Challenging California’s Alien Land Law, and the Issei citizenship bills

Vol. 32, No. 1, January 6, 1951. 8 pages. View this issue

California’s Alien Land Law went before the state Supreme Court on Jan. 2, 1951, in two test cases, Masaoka vs. the State of California and Sei Fujii vs. the State of California. Tats Kushida reported on the hearing, where attorneys argued the law discriminates against people of Japanese ancestry. Naturalization was the other main subject. The Walter and Judd bills were reintroduced in the 82nd Congress at JACL’s request, and Elmer R. Smith traced how the Anti-Discrimination Committee came to be.

Also inside: Bill Hosokawa’s column on The Steel Helmet and its Nisei sergeant, a profile of blinded 442nd veteran Sanji Kimoto by John Tsukano, and a reminder that Issei had to register by January 10. Aiko Tashiro wrote about soprano Tomiko Kanazawa, and chapter news and sports fill the later pages of this eight-page issue.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• California’s Supreme Court Hears Two Test Cases Which Challenge Alien Land Law, by By TATS KUSHIDA, page 1. The California Supreme Court heard the Masaoka and Sei Fujii cases on Jan. 2, testing the constitutionality of the Alien Land Law. Attorneys argued the law discriminates primarily against persons of Japanese ancestry and violates equal protection, with a decision expected in several months.

National

• Udo Sentenced to Prison for Farm Slaying, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Haruo Udo, a 30-year-old farm worker, received a sentence of five years to life for second degree murder in Tulare County. The jury found him guilty without premeditation in the knife slaying of Henry H. Stanley, Jr.
• Walter, Judd Bills Given New 82nd Congress Introduction; Issei Citizenship Proposal Dies in 81st Session, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Walter Naturalization and Judd bills were reintroduced in the 82nd Congress at JACL’s request after dying in the Senate during the 81st session. The Walter bill would remove race from naturalization, while the Judd bill also restores immigrant quotas for Asian countries.
• Fujihira Leaves for Brazil to Make Films, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Toge Fujihira departed for Rio de Janeiro to make a documentary film with Alan Shilin for the Protestant Film Commission. Fujihira previously worked with Shilin on religious documentaries and color films on Indians in the American Southwest.
• Dr. Yukawa Will Become Permanent Resident of U.S., by P.C. Staff, page 2. Nobel Prize winner Dr. Hideki Yukawa decided to reside permanently in the United States and will become a physics professor at Columbia University. He said he would still visit Japan periodically.
• Japan Better Off Than Before War, Says Rep. Kido, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Hawaii Representative Mitsuyuki Kido returned from Japan and said the country seems better off materially than 16 years ago. He noted signs of growing democratic awareness among the Japanese people.
• Equality in Naturalization Will Continue to Receive Top Priority, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Plans were made to re-introduce the Judd Bill for equality in immigration and naturalization in the 82nd Congress. Masaoka recounted the bill’s progress through the 81st Congress and the Senate objection that blocked passage.
• Remind Issei to Register Under New Security Law, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Aliens including Issei were reminded to register before the January 10 deadline under the Internal Security Act of 1950. Failure to register could result in a fine of up to $100 or six months in jail.

Community

• Two Nisei Listed Among California Traffic Toll, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Robert Taguchi and Kazuko Kay Fukawa were killed in separate traffic accidents in Central California over the holidays. Several other persons of Japanese ancestry were injured in the crashes.
• Nisei Is Among WAC Recruits in Salt Lake, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Florence Imaizumi was among seven Salt Lake women sworn in as WACs at Fort Douglas on Jan. 4. They are scheduled to undergo basic training at Fort Lee, Virginia.
• Peiping Radio Lists Nisei Marine as Prisoner of War, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Marine Cpl. Saburo Sam D. Shimomura of Ogden was named by Communist Peiping radio among 23 American prisoners held by Chinese Communists. His parents reported he had written from Korea that troops were in good spirits.
• California Nisei Collegians Hold First Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The first annual California Intercollegiate Nisei Organization conference drew 262 students from 27 colleges to Los Angeles City College. Herb Kawahara was elected president for 1951.
• Salinas Chapter Elects Miyanaga as 1951 President, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Lefty Miyanaga was elected president of the Salinas Valley JACL, succeeding Roy Sakasegawa. A tri-chapter installation dinner-dance is planned for Jan. 20 in Watsonville.
• Montana JACL Fetes Golden Anniversary of Wyoming Couple, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Montana JACL joined in celebrating the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Ujifusa of Worland, Wyoming, a prominent pioneer family. Mr. Ujifusa donated a radio-phonograph to the Montana chapter in appreciation.
• Sacramento Club Gives Gifts to Wounded Soldiers, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Members of the Puella Sogieta distributed Christmas gifts to servicemen returned as casualties from the Korean war. The club also elected Chickie Iwamoto as president at its December meeting.
• Denver Starts City Survey of Housing Areas, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Denver Planning Board began a survey of substandard buildings in blighted areas, affecting an estimated 319 Japanese American households. Residents were advised to verify survey investigators’ official identification before admitting them.
• Third Annual Dinner Sponsored by JACL in Livingston-Merced, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Livingston-Merced JACL held its third annual dinner and installed new officers led by president Buichi Kajiwara. The chapter signed up thirty new members and assisted with alien registration.
• Yasui Meets with Colorado Group on Job Opportunities, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Colorado State Employment Service officials met with a citizens committee including Min Yasui of the JACL to plan a program combating employment discrimination. The effort aims to open job fields for minority groups in Denver.
• Nisei Veterans Raise Funds for War Memorial, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Japanese American Nisei cagers from the Fowler Rams escaped serious injury when their automobile overturned and burst into flames near Selma. Several players received medical treatment at the scene.
• Nisei Veteran Named Manager of Bank in Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Ray A. Otsuka, a Nisei World War II veteran, became manager of the Bank of Hawaii’s Kona branch on January 1. He had previously served as an instructor in military intelligence during the war.

JACL

• JACL Receives Contribution from Buddhist Group, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL headquarters acknowledged a $1,000 contribution from the Castroville Buddhist church Koyu Kai, which was recently dissolved. The check was forwarded by Frank Oshita of Castroville.

Arts & Entertainment

• Nisei Soprano Is Important New Name Among U.S. Singers, by By AIKO TASHIRO, page 2. Tomiko Kanazawa, a Nisei soprano, has built an operatic and concert career performing roles such as Butterfly and Mimi with major companies across the United States and Europe. Her success has made her a notable figure among American singers.
• Hollywood Film The Steel Helmet Features Nisei GI in Korea, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Lippert Pictures’ The Steel Helmet presents Sergeant Tanaka, a Nisei 442nd veteran, in a Korean war story played by Richard Loo. The column also examines Hollywood’s history of depicting Nisei as villains.
• Nisei Soprano Is Important New Name Among U.S. Singers, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa’s Hollywood column covers Nisei and Asian American performers in films and their careers. It includes news of casting, Sessue Hayakawa’s plans, and the portrayal of Nisei characters on screen.

Military & Veterans

• Induct First Nisei from Montana Area, by Yugo Nayematsu, page 2. Roy Nayematsu became the first Nisei inductee from the Montana area, leaving on Nov. 30. Roy Yamamoto, vice president of the Montana JACL, became the second draftee on Dec. 7, 1950.
• Nisei Veterans Raise Funds for War Memorial in Fresno, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Central California VFW Nisei Liberty Post No. 5869 is raising $5,500 for a granite memorial in Roeding Park honoring Japanese American war dead. Dedication is planned for Memorial Day 1951.
• Two Nisei Women Will Win Regular Army Commissions, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Tatsuko Hamashige and Sadie E. Yoshizaki will receive regular Army commissions as second lieutenants upon completing WAC officer training at Fort Lee. They are among 47 college graduates selected.
• Blinded Veteran of 442nd Still Hopes to Regain Sight, by By JOHN TSUKANO, page 6. Pfc. Sanji Kimoto lost his sight in 1945 while serving in Italy and remains hopeful of recovery despite doctors’ prognosis. He has since married and pursued studies at the University of Hawaii.

Commentary

• Equality in Naturalization Will Continue to Receive Top Priority in JACL’s Program, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mike Masaoka announced that naturalization equality remains the JACL-ADC’s top legislative priority for the 82nd Congress. Other priorities include Hawaii statehood and amendments to the evacuation claims act.
• Editorials: The JACL in 1950, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial reviews JACL aims for 1951, namely winning naturalization for Japanese aliens and liberalizing evacuation claims. It criticizes the claims program for high administrative costs and urges prompt payment to the original losers.
• Local Chapters Aid in Alien Registration, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Nearly all of the JACL’s 80 chapters assisted Issei with the McCarran Act alien registration program. The editorial notes that the registration requirement is a consequence of racially restrictive citizenship laws.
• JACL’s ADC Organized to Meet Specific Problems, by By ELMER R. SMITH, page 5. The Anti-Discrimination Committee was incorporated in 1946 as a direct action arm of the JACL to lobby for legislation and combat discrimination. The article traces its early activities including litigation, congressional bills, and the repeal of the Utah alien land law.

Sports

• Lyle Kurisaki, Jr., Manages Top Boxers, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Lyle Kurisaki, Jr., of Salt Lake City manages several professional boxers including Paul Perkins and Bobby Foster. He is also a law student at the University of Utah.
• Asato’s Placekicks Win Pineapple Bowl Game, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Jimmy Asato led the University of Hawaii to a 28-27 victory over Denver in the Pineapple Bowl, scoring on passes and a long run. His accurate placekicking provided the margin of victory.
• Fifth Annual National JACL Bowling Tournament Set for Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The fifth annual National JACL bowling tournament will be held at Vogue Bowl in Los Angeles in late March. Entrants must hold JACL membership, and the event is co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Nisei Bowling Association.
• Small Fry All-American Won Title Game for Honolulu Team, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Leonard Kaneshiro, a 12-year-old quarterback from Leleo Center, was named to the first All-America Midget football team. He led his team to the citywide juvenile league championship.

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.