A fabricated letter, a stalled marriage case and new Issei citizens

Vol. 42, No. 11, March 16, 1956. 8 pages. View this issue

A letter attributed to Lincoln Yamamoto and printed by Newsweek set off much of the news in this eight-page issue. Newsweek’s mail to Pasadena came back undeliverable, Rep. James Roosevelt rebuked the magazine, and Nisei Legionnaires called its reply inadequate. Larry S. Tajiri argued in his column that the letter was a deliberate fabrication. On page one, the U.S. Supreme Court declined for a second time to take up the Ham Say Naim interracial marriage case, in which the JACL had joined other parties seeking review, and an editorial separated prejudice from discrimination.

Elsewhere, Stockton and Los Angeles honored newly naturalized Issei, with Mas Satow and Judge John Aiso among the speakers. Mike Masaoka wrote on immigration proposals and Harry K. Honda and Henry Mori contributed columns. Sports covered Tommy Kono’s two weightlifting records and Nisei jockey George Taniguchi’s win at Santa Anita. A page-eight story reported that Iva Toguri D’Aquino faced a deportation choice.

What’s in this issue

National

• Supreme Court Puts Off Ham Say Naim Case, Refused Second Time, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to reconsider the Ham Say Naim interracial marriage case from Virginia, finding the record devoid of federal question. The JACL had joined other interested parties in seeking review, citing discrimination against Nisei GIs’ Japanese and European war brides.
• California Congressman Roosevelt Rebukes Newsweek for ‘Linc’ Letter, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. James Roosevelt forwarded a Southwest Los Angeles JACL letter protesting Newsweek’s publication of the Lincoln Yamamoto letter. He said he was shocked the magazine did not check the letter’s authorship before publishing it.
• Nisei Legionnaires Still Dissatisfied with Newsweek Reply, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Townsend Harris American Legion Post 438 rejected Newsweek’s apology over the Lincoln Yamamoto letter as inadequate. The post demanded a full retraction and cited Senator Kuchel’s Senate defense of Nisei loyalty.
• Tokyo Rose Handed Deportation Choice, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Justice Department notified Iva Toguri D’Aquino she must leave the United States voluntarily by April 13, 1956, or face a deportation hearing. The case raises the unprecedented question of whether a natural-born American can be deported.

Commentary

• Prejudice and Discrimination, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The editorial distinguishes prejudice, a state of mind, from discrimination, a positive act that law can address. It argues Nisei should empathize with those refused service in public accommodations and supports legislation to end such discrimination.
• Warped Minds at Work, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri argues the Lincoln Yamamoto letter was a deliberate fabrication meant to malign Japanese Americans, and links it to letters sent by a ‘Nisei for Kawakita’ committee. He notes that organized anti-Japanese racism has disappeared but warns of a renewed white supremacist movement against other minorities.
• White Supremacy Renascence, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri describes the rapid growth of white citizens councils in the South following the Supreme Court school integration decision. He warns that these groups threaten Nisei and other non-Caucasians accepted in the South.
• Advertising Booms, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Honda explains why a columnist was absent this week because of heavy advertising, and why the paper avoids 12-page editions due to mailing limits. He also notes the JACL’s book and document holdings in the Los Angeles Public Library.
• Los Angeles Newsletter: Changing Perspectives, by Henry Mori, page 5. Mori previews the 1956 JACL convention Changing Perspectives in San Francisco, including the Miss National JACL queen contest and social events. He notes committee leaders and the upcoming fun events for conventioneers.
• Washington Newsletter: Immigration Program, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka analyzes the President’s immigration proposals, which would raise Japan’s annual quota from 185 to 563 and create an Asian pool. He is pessimistic about passage this session because of uncertainty over Senate Judiciary Committee leadership.

Community

• Issei Citizens Honored at Stockton Installation Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Stockton JACL installed its new cabinet under Richard Yoshikawa and honored recently naturalized Issei citizens. National JACL Director Mas Satow urged new citizens that democracy requires active participation.
• ‘Address Unknown’ Pasadena Returns Mail to Sender: Newsweek, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A letter addressed to Lincoln Yamamoto and sent to Pasadena by Newsweek was returned as undeliverable by the local post office. The Pasadena JACL reported the failed attempt to trace the author of the controversial letter.
• Slur Against Japanese Americans in Radio Broadcast Reported by JACLer, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hoagy Carmichael made a derogatory remark about ‘Japs’ doing gardening during a CBS radio interview. JACL representative Ina Sugihara Jones wrote to host Mitch Miller cautioning against such ethnic slurs.
• Dave Tatsuno Appointed to National YMCA Council, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dave Tatsuno, a 30-year YMCA worker and former director of the Japanese YMCA in San Francisco, was elected to a three-year term on the YMCA national council. He is one of 30 members of the Pacific Southwest district council.
• ‘No Spectators in Democracy-Each of Us Must Help Make It Work,’ Issei Told, by P.C. Staff, page 1. At a Stockton JACL installation dinner attended by about 100 people, National JACL Director Mas Satow told newly naturalized citizens that democracy requires participation. Officers and guests were honored at the event.
• Issei Citizens Jam Hall to Hear Talk on Voting, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Downtown Los Angeles JACL and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce honored some 200 recently naturalized Issei at a voters’ registration dinner. Judge John Aiso and others spoke on party choices, and over 50 were registered to vote.
• Students Post Record Hard to Beat at Election, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Two Nisei freshmen at Omaha Central High School were elected to student office. Akiye Watanabe joined the student council and Natchi Matsunami became freshman class president.
• Omaha CL Installs Cabinet for 2-Yrs., by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Omaha JACL installed Manuel Matsunami and his cabinet for a two-year term at a February ceremony attended by 125 people. Nebraska Chief Justice Robert G. Simmons was the main speaker.
• Parlier Community Picnic Scheduled for Mar. 25, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Parlier JACL will hold its annual community picnic at Kearney Park on March 25, with an April 8 alternate date. Chapter president Ralph Kimoto announced the committee assignments.
• Nat’l Convention Fashion Committeemen Announced, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The San Francisco JACL Auxiliary announced subcommittee assignments for the fashion show at the 14th biennial JACL convention. The show will be held September 1 in the Sheraton-Palace Hotel Gold Room.
• Mt. Olympus Fete Issei, Over 175 in Attendance, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Mt. Olympus JACL held its annual Issei Appreciation Night with a smorgasbord dinner attended by over 175 people. Kay Terashima spoke on the pioneering Issei.
• Foothill Crest Model Home Open House, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Pauline Hayakawa hosted visitors at the opening of a model home in the Foothill Crest tract near Hansen Dam in San Fernando Valley. Several Japanese American families have long lived in the area.
• Minnesota Historical Society Given Records of Issei-Nisei Resettlement, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Records documenting Twin City Japanese American resettlement were presented to the Minnesota Historical Society in March. The Japanese American Community Center assembled materials on housing, employment, and naturalization.

Sports

• USC Nisei Ends Varsity Play, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Dick Nagai fouled out of his final varsity game as USC lost to UCLA 97-84. Kaz Shinzato, a Nisei freshman, finished the season averaging 21.3 points per game.
• Tanigushi Rides Bobby Brocato to San Juan Capistrano Handicap Win, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Nisei jockey George Taniguchi rode Bobby Brocato to victory in the $100,000 added San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita. Taniguchi was the only Nisei jockey to reach big-time thoroughbred racing.
• Tommy Kono Breaks Two World Weightlifting Records, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Tommy Kono broke two lightheavyweight world records at the Hawaiian AAU open weightlifting championships. He set a total lift of 997.5 pounds, surpassing his previous record.

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