Women’s auxiliaries, evacuation claims and the JACL Olympics

Vol. 44, No. 22, May 31, 1957. 8 pages. View this issue

Women in the JACL were the subject of the front-page column by national director Mas Satow, who praised the leadership of chapter auxiliaries and asked them to send in reports of their work. The same page covered Reedley’s win at the fifth annual San Francisco JACL Olympics, reported by Harry Honda, and two matters before Washington: a House-passed appropriation of $1,654,158.93 to pay evacuation claims awards, and JACL’s call for renunciants to file Form N-576. Bill Hosokawa shared the conclusion of a term paper on the evacuation written by 16-year-old Judy Nomura.

Other pages carried Larry S. Tajiri on anti-Nisei films, Mike Masaoka on the cost of discrimination, and Henry Mori’s Los Angeles newsletter. Chapter news came from Placer County, which dedicated a flagpole and monument to the late Tom Yego, Detroit, Stockton, Berkeley and Long Beach. Sports and arts briefs include jazz drummer Paul Togawa’s planned LP and a bar exam notice for two Nisei.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• This column is ‘for women only’, by Mas Satow, page 1. JACL National Director Mas Satow reflects on his travels meeting women across chapters and praises their leadership and contributions to the organization. He asks auxiliaries to submit narrative reports of their activities for a continuing project.
• Sansei’s Conclusion, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa shares the conclusion of a 60-page term paper on the evacuation by 16-year-old Sansei Judy Nomura, who calls the evacuation unjust yet a blessing in disguise. He reflects on the Sansei’s growing interest in their heritage.
• Fewer Anti-Nisei Films, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri discusses wartime Hollywood films that spread Nisei treachery fiction and the JACL’s campaign to stop television stations from rebroadcasting them. He also traces how the industry’s attitude toward Nisei improved after V-J day.
• National Director’s Report, by Masao Satow, page 4. Satow welcomes Fred Takata as Southern California regional director, succeeding Tats Kushida, and reflects on Tom Yego’s memorial dedication. He also remembers Issei leader Masuo Yasui of Portland.
• Very Truly Yours: Up to Kezar for a Suntan, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Honda reflects on the fifth annual San Francisco JACL Olympics, praising its sportsmanship and its role in revitalizing the Jr. JACL program. He argues the event fosters a sense of obligation among Sansei to continue the tradition.
• Frying Pan: Los Angeles Newsletter, by Henry Mori, page 7. Henry Mori reports on Frank Omatsu’s installation as commander of Commodore Perry Post 525 of the American Legion and other local organization installations. He also comments on Judge John F. Aiso’s opposition to a uniform traffic bail schedule.
• Washington Newsletter: High Cost of Discrimination, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka summarizes a Chicago psychologists’ report on the psychological damage of segregation and argues its conclusions apply equally to discrimination against Japanese Americans. He stresses that segregation harms the entire community.

Sports

• Reedley Cops JACL Olympics Championship, by Harry Honda, page 1. Reedley won the perpetual trophy at the fifth annual San Francisco JACL Olympics at Kezar Stadium, with ten records broken and one tied. Sacramento took the class Bee and Cee titles, while Ed Hayashi and Bobby Kameoka were the day’s leading scorers.
• Babe Ruth League, page 6. Joe Katano is managing the Delano JACL-Doshi Kai sponsored team in the local Babe Ruth League, which opened its season this week. The team plays at the high school diamond.
• Nisei Pitches to Seattle Prep Crown, page 6. Dick Hayatsu of O’Dea High helped secure the Northwest Catholic Association baseball title with a two-run triple and a single in a 12-3 win over Seattle Prep. The game was played May 18.
• Boise Shot Putter Breaks Meet Record, page 6. George Naukana of Boise Junior College broke the Eastern Oregon Invitational shot put record with a 47 ft. 2 1/2 in. heave. He has remained unbeaten in shot put competition this season.

Military & Veterans

• Boise Valley CLer Wins Highest Boy Scout Award: Silver Beaver, page 1. Active JACLer Yoshio Takahashi of the Boise Valley Chapter received the Silver Beaver Award, the highest individual honor in Boy Scouts for long voluntary service. He is believed to be the third Japanese American so honored in the country.
• Two Nisei Pass Calif. State Bar Examinations, page 8. Kazuo Watanabe of San Francisco and Toshiro Hiraide of West Los Angeles were among 312 persons who passed the spring California bar examinations. They must complete other requirements before admission.

Community

• YWCA Director Who Befriended Japanese in Salt Lake During War Years to Retire, page 1. The Salt Lake JACL dedicated flowering cherry trees in honor of Florence Pierce, YWCA executive director, who kept the doors open to Nisei during the war. The ceremony expressed the community’s gratitude to a retiring Christian leader.
• Placer Co’ty JACL Dedicates Memorial, Flagpole for Yego, page 1. The Placer JACL dedicated a memorial flagpole and monument honoring the late Tom Yego, a co-founder and former first vice president of National JACL. Speakers included Judge Lowell Sparks and JACL Director Masao Satow.
• Sacramento to Honor Issei Citizens at Picnic, page 1. About 300 naturalized Issei citizens will be honored at a June 2 Sacramento community picnic at Elk Grove Park. The JACL-sponsored event receives support from other organizations.
• OC JAY Girl Wins School Prexy Post, page 3. Mary Helen Fukuda, a sixteen-year-old Sansei, was elected the first Sansei student body president of Valencia Union High School. Her many activities include California Scholarship Federation leadership and selection for Girls State.
• Nisei Leads in School Post Election Tally, page 3. Sherman Kishi led four candidates in the May 14 Livingston elementary school board election. He will serve as trustee alongside holdover member Mamoru Masuda.
• Southland’s SOS Door-to-Door Canvass, page 3. Over 700 volunteers from 47 organizations will canvass greater Los Angeles for the Shonien Fund drive beginning Sunday. The campaign aims to raise the balance of a $50,000 fund for Shonien’s new child welfare agency.
• Acrobatic Dancer, page 3. Ten-year-old Cathy Okamura of Turlock competed in the Valley Varieties talent finals on Sacramento TV station KBIN. She specializes in acrobatic dancing.
• Sonoma County JACL Bowling Title Decided by One Pin in Championship Roll-off, page 4. Pisenti Motors of Petaluma won the Sonoma County JACL Trio Bowling League championship by a single pin over Empire Drug of Santa Rosa. Individual awards and new officers will be installed at a June 1 dinner.
• Berkeley CLers Hear City Planning Talk, page 4. City Councilman Jack Kent spoke about future development plans for Berkeley and the Bay Area at a local JACL potluck supper. The event featured Japanese food prepared by a committee led by Nobu Uratsu.
• Visit Home of House Beautiful Party Editor, page 4. Seventy-five members and guests of the Monterey Peninsula JACL Auxiliary toured the Carmel Valley home of Virginia Stanton, party editor of House Beautiful, and heard a talk on table arrangements. The tea was organized by Auxiliary co-presidents.
• All-Day Drizzle Fails to Dampen Detroit CLers, page 4. About 150 people attended the Detroit JACL Spring Dance at St. Andrews Society hall on May 18, with music by Erich von Wein’s orchestra. Dance contest winners and committee members were recognized.
• Lion Club Prexy, page 4. George Shanz Kashiwagi was elected president of the First Hill Lions club in Seattle, succeeding Toru Sakahara. Both men are former JACL chapter presidents.
• Long Beach C.L. Plans Fete for Grads 1000-ers, page 5. The Long Beach-Harbor JACL will host a 1000 Club luau on June 9 in Santa Ana for members and prospective members. The chapter also plans a June 15 graduation dance for local graduates.
• 180 Attend Mother’s Day Festivities, page 5. The Detroit JACL and Teen Club held a Mother’s Day program on May 12 that drew 180 attendees with music, skits, and games. The event was described as highly successful.
• Stockton Holds Reception for Temporary Farm Labor, page 5. The Stockton JACL held a program and reception for young Japanese farmers working temporarily in Delta farms. The event was held at San Joaquin Pioneer Museum and Haggin Art galleries in cooperation with the World Affairs Council.
• Long Beach Chapter Scholarship Winners Announced, page 7. Yosh Morimoto of Placer Union High School was selected as the boy winner of the Placer County JACL scholarships, with Eugenia Freer of Roseville as the girl winner. Each received a $50 award.
• Denver Pioneer Gets Japan Decoration, page 8. Dr. Konai Miyamoto, a pioneer Colorado Japanese dentist, received the Fifth Order of the Sacred Treasure from the Japanese government. The honor recognized his wartime efforts protecting Japanese aliens’ property and assisting revision of U.S. immigration law.

National

• Renunciants Urged to File Form N-576 as Soon as Possible to Secure Administrative Review of Validity of Own Action, page 1. The Washington JACL office reports that Nisei renunciants may file Form N-576 to seek administrative review of their wartime renunciation. JACL urges all renunciants to use this procedure while noting the continuing legal disabilities they face.
• House Approves Supplemental Appropriations Bill to Pay 1,300 Claimants Over $1,600,000 by Summer, page 1. The House passed a supplemental appropriations bill including $1,654,158.93 to pay evacuation claims awards, now pending before the Senate Appropriations Committee. JACL and COJAEC urged immediate approval so claimants can be paid this summer.
• Hawkins Fair Employment Bill Tabled by Senate Labor Committee, page 3. The Senate Labor Committee voted 4-2 against reporting the fair employment bill, prompting NAACP spokesman Lester Bailey to appeal for a motion to withdraw it from committee. Bailey accused Democrats of failing to fully support the measure.

Arts & Entertainment

• Nisei Jazz Drummer to Cut LP Record, page 3. Paul Togawa signed a contract with Mode Recording to produce a 12-inch LP jazz record, which would make him the first Nisei to star as a recording artist. The 24-year-old drummer had previously played with Lionel Hampton’s band.
• Best Trade Fair Yet, by Catherine Flood, page 6. The Seattle International Trade Fair’s ‘East Meets West in Fashion’ show featured traditional and modern Japanese-inspired fashions modeled by Mikeyo Hamano of Tokyo. The reviewer praised the collection’s clean lines, fabrics, and blend of Eastern and Western design.
• Best Actor of Season Award Won by Nisei for Sakini, page 8. Johnny Hirohata received the Little Theater’s best actor award for his portrayal of Sakini in Teahouse of the August Moon in Phoenix. He is a commercial photographer who has produced community skits.

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.