5.(8-11) At Tokyo Time, 8 December 1941 - War On

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8. Girl Friday

Kimura visits Blue House with a plan. Sitting on the deep yellow-orange sofa and looking down at the girls who lounge about on the soft sea-green carpet, gowned like houris in Mahomet’s heaven, he asks
   “What about working for me?”

   Kimi at his black-stockinged feet looks up; Harumi and Olga stare. “Doing?”

   “Girl Friday.”
   “Wha?” Kimi’s American interrogative.
   “Odd jobbing. Taking and making telephone calls, being my photo girl, doing notes and letters, carrying my briefcase, listening to my opinions.”
   “Double pay for that,” smirks Olga

   “The pay rate is standard Girl Friday for star newsman.”

   “Pooh!” exclaims Olga.
   “Exploiter!” cries Harumi.
   “I’ll do it!" says Kimi. "But I cannot type and never took photo.”
   “I’ll teach typing, Darling,” says Olga
   “And I shall give my camera wisdom” adds Harumi.
   “Settled," says Kimura. I will start papers going at office forthwith and you shall commence Monday.”

9.  At … Tokyo Time Monday, 8 December 1941, …

Kimi follows Kimura into large briefing room in War Ministry with other newsmen. All are seated in armchairs under a 6-meter-high crystal chandelier. They face empty raised platform that can be entered from sides. Kimura directs Kimi to rear not far from high oak-panel door where a grim full-dress sergeant stands stiffly.
   Exactly on the hour, left side door is opened for Navy admiral, chest full of decorations, who strides to center stage. Two army colonels follow and all stand attention as sergeant shouts “Begin!” the standard opening for a military news conference. Everybody bows to podium. The colonel on left reads from sheet: “At … Tokyo time Monday, 8 December 1941, carrier-based bombers of Imperial Navy acting in defense of the motherland struck and inflicted massive damage on the US Armada that had been assembling at Pearl Harbor to attack our islands….”
   Kimura taps Kimi’s left shoulder, a pre-arranged signal for her to be up and running to outside phone to give the message, “War on!” She is first at payphones followed by excited newsmen gabbling messages.
   Minutes later, back in conference room she scribbles notes as Kimura stands and asks “Admiral, we are now at war with so-called ABC – America, Britain, China, we are a small country with limited resources vulnerable to naval blockade and air bombing. What is the military’s assessment of the war’s length and its affects on the population?”
   Shadow of frown crosses the admiral’s face.

   “American Armada is destroyed completely and state of hysteria pervades American public. It is expected U.S. government will sue for peace shortly. As long as our hegemony over western Pacific is accepted, we shall allow the United States to keep Hawaii. It will be a short war. Next question.”

They stand outside Shimbashi Station. Newsboys are hawking extras whose 10-centimeter-high headline proclaims – WAR ON.  They watch morning-rush salarimen buy up the extras. As the commuters begin to get the import they stop in amazement and, instead of hurrying on to offices, clot up in small groups causing massive jam on exit stairways.

10. Spirit of Three-Million Spears

Several days later, Kimi attends cocktail party given by the new Prime Minister Tojo for the Tokyo Press Corps. On greeting line, dressed in severe Old Miss style, she is introduced to the PM. Up close with an attractive woman, he is less grim than on the Diet podium.
   Dispensing with the usual bow, he extends white-gloved hand. “My dear Miss, you represent young Japanese womanhood perfectly – Yamato Nadeshiko, pink flower-child of our ancient nation. What region are you from?”
   “North Island.”

  “Your father?”

  “Fisherman, he died when I was child.”

   Tojo is silent; then to Kimura, beside Kimi. “Can you spare this charming miss? We are interested in a photo story for the magazines. We have a movie actress but she looks like a flapper. It strikes me your Miss here will do better.”

   There is no way to refuse and that is how Kimi becomes the model of Young Woman Doing Her Part for the Great Patriotic Pacific War.

With short unbound hair, no cosmetic on face, serious look, and in peasant jacket and monpe (patriotic ankle length knickers); she is the model Patriotic Miss or Mrs Japan, 1942. In one photo she stands in courtyard loosely clasping hands in front, looking shy but serious. The Chinese characters on her white shoulder-sash inform that she is a volunteer nurse helper. Part of this photo, a close-up of face is the most frequently found object on soldiers whose remains are shipped home in 25-cm square wood boxes. Another photo is as a young mother hoisting up winning naked infant in baby contest. She wears plain kimono and the baby is obviously a boy.

   The third shows her in military boots, peasant jacket, woman’s work-knickers, and purple headband with white sun ball and rays in front, leading a 4-column platoon of women with hoes over right shoulders. It is dawn and the sun appears just above the top line of hills casting shadows of the marching women against thatched roof farmhouse wall. This scene, which Kimura calls “Kimi down on the farm” and communist Harumi says in low voice “the marching morons”, is meant to enlist young women for farm work.

   In change of pace, the next photo has her as a young Miss in kimono, stopping on street corner to sew a single red stitch on a band of white cotton cloth which, after 1000 red stitches are collected from passers-by, will be sent to front-line soldiers for good luck.

   From that charming view to the final return to stark war is the Spirit of 3-Million Spears and it shows a line of women with bamboo spears under army officer supervision. Kimi stands forefront holding bamboo spear looking grim. Prime Minister Tojo refers to the photo in speeches as showing the true spirit of Japan (Yamato damashi), its picture equaling the explanation of how the small Japanese nation will defeat the giant Yankee Monkee.

11. At Home at L'lle Blue House

On the rainy Sunday when the photo series comes out, Kimura arrives early with copies of the Tokyo Women’s Home Companion. Olga lies on belly in pullover white woolen sweater, which contrasts sharply with the single long black pigtail lying over her rear cleavage. Her right elbow is dug into rug to support her right hand cupping chin as she pours over the magazine photos, through horn-rim eyeglasses.
   Harumi lies face up on oversize ottoman they call Backless de Milo because of its lack of back and arms. In sloppy brown towel bathrobe she holds magazine open over her head to see Kimi’s photo spread. Kimi, embarrassed at her fame, prepares coffee and French pastry. Kimura sits down in rocking chair.
   “Well, darling” says Olga, closing the magazine, “You certainly are photogenic. Miss Japan of 1942! That poor movie actress you beat out is probably back on the farm brushing up on her blow-jobs and preparing for another try at Big Town. And it all happened because General Tojo grew accustomed to your face!”
   Kimura comments: “The important thing is: you are on esteemed General Tojo’s Good List. It means I am too. Now I shall succeed at my Magnificent Obsession, which is to cover the next big event of The Great Patriotic Pacific War.”

   "Tell us?” All ask.
   “In due time, ladies.”
   Kimi brings in the coffee and pastry on a shiny black ivory tray, happy the talk has turned from her publicity photos. Soon they are overdosing caffeine and pigging out on the pastry.

   For next, now, click 5.(12-13) Ne Plus Ultra - Sex! Sex! Sex!