A fair housing bill stalls in Sacramento, plus the 1942 evacuation series begins

Vol. 52, No. 22, June 2, 1961. 4 pages. View this issue

A fair housing bill in California headed toward defeat in this four-page issue. A state senator indicated that AB 801, which would extend FEPC jurisdiction to discrimination in publicly subsidized housing, would die in committee, since most senators had no wish to bring it to the floor. Mike Masaoka began a series on the 1942 forced removal of Japanese Americans, drawing on the Army’s official history. Saburo Kido continued his Living with JACL recollections with the 1934 national convention in San Francisco, and Yasuko Chi wrote in support of the Freedom Riders and their struggle for civil rights.

Other front-page stories covered a posthumous Legion of Merit for Col. Walter T. Tsukamoto, a Mainland turnout expected for the Honolulu veterans reunion, and Sim Togasaki’s appointment to raise funds for the Issei Story project. Inside are chapter news from Fowler, Stockton, Sacramento, Seabrook and San Francisco, and scholarship winners from Fresno and Fowler.

What’s in this issue

National

• Fair housing bill in Cal. senate hopeless, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A California state senator indicated that AB 801, which would extend FEPC jurisdiction to discrimination in publicly subsidized housing, would die in committee. A survey showed most senators had no desire to bring the bill to the floor before adjournment.
• Calif. FEPC slated second public hearing, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Fair Employment Practice Commission scheduled a second public hearing in San Francisco on June 13-14. The case involves a Berkeley man’s charge that he was denied a shipping clerk job because he is Negro.

Community

• Hiromi Fujinami introduced as ELA’s Nisei Week aspirant, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hiromi Fujinami was introduced as the East Los Angeles JACL candidate for the 1961 Nisei Week Queen contest. She is a cosmetology student with interests in bowling, badminton and cooking.
• S.F. Japan center construction delay until October seen, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Construction of the Japanese cultural and shopping center in Western Addition has been delayed until October, according to developers Masayuki Tokioka and Paul J. Broman. Architect Minoru Yamasaki wants the development to harmonize with surrounding apartment buildings.
• Get tough policy with delinquents urged by irate fathers, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Japanese American Youth Council report compiled juvenile delinquency statistics for Nisei and Sansei in 1961. At a parents meeting, some fathers urged a get-tough policy, while the absence of parents who should have attended was lamented.
• Name Corrected, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A correction clarifies the name of the organization that sponsored a Pasadena community event. The Gardeners Association of Pasadena Area is identified as the correct sponsor.
• Burglars break into theater, carry away safe, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Thieves broke into Ben Nakamura’s California Theater in Fresno and carried away a safe containing $780 in cash. A candy counter was also moved to cover the hole cut in the floor.
• Fowler JACL including Issei recognition with 10th Anniversary celebration Oct. 24, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Fowler JACL planned its 10th anniversary celebration and Issei recognition event for October 21 at Briceland Lodge. Committee assignments for program, tickets, entertainment and decorations were announced.
• Stockton’s program attractive, by Len Franklin and Yukie Shinoda, page 4. The Stockton JACL chapter’s programs, including a sister city visit from Shimizu, Japan, and civic projects for a Japanese garden at Micke Grove, were described. The article highlights efforts to build community integration and membership.
• Sacramento picnic planned, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A community picnic is planned for Sunday at Elk Grove Park in Sacramento, expecting 5,000 attendees. Activities include games, a golf tournament and Little League exhibitions.
• Portland Nisei wins Lions votes, by George Azumano, page 4. Hiram Hachiya was elected District Governor of Lions District 36-O, becoming a rare Nisei to hold such a post in Lions International. The article describes his service and the importance of Nisei participating in both Japanese American and general community organizations.
• Fresno and Fowler girls share honors in CCDC scholarship awards, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Kathleen Sunada of Fresno and Renko Tsuchiguchi of Fowler were named winners of the CCDC scholarship awards. Several other local students received additional scholarship recognition.
• 5,000 expected at Sacramento picnic, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Plans for the Sacramento community picnic at Elk Grove Park were outlined, with the local JACL sponsoring alongside other groups. Organizers expect upwards of 5,000 people.
• San Francisco women name dance committee, by P.C. Staff, page 4. San Francisco JACL Women’s Auxiliary announced committee members for its June 10 dance at the Park-Presidio. Marianne Otoshi chairs the event.

Military & Veterans

• Hawaii vets reunion greeting at least 300 from Mainland, by P.C. Staff, page 1. At least 300 Mainland Nisei veterans and their families are expected at the 1961 Veterans Reunion in Honolulu June 10 to 17. Hosts include the Club 100, 442nd Veterans Club, 1399th Engineers Veterans Club and MIS Veterans Club.
• Army in posthumous award for Tsukamoto, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Army posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit to the late Col. Walter T. Tsukamoto, former National JACL president, who died of a heart attack in Germany. A bronze plaque honoring him was dedicated at the Presidio Protestant Chapel in San Francisco.

JACL

• Sim Togasaki appointed Issei Story project finance chairman, by P.C. Staff, page 1. San Francisco businessman Sim Togasaki was named finance chairman to raise $100,000 for the Issei Story project documenting Japanese in America. Togasaki has a long record of JACL service, including fundraising and founding the Nikkei Shimin publication that became the Pacific Citizen.
• Fuyuume succeeds James K. Yasuda as Seabrook JACL president, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Robert Fuyuume was installed as president of the Seabrook JACL chapter at ceremonies held there. He is an active member of the 1000 Club.
• Living with JACL: Part VI, by Saburo Kido, page 4. This installment recalls the 1934 JACL national convention in San Francisco, including the Japanese Consulate arrangements and the origins of the farewell dance. It describes how the schedule and venue were resolved amid internal disagreements.

Commentary

• Freedom Riders, by Yasuko Chi, page 2. The writer urges Nisei to support the Freedom Riders’ struggle for Negro civil rights, given their own history of discrimination and wartime evacuation. The letter criticizes Nisei who oppose the movement as holding a racial hierarchy view.

Incarceration & Redress

• Command Decision: Evacuation, Part 1, by Mike Masaoka, page 3. This installment of the Washington Newsletter begins a series examining the 1942 evacuation of Japanese Americans through the Army’s official history. It shows how early plans targeted enemy aliens and how General DeWitt initially opposed evacuating citizens.

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