The Washington times., 1935-01-18
NOW
HGri Kari! No!
Japan Is Nice!
A LIVING DIARY
BY HELEN ESSARY

Large, Shigeru Yoshida, was
telling about the adventures OF
an American theatrical com.
pany in Japan. When the COM
pany departed from San Fran
cisco, it's members passports
read three weeks visit" Three
weeks-a ah- that was long
enough, said they, for even
brave dancers and singers to
risk their lives in such coun-
try. In Japan everybody knew
there were many suicides, hari
kari, all the time! Every day
q head is cut off in the streets!
But when the players arrived
in Tokyo they found the peo-
pie very happy to see them.
Big crowds came to their the
ater. Everywhere we're kind
words and no killings. What a
pity, said the players, that the
company could not stay longer.
Three times they asked for and
got an extension of their pass
ports. But still they did not
want to go nome.
Many officials were asked to
help prolong their visit. Even
the premier himself went to the
revue. Enjoyed it very much.
Wished that he could use his
influence. But. alas, the law
was the law. And so the the
atrical company had to pack up
and go back to the United
States.
Said his excellency, the am
bassador, smiling:
"And SO remember, always,
that Japan is very nice place.
And when you come to see us,
let your passport say only that
you are coming into the coun-
try. Never when you must
leave"
The ambassador, who is on a
tour of all Japan's legations
and embassies. looked about the
table in the dining room of the
Japanese Embassy on Massa-
chusettS Avenue. He spoke up:
when I travel, 1 take always
with me my diary. She is with
me tonight. Over there beside
Colonel Hallet."
Beside Colonel Hallet was an
extraordinarily pretty Japanese
girl. With lovely smooth skin
and sleek black hair and dim
pies. She wore flowered dress.
from Paris, I should say. Her
English conversation must have
been gay and amusing, for
Colonel Hallet was delighted
with his partner.
Mr.. YOshida said proudly:
"She is my daughter, KazukO.
Kazu, you see, means peace.
Peace is a nice quality for a
diary if there is a good memory
beside. I forget everything.
Especially names. So I say per-
hapS to my daughter, Who was
the man who came to dinner
two years ago when we were
in the embassy at ROme?' And
she always knows"
At this point in our conver.
sation. the Polish Minister,
Stanislaw Patek, who was also
a guest at the dinner given by
the japanese Ambassador and
Madame Saito for the British
Ambassador, Sir Ronald Lind
say, spoke across the center
piece of spring flowers to Am
bassador Yoshida:
"T am sorry, but / must worry
you with my bad English. I
only speak Russian, German
and French and, of course,
Polish. But today 1 had an
other lesson in English and
quickly 1 want to tell you what
pleasant visits I have had in
Tokyo"
Someone asked M. Patek if
his English teacher was young
and beautiful. The eyes of the
Polish Ambassador twinkled be-
hind his glasses. He said his
teacher was an old priest.
Mr.. Yoshida nodded approx
1ngly and said:
"The last is the better way
If it is language you wish to
learn"
Although the newly-appointed
japanese ambassador TO Tur-
key, Prince Tokugawa, who was
likewise at the dinner, did not
refer to his daughter, Toyo
(very pretty in deep red taf-
feta frock, fastened only on one
shoulder) as his diary, never
theless Miss Tokugawa is ac-
companying her father to his
new post. There she will act
as his hostess, as she did at the
legation in Toronto. And there
be prepared to entertain. for
instance, 80 unexpected guests
for cocktails when her father
has told her a few friends will
come in about o'clock.
japanese girls are very, very
clever. And they have exquis-
ite compoSure.
Mrs. Elliott Thurston has a
marvellous idea about the Soviet
Embassy. She imagines, in its
gorgeous crimson and gold sa-
Ions, a brilliant Louis XIV cos
tune ball with ladies in EN-.
broidered brocadeS and panniers,
powdered hair piled high and
elaborate jewels on white arms
and throatS. And gentlemen, too,
in doublet and silken hose, peri
wigs and SuNrdc