Justice Department calls the wartime evacuation a mistake

Vol. 48, No. 21, May 22, 1959. 8 pages. View this issue

The Justice Department’s admission that the wartime evacuation of Japanese Americans was a mistake led this issue. Attorney General William P. Rogers announced that citizenship had been restored to 4,978 of the 5,409 renunciants who applied. Mike Masaoka’s column on the renunciants argued that their actions reflected momentary bitterness rather than disloyalty. Another front-page story reported that the former Tule Lake War Relocation Center, once home to 16,000 people, was offered for sale by sealed bid. JACL also urged the Senate to pass effective civil rights legislation, and the statement was printed again on page 2.

Elsewhere are Bill Hosokawa’s column From the Frying Pan, prize winners at the Art Institute of Chicago, and sports pages with Ford Konno’s move to teaching in Kauai and George Ige’s golf win. The paper also announced a new business and professional directory for chapters, starting in June.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

  • Justice Dept. admits ‘mistake’ of evacuation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Attorney General William P. Rogers declared the wartime evacuation of Japanese Americans a mistake while announcing completion of the Justice Department’s program restoring citizenship to renunciants. Citizenship has now been restored to 4,978 of the 5,409 who applied.
  • Tule Lake WRA camp on the block for sale to bidder, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The General Services Administration is inviting sealed bids for the former Tule Lake War Relocation Center, sold as one unit with 79.44 acres and 45 buildings. The camp once housed 16,000 evacuees and bids open June 24.

National

  • Lack of civil rights in U.S. seen as threat to world peace, by JACL News Service, page 1. The JACL urged the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee to enact effective civil rights legislation, arguing that racial discrimination against Japanese Americans contributed to the Pacific war. The statement links domestic prejudice to Communist propaganda opportunities.
  • Class of 170 Hawaiian Issei finish naturalization course, average age 73, by P.C. Staff, page 1. 170 Japanese men and women received certificates for completing 40 hours of citizenship classes in Captain Cook, Hawaii. The average age of the students was 73.5 years.
  • Nursery, flower industry eligible for marketing act, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Governor Edmund G. Brown signed a bill allowing the California cut flower and nursery industry to organize under the California Marketing Act. The law permits self-help programs to reduce waste in marketing.
  • Nisei stunned by Korean visa denial, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Cameraman George Toge was denied a visa to film Christian church work in South Korea, apparently because of his Japanese ancestry. Toge said the refusal has hurt his work greatly.
  • Nisei renunciants, by Mike Masaoka, page 7. Masaoka comments that the Justice Department has completed review of Nisei who renounced citizenship in 1945 and that most have been restored. He argues the renunciations reflected momentary bitterness rather than disloyalty.
  • White House invites Masaoka to refugee meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Mike Masaoka accepted an invitation to a White House meeting on United States participation in World Refugee Year. JACL was recognized for its role in immigration legislation.

Community

  • Snake River JACL names youth for Boys State, by P.C. Staff, page 1. David Takahashi will attend Beaver Boys State this summer under sponsorship of the Snake River JACL. The chapter is also sponsoring two Sansei girls for Oregon and Idaho Girl State conferences.
  • Min Yasui appointed to community relations group, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Denver Mayor Nicholson appointed attorney Minoru Yasui to the Community Relations Commission, recently expanded to 15 members. The commission originated in 1947 as the Mayor’s Commission on Human Relations.
  • Jack Noda named alternate to Fresno delegate post, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Jack Noda of Denair, an active Central California JACLer, was named alternate member of a delegation. The brief reports the appointment.
  • Hawaiian youth in merit scholarship news: Frank Hirai, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Frank Hirai, a 17-year-old Lawrence Academy senior, was among 850 students awarded a National Merit Scholarship. He plans to study engineering at Harvard or Cornell.
  • Southland youth club survey starts, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JAY, Inc. is compiling a youth club directory with Southland JACL chapters to survey youth activities and needs among Nisei. Clubs wishing to be listed are asked to contact the JAY office.
  • Nisei named to D.C. housing association, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mike Masaoka, JACL Washington representative, was elected to the Board of the Washington Housing Association. The association promotes decent housing and planning in the Washington metropolitan area.
  • Top graduate of Ontario high wins Elks scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Beverly Kariya, valedictorian of Ontario High, won the local Elks scholarship and placed fifth in the statewide DAR citizenship competition. She is active in numerous school organizations and 4-H.
  • Two brothers confess Arizona church burning, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Two brothers confessed to setting fire to the Arizona Buddhist Church in March. They said they threw a lit cigarette into the ladies’ restroom without intending to burn the building.
  • Climb to another summit: Pacific Southwest District Council notes, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The new PSWDC Executive Board held its first meeting with committees established for finance, newsletter, youth and other areas. Chapter news and upcoming events including the Nisei Relays and Nisei Week queen selections are also reported.
  • Gourmet Club in session, by Elmer Ogawa, page 7. The Seattle Gourmet Club continues its monthly Chinese dinner gatherings, with a group of members and friends of Pat Suzuki. The next meeting will appraise the cuisine of chef Yoshio Morizawa at The Nikko.
  • Nisei VFW files fee for poker palace, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Gardena’s Amvets Post 30 and Nisei VFW Post 1961 applied for a poker club license at the former Western Club, with proceeds to fund community welfare and youth work. An injunction was filed to halt the permit.
  • Yamasaki design among top 1959 AIA winners, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Minoru Yamasaki and Associates won two of the 15 American Institute of Architects design awards for 1959. One award recognized the McGregor Memorial Community Conference Center in Detroit.
  • Nisei cooperate in international study, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Mr. and Mrs. Jinzo Noda hosted Prof. Katsumi Nishii of Kanazawa University during his United States visit under the Institute of International Education. Denver Issei and Nisei met with him.

Military & Veterans

  • Mas Yamashita’s son first Idaho Nisei named to Military Academy, by JACL News Service, page 1. Sen. Frank Church appointed Ted K. Yamashita of Caldwell, Idaho, to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He is the first American of Japanese ancestry named to a service school from Idaho.

Commentary

  • Pacific Citizen directory advertising service, by H.H., page 1. The business directory rate card introduces a new advertising feature for chapter businesses and professionals starting in June. Rates range from $21 to $60 per half-year to help offset rising production costs.
  • Civil rights statement: Climb to another summit, by JACL News Service, page 2. The JACL statement argues that anti-Japanese agitation on the West Coast was exploited by Japanese militarists and contributed to war. It urges Congress to pass comprehensive civil rights legislation.
  • JACL statement on civil rights, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. JACL urges the House and Senate subcommittee to report a comprehensive omnibus civil rights bill voted provision by provision. The statement argues that racial discrimination affects Orientals, Jews, Latinos and American Indians as well as Negroes.
  • From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa recounts singer Pat Suzuki’s quote about her father’s philosophy of thinking big and working hard. He reflects on his own father’s hunger as an immigrant and the family’s ideas about food and work.
  • Endowment fund needed for JACL’s future, by Kumeo Yoshinari, page 5. The MDC chairman argues JACL must build its million-dollar endowment fund as evacuation claim payments end. He proposes electing trustees and liberalizing investment procedures.

Arts & Entertainment

  • Japanese festival taped for VOA radio, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Denver Library’s Japanese Festival was partially taped for Voice of America rebroadcast to Europe and Asia. Performances included odori dance, tea ceremony and samurai sword dance.
  • Art Institute prize winners include three Japanese Americans, by Smoky H. Sakurada, page 5. Three Japanese American artists won prizes at the Art Institute of Chicago’s 62nd annual exhibition: Miyoko Ito, William Tokeshi and Joseph Goto. Their works include an oil painting and a welded steel sculpture.

Sports

  • Hawaiian bowlers invite women champions, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Hawaiian bowlers invited five Nisei women bowlers to Hawaii for exhibition matches in early June. The invitation is in appreciation of hospitality shown at JACL’s National Bowling Tournaments.
  • George Ige fires 156 to win SCNGA, by P.C. Staff, page 6. George Ige of Air Flite Club took low gross honors in the Southern California Nisei Golf Association championship at Torrey Pines. Ted Niiya and George Inase won the net flights.
  • Nisei trackmen in final meets, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Nisei athletes competed in city, state and Hawaii high school track meets with several qualifying for finals. Little Sakamoto of Norwalk won two sprint events in CIF prelims.
  • Ford Konno to teach in Kauai school, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Olympic swimmer Ford Konno will join the Waimea High faculty in September to coach swimming and teach physical education. He won medals at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
  • Canadian Nisei swimmer aspires for Olympic berth, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Larry Ebisuzaki, a Toronto Central Technical School student, will compete in Canadian swimming championships hoping to represent Canada in the 1960 Olympics. He holds school records in breaststroke.
  • Bowling magazine covers JACL tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The May issue of Bowling Magazine carried an article on the 18th annual National JACL Bowling Tournament with a photo of Mas Satow presenting a scroll to ABC president Richard Gans.

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