Evacuation claims amendments, civil rights hearings and a Nisei film prize

Vol. 41, No. 12, September 16, 1955. 8 pages. View this issue

Plans for the evacuation claims law and for Senate civil rights hearings ran through this eight-page issue. JACL and COJAEC will present six amendments to the claims law at House hearings in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Mike Masaoka reported. A Senate subcommittee on civil rights will hear eleven citizen spokesmen on Constitution Day, and Masaoka’s column urged Buddhist groups to testify about the wartime suspicions of their loyalty. Larry Tajiri’s front-page piece told how Sueo and Ikuo Serisawa’s short film Bunka won first prize in the art division at the Cleveland Film Festival.

Other pages have Bill Hosokawa on football practice with his son, Tamotsu Murayama on the reaction in Japan to Blackboard Jungle, and an editorial on a revived Ku Klux Klan. Chapter news covers Chicago, St. Louis, Stockton and Long Beach-Harbor, and Harry Honda’s column prepared readers for the Christmas Holiday Issue.

What’s in this issue

In-Depth

• Serisawa Bros. Production: ‘Bunka’, by Larry Tajiri, page 1. Bunka, a short film on Japanese culture produced by Sueo and Ikuo Serisawa, won first prize in the art division at the Cleveland Film Festival. The article also recounts the Serisawas’ 1934 feature Nisei Parade, the first film made by and for Nisei.

Commentary

• More on 1955 Holiday Issue, by Harry Honda, page 1. Chapter presidents will receive a packet for soliciting holiday advertising and one-line greetings for the Christmas Holiday Issue. The column urges readers to submit greetings early and notes that advertising can help trace long-lost friends.
• From the Frying Pan: Football Practice 20 Years Later, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa describes teaching his teenage son Mike blocking and tackling and realizing he is too old for body contact drills. He then recounts a Utah visit with novelist Alladine Bell, who recalled teaching Hawaiian students and the pidgin pronunciation of her name.
• Tokyo Topics: Blackboard Jungle cheapens U.S. in eyes of Japanese, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. MGM’s Blackboard Jungle has prompted Japanese PTAs, school boards and the press to restrict student viewing after a stabbing incident imitating the film. The columnist argues the movie damages American prestige in Japan.
• The Sou’wester: Japanese lesson: Shika (stag), by Tats Kushida, page 6. Kushida offers a playful lesson on the Japanese word shika (stag) and its etymology in a witty column. He also complains about red tape delaying JACL access to Issei pension forms.
• Editorials: KKK revived, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editors condemn a revived Ku Klux Klan that now targets Communism along with Negroes, Jews and Catholics. They argue that bigotry is incompatible with Christian faith.
• Washington Newsletter: Set record straight on Buddhism during civil rights hearings, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. The Senate Civil Rights Subcommittee plans hearings on religious freedom, and Masaoka urges Buddhist groups to testify about wartime suspicions of their loyalty. He notes that the JACL defended Buddhist Nisei and that Shinto temple listings raise concerns.

National

• Immigration on rise under 1952 Act, says Rep. Walter, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Preliminary Justice Department figures show admissions of immigrants and nonimmigrants rose by 83,746 in fiscal 1955 over 1954. Rep. Francis Walter credited the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act with allowing the increase.
• Senate query on civil rights opens Sept. 17, by Helen Mineta, page 1. A Senate Subcommittee on Civil Rights will hear eleven citizen spokesmen on Constitution Day about threats to Bill of Rights guarantees. The inquiry will include cases of denied military commissions and grants.
• Six amendments to be proposed at next claims hearings, by P.P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL and COJAEC will present six substantive amendments to the evacuation claims law at House Judiciary Subcommittee hearings in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Mike Masaoka says expert witnesses will explain congressional intent behind each amendment.
• Threat to ban all U.S. movies made by Japanese theater-owner, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Giichi Kono, president of the Theater Owners Federation in Tokyo, threatened to ban American films unless Japanese can reject undesirable pictures. The move followed protests over Blackboard Jungle and House of Bamboo.

Military & Veterans

• Ex-442 chaplain given Univ. of Hawaii post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rev. Masao Yamada, the first Nisei chaplain of World War II, resigned his Hilo pastorate to join the Hawaiian Evangelical Association at the University of Hawaii. He will serve the religious and social life of Congregational students there.
• Nisei Legionnaire in state-level post, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Soichi Fukui, commander of Commodore Perry Post 525, was appointed to the American Legion California Department Americanism Commission for three years starting January 1. The appointment expands Japanese American representation at the state level.

JACL

• Blessings of Liberty: topic of 10th annual National Conference on Citizenship; JACL to be represented, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The JACL will attend the National Conference on Citizenship in Washington, D.C., Sept. 19-21 under the theme ‘Blessings of Liberty.’ Discussion will address whether civil liberties are eroding through neglect or direct attack.

Community

• ‘Downed’ aircraft found in 1 hr. 40 min. in Nebraska civil air patrol drill, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Nebraska Civil Air Patrol members located a simulated downed T-33 jet in one hour and 40 minutes during a search and rescue exercise near North Platte. Capt. Albert Kushihashi served as mission commander.
• Chicago Corner, by Smoky Sakurada, page 4. The Chicago JACL 1000 Club golf tournament is set for Sept. 25, and the chapter will dramatize housing discrimination at its Oct. 14 meeting. Chicago Nisei Post 1183 also served as honor color guards at the Illinois American Legion convention.
• Distict plans Dec. 4 confab, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Central California District Council chapter presidents will meet in Selma to select committees for the December 4 convention in Fresno. The council also discussed Issei difficulties obtaining state old age assistance after overseas travel.
• St. Louis JACL to honor Issei citizens Sept. 24, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The St. Louis JACL will hold a banquet on September 24 honoring all naturalized Issei citizens in the area. Caucasian friends who assisted Japanese Americans during relocation are also invited as guests.
• Role of JACL in community, says solicitor, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Long Beach-Harbor JACL president Easy Fujimoto reports that Issei are increasingly aware of the need for a unified JACL. He notes that canvassing with Nikkeijinkai leaders revealed a sizable Japanese resident population in the Harbor area.
• Stockton JACL interest in Girl Scouts mounting, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Interest in a Nisei girl scout troop in Stockton has grown, and the chapter may sponsor a troop and later a Brownie group. A meeting with Girl Scouts Council director Kathryn Kemp is scheduled.
• Dateline Northwest: Marriage report at the 11/2-year mark, by Budd Fukei, page 5. Columnist Budd Fukei reflects on his happy marriage of 1½ years and his wife’s bargain-hunting habits. The column also comments on housing discrimination in Seattle and a book about Japanese Americans in World War II.
• Nisei woman doctor discovers palms may indicate heart defects in children, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Dr. Irene Uchida of Toronto reported that a peculiar palm pattern appears in up to 75 percent of mongoloid children and in many children with heart defects. The finding may aid earlier diagnosis.

Sports

• Fiest Nisei grid star finally reported, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Sam Takeshita scored a touchdown for Ontario High in a non-conference opener, and also ran a 71-yard reverse play. Ken Fujii of Reno is also expected to see significant time at quarterback for the University of Nevada.

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