Vol. 37, No. 19, November 6, 1953. 8 pages. View this issue
Honors for Hiroshi Miyamura and new rights for the Issei ran through the November 6, 1953 issue. Miyamura, the only living Nisei Medal of Honor winner, was feted at a Washington, D.C. JACL testimonial dinner, and Mike Masaoka described his visit, including the presentation by President Eisenhower. Nearly 100 naturalized Issei in San Francisco registered for a special election, and Harry K. Honda reported on the Denver chapter’s celebration of its newly naturalized citizens. The Justice Department also explained how it computes farm losses in evacuation claims.
Elsewhere in the eight pages, Lawrence Nakatsuka reported on Hawaii’s Cherry Blossom queen, Violet Niimi, and her tour of Japan. Tamotsu Murayama traced the history of Japanese postage stamps, and Bill Hosokawa wrote about his son’s first teen social. Other items cover Judge John F. Aiso’s testimonial dinner, upcoming JACL district conventions and the yen claims brief.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Nisei queen visits Japan, by By LAWRENCE NAKATSUKA, page 1. Hawaii’s 1953 Cherry Blossom queen Violet Niimi returned from a month-long tour of Japan with souvenirs and a broadened outlook on life. She was warmly welcomed in Honshu and Hokkaido and may assist with the 1954 Cherry Blossom Festival.
- S.F. Issei eligible to vote in elections, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Nearly 100 Issei naturalized in San Francisco registered for a special election, the first time a sizeable number of former Japanese aliens could vote in U.S. history. At least 75 registered at a special period arranged by the San Francisco JACL.
- Metropolitan Denver’s naturalized Issei honored by 200 at chapter fete, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Twenty Issei from the Denver area were honored as newly naturalized citizens at a potluck supper sponsored by the Mile-Hi JACL. Dignitaries including Justice Alter and Councilman Fresques congratulated them and urged civic participation.
- Mountain-Plains confab largest Thanksgiving weekend anticipated by Mile-Hi host chapter, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Mile-Hi JACL in Denver expects its Mountain Plains District Council convention, scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend, to draw a large crowd. Committee assignments and program highlights are outlined.
- No. Calif-Western Nevada confab; Issei meeting, elections scheduled, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Northern California-Western Nevada District Council convention in Stockton on Nov. 7-8 will include a chapter clinic led by National Director Masao Satow, an Issei meeting, and nominations for executive board vacancies.
- Placer County’s silver anniversary, by Haruo Ishimaru, page 5. The Placer County JACL chapter celebrates its 25th anniversary with its annual Goodwill Banquet, with National President George Inagaki as speaker. The chapter was one of eight original groups that formed the JACL in 1930.
- Judge John F. Aiso honored at testimonial dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Community leaders honored Municipal Court Judge John F. Aiso, the first mainland Nisei to gain a judicial post, at a Sunday testimonial dinner. Aiso spoke of the Nisei soldiers, parents, and community members who made his appointment possible.
Incarceration & Redress
- Government discloses method used to compute farm losses in evacuation claims, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Justice Department ruled that anticipated profits cannot be compensated under the Evacuation Claims Law, and it disclosed its method for calculating compensable crop losses. The JACL had urged judicial formulas, but the Government rejected them.
Military & Veterans
- Washington, D.C., JACLers honor Medal of Honor Nisei hero at testimonial, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Washington, D.C. JACL chapter honored Hiroshi Miyamura, the only living Nisei Medal of Honor winner, at a testimonial dinner. Miyamura spoke of his experiences as a prisoner of war in North Korea and of the importance of perfecting American democracy.
- Miyamura’s White House honor and Washington visit, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Hiroshi Miyamura received the Medal of Honor from President Eisenhower on Oct. 27 and participated in Nisei Memorial Day services at Arlington. Masaoka recounts Miyamura’s experiences in Korea and his POW captivity.
- Seabrook, N.J. welcomes Miyamura, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Medal of Honor winner Hiroshi Miyamura was welcomed at Seabrook Farm during a gathering of new Issei voters. The Shoemaker Post 95 of the Bridgeton American Legion presented him an American flag.
Commentary
- Community history project, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Honda praises the PC Holiday Issue’s tribute to Issei pioneers and the Livingston-Merced chapter’s effort to compile a community history from old-timers’ recollections and photographs. He urges every chapter to gather archival material before it is lost.
- Washington Newsletter: Miyamura and the Issei, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka describes Miyamura’s Washington visit, including the presentation of the Medal of Honor, a Nisei Memorial Day appearance, and reflections on his POW experience. He concludes that Miyamura embodies the Nisei commitment to America.
- Very truly yours: New citizens and the Issei, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Mrs. Kosuge at the Denver ceremony spoke of Issei who long believed they would return to Japan until their grandchildren made America their country. The Denver citizenship program is described.
- Fifteen fish that day, by Haruo Ishimaru, page 6. Ishimaru thanks JACL friends for condolences on the death of his father, an Issei born before the Meiji era. He describes his father’s peaceful death while fishing.
- Newsletter: Christmas project for needy Japanese American families, by Henry Mori, page 7. Henry Mori describes the sixth annual Christmas project launched to raise funds for needy Japanese American families. The program is spearheaded by the Club Service Bureau in Los Angeles.
- Claims filing, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial notes that the Justice Department requires evacuation claims to be received by the deadline, not merely postmarked as with income taxes. It suggests Congress could extend the filing date and praises JACL’s Washington representation.
- Humility, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial comments on Arthur Godfrey’s firing of Julius LaRosa for lacking humility and holds up Hiroshi Miyamura as the best example of that virtue. It contrasts the quiet humility of the Medal of Honor winner with the broadcaster’s usage.
- Public record, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial argues that the public must know how public officials exercise their authority, citing wrongful Massachusetts jailings. It praises a California law opening public records and meetings to the press and public.
- His first ‘teen social, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa describes his son’s first church teen-canteen social and reflects on how his own youth lacked such easy boy-girl interaction. He also recalls the Japanese children’s game Jan-ken-pon, which his kids learned as rock-paper-scissors.
- Vagaries, by Larry Tajiri, page 8. Tajiri’s column covers Bill Hosokawa’s Kentucky colonel commission, Joshua Logan’s plans to stage James Michener’s Sayonara, the Nisei roles in Teahouse of the August Moon, and reviews of From Here to Eternity and Yasuo Kuniyoshi’s final paintings.
- Decade ago: November 8, 1943, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A look back at news from November 1943, including the 100th Infantry’s Italian campaign, martial law and civil-rights incidents, and WRA observations on the Nisei. It also covers Japanese Americans in Utah and California and reports on a Chicago housing dispute involving a Negro family.
In-Depth
- Postage stamps of Japan, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 3. Murayama traces the history of Japan’s postage stamps from the first issues of 1871, proposed by Maejima, through postwar commemoratives. He describes the designs and the number of stamp issues by category.
National
- Northwest Airlines plans for trans-Pacific tourist fares blocked by Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Northwest Orient Airlines proposed tourist-class trans-Pacific fares at 70 percent of first-class rates, but Japanese civil aviation authorities filed opposition with the State Department. The airline says it will continue its efforts.
- National JACL submits brief opposing yen claims dismissal legislation, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The JACL’s legal counsel Frank Chuman argued in a brief that the Dirksen bill to dismiss yen claims is unconstitutional because it confiscates private deposits without due process. The claims involve up to $20,000,000 owed to 15,000 to 16,000 depositors.
JACL
- Chapter memo and Chicago news briefs, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Chicago JACL news includes Issei voter support for JACL, a new community history project, and several member achievements. The column also notes a Chicago chapter cabinet nomination process and newsletter exchanges.
- Endowment Fund contributors, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The National JACL Endowment Fund received $1,028 this week, bringing its total to $62,621.32, and a further $10,000 was placed in trust. Contributor lists by chapter are included.
- Director’s report: District Council conventions and special messages, by Masao W. Satow, page 5. National Director Satow reports on upcoming District Council conventions and explains the 1000 Club and National JACL Supporting Memberships. He also notes messages sent to Senator McCarran, Chief Justice Warren, and Dr. Galen Fisher.
- New appointments made for National JACL bowling group, by P.C. Staff, page 6. National JACL Director Masao Satow announced the new National JACL Advisory Board on Bowling, including reappointed and new members. He thanked retiring members for their contributions to Nisei bowling tournaments.
- Regional office services to the Pacific Southwest District Council, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Southwest regional office describes its free community services and its district-level support for the PSWDC and its chapters. It also covers the regional director’s role as business manager for the Pacific Citizen and his board and committee service.
Sports
- Leading bowlers of the week, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Standout bowling scores from around the country are reported, including Isao Kameshige’s 631 series in Ontario, Ore. The column also covers the New York Giants’ tour of Japan and Nisei judo and football participants.
Obituaries
- Keinosuke Ishimaru, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Keinosuke Ishimaru died of cerebral hemorrhage at Torrance General Hospital on Oct. 28, with funeral services at Los Angeles Union Church. He was a native of Kochi prefecture and is survived by family members.
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