The 1950 holiday issue: Nisei stories, Go for Broke and JACL chapter reports

Vol. 31, No. 25, December 23, 1950. 64 pages. View this issue

Short fiction, profiles and a year in review filled this 64-page holiday issue from 1950. Mike Masaoka was named Nisei of the Year, and I. H. Gordon profiled him. Hisaye Yamamoto, Toshio Mori and Allan Beekman each contributed a story. A report described MGM’s making of Go For Broke, with more than 200 442nd veterans playing themselves. Bill Hosokawa wrote about the atomic bomb, and William Barker profiled Hosokawa’s work at the Denver Post.

More than a dozen JACL chapters, among them Chicago, Denver, Cleveland, Spokane and Salinas, reported on their 1950 activities, and Min Yasui wrote about race relations in Denver. I. H. Gordon also looked at delays in the Evacuation Claims program. About 59 of the issue’s 64 pages carry holiday greetings.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• The New Year, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial reflects on the JACL’s completion of its second decade and the objectives achieved, such as ending restrictive immigration and alien land laws. It argues the Nisei must now pursue larger goals like ending racial covenants and establishing fair employment practices.
• Perils of the Classifieds, by Mitsu Yasuda, page 10. A humorous first-person account of a Nisei woman seeking work in New York through a classified ad, encountering a pornography request, an unusual employer, and eventually a legitimate job. The piece touches on gender and racial assumptions in the job market.
• Two Arguments in Search of a Resting Place, by Richard Akagi, page 12. A satirical allegory in which two abstract Arguments inhabit the skull of a Japanese American man named Taro, who becomes a critic of the JACL. The story ends with the mocking moral that some people should wear hats to hide their skulls.
• A Nisei Views the A-Bomb, by Bill Hosokawa, page 14. Hosokawa recounts a conversation with a Hiroshima survivor and argues that the atomic bomb saved lives by ending the war. He contends that using all available weapons, including the A-bomb, may be justified in the Korean conflict.
• Dentist on Horseback, by P.C. Staff, page 23. Profile of Dr. Toyo Shimizu, a Nisei dentist who served Indian reservations in Arizona after wartime evacuation. The article describes his travels by horseback and his career at the Navajo medical center.
• Canadian Nisei and the JCCA, by George Tanaka, page 27. The JCCA national secretary describes the struggles of Canadian Nisei against restrictive laws and evacuation losses, and their growing civic participation. The article calls for cultural pluralism and peace through community engagement.
• Sukiyaki and Philosophy, by William Kochiyama, page 37. Profile of Kazuhei Tsukada, owner of the Miyako Restaurant in New York, whose sukiyaki restaurant became a cultural bridge. The article traces his immigration, business struggles, and support for Japanese students.

Community

• Nisei of the Year, by I. H. Gordon, page 2. Profile of Mike Masaoka, named Nisei of the Year at the 1950 JACL convention, covering his speaking ability, early career, and role as Washington lobbyist. The article traces his rise from Salt Lake City to national JACL leadership and his service with the 442nd.
• They Need Your Help, by John Yoshino, page 20. Discusses the needs of aged Issei, including housing, medical care, and welfare services, and calls for JACL involvement through surveys and advisory committees. It suggests a home for the aged as a possible memorial project.
• Katie Kawamura: Occupation Newspaperwoman, by P.C. Staff, page 35. Profile of Katie Kawamura, bureau chief of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel in Delta, Colorado. She covers news across two counties and describes the challenges of being a woman in journalism.
• Design’s the Thing, by Louise Suski, page 36. Profiles three Nisei costume designers in Chicago, Doris Ito, Mrs. Kow Kaneko, and Tuney Otani, who run their own dress design businesses. Their work gained attention at the national JACL convention fashion show.
• Chicago Marks Convention as Year’s Biggest Event, by Louise Suski, page 41. Reviews the Chicago JACL chapter’s 1950 achievements, including hosting the national convention and reaching over 1,000 members. The article details chapter activities such as membership drives and events.

In-Depth

• Society’s Lost Children, by Emi Kimura Fujii, page 3. An examination of the difficulty of placing Japanese American children for adoption and foster care in Chicago, with analysis of social, cultural, and economic obstacles. The article profiles a successful adoption case and urges community support for child welfare.
• Minnesota’s Walter H. Judd: ‘Mr. Justice’, by Peter Ohtaki, page 11. Profile of Congressman Walter H. Judd of Minnesota, a former medical missionary in China who authored the Judd immigration and naturalization bill. The article describes his internationalist views and support for Asian and minority rights.

Arts & Entertainment

• It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, by Al T. Miyadi, page 5. A dramatic short story narrated by a Japanese American couple caught in an atomic bombing in Hiroshima, describing the chaos and their struggle to survive. The narrative ends with reflection on lost life and an uncertain future.
• Metro Goes for Broke, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Report on MGM’s production of the film Go For Broke, shot in the San Jacinto mountains with more than 200 442nd veterans playing themselves. The article describes the cast of Nisei veterans and the film’s depiction of the Lost Battalion rescue.
• A Tree in the Front Window, by Allan Beekman, page 15. A Christmas short story set in Honolulu about a family conflict over placing a Christmas tree in the front window where a father’s favorite chair sits. The quarrel between husband and wife is resolved when their daughter’s joy reconciles them.
• Bill Hosokawa, War Reporter, by William Barker, page 26. Profile of Bill Hosokawa’s rise at the Denver Post from copy-reader to acting editor of its Empire magazine, and his Korean War reporting. The article highlights his editorial skill and the paper’s hiring without regard to race.
• Join Me in Laughter, by Toshio Mori, page 33. A grandmother narrates reflections on her children leaving home, an unpleasant encounter with a drunk man at a grocery, and kindness from strangers. She concludes that life should be lived with courage and laughter.

National

• The Wilshire Bus, by Hisaye Yamamoto, page 17. A short story about Esther Kuroiwa riding a Los Angeles bus to visit her injured husband, where she witnesses a drunk man’s racist harangue against a Chinese couple. Esther’s failure to speak up leaves her troubled.
• Democracy in Living, by P.C. Staff, page 25. Describes the Maryknoll Kindergarten in Seattle, a school teaching racial tolerance with diverse children, and its history among Japanese Americans. It recounts the school’s growth and Father Tibesar’s wartime and postwar work promoting democracy.

Military & Veterans

• The Nisei in Utah, by Elmer R. Smith, page 19. A progress report on Japanese Americans in Utah after the wartime resettlement, covering employment, the university, businesses, and community acceptance. The article notes the state’s relatively positive reception of evacuees.

JACL

• Credit Union Story (Continued) and Coachella Valley Reports, by P.C. Staff, page 36. Coachella Valley JACL’s 1950 year included a new cabinet, a float in the Riverside county fair parade, and an Issei appreciation movie. The chapter also ran a successful Pacific Citizen holiday advertising campaign.
• Credit Union Story: The JACL in Business, by P.C. Staff, page 41. Describes the Salt Lake City JACL credit union, founded in 1943 by Hito Okada, which has grown to over $100,000 in savings and nearly $250,000 in loans. The article explains its operations and member benefits.
• Eastbay Chapter Lists Activities During Year, by Emiko Mizutani, page 44. Describes the Eastbay JACL’s 1950 program, including its membership drive, new constitution, convention delegation, and cultural events such as a piano recital. The chapter also formed committees to aid Nisei employment.
• Dayton Chapter Highlights, by Lois Toyama, page 44. Describes the Dayton JACL’s rapid growth of 50 percent, its speaker series, a Hallowe’en dinner-dance, and participation in the Midwest convention. Chapter leaders are listed.
• San Benito JACL Publishes Cooperation in City Events, by James Iwata, page 45. Reviews the San Benito County JACL’s 1950 year, including civic participation, telegram campaigns on legislation, and monthly activities. The chapter celebrated its reactivation and national convention representation.
• Boise Valley JACL Reports Civic and Social Progress, by Mrs. Dyke Itami, page 46. Summarizes the Boise Valley JACL’s record membership of 146, fundraising activities, and telegram campaigns on civil rights legislation. The chapter also participated in a Loyalty Day parade and launched a bulletin.
• Cemetery Project Gets Ogden Chapter Priority, by Marie Ohashi, page 48. Describes the Ogden JACL’s 1950 cemetery project, which leveled 180 plots and repaired markers at the Japanese cemetery. The chapter also ran a blood bank list and met its ADC quota.
• Philadelphia Datebook, by Jack Ozawa, page 48. Summarizes the Philadelphia JACL’s 1950 calendar of events, including an installation dinner, membership drive, travel films, and community picnic. It also reports on a Nisei soldiers memorial observance.
• San Mateo Chapter Doubles Membership, by P.C. Staff, page 48. Reviews the San Mateo County JACL’s year of events, including its installation, membership growth, a Chicago benefit movie, and a Nisei Soldier Memorial Day observance. The chapter also held a semi-formal dance.
• Race Relations in Denver, by Min Yasui, page 49. Describes Denver’s Nisei and JACL community relations work, including FEPC advocacy, participation in community councils, and urban redevelopment planning. It highlights individual Nisei leaders who contributed to the community.
• Unique Sugar-Beet Project Raises Money for Chapter, by Kiyo Morimoto, page 50. Describes the Pocatello JACL’s sugar beet cultivation project on rented land, which raised funds for the chapter. Members did all the labor and harvested 182 tons of beets.
• Cleveland JACL Spreads Fame Through Civic Participation, by Lin Andow, page 51. Reviews the Cleveland JACL’s 1950 activities, including a membership drive, folk festival participation, a fall festival, and FEPC forums. The chapter earned public recognition through civic involvement.
• Santa Clara Valley Nisei Help Community Projects, by Phil Matsumura, page 51. Reports on the United Citizens League of Santa Clara County’s 1950 activities, including its new president, membership drive, directory, and reactivation of the Council for Civic Unity. The league also held Memorial Day services.
• Membership Challenge: Southwest Los Angeles Chapter, by Mary Oi, page 53. Reports on the Southwest Los Angeles JACL’s 1950 activities, including its ADC drive, membership competition with Chicago, convention registration, and monthly programs. The chapter was noted as among the most active in Los Angeles.
• Placer County Records Year’s Activities, by P.C. Staff, page 54. Summarizes the Placer County JACL’s 1950 accomplishments, including an annual dinner, a community picnic with a queen contest, and dedication of its recreation park. Leadership by young members is highlighted.
• Denver’s Chapter Program, by Michi Ando, page 55. Recounts the Denver JACL’s 1950 activities month by month, including Memorial Day observance, a fishing contest, a popularity contest, and national convention participation. The chapter also worked on Community Chest and urban redevelopment issues.
• New York Chapter Works With National Organizations, by Gerald Kubo, page 57. Describes the New York JACL’s 1950 program of meetings, dances, and softball, plus cooperation with civil rights groups. The chapter sent a large delegation to the national convention and raised ADC funds.
• Spokane Chapter Reports 1950 as Turning Point, by Blanche Shiosaki, page 58. Reviews the Spokane JACL’s growth toward maturity, including its membership drive, community involvement, a carnival, and scholarship award. The chapter’s Pacific Northwest district council reactivation strengthened its ties to national JACL.
• Salinas Chapter Tells Activities During Past Year, by Mary Hibino, page 58. Summarizes the Salinas JACL’s 1950 events, including an installation dinner-dance, a Mother’s Day picnic, a Big Sur barbecue, and a Thanksgiving dance. The chapter also held a Christmas party for children.
• Redress and Claims: What’s Holding Up Claims?, by I. H. Gordon, page 59. Uses the case of Kinu Kawaguchi, whose home sale loss was adjudicated by the Justice Department, to illustrate delays in the Evacuation Claims program. The article argues the program needs faster processing and more funding.
• Mt. Olympus Group Accents Activities, by P.C. Staff, page 62. Reports on the Mt. Olympus JACL’s 1950 year, including dances, bowling, outings, and an Arthur Murray dance course. The chapter also sponsored a queen candidate for the national contest.
• Sonoma County Record, by P.C. Staff, page 63. Describes the Sonoma County JACL’s 1950 installation dinner, merger with a local athletic club, and a Petaluma parade entry. The chapter also pursued a baseball goodwill tour proposal that was later abandoned.

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.