April 14, 1954 The Jam Jar and Tamba Ware

Diary Entry:  April 14, 1954

"Mrs. McKnight came after us to divide pottery gifts.  After long discussion we took one small jam jar & the smaller of 2 big nice pieces of Tamba ware.  Same family has made this pottery so many generations they have lost count.  Unusual for college boy to go back to farm."

 

April 13, 1954 The Pottery of Kamitachikui

"Much of the pottery used in Japanese homes is made by hand in some mountain village. 

The people in the village raise rice when the weather is good and make pottery to sell during the cold months.  This pottery is always simple in shape and color.  It is both beautiful and useful."

(Dragon-fly Land:  Japan, by Bonnie Belshe, 1955.)

Diary Entry:  April 13, 1954

"Our anniversary (13th).  Left early with McKnights & drove thru rural area to Kamitachikui to home of former Kwansei Gakuin student who wrote thesis on cottage industry--winter make pottery, summer-rice.  Saw clay pits, potters, kilns, showroom. 

Pottery everywhere & at every house.  After visit to kilns went back to house for cake & coffee.

Children served coffee too.  Student changed to white shirt & coat before eating with us.  Gave us pottery as gifts.  Came home by Arima.  Had sukiyaki in hot springs hotel.  Everyone tired but happy.  Very late getting home."

  

April 10 - 12, 1954 The Forbidden City, Colorado, The Singing Cabbie, The Train Home, Postcards of Tokyo and The Wonderful Tailoring

Diary Entry:  April 10, 1954

"Bob a little pale & feels bad so I stayed with children while B went browsing.  Bobby L., Karen, Marge Griffith & her boys came over.  Finally got everyone cleaned up just before 4:00.  B came home & all of us went to Forbidden City for supper.  Sol, Ikeda & Bill Prause met us there to eat with us.  No ice cream so took kids to "Colorado" for cones.  All of us had them.  Took cab home.  Cabby sang songs for children all the way.  Stopped for gas.  When he drove off he said, "Goodbye, see you again!"  Sounded so funny.  Very late & very tired kids."

Diary Entry: April 11, 1954

"Children up early. After breakfast we packed & talked until 11:00 a.m. Took a train & bus to Tokyo Station.

Train was full so had some trouble finding seats together.  Finally all got settled together.  Sake was flowing.  A convention crowd was on the train but got off soon.  One passenger gave Bob some gum.  Later asked B where we were going.  Had ice cream, pop & candy bought from train girls.  Ate supper in diner.  children stayed awake.  Slept from Osaka.  Went right to sleep when they got in bed."

Diary Entry:  April 12, 1954

"We are all so tired.  Rain poured all morning so Sukuda-san hung wash in attic.  Sun came out, lovely in afternoon.  Bob took a nap.  B went to Osaka for suit & topcoat at the tailor's.  Such wonderful tailoring.  We are very pleased."

NOTE:  Transportation images are from the kids' book purchased in Tokyo, August, 1953.

April 9, 1954 Kimono, Where the Long Hairs Meet, Rural Crafts and Enjoying Tokyo

Bonnie's kimono, obi and sash

Diary Entry:  April 9, 1954

"Betty & I left B & Sol with children & went downtown.  Teruko-san went to Yokohama for day to see her cousins.  We went to kimono mart first.  Brought B a rayon/silk kimono, Ann & Bob obis & myself a silk kimono & obi.  Went to Ramie & got tablecloth, then patterns & browsed thru a few shops.  Ate lunch in an arty coffee shop, "The West", where long hairs meet & where they played classical records all the time.  Dashed to Takumi's to see crafts of rural areas.

After supper Nishimuras came in for coffee & to see my kimono.  They said it was very good & asked price.  New ones 20-25,000.  Special occasion kimono for spring.  Obi selection very good.  Takes special cleaning.  Must be taken apart, washed & stretched.  Put together again."

B's kimono

  

April 8, 1954 Looking at Furs, Buying Candy and Seeing Mt. Fuji

"As the ship sails up the coast of Japan you may see Mount Fuji on a clear day.   Mount Fuji is one of the most beautiful mountains in the world.  It is an inactive volcanic peak and is so tall there is always snow on the top.  It is such a final polishing."

(Dragon-fly Land:  Japan, Bonnie Belshe, 1955,)


Diary Entry:  April 8, 1954

"After lunch left children resting with Teruko-san & B & I went shopping for furs.  Looked at 2 shops at mink & marten.  I looked awful in both furs & they were too high--750. and 900. Got some candy for children & for Mishimuras.  Saw Mt. Fuji.  Just like pictures."

Postcard with Fuji in background

 

April 6 - 7, 1954 Takusan Love, Spring Fields and The Train to Tokyo

Birthday card to Bonnie's mother, April, 1954

Diary Entry:  April 6, 1954

"A rainy day.  By mistake we have reservations made on two trains from Tokyo so B had to go to Osaka to straighten it out.  I washed my hair and packed for trip to Tokyo."

Diary Entry:  April 7, 1954

From the train window

"Taxi at door at 7:30.  Got to Osaka in plenty of time.  Had good seats on train.  Lovely, sunny day.  Fields are yellow with rape and green with wheat.  Some wheat is beginning to head.  Farmers turning fields with spades.

Even blocks of dirt line fields.  Others were breaking blocks with hoes. 

Got into station at rush hour but Sol met us & we took a taxi out."

April 4 - 5, 1954 Cherry Viewing Time, Chawanmushi and Springtime in Kyoto

Diary Entry:  April 4, 1954

"It's Sunday & a beautiful day.  Osaka station jammed with people on their way to view cherries.  Waited for three trains.  Crowds shoved & pushed.  Finally conductor spoke to them  and they stepped back.  We got on in an orderly fashion.  It's the first time I've been really mad in public.  In Kyoto we went to Bill & Darlene Schultz's house.  Lunch was Chawan-Mushi, tempura & fried pies with chicken & rice.  Old Japanese house.  Went into other half to see dolls of Mrs. Dods. Rooms and halls are enormous.  Lovely garden.  High wall, locked gate.  Went to silk mansion (wonderful garden), then zoo, & then ate Chinese dinner downtown.  Slept on futon."

Diary Entry:  April 5, 1954

"Cloudy day.  Went out early to look at silks.  Shops have been full of tourists from Caronia for two days.  They are buying silk in stacks.  Had a quick lunch at Schultz's & took early train home.  Children slept on train.  First nap in months.  Dashed to bank in Osaka & hurried on home."

NOTE: The Caronia was a Cunard Line cruise ship.
   
To watch chawan-mushi being made and for the recipe, see this entertaining video:   

April 3, 1954 Spring Comes to Japan, Flowers Bloom, Bonnie Sews and Plans for Visits to Kyoto and Tokyo

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Spring is really here, I guess.  At least we have pulled off the kids' long underwear.  Bobby insists that he should wear short pants but it isn't that warm yet.  I had really wondered how different things would look when spring came for it stayed so green all winter.  It is a different green now, though--a real fresh green.

And the cherry trees are out and they are truly magnificent.  They are everywhere you look--in yards, along streets, along the railroad tracks, and on the mountain sides.  I wish you could see them.  The tragic part is that they bear no fruit in this land of teeming millions where food is needed so badly.  The Japanese don't think of that, though, for they love anything beautiful and the trains are jammed now with people going sakura (cherry) blossom viewing.  They take their lunch and spend the day under the trees.  The paper lists the public places where they can be seen and when.

Our yard is a source of constant surprises.  Almost every day some new flowering bush comes out.  We are trying to get color pictures of them but it is hard to keep up with them.  The camellias have been a real joy to me all winter.  Now the white ones and baby pink ones are out.  I'm going to miss the flowers next year.

The children are playing outside with neighbor children.  They all have such a good time together.  Bobby talks of coming home but he is very happy here.  Ann talks about things we used to have to eat or things we used to do but is happy too.  Toni is planning a bang-up birthday party for all of us when we get there and the children are excited about it.  We haven't been told yet about our ship or when it will sail.  Fulbright will arrange it so we have stopped worrying about it.

You may remember that we bought a set of dishes a long time ago but we bought only service for 8 so we have ordered enough to complete it for 12.  The pattern is a scene and I couldn't resist it when I saw it although I had sworn that I would not buy china here.  I don't think I'll ever regret buying them.

I have accomplished quite a bit of sewing.  I borrowed a portable machine and since I had things all cut and ready to sew I really got a lot done.  I made a kindergarten smock for Ann, two dresses for her and a dress for myself.  Teruko-san makes beautiful button holes so I let her make them.  I have a pongee dress cut but haven't done anything else on it.  Then I bought a piece of brown linen for a dress.

Last Sunday we took the children to see Dumbo.  The soundtrack was in Japanese but it was a wonderful picture.  The theatre was jammed of course and the people were rude.  That is the strangest thing.  People are so very, very polite in their homes.  But the minute a train door opens they start shoving to get on instead of waiting for people to get off.  They dash for a seat and there seems to be no concern for anyone except the guy who wants the seat.  The missionaries say this has developed only since the war.

We spent Thursday in a Japanese home and had a wonderful time.  The woman is a teacher and she told us a lot about the school system here.  A missionary and her children took us and there was another Japanese teacher there too.  The woman, her husband, who works for the telephone company, & their two children live with her mother.  They are in the country and have a lot of land.  The house was part matted where we sat on the floor and part western with chairs.  We had a real Japanese dinner of sukiyaki, salad and fruit.  It was late when we got home and the kids played so hard they were exhausted.

We plan to go to Kyoto tomorrow for two days and then next week we are going to Tokyo for a few days.  This will probably be our last time in Tokyo except for the time when we board ship there.  We are making plans to go to Hiroshima the last of the month.  There is a Fulbright family there and we want to stay with them.

B will teach only two classes again next semester and they will begin April 21 so we are planning the long trips now since his classes will be on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  That cuts the week in two so we can't travel far but intend to get in lots of short trips.  They say it rains most of June and if it does we couldn't do much then.  Our time is going so fast we are going to plan carefully so we can make the most of it.

Have a good birthday, Mother.  The children send you hugs and kisses and we all send you both heaps of love, "

                                                            Bonnie

April 2 - 3, 1954 B Needs Pajamas and Clara Needs a Camera

Neighborhood street

Diary Entry:  April 2, 1954

Spring blossoms

"B needs p.js so badly we went to Kobe to get material.  Thought we got cotton but was rayon.  Went to luncheon for Shirley Jeffery's for Winnie Harbin & Ruth Seito.  They are going home.  Helped Teruko-san cut p.js."

In the backyard pond

Diary Entry:  April 3, 1954

"Spent most of day getting ready to go to Tokyo.  B met Clara Kessler in Kobe and helped her select a new Canon camera.  She took him to Oriental Hotel for a big steak dinner.  She goes there often because food in the Japanese home where she stays is not good even if they are wealthy."

NOTE:  I'd like to say a special thank-you today for the nice mention of the blog, a little interview and for featuring Mom's favorite flower, the camellia, on  www.puuranders.blogspot.com
Thank you Miranda! 

April 1, 1954 Visiting the Inoues in Toyonaka

Diary Entry:  April 1, 1954

"Teruko-san pulled April fool joke on me.  

We went with Brays on train to Toyonaka to visit in middle class Japanese home.  Cherries are beautiful & everywhere.  At Toyonaka we took bus to end of line & walked up a lane lined with cherry trees.  It was in the country.  Old house with new wing of two western furnished rooms & a bathroom--not flush but very deep pit & latest Japanese style.  Garden all new & full of flowers.  Took off shoes.  Home & land owned by Grandmother.  Daughter, husband & two children (3-1/2 & 7) live with her.

Daughter--Mrs. Inoue is a high school teacher.  Husband works for telephone co.  Mrs. I spent yr. in Mills College.  She's very modern & very nice.

For lunch we had heaps of sukiyaki, Japanese salad of cucumbers, cabbage, pork & vinegar, rice, tea & fruit.  In our furoshiki we took our rice & a big bag of cookies.  When we left our furoshiki was full (fruit & some shells for Bob). Child Tomoko-chan had a lovely collection--gave Bob the extras.  After lunch we had long talk on education."

From Bonnie's album

NOTE:  We were saddened to learn recently of Frances Bray's passing and are thinking of her family.  Use the link to read about her life of distinguished service.

https://www.claremont-courier.com/articles/obituaries/t6313-fray   

March 29 - 31, 1954 Painting a Girl in a Boat and Lessons from Mrs. Sawada

Diary Entry:  Mar. 29, 1954

"After lunch we left the children & went to Osaka again.  B's suit supposed to be ready & topcoat to be fitted.  Pants not quite finished.  Looked for me some shoes.  All too short.  Can have them made.  Walked thru fabric wholesale center.  I've never seen so much material.  Got some dress linen & hankies for B."

Diary Entry:  Mar. 30, 1954

"Spent day doing nothing much.  Cut Ann a blouse and embroidered a little on her jumper.  B went to Kobe to shop for groceries.  Called Schultz & Levines to arrange visits. Letter to Helen Norton."

Diary Entry:  Mar. 31, 1954

"Painted young Kyoto Geisha girl in boat this morning.  Conversation about hair.  Mrs. Sawada gave some facts.  Before the war all women used that hair style, then perms & short hair after war.  Slept on porcelain pillows.  Could preserve hairdo for 5 days or a week without combing.  Old women have large bald spots from pinning up hair over years. Geisha were young girls sold into bondage. Women all wore kimono until war.  Mrs. S. sold many (70) of hers after war when everyone (occupation army presumably) wanted kimonos.  Saved only favorite ones but didn't know how many she had.  Prefers western clothes.  Kimono heavy & clumsy.  Even maids required to wear kimono & big hair before the war.  Letter to Phyllis."

At Heian shrine, Kyoto, 1954

Black/white images from Japan, by Horace Bristol, 1953

NOTE:  Geishas are few in number in Japan now compared to  the 1950s.  For an interesting explanation of Geisha culture, use the link:  http://www.lizadalby.com/LD/ng_stages.html     

March 27 - 28, 1954 The Glorious Day, The Lovely Sunday and Dumbo

Diary Entry:  Mar. 27, 1954

"A glorious day.  We took camera & went picture-taking of flowers around.

We have a mt. cherry in bloom in front of our house.  After lunch B went to Osaka to speak to Mainichi English Speaking Club.

Came home with a table scarf as a gift."

 
Diary Entry:  Mar. 28, 1954

"Lovely Sunday.  Went into Osaka mid-morning so Bob could have a haircut.  Got Ann some red shoes & Bob some tennis shoes.  After lunch in Sogas we went to see "Dumbo"--Japanese soundtrack but excellent picture.  "Nature's Half Acre" still nice.  Crowds can be rude--women slammed their purses in seats before a person had a chance to get out. Ann enjoyed part of picture but it got so hot in the theater."

NOTE: The Japanese release of Dumbo was March 13, 1954. For a peak: