The Hiroshima Maidens arrive, and a statehood bill fails

Vol. 40, No. 20, May 20, 1955. 8 pages. View this issue

Twenty-five Hiroshima Maidens, young women scarred by the atomic bomb, arrived in the United States for medical care, and Larry Tajiri’s front-page Vagaries column told how their voyage became a public relations project for America and Japan. The issue also followed the House vote of 218 to 170 that sank the Hawaii and Alaska statehood bill, which Mike Masaoka dissected in his Washington newsletter. Another story covered a new Senate subcommittee on constitutional rights that invited the JACL to submit accounts of discrimination against Nisei.

Elsewhere, Judge John Aiso was announced as speaker at a Gardena dinner for naturalized Issei, and the Long Beach and Reedley chapters planned similar banquets. Pacific Southwest District delegates met in Santa Barbara, where David Yokozeki was elected chairman. Columns came from Bill Hosokawa, Tamotsu Murayama, Henry Mori and Budd Fukei, who reviewed the novel Homecoming.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Vagaries: Voyage of Hiroshima Maidens, by Larry Tajiri, page 1. The voyage of 25 Hiroshima Maidens to the United States has become an international public relations project benefiting America and Japan. The Rev. Tanimoto’s story on This Is Your Life and the support of Norman Cousins helped launch the medical care effort.
• From the Frying Pan: 80,000 Miles for Dr. Wesley, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Bill Hosokawa describes visiting Chicago Nisei contact lens specialist Dr. Newton Wesley, who flies about 80,000 miles a year to visit optometrists. The column also notes Wesley’s plans to open a New York branch office.
• Tokyo Topics: Japanese-Filipino Problems, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. Murayama reports that Filipino attitudes toward Japanese have improved but wartime atrocities remain unforgiven. He argues Japanese officials mishandled reparations talks, including the appointment of Shozo Murata as reparations head.
• Honolulu Newsletter: A Positive Way of Life, by Larry Nakatsu ka, page 3. The column argues that Nisei should cleanse themselves of old grievances and overcome both inferiority and racial chip-on-the-shoulder attitudes. It urges individuals to be judged on their own character and achievements.
• Chicago Corner: Nisei and His Job, by Hal Noel, page 4. The author argues that Nisei job seekers must be more realistic about employment prospects in certain fields, citing sales engineering as an example. He notes Nisei have found success in engineering, accounting, and other technical roles.
• Scene from the Golden Gate: Bouquet to Berkeley Chapter, by Haruo Ishimaru, page 5. Ishimaru praises the Berkeley JACL chapter for hosting a successful District Council meeting. The column details the business session, program workshop, and the evening banquet and talent show.
• The Sou’Wester: Fiesta Circa del Mar, by Tats Kushida, page 6. Kushida offers a lighthearted account of the PSWDC convention in Santa Barbara, praising the organizers, the banquet, and the beach outing. He notes the event’s simplified format and its success.
• Los Angeles Newsletter: Shopping Center at Gardena, by Henry Mori, page 7. Paul Watanabe announced a $300,000 shopping center in Gardena and plans for a six-story hotel in Little Tokyo. The column also reports on Nisei veterans group elections in Gardena and Los Angeles.
• Dateline Northwest: Book Review – Homecoming, by Budd Fukei, page 7. Fukei reviews Jiro Osaragi’s novel Homecoming, the first postwar Japanese novel translated into English, which follows a former navy man returning to a changed Japan. The review praises the portrayal of Japanese culture and spirit.
• Editorials: Constitutional Rights, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial welcomes the expanded scope of the Senate constitutional rights inquiry and hopes it will address racial discrimination. It also notes the Pledge of Allegiance wording and praises the Southwest Los Angeles JACL’s programming.
• Fiesta by the Sea Convention, by Harry Honda, page 8. Honda reflects on the Santa Barbara PSWDC convention, praising the business meeting setting, toastmaster Tom Hirashima, and singer Shige Yano. He comments on the banquet speaker’s address on population and food.

Community

• Judge Aiso to Speak at Gardena Banquet Honoring Citizens, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles Municipal Court Judge John Aiso will speak June 9 at a testimonial dinner honoring about 150 naturalized Issei citizens of Gardena Valley. Tickets are $3 per plate and the public is invited.
• More Cherry Trees Presented by Utah Japanese Residents to State, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Persons of Japanese ancestry in Utah dedicated 18 flowering cherry trees on the west side of the State Capitol in Salt Lake City. Secretary of State Lamont F. Toronto accepted the gift at the ceremony.
• Japanese War Orphans Frolic as Johnson Brothers in Wisconsin Town, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Two eight-year-old Japanese war orphans, Tsuneo Kitagawa and Masatomo Nishimura, were adopted by the Johnson family of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. They have adjusted well to life there with help from television and the family’s attention.
• Cathay Post Commander Installed, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Jack Ishida was installed as commander of Cathay Post 185 of the American Legion in Denver. The brief notice reports the installation.
• Long Beach Citizens to Be Feted by Harbor JACLer, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Long Beach District JACL will honor newly naturalized Issei citizens at a Sunday banquet, with Munio Kadehadavries as speaker. Up to 100 Issei are expected, with entertainment and dinner planned.
• West Los Angeles JACL Plans Summer Activities, by P.C. Staff, page 4. West Los Angeles JACL announced its May and June activities, including a teen dance and the community picnic and carnival. Steve Yagi is chapter president.
• Reedley JACL to Honor Issei Citizens Tomorrow, by Tak Naito, page 5. The Reedley JACL will hold a May 23 banquet honoring recently naturalized Issei citizens at Reedley College. Judge Phillip Conley of Fresno County will give the keynote address.
• Sacramento Community Picnic at Elk Grove, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Some 2,500 residents are expected at the Sacramento community picnic at Elk Grove Park this Sunday. The event is community-sponsored this year with organizational committees.
• Movie Producer to Speak to Downtown L.A. JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Movie producer Saul Elkins will speak at the Downtown Los Angeles JACL luncheon on the life of Wil Adams, the British captain who became a consultant to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Frank Chuman will also receive the JACL Sapphire Pin.
• L.A. Nisei Relays Scheduled June 26, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The fourth annual Nisei Relays will be held June 26 at Rancho Cienega Stadium, sponsored by the Los Angeles JACL Coordinating Council. Bob Watanabe chairs the event with a committee of volunteers.

National

• Constitutional Rights Committee Organized in Senate; Invites JACL to Present Anti-Nisei Instances, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A newly created Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights will hold public hearings on individual discrimination cases. The JACL invited Nisei to submit documented accounts of racial discrimination to its Washington office.
• Successful Implementation of Refugee Relief Program in Japan Assured in State Dept Letter to JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The State Department thanked the JACL for its assistance and stated the Refugee Relief Program will be successfully implemented in Japan. More than 75 Japanese refugees were expected to sail for the United States by late May.
• Pension for California Issei Up for Hearing, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Bill AB 2255 would extend California old age assistance to qualifying non-citizen Issei residents. It was scheduled for hearing before the Assembly Ways and Means Committee after receiving a do-pass from the Social Welfare Committee.
• Nisei Loyalty Not Sufficient Reason for Congressmen to Remove Race Issue from Hawaii Statehood Debate, by P.C. Staff, page 3. House debate on Hawaii and Alaska statehood, which failed 218 to 170, featured praise for Nisei loyalty alongside racial objections from opponents. Opponents cited non-white populations and alleged Japanese bloc voting in Hawaii.
• Supreme Court Rules Against Cemetery Refusing Burial Service, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Supreme Court dismissed a suit by a widow of a Korean War hero whose burial was refused at an Iowa cemetery because he was American Indian. The 5-3 decision reaffirmed the prior ruling, with the case dismissed because Iowa had since passed a law against racial discrimination in cemeteries.
• Washington Newsletter: Autopsy on Hawaiian Statehood, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. The House voted 218 to 170 to recommit the combined Hawaii-Alaska statehood bill, effectively killing it for the session. Masaoka describes the closed rule, the parliamentary maneuvers, and the partisan opposition that doomed the bill.

JACL

• Yokozeki Elected PSWDC Chairman; Over 250 Meet in Santa Barbara, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Over 250 delegates from 18 Pacific Southwest District chapters attended the Fiesta by the Sea convention in Santa Barbara. Attorney David Yokozeki was elected chairman, succeeding Ken Dyo.
• Chicago JACL Reports Membership Reaches 800, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Chicago JACL reached 800 members in a house-to-house canvass with a goal of 1,000. Membership chairman Bill Fujii and Issei division head George Teraoka led the effort.

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