A four-page issue: US-Japan talks, race bias at work and a first for the Nisei VFW

Vol. 53, No. 19, November 10, 1961. 4 pages. View this issue

Race and fair treatment ran through this four-page issue. Mike M. Masaoka wrote about the Hakone conference, where U.S. and Japanese cabinet-level officials met on trade and economic issues. Emily Higuchi reported on Ross Clinchey’s talk about how hard employment discrimination is to prove in federal jobs. Clifford Uyeda’s column asked Nisei to look honestly at the difficulties Negroes face. The ACLU and the JACL also urged the California Supreme Court to bar racial bias by real estate brokers, and William Matsumoto’s column looked ahead to the Holiday Issue.

Other front-page stories covered a perpetual life charter for the Gardena Nisei VFW post, Wayne M. Kanemoto’s appointment to a new San Jose court, and Ruby Hada’s crowning as homecoming queen at Long Beach City College. Page 3 reported on Japanese emigrants who wanted to leave the Dominican Republic, and on the San Jose Buddhist Church’s 60th anniversary.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Christmas Time, by William Matsumoto, page 1. The editor reflects on the Holiday Issue preparations and the importance of JACL membership and continued community effort. He notes progress on advertising, stories, and planned features including the evacuation history.
• Racial Discrimination Distorted Picture, by Clifford Uyeda, page 2. Clifford Uyeda argues that Nisei should more honestly examine the difficulties Negroes face while also recognizing their own history of discrimination. He contends that self-improvement is as important as legislation in reducing minority discrimination.

National

• New Era in U.S.-Japan Relations, by Mike M. Masaoka, page 1. The Hakone conference brought together U.S. and Japanese cabinet-level officials for an annual meeting on trade and economic issues. Masaoka argues the new consultative mechanism may be among the most important results for preventing future misunderstandings.
• Difficulties of Fight Against Race Bias in Employment Fold, by Emily Higuchi, page 1. Ross Clinchey described how federal employment discrimination is hard to prove, with few complaints involving Orientals reaching the President’s Committee. He argued that strong leadership from the top is needed to make policy effective.
• Texas-Born Mexican Wins Congressional Election, by P.C. Staff, page 1. State Sen. Henry B. Gonzales was elected to fill the unexpired term of Congressman Paul J. Kilday. He becomes the first Texan of Mexican descent to go to Congress.
• ACLU Presses Racial Bias of Realtor in Sale of Property to Supreme Court, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The ACLU and the JACL urged the California Supreme Court to bar real estate brokers from racial discrimination in property sales. The appeal arose from a Santa Ana couple refused a home sale because of Mexican ancestry.
• U.S. Pacifist Fails in Mission to Protest Russian Nuclear Tests, by P.C. Staff, page 1. American pacifist Dr. Albert Reynolds sailed toward Soviet port Nakhodka to protest nuclear tests but was intercepted and returned. Thomas Yonoda, a California Nisei studying in Japan, accompanied him.

Military & Veterans

• VFW Life Charter for Gardena Nisei Post Given, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Fourth District Nisei Memorial VFW Post 1961 in Gardena received a perpetual life charter from national VFW commander Robert Honten. It was the first Nisei unit in the country so honored, with all 41 members signed within 90 days.

Community

• Ruby Hada Selected Homecoming Queen at Long Beach City College, by Ruby Mio, page 1. Freshman Ruby Hada was chosen 1961 homecoming queen at Long Beach City College. She reigned over the week-long festivities that included a homecoming game.
• Sansei Lass Creates Stir in Athens, Wins Trip by Writing Letter on Democracy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Chicago high school students Michi Dee Ishida and Kenneth Kaye served as pages at an international seminar on the free society in Athens. Ishida won the trip by writing winning letters on democracy to imaginary friends in Russia.
• 3 Sansei Still in Running for Pasadena Parade Queen, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Three Pasadena Sansei remain in contention for the Tournament of Roses queen contest. The finalists were narrowed from 100 Pasadena City College co-eds.
• Army Language School Adds Swahili, Toishan, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Army Language School at Monterey celebrated its 20th anniversary with announcement of new courses in Swahili and Toishan. The school traces its origins to the Pearl Harbor era.
• Wayne Kanemoto Appointed Judge of New San Jose Municipal Court, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Gov. Edmund G. Brown appointed San Jose attorney Wayne M. Kanemoto to the newly created San Jose-Alviso municipal district court. He is the third Nisei named to the California bench.
• Twin Cities Surgeon Invited to Stockholm Medical Conference, by Kay Kushino, page 1. Dr. Yoshio Sako, Nisei surgeon at the University of Minnesota, was invited to Stockholm by the Swedish National Research Council. He lectured on the treatment of whole blood transfusions in battle casualties.
• Long Beach Youths Named for State Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Three youths from the Long Beach-Harbor chapter were named delegates to the Governor’s Youth Conference. Dr. John Kashiwabara will serve as adviser.
• Monterey Membership Drive Near End, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Monterey Peninsula JACL’s 1962 membership campaign, led by Mas Yokogawa, is nearing completion. The chapter is holding a meeting next Wednesday at the JACL Hall.
• Nisei Wins Top Architect Honors, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Toronto architect Raymond Moriyama, who designed the Japanese Canadian Centre, received the Rt. Hon. Vincent Massey Silver Medal. The award was for a private golf course design.
• L.A. Japanese Hospital Changed to Non-Profit, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Japanese Hospital of Los Angeles was reorganized as a non-profit corporation and renamed Memorial Hospital of the Japanese Community. Dr. Robert T. Obi said new areas of public service are now possible.
• Berkeley JACL Nominates 11 for Board of Directors, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Eleven nominees were listed on the Berkeley JACL slate for seven board vacancies. Members are balloting by mail.
• Harbingers of Another Christmas, by Henry Mori, page 2. Henry Mori’s Los Angeles newsletter column covers Christmas Cheer fundraising and Little Tokyo redevelopment plans. He also highlights the Sumitomo Bank’s donor drive and Little Tokyo changes.
• Movies Tonight for Issei of Eden Township JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Eden Township JACL hosted a movie program for Issei members with a talent show. The event was part of the chapter’s community activities.
• Japanese Emigres to Dominican Republic Give Up Trying, Over Half Want to Return Home, by P.C. Staff, page 3. About 1,400 Japanese emigrants went to the Dominican Republic in the past five years, and many now wish to return to Japan. Returning groups described poor farming conditions and the difficulty of making a living.
• Grateful Chicago Nisei Family Reveals Heroism of Truck Driver in Letter to Denver Post, by H. Yashido, page 3. A Chicago family wrote to the Denver Post praising truck driver Danny Carson, who rescued their daughter from a river during a stormy night in Utah. The letter expressed gratitude for his courage and kindness.
• Buddhist Group in 60th Fete, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The San Jose Buddhist Church, founded in 1902, observed its 60th anniversary with a sanctuary enhanced by Japanese landscaping. The church is regarded as a must-see by the local chamber of commerce.

JACL

• Youth at Convention, by Peter Fujioka, page 2. Peter Fujioka praises the large youth turnout at the EDC-MDC Convention hosted by the Twin Cities chapter. He urges parents to encourage their children to participate in Junior JACL activities.

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.