Old age pensions for aliens and the fight against a slur in print

Vol. 53, No. 4, July 28, 1961. 4 pages. View this issue

Two campaigns ran through this four-page issue. In California, Governor Brown signed a bill ending the citizenship requirement for the state’s old age pension, and National JACL President Chuman praised its passage. Dick Akagi’s column objected to Life magazine’s use of the word ‘Jap’ in an advertisement, and a news item reported that Canada had stepped up a similar effort after the Japanese American Citizens League’s campaign. Mike Masaoka’s Washington newsletter appraised the early months of the Kennedy administration, and the Nebraska Presbyterian Synod backed the Omaha JACL in a move to repeal a state law voiding certain interracial marriages.

Elsewhere in the issue are Bill Hosokawa on the community picnic, Elmer Ogawa on Seattle’s old Jackson Street, and Saburo Kido on the first Nisei lobbyist. Notices cover the Nisei Week Queen judging, district council meetings in San Francisco, San Diego and Pocatello, and preparations for the joint EDC-MDC convention in Minneapolis.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• New Frontier Appraisal, by Mike Masaoka, page 1. Masaoka assesses the early months of the Kennedy administration, finding few differences from the previous administration in domestic affairs. He notes that most major legislation passed by Congress originated from earlier Democratic-led efforts, while civil rights progress has come largely through administrative action.
• East of the River: Here We Go Again, by Dick Akagi, page 1. Akagi criticizes Life magazine for using the word ‘Jap’ in a house advertisement, arguing it is a derogatory term. He suggests Nisei and advertisers, including Japanese camera makers and American bowling equipment firms, should pressure Life to stop using it.
• For What It’s Worth: Japanese Americans Are Not a Phenomenon, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa reflects on the traditional Japanese American community picnic and how its format has changed over the years. He notes the growing role of public address systems and the continued dedication to these community events.
• First Nisei Lobbyist, by Saburo Kido, page 4. Kido describes his recovery from illness and his reflections on JACL history. He also recounts the legislative history of naturalization rights for Japanese World War I veterans and the work of Tokutaro Slocum.

National

• Brown Signs Bill Eliminating Citizenship Requirement to Qualify for Old Age Pension, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Governor Brown signed a bill removing the citizenship requirement for California’s old age pension, effective January 1, 1962. The measure, introduced by Assemblyman Burton, allows aliens aged 65 and over who are in need to receive state aid.
• Chuman Lauds Passage of Old Age Pension Bill for Aliens, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL President Chuman praised the passage of the bill extending state old age benefits to alien residents of California. He said the measure will help resident aliens who have struggled to get by on Social Security benefits alone.
• Presbyterians Back Omaha JACL in Repeal Move, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Nebraska Presbyterian Synod urged the Nebraska Legislature to repeal the state law voiding marriages between white persons and those with one-eighth or more Negro, Japanese or Chinese blood. The resolution asks other churches to join in the petition.
• New Jersey Negro Wins Civil Rights Housing Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. New Jersey’s Division on Civil Rights ordered a developer to sell a home to a Negro engineer who had been refused in 1959. The division also ordered the developer to end discriminatory housing sales practices.
• Amendments to Calif. Constitution Filed for 1962 Ballot, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seventeen constitutional amendments were placed on the 1962 California ballot, three of which affect persons of Japanese ancestry. These include a housing bond issue for the aged and handicapped and measures on veterans’ housing and tax appeals.

Community

• Dr. Minoru Ota Named State Veterinary Head, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Minoru Ota was elected president of the Wyoming Veterinary Medical Association at its 29th annual meeting. He is a former Northern Wyoming JACL chapter president and was honored as a Nisei of the Biennium in 1954.
• Canada Steps Up Pace to Rid ‘Jap’ in News Headlines, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Following the Japanese American Citizens League’s campaign, the New Canadian initiated a similar effort in Canada against the term ‘Jap.’ The Toronto Globe and Mail subsequently asked its editors to avoid the term.
• Kunitsugu Has ‘Outside Chance’ for L.A. City Council Appointment, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kango Kunitsugu, an active Southwest L.A. JACL leader, was among the first candidates called to be interviewed for a vacancy on the Los Angeles City Council. The appointment would fill the seat in the 10th District left vacant by Charles Navarro’s election as city controller.
• San Jose Strawberry Growers Win Jury Award of $93,000, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Isamu and Tomoye Fukagawa won a jury verdict of $93,306 after the Franklin-McKinley School District condemned part of their ranch. The jury sided with the owners over the district’s lower appraisal of the property’s value.
• Vicki Shiba to Study in Germany as Exchange Student, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Vicki Shiba of Gilroy’s Union high school, an American Field Service exchange student, will leave for Germany in August to spend a semester in school there. She will live with a family in Saarbrucken near the French border.
• Bridgeton Post Installs Japanese American Commander, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ray Bano was installed as commander of the Shoemaker Post of the American Legion in Bridgeton, New Jersey. The former Los Angeles Nisei is a past membership chairman and a past president of the Seabrook JACL chapter.
• Denis Ochi Wins State ‘Hire the Handicap’ Poster Contest, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Denis Ochi’s poster won first place in Idaho’s ‘Hire the Handicap’ contest, earning him a $100 cash award and a trip to Boise. He had substituted in the art department of Radio KIFI while the regular artist was on vacation.
• Szquola JACL Fireworks Sales Net $592, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Palo Alto JACL chapter’s first fireworks sale during the week before the Fourth of July netted $592.86. The proceeds were a successful venture for the chapter.
• St. Louis City Law Against Bias Goes Into Effect Quietly, by P.C. Staff, page 1. St. Louis’s ordinance against bias in public accommodations took effect without incident despite rumors of racial confrontations. The law sets fines for violations and requires complaints to be filed within 30 days.
• Freewheeling on the Freeways, by Jim Higashi, page 2. Jim Higashi introduces himself as the new JACL regional director for the Southern California office and business manager of the Pacific Citizen. He announces that he will write a new column about the regional office’s activities.
• Landmarks of the Old Days, by Elmer Ogawa, page 2. Elmer Ogawa recalls Seattle’s Jackson Street regrade and the old landmarks it erased, including hotels and the Black and Tan Club. He reflects on the changing character of the neighborhood.
• Bank of Tokyo Plans Japan Center Branch, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Bank of Tokyo of California received approval to open a new branch in the Japan Center project in San Francisco. The complex, designed by Minoru Yamasaki, will include a hotel, restaurant, theater, and shopping mall.
• Idaho Falls JACL Notes, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Karen Yamasaki of Idaho Falls and Frank Yamada of Los Angeles announced their wedding date of July 29. Several out-of-state visitors were noted at the Idaho Falls JACL picnic.
• Twin Cities in Pre-Confab Twitter, by Kay Ishiyama, page 3. Members of the Midwest District Council are busily preparing for the joint EDC-MDC convention in Minneapolis. Committee assignments and fundraising efforts are underway for the event.
• Public Invited for First Time to Witness Judging of Nisei Week Queen Contest, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Nisei Week Queen contest will be judged in public for the first time at the Biltmore Bowl on August 5. The judging will be held in two segments, with contestants appearing in kimonos and then in white gowns.
• Long Beach Nisei Week Queen Candidate Participates in Int’l Beauty Congress, by Rudy Miyamoto, page 3. Long Beach Nisei Week queen candidate May Ishihara participated in the International Beauty Congress in Long Beach. She was seated next to the reigning Miss International and was asked for an autograph by a young girl.
• Problems of Aging to Increase, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Representatives of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and JACS met to discuss growing problems of elderly persons in the Los Angeles Japanese community. They agreed to meet again to plan for old-age security, housing, recreation, and health care.
• Upsets Mark Golf Tourney for Chicago 1000 Club, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Chicago JACL 1000 Club held its annual golf tournament, where surprising results marked the day. Tom Okabe emerged as the winner with a net score of 65.
• Sumitomo Bank of California Opens New Crenshaw Office, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Sumitomo Bank of California announced the opening of a new branch in the Crenshaw Square shopping center on August 1, 1961. The temporary office will operate until the permanent building is completed.
• San Francisco Chapter to Host Third Quarterly Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The San Francisco JACL chapter will host the Northern California-Western Nevada District Council quarterly meeting on Sunday at the Hotel Mark Twain. Delegates will be charged a registration fee to attend.
• San Diego to Host PSW Quarterly Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 4. San Diego JACL will host the Pacific Southwest District Council quarterly meeting on August 6 at the El Cortez Hotel. The agenda includes reports on the Issei Story project and the upcoming 1965 convention.
• Contra Costa Jr. JACL Elects New Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Ronald Morita was elected president of the Contra Costa Jr. JACL chapter. The group has planned several summertime events and projects to assist the chapter’s national programs.
• Dayton Prepares for Big Bazaar in October, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Dayton JACL is preparing for a bazaar in October, a major public relations project for the chapter. Mas Yamasaki and Jack Huntsberger were named co-chairmen.
• Intermountain Convention Preparations for Pocatello, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Preparations are underway for the Intermountain District Council convention and the first biennial Jr. IDC convention in Pocatello on August 11-12. The program includes workshops, a banquet, and youth events.

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.