Vol. 36, No. 15, April 10, 1953. 8 pages. View this issue
Housing discrimination led the April 10, 1953 issue. Ensign Atsuko Emoto, a Nisei Navy officer at Long Beach, was refused the purchase of a home in a Southland tract after paying a deposit, and protests came from the Long Beach JACL, chambers and state officials. The same front page reported five prominent Issei sworn in as citizens in Los Angeles, a California Senate vote on Assembly Constitutional Amendment 21, and a House bill on naturalizing aliens in the armed forces that the JACL endorsed. Crown Prince Akihito’s stop in Honolulu was covered too.
Elsewhere in the 8 pages, I. Kawakami wrote a first-person essay about an Issei’s path to citizenship. Bill Hotokawa and Harry K. Honda wrote columns, and an editorial urged prompt payment of evacuation claims. The sports pages followed Yoshi Oyakawa’s relay times, Tommy Kono and a record golf field.
What’s in this issue
Military & Veterans
- Long Beach Nisei Ensign Denied Right to Purchase Home in Carson Park Tract, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ensign Atsuko Emoto, a Nisei Navy officer, was refused the purchase of an FHA-insured home in a Southland tract after the sale was cancelled due to her ancestry. The incident has drawn protests from the Long Beach JACL, local chambers, state officials, and others.
- Nisei on Okinawa Wounded Twice, Doesn’t Rate Purple Heart, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seiyu Komesu, a Milwaukee Leatherneck, was wounded twice on Okinawa as a Japanese high school student fighting for the other side during World War II. He later emigrated to the mainland, was inducted into the Marines in 1952, and now serves at Kaneohe with the 1st Provisional Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
Community
- Southland Issei Naturalized in Special Ceremonies, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Five prominent Issei were sworn in as American citizens by Federal Judge Albert A. Tolin in Los Angeles, followed by a luncheon honoring them. The event was co-sponsored by the Southern California JACL and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce.
- Classmate Anticipates Arrival of Akihito in United States, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Robert Kiyoshi Togasaki, a former classmate of Crown Prince Akihito now studying at Haverford College, awaits the prince’s American visit. The two had attended school together in Japan after the war.
- Denver Physician’s Car Pilfered by Bandits, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. George Takeno of Denver reported his car was robbed outside his Champa Street office, with his physician’s bag and instruments taken. The bag also contained narcotics, a camera, and binoculars.
- Nisei Doctor Heads Heart Station, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Lloyd T. Iseri directs research at the new heart station of Michigan’s Receiving Hospital, which uses a mechanical kidney. His study examines the relationship between high blood pressure, kidney function, and cardiac dropsy.
- Second Group of Hawaiian Issei Naturalized, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Forty-eight Issei in Hawaii took the oath of allegiance in federal court, the second such group after the first of 56. Judge J. Frank McLaughlin urged them to uphold civic duties and voiced support for Hawaiian statehood.
- Truck Overturned in Collision With Automobile, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Yoshinobu Takata, 25, of Saratoga was seriously injured when his pickup truck was overturned after being struck by a car that failed to stop at a sign in San Jose. He was treated at San Jose Hospital for head injuries.
- Seattle Nisei Veterans Elect Hamanaka to Head Committee, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Joseph U. Hamanaka was elected commander of the Seattle Nisei Veterans Committee for the 1953-54 term at a meeting in the Nisei Vets Memorial clubhouse. He succeeds Joe Nakatsu, who had been editor of the NVC News-Letter.
- Nisei Babies in Japanese Schools, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Japan’s Welfare Ministry reports 293 children of mixed-blood are enrolled in schools across 45 prefectures, marking the first time such children have attended school in Japan. The Education Ministry has issued guidance urging teachers and the public to treat these children without prejudice.
- Florin JACL Chapter Leads District in Membership Growth, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Florin JACL chapter became the first in the Northern California-Western Nevada District to exceed its 1952 membership, signing up 127 members compared to 101 last year. Chapter members also helped graduate a class of Issei from citizenship classes.
- Hawaiian Issei Naturalized, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Forty-eight Issei in Hawaii were naturalized in federal court, with Judge J. Frank McLaughlin reminding them of their civic responsibilities. He also expressed hope for Hawaiian statehood as the 49th state.
- Stockton JACL Plans Busy Calendar of Community Events, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Stockton JACL chapter outlined plans including a May picnic, a June installation dinner, and donations of the book Americans to local libraries. The program was adopted at a meeting with regional director Haruo Ishimaru and includes community cooperation and membership goals.
- Taking Oath: Oregon Issei Hold Graduation Banquet for Citizenship Class, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A banquet in Ontario, Oregon celebrated 100 Issei completing a citizenship class sponsored by the local VFW and Teachers Association. Idaho state senator Clark Hamilton and naturalization officer Herbert Boss addressed the graduates.
- Nisei Boxer Held for Murder in Genoa; Trial Postponed for Mental Check, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Honolulu-born boxer Carl Arakaki, 25, faces murder charges in Genoa, Italy, after allegedly killing one man and wounding four others. His trial was postponed to allow medical examination of his mental faculties.
- Chicago to Host 1954 National JACL Bowling Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Chicago JACL chapter was awarded the 1954 National JACL Bowling Tournament, to be held March 5-7 at Hyde Park Bowl. A bowling committee has been formed to plan the event.
- Record Entry for Northern California Nisei Golf Classic, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A record 157 golfers have registered for the Northern California Nisei Golf Tournament at Pebble Beach and Del Monte on April 18-19. The event is sponsored by the Fresno Nisei and Turlock Golf clubs.
- Chicago Nisei Nisei Newsletter Weekly: Nisei Week Planning, by Henry Mori, page 7. Downtown Merchants Association voted to retain Kiyo Yamato to organize the 1953 Nisei Week Festival, though his acceptance was unconfirmed. Mori suggests the festival could attract Caucasian ex-GIs and feature more Oriental elements through greater Issei involvement.
National
- Anti-Oriental Rule in California Constitution Gets Senate Action, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Senate passed Assembly Constitutional Amendment 21, introduced by Assemblyman Edward Elliott, to remove the constitutional restriction denying Oriental aliens the right to own personal property. The measure marks a step toward ending discriminatory land and property laws.
- House Passes Alien in Armed Forces Naturalization Measure, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House unanimously passed a bill by Rep. Francis Walter providing expedited naturalization for aliens serving in the armed forces, endorsed by the JACL. The measure now moves to the Senate and could benefit an estimated ten Issei veterans.
- Crown Prince Akihito Receives Rousing Reception in Honolulu, by By L. Nakatsuka, page 1. Crown Prince Akihito of Japan made his first foreign visit to Honolulu, where crowds of more than 10,000 greeted him during his 14-hour stop. He laid a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and continues on to England for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.
- Pro-America Women Favor Retention of McCarran Law, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The national board of Pro-America association urged President Eisenhower by telegram to retain the Walter-McCarran Immigration and Nationality Act in its present form. The all-women group concluded its three-day meeting in Oakland with this action.
- Japanese National Art Tour Extension Denied, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A Japanese foreign office communication rejected a request to extend the Metropolitan Museum’s ancient art exhibit tour to San Francisco and other cities, citing owner objections. The foreign office suggested a contemporary art exhibit as an alternative.
- Claims Budget Delay Criticized, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial urges prompt payment of evacuation claims, noting the Budget Bureau plans to send an $8.7 million supplemental appropriation bill to the House. It warns that Senator Homer Ferguson previously had claims funds dropped from the budget and the amount may be trimmed again.
Commentary
- An Old Immigrant’s Story, by I. Kawakami, page 5. Written by an Oregon Issei studying for citizenship, this first-person essay recounts his journey from Japan as a young man hoping to make money and return home. It describes how his dreams changed as he experienced discrimination, wartime evacuation, and eventually decided to become an American citizen.
- Group Examinations, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial praises San Francisco naturalization examiners for conducting group examinations for Issei who completed citizenship classes. It argues that such accommodations are necessary so aged Issei can become citizens before the naturalization service’s limited capacity becomes a barrier.
- Unplumbed House, by Bill Hotokawa, page 8. Hotokawa recalls the inconvenience of temporary plumbing failure at home and reflects on the wartime relocation camps where residents also lacked running water. He also comments on credit practices, noting that cash-paying customers are treated as bad credit risks.
- Washington’s Cherry Tree, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Honda examines conflicting accounts of how Japanese cherry trees first reached Washington, D.C., including gifts from Tokyo and the role of Eliza Scidmore and Mrs. William Howard Taft. He concludes the various accounts are not as contradictory as they appear.
Sports
- Oyakawa Cracks World Record in Relay Time Trials, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Ohio State swimmers Yoshi Oyakawa, Jerry Holan, and Dick Cleveland set an unofficial world record in the 300-yard medley relay and Oyakawa broke the 100-yard backstroke mark. Coach Mike Peppe plans to petition for official recognition of the times.
- San Mateo-Sequoia JACL Bowling Tournament Draws Record Field, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The fourth annual San Mateo-Sequoia JACL bowling tournament drew a record number of entries on March 28-29. Dip Yamauchi chaired the event and tournament results are listed by category.
- Nisei Rugby Star Yosh Katsura a Prospect for California Football, by Will Connelly, page 6. Yosh Katsura of Cal, formerly of Berkeley High football, may earn a varsity spot on the Bears squad according to a recent column. Rugby coach Dr. Hudson recommended him to Coach Pappy Waldorf as the fastest man on the rugby squad.
- Sacramento Honors Weightlifter Tommy Kono, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Sacramento City Council presented a resolution congratulating Tommy Kono on his Olympic weightlifting championship. The resolution praised his achievements and records in international competition.
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