To be closer to the centre of the city we booked accommodation at the Tokyo Station Hotel for when we returned from Nikko. Checking out of the "Okubo House" we got into conversation with Hiroshi, a young Japanese man who claimed that he had rejected the conformity expected of him in Japan but was unable to find a life elsewhere. Being an orphan it was perhaps easier for him to make the break, but now he was an alien in his own country in which he saw little of worth, and he was equally rejected by his countrymen who found his attitude incomprehensible.
Hiroshi had just returned from spending seven years working and studying in the United States but he was no longer able to extend his stay in that country. He was in the process of applying to emigrate to a number of western countries but, in the meantime, resolved that he would have to live and work in Tokyo. Happy to be with people he felt most in common, he spent the day with us and we allowed him to talk longingly of his life in America.
Late in the afternoon we left Hiroshi and took the train to the outer suburbs where we had agreed to meet Katsuyasu. He had previously arranged that we should spend the night at his home so as to get an early start to Nikko the next day. As this was the night of his annual school reunion it was agreed that we should also go to that although he stressed that naturally he would have to spend most of his time with his friends and we would be left to ourselves.
Katsuyasu led us to a small pub and sat with us at the bar ordering food that he thought westerners would like. Eventually a number of his friends emerged from the entrance of a smoke filled room and entreated us to join them. We were met by a merry group seated on the floor around two large tables, the sexes being segregated to each table. They were all around twenty-two years of age and most looked like they were at the beginnings of successful careers. Typically the females were immaculately dressed and groomed to accentuate their beauty to the utmost. In contrast to the demureness of these women, the men lounged around their table, laughing and talking loudly. As seems a common addiction among Japanese men, many smoked heavily throughout the dinner.
Despite his previous warning and our protestations, Katsuyasu continued to shower us with attention through the night, introducing his friends and translating our communications with them. This was partly attributable to our being a social success with his friends, apart from one nationalist who drank too much and wanted to express his anger over Japan's surrender in the Second World War.
As the night wore on the rituals of such gatherings were carried out, for example, singing of the school song in which we were expected to pretend to join in and a speech by each of the males on what he had been doing recently. With encouragement from the males the sexes eventually intemingled, which alleviated Lib's discomfort in sitting at an all male table. We were encouraged to try many varied delicacies but Katsuyasu advised that on this occasion it was acceptable to refuse these offers whereas normally we would be obliged to accept graciously.
Late in the night we said our farewells. The more committed would carouse til the morning.
We eventually reached Katsuyasu's parents' home, a small two storied house sandwiched between similar buildings along a narrow lane, around one o'clock in the morning. To our embarrassment his mother had waited up with supper laid out for us. Hearing our arrival, his father also rose to greet us and a more intimate party ensued until Katsuyasu's father suggested that we should go to bed.
A hot bath had already been prepared. By now we were familiar with the process of thoroughly cleaning our body first and so avoiding embarrassment. However, western ideas of ladies first did lead to misunderstanding with Katsuyasu bringing fresh towells into the batroom assuming I'd be the one scrubbing down. He backed out the door quicker than Lib could cover up.
Breakfast was another feast. Katsuyasu's mother served strawberries crushed in milk, salad, seaweed and rice and many other less describable dishes. With advice to Katsuyasu from his father to take care of his car we were on our way to Nikko by mid-morning. The delightfulness of this family will stay with us for a long time. They accepted us warmly although we were the first Europeans they had invited into their home. Their only concern was that their home might be too modest for what we were accustomed.
No comments:
Post a Comment