Evening star., 1952-05-04
Built for Quakes.

downpour Of rain, which was to
continue with only slight inter-
ruption during our entire visit.
Cherry blossoms all gone. wis
taria appearing in lower attitudes.
Greeted at airport by Miss Tokyo
of 1882" with appropriate chris
tening Of our ship, City of Tokyo,
under umbrellas. In Japan every
one carries an umbrella.
Whisked away to Nikkatsu. just
completed modern hotel, two
blocks from famed Imperial. Were
greeted here by owners Of the
Nikkatsu. Mori Hideomi and Hari
Kyusaka. Mr.. Hideomi. one-time
Olympic swimmer, George Wash
ington University instructor.
Brookings Institution staff mem
ber, secretary to John Barton
Payne, as much American as
japanese. 80.
Nikkatsu something new In
building construction-four stories
underground and nine above. -Four
endorsements were constructed
atop the ground, lowered one by
one by excavating beneath after
they were completed. Bottom one
now rests on bed rock. It's an
idea to defeat earthquake shock.
First full day of our visit, April
Is, was spent in bus trip to Ha-
kone. beautiful little resort hotel
on the shores Of Hakone Lake.
Ordinarily, the lake reflects the
snow-capped peak Of Fuji. No
reflection or even sight Of the vol
cano. It rained all day. But the
bus trip was an experience, dodg- |
ing trucks and buses on the mar
row mountain road, up 1900 feet.
Progress so slow that we returned
on electric railway. That Is one
of the systems in Japan which
always runs on time.
Exchanging dollars to zen so
difficult it is hard to believe that
the Japanese need dollars. Three
clerks, four forms, a couple Of
abuci, plus an hour required to
exchange $50. Everywhere the
abacus. Faint hope for adding
machine salesman.
Canned Pearls as Favors.
Japan'S famed GeiSha girls have
added knowledge of the English
language to their other talents.
Every well-versed Geisha now
speaks American. Led by Croil
Hunter. Northwest's president, and
affable Bill Stern, Fargo IN. Dak.)
director of the line, our party was
entertained at Komachi-en j
suykiaki, saki and dancing girls
with canned pearls as favors.
These canned pearls should have
a future in the United States. The
famed Ago Bay cultured pearl
oysters are placed, shell and all.
in a can, sealed and delivered with
the guarantee that each oyster
will contain at least one pearl. We
opened several. All disclosed a|
Ipearl large enough to set in a ring.
Saturday, p.m.-Back at Haneda
Airport, IA miles from downtown
Tokyo, to start processing for de-
parture back to the United States.
Airborne in the rain shortly
after midnight Saturday. Head
directly for Shemya. Arrived atI
1925 am. Sunday. Mr.. Beatty
still can't locate his Oscar. In the
air again at 1915 for nine-hour
direct overwater fight to Seattle.
Engines Throb Steadily.
The upper winds are light. sol
we drop down to $4,000. Hour
after hour only stars above, clouds
below. Midnight has passed. No
hope now of breaking record, butt
steady throbbing Of four great en-!
gines, certainly thrilling.
We've been descending for al
half hour. First dim lights onl
the shore. Soon we are sweepingl
down over Lake Washington
strung by pearly lights to Seattle.
First light touch Of our wheels and
we're back at Seattle Airport, only