Vol. 49, No. 12, September 18, 1959. 8 pages. View this issue
Congressman Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii, the first Japanese American elected to Congress, was the center of the front page. Los Angeles groups, including JACL, planned a testimonial banquet for him. Alongside it, JACL joined 13 other organizations in the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, urging the Senate to reject a weak civil rights bill. A bill amending the Walter-McCarran Act to help reunite immigrant families had passed Congress and awaited the President’s signature. Shig Wakamatsu wrote about unity within JACL and the New York chapter’s 15th anniversary.
The joint Eastern-Midwest district convention in New York ran through the issue: Seabrook won the Chapter of the Biennium plaque, Wendy Watanabe wrote a lively account of the weekend, and Masao Satow and Mike Masaoka offered their own reports. Elsewhere are a Fresno State football preview, a Seattle missionary’s 90th birthday, and a Washington hearing on golf club discrimination.
What’s in this issue
Community
- L.A. Welcomes Rep. Dan Inouye With Testimonial, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Local civic and community leaders will honor Congressman Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii at a testimonial banquet in Los Angeles. The dinner is sponsored by four local organizations and includes a press conference beforehand.
- Seabrook JACL Earns EDC-MDC Chapter Plaque, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Seabrook JACL chapter was named EDC-MDC Chapter of the Biennium at the joint convention in New York. Several members received pins and two were elected to district offices.
- School Teacher Wins $1,000 Librarian Award, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Yaeko Iwawaki Shinomiya, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of UC Berkeley, won a $1,000 children’s librarian fellowship at the UC School of Librarianship. She had taught school for two years.
- Salt Lake Chapter to Incorporate, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Salt Lake JACL chapter announced a special meeting to incorporate as a non-profit under Utah law. Chapter president Ichiro Doi signed the notice.
- Long-Time Friend of Issei-Nisei Hailed on 90th Birthday, by Dan Coughlin, page 2. Seattle’s Japanese American community honored Rev. U.G. Murphy, a longtime Methodist missionary and friend, on his 90th birthday. Murphy’s work included opposing prostitution contracts in Japan and supporting Japanese immigrants in Seattle.
- Intermountain District Council Explores Magic Valley Chapter, by Alice Kasai, page 4. The Intermountain District Council met in Burley to explore forming a JACL chapter in the Magic Valley area. Interested Nisei discussed the challenges of distance and recruitment, and a committee was appointed to report back.
- Chicago Japanese Welcome Pan American Games, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Chicago’s Japanese community took part in the Pan American Games opening ceremonies with a pageant of nationalities. They also hosted a dinner welcoming sixteen Brazilian Nisei members of the baseball team.
- Los Angeles Newsletter, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Los Angeles column notes the strong response to Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt’s Diamond Jubilee dinner and the Japanese American community leaders attending. It also honors Congressman Inouye at a community banquet and reflects on Nisei achievements.
- Sonoma County JACL Schedules Benefit Movie, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Sonoma County JACL chapter will sponsor two evenings of Japanese movies at Santa Rosa Memorial Hall to raise funds. Proceeds will support the chapter’s activities for the rest of the year.
- Nisei Participate in All-Western Bridge Play, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Several Nisei players placed in the All-Western Contract Bridge championships at the Sheraton-Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Don Oakie Hiura took second in the overall four-event standings.
- Eleanor Roosevelt Dinner Attendees Named, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Downtown Los Angeles JACL president Gongoro Nakamura organized 31 community leaders to attend a Diamond Jubilee dinner for Eleanor Roosevelt. The $100-a-plate event benefits cancer research.
- Washington Newsletter: Khrushchev Visit, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka discusses Soviet Premier Khrushchev’s visit to the United States and the hope that face-to-face talks will reduce world tensions. He also reflects on the EDC-MDC convention and the Japanese American community’s achievements.
National
- Civil Rights Groups Urge Senate to Reject Token Bill, by JACL News Service, page 1. JACL joined 13 other national organizations in the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights in urging the Senate to reject a weak civil rights bill. The coalition called for a measure authorizing the Attorney General to bring civil actions on behalf of those denied rights.
- Immigration Law Liberalized to Reunite Family Units, by JACL News Service, page 1. A bill amending the Walter-McCarran Act to facilitate family reunification passed Congress and awaits the President’s signature. Key provisions help refugees, preferential immigrants, and Asians previously excluded.
- The National Director’s Report, by Masao Satow, page 5. National Director Satow reviews the success of the EDC-MDC convention, praising the New York chapter and highlighting Congressman Inouye’s address. He also reports on civil rights commission meetings and the appointment of Ed Howden to California FEPC.
Obituaries
- Pioneer Issei Mother of Ted Ohashi Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mrs. Ume Ohashi, 76, a long-resident Issei woman who arrived in 1904, died in Stockton after a long illness. Her son Ted was recently named executive secretary of the Oakland Central YMCA.
Commentary
- Unity But Not Conformity, by Shig Wakamatsu, page 3. National JACL President Wakamatsu reflects on contrasting JACL meetings in Monterey and New York and the shared unity beneath regional diversity. He argues the common purpose of Nisei organizing drives JACL’s service to the community.
- Horner Rood Rose Defense Heres, by George Inagaki, page 4. Former national president George Inagaki recounts a disastrous vacation that began with a car breakdown near Bakersfield. The column ends with a detour to Hood River and a hope to recuperate before the next trip.
- Windy Wendy in Gotham, by Wendy Watanabe, page 4. Wendy Watanabe offers a lighthearted account of the New York EDC-MDC convention, from the Friday mixer to the Saturday 1000 Club party. She praises the speakers and the fashion show and bids farewell to the New York hosts.
In-Depth
- New York Chapter Marks 15th Anniversary, by Shig Wakamatsu, page 3. Wakamatsu recounts how New York became a center of JACL’s wartime campaign to win public opinion, led by Mike Masaoka and Dr. T. Scott Miyakawa. He traces the chapter’s founding and its role in resettlement and community service.
Arts & Entertainment
- San Francisco JACL to Assist Premiere of Crimson Kimono, by P.C. Staff, page 3. San Francisco JACL members are selling tickets for the world premiere of Columbia’s The Crimson Kimono at the Paramount Theater. The local chapter sees the film as a way to promote understanding of Nisei in America.
Sports
- Nisei Football Preview: Larry Iwasaki, by Thomas Toyama, page 6. Reedley Nisei Larry Iwasaki is a leading candidate for fullback on the Fresno State team after losing 15 pounds. The preview also covers the Fresno State schedule and Nisei players at other local high schools.
- Washington Bar Hearing on Golf Discrimination, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A Washington State hearing examined whether non-white golfers were excluded from private clubs using public courses. Robert Wright testified his son was barred from a tournament because his club was not recognized.
JACL
- JACL Can’t Afford to Pull Back, Symposium Tells EDC-MDC, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Four JACL leaders discussed the organization’s future at a symposium during the joint convention. They agreed JACL should remain national, expand chapter services, and develop trained professional staff.
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.