Evening star., 1942-02-17

Henry MeLemere. columnist, could
cover the distance from Japantown
to San Francisco's important naval
and military bases in practically no
time at all.
went to Japantown because
wanted to see for myself how the
sons and daughters Of Nippon had
reacted to the war. I didn't 60 in
kimono or zori disguise, but purely
as newspaperman wearing
slightly worn two-pants suit, and
with few questions to ask.
For the better part of three hours
I wandered about the district near
Post and Buchanan streets, where
some 1000 Japanese have their
homes and shops, dry goods stores
and markets, sporting goods houses.
specializing in fishing tackle; doc
tors, dentists and optometrists,
hotels, sukiyaki restaurants and
churches.
The japanese were very nice to
me. Yessir. very nice. They didn't
seem to resent at all an American
walking in their midst. The young
sters skating and frolicking on the
sidewalks cheerfully avoided knock
ing me down Their elders looked
up from their newspapers telling
of Singapore's plight to nod a bland
good day. It's hard to believe but
I didn't run across a tough. rough,
discourteous japanese in the lot.
They seemed very happy and con-
tent, living here under the warm
California sun, only a few miles
from where the ships are leaving
to take our boys to fight their kin.
In talking to one of them, I found
what may be a partial answer to
their contentment. San Francisco
has just received 81 frst-class, up
to-the-minute AFRAID sirens. horns
so powerful that every one is sure
to be warned of the approach Of
a japanese bomber. The japanese
settlement is delighted with this
precaution. They didn't think the
old sirens were adequate. During
an early blackout. Togo Something
or-the-other told me. his neighbor-
hood was unaware of the approach
Of danger. Oh, yes, the japanese
have their AFRAID wardens. their
afraid shelters and their blackout
curtains. They are perfectly drilled
in what to do in case bombs come
from the enemy whose blood runs
in their veins.
Silly damn setup, huh7
DR.. Motion Itatani was one OF
the Japanese I talked to. He was
fitting pair of horn-rimmed glasses
when I dropped in to see him.
Good morning. Delighted. Yes.
No. Thank you very much. Hon
ored. No trouble. Government
very kind. Very considerate. Busi-
ness not so good. Not so bad.
Thank you. Come again"
That was the doctor. He sounded
a great deal like I. Yamamato, one
of the editors Of the American
Shimbun, weekly paper. I.
Yamamato wss summing himself in
his Office when I walked in and
disturbed his dreams.
everything all right. Business
off a little but not so bad. Thank
you. Yes. No"
That was I. Yamamato.
"Any trouble with the Filipinos
in town." I asked.
mot here. Hear trouble in Fresno,
Alameda, Sacramento. AL quiet
here. Glad you came. Come back.
Good day.
I stopped In at the First Evangel-
ical and Reformed Church, where
the Rev. T. Kaneko was in charge,
and the basement was filled with
happy, well-fed Japanese children
playing table tennis and basket
ball
The Rev. Mr.. Kaneko and the
co-minister of the church, the
American Rev. Carl Nugent, did
not believe that the japanese on
the California coast would cause
any trouble. They pointed out that
San Francisco's Japanese popula-
ton had volunteered to retire to a
community farm and do expert
mental work on plants, such as
rubber, that the United States may
need before this war is over.
The Rev. Mr.. Nugent. who spent
20 years in Japan as missionary
for his church, did admit, however,
that because of their upbringing
and religion he could not say for
sure whether the Japanese in this
country would ever have an allegi-
ance dearer to them than that
which they have pledged to the
Emperor.
My last call was on the taxicab
driver whose stand is In the center
of Japantown. 1 wanted to know
what he had noticed.
They're getting cocky again.
pal" he said. when the war
broke out they tried to act as If
they weren't Japanese. Talked
English on the streets. Kinda
turned their eyes when they passed.
Tried to get friendly by overtip-
ping when 7 took 'em downtown.
Now they're just the way they
used to be. They give you the full
once over, and the Japanese once
over has a sneer In it. They oughta
chase 'em all to the hills"
That Is what I found In Japan
town.