George Shibata graduates from West Point; Go for Broke! opens

Vol. 32, No. 22, June 9, 1951. 8 pages. View this issue

George Shibata of Garland, Utah, led the news of June 9, 1951. He became the first Nisei to graduate from West Point and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force on June 5. Mike Masaoka presented him with a gift on behalf of the JACL. The MGM film Go for Broke! ran through the 8-page issue, with openings in Seattle, Sacramento and San Mateo, a story by writer-director Robert Pirosh, and local tributes to Nisei war dead. The House also passed an evacuation claims compromise by unanimous vote.

Elsewhere, the editorials looked at JACL-ADC bills in the California Legislature and at lagging JACL membership. Columns came from Bill Hosokawa, Mary Oyama and Jobo Nakamura, and Elmer R. Smith reviewed two books on intergroup relations. Page 7 carries sports from Fresno State baseball to a Chicago bowling tournament and judo in Berkeley.

What’s in this issue

Military & Veterans

• Utah Veteran Becomes First Nisei in History to Graduate from U.S. Military Academy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. George Shibata of Garland, Utah, became the first Nisei to graduate from West Point and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force on June 5. He was appointed by former Senator Elbert D. Thomas after JACL-ADC urged that a Nisei be selected.
• Father of Hero Helps Dedicate New Memorial, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Koshiro Furukawa, a Seattle Issei whose son Sgt. Isaac Furukawa, a 442nd veteran, was killed in Korea, joined the commanding officer of Fort Lawton in placing wreaths at the dedication of Freedom Grove on May 30. Forty-eight UN flags from the 1945 San Francisco charter convention were displayed at the ceremony.
• War Veteran Asks Issei Naturalization at Seattle Premiere, by P.C. Staff, page 1. At the Seattle opening of Go for Broke!, Nisei veteran Shiro Kashino urged passage of legislation making Japan-born parents of Nisei servicemen eligible for naturalization, drawing applause. Other veterans interviewed included Kaun Onodera and Albert Ichihara.
• Utah War Veteran Returns from Korea, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sgt. Saige Aramaki of Magna, Utah, a World War II veteran, is among combat veterans returning from Korea aboard the General M.C. Meigs to Seattle on June 9 under the army rotation program.
• JACL Wreath Placed on Tomb of Unknown GI at Arlington, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Washington JACL members placed flowers on the graves of 20 Nisei war dead at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day and laid a JACL wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Photos of each decorated grave were sent to the next of kin.
• Cleveland Veterans March in Parade, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Cleveland Nisei veterans Roy Matchida and Sam Fujikawa participated in the Memorial Day parade, an event the local JACL described as another step in publicizing Go For Broke!. The veterans’ participation was part of the film’s promotional efforts.

National

• Effort to Revive FEPC Proposal Loses in Assembly, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Assemblyman Edward Elliott’s June 4 motion to withdraw the Rumford FEPC bill from committee failed on a 27-33 roll call vote, short of the 41 needed. The bill had earlier been killed in committee by a 15-3 vote.
• Ruling in Test Case Inspires California Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Senate Joint Resolution 8 was introduced in response to the Fujii v. California Alien Land Law decision, which held the law invalid under the UN Declaration of Human Rights. The resolution also asks Congress to require two-thirds of the entire Senate for treaty ratification.
• Evacuation Claims Compromise Settlement Proposal Passes House by Unanimous Vote, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House passed without dissent a JACL ADC-approved amendment allowing the Attorney General to settle evacuation claims up to three-fourths of their value or $2,500 without full adjudication. The measure now goes to the Senate, where Mike Masaoka expects more difficulty.
• Congress Considers Recess Despite Legislative Inactivity, by I. H. Gordon, page 3. Congress is considering a six-week recess despite having passed only three bills since January, with the JACL ADC-sponsored extension of the Soldier Brides Act among pending measures. Mike Masaoka said Congress appears inclined to act only on real emergency legislation.

Community

• Revived Chaplain Tour Planned for Rev. Masao Yamada, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National JACL will sponsor a speaking tour by Rev. Masao Yamada, former 442nd chaplain, through key cities, as announced by National JACL 2nd vice-president Tom Hayashi. Yamada’s itinerary runs from New York City in mid-June to Los Angeles in early July.
• Haruo Ishimaru Takes JACL-ADC Post on Coast, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Haruo Ishimaru assumed duties as head of the West Coast JACL regional office in San Francisco, succeeding acting director Sam Ishikawa. Ishimaru is a religious and young people’s leader active in JACL and YMCA work.
• Pilot Faces Charge of Stealing Plane, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Tsutomi Ben Hori, 23, was booked in Culver City on suspicion of stealing a light plane from the Kern County Pilots Association. He told police he flew south to rid himself of ghosts and made a forced landing when the plane ran out of fuel.
• Deputy U.S. Attorney Post Given Veteran of Nisei Combat Team, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles attorney James K. Mitsumori was appointed Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, believed to be the first Nisei in that position. A 442nd veteran and University of Michigan graduate, he will be assigned to the criminal complaints division.
• New York Chapter Announces Dance, Summer Outings, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The New York JACL announced a pre-Fourth of July dance and two summer outings under its new social committee led by Fujio Saito. The weekly Open House at the Japanese Methodist Church will resume June 14.
• Fresno Nisei Memorial Dedicated, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A monument honoring 23 Japanese Americans killed in World War II was dedicated on Memorial Day in Roeding Park, with about 200 attending. Speaker Donald L. Warner praised the Nisei combat record and warned of political discord threatening national security.
• Detroiters See Studio Showing of Go For Broke, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Detroit JACL cabinet members and Nisei Amvets attended a preview of Go For Broke! on June 1 along with local civic leaders. Veterans of the 442nd were invited as guests to the June 8 opening, and souvenirs were displayed in the lobby.
• Los Angeles Official Reports Few Calls for Oriental Children, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Lawrence Schreiber of the Los Angeles County Bureau of Adoptions said there are few Japanese adoptive applicants despite nine Oriental children needing homes. He invited interested couples to contact the bureau before its June 13 open house.
• San Jose Plans Special GFB Showing for Issei, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The United Citizens League is arranging an early-morning showing of Go For Broke! on June 30 at the Studio Theater in San Jose for the benefit of the Issei. The UCL is also compiling a list of former 442nd members.
• Nisei Woman Lawyer Opens New Office in Wall Street, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Tsuneko Tokuyasu, the first Nisei woman to pass the New York State bar examination, opened a law office at 387 Wall Street with Francis J. Columbia. A graduate of Colorado State College of Education and Brooklyn College, she passed the bar at age 24.
• Open Nominations for Annual Pvt. Ben Masaoka Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Nominations are open for the 1951 Pvt. Ben Masaoka Memorial Scholarship worth $200, administered by National JACL at the request of his mother Haruye Masaoka. Candidates must be Nisei high school graduates planning to attend college and must be nominated by a chapter by June 30.
• Prospects Dim for JACL-ADC Proposals as Adjournment Nears in California Legislature, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL-ADC bills in the California Legislature face dimming prospects as the June 23 adjournment approaches, according to legislative director Tats Kushida. Bills addressing escheat reimbursement, liquor licenses, and fishing fees remain pending.
• Governor Long Fails in Effort to Appoint Nisei Member to Police Commission on Oahu, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 3. Hawaii Governor Oren Long’s attempts to appoint a Nisei to the Oahu police commission failed after Territorial Senate Democrats objected to the nominees, Dan Aoki and Joseph Itagaki. Long eventually withdrew Aoki’s nomination after senators complained he was a night club bouncer.
• Thirteen Nisei Receive Degrees at Fresno State, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Thirteen Nisei graduated from Fresno State College at its fortieth commencement on June 8, with Dr. George L. Cross of the University of Oklahoma as speaker. Several graduates were recognized for their achievements in journalism, business, and biology.
• Nisei Veterans Honored at Opening of MGM Film in Sacramento, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Civic and military leaders joined the Sacramento Nisei community to honor war dead at the June 6 opening of Go for Broke! at the Fox Senator Theater. The Sacramento JACL, Florin JACL, and Nisei VFW Post 8985 hosted a dinner for Gold Star mothers.
• Nisei Grocer Wins Fight to Buy Store, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Albert T. Hirota and his brother-in-law H. Yonenaka overcame a restrictive covenant threat and prejudice to open a grocery store in Bell Gardens, California. The Los Angeles County Committee on Human Relations assisted in resolving the dispute.
• Disregard Racial Background, Nisei School Graduates Told, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Bernard Mainwaring, editor of the Idaho Free Press, told Snake River JACL graduates at Ontario, Oregon, to pursue any career regardless of race. He urged them to accept responsibility to their minority group as citizens.
• Venice Chapter Holds Installation, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Venice JACL installed its 1951 cabinet at the Moose Lodge in Santa Monica on June 8, with Dr. Roy Nishikawa, National JACL treasurer, presiding. Kenichi Onishi was installed as president.

Arts & Entertainment

• Emmons to Join in Nisei Tribute at GFB Opening, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Gen. Delos Emmons will take part in a tribute to Nisei war dead at the Peninsula Theater in San Mateo on June 17, opening day of the MGM film Go For Broke!. Local Gold Star mothers and combat team veterans will be featured in the service.
• Writer-Director Tells Story Behind MGM’s Go for Broke!, by Robert Pirosh, page 4. Writer-director Robert Pirosh describes how the film Go for Broke! came together, including the difficulty of finding Nisei actors with professional experience. Mike Masaoka advised on the project, and the studio cast veterans and unknowns in lead roles.

JACL

• Masaoka Will Take Part in Fund Campaign, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Masaoka will leave Washington for Hawaii to keynote the JACL ADC fund drive, with stops including a San Francisco meeting with Issei and Sacramento hearings on the Issei pension bill. Sam Ishikawa has already arranged talks in Honolulu and other cities.

Commentary

• Remedial Measures, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial argues that JACL ADC-sponsored bills in the California legislature, including escheat refunds, liquor license returns, and Issei pension eligibility, deserve passage as remedial measures. It notes that California’s legislators are now more focused on the merits of bills than on the ancestry of those affected.
• No Time for Complacency, by P.C. Staff, page 4. JACL membership in 1951 lags behind 1950 figures, with 8,240 members as of May 8 compared to 10,061 the previous year. The editorial urges Nisei to support naturalization and evacuation claims legislation while legislators remain sympathetic.
• Saturday Afternoon, by Jobo Nakamura, page 4. A narrator meets a friend who describes falling in love with a Nisei girl he glimpsed in a San Francisco record department. The friend hesitated to approach her and afterward searched for her without success.
• Fast First Ramblings, by Mary Oyama, page 4. Mary Oyama reflects on Little Tokyo in Los Angeles as seen by Nisei professionals and residents, and on the Japanese vocabulary she and friends use. She describes buying a Kabuki book and learning about the Japanese drama magazine Maku-mae.
• Box-Score on Race Relations: New Stuart Chase Book Gives Insight Into Group Activities, by Elmer R. Smith, page 5. Elmer Smith reviews Stuart Chase’s Roads to Agreement, which describes research and methods for improving group discussion and intergroup relations. He emphasizes the importance of citizen participation in democratic decision-making.
• We, the American People, by Elmer R. Smith, page 5. Smith reviews Marguerite Ann Stewart’s book on ethnic groups in America, praising its accessible storytelling but criticizing its brief coverage. He notes the book omits Japanese Americans entirely despite extensive available research.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Bill Hosokawa describes his seven-year-old daughter Susan winning two blue ribbons at a school track meet and his son Mike’s first overnight camping trip. He also notes Mike’s plans to visit his grandfather in Seattle.

Sports

• Palo Alto Has a Future Track Star, by Mits Mihara, page 6. Yosh Kumagai, an eighth-grader in Palo Alto, set a new Junior Olympics high jump record at 4 feet 11¼ inches. He is the younger brother of track star Floyd Kumagai.
• Name Hirayama To Conference All-Star Team, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Fibber Hirayama, captain of Fresno State’s baseball champions, was named to the first team outfield on the all-California Collegiate Athletic Association team for the second straight year. He led the conference in stolen bases this year after leading in batting last year.
• Tominaga Hurls Springfield Into U.S. Playoffs, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Henry Tominaga, a Honolulu sophomore, pitched Springfield College to the New England zone NCAA championship with a 2-0 victory over Brown. The win qualified Springfield for the NCAA tournament starting in Omaha.
• Chikami Named Top Player in Nevada Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Jim Chikami, catcher for the Levy-Zentner team, was named outstanding player as his squad won the first annual Sparks invitational softball tournament in Reno on June 3. The team defeated Dune’s Bar 5-0 in the finals.
• San Francisco Team Wins First AAU Judo Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The San Francisco Judo Dojo won the first AAU-sanctioned judo tournament in Berkeley on June 3, edging the host Berkeley YMCA team. San Jose State and the Stockton Dojo tied for third.
• Rosecoe Garage Wins Team Event in 1st Midwest JACL Bowling Tourney in Chicago, by Ray Tsurui, page 7. Roscoe Garage of Chicago won the team event at the first annual Midwest JACL bowling tournament held June 2-3 at Hyde Park Bowl. Eleven Chicago teams and two from Cleveland competed, with Jun Oishi taking men’s singles.
• Season’s Biggest Crowd Sees Placer JACL Defeat Auburn, by Homer Y. Takahashi, page 7. Placer JACL defeated Auburn 11-4 before the season’s largest crowd, moving into second place in the Placer-Nevada League. George Goto pitched six shutout innings, and shortstop Bob Kozaiku had a strong defensive game.

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