Orange County JACL at 25 and a decade of planning ahead

Vol. 49, No. 18, October 30, 1959. 8 pages. View this issue

Orange County JACL’s 25th anniversary celebration in Tustin led the news. Frank Chuman, a main speaker, urged the chapter to think of itself as an urban chapter as the county’s population grows. Henry Tanaka’s column on the EDC-MDC symposium on JACL planning for 1960-70 looked at the same question for the whole organization, and Joe Kadowaki outlined a proposed restructuring of the Midwest District Council board. Mike Masaoka and Sam Ishikawa also announced a six-week business trip to Japan and the Far East.

Other items include a relief shipment sent by air to Nagoya after Typhoon Vera, an appeal to former Scouts to support a Boy Scout from Japan project, and a report that Tommy Kono won a world weightlifting title in Warsaw. Columns by Larry S. Tajiri and Bill Hosokawa and a review of James Michener’s Hawaii fill the commentary pages.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Orange County JACL Challenged to Think Future in Terms of Urban Chapter at 25th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Frank Chuman, a main speaker at the Orange County JACL 25th anniversary celebration in Tustin, urged the chapter to think of itself as an urban chapter as the county’s population grows rapidly. He outlined ground rules for JACL planning, including open communication, welcoming all viewpoints, and discussion free of emotion.
• ‘Good Turn Daily’ for Today’s Ex-Scouter, by H.H., page 1. JACLers who were once Boy Scouts are urged to contribute to the national JACL-sponsored ‘Boy Scout from Japan’ project, which seeks $1,000 by December 1. The appeal asks readers to send donations to National JACL Headquarters in San Francisco.
• Fresno County Demos Name Mikami to Post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seiichi Henry Mikami, a West Fresno Nisei businessman active in Democratic circles, was appointed to the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee. He filled one of the vacancies created when two committeemen moved out of their districts.
• Congressman Says Inouye Well-Liked in Congress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Congressman Michael Feighan of Ohio praised Hawaii’s Daniel Inouye during a stopover in Honolulu, calling him well accepted and liked by both parties in Congress. Feighan was traveling to the Far East to study immigration matters.
• Sugar Firm Mishap Fatal to Idaho Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Noble Watanabe, a well-known Canyon County row crop farmer from Caldwell, Idaho, died after being injured while unloading beets at the Amalgamated Sugar Co. factory near Nampa. He suffered rib fractures and a crushed chest injury.
• Hollywood Community Center Gets New Coat of Paint, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Hollywood-area residents and organizations including Hollywood JACL turned out to paint the interior and exterior of the Hollywood Community Center. General chairman Masaru Okamoto said a building is being considered so the community can see the new center.
• Nagoya Officials Amazed by 5 1/2-Ton Shipment of Relief Items, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Los Angeles sent a shipment of 11,000 pounds of clothing and relief supplies by air to Nagoya after Typhoon Vera, along with a $4,662.50 check. Major George Kanegai represented Los Angeles and reported that Nagoya’s mayor was deeply grateful.
• Golden Gate Optimists to Celebrate 4th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Golden Gate Optimists will hold their anniversary social event on November 7 at the St. Francis Hotel Mural Room in San Francisco. Entertainers include George Minami Jr. and Miss Muneko of Japan.
• Long Beach JACL to Celebrate 20th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Long Beach JACL and Harbor District Community Center will hold a joint 10th and 20th anniversary dinner honoring pioneer leaders. The chapter, chartered in 1939 with 125 members, has grown through the years and remains active in community affairs.
• Chicago JACL Picks 10 New Board Members, Inaugural Ball Set Nov. 28, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Chicago JACL elected ten new members to its 1960 board of directors at its annual meeting. An Inaugural Ball is scheduled for November 28 at the Edgewater Beach Hotel.
• Marie Kurihara to Fill S.F. JACL Board Vacancy, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Marie Kurihara was appointed to the San Francisco JACL board of governors to fill the vacancy left by Jiro Arakawa, who resigned to take a civilian position with the U.S. Army. The appointment was announced by chapter president Steve Doi.
• Educational TV Forum Stimulates CLers in Salt Lake to Discuss School Issues, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Salt Lake’s educational television station KUED has co-sponsored a weekly discussion program on school issues, prompting local JACL parent-members to hold their own meetings on the topics. The format features speakers presenting two sides of issues followed by audience questions.
• East Los Angeles JACLers Turn Over Net Proceeds to International Institute, by P.C. Staff, page 4. East Los Angeles JACL members manned a teriyaki booth at the International Day celebration and donated $331 in net proceeds to the International Institute. The project was coordinated by co-chairmen Sam Furuta, Hiro Omura and Frank Okamoto.
• Mrs. Kanegai Organizes Relief Packing Effort, by P.C. Staff, page 5. West Los Angeles JACL Auxiliary members packed four tons of warm clothing and blankets for typhoon victims in Nagoya, with one ton flown out by Marines from El Toro. The Auxiliary also reported on the success of its Jobs for Juniors project.
• Orange County JACL 25th Anniversary Dinner-Dance, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Orange County JACL celebrated its 25th anniversary with a dinner-dance at the Revere House in Tustin, with past presidents introduced and Issei leaders recognized. The event featured music, dancing, and performances by the Hanayagi Dancers.
• Nisei First Man to Join Girl Scout Staff in Cleveland, by P.C. Staff, page 7. William Oshima became the first man ever hired on the staff of the Cleveland Girl Scout Council, serving as administrative assistant in charge of camping. He previously was program director at Goodrich House for seven years.
• 24 Speakers Appear at San Francisco Political Rally, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The San Francisco JACL and Nisei Voters League held a political rally at the Park Presidio YMCA featuring 24 speakers, including mayoral candidates George Christopher and Russell Wolden. Jack Kusaba and Shiz Yoshimura served as co-chairmen.

National

• Masaoka, Ishikawa Depart for 6-Week Business Trip to Japan, Far East, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Washington representative Mike Masaoka and New York representative Sam Ishikawa are leaving for a six-week business trip to Japan and the Far East in their private capacities as trade and public relations consultants. They plan to spend three weeks in Osaka on textile industry matters and will also look into immigration and war claims issues.
• Rep. Inouye Wary of Farm Parity Plan, Says Abuses Fantastic, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hawaii Congressman Daniel Inouye met with Kona coffee farmers and agricultural groups and expressed reluctance to join parity supporters in Washington. He criticized abuses of the price support program and questioned whether enough research is being done on marketing and costs.
• The National Director’s Report, by Mike Masaoka, page 5. National Director Masao Satow reports on his visit to the Tulare County Chapter’s 25th anniversary, meetings on civil rights and human relations in California, and planning for the Placer County goodwill banquet and national JACL programs. He also addresses complaints about the National Council agenda process, stating the procedure was followed in 1958.

Obituaries

• Tosh Kodaira Ill, Aided Stranded Nisei, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 1. Toshikatsu Kodaira, a former San Francisco Nisei journalist, is dying of cancer in Tokyo. He is remembered for helping stranded Nisei find work in Japan during the early Pacific war years.

Commentary

• Vagaries, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 2. Columnist Larry Tajiri reports on Nisei actors and Hollywood film projects, including Teru Shimada’s role in Battle of the Coral Sea and several upcoming productions with Japanese and Asian settings. He notes that opportunities for Oriental performers should increase in the coming year.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa reflects on accumulated household possessions during a recent move and recalls buying an electric fan at Salt Lake City in 1942 during his Heart Mountain camp days. He gave the old motor to a scavenger, reflecting on the packrat instinct and the American consumer economy.
• A Fable, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A satirical fable tells of Dokkoi Maeda, a Los Angeles Japanese businessman who drank heavily and sleeps in gutters, and his daughter Hanako, who turns his tofu-making legacy into a successful business. The story humorously comments on Nisei assimilation and generational change.
• No Time for Complacency, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The editorial responds to the resignation of Sue Uyeno as executive secretary of Japanese American Youth Inc. and to a columnist’s claim about low Japanese American crime rates. It argues the community must still address delinquency among young people honestly rather than hiding problems.
• JACL Newsletter Japan Trip, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Mike Masaoka writes that he and Sam Ishikawa are departing for Japan on a business trip, focusing on Osaka and the Japanese agricultural workers program in California. He also notes plans to visit Hawaii and the West Coast on the return trip.
• Hawaii by James Michener Reviewed, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The article reviews James Michener’s novel Hawaii, highlighting his observations on the Islands’ settlers, the Chinese cultural contribution, missionaries, and why Japanese in Hawaii fought for America while mainland Japanese were treated differently. It praises the author’s perspective on hardship shared across groups.

JACL

• 1960-70 JACL Planning: Symposium Seen as a Milestone, by Henry Tanaka, page 2. Henry Tanaka reflects on the EDC-MDC convention symposium on the future focus of JACL over the next decade. He reports that delegates called for more positive programs beyond national watchdog efforts and agreed that chapters should concentrate on public relations and community participation.
• Midwest District Council Board Restructuring Proposed, by Joe Kadowaki, page 4. MDC Chairman Joe Kadowaki outlines a proposed pilot plan to restructure the Midwest District Council board into a functional organization with five elected executive posts and chapter representatives. A study committee will evaluate the plan with the goal of possible constitutional amendments at the 1960 Milwaukee convention.

Military & Veterans

• Weightlifter Tommy Kono Wins World Title in Warsaw, by Richard Akagi, page 6. Hawaii weightlifter Tommy Kono won the 165-pound championship at the World Weightlifting Championships in Warsaw, his twelfth world title. The article describes his experience competing against Russian lifters and his impressions of Polish people and rebuilding Warsaw.

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