Issei naturalization and a possible return to Canada

Vol. 36, No. 6, February 6, 1953. 8 pages. View this issue

Naturalization for Issei ran through the issue. In Honolulu, more than 200 Japanese aliens passed their citizenship exams in English under the Walter-McCarran Act, and Mrs. Tokue Nishi became the first resident whose petition was accepted. An editorial praised group examinations after 160 San Francisco Issei were quizzed, and a fresh supply of Form N-400 petitions reached Los Angeles. On page one, Canada’s new ambassador to Japan, Robert Mayhew, looked for a plan to resettle some 10,000 Canadian-born Japanese who wished to return.

Mike Masaoka wrote on Warren E. Burger’s appointment and on Asia policy under the new administration, and Min Yasui and Henry Mori contributed columns. Harry K. Honda reviewed Monica Sone’s Nisei Daughter. Chapter pages covered installations in Alameda, Long Beach-Harbor, Venice and elsewhere, the National JACL bowling tournament in San Francisco, and plans for the Eastern District Council convention in New York.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

  • 10,000 Former Canadian Japanese May Be Resettled, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Canada’s new ambassador to Japan, Robert Mayhew, seeks a satisfactory plan to resettle some 10,000 Canadian-born Japanese strandees and expatriates wishing to return. The Canadian government has been advised that many persons in Japan want to come back, and any admission plan would need to spread over years.

Community

  • Honolulu Businessmen Plan Cherry Blossom Festival, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Japanese-Junior Chamber of Commerce in Honolulu plans a week-long Cherry Blossom Festival in April to stimulate springtime trade. The festival will include a queen contest, cultural shows, and demonstrations of Japanese culture.
  • Double Tragedy Strikes Northside Chicago Family, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kenji Kasai was found dead in his apartment and his mother Yoshiye was found beaten to death in the adjoining room in Chicago. Police indicated the son was responsible for the mother’s death, and the family had already suffered the father’s suicide in 1949.
  • YWCA Worker First for Citizenship, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mrs. Tokue Nishi, a YWCA group worker in Honolulu, became the first resident whose naturalization petition was accepted under the Walter-McCarran Act. She is scheduled to be sworn in as a citizen at a Federal court hearing on Feb. 26.
  • Watch Out, Chicago, by Min Yasui, page 2. Denver’s Mile-Hi JACL membership drive reached 208 members as of Jan. 31 under the leadership of Terrific Tak Terasaki. Chapter president Johnny Noguchi and other members are competing to sign up quotas.
  • Gomen Nasai, by Henry Mori, page 2. A recording of the song Gomen Nasai pressed by Nippon Columbia is gaining popularity on disc jockey playlists, and Columbia Records has bought rights to distribute it in the U.S. The column also notes new Japanese-American bank openings and other Los Angeles community items.
  • Capsules, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Brief community notes covering Chicago, Pasadena, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Denver, and other Nisei news items. Items include personal achievements, fundraising for Shonien Home, and a new Southland radio program.
  • Nakanishi Hotel Items: Alien Registration in Salt Lake City, by P.C. Staff, page 3. George Mochizuki handled alien registration in Salt Lake City’s Colonial Hotel lobby as a public service. Mrs. Chiyo Inaba of Riverside also organized English classes for Japanese war brides.
  • Puppet Maker, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Eight-year-old Bobby Kunita made a television debut in a Chicago Boys Club show by presenting his handmade puppet. He is a member of the Woodlawn Boys Club.
  • Chicago JACL Credit Union Declares Dividend, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Chicago JACL credit union announced a dividend return to shareholders at its January annual meeting with assets of $63,165.71. Officers and board members were elected and reported on.
  • Twin Cities Credit Union Organized, Officers Named, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Twin Cities United Citizens League credit union was incorporated in Minnesota on Jan. 23 with a 50 cent entrance fee. Board and committee officers were named to serve.
  • Nisei Student Scholarship Program Proposed in Denver, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Haruko Kobayashi and Robert M. Horiuchi were tentatively designated to develop a Nisei student scholarship program for the Mile-Hi JACL. The cabinet will decide eligibility, award amounts and presentation details.
  • Who’s Who as Chapter Presidents: George K. Hasegawa, by P.C. Staff, page 4. George K. Hasegawa, president of the St. Louis JACL, is profiled as a civil engineer born in Sanger, California who was evacuated to Poston. The profile covers his education, memberships, military service and family.
  • EDC ’53 Confab Program at N.Y.’s McAlpin Hotel Set, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Eastern District Council 1953 convention program for Feb. 21-23 in New York includes a testimonial banquet for Mike Masaoka with Japanese Ambassador Eikichi Araki as guest speaker. The New York JACL chapter is host.
  • Milwaukee Chapter Names Harry Shinozaki President, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Harry Shinozaki was announced as president of the Milwaukee JACL chapter for 1953. Several officers were named to assist him.
  • Alameda CL Installs Cabinet, ADC Fetes Workers, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Alameda JACL held a combined installation and victory dinner honoring ADC solicitors and installing new president Yasuo Yamashita. Haruo Ishimaru gave the main address.
  • Dr. Iijima Installed as Twin Cities CL Prexy, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Dr. Isaac Iijima was installed as president of the Twin Cities United Citizens League at a smorgasbord event. Shig Wakamatsu of Chicago was the installing officer and main speaker.
  • Long Beach-Harbor Chapter Installs Cabinet, by P.C. Staff, page 5. George Nakamura narrowly won the presidency of the Long Beach-Harbor District JACL and installed his 1953 cabinet at the Los Angeles County joint installation dance. Officials of the chapter are listed.
  • Cleveland Membership Drive Underway, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A three-way membership drive is underway in the Cleveland JACL area. Canvassers will also conduct a survey to assist the cabinet with programming for the year.
  • Luis Obispo CL Installs Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Haruo Hayashi was installed as president of the San Luis Obispo JACL. Other officers and delegates were also installed.
  • Venice Chapter Selects James Fukuhara as President, by P.C. Staff, page 5. James Fukuhara was elected president of the Venice JACL chapter for 1953. He and his cabinet will be formally installed at the Los Angeles County joint installation dance.
  • Chicago Engineering Honors, by P.C. Staff, page 5. James S. Fujinaka and Kazatoshi Nita of Chicago were initiated into the Illinois Institute of Technology chapter of Tau Beta Pi. The honor recognizes engineering students.
  • Tokyo Banks Announce Openings in L.A., S.F., by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Bank of Tokyo of California opened in San Francisco and will open in Los Angeles, replacing the Yokohama Specie Bank. The bank is licensed by the state and sponsored by the Bank of Tokyo in Japan.
  • Editorial: Going Our Way?, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial urges Nisei to renew JACL membership and sets a 1953 goal of 15,000 members. It argues that favorable naturalization laws still need effective implementation and that a strong membership is essential.

National

  • San Benito County Meets 1953 ADC Quota Early, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The San Benito County JACL became the first group in the NCWN district to meet its 1953 ADC quota. The chapter stayed intact during the war years, meeting in a relocation camp.
  • Resident Aliens From Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Resettlement of Japanese into Canada would need to be spread over years because of quota limits and likely opposition. Ambassador Mayhew hopes to find a mutually acceptable plan while avoiding renewed concentration of Japanese in one coastal area.
  • 200 Issei Pass Citizenship Exams in English, by P.C. Staff, page 1. More than 200 Japanese aliens in Honolulu have passed naturalization exams, all in English, under the Walter-McCarran Act. The first group will take their oath of allegiance on Feb. 26.
  • 49-Star Flag on Display Several Years in Honolulu Home, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A 49-star American flag has been displayed for several years in a Governor’s Palace office in Honolulu that houses Hawaii’s statehood campaign headquarters. The flag was noted after a reader pointed out its existence following a story about the coming flag change.
  • San Jose Vet Purchases Home Without Protest, by P.C. Staff, page 1. 442nd veteran Sam Yoshihara purchased a home on Cypress Ave. in San Jose without neighborhood protest. He had faced opposition when trying to buy a home on Thornton Way last year, which subsided after veteran and civic groups rallied to his support.
  • Naturalization Petition Forms Arrive in L.A., by P.C. Staff, page 1. A fresh supply of Form N-400 naturalization petitions has arrived in Los Angeles and is available at the Immigration office and the Southern California JACL regional office. Southland JACL chapters are planning volunteer clerical assistance for petitioners.

Arts & Entertainment

  • Rashomon Back in Contention for Academy Award Oscar, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Japanese film Rashomon was screened among nine others for movie directors in Hollywood, making it eligible for 1952 Academy Award consideration. It is unprecedented for a Japanese film to be eligible two successive years for Academy recognition.

Commentary

  • Rapid Communication Has Made World Smaller, Necessary for U.S. Government to Stay Big, Says Nisei Poli-Sci Prof, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Richard Kosaki, a Nisei government instructor at the University of Hawaii, argues that rapid communication and interdependence require a large federal government with more social coordination. He identifies inflation and avoiding war as the top domestic and foreign problems.
  • Kosaka, by Richard H. Kosaki, page 1. Kosaki argues that rapid communication requires the federal government to coordinate more social programs. He ranks inflation and maintaining peace above corruption as the major concerns.
  • Washington Newsletter: Warren E. Burger, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Warren E. Burger’s appointment as Assistant Attorney General over the Claims Division is significant for the evacuation claims program. The column expects the new appointee to continue the realistic and friendly approach of the program, and urges retention of Enoch Ellison as section chief.
  • Far East Foreign Policy, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. The new administration under John Foster Dulles is expected to give more attention to Asia and Japan than any prior administration. This change could affect Japanese Americans as individuals and as members of a minority.
  • Fever, Flu and Fooey!!, by Min Yasui, page 2. The Denver columnist describes a family’s bout of fever and flu during a nationwide epidemic that disrupted work. The column is a lighthearted personal account of household illness.
  • Nichibei Press Group, by Tom Nakatsuka, page 2. The Japanese American Press Association is composed of representatives of Japanese-language newspapers and magazines published in the United States. The column profiles several correspondents and their publications and describes their discussions on informing Nisei in Japan about their citizenship status.
  • Very Truly Yours, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The column discusses reader reactions to the newspaper’s new column rules and headline changes. It also addresses the paper’s advertising situation and an unfortunate effect on the sports page.
  • Group Examination, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial praises group examinations for Issei naturalization applicants after 160 San Francisco Issei were quizzed. It suggests Nisei attorneys could help if interpreters become a bottleneck.
  • From the Frying Pan: Monica Sone’s Nisei Daughter, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. The column reviews Monica Sone’s memoir Nisei Daughter, which describes her childhood in Seattle and the evacuation. It praises the book as a window into the Nisei experience for both Nisei and general readers.
  • Hawaii Statehood Mirror, by Bit Hag, page 8. The column argues that Hawaii is likely to be admitted as the 49th state in the new Congress. It summarizes Hawaii’s history, population, and economic strengths as the case for statehood.

JACL

  • Special National JACL Staff and Board, Issei to Meet in San Juan Bautista, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A special National JACL Board and Staff meeting is scheduled prior to the NCWN quarterly meeting at the San Juan JACL hall. Several national officers and Issei are expected to attend.

Military & Veterans

  • McCarran’s Cousin, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Col. Martine, a retired Army biochemist married to Japanese-born Mitsu Komai, says his cousin Senator McCarran presented a private bill allowing their 1948 marriage. He views the new immigration quota for Japanese as tangible proof that Americans are understanding Japan.

Sports

  • Nat’l JACL Bowling, San Francisco, Feb. 27-Mar. 1, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The National JACL bowling tournament is scheduled for Feb. 27 to March 1 at the Downtown Bowling alleys in San Francisco, with entries closed and teams being finalized. A roster of teams will be published in a later issue.
  • Nisei Backstroker on Georgetown University Swim Team, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Freshman Hikaru Edward Tsumi, a 19-year-old D.C.-born swimmer, is competing on the Georgetown University varsity swim team this year. He has helped the medley relay win dual meets.
  • Tokyo Giants Spring Training Slate Set, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Tokyo Yomiuri Giants will arrive Feb. 16 for spring training in California, with a scheduled slate of exhibition games against major and minor league teams. The tour concludes with games in the Hawaiian Islands in late March and early April.

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