Club memberships on a calendar-year basis instead of the current fiscal year. The article weighs the benefits for record-keeping against the impact on members’ Pacific Citizen subscriptions and chapter follow-up responsibilities.
  • Scouts from Japan, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. A 110-member contingent of Boy Scouts from Japan will attend the 50th anniversary Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of America in Colorado Springs this summer. Murayama, who will serve as PC correspondent at the Jamboree, notes the scouts will learn the true picture of Americanism rather than the image in movies and magazines.
  • Facing the facts and figures, by Akira Hayashi, National Treasurer, page 4. National Treasurer Akira Hayashi reviews the JACL budget shortfall, noting only $51,786.55 of the promised $76,767 was remitted by chapters in 1959. He urges all chapters to meet their quotas and examines the rebate formula and 1000 Club dues issues.
  • A handful of votes, by Richard Akagi, page 6. Akagi describes a Democratic congressional primary on Manhattan’s West Side, where a nomination was decided by just 17 votes out of 287. He argues that individual votes and workers carry enormous leverage in local politics.
  • Soft, by Richard Akagi, page 6. Akagi observes that boxers Ingemar Johansson and Floyd Patterson both have soft handshakes, a trait he finds notable compared with the aggressive sincerity of typical New York handshakes. He suggests champions need not bother being sincere.
  • Washington Newsletter: Presidential visitations, by Mike Masaoka, page 7. Masaoka argues the President’s planned tour of Japan, Korea, Formosa, the Philippines, Okinawa and Hawaii will show U.S. commitment to Far East allies. He contends the Tokyo demonstrations were engineered by leftist Socialists and labor groups rather than representing spontaneous popular protest.
  • U.S. postage stamp to commemorate 100th anniversary of U.S.-Japan treaty, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A new 4-cent U.S. postage stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first U.S.-Japan treaty will be issued September 26. The stamp was designed by Nisei artist Gyo Fujikawa of New York.

Community

  • IDC renominates George Sugai for natl 3rd v.p. post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. George Sugai consented to run again for national JACL third vice president at the Intermountain District Council meeting in Idaho Falls. He was the lone national nomination made by the IDC, and is remembered for efforts to eliminate the Idaho alien land law.
  • Two Southland Nisei pass Calif. bar exams, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Robert M. Takasugi and George Wakai were among 212 Southern California applicants who passed the spring California State Bar examination. They will be admitted to practice in ceremonies before the State Supreme Court on June 14.
  • Chicago center hit by lack in funds, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Kenwood-Ellis Community Center, once a center of Nisei activity on Chicago’s south side, faces closure unless additional financial support is received. A community meeting was scheduled in a last-ditch effort to save the center.
  • Canadians of Chinese descent irked by whites using pidgin English, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Margaret Ko, president of the Chinese Canadian Association, said downtown salesgirls used pidgin English to insult Chinese customers. She also told a planning council that Canadians of Chinese descent were still treated as third-class citizens.
  • Seattle First Hill Lions elect George M. Yamada president, by P.C. Staff, page 1. George M. Yamada, a certified public accountant, was elected president of the First Hill Lions club in Seattle, succeeding Takeshi Kubota. The club is part of a zone covering 22 clubs in the Seattle area.
  • Japan-bound orators, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Ten high school students from the Japanese Language School Unified System will compete with students in Japan this summer, meeting peers in Tokyo, Osaka, Toyama and Niigata. The announcement was made by principal Yaemitsu Sugimachi.
  • Canada admits few Japanese immigrants, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Canada admitted only 922 Japanese immigrants between 1946 and 1951 while admitting 23,035 Chinese in the same period. Statistics show the majority of Japanese arrivals settled in British Columbia and Ontario.
  • Southwest L.A. JACL plan queen rites, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Southwest Los Angeles JACL will introduce Miss Southwest Los Angeles as a candidate for the 1960 Nisei Week queen contest at its Queentime Ball on June 11. Candidates may be recommended through contest committee members.
  • Nisei census taker finds global gift of gab would help, language barrier slows job, by Hal Noguchi, page 3. Chicago census enumerator Hal Noguchi describes the language barriers encountered during the census, from a household communicating by telephone to a woman bathing her parrots during an interview. The account highlights the adventure and challenges of census taking.
  • SC music graduate signs with symphony, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Roy Kiyoshi Tanabe graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California School of Music. He signed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and received a post-graduate scholarship at Southern Methodist University.
  • Miss East L.A. introduced at ball, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Helen Shizue Amemiya was introduced as Miss East L.A. at the chapter’s sixth annual Emerald Ball. She is a Garfield High graduate studying cosmetology and was runner-up in a queen contest against Latin American beauties.
  • Imprisonment of capital punishment argued against in Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Attorney Matsunaga spoke against reestablishing capital punishment in Hawaii at the Federation of Women’s Clubs convention. He argued statistics show states retaining the death penalty have higher murder rates and that deterrence claims do not hold.
  • David Oyama among Chicago’s top youth award winners, by P.C. Staff, page 3. David Oyama of Wells High School received a Daily News Youth Achievement Award from among 73 high schools’ contenders. He ranked No. 8 in his class and served as basketball manager and sports editor of the school paper.
  • Idaho Falls JAYs elect Gary Nagashima as head, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Idaho Falls JAYs installed new officers headed by president Gary Nagashima. Advisers Kay Tokita, George Kobayashi and Ed Ochi were honored for their service last year.
  • Chapter news roundup from Fresno and Sacramento, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Several chapters reported local activities including Fresno’s community picnic with contributions from merchants and professionals, and Sanger JACL scholarships awarded to graduates. Pocatello announced its annual picnic at the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds.
  • CCDC softball league opens play, roster composed of men over 30, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Central California JACL summer softball league opened play with six teams, and Reedley JACL is defending its championship. Rules require rosters of men over 30, with games played on Saturdays through June.
  • Sonoma County JACL keg league ends winter season, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Sonoma County JACL Bowling League concluded its winter season with G.K. Hardt defeating Empire Drug for the championship by eight pins. Individual season awards were presented at the annual awards dinner.
  • Los Angeles Bridge Week tournament ends with Nisei winners, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Dr. Katsumi Uba and Koya Iwamoto of Los Angeles won the Coronado Pairs at the Los Angeles Bridge Week tournament, which set a new participation record of over 7,200 tables. Bernard Okamoto and his partner tied for third in the Memorial Day Pairs.
  • Pocatello keglers end fine season, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Pocatello JACL keglers reflected on their season, highlighted by Ace Mori’s record 760 scratch series and his High Composite Average trophy. Several teams including Karea Lanes and Modern Market won league titles.
  • Nisei kegler wins San Jose city all-events crown, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Wright Inouye won the scratch all-events title in the San Jose City Men’s Bowling Association tournament with a 1953 total. John Nishimura took the class A singles championship with a 696 series.
  • Los Angeles Newsletter, by Henry Mori, page 7. Henry Mori describes a Kikkoman-hosted Okaribayaki dinner at the Pasadena home of George Nakatsuka, cooked on small hibachi grills. He also reports that two savings and loan associations with Issei-Nisei directors applied for licenses in Little Tokyo.
  • Japanese teenagers arrested for curfew violations in L.A., by P.C. Staff, page 7. Japanese American teenagers were among those arrested for Los Angeles curfew violations over a 30-day period, according to Japanese American Youth, Inc. The article reprints the ordinance details for parents and teens.
  • Downtown L.A. JACL to honor all past chapter presidents, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Downtown Los Angeles JACL will hold a recognition banquet on June 16 at the New Ginza honoring past chapter presidents and three Issei leaders recognized by the Japanese government. The 1960 Nisei Week queen candidate will be introduced at the event.
  • First Nisei graduate from Annapolis heads for Illinois studies, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Navy Lt. Takeshi Yoshihara, the first Nisei appointed to Annapolis, was appointed in 1949 and is now heading to the University of Illinois graduate school of civil engineering. He is married to Elva Uyeno of Honolulu and has two sons.
  • Portland area JACLers join in May 30 Memorial Day ceremonies, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Portland-area JACL officials joined Japanese community services at Rose City Cemetery on Memorial Day, with George Gokami among the speakers. The event honored those buried at the cemetery.
  • JACL scholarship candidates for 1960 announced in Washington, D.C., by P.C. Staff, page 8. James Stanley Hamasaki, son of John Hamasaki, was announced as the Washington, D.C. JACL scholarship award winner. He is a Wakefield High senior who was National Honor Society member and co-captained the varsity football team.
  • Troop 12 founder and committeemen to speak at 45th anniversary fete, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Masanobu Morisuye, who founded Boy Scout Troop 12 in 1914, and Dr. George Togasaki will speak at the troop’s 45th anniversary reunion dinner-dance on June 25 at the Beach Chalet in San Francisco.
  • Seattle Nisei veterans pick boys staters, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Ronald Tsunehara and Steve Kozu of Franklin High School were chosen by the Nisei Veterans Committee as delegates to Evergreen Boys State. The program will be held June 12-19 at Pacific Lutheran University.

JACL

  • PNW youth orator named: Joan Yasui, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Joan Yasui of the Mid-Columbia JACL was elected oratorical champion of the Pacific Northwest District Council in Portland finals on May 22. Roger Okamoto of Portland JACL was runner-up, and the winner earned an expense-paid trip to the national oratorical contest in Sacramento.
  • NC-WNDC oratorical winner receives $1,000 bank achievement award, by P.C. Staff, page 1. William Hayashi of Santa Rosa High School was among four top winners of $1,000 college scholarships from the Bank of America achievement awards. He is also the Northern California-Western Nevada JACL oratorical champion and will compete at the national convention in Sacramento.
  • The National Director’s Report, by Masao Satow, page 5. Satow reports on the PSWDC meeting and a proposed quota formula, the illness of National Treasurer Aki Hayashi, and preparations for National Council sessions at the Sacramento convention. He also describes his Midwest trip with President Wakamatsu and Mike Masaoka.
  • Three constitutional amendments offered for national convention, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Three proposed amendments to the National JACL Constitution will be discussed at the Sacramento convention. They cover revamping the nominations and election procedure, expanding civil rights legislative participation, and eliminating alternating colors on membership cards.
  • National Director’s Report continued, by Masao Satow, page 7. Satow describes his Midwest trip to Milwaukee, where the District Council adopted a new administrative setup and youth orators spoke on JACL’s future. He praises the hospitality of the Milwaukee chapter and the Midwest District Council.

Obituaries

  • Fresno pioneer merchant K. Kamikawa succumbs, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Koichi Kamikawa, a retired merchant and banker, died in Fresno at age 74 after a short illness. He arrived in Fresno in 1899, helped found Japanese American Bank branches, and repaid depositors in full during a banking panic.
  • Mrs. Miyo Oyama dies after long illness, was 81, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mrs. Miyo Oyama, formerly of Sacramento and Los Angeles, died in San Francisco at age 81 after a long illness. She and her late husband operated a cosmetic manufacturing business for some 30 years.

National

  • JACL’s promotion of voter participation recognized at Heritage Foundation fete, by JACL News Service, page 1. The National JACL and Washington Representative Mike Masaoka were honored by the American Heritage Foundation and Advertising Council for promoting voter participation. National JACL President Shig Wakamatsu said the recognition reflects the organization’s commitment to exemplary citizenship.

Military & Veterans

  • Air Force Academy to graduate first Japanese American, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ben T. Furuta of Los Angeles will become the first American of Japanese ancestry to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He was appointed by Rep. Byron Rogers and competed with the cadet wrestling team.
  • Woodland Nisei voted Legion post commander, by P.C. Staff, page 3. John Nishimura was elected commander of Yolo Post 1, American Legion, in Woodland, succeeding Eulogio Guerrero. He joins about a dozen veterans who have become commanders of non-Nisei veterans organizations since World War II.
  • Col. Hanley of 442nd to retire from Army, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Col. James M. Hanley of the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals will retire next month after 30 years of service. He served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Italy during World War II and later assisted in negotiating the U.S.-Japan status-of-forces agreement.

Arts & Entertainment

  • Jimmy Shigeta and Nobu McCarthy, by Lorry S. Tajiri, page 3. James Shigeta has been cast in a starring role in James Clavell’s western Walk Like a Dragon alongside Nobu McCarthy and Jack Lord. The column traces Shigeta’s career from Ted Mack Amateur Hour success to Japanese popular music and Hollywood films.

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