Five JACL scholarship winners and the Magazines for Friendship program

Vol. 51, No. 10, September 2, 1960. 8 pages. View this issue

Five students from Washington, California, Idaho and Michigan were named winners of the 1960 National JACL scholarships, and the front page announced them. An editorial by the P.C. Staff described Magazines for Friendship, a program to send American periodicals to readers in Japan, and urged JACL chapters to take part. Tatsumaro Tezuka began a two-part history of Japanese emigration to Hawaii on its 75th anniversary, and Bishop Paul Taguchi asked Western countries at a migration congress in Ottawa to admit more Japanese immigrants.

Also inside: Larry S. Tajiri reviewed the film Hell to Eternity, which includes scenes of the 1942 forced removal and Manzanar. Mike Masaoka reported that Washington’s whole congressional delegation backed repeal of the state’s Anti-Alien Land Law, and wrote about Congress’s special session. Frank Chuman praised Hawaii’s voter turnout, and Harry K. Honda wrote about a birthday dictionary. Chapter news came from Pasadena, Venice-Culver and Sequoia.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Magazines for Friendship, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Citizen highlights the Magazines for Friendship program, which supplies American periodicals to foreign readers, especially in Japan. The editorial encourages JACL chapters and Nisei groups to participate as a way to help win the cold war.
• Very Truly Yours, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Editor Harry Honda reflects on a birthday gift, Merriam-Webster’s Biographical Dictionary, and lists notable Japanese names found in it. He also comments on the dictionary’s entries and the absence of Nisei personalities.
• September Song, by Fred Taomae, page 2. Guest columnist Fred Taomae recounts how Father Clement, a Maryknoll priest, is reconnected with a former serviceman whose Japanese wife read about him in the Shin Nichi Bei. The story recalls Father Clement’s help years earlier in arranging an interracial marriage.
• Washington Newsletter: Special Session Evaluation, by Mike Masaoka, page 6. Masaoka evaluates the special post-convention session of Congress, noting failed Democratic efforts on medical care and minimum wage. He also discusses the approved waiver allowing Kennedy-Nixon television debates.

JACL

• Five Scholarship Winners Named, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL National Headquarters announced the five recipients of the National JACL administered scholarships for 1960. Winners were selected by a national judging committee and include students from Washington, California, Idaho, and Michigan.
• Pasadena Japanese Community Scholarship and Other Awards, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Pacific Citizen profiles several JACL scholarship winners including Brian Kashiwagi, Denson Gen Fujikawa, Anne Miwa Kanomata, William Yasuo Hayashi, and Daniel Iwao Okimoto. Each candidate is described with academic and community achievements.

National

• Admission of More Japanese to Western Countries Urged at Canadian Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 1. At the International Migration Congress in Ottawa, Bishop Paul Taguchi urged Western countries to admit more Japanese immigrants. He argued that racial prejudice, not capacity, was blocking admission and that second-generation Japanese Americans had integrated well.
• Hawaii Voter Turnout Demonstrates Democracy, by Frank Chuman, page 4. Frank Chuman praises Hawaii’s 92 percent voter turnout in the 1959 election and urges JACL chapters to register every member to vote. He argues that civic participation is essential to good citizenship.

Obituaries

• Wartime Sponsor of JACL Passes Away, by P.C. Staff, page 1. E.B. MacNaughton, a Portland banker and wartime national sponsor of JACL, died at age 79. JACL National Director Mas Satow expressed gratitude for his support when Japanese American loyalty was in question.

Community

• Venice-Culver JACL to Hold Voting Registration Nights, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Venice-Culver JACL arranged for a registrar of voters to be available at Yokoi Realty on two evenings to help residents register. Naturalized citizens were advised to bring their naturalization papers.
• Okura Named for Contributions, by P.C. Staff, page 1. K. Patrick Okura, Chief Probation Officer of Omaha, received an Outstanding Young Man in Government award from the Omaha Junior Chamber of Commerce. The Jaycees cited his marked contribution to local government.
• East-West Center Groundbreaking Set for Oct. 14, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The University of Hawaii announced that groundbreaking for the East-West Cultural Center will likely occur on October 14. Buildings are expected to be occupied by September 1962.
• JACL Duplicate Bridge Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A JACL duplicate bridge tournament is scheduled in Redwood City, with trophies for North-South and East-West winners. Regular bridge meetings are also planned at Okamura Hall.
• Nisei Promoted at Sumitomo Bank, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Art Mitsutomi was promoted to assistant cashier at the Sumitomo Bank of Sacramento. He had joined the bank in 1958 after working with the California Youth Authority.
• Buddhist Center Planned at Idyllwild, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Robert Balzer plans a $150,000 Buddhist meditation center called Zenvanji near Idyllwild in the San Bernardino Mountains. Kazumi Adachi was named architect.
• San Francisco JACL Fashion Committee Named, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mrs. Char Dai announced the committee for a September 24 luncheon fashion show sponsored by the San Francisco JACL Women’s Auxiliary. Tickets are $4.50 and are available through several outlets.
• WLA Polio Clinic Set September 6, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The West Los Angeles JACL co-sponsored a public polio clinic with the West Los Angeles Methodist Church on September 6. Inoculations cost a nominal $1.
• Pasadena JACL Thousand Club Whing Ding Captures Atmosphere of Japanese Village, by Florence Ida, page 3. The Pasadena 1000 Club held its annual get-together transformed into a Japanese village with food booths and a pool. Members and guests enjoyed Japanese foods, an ondo dance, and games.
• Troop 379 Program for Open House on Sept. 2, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Koyasan Boy Scout Troop 379 announced an open house program at the Koyasan Temple featuring patrol skills demonstrations. Movies and refreshments were also planned.
• CYC Plans Annual Kunitomi Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Community Youth Council planned a scholarship in honor of Hide Kunitomi, its late basketball commissioner. The annual meeting also named new officers and discussed future league expansion.
• Pasadena 1000 Club Another Success, by Fred Takata, page 5. Fred Takata reports on the Pasadena 1000 Club’s Japanese village themed party at the Ito residence. He describes the food booths, decorations, and the ondo dance around the pool.
• Youth Delegate Reports on National Convention, by Ina Seiji, page 6. Ina Seiji, a San Francisco youth delegate, describes her experience at the 1960 JACL National Convention in Sacramento. She highlights the oratorical contest, discussion of discrimination, and Mike Masaoka’s youth dinner speech.
• Cherry Hill Neighborhood Revitalization, by Elmer Ogawa, page 7. Elmer Ogawa describes the Cherry Hill neighborhood in Seattle, where residents planted cherry trees and cleaned up the area through private efforts. He reports on a community picnic attended by city officials.
• Northwest Picture, by Elmer Ogawa, page 7. Ogawa writes about Cherry Hill’s transformation and a neighborhood picnic. He praises the community’s self-help efforts to clean up and repair the area.
• Sequoia JACL Sets Pot-Luck Event, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Sequoia JACL announced a potluck dinner and swimming party at Flood Park in Menlo Park on September 6. Mamoru Fukuma is the general chairman.
• Wild Bill Matsumoto in Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 8. JACL vice-president Wild Bill Matsumoto and his family were spending two weeks in Hawaii attending a Western Life Insurance Co. conference. The item notes his travel plans.

In-Depth

• Japanese in Hawaii Celebrate 75th Anniv. of First Emigration, by Tatsumaro Tezuka, page 1. Tezuka recounts the history of Japanese emigration to Hawaii, reopened in 1885 after a long suspension, and the earlier traditional ties between Japan and Hawaii. The article also covers the 1868 Gannenmono group and the role of Robert Walker Irwin in restoring emigration.
• Japanese in Hawaii Celebrate 75th Anniversary of Emigration (Part 2), by Tatsumaro Tezuka, page 5. Tezuka continues his history of Japanese emigration to Hawaii, covering the Van Reed affair, the 1868 emigrant group, and the 1885 reopening. He details the contributions of Robert Walker Irwin to the sugar industry.

Arts & Entertainment

• Evacuation Scenes in Hell to Eternity, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri reviews the Allied Artists film Hell to Eternity, noting its depiction of the 1942 West Coast evacuation and Manzanar scenes. He praises the performances of Tsuru Aoki and Bob Okazaki.
• The Pineapple Bowl and Hawaiian Nisei at War, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri discusses the film Pineapple Battalion, an adaptation of Robert N. Hongo’s novel about Hawaiian Nisei called up for the Korean War. He describes its combat scenes and the cast.
• Dwarfed Pines Sought for Cry for Happy, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Columbia Pictures sought dwarfed pine trees for the film Cry for Happy and found them through a Japanese American newspaper ad. Tajiri also notes upcoming films and stage productions featuring Nisei actors.
• Big Wave Being Lensed in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Pearl Buck supervised the filming of her novel The Big Wave in Japan, produced by Attraction Productions with an all-Japanese cast. The film features Toho motion picture stars.

Sports

• California Nisei Baseball Tournament Set, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The State Nisei Baseball Tournament will be held in Glendale from September 3 to 5 with eight top teams competing. Rosters and game schedules were announced.

Military & Veterans

• Congressional Delegation Urges Repeal of Washington Anti-Alien Land Law, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Mike Masaoka reports that all eight members of Washington’s congressional delegation signed a statement urging repeal of the state’s Anti-Alien Land Law. The statement backs a November ballot measure to remove the discriminatory provision.
• Troop 379 D&B Win at Fontana, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Koyasan Boy Scout Troop 379 Drum and Bugle Corps won first place in bugle, drumming, and marching at the Music in Motion contest in Fontana. The corps placed second overall.

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