Nisei of the Biennium and the road to the Salt Lake City convention

Vol. 46, No. 19, May 9, 1958. 8 pages. View this issue

Preparations for the JACL’s 15th Biennial National Convention in Salt Lake City ran through this eight-page issue. Nominations opened for Nisei of the Biennium, who receives a gold medallion, with an August 19 deadline. Congressman Dalip Singh Saund accepted an invitation to speak at the August 25 banquet. National President Dr. Roy Nishikawa and Mas Satow planned a week of visits to Eastern District Council chapters. Mike Masaoka wrote about the choosing of unknown soldiers for Arlington and the chance that one could be a Nisei.

Elsewhere, Larry S. Tojiri covered Miyoshi Umeki’s Academy Award for Sayonara and the Nisei drawn to the stage by Teahouse of the August Moon. Tamotsu Murayama’s Tokyo Topics described Nisei helping families in need. The House Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to liberalize registry provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. A reunion of Nisei veterans was announced for the 15th anniversary of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Nominations Open for Eastern YBL Meet Slated for Chicago, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Eastern Young Buddhist League Convention will convene in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend with the Asoka Society and Bussei group as hosts. The convention theme is Buddhism in Action, with a banquet, bowling tournament, and picnic planned.
• Marsha Nakawatase Wins Bank of America Prize, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Edison High School student Marsha Nakawatase was one of four zone-final winners in the Bank of America achievement award program. She will compete in the Northern California final in Sacramento.
• Clovis Japanese Community Float Wins Sweepstakes, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Clovis Japanese community float won sweepstakes at the Clovis Rodeo on April 26 with a Westward Ho theme. The float drew one of the largest crowds in the event’s history.
• Name Nisei Week Queen Chairman, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kazuko Nagao has been named chairman of the Nisei Week Queen Committee for this year. Candidates from various Los Angeles area communities are being lined up for the queen competition.
• Kyoto University President to Schedule U.S. Visit, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. Raymond Kakuichi Oshimo, president of Doshisha University in Kyoto, arrived in Honolulu and planned a U.S. visit. He is a Hawaii-born educator who earned degrees from the University of Chicago.
• Western Young Adult Buddhist League Announces Recognition Awards, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Rev. Kyogoku Recognition Award Committee announced its 1957 award winners, including Judy Ishihara, Yutaka Yamamoto, and Mrs. Jitsuko Minami. Each received a plaque and a set of Buddhist books.
• West Los Angeles JACL Auxiliary Plans Charter Installation, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The West Los Angeles JACL Auxiliary planned its charter installation dinner for May 19. Guest speaker at the recent meeting was Mrs. Rex Wray.
• Hollywood Chapter Discusses Japan-America Issue, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Hollywood JACL chapter will discuss JACL’s future role in Japan-America relations with National Director Mas Satow. The informal meeting is open to all interested persons.
• DAR Awards Best Children’s Film to Escapade in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Daughters of the American Revolution gave its Best Children’s Film award to Escapade in Japan, filmed in Japan by Universal-International. The film stars Jon Provost and Roger Nakagawa.
• 10,000 Methodist Women Attend Fifth Assembly, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mrs. James Masuda of Livingston and Sachi Kajiwara of Oakland attended the Fifth Assembly of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service in St. Louis. Mrs. Masuda is a retiring vice-president of the Nisei WSCS.
• Univ. of Washington Professor Receives Fulbright Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. John M. Maki, professor of Japan labor and politics at the University of Washington, will go to Tokyo University on a Fulbright Scholarship next fall. He will conduct research in Japanese political science.
• Nisei Wins Essay Contest, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Barbara Sakaguchi of Fremont High won first place in the Sunnyvale American Legion Auxiliary essay contest on Americanism. The contest was reported by the Cupertino Courier.
• Pointing Southwestward, by Fred Takata, page 4. Takata reports on the PSWDC quarterly meeting held at Pismo Beach, including discussions on National JACL constitution and policies. The meeting also featured a resolution honoring former regional director Tats Kushida.
• Mrs. Charles Fisher, Friend of Nisei, Passes, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Mrs. Charles E. Fisher of Auburn, Washington died suddenly of a heart attack at age 73. She was the widow of a pioneer landowner who befriended Japanese farmers in the White River Valley.
• Large Crowd Attends Floral Headdress Ball, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Las Floritas Floral Headdress Ball in Los Angeles drew more than 1,000 attendees and displayed about $50,000 in flowers. Art Ito, a Hollywood JACL leader, won the judges award for his table center piece.
• Three Fresno Nisei Candidates for School Trustee, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Three Nisei candidates, Harry Hiraoka, Robert Kanagawa, and Sumio Hoshiko, are running unopposed for Fresno County school trustee posts. Their elections are assured for the May 20 school district election.
• Saibara and Floral Arrangement at Webster School, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Mrs. K. Saibara, a Japanese flower arrangement teacher, presented a demonstration at Clear Creek Junior High near Houston. Mr. Saibara, a rice grower, was called The Texas Rice King in Japan.
• Sanio High Senior Accepted at MIT, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Conrad Kiyoshi Kumata, a San Jose High senior, was accepted to MIT and offered scholarships from Stanford and Pomona College. He plans to study chemical engineering.
• Twenty-Seven Nisei Among Honor Students, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Twenty-seven Nisei students were among 84 pupils earning top marks at John C. Fremont elementary school in Fowler during the third quarter. The list includes students from grades four through eight.
• Miss National JACL Chosen as Junior-Senior Prom Princess, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Margaret Itami, 1958 Miss National JACL, was a princess at the Ontario, Oregon Junior-Senior Prom. The theme was Oriental.
• S.F. JACL Auxiliary Visits Laguna Honda Home, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The San Francisco JACL Women’s Auxiliary visited Issei residents at Laguna Honda Home with gifts of flowers, food, and toilet articles. The group plans another visit in November.
• Stolen Ceremonial Swords Recovered in Denver, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Seven Japanese ceremonial swords stolen from Dr. Konai Miyamoto’s Denver home were recovered from a Colfax Avenue pawnshop. Police are searching for the two men who pawned them.
• Shonien Licensed for 24-Hour Care Program, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The California Department of Social Welfare licensed the Shonien Child Welfare Center to open a 24-hour group care program for children. The program will initially serve up to 12 children.
• Japanese Researchers Visit U.S. Scientific Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Four Japanese researchers, including a high school student and their teacher, traveled to Flint, Michigan for a scientific conference. They presented findings on fish anatomy and amylase in saliva.
• Spelling Bee Finalists from San Jose, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Judy Osaki and Judy Niizawa competed in the Santa Clara County spelling bee finals as champions of their schools but were eliminated before the final round.
• Japanese American Medical Association Honors Issei Doctors, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Three pioneer Issei doctors, Dr. Kiyoshide Nakaki, Dr. Daishiro Kuroiwa, and Dr. Rensuke Akimeto, were honored at the JAMA spring banquet. Each has practiced medicine for more than 50 years.
• West Los Angeles JACL Plans Benefit Carnival, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The West Los Angeles JACL will hold a benefit carnival June 27-28 to raise funds for convention delegates and chapter activities. The grand prize is a Grundig Hi-Fi system.
• AJA Medical Group to Hold Spring Banquet, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Japanese American Medical Association will hold its annual spring banquet on May 17 at the Statler Hotel. Honored guests include Consul General Shigeru Nakamura and Dr. Stafford Warren.
• San Diego Buddhists Stage Benefit Bazaar, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The San Diego Buddhist Church will hold its annual benefit bazaar with food, games, and prizes. Net proceeds go to the Building Improvement Fund.
• UC Japanese Alumnae Association Elects Dr. Togasaki President, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Dr. Yoshiye Togasaki was elected president of the UC Japanese Alumnae Association, which discussed the future of its North Gate Dormitory. The group is compiling a list of UC women graduates of Japanese ancestry.

JACL

• Nominations Open for Nisei of the Biennium, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL will honor five Nisei at the Salt Lake City Convention in August, with one named Nisei of the Biennium receiving a gold medallion. Nomination forms are available from chapter presidents, with an August 19 deadline.
• Calif. Solon Saund to Be National Convention Speaker, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Congressman Dalip Singh Saund has accepted an invitation to speak at the 15th Biennial JACL National Convention Banquet on August 25. He is the first naturalized Asian-born person elected to Congress.
• Nat’l President Nishikawa and Mas Satow to Visit EDC Chapters, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL President Dr. Roy Nishikawa and Mas Satow will visit Eastern District Council chapters the week of May 24 to discuss national policies and the upcoming Salt Lake City convention. Their itinerary includes Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York, and Cleveland.

National

• House Committee Bill to Liberalize I&N Act Registry Provisions, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House Judiciary Committee advanced a bill by Congressman Francis Walter to liberalize registry provisions of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. The bill would move the eligibility cutoff date from July 1, 1924 to June 28, 1940 and remove the not-subject-to-deportation requirement.

Commentary

• Tokyo Topics, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. Murayama describes Nisei in Tokyo rallying to help the widow of the late Buddy Uno and other families in need during a tough economic period. He highlights Roy Ozaki, John Fujii, and Peter Takahashi among those extending help.

Arts & Entertainment

• Oscar Pays Dividends, by Larry S. Tojiri, page 3. Miyoshi Umeki’s Academy Award for Sayonara has brought her new agents, TV appearances, and a booking at the Blue Angel in New York. She may also be considered for the film version of The World of Suzie Wong.
• Teahouse of the August Moon Brings Nisei to the Stage, by Larry S. Tojiri, page 3. Teahouse of the August Moon has drawn many Nisei and Japanese performers to stage work, including in college productions. Michi Kobi discusses her long climb as a Nisei actress.
• The Barbarian and the Geisha Nears Release, by Larry S. Tojiri, page 3. 20th Century Fox’s film The Barbarian and the Geisha, directed by John Huston and starring John Wayne, tells the story of Townsend Harris and the geisha Okichi. The film is scheduled for a July 4 release.

Military & Veterans

• Reunion of All Nisei Veterans in Conjunction with 15th Anniversary of 442nd RCT, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A reunion of Nisei veterans of the European, Pacific, and Korean conflicts was announced in conjunction with the 15th anniversary of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Details of the event were included in the notice.
• Unknown Soldier: Nisei Among Candidates for Honor, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka describes the selection process for unknown soldiers from World War II and Korea to be interred at Arlington, noting the possibility one could be a Nisei war hero. He calls on Japanese Americans to honor Nisei war dead on Memorial Day.

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