1960: a slur on Olympic TV and a chapter’s first Issei president

Vol. 50, No. 9, February 26, 1960. 8 pages. View this issue

Nisei were shocked when CBS commentators used a racial slur for Japanese Americans while broadcasting the Winter Olympics from Squaw Valley. JACL national director Mas Satow protested to CBS headquarters, and Bud Palmer apologized. Masao Satow’s report on page 5 returned to the protest, and the Long Beach-Harbor District JACL wrote to a local daily about the same word in its headlines. Also on page 1, Henry Y. Kasai became the first naturalized Issei elected president of Salt Lake JACL.

Elsewhere, Larry S. Tajiri reviewed James Michener’s novel Hawaii and its picture of the 100th Battalion and the 442nd. Page 2 backed repeal of the anti-alien land law provisions on the 1960 ballot. Kango Kunitsugu asked that JACL public relations reach other minorities. Chapter news came from Alameda, Berkeley, Detroit, Portland and Sacramento, where the June national convention was being planned, and the 14th national bowling tournament was about to open in Denver.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Our Land of Plenty, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An editorial notes the economic blessings of American life, citing home ownership, car ownership, household appliances, and widespread pensions and life insurance. It argues that Americans must continue sharing this abundance with the world’s underprivileged to counter Soviet propaganda and the widening gap between rich and poor nations.
• Anti-Alien Land Law Repeal, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Seattle Times editorial supports repealing the anti-alien land ownership provisions of the California and Washington constitutions, noting they are outmoded relics of anti-Oriental discrimination. The JACL’s informational campaign on the 1960 ballot measure is endorsed.
• Thousand Club Notes: Sacramento in ’60, by Bill Matsumoto, page 2. Bill Matsumoto reports on his visit to the PNWDC convention in Tacoma and on 1000 Club progress across chapters. He also previews Sacramento events leading up to the June National JACL Convention.
• Wartime Story of Japanese Americans, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri reviews James Michener’s novel Hawaii and its portrayal of Japanese American soldiers in the 100th Battalion and 442nd. He also previews the Broadway musical Flower Drum Song and the first American tour of Kabuki theater.
• Our Public Relations Must Be a Two-Way Street, by Kango Kunitsugu, page 4. PSWDC chairman Kango Kunitsugu argues that JACL public relations has focused too narrowly on the white majority and should reach out to other minorities such as Negroes and Mexican Americans. He also outlines a proposed proportional representation plan for PSWDC chapters.

Community

• Neighbors and friends of 12-year-old girl volunteer 40 pints of blood for operation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Walnut Creek community members, including Diablo Valley College teachers and students and friends of the family, have pledged blood for Lynda Yasuda’s heart operation this summer. The donations come as the Yasuda family prepares for the surgery to repair a hole between her heart’s ventricles.
• Two Nisei file for Fountain Valley posts, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Incumbent mayor Ben Okamoto, councilman James Kanno, and vice-mayor Robert Wardlow filed to run for council seats in the April 12 Fountain Valley election. Kanno and Wardlow have served on the township council since its charter in 1957.
• Reedley community picnic March 20 at Burris Park, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The annual Reedley community picnic, co-sponsored by Kyogi-Kai and the Reedley JACL, will be held March 20 at Burris Park. Organizers announced the event as a community gathering.
• Neighbors and friends of 12-year-old girl volunteer 40 pints of blood, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Neighbors and friends of Lynda Yasuda, 12, of Walnut Creek have volunteered 40 pints of blood for her open-heart operation this summer. Donations came from Diablo Valley College, Contra Costa JACL, and local schools.
• Crown Prince Akihito now father of boy, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko welcomed a son born Feb. 23 in Tokyo. Crowds gathered at the Imperial Palace and U.S. officials sent congratulations.
• Protest use of ‘Jap’ in news headlines of Long Beach daily, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Long Beach-Harbor District JACL formally protested the use of ‘Jap’ in headlines of the Long Beach Press-Telegram. The chapter’s letter, signed by Dr. John Kashiwabara, asked the paper to stop using the derogatory term.
• Stockton Nisei welcome Vice President Nixon, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Several local JACLers attended a private reception for Vice President and Mrs. Richard Nixon at the Stockton Hotel. Kimi Nakawatase presented Mrs. Nixon with a bouquet of roses upon her arrival.
• Sacramento in ’60: Shig Sakamoto column, by Shig Sakamoto, page 4. Shig Sakamoto reports on Sacramento preparations for the June 28-July 2 National JACL Convention, including a visit by the Japanese Olympic team and the annual Sacramento Nisei bowling tournament. He also covers local DC meeting activities.
• Join hospital drive, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Gilroy and South Santa Clara Valley Japanese Americans pledged $20,500 to the new Wheeler Hospital Building Fund, the largest group participation in the campaign. A bronze plaque will honor their contribution in the hospital lobby.
• West Los Angeles JACL to engineer concentrated one-week membership push, by P.C. Staff, page 4. West Los Angeles JACL plans a concentrated membership drive with a quota of 500 during the middle of March. The board also plans a chapter newsletter and several events including a speaker series and carnival.
• Detroit CLers due to appear on TV, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Detroit Japanese Americans will present a program on Japanese culture on Wayne State University’s educational TV Channel 56 on March 16. Planned segments include origami, flower arrangement, dance, and a discussion of the local Japanese American community.
• Texas Nisei listed in Women’s Who’s Who, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Mrs. Roy Kosaka, director of nursing service at Baptist Memorial Hospital in San Antonio, has been listed in Who’s Who in American Women. She oversees about 370 nursing staff.
• Nob Ishitani re-elected, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Noboru Ishitani of Hollywood JACL was re-elected president of the Western Young Adult Buddhist League at its 12th annual convention in San Mateo.
• Nat’l social fraternity admits Nisei at UCSB, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Wayne Nakagawa became the first Nisei admitted to Sigma Phi Epsilon at UC Santa Barbara, following the lifting of racial bans in national fraternities. He is a senior business major from Encinitas.
• Portland installation, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Portland JACL installation dinner will be held Feb. 29 at Palaske’s Full Villa Restaurant, with George Gokami succeeding Kimi Tambara as president.
• Meets Russian visitors, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Dr. Mas Gima, first vice-president of Mile-Hi JACL, attended the Governor’s dinner for 31 visiting Russians at International House in Denver.
• Berkeley JACL drive for 500 members, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Berkeley JACL membership campaign is aiming for 500 members this year, with cabinet and board members canvassing door-to-door in four sectors. Tad Nakamura is chairman of the chapter 1000 Club.
• Sansei participates in ‘Brotherhood’ TV panel, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Margaret Kai, a junior at George Washington High School in San Francisco, took part in a KPIX-TV panel discussion during Brotherhood Week for Youth. The San Francisco JACL Youth Group sponsored her appearance.
• Hi Akagi elected Alameda JACL president, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Hiromi Akagi was elected president of Alameda JACL for 1960, and was installed along with his cabinet at the Red Rooster Restaurant in Oakland. Mayor William McCall of Alameda attended as a special guest.
• Fresno ALL slates welcome potluck, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Fresno Japanese American Loyalty League will hold a welcome dinner for new members at the Japanese Congregational Church with a potluck, a color film, and entertainment. Prospective members can contact membership chairman Dr. Henry Kazato.
• John Enomoto head of Sequoia chapter, by P.C. Staff, page 5. John Enomoto was elected president of Sequoia JACL in Redwood City. The new cabinet includes officers for membership, youth, and public relations.

JACL

• Salt Lake JACL board names naturalized Issei Henry Kasai as 1960 president, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Henry Y. Kasai became the first naturalized Issei elected president of Salt Lake JACL, marking the fifth chapter to have an Issei president. The chapter, observing its Silver Jubilee, installed its new officers with former national president Hito Okada presiding.

National

• Use of ‘Jap’ on nation-wide TV shocks Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. CBS commentators used the derogatory term ‘Jap’ while broadcasting the Winter Olympics from Squaw Valley, prompting JACL national director Mas Satow to protest to CBS headquarters. Bud Palmer apologized to Satow and to a Japanese Olympic team doctor for the remark.
• Annie Clo fund reaches $1,025 total, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL director Mas Satow announced that the Annie Clo Watson Scholarship Fund has reached a total of $1,025. The fund honors the late Annie Clo Watson, a wartime JACL worker.
• Hawaii State Senate fails to confirm Nakatsuka for post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Hawaii State Senate refused to confirm Governor Quinn’s nominees Nakatsuka for labor director and Ellis for land commissioner, the first such setback for Quinn since taking office in 1957. Quinn said both men are capable and he holds them in high esteem.
• National Director’s Report, by Masao Satow, page 5. National director Masao Satow reports on JACL’s protest to CBS over the use of ‘Jap’ during Olympic broadcasts and remembers Annie Clo Watson at a memorial service. He also discusses support for Japanese wives of American servicemen and chapter membership progress.

Obituaries

• Kumeo Yoshinari’s father dies of burns, clothing catches fire while weed-burning, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kyuhachi Yoshinari, an 82-year-old Issei pioneer and civil engineer, died of third-degree burns after his clothing caught fire while burning weeds on his Weiser, Idaho farm. He had been a leader among Japanese in the Pacific Northwest and had helped clear land for orchards and reclaim Columbia River bottomland.
• Ex-Placer County JACL head dies at Squaw Valley, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Kay S. Kashiwabara, a 39-year-old dentist and community leader of Penryn, was found dead at Squaw Valley on Feb. 17, apparently of a heart attack. He was a past president of Placer County JACL and had been named a chairman for the 1960 Cancer Crusade.

Military & Veterans

• Fremont JACLer voted outstanding, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Henry Kato was named Outstanding JACLer by the Fremont JACL chapter. He is a past chapter president and currently serves on the NC-WNDC executive board.

Sports

• Bowling: Roster of 91 teams entered in 1960 National JACL bowling tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Nearly 500 bowlers from across the country are gathering in Denver for the 14th annual National JACL Bowling Tournament starting March 1. The roster lists 91 teams entered in the event at Dahlia Lanes.

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