1. (31-33) An Intervention, A Meeting And a Tour

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31: Spy Wagon

Strolling with Kimi past the Russian Embassy, Kimura indicates with eyes across the street a parked large 1920's car with 4 flat tires and covered windows. “Don’t look now but that’s a police spy wagon.”

  They take seats at street café nearby and Kimura explains that shifts of police day & night check who enters and exits the Embassy and also copy license plates. Just then, an incident: 2 tourists snap pictures that include the car. Immediately, its doors open and cops pop out. “Now for fun,” says Kimura. “Come, we shall offer assistance.”

  Kimi stands by. The tourists are a young man and woman, and look American.

  Kimura bows to the police and hands his card. “May I help with these foreigners?” Both sides welcome his volunteering; the tourists seemingly do not understand Japanese and the cops obviously have no English.

  The cops want to know the who and why of the foreigners.

Kimura's attention focuses on the girl

She is no long-limb typical type, being shorter than his 1.75 meters (5 ft 9 in.), and slim. He pictures her standing on tiptoes to reach just to his lips with hers. Her blonde hair, smoothly conditioned, gives sultry look. The bright hay-yellow hair nicely contrasts with her off-shoulder red cotton dress, which, below, daringly reveals knees and nicely turned calves and ankles. His eagle vision detects hairs that prove her a true blonde. Her green platform shoes, which he wishfully envisions her kicking off for a quick sex, complete his inspection. Just this moment, she stands – one angry petite blonde – with hands on hips, feet apart, lips tight. Now his view dwells on her small perfect nose and lips. And she, perhaps perceiving his thought, gives a barely perceptible look of contempt at the cops, then looks full at Kimura and gives a left eye wink, her tight lips turning into a smile.

  Kimi is examining the slim young man. He wears colorful tan slacks and short-sleeve light green shirt. She thinks him handsome in a movie-star way.

  After 10 minutes, a settlement: the cops agree not to take the couple in for questioning in return for the film in the camera, and Kimura promises a report. The cops get back in their spy wagon, and Kimura invites the pair to sit at the café table.

32: Tommy and Ali

As they drink American coffee, Kimi examines the American. She guesses him in his mid 20's and notes his light brown hair. Eyes show gray-green irises. Different, she thinks, but kind and sincere.

  During his English conversation with Kimura, he laughs and once smiles at her.

  As she is examining him, he turns to her and says. “Well, Miss Japan, what’s your opinion?” in perfect Japanese and then “I am Tommy. Are you Jane?” and Kimi does not catch the allusion even though she has seen the 1932 Hollywood Tarzan of the Apes. The young man stands, makes his version of bowing and takes her hand and shakes it.

  Speaking fluent Japanese, the young woman says “And me Alison!”. She turns to Kimura with winning smile. “M’pals call me Ali.”

  They are sister and brother born and raised in Japan. The pair had allowed the police to believe they do not understand Japanese in order to avoid questioning. Tommy is a reporter for International News and Ali a freelance camera girl doing summer in Japan before college. All this is learned over coffee at the sidewalk café.

  Kimura suggests they see some interesting spots. He already has a plan.

33: Takarazuka

First they attend the Takarazuka Review at a big barn-like theater on the Ginza. The audience is middle aged women and sailor-suit girls. The show opens with an actor in black face who gets down on knees and sings the Al Jolson Mammy.

  “Am I crazy or is that Al Jolson?” asks Ali.

  The performer pulls off the black face and hair cover to reveal a young woman acknowledging the applause.

  “An all-woman review!” Kimura informs her. “Miss Sahomi, the most popular performer!”

  Next is the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers then Sahomi appears in yellow raincoat.

  “I’ll bet an ice cream soda it’s Singin’ in the Rain” says Tommy to Kimi who smiles. It turns out A Foggy Day in London Town.

“I lose the bet so I must buy you one ice cream soda,” says Tommy. “Shall we say next Sunday, noon? And lunch too?”

  His sister interrupts, in English. “Keep out of the wolf's web, Kimi!”

  “Pardon me,” says Kimura. “Do not you mean spider’s web?”

  “Alliteration and originality trump iteration and cliché, dontchyathink, Hon?” quips the blonde young woman. Kimura understands her Hon as Honey, and it gives him a delightful feeling of friendly familiarity. An old lady nearby hisses “Sh--”.

  On stage Sahomi, dressed as a U.S. Civil War Confederate Army officer sings Stephen Foster songs and is called back for two encores. Then comes a full review of dancers doing tango and rumba leading into the closing number where a long line of dancers dressed in top hats, black jackets and tight shorts exhibit legs in goose-stepping strut while Sahomi - in black-stripe white pants, white dovetail jacket and white top-hat - tap dances her way like Hollywood’s Eleanor Powell around the raised revolving stage, which as it slowly turns, reveals patriotic view of radiating rays of the red-ball sun emblem symbolizing Japan in red, yellow and green flashing lights. The audience goes wild with applause, the curtain falls and lights go on.

                          To read next, click 1.34 A Fitting Ending to Slim Novel 1