I hear from afar the Siren's song. Kazuko.

[oneighty]

And high on her waves I fly
And quick at last she wrecks me fast
On the shores of the Nipponese.

I wake alone with broken bones
Upon that distant shore
And the sun rises high in the redding sky
And shed her warmth on me.

The sun moves west across the sky
Casting her shadows long
The the dark steals in with pirate stealth
As the dark will often do.

I wake again in morning's light
The Siren hovering over me
She hovers as might a bird in flight
While singing her Siren song.

The Chief Petty Officer I do not know and I ride a train from Sasebo to Yokosuka. We are the only Americans on the steam train. We travel through Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I do not see damage from the bombings but of course I have nothing to compare to from before when the cities were old. The Chief does not know either. But he knows a lot about Japanese pussy though. I listen to his terrible stories. I am glad to reach Yokosuka and away from his foul mouth. My white uniform is filthy from train smoke and soot. It is August 1952. I am eighteen years old now.

Finally I arrive at 'Barrack J' on the Yokosuka Navy Base. I join about seventy-five Minemen already serving there. The mine depot where I will be performing my mineman duties is located on Azuma Island in Yokosuka Harbor. Mornings we board a stake body truck at the barrack and ride a mile to the boat landing where we board the mineman's 'M boat' for the short journey to the island. We ride the same boat back to the mainland, to the truck, to the mess hall and back to the boat and to the island. We spend a lot of time just boating and trucking.

The first few days on the island are devoted to meeting my fellow sailors, visiting the various buildings and mine assembly shops. The island has hundreds of mines, hundreds of tons of high explosives. I am assigned to the large 'Butler Hut' mine assembly building.

I get my first liberty pass in Yokosuka and as if guided by the Siren's song I arrive at the Atomic Bar.The Atomic Bar is large enough to seat perhaps ten people. I sit at a small table and I am the only customer. There are several girls sitting sipping drinks. Having decided to learn to drink beer I order one. To my surprise I receive a large very bottle of beer. It is Ashai beer. It cost two-hundred yen. The exchange rate is three-hundred-sixty Yen to the dollar for service men. The exchange rate is better for civilians. The large bottle of beer is warm, I can only sip it. It tastes as skunk pee smells.

The girls come to my table ask me to buy them a drink. I do not know what to do so I refuse. A pretty girl with soft kind eyes rubs my crew cut head. She is saying something sounds like "Cuti Cuti" The other girls rub my head too. They are teasing me I decide. Except the one with the soft kind eyes. She is not teasing. I learn a long time later the girls were comparing the bumps on my head to the bumps on a cucumber.

The girl with the soft kind eyes having learned my name takes me by the hand. "Come Eddie san". I follow her. We walk a long distance. In a small room there are two beds separated by a curtain. A sailor and a girl occupy one bed.

The soft eyes watch me as we undress. Naked we lay together. I have met my Siren. Her name is Kazuko.

As the weeks go by Kazuko and I meet frequently. We decide to be steady friends. I must pay to rent a house. It will be my house and we will stay there together. In addition I will contribute to her support. So it is we begin our sad and long relationship.

[pnorman]

1. A minor correction

The train (Saikai) from Sasebo to Yokohama (to get to Yokosuka) does NOT pass through Nagasaki. I've ridden it many times in a period from a few years beyond 1952, and I don't think there had been any change in the route. Actually, Nagasaki is well off to the side.

It was a pleasant ~24 hour ride, and it was a lot of fun buying various foods and drinks through the open windows. But whenever we went through a tunnel, the smoke and soot billowing into those same windows would be a real pain. Within several years those trains were all air-conditioned, and that was the end of those open windows.

pnorman

[oneighty]

2. I am sorry

We did go through both cities. And Yes Nagasaki is off as you say. It has always been a puzzle to me. And further had we traveled through only the one city I would have said so as I have no reason to lie as you suggest. I resent that part.

Other than that thank you for your comments.

Yes the Osoba was good.

180 (Yotsu Chi Chi)

[pnorman]

3. Instead of "lie", think "false memory".

We're talking about ~50 years ago. (That of course could also apply to me).

pnorman
On edit: Here's a map that illustrates where Nagasaki is situated relative to Sasebo: http://gojapan.about.com/library/map/blmap-nagasaki.htm It's barely possible considering the year, that it was a special train for military purposes. But in that case, there would be few if any Japanese on that train.

[oneighty]

4. Regardless

It is of no consequence and certainly details fade with time. Oh boy I sure know that!

How is it you were in Japan? Will you tell? When were you last there?

In later times I 'trained' from Yokosuka to Tokyo many times. And to Niigata and Kugiranami and Kamakura/Enoshima. Once we went to Nara Kazuko and I to see the temples but for some reason (I cannot remember Hee hee hee) did not see them.

I have friends in Sasebo. They travel regularly to Yokosuka.

180

[oneighty]

5. curious

saikai suru = reopen resume

or

saikai suru = meet again.

railway train = gyoretsu

180

[pnorman]

6. Western Sea

The "KUN" of the two ideographs in "SAI-KAI" are respectively, "Nishi" and "Umi". That was what that region was termed in days gone by. When a westener looks at a map of Japan, he would generally describe Sasebo as being SOUTH of Tokyo. Japanese regard it as WEST. (I take no sides in this).

pnorman

[oneighty]

7. And the train is named

Saikai?

Are you Japanese?

PM me later? I must go now.

180