Chapter installations and civil rights in Washington, 1957

Vol. 44, No. 7, February 15, 1957. 8 pages. View this issue

Chapter life filled this eight-page issue. National JACL president Dr. Roy Nishikawa praised the strong delegate turnout at the Northern California-Western Nevada District Council and urged other districts to match it. Installation dinners were reported from Detroit, Redwood City, Orange County and Boise Valley, and Tats Kushida and Harry K. Honda wrote about the chapter clinic and visits around Southern California. Mike Masaoka reported from Washington on the civil rights bills in Congress, and three district councils pledged support for a state Fair Employment Practices bill.

Bill Hosokawa wrote about Iva Toguri d’Aquino, convicted as Tokyo Rose, and Larry S. Tajiri profiled Miiko Taka, cast opposite Marlon Brando in Sayonara. Other items covered Justice Department visits on evacuation claims, a Honolulu ruling on Nisei stranded in Japan, and a clothing collection for Hungarian refugees in Ontario, Oregon.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

  • Enthusiasm, interest of NC-WNDC inspiring, by Dr. Roy Nishikawa, page 1. The national JACL president praises the strong delegate turnout and enthusiasm of the Northern California-Western Nevada District Council. He urges the Pacific Southwest and other districts to build similar chapter support for their meetings.
  • The disgraced sister, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa argues that the Nisei should stop avoiding the name of Iva Toguri d’Aquino, convicted as Tokyo Rose. He draws on William Reuben’s Frontier article to question the basis of her treason conviction and urges support for her cause.
  • Freeway Frolics, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. Editor Harry Honda recounts a weekend of chapter visits across Southern California by freeway and reflects on the growth of the freeway system. He notes costs and planned routes that could ease future regional travel for JACL officers.
  • In Search of Officers, by Elmer Ogawa, page 6. Seattle columnist Elmer Ogawa observes that Seattle JACL leadership draws from a small group of established members and argues for broader recruitment. He notes low meeting attendance and the burden placed on a few willing workers.
  • Civil Rights Battle, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Washington representative Mike Masaoka reports that congressional civil rights legislation has bipartisan momentum but faces delays from Southern opponents. He outlines the procedural hurdles in the House and Senate committees and the threat of filibuster.

Military & Veterans

  • Dr. Rusch decorated at Embassy for promoting Japanese American friendship, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Paul F. Rusch, former director of the Kiyosato Educational Experiment Project, received Japan’s Order of the Sacred Treasure, third class, at the Japanese Embassy in Washington. The honor recognizes his lifelong efforts to promote Japanese-American relations.

Community

  • Fred K. Dobana elected Stockton Nisei Veterans Club leader, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Fred K. Dobana was elected president of the Stockton Nisei Veterans Club. The club will hold a membership dinner on Feb. 16.
  • No. Calif. campaign for AMI launched, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Japanese American committee in Northern California has been organized to raise funds for the American Museum of Immigration. A mail solicitation with a $5,000 goal is planned for completion by the end of March.
  • CCDC in special meeting to study quota allocation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Central California District Council will hold a special meeting at Parlier on Feb. 27 to study reallocation of JACL financial quotas. Dr. James Nagatani was appointed to chair the budget study.
  • St. Louis JACL to push gigantic fall festival, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The St. Louis JACL is considering a large Japanese festival in the fall to introduce Nisei culture to the community. Dan Sakahara, the new chapter president, said the goal is to gain further recognition in Greater St. Louis.
  • Fresno Institute head, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Fresno real estate and insurance man was elected president of the Fresno International Institute at its annual dinner meeting. The election took place at Edison High School.
  • Sumitomo Bank reports satisfactory progress, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Sumitomo Bank of California reported satisfactory progress in its fourth annual stockholder report, with gross profit of $153,856. The board deferred declaring a dividend.
  • Southwest L.A. JACL plans Girl’s Day program, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Southwest L.A. JACL will host a Girl’s Day cultural program featuring displays and folk dancing by 11 sponsoring groups. Councilman Edward Roybal will speak at the event.
  • Tokuzo Gordon, Noby Yamakoshi awarded Brotherhood Awards in Chicago, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Chicago community leaders Harold R. Gordon and Noby Yamakoshi were among 20 recipients of the 1957 James M. Yard Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Gordon was honored for his JACL legal work and Yamakoshi for neighborhood goodwill efforts.
  • Japan dress designer scores in national magazine, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Kanazawa dress designer Reiko Kutsuki gained national recognition in New York sportswear, earning a two-page color spread in Look magazine. The article hailed her as a Japanese designer who has gone American.
  • Cal-Neva CU declares dividend, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Cal-Neva JACL Credit Union announced about $17,000 available for member loans and approved a three percent dividend at its annual meeting. New board and committee members were elected.
  • Eugene Matsusaka named to children’s post in Tacoma, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Eugene Matsusaka of Seattle was appointed executive secretary of the Tacoma Catholic Children’s Services. He had previously served on the agency’s Seattle staff after graduate study in social work.
  • Sou’wester, by Tats Kushida, page 4. Pacific Southwest regional director Tats Kushida reports on recent chapter installations in East L.A., Venice-Culver, Orange County, and Coachella Valley. He also summarizes the PSWDC chapter clinic held at Shonien.
  • Importance of neighborhood contact stressed by member-judge to Detroit JACLers, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Circuit Court Judge Theodore R. Bohn told the Detroit JACL installation dinner that neighborhood contact is the root of American democracy. He urged Nisei to practice good citizenship at the community level.
  • Police chief installs Sequoia C.L. cabinet, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Redwood City Police Chief William Faulstitch installed the 1957 Sequoia JACL board at the chapter’s sixth annual banquet. Joe Grant Masaoka spoke on JACL history and the newly naturalized Issei were honored.
  • Orange County head lauds JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Harry Matsukane was installed as Orange County JACL president at the chapter’s dinner-dance at Disneyland Hotel. Olympic diving champion Dr. Sammy Lee praised JACL as the most active Oriental American group in the nation.
  • Survey on negative reply to JACL membership undertaken by Berkeley, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Berkeley JACL launched a membership drive and simultaneously surveyed Nisei and Issei who have declined to join. The results are expected to guide new chapter policies and programs.
  • Salt Lake chapter ending membership drive, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Salt Lake JACL outlined upcoming events including a dinner honoring newly naturalized Issei and a victory dance to close its membership drive. Nearly 300 members have signed up, matching the 1956 total.
  • Alameda chapter opens membership drive, Jr. JACL to be formed, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Alameda JACL began a membership drive aiming for 200 members by the end of February. Plans also include forming a Jr. JACL group and a benefit movie program.
  • Stockton JACL president to be installed, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Lou Tsunekawa and the Stockton JACL cabinet will be installed at a dinner on Feb. 23 at the Clark Hotel. Local civic dignitaries and entertainers are scheduled to attend.
  • Selma hosts first CCDC quarterly meet, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Central California District Council held its first quarterly meeting at Selma with national director Mas Satow reporting on the state FEP conference. Kenji Tashiro urged chapters to increase 1000 Club membership by 15 percent.
  • Harry Hamada president of Boise Valley chapter, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Boise Valley JACL installed Harry Hamada as president and a full slate of officers at a dance in Caldwell. Intermountain District Council chairman George Sugai administered the oath.
  • Boise Valley chapter sets 1957 program, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Boise Valley JACL outlined its 1957 calendar of events, including a welcome social, snow trip, general meeting, picnic, voter registration drive, and Parents Night. Committee chairs were appointed for each event.
  • Parlier Auxiliary plans visit of old folks homes, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Parlier JACL Auxiliary decided to visit the Kofu Rest Home in Fresno and the Asoka Rest Home in Fowler. A guest demonstrated how enchiladas and tacos are made at the monthly meeting.
  • Fish club awards, by P.C. Staff, page 6. James Kozuki succeeded John Kashiki as president of the Parlier Fishing Club. Prizes were awarded for the largest striped bass and trout caught during the club’s season.
  • Philadelphia CL-er directs judo meet, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Dr. Eichi Koiwai, a Philadelphia JACL board member, directed an AAU judo tournament at the Central YMCA last month. He also serves as judo instructor and AAU judo commissioner.
  • Two Gardenans promoted, by Henry Mori, page 7. Dr. M. M. Horii was named to head the Gardena YMCA board and Taul Watanabe was elected chairman of the Gardena City Planning Commission. Both are active leaders in the Gardena Japanese American community.
  • Look, Kenneth, your picture!, by Henry Mori, page 7. County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn spoke at the PSWDC chapter clinic banquet and recalled working with Frank Chuman and Mas Satow in earlier years. He stressed his support for Fair Employment Practices legislation.
  • East L.A. chapter of year, by Henry Mori, page 7. The East Los Angeles JACL was named Chapter of the Year for 1956 and won the George Inagaki Perpetual Plaque. The chapter also accepted sponsorship of the PSWDC biennial convention in May.
  • State Dept. seeks Nisei as escort-interpreters, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The State Department will interview candidates for Japanese-language escort-interpreter positions in Los Angeles until Feb. 21. Positions pay a daily contract rate with government-paid transportation and meals.
  • Nisei engineer awarded $500 for Hotpoint device, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Fred Sawada, a Hotpoint electronic project engineer, received a $500 managerial award for developing a temperature control device for commercial cooking. The former Milwaukee JACLer also lectures and publishes in his field.
  • Snake River JACL amasses 2,200 lbs. of clothing for Hungarian refugees, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Snake River Valley JACL collected about 2,288 pounds of clothing for Hungarian refugees as part of a 215-ton community shipment in Ontario, Oregon. Collection teams were captained by local members.
  • Oregon friends of Nisei to be cited at PNWDC dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 8. E. B. McNaughton and Monroe Sweetland will be honored at the Pacific Northwest District Council dinner in Portland on Feb. 24. The dinner will also install 1957 officers of the Gresham-Troutdale and Portland chapters.

National

  • Justice Dep’t officials to visit West Coast to investigate claims, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Two Justice Department officials will meet with evacuation claims attorneys in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle in February. The JACL Washington office welcomed the visits as a step toward expediting the claims and renunciant programs.
  • Three California JACL district councils back Fair Employment bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Northern California, Central California and Pacific Southwest district councils pledged support for a state Fair Employment Practices bill. The measure was introduced by Assemblyman Augustus F. Hawkins and 40 other assemblymen.
  • Gruenther denied D.C. house, refused to sign covenant, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther, newly elected head of the American Red Cross, was denied purchase of a Washington home after refusing to sign a racial covenant barring resale to Jews, Negroes and Asiatics. The sale was halted on grounds of a corporate purchase policy, though observers said the covenant was the real issue.
  • JACL submits statement on civil rights legislation, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The JACL submitted a statement to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights supporting civil rights legislation. No JACL official testified in person, and the organization joined 48 others in a coalition statement.
  • Wyoming Senate acts on civil rights and intermarriage bills, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Wyoming state senate passed a civil rights bill 18-9 and then approved a motion to reconsider a measure repealing a 1913 law banning intermarriage of Caucasians and Negroes. The vote on repeal was ultimately passed 17-10.
  • Judge rules Nisei stranded in Japan may file citizenship suits, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Federal Judge Jon Wiig of Honolulu ruled that the McCarran-Walter Act does not bar Nisei who made citizenship claims at American consulates in Japan before 1952 from filing court suits. The decision is expected to affect many Nisei still in Japan.
  • Nat’l JCCA cancels emergency meeting; Ontario designated national headquarters, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Japanese Canadian Citizens Association canceled its February emergency conference due to lack of unanimity among provincial groups. The Ontario JCCA was designated to handle national headquarters functions for 1957-59.
  • Slayer sought in death of L.A. Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Police are seeking the attacker or attackers who fatally beat George Yoshiro Kano, a Los Angeles restaurant proprietor, in an apparent robbery on Feb. 4. Kano died at General Hospital without regaining consciousness.

Obituaries

  • Rev. Kano retires from active ministry among Japanese in Nebraska, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Rev. Hiram H. Kano retired from his Episcopal ministry among Nebraska Japanese Americans after 37 years, and his Japanese mission was merged into an English-speaking church. He helped Issei with citizenship instruction and his work there has been completed.
  • Indiana farmer dies, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Yoshigi K. Ikeda, 41, of Knox, Indiana, died after a November 1956 accident in which his tractor was struck from behind by a car. He was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and his brother Giichi is a Chicago JACL member.

Arts & Entertainment

  • Miiko: Cinderella girl, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Miiko Taka, a Los Angeles Nisei travel agency clerk, was cast opposite Marlon Brando in Warner Bros.’ film Sayonara after a chance studio test. Tajiri notes she is the first Nisei lead in a major American film since the days of Toshia Mori and Pearl Suetomi.

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