Yokohama Navy Exchange was where?

I also want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and may your New Year be happy and prosperous. Peter, I have enjoyed your input to this forum, so don't worry about your "nostalgia fest". I, too, have been doing the same thing!

I've been wondering about Chris and hope everything is ok. (I kind of expected to hear from him by now -- whether he was able to find out whether Mrs. Matsudaira is still attending church at Chapel of the Rising Sun.)

Here in NW Washington state, we are told by the weather forecasters that we won't have a white Christmas (except in the mountains). Some years we have a white Christmas, some years we don't. The snow is ok with me IF I don't have to drive in it. Again, Merry Christmas to each and every one of you!

Lori, Sorry about your White Christmas. Here in New Hampshire we have had 30 inches of snow and ice and don't know where to put it. I am sending you a token 400 tons of snow UPS from my driveway, enjoy! Time to bite the bullet. Your Christmas presant to yourself, call the Chapel of the Rising sun and check on Mrs matsudiara.

Peter san

Thank you for the greeting from you. I had the travel of Hokkaidou in July this year. Please try this link. These pictures are Shiretoko and Nodappu of Hokkaido.


http://www.hi5.com/friend/photos/displayUserAlbum.do?albumId...

Shiretoko:


http://www.shiretoko.or.jp/snc_eng/en_about.htm

Kaoru Beautiful photographs !

You have a wonderful talent for the camera. How about a picture of Medori Gaoka Manzaka mansion ? I know.. I am being a pain .. Just thought I would give you a gentle reminder if you were to be walking in that area. Merry Christmas to you and your family. How about a family photo. We know what the dog looks like. Would you like some snow ? I can send you all you want, we have more than we need [ or want] This may be my last winter here in New Hampshire. I spent three days on the roof chipping ice and snow. I think I might like Key West Florida.
They say we have "global Warming". Today is very cold, we could use some global warming. Later ..

Hi, Peter san

Thank you. However, my taking a picture is a beginner. I bought the digital camera last year. The camera automatically adjusts the image of taking a picture.

Yokohama was a cold rain from yesterday. It seems to be colder than the ordinary year here this year. It will snow in January. It might be an influence of the global warming that you said.


My family feels shy of the photograph very much. My wife and pictures of kids are up-loaded. They are already pictures 14 years ago.

Hey Kaoru

I understand your family and photos, hazukashii ne is very Japanese and OK. I was joking about global warming, I am not sure it is real. Maybe a plan to make people believe something that is not true. Today I am back out on my roof to clean more snow. Tonight we are getting a lot of rain and everyone is worried that some roofs will collapse [break] under so much weight. I know this will happen to some I just hope it is not too severe. I expect that you are not working on Christmas day and are looking forward to three days off at New Years. We often went to Kamakura on New years, to the Hatchiman Shrine. and to walk on the beach.There were several antique shops near the beach, I wish I could go in them now as I know more about antiques than I did then. For Christmas my wife and I are going to my brother-in-laws, home in Portsmouth New Hampshire for dinner. My wifes mother is staying with us for a fue days. Later

Peter san

I wish your family to have a happy night of Christmas. It is a distance of one hour from my house to Kamakura. However, the Hachiman street of daytime is a traffic jam. I sometimes go to Kamakura and Hayama at night. Yes, there are several antique shops in the Hachiman street. I walked on the hill of Hayama for about ten years ago. There was a small-scale radar station of US naval forces there. However, it was just dismantled. Blue paint of houses had come off. I saw those and had loneliness.

May be many Japanese criticizing me. However, our family was liked by soldiers of much tolerant US. And, I have grown up.

Thank you

Hey Karou

Thanks. Well I got most of the snow off my roof I hope it is enough to prevent collapse.

Explain please. When you said Some Japanese people would criticise you..
Is this because the Americans have not turned back enough land and bases to Japan, or is it something else. I admitt we can be pretty crude sometimes. Yes I remember the street at the Hatchman Shrine was crowded.
I think you and your family give christmas presents, is this correct? yours peter

Hi, Peter san

We have simple congratulation at Christmas today. I bought a few presents for my family.

Yes, it is as you say. Because it becomes a political subject, I do not write it in detail.
May I question?

Is "101st Airborne Division" an elite army corps?
They were taking an active part as an advance force in the Normandy landing
operation, VM, and the war against Iraq.

Hey Kaoru

We give simple gifts also, things that we need and sometimes things that we do not really need.

The 101st Airborn Division I would consider to be an elete unit. If elete means special then yes they would be that. However the 101st being a DIVISION is a lage number of men. So, given that it is not a small unit it might not be considered that special. One thing that makes the 101st an elete unit is that they are paratroopers. The training to be a paratrooper is very hard and not all men are able to finish this training.
The 101st was [ as you know] involved in the Normany landings and I believe they landed on "Omaha" beach. This landing is graphicly depicted in the movie "Saving Private Ryan" you can see the opening scene on Youtube. CAUTION this opening scene [ and parts of the rest of the movie], is very violent [blood in war] and should not be seen by very young children in my opinion. When I was in the Army I was told that I was in an "elete" unit but I did not think it was that special. I think the Army wants ALL units to think that they are special or elete. The US Navy has SEALS, that unit is very much an elete unit. Also the US Marines could be considered an elete unit but they are so large as to be a separate discussion. Thank you for your question. Military history is a special intrest of mine.

A question for you. To help me.. do you use a dictionary a little or a lot when we are "talking" ? I once wrote a letter in Japanese and it took me all day! I think it was very bad but I enjoyed trying to write in Japanese. yours; Peter

Arigatou, Peter san

I saw "Saving Private Ryan" several times.
They seem always to be taking an active part to a large-scale strategy. Yes, when E mail and the letter are written, I use the dictionary of the computer. However, the translation of the computer is not accurate. As for it, the conjunction seems not to be accurately expressible.
As for the Japanese in particular, one word has many meanings. It is slightly difficult. But your Japanese is correct. Please you try to the translation of the computer.
Haha, My English skill is a school child.

Regards,

Kaoru

Kaoru
There are many english words woth more than one meaning. I believe the word RUN has the most meanings. Speaking as good as a child is actually very good. Just before I left Japan I was told that I spoke as good as a child which I thought was a complement. Please answer still.. my question if you can .. Japanese people would not like my opinion.. on American bases ? or other, just curious.

Japan is defended from a military threat of surrounding countries by stationing of American troops. Most Japanese are recognizing it. Japan thinks that an enormous cost keeps necessary of the armament if there is no the U.S. military in Japan.

However, the US government compulsorily used vast land in Japan for stationing of American troops. The landowner and the house in Japan were removed. They might have dissatisfaction in it. Additionally, people in small number of anti-American might have dissatisfaction.

Thank you for your opinion. It is only through open discussion that people learn and understand. Yes there was a "trade off" between much precious land in Japan being taken up by the occupation forces, and by the security provided by those forces. Additionally Japan was able to develop economicly and rebild and advance the country by saving much money. I do not know much of the details but there was sweeping land reform under General McArthur. This now I believe is seen as being a decided benefit to the Japanese farmers who were not that able to decide their own matters befort that. Americans argueably may have misused its position in Japan in the 60's in an effort to base logistics for the vietnam war and in a effort to contain communism. Now much of that threat has passed and China has become a "trading partner". With the Japan Self Defence Force able to at least partly provide for its defence and with Japans ability to use missle technology, perhaps the time has come for americans to withdraw its forces from the entire far east. Perhaps it could be argued that America has "footed the bill" [trillions of US Dollars ?] for the defence of the far east where now it may not be necessary. Prehaps America cannot continue to afford to keep troops in Japan and certainly Korea. Why are US troops still in Korea? Cretainly the South Koreans can defend themselves by now. There economy is good and they are a strong people. I wonder as an American, how much of my tax dollars goes to keeping american troops in Korea and elsewhere. Don't get me wrong, I loved my time in Japan and I would not trade that time for anything. But do we have a new day here. On second thought I probably do not really want to know how much of my money goes to military defence and foreign aid I might be too upset. I see people in my own country that struggle to keep warm and feed themselves and their familys and get proper health care. Perhaps saving on military expendutares would help. I hate to think about what the russian people may have suffered in this respect.

Peter;
A little understood fact is the Japanese government pays nearly 100 percent of the cost of stationing US troops and naval forces in Japan. This tax has been ongoing since the occupation and continues today, though much reduced from the 50s and 60s.
The Korean War brought about a massive extension of our stay in Japan, adding perhaps 10 or 15 years, and just as that was winding down, Viet Nam came along. The Viet Nam conflict did not require the massive support (and associated military staffs and their families) that Korea did, so the military dependent housing areas and associated American footprint were reduced almost as planned.
While MacArthur broke up the holdings of many of the big rural land owners (the average Japanese farmer was a serf or share cropper,) US forces built on some of the best remaining land in the cities. This was a continuing irritant to the population and required a simple remedy; the American families went home.
We have been nearly 60 years in South Korea to the tune of 37,000 US troops. If the SK government does not function on its own by now, another 60 years won't solve their problems.

Eric:
I was not aware that Japan bore any cost in the occupation. I though that I had a pretty good handle on things. Goes to show. This changes much in my Thinking/ Let me see If I have this right . During the occupation when Japan was broke or thereafter, the country of Japan had to pay our costs of being there. like the wages of sailors and solders, costs of construction, and infrastructure,gas oil supplies. If this is the case and I believe you, no wonder that there was is resentment. Funny, I read the book American Ceaser the biography of Douglas MacArthur. There was no mention of this. Perhaps I missed it. This then would make it very unfair to an occupied country. As for Korea. You gave me much pause for thought. Does the same rules apply ? does Korea pay for us to be there? This then would make us little more than hired mercernarys. We had Vietnamization [ albeit under pressure of being kicked out ie defeated] understandably not the case in Korea but it would seem to me that if we wanted to get out, [as we do in Iraq] that benchmarks and timetables would be set to urge the south Koreans to take over their own defence .
Thank you for correcting me on the funding issue. I had no idea this I wonder how I missed this with all that I learned being there and since. Is there a reference you could send me to so I could learn more, meanwhile I will look around. Eric, I'm feeling pretty stupid right about now. hope you had a nice christmas. Thanks again Peter

I am really amazed at all the postings to this forum for the Yokohama Navy Exchange was Where question. When I first added my words to the Forum in Oct 2006, it was on page 4 and now it's on page 28, I think.
I was only 9 and 10 years old when I was in Yokohama in 1953-54, so my memories are limited to what a child would remember. Those of you who were adults have a much broader scope of memories to cherish.
It was good to see Uco is still reading and posting info. Eric and I never did receive feedback about the early history of our old school building in Yokohama. Maybe one day we'll find out when the Japanese constructed it and for what purpose. May 2008 bring us all only PLEASANT surprises!
Bill in Houston

Hey Bill
Yes, this forum has gone a long way. Uco has not been with us for a while but she is all over the rest of Japan guide. I am very impressed with her insight towards all types of subjects. She is a voice of reason. Hope you are well. Welcome back. Would you like some snow ? I am featuring a special on it. yours Peter

Peter,
Please keep your snow. Would you believe Houston (TX) had a white Christmas a couple of years ago! It was my first experience here after 45 years! I seem to remember a late spring snow in Yokohama in 1954. Of course, I remember a white Christmas in South Carolina around 1948. I had asked Santa for a reindeer and got a puppy instead.
I'd like to live where there are no hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, noise, polution, earthquakes, plagues, and pestilence. I thought about moving to the South Pole, but then I read the ice caps were melting. I have friends who live in the Michigan Upper Peninsula where the average annual snowfall is between 270 and 300 inches! They use their snow blower like we do a lawnmower. But then none of this yadda, yadda has nothing to do with Japan.