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3. The Folks Who Live on the Hill
3. The Folks Who Live on the Hill
The Tojo house – western style, 1-story with sloping roof and natural wood-slat exterior – is on a small hill next to half-acre plot heavily cultivated with vegetables and another half-acre watered and growing rice. Its has a shiny brass door with gargoyle head knocker.
Kimi enters by half open wood gate into the small intensively cultivated front vegetable garden, walks up a short flat rock path to the door. She is dressed in faded gray peasant jacket and brown monpe knickers to ankles with sandals, and her hair is drawn back in wartime style. She timidly bangs its knocker.
The door opens from within: A tall slim woman wearing faded dark ankle-length western dress with housewife green apron over it; age is fifty or so, she has short black hair sprinkled with gray, bright intelligent eyes, cheery smile revealing unusual absence of gold and healthy complexion skin.
The door opens from within: A tall slim woman wearing faded dark ankle-length western dress with housewife green apron over it; age is fifty or so, she has short black hair sprinkled with gray, bright intelligent eyes, cheery smile revealing unusual absence of gold and healthy complexion skin.
Kimi introduces self, bowing; the woman does likewise. She is Katsu Tojo as Kimi already knew. Who didn’t? The notoriety from strong exposure she had received in the press by being the Mrs. of the dynamic Wartime Prime Minister made her a public Mrs.
From conversation last night with Olga, Kimi knows her history: College educated and married at 19 in 1909 to distant cousin Tojo, Hideki, who was then age 25 and recent Russo-Japanese war veteran after being newly commissioned lieutenant in the Imperial Army. From 1911 to 1932 they had 4 boys and 3 girls.
When Tojo burst into public view after being appointed Vice Minister of the Army in 1938 and then First Minister in 1941, Katsu stood out – a prominent man’s wife who could read Chinese classics, discuss Einstein relativity and throw an intellectual party for H.G. Wells. At a time when Japanese women were expected to trail husband and speak in high-pitched child’s voice, she made public appearances, political speeches, broadcasts, tours. There was a baseball saying among members of the press in 1943 that Tojo had the balls but Mrs. made the strikes. Now that her husband is out of office, dismissed because blamed for the war’s going badly it is inevitable that the pent up frustration of the public should target Mrs. Tojo for destructive criticism and this is seen in her underground nickname “Tobirei”, the “To” being first syllable from “Tojo” but the “birei” being the last 2 syllables from Madame Chiang Kai-shek’s 3-character Chinese name which when the 3 characters are transliterated into Japanese is “Sobirei”. And since Mme Chiang in addition to being enemy leader’s wife is also the model for 1940's liberated Asian woman – the mere idea of which gives traditional Japanese males an extreme case of the heeby-jeebies – it can be seen how hated Mrs. T. had become in last year of War.
This is the middle-aged woman who leads Kimi into the front room. Along one wall is brown leather 3-seat sofa with knee-high glass-top table in front and beside the table a hibachi topped by simmering tea kettle. On opposite wall is inset long mahogany closed cupboard that Kimi guesses houses the family silver and on top of cupboard tastefully arranged ceramic animal figurines. On right angle wall to left hangs a large south sea painting that an art expert like Olga would identify as authentic Gauguin.
Mrs. Tojo seats Kimi at far end of sofa, places a cup of hot lemon tea and plate of Danish pastry on the low table before her, and sits down on chair facing her across the glass top table. “May I call you Miss Kimi? You may wonder why we invited you. It all stems from the musical recital you gave at the Soviet Embassy. Major Kato was ecstatic about it: You are, he thought, someone who expresses in your art and in your carriage, the soul of our Island’s culture and the General conceived a great notion to hear you play, a notion that became greater when he discovered you had gone away. Months passed and, as everyone knows, my husband is no longer the all powerful leader. Naturally he is depressed, has lost weight, cannot sleep, has not been able to start work on his memoirs as I wish him to but he continues to ask about you – the now fabulous, at least in his imagination, Miss Kimi; so I sent one more letter and – Lo! – here you are.”
“I made a few inquiries and find, in addition to your cultural assets, you are possessed of an experience as newsman's secretary. What I am getting at is, the General and I will be very happy if you consent to be his personal secretary. But I wish you to understand the job. You will be expected to lend an ear for the General to speak his thoughts but also you will be expected to sooth and comfort him with music, song, dance and other traditional art. The pay is good and you, my dear, shall have a room of your own with a nice view out back. Do you accept?”
Kimi knows that delaying her decision is wisest but she is not feeling wise. Yes, she says almost before the question is sounded. Here is the chance, she thinks, to find out why the war?
To read on now, click 10.(4-6) Meeting Tojo
Now, as a reward for your reading, plug in your earphones and click the following YouTube:
To read on now, click 10.(4-6) Meeting Tojo
Now, as a reward for your reading, plug in your earphones and click the following YouTube:
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