Evening star., 1945-08-31
BY RUSSELL BRINES,

hsSociateo fress StaTl correspondent
TOKYO, Aug. 81. Imitation
and shortages-two of the great
scars war left on this shrunken
capital - will dominate what
must be a slow and painful re-
turn to normal.
Only the barest supplies of staples
are available for the average man
of Japan, whose living costs have
risen nearly 300 times since 194l, in
some categories For months the
average middle-class worker has
been living on the equivalent of one
good meal day
Now the pinch of peace is being
felt on the thin supply line con-
Meeting the city with the productive
countryside. Aside from transporta-
ton difficulties. the flow of produce
also is slowed because farmers dis
trust the tumbling yen and demand
payment in goods-which are ex-
tremely scarce.
Yokohama Food Better.
Queues form among crowds wait
ing for everything from streetcars
TO coarse brown bread. made from
kiaolang -four from North China
and distributed infrequently.
Food conditions generally are bet
ter in Yokohama.
The luncheon menu in Tokyos
Imperial Hotel yesterday was
Tasteless barley soup, a small fish
patty. one slice of dry kiaoliang
bread, spaghetti made from kia-
olang, one green vegetable and ice
water. This is in the city's most
elaborate hotel, patronized only by
wealthy out-of- town guests ap-
proved by the government
The luncheon cost two yen fifty,
with a SO per cent tax and rs per
cent tip added. This totals about
$l.05 at prewar exchange.
War and privation have made
Tokyo even more drab, but the city
since 1888 has been steadily tighten
ing its belt and stunning "frivoli-
ties" under constant government
pressure.
Business Strictly Controlled.
Thousands of Tokyo residents
have gone to the country to avoid
the bombings, and those remaining
appear to have been hammered into
the ultimate of regimentation.
All business is now under strict
government control, except for
small merchants. Continued busi-
ness is dependent upon unwaver-
ing obedience to government in
structions, even in such nonmili-
tary activities as hotels.
The people themselves have been
under strict gendarmerie surveil-
lance. Two Nisei American- -born)
newspaper friends of mine, harried
for four years by military police,
received the last police visit only
a few days ago.
Yet there. seems to be an under
current of fresh hope among the
people that they can escape the
harshness of the past eight years
and find new life. Educated jap
anese talked of a democratic gov
ernment under the Emperor. The
common people have taken fresh
courage from Premier Higashi-
Kuni's promise that the dread gen.
darmerie will be abolished.
No Sign of AnimOsity.
1t is impossible to say whether the
common people harbor resentment
or despair over the surrender be-
meath their noncommittal stares
Yet Enthusiastically there is general
relief that the long ordeal has
ended.
There was still no sign of ami
mostly.
The women almost universally
wear mompei-baggy, ugly pants
which the government urged as a
substitute for colorful kimonos To
save cloth and to match the somber-
ness of the times.
Uniforms of all types dominate
mems clothing, civilians wear severe
government-sponsored suits.
At Tokyo station, where buildings
are burned, twisted and rusted
wreckage, a crowd gathered around
me. Men and women stared si-
(See BR1NES, Page A-3.)