Issei citizenship classes and the new immigration law, January 1953

Vol. 36, No. 1, January 2, 1953. 8 pages. View this issue

The new immigration law shaped much of this eight-page issue. In San Francisco, the first citizenship course taught in Japanese under a city public school was set to graduate about 15 Issei. The President’s Commission on Immigration and Naturalization urged that the McCarran-Walter Act be revised, and Mike Masaoka cautioned Issei to understand the law before filing applications. Dick Akagi answered Dr. Hayakawa’s criticisms of the act, and an editorial called naturalization a gift each Issei must claim.

Also inside: Saburo Kido wrote about a month in postwar Japan, and Guyo Tajiri described travels in Mexico. Harry K. Honda listed his top ten news stories of 1952. Watsonville Nisei veteran James Yoshida, refused a haircut, sought legal action. Chapters installed new officers, and the sports pages covered bowling, basketball and boxing.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Issei Citizenship Course Graduation Set in San Francisco, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The first Japanese-language citizenship course run by a U.S. city public school will graduate about 15 Issei this Sunday at the First Evangelical Reformed Church in San Francisco. Organizers also announced new registration for the next series of classes starting in January.
• Texas School Teacher to Be First Japanese Alien Naturalized, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Elementary school teacher Mrs. Kimie Yanagawa of El Paso is expected to be the first Japanese alien naturalized under the new Immigration and Nationality Act. She filed her petition after the Truman veto was overridden.
• Mt. View Issei Oku Family Gives $500 to JACL in Memory of Pioneer, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The family of pioneer Unosuke Oku presented a $500 check to the JACL to establish a pioneer memorial fund for Japanese Americans in Northern California. Masuji Fujii and Haruo Ishimaru accepted the gift.
• Chicago Resettlers Accept Mrs. Iiyama’s Resignation, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Chicago Resettlers Committee accepted the resignation of Mrs. Chizu Iiyama, who served as associate director for two years. She is returning to graduate studies at the University of Chicago.
• Li’l Tokio Due for Face Lifting as New Buildings Break Ground, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mayor Bowron broke ground for new police and health-hospital buildings in Los Angeles civic center development near Li’l Tokio. East First Street between Main and San Pedro will be widened to 80 feet.
• Midwest JACL Moves to Northside, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Midwest JACL regional office moved from its Loop location to 1200 N. Clark St. after January 1, 1953, to reduce costs and better serve local needs. The office will serve as regional headquarters and the Chicago Chapter Credit Union headquarters.
• Pasadena JACL Picks Jiro Oishi President, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Jiro Oishi was elected 1953 president of the Pasadena JACL chapter at its annual Christmas party attended by over 120 people. He will be assisted by a full slate of officers.
• Placer County JACL Installs Tad Yego as President, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The newly elected Placer County JACL cabinet headed by Tad Yego was installed at the year-end dance at Loomis Memorial Hall. Homer Takahashi is the retiring president.
• Boise Valley JACL Chapter Names George Nishitani President, by P.C. Staff, page 4. George Nishitani was announced as 1953 president of the Boise Valley JACL chapter. He will be assisted by a slate of vice presidents and officers.
• Dillon Myer Installs D.C. Chapter’s 1953 Cabinet, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Dillon Myer, former WRA director, installed the 1953 cabinet of the Washington D.C. JACL chapter. Rikio Kumagai was the retiring president and Furukawa was elected to succeed him.
• Yellowstone JACL Installs 1953 Cabinet at Rexburg, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Masayoshi Fujimoto was elected president of the Yellowstone JACL chapter at a meeting in Rexburg, Idaho. The new cabinet was installed by State Sen. J. Kenneth Thatcher.
• San Benito County JACL Preps for District Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 4. San Benito County JACL president Tom Shimonishi announced plans for the Northern California-Western Nevada JACL District Council quarterly meeting on February 8. A dinner event is planned at the San Juan Bautista JACL Hall.

JACL

• CINO Convention Adopts Resolutions and Elects New Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 2nd California Intercollegiate Nisei Organization convention adopted resolutions calling for more intercollegiate social and sports activities and leadership training. Homer Ren Hatsui was elected state president, and Janet Fukuda was crowned Miss Nisei Co-Ed.
• Reorganize Washington JACL Office, by P.C. Staff, page 4. National JACL president George Inagaki announced that Mike Masaoka will be retained on a part-time basis as Washington legislative consultant. The reorganization was driven by economic needs and the achievement of major legislative goals.
• Washington JACL Chapter Joins Fight Against D.C. School Segregation, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Washington D.C. JACL chapter joined 40 civil rights groups in a friend of the court brief challenging school segregation in the District before the U.S. Supreme Court. The brief argues that racial separation of schoolchildren has no constitutional warrant.

National

• Thorough Revision of Immigration Act Recommended to President, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The President’s Commission on Immigration and Naturalization urged that the McCarran-Walter Act be reconsidered and revised. The report condemns national origins quotas and proposes a unified quota system and a permanent commission to allocate visas.
• Caution Issei Filing for McCarran Law Benefits, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL Legislative Consultant Mike Masaoka warned Issei not to rush into applications under the new immigration law without understanding its qualifications and consequences. He advised anyone with questions about their status to consult an attorney.

Obituaries

• Southland Mourns Accidental Death of San Diegan Dr. George Hara, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. George Hara, a popular San Diego dentist and former chapter president of the San Diego JACL, died accidentally by pistol wound on December 26. He is survived by his widow Miye and son Gerry.
• Dr. Hara, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial mourns the sudden death of Dr. George Hara, a stalwart of JACL and ADC work in San Diego. It recalls his civic relationships and his role in helping the Japanese American community grow after the war.

Commentary

• Erasure of Racial Restrictions Would Be Meaningless if Delayed, by Dick Akagi, page 2. Dick Akagi responds to Dr. Hayakawa’s criticisms of the new immigration act, defending the removal of racist nationality restrictions as more important than side procedural issues. He also rebuts charges of racial isolationism against the JACL.
• Journey Through Japan, by Saburo Kido, page 2. Saburo Kido describes his one-month trip to postwar Japan and is struck by the rapid reconstruction and industry of the people. He notes the cultural heritage and the lack of visible bombing damage in Tokyo and Hiroshima.
• Truly Yours—News, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Harry K. Honda lists his top ten news stories of 1952, including the Walter-McCarran Act, compromise evacuation claims, and the Japanese peace treaty. He also previews upcoming changes for the Pacific Citizen.
• El Sur La Frontera, by Guyo Tajiri, page 5. Guyo Tajiri describes travels in Mexico, contrasting poverty and new growth, the warmth of local hosts, and the tourist’s experience. He reflects on Mexican attitudes toward American tourists and Mexican Nisei who hid during the war.
• Issei Citizenship Gift from Uncle Sam, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial compares the new naturalization privileges for Issei under the Walter-McCarran Act to a Christmas gift that must be individually claimed. It notes that Japanese American communities are holding Americanization classes to help Issei accept it.
• New Year Wishes, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial extends New Year wishes to readers and predicts a critical year ahead, with the draft expanding, a new administration in January, and the McCarran-Walter Act due for review. It notes the cold war and Korean war will continue to shape lives.
• Spadeful of Dirt, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial reports on the Los Angeles civic center groundbreaking and notes the JACL Regional Office will sit across from the new police facilities building. It argues the location keeps the JACL close to political and civic activity in the area’s largest Japanese American community.
• Is This a Silly World?, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bill Hosokawa observes German-speaking refugee women on a Denver bus and reflects that white newcomers enjoy privileges denied to a native-born Negro man sharing the same seat. He concludes the racial double standard makes the world seem silly.
• Honolulu Newsletter: Made in Japan Toys, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 8. Lawrence Nakatsuka discusses the abundance of Japan-made Christmas toys in Honolulu and corrects an Atlantic Monthly claim that American children would not play with Japanese toys. He cites Japanese trade statistics showing the United States as Japan’s largest toy customer.

Military & Veterans

• Watsonville Vet Refused Haircut Seeks to Push Court Case, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Hawaiian Nisei veteran James Yoshida was refused a haircut by a Watsonville barber, and he has retained attorney Mas Yonemura to pursue legal action under California civil rights code. The JACL and local supporters back his effort.
• Townsend Harris Legionnaires Condemn Watsonville Barber, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The all-Nisei Townsend Harris Post of the American Legion condemned the Watsonville barber’s refusal of service to Nisei veteran James Yoshida. Commander Fred Tsujimoto pledged continued cooperation with the JACL for equality.
• Nisei Veteran Mail Clerk Passes Ammo to Buddies in Korea, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Pfc. Herbert H. Umeda of Sacramento, a mail clerk in the 7th Infantry Division, carried ammunition and supplies to front-line foxholes during the battle for Triangle Hill. He is a former student at Sacramento State College.
• Nisei Qualifies for Submarine Duty, Now Second Japanese American to Wear Silver Dolphins, by P.C. Staff, page 3. New York Nisei David K. Iwatsu earned his silver dolphins qualifying him for submarine duty aboard the USS Tang at Pearl Harbor. He is the second American sailor of Japanese descent to earn this distinction.

Sports

• Nisei Keglers Win San Jose City Team Title with 3117, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A group of Nisei keglers from Mayfair Nursery won the men’s 18th annual San Jose City Bowling tournament with a 3117 total. Johnny Kasano and George Sakamoto led the team.
• North-South Cage Series Called Off, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Northern California Nisei Athletic Union discontinued the annual North-South basketball series for the first time since 1947. Participation in AA basketball fell to only four teams.
• Dan Horiuchi Scores First-Round KO in Amateur Boxing, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Dan Horiuchi scored a first-round knockout over Eddie McConnell in a main event at Oahu’s Amateur Boxing Association card at Civic Auditorium. Another Nisei fighter, James Oda, was stopped after 43 seconds.
• UCLANs Nab CINO Casaba Crown, by P.C. Staff, page 6. UCLA won the CINO basketball championship by defeating East Los Angeles JC 42 to 34 at Dorsey High School. Steve Yee led UCLA with 12 points.
• Oregon Nisei Men and Women’s Bowling Tournament Awards $1,700, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The third annual Oregon Nisei men and women’s bowling tournament distributed over $1,700 in awards and trophies to winners. Event winners in team, singles, doubles, and all-events categories were listed.

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.