1. (10-11) Kimi Joins the Army

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10: Childhood Ends

Kimi is summoned to Oto’s parlor for a visitor. She sees an Army officer sitting across from her, cup of tea in right hand, cigarette in the other, his eyes seem to undress her.
   Bare shaven head, wire-rim thick eyeglasses that magnify eyes horribly, small black mustache that seem to flow out of nostrils and come to sharp points before reaching edges of mouth – he does not inspire joy. His samurai saber in slightly curved gold-tip sheath is on the floor beside a leather riding crop.

  “Major Ito represents the Imperial Army. The Army has sponsored your training. Now you will give back. It is a great honor.”

  Kimi bows to the Major who continues to inspect her brutally. He stubs his cigarette in an ashtray. “Turn!” He commands.

  Kimi looks blank.

  “Show the Major your back, girl!” Kimi turns about face.

  “She’ll do fine.” He stands to leave. “Have her at the station in the morning.”

  After he has left, Oto bids Kimi sit. “Childhood ends and now practical experience. Army service will sharpen you. The Major may try you out during the journey south. Do as he desires; do not appear afraid. These military men are stupid, uneducated peasants. Beneath the skin you will find a sentimentalist, and you may dominate him easily by accepting whatever he proposes and turning his brutality into your power. Now, go, bundle your things.”

11: Try Out

Kimi and Major Ito stop at Southport. From the accommodation for two, Kimi guesses Ito will put her to the test. He orders a dinner then drinks saké.
  Alcohol makes the Major talkative. He lectures: Of all the Japanese armies in China, the Kwantung Army is most famous, and Kimi will be serving it.
  While Kimi pours saké for the excited Ito, he rambles on about Japan’s sacred mission in Asia, about Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, about World Unification under Japanese Umbrella. Kimi is sleepy but makes a show of interest.

  Finished, Ito sits back as one serving girl clears the table and another lays a sleeping mat. Tunic unbuttoned at collar, glasses slightly off center, belt unbuckled and saber thrown carelessly on tatami mat, he no longer looks the murderous military man.

  “Since you will be serving the Army I must inspect you. Remove clothes.” He doesn’t even add a ‘please.’

  She recalls Oto’s “Do not appear afraid”. She opens her yukata (a pull-around gown supplied by hotels) and allows it to drop off her shoulders. She fronts him now, only a white shift covering her nakedness.

  “Come closer, girl.” Ito adjusts his glasses with trembling hands.

  She steps close.

  “Army girl must be hard like our troopers; she must bear pain without whimpering, must be prepared to die for the Emperor. Could you do that, girl?”

  “Yes,” she murmurs.

  "To Army girl, an officer is like Father. And how does Father punish naughty daughter? He lays her across his lap, face down and spanks her rear. Come, let us play.”

  He grabs Kimi’s arm and drags her down. His tobacco smell revolts her. Yet she also feels the thrill of being in the hands of a man who will do his will. Lying across his knees her behind bared, she awaits the lash of his riding crop. Instead he dumps her, face down on the mat, and commences to poke his sex at her. Kimi cries in high-pitched child voice: “Please no, Mr. Man! Bad! Bad! Musn’t! No! No! You are too strong! Oh! Oh! Oh!”

  Such sounds according to Oto will certainly stimulate a man to get his business done in shortest time and let a girl sleep. And it is so. In less than a minute Ito spills it. Kimi, keeping to training, cleans him off with small moist towels that hotels place conveniently beside love mats. He pats her shoulder and says, “Good girl” as she tucks him in.

In morning he shakes her awake and puts downward pressure on her shoulders to indicate where he wants her head. She gets her first chance to apply a lesson of the courtesan handkerchief paintings.

In morning they cross to Main Island by ferry, continue train trip, cross to South Island and, next morning, arrive at the Sasebo Embarkation Camp. The Major brings Kimi into a building and hands her over to a sergeant with “Serve the Kwantung Army well."

                  To read next, click 1.12 Sasebo Repo Depo