Hawaii statehood, Salt Lake in 1958 and a postal embargo

Vol. 44, No. 15, April 12, 1957. 8 pages. View this issue

Plans for the 1958 national JACL convention in Salt Lake City opened this eight-page issue. In his President’s Corner column, Dr. Roy Nishikawa recalled his first convention there in 1948 and urged chapters to back the hosts. Harry K. Honda reported that a proposed postal embargo on third-class mail could raise the cost of chapter newsletters and the Pacific Citizen. Mike Masaoka was in Washington, where he told Senate committees that JACL supports immediate statehood for Hawaii, and that about $65 million in vested Japanese property should be returned.

Other pages cover Bill Hosokawa’s column on Joe Park’s success, Larry S. Tajiri on Japanese films finding American audiences, and a San Jose and Okayama sister city agreement. Readers will also find Chick Igaya’s NCAA slalom title, Seabrook JACL’s chow mein dinner for about 1,000 guests, and a new visa rule between the United States and Japan.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Pitching for 1958 Salt Lake convention, by Dr. Roy Nishikawa, page 1. The author recalls attending his first national JACL convention in Salt Lake City in 1948 and urges chapters to support the 1958 convention there. He argues that attending a national convention gives members a broader understanding of JACL than local involvement alone.
• Chinese Nisei reaction on Japanese American success, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa uses the example of Joe Park, a Korean-American chemist whose employer took out a million-dollar insurance policy on him, to illustrate opportunity in America. He presents Park’s success as a rebuttal to those who claim no opportunity remains in the nation.
• Cappy Harada case shows need for Nisei unity and careful press coverage, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Cappy Harada, a Nisei businessman in Tokyo accused of foreign exchange violations, was reportedly cleared of blackmarketeering charges, but the press gave little attention to his exoneration. The writer calls for Nisei on both sides of the Pacific to protect shared interests and for Nisei press to handle such stories carefully.
• Japanese Cinema, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri reviews the growing American popularity of Japanese films, noting the Paris theater devoted to them and a San Francisco showing of Street of Shame. He praises The Phantom Horse, sponsored by the Denver JACL, for its universal story of a boy and his horse.

JACL

• Postal third-class embargo may raise cost of chapter newsletters, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. Postmaster General Summerfield’s proposed embargo on third-class mail would affect JACL chapter newsletters and the Pacific Citizen, which mail thousands of pieces each month at the third-class rate. Chapters would have to pay the higher first-class rate or find additional funds for the three-month period.

National

• JACL renews Hawaii statehood plea, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Masaoka told a Senate committee that JACL supports immediate statehood for Hawaii for reasons of foreign policy, national security, and equality. JACL’s written statement argued that Hawaii’s Asian population and wartime loyalty make it a strong candidate for statehood.
• Canadian Nisei potato grower protests dumping of U.S. spud surplus in Canada, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Japanese Canadian potato grower in Alberta complained that American potatoes flooding Canadian markets duty-free have created a surplus harming Canadian growers. He called for organized action and a reciprocal tax on U.S. potatoes.
• Congressman Hillings to hold farm labor hearings on Japanese temporary workers, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Patrick Hillings will hold hearings in California on the temporary Japanese agricultural workers program during the Easter recess. Mike Masaoka will attend as an official observer because of the program’s implications for Americans of Japanese ancestry.
• Visa procedures simplified between U.S. and Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Beginning April 21, non-immigrant visas will be issued free of charge and valid for multiple entries over four years. The change should ease travel for merchants and investors moving between the two countries.
• Masaoka urges return of Japanese vested property before Senate subcommittee, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Mike Masaoka told a Senate subcommittee that about $65 million in vested Japanese property, including property owned by Nisei and Issei Americans, should be returned. He argued that unlike Germany, Japan made no compensation undertaking, so retaining the property is confiscation.
• Three Japanese named to Japan-America Society board in D.C., by P.C. Staff, page 8. Toshio Henry Shimanouchi, Mike Masaoka, and Roy Otake were elected to the board of the Japan-America Society of Washington. The society was formed to provide a forum for Japanese visitors and promote Japanese American relations.
• Washington Newsletter: Statehood Hearings, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka reports on Senate hearings on Hawaii statehood, noting that all witnesses testified in favor and that several senators endorsed the measure. He also explains that a Justice Department letter raising communism concerns created headlines, though the Administration maintained its support for statehood.

In-Depth

• Japan faces food crisis by 1964, warns Dr. Paul Rusch, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. Paul Rusch, founder of the KEEP project in Kiyosato, warned that Japan’s growing population will need food and faith to avoid instability. He described the Kiyosato community as an answer combining Christianity, democracy, and technical know-how.

Community

• San Jose and Okayama become sister cities, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The mayor of Okayama, Japan accepted San Jose’s offer of a town affiliation, with a ceremony tentatively set for May 25. Okayama’s mayor said such exchanges would be the surest road to lasting peace.
• Civic women’s group to host naturalized Issei, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Palo Alto Republican Women’s Club will honor naturalized Issei from Redwood City, Menlo Park, and Palo Alto with tea and a film on Katsura Village. Club president Mrs. William Gause said the group hopes to help them as they assume new citizenship responsibilities.
• Salt Lake JACLers in Teahouse drama, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Keiko Nakahara and Mrs. Kinuye Oki are appearing in the University of Utah’s production of The Teahouse of the August Moon. Mrs. Oki also helped the cast with Japanese language and gestures.
• Western Pioneer elections held in cordial atmosphere, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Western Pioneer Insurance Co. stockholders reelected its board of directors in a friendly election after a contentious previous year. President A. D. Ericksen reported record assets, new premiums, and growth in agents.
• Jefferson Blvd. rezoning fight stopped at City Hall, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Southwest Los Angeles JACL and neighborhood residents successfully opposed Hirsch Pipe & Supply’s request to rezone Jefferson Blvd. from commercial to light manufacturing. The City Council planning committee disapproved the appeal.
• Another million seeds of flowering cherry trees ready for distribution, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Japanese school children sent a million seeds of flowering cherry and gingko trees to American communities and organizations. Requests east and west of the Mississippi are directed to specified Japan Travel Information Offices.
• Seabrook’s chow mein benefit dinner serving over 1,000 a terrific success, by Ayako Nakamura, page 6. Seabrook JACL’s second annual chow mein dinner drew approximately 1,000 people and was called a terrific success. Dinner chairman Dick Kunishima and a kitchen staff of about 150 prepared the meal over three days.
• Sacramento women’s keglers smash 685 series, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mrs. Takai set a new high series of 685 in the Sacramento Women’s Bowling Association with games of 245, 195, and 245. Her performance led the Women’s Junior Classic bowling league.
• Nisei scientist reports discovery of virus leading to loss of eyesight, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Dr. Samuel J. Kimura and colleagues at the University of California medical center reported that herpes simplex virus is increasingly causing corneal damage and loss of eyesight. The team suspected increased cortisone use may be a factor.

Sports

• Chick Igaya retains NCAA slalom championship, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Chick Igaya of Dartmouth won the NCAA Olympic slalom title with a combined time of 104 seconds over the 55-gate course at Snow Basin, Utah. It was his sixth NCAA title and he had previously skied for Japan at the Winter Olympics.

Military & Veterans

• Japanese wives of servicemen naturalized in Chicago, by Smoky H. Sakurada, page 7. Three Japanese wives of American servicemen were naturalized in Chicago after rules were waived so they could travel to Japan with their husbands. Among those sworn in was Mrs. Reiko Hojo, whose husband is a former soldier now working as an Army civil servant.

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