Civil rights, a Nisei Week calendar and Issei naturalization in 1960

Vol. 50, No. 12, March 18, 1960. 8 pages. View this issue

Civil rights ran through this eight-page issue. Mike Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter reviewed the House and Senate debates and named which senators from JACL chapter states voted for cloture. The front page noted the filibuster over civil rights legislation, and a public meeting was announced where CORE’s James McCain would speak about passive resistance in the South. Shig Wakamatsu wrote about a trip to the Pacific Northwest, Bill Hosokawa looked at Nisei life in New York, and Tamotsu Murayama profiled Nisei interpreters in Japan’s diplomacy.

Other front-page stories covered more than 250 naturalized Issei at a Los Angeles banquet, a Culver City couple turned away from a tract home, and Rev. Donald K. Toriumi’s election as moderator of the Los Angeles Presbytery. Inside are chapter news from across the country, Nisei Week festival dates for August, Denver’s National JACL Bowling Tournament, and a $4,800 first-quarter addition to the JACL Endowment Fund.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Culver City tract agent rejects buyer with Japanese wife, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Japanese war bride and her Caucasian husband were turned down when trying to buy a Culver City tract home after the agent learned of her ancestry. The couple was steered toward a poor-condition house and an area where Japanese Americans lived, and the husband threatened legal action.

National

• Jury awards $21,000 for unseen accident, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Santa Cruz County jury awarded the Nozawa family $21,305 after their 10-year-old son was killed riding his bicycle when struck by a driver who also died. Legal observers called it one of the largest awards on record for such a case.
• Eisenhower message highlights meeting of 250 naturalized Issei in Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Over 250 naturalized Issei gathered at a Los Angeles banquet sponsored by the Southern California Japanese Chamber of Commerce, receiving messages from President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, and Governor Brown. The group passed a resolution encouraging voter registration.
• Washington Newsletter: Civil rights rundown, by Mike Masaoka, page 7. Mike Masaoka reviews the House and Senate civil rights debates, noting the House’s moderate voting rights approach and the Senate cloture votes. He identifies which senators from JACL chapter states voted for cloture and against tabling Title III.
• Immigration from Japan admitted last year, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Immigration data from the Immigration and Naturalization Service shows 5,851 immigrants from Japan were admitted for permanent residence in fiscal 1959. Most were non-quota immigrants, including wives and husbands of U.S. citizens.
• City action restoring desecrated Japanese tombs remembered, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Japanese American Association of New York presented 20 cherry trees to New Brunswick, New Jersey, in appreciation for restoring a desecrated cemetery plot of Japanese students. The trees will be planted in Boyd Park.
• Four Nisei now invited to President’s youth meet, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Nisei including Dr. Henry N. Tani and June Yamauchi were chosen as delegates to the White House Conference on Children and Youth. Rev. George Nishikawa of Sacramento was also invited to attend.

Community

• Nisei student goes to rescue of teacher, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Richard M. Masaki, a Nisei student at Manual Arts Evening School, intervened when three men tried to vandalize classroom typewriters and attacked instructor Clifford Davis. Masaki was struck across the nose with a chair during the confrontation.
• Passive fight against race bias in South subject of meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Southwest District Council announced a public meeting where CORE field representative James McCain will discuss passive resistance efforts by Negroes in the South. McCain is a former dean of Morris College.
• L.A. Presbytery elects first Japanese moderator, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rev. Donald K. Toriumi, pastor of Union Presbyterian Church, became the first churchman of Japanese descent elected moderator of the Los Angeles Presbytery. The Nisei minister was chosen unanimously by 800 members at the semi-annual conference.
• San Francisco JACL passes 1,000 mark five years in row, by P.C. Staff, page 1. San Francisco JACL membership chairman Mrs. Yo Hironaka announced the chapter topped 1,000 members for the fifth consecutive year. The milestone was celebrated at a Get-Acquainted Mixer featuring games and a dance demonstration.
• Nampa youth win Eagle Scout honors, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ronald Ujiiye and Ivan Inouye received Eagle Scout awards at a Boy Scout court of honor in Nampa, Idaho, marking the 50th anniversary of Scouting in America. Both boys plan to attend the national jamboree in Colorado Springs.
• Girl Scout leader honored for 10 years of service, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mrs. Harvey Baba, leader and founder of the first Nisei Girl Scout troop in San Francisco, was honored for a decade of active service during Girl Scout Week. The recognition came from Troop 1.
• Nisei Week events scheduled for Aug. 12-21, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Nisei Week Festival Committee approved the calendar for its 20th annual festival, including bowling, a coronation ball, art exhibit, and a parade. A contest to rename the festival ended without a new name.
• Livingston farmers elect Andow president, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Eric Andow was elected president of the Livingston Farmers Association, with other officers and directors chosen to lead its eight departments. The association emphasized its almond processing plant and handles fruit shipping.
• Long Beach Hi-Co forum to discuss religion, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Long Beach Hi-Co forum announced its religion panel, including sociologists and a ministry student, to discuss religion’s relation to man, science, and the future. The public event is set for March 26 at Grisinger’s Drive-In.
• $4,800 added to JACL endowment fund, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A total of $4,807.92 was received for the JACL Endowment Fund during the first quarter of 1960, according to National Director Mas Satow. Contributions came from several chapters and individuals.
• Downtown L.A. JACL to invite queen candidate at June function, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Downtown Los Angeles JACL will sponsor a queen candidate for Nisei Week and introduce her at a June meeting honoring past presidents. Board members felt the chapter’s former leaders deserved recognition.
• Spring Fever hits Southwest LA JACLers, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Southwest Los Angeles JACL is preparing its second annual Spring Fever dance on April 9 at Carolina Pines. A large committee has been assembled under chairman Jim Higashi.
• Sansei workshop for Chicago youth planned, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Chicago Jr. JACL workshop will focus on Sansei activities, their future, and potential contributions. The meeting is scheduled for March 25 at Olivet Community Center.
• Reedley JACLers push 25th anniversary plans, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Reedley JACL is planning its 25th anniversary observance alongside a testimonial dinner for the Issei this fall. Committee chairmen have been named for the various arrangements.
• Sonoma County CL maintains string of successful events, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Sonoma County JACL is hosting a Japanese movie benefit and food sale to support its programming. The chapter also reported a successful crab feed and an upcoming sukiyaki dinner benefiting an Analy High School exchange program.
• Santa Barbara JACL elects pair to head chapter, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Jerry Kawano and Tad Kanetomo were elected cochairmen of the Santa Barbara JACL for the coming year, with other officers also chosen. Regional director Fred Takata was scheduled to install the officers at a dinner.
• Contra Costa JACL in drive for members, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Contra Costa JACL launched its 1960 membership drive under Eiichi Nakazono and Dr. Yoshiye Togasaki. A welcome social for new members is planned for March 26 at Stege School.
• Contra Costa clubs urge youth program start with subteens, by P.C. Staff, page 5. An informal board meeting led by president Sam Kitabayashi proposed starting youth programs with sub-teen groups to teach Nisei heritage. The group also discussed a community center, Japanese language schools, and civil rights.
• Nisei Week festival golf tournament details outlined for Sacramento convention, by Stirling Sakamoto, page 6. Co-chairmen Dr. Joe Kubo and Jun Miyakawa announced details for the National JACL Convention golf tournament at two Sacramento municipal courses. Participants will play both 18-hole courses and a ladies flight is planned.
• Fresno Nisei awarded summer merit fellowship, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Robert Kimura, a chemistry teacher at Fresno High School, won a Shell Oil merit fellowship to attend Stanford University this summer. He was one of 100 chosen from 1,000 applicants.

JACL

• Harvey Aki cited for brotherhood work, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Chicago JACL presented its Brotherhood Award to Harvey and Mrs. Aki of Wilmette, Illinois, for their work with the North Shore Human Relations Council. The honor was given at the chapter’s third annual Brotherhood dinner attended by over 200 people.
• $4,800 added to JACL endowment fund for 1960 first quarter, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL Director Mas Satow reported $4,807.92 was received for the JACL Endowment Fund during the first quarter of 1960. Contributions came from several chapters and individuals across the country.
• Nisei address Issei at naturalization ceremony, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Superior Court Judge John Aiso and Orange County counsel Stephen Tamura spoke to newly naturalized Issei at a Los Angeles banquet. Both emphasized the sacrifices of Issei and Nisei that made their citizenship possible.

Military & Veterans

• Memorial to Issei sailor of Spanish-American War under construction, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A memorial pool and Japanese garden are being built at the San Diego Naval Hospital using $5,000 bequeathed by Tamme Kashiwabara, an Issei who served as a mess attendant in the Spanish-American War. The Navy ruled the hospital was the beneficiary after a four-year investigation.
• Hole in one scored by Al Toshima, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Al Toshima of Brookside Golf Club scored a hole in one on the Big Mondo course. He has been playing golf for seven years.
• Founder of farm labor movement in Japan dies, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Tadaatsu Ishii, a former Japanese agriculture minister who originated the program of sending seasonal workers to California farms, died of a heart attack. He had visited California farms two years earlier.

Sports

• Football quarterback also stars with clarinet, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Joe Yabumoto, quarterback of Edison High School, was invited back to perform a clarinet solo at the State Music Festival for High Schools at U.C. Berkeley. He was honored with a command performance invitation for the second year.
• Denver hosts National JACL Bowling Tournament, by Stirling Sakamoto, page 6. Stirling Sakamoto reports on the 11th annual National JACL Bowling Tournament in Denver, praising the hospitality of local committee members. Individual champions from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver were recognized.
• $1,000 richer for bowling perfect game, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Masa Ishihara bowled a perfect 300 game in a sanctioned league in Honolulu, earning a $1,400 prize from his employer. He rolled 645 in the series while wearing the firm’s shirt.
• Weightlifter Kono to appear in Sacramento, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The 1960 junior national weightlifting championships will be held in Sacramento, with former local lifter Tommy Kono appearing for the first time since the Olympics. The meet eliminates lifters who have won national titles.
• Judy Sakata’s 713 among U.S. top ten, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Los Angeles bowler Judy Sakata rolled a 713 series, ranking among the nation’s top ten sanctioned scores this year. She is the only California woman to have bowled a sanctioned perfect game.
• Fuzzy Shimada bowls 714 in Camino Classic, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Fuzzy Shimada of Santa Clara rolled a 714 series in the Camino Bowls Classic league. The score was posted during the week reported.

Commentary

• Trip to the Pacific Northwest, by Shig Wakamatsu, page 2. JACL National President Shig Wakamatsu recounts his emotional return to the Puyallup Valley after evacuation and an unexpected flight encounter with Premier Kishi’s delegation. He connects the diplomats’ concerns about the Mutual Security Treaty to the Japanese public opposition that could affect U.S.-Japan relations.
• From a Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa reflects on life in New York City, where Nisei have largely dispersed into individual identities rather than forming group communities. He notes that assimilation is inevitable for ethnic groups in America, as seen in a police episode helping a Chinese family.
• Internal public relations within JACL, by Joe Kadowaki, page 4. MDC Chairman Joe Kadowaki argues that chapters must take initiative in developing programs rather than criticizing the National JACL for lacking direction. He calls for tact and cooperation in intra-organizational relations.
• Newsletter: We’ve had it, by Henry Mori, page 7. Henry Mori recounts a week of banking and billing frustrations, including a returned check over a signature irregularity. He also describes a tour of the improved American President Lines economy class ship with Fred Takata and Eiji Tanabe.

Arts & Entertainment

• Nisei interpreters bridge diplomacy in Japan, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 3. Tamotsu Murayama profiles Nisei English interpreters who served Japanese diplomacy, including George and Henry Shimanouchi, George Mizota, Tom Takagi, and George Nakamoto. He emphasizes that interpreting requires cultural understanding beyond language skills.
• James Shigeta picked as promising newcomer, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Nisei singer-actor James Shigeta was selected as one of eight international stars of tomorrow by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at the Golden Globe awards. The honor was presented at a dinner attended by about 1,200 industry personalities.

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