The Wilmington morning star., 1946-08-14
MORE ABOUT
TOKYO
FROM PAGE ONE

and only partially offset by
oriental fatalism.
Two atom bombs had fallen
and Tokyoans feared they
might be next. Only people too
poor to flee to the countryside
or hobbled by work remained
in the city. Both groups were
prepared to die.
Cleaning Up Ruins
The same bomb ruins are still
here but they are being cleaned.
New, modest homes are being
built.
The Ginza-main shopping dis
trict-has blossomed with shops
and goods. You al get anything
if you have the money. Every
where you turn there is a GI.
Downtown streets, once stunned
in fear of air raids, are jammed
daylong.
Once shabby office buildings
have been renovated for use as
occupation force billets. The bill
for renovation is paid by the Japa-
nese through taxes. But the Japa-
nese feel that eventually the
buildings will be returned and IN
better shape than when they were
taken over. cts worth it, even
if we have to pay for it," they
say.
Heavy Traffic
The battered streetcars Of the
past still run, flanked by shiny
American buses for Allied person
mel, sleek convertibles brought by
families of military personnel, and
by jeeps. Traffic never has been
so heavy.
Spiritually, the gloom of a year
ago has been replaced by optl-
mism. Then, it appeared as II
Japan were finished.
On the night of Aug. IA, 1915,
the people heard over their radios
that there will be a very impor-
tant broadcast. Everyone is asked
to listen" Only a few knew the
meaning, but instinctively all felt
it would be momentous.
Early the next morning, the ra-
do announced the emperor will
broadcast at noon"
Everyone expected something
unprecedented, but disheartenlng.
It could be either the end of the
war by surrender Gas urged in
leaflets dropped by B-2e's), or a
virtual end to hope with a direct
command by the emperor to fight
to the end as the military con-
stantly exhorted the people to do.)
Sounded Like End
When the broadcast was made,
Il sounded like the end, 1t is true
that there was relief that the war
was over. But it is not true-as
some Japanese say today - that
the people were overjoyed to hear
the surrender announcement. More
than any joyousness that war was
yer there was a sadness that ia
pan was longer one of the worlds
powers, but a fifth rate nation to
be occupied by a conquering enc
my.
The blow was the hardest on old
err people. They had seen Japan
rise from international insignifi-
n to become one of the bal
ances of world power in 1910. Aside
from whether the war had been
right or wrong, they felt that their
efforts and their country's efforts
to be an important part OF the
world had been smashed.
Feeling Of Despair
The emperor's announcement o.
acceptance of the Potsdam dec
laration'' made sincere tears fall
Hardened men actually criec
aloud. This feeling Of despair was
everywhere, heavily overshadow
ing the relief that the fighting was
over.
There also was fear of the com
ing occupation-so much propa
ganda had been Embossed abou'
the brutality" of the Americans.
But the Americans quickly end
ed these fears. Not only was the
conduct of American troops un'
expectedly excellent. The Amer
leans forced through a demo
cratization of the country and re
leased food to the hungry people
Kindly Feeling
In the year of occupation, the
Japanese have become more
friendly toward the American!
than they ever felt toward an!
Ally. This feeling has reached tn
lowliest, for they have been givel
surplus American food. 1t ma
done more than anything else t.
drive home to the japanese tn
impression that they have bee
liberated rather than conquered
That has given rise to the belle
that the war they fought wa
wrong.
Today, among the common pee
pie there is optimism. When
Tokyo family squats on the stray
mat floor to a dinner of Mao
Arthur's rations" they look bac
over the year and say, ''who woul
have thought defeat would be llk
this? Who would have though
the enemy was like this?">