Closing housing projects and the threat of eviction for returnees

Vol. 22, No. 14, April 6, 1946. 8 pages. View this issue

The closing of emergency housing projects for returned Japanese Americans led the news in April 1946. Church service groups protested WRA letters that set an April 30 closing date, arguing they were not legal eviction notices. More than 1,500 people faced losing their quarters, and an estimated 500 could be left homeless. The issue also reported on nearly 2,800 renunciants released by the Department of Justice, habeas corpus suits from Tule Lake, and a California land case against a Nisei soldier serving in Italy.

On the editorial page, the paper marked one year since the 442nd Regimental Combat Team spearheaded the final offensive in Italy. Bill Hosokawa wrote from Des Moines, John Kitasako wrote on the unit’s story, and Sue Kunitomi remembered Sadao Munemori’s Medal of Honor and the departure from Manzanar. News from Hawaii covered the tidal wave disaster, and the 442nd drew Silver Star awards. This eight-page issue ran 42 articles.

What’s in this issue

National

• Groups Rap Eviction Notices; Two Thousand Returnees Still Living in Housing Projects, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Church service groups protested WRA notices announcing closure of emergency housing projects by April 30, arguing they are not legal eviction papers. An estimated 500 persons could be left homeless as officials seek temporary housing solutions.
• Police Investigate Death of Aged Man, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Portland police investigated the circumstances surrounding the death of Unejiro Miura, 88, who was taken home by a patrolman after being found in the street. Miura lapsed into a coma and died at Portland General hospital on March 30.
• Many Japanese Americans Killed in Hawaii Disaster, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Tidal waves struck the Hawaiian Islands, with the heaviest losses on the Island of Hawaii where Hilo was devastated and about 50 school children were swept to sea. Search efforts for the missing continued as hope was gradually abandoned.
• First Canadian Repatriates to Leave Shortly, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The first voluntary repatriates of Japanese ancestry will depart Canada for Japan between April 15 and May 15, according to T. B. Pickersgill. No forced deportations will occur until the Privy Council acts on pending test cases.
• State of California Confiscates Farm Property of Nisei Soldier, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A San Diego superior court judge ordered land owned by the Yoshimura family escheated to the state under the alien land law. John Yoshimura is serving in the U.S. Army in Italy, and the property will pass to Thomas Gonzales upon payment of the contract balance.
• Japanese American Soldiers Included in Occupation Ban on Public Affection, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Army of Occupation authorities in Tokyo banned public displays of affection between American GIs and Japanese women, and the directive includes Nisei soldiers. An Army official said the rule applies to them as American soldiers in uniform.
• San Francisco Daily Plans to Resume Publication Soon, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Japanese American Daily News, founded over 50 years ago, is expected to resume publication shortly. Yasuo Abiko, S. Asano, and Kando Ikeda are making plans for the reopening in San Francisco.
• House Votes to Admit Japanese Wife of American Newsman, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The House unanimously approved legislation allowing Mrs. Masuyo Sudo Cromley, a Japanese wife of American correspondent Raymon Cromley, to enter the United States despite Asiatic exclusion laws. The bill was sent to the Senate.

Community

• 442nd Veterans Open Cafe in Hawaii Town, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Two 442nd veterans, Shizuo Hirayama and Walter Watanabe, opened the 442nd Cafe in the Waialua plantation store building. The business was formerly the plantation’s coffee shop and will operate as a private enterprise.
• Jackie Cooper Cites Nisei Combat Feats in Talk at Dance, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Actor and Navy veteran Jackie Cooper praised Japanese American soldiers for their heroism at a Veterans Dance in Los Angeles. He also emphasized the importance of Nisei membership in the American Veterans Committee.
• Nisei Bowler Misses Perfect Game by One Pin, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Mas (Butch) Iwaihara bowled a 299 game at the Alameda alleys, one pin short of a perfect score. He also posted a nine-game average of 224.
• New York JACL to Hold Dance at Delmonico, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The New York chapter of the JACL will hold a semi-annual ball on May 11 at the Hotel Delmonico. The dance will honor the New York WRA office, which closes May 15, and the Greater New York Citizens Committee.
• Spokane AVC Chapter Hails Work of Nisei as Chairman, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Spokane chapter of the American Veterans Committee praised Spady Koyama for his fruitful tenure as chairman. The chapter also approved an anti-discrimination clause for the national AVC constitution.
• Henry Suzukida to Be Co-chairman for Midwest Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Henry Suzukida of Chicago was appointed co-chairman of the men’s section of the Geneva Regional YMCA and YWCA Student conference. The conference will be held June 5-12 at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
• Student Aid Group to End Activity Soon, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The National Japanese American Student Relocation Council asks Nisei students seeking financial help or placement to apply before April 30. The council is scheduled to close all activities by June 30.
• Town Which Barred Evacuee Now Has Interracial School, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Scattergood hostel in Iowa, which residents once opposed as a Japanese American hostel, now hosts an interracial student body. Students of Japanese, Negro, and white backgrounds study and live together under Quaker principles.
• Earl Finch Returns from Trip to Hawaii with $1,000 Fund for GIs, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Earl M. Finch returned from a trip to Hawaii bringing a $1,000 gift for wounded Japanese American soldiers in mainland hospitals. He said West Coast attitudes toward Japanese Americans had greatly improved.
• Nisei Girl from Minidoka Now Works for United Nations, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mitsu Yasuda, 21, moved to New York from the Minidoka relocation center and now works for the United Nations. She said the evacuation matured Japanese Americans and showed that the West Coast is not the whole country.
• Four Nisei Accepted by Scientific Society, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Four Nisei were admitted to membership in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology at its annual meeting in Atlantic City. The new members are Mary Ishimoto, H. Minatoya, Warwick Sakami, and Mika Hayano.
• Two Nisei on Omaha Cage Team, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Frances Okura and Mae Okura are members of the Juliet Candies women’s basketball team competing in the AAU tournament in Omaha. The team won 11 of 12 regular season games.
• Three Internees Fail in Appeals to Remain in United States, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A special immigration hearing board denied appeals by three internees at Crystal City, Texas, to remain in the United States. Those denied were Kazumaro Uno, Yoshisuke Fukuda, and Suyeji Sakamaki.
• Denver President Acknowledges Work of National Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Dr. George Mayeda, Denver JACL president, commended the national officers and convention delegates for their work at the ninth biennial JACL conference. He also paid tribute to Nisei veterans whose service assured their future in America.
• Chicago Girls Group Ends Activities with Dance, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Chicago Girls Service Club held a farewell dance on March 30 at the YWCA, ending its work serving Nisei servicemen and women. Most members will be absorbed into the YWCA’s Business and Professional department.
• Civil Rights Defense Units Organized, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Groundwork was laid for local Legal Rights Defense Union branches in Riverside and Gardena, with committees named in each city. The units are intended to provide legal rights assistance to the community.
• Salt Lake JACL Plans Bowling Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Bowlers from Denver, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, and other intermountain cities will compete in the annual Nisei Bowling Tournament in Salt Lake City on April 13 and 14. Entry fees are $2.00 per event and trophies have been donated for the men’s events.
• Greater New York Committee Assumes Responsibilities of Relocation Agency, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Greater New York Committee for Japanese Americans took over functions of the closed New York WRA office to integrate the city’s Japanese American residents. Housing and employment remain the main problems facing the approximately 6,000 residents.

Military & Veterans

• Nisei GI Returns Home to Honolulu, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Carl Kiyoshi Ogawa, reported missing in action with the 442nd Infantry in Europe, returned home and asked officials to remove his name from the territorial war memorial. His return followed the earlier report of his disappearance.
• Nisei Combat Veteran Reenlists for Three Years in U.S. Army, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pfc. Jimmy Doi, a 100th Battalion veteran, elected to reenlist for three years in the Regular Army to search for his parents in Japan. He had been evacuated from Oxnard and resettled in Chicago before his induction.
• Silver Star Medals Awarded Seven Men of 442nd Infantry, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seven Nisei members of the 442nd Infantry were awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Italy. The awards brought the unit’s total Silver Stars to more than 330.
• Max Ishiguro Takes Civil Service Job with U.S. in Italy, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Technician Fourth Grade Max M. Ishiguro, a BAR man with the 442nd, was discharged in Italy and took a civil service job as a radio technician. He had earned enough points for discharge but signed a waiver to remain with the unit until securing the position.
• Isolation of Minority Group Veterans in Separate Posts Protested by JACL Official, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL secretary Mike Masaoka opposed American Legion and VFW efforts to form segregated posts for non-Caucasian veterans. He urged the Emergency Conference on Minority Veterans Problems to oppose single-race veterans posts.
• Japanese Anti-Fascist Artist Reunited with Son in Nippon, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Artist Taro Yashima was reunited with his son Makoto in Japan while serving with a U.S. Army survey team. Yashima described the changed attitudes of Japanese citizens toward Americans and his hope to bring his son to America.

Incarceration & Redress

• Report Nearly Three Thousand Renunciants Receive Releases From Department of Justice, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Nearly 2,800 persons of Japanese ancestry who renounced citizenship under duress were released from DOJ detention, according to the ACLU. Further releases are expected as cases from Bismarck and Santa Fe are processed.
• Government Answer Expected in Suits for Habeas Corpus Filed by Tule Lake Renunciants, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The government agreed to answer habeas corpus petitions filed on behalf of renunciants by April 14. The complaint charges that the WRA failed to protect renunciants from pro-Japanese groups at Tule Lake.

Commentary

• One Year After, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial marks one year since the 442nd spearheaded the final Allied offensive in Italy and notes the unit remains on occupation duty. It observes that the unit’s record helped break the Army’s segregation policy.
• Federal Responsibility, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial, citing A. A. Liveright of the American Council on Race Relations, argues the federal government has largely abandoned race relations as the WRA and FEPC close. It urges local communities to take up the work.
• Segregated Schools, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial praises a federal ruling by Judge Paul J. McCormick that school segregation of Mexican American children in Orange County violated the Constitution. It calls for abolishing remaining racial discrimination in public schools.
• Yellow Fever in Politics, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial traces how California politicians have historically exploited anti-Japanese sentiment for political gain. It notes that race-baiting no longer wins votes given the Nisei combat record.
• Vagaries, by P.C. Staff, page 5. This column collects brief items about Nisei and Japanese American figures, including Sadao Munemori’s Medal of Honor and a Japanese American writer’s propaganda work for free China. It also reports on Nisei contributions to art and entertainment.
• Full Story of 442nd Infantry Has Not Yet Been Written, by John Kitasako, page 5. The column argues that the complete story of the 442nd still needs telling and notes that some veterans are writing books about the unit. It describes the courage the unit showed in combat, in hospitals, and in enlisting despite discrimination.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa reflects on how Des Moines has become a stopping point for Nisei travelers heading between communities. He describes hosting visitors and reflects on how the Nisei have become a well-traveled group.

Obituaries

• Mom Got the Medal, by Sue Kunitomi, page 5. Sue Kunitomi writes about Yaeko Munemori, a nurse in Madison, receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor for her brother Sadao ‘Spud’ Munemori, killed in Italy. She recalls his devotion to America and her memories of the Manzanar departure.

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