10.(4-6) Meeting Tojo

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4.  Meeting the Man

Mrs. T. gives Kimi a tour of the house: The children's rooms, the Tojo's, and the General’s study. The children recently went to live with relations on South Island out of harm’s way so it is quiet. She assigns Kimi to the room of her daughters which is tatami floor, sliding panel walls with storage shelves and chest of drawers in left corner. The General’s study is, to Kimi, most interesting. About 5 by 4 meters it has a battered big brown roll-top desk against wall that is open showing a clutter of papers, books and writing tools. Along adjacent wall on left is a worn black leather sofa and, trying it at Mrs’ urging, Kimi finds it to have almost bottomless cushioning. Also observed are 3 wood chairs that look collapsible if even the slightest bit overfed person were to sit. The floor has deep red Afghan rug that one could comfortably stretch out and sleep on. On the wall above the desk is a life size frontal head-to-waist picture of the General decked out, full military, as befits hero of the Imperial Army. It is all of a piece: the black visor brown army hat with front centered 5-point star over band in front, the wire-rimmed round lens spectacles from which the magnified eyes seem to radiate wisdom and discipline, the prominently winged, long-lobed ears obvious even on frontal view, the nose out of which the trim black mustache seems to have been poured, and the deep curved folds in cheeks bracketing the firmly set lips. On each side of high collar of Tojo’s khaki tunic is a 3-star lieutenant general insignia. Left chest is hidden under military ribbons and medals. At shoulder level is row of ten campaign ribbons extending from Russo-Japanese War to most recent in North China in 1937, and space below is filled with 8-point chrysanthemum decorations for outstanding services to the Emperor. Right side has one decoration, the Purple Chrysanthemum, highest award for valor under fire – pinned just below pocket flap.

   “Do not allow the picture to overawe you. My husband is really a very nice man.” Mrs. T. smiles, adding, “In my very prejudiced opinion.”

   They go out into the backyard which is planted with vegetable and fruit. A man suddenly comes around the corner and almost collides with Kimi. Of average size and build with military shaved head and mustache and metal rim specs he is, she realizes, Hideki Tojo.

5.  The Man Himself

The recently resigned Prime Minister is dressed informally in khaki shorts, pullover sweater and sneaker shoes. His surprise turns to pleasant remembering of Kimi who he’d just now almost kamikazed. Stepping back he bows. Before Mrs. T. can speak, he exclaims “Miss Kimi! What a pleasure!”

   Kimi enjoys this attention from an ex world-leader. After a briefest of meetings long ago, seeing herself in his eyes just amazes her.

   The General drops down on a garden bench and motions her to sit beside him and from pocket he pulls a little blue box with white crane bird printed on its front and the Chinese kanji “Hope” on its cover. He pulls out 2 cigarettes and offers one to Kimi who politely refuses.

   “Dear!” exclaims Mrs. T. in sharp voice and he sheepishly hands her the box.

   Mrs. T. says severely: “First thing to learn is the General is not to smoke.”

   Kimi thinks it ironic that “Our Hitler” is no Great Dictator at home.

   Mrs. T. goes into the house and fetches a fruit that Kimi has not seen before. It looks like an apple but brown. The General explains it is an apple-pear which Mrs. T. reproduces by putting pear pollen in an apple blossom and planting the resulting seeds.

   Conversation turns to traditional drama. Tojo is expert on Noh, the most traditional theater from which Kabuki originated. Here, Kimi gets a surprise. It had often been harped on in the press that Tojo came from Samurai roots. This follows militarist and racialist ideas to explain the quality of his leadership but she now hears from Himself that he descends from a family of itinerant Noh players – original wandering minstrels they.
   Later research with the help of Harumi shows her that the Tojo name began in 1832 when Noh player Hidemasa Hosho entered the employ of a samurai on South Island. To up status, he changed his family name from the unprepossessing Hosho to the glorious-sounding Tojo. The Hidemasa himself had no male heir so he married his daughter to a local farmer's son adopted into family thereby keeping the “Tojo” going. Their son, Hideki Tojo’s paternal grandfather, was born with a family name “Ito” but died a “Tojo” and also was Katsu Tojo’s paternal granduncle.

   The General leaves them and goes to work in his study, and Kimi & Mrs. T. do a ladies who lunch, over rice & curry, Kimi is told her duties: Monday to Friday live-in secretary, serving girl, entertainer and all-purpose ears.

   Mrs. T. Does not say so but she too wants someone to whom she can talk.

6.   Vindicating Tojo

Kimi moves in. Back at Little Blue House, both Harumi and Olga fill her with questions and since she is functioning as all-purpose ears she becomes the Tojo-tale-teller. But she keeps her pregnancy secret and with its third month nausea going-gone she finds her appetite returning and her pregnancy lethargy changing to energy as her body adjusts. Getting up in morning she inspects for telltale bulge. What then?
   So she continues her plan. Despite uncertainty and despite her existence at nodal point of a losing war she feels more alive and happy because she is carrying part of Future and it gives a sense of destiny and raison d’être.

First day of job, over coffee, Mrs. Tojo starts a vindication like she is gearing up as Tojo’s attorney. She is unprejudiced about U.S.A. but thinks it misinformed. According to her, as early as June 1942, the Emperor knew the war lost and set up Tojo as scapegoat for Americans to focus hate on. 
   To read now, click 10.(7-9) Apologies for Tojo/His Fine Romance