June 29 - 30, 1954 The Farewell Dinner

Diary Entry:  June 29, 1954

"Called express co. to come & pack early.  They said they would if it doesn't rain too hard.  They are afraid of typhoons.

School car came for us at 5:00.  Picked up Dr. Imada & on to Osaka hotel.  Private dining room.  Green tea first, hot towels.  Party--Imada, Tamabayashi, Niwa, 1 from Economics, Harada.  Lovely table, short talk of appreciation by Imada then food.  Long menu in courses--celery, etc., soup, then small lobsters with rice, filet mignon, gr. beans, mushrooms, then asparagus salad, peach melba, coffee & fruit.  Home early.  Nice evening.  Frogs singing in fields."

Diary Entry:  June 30, 1954

"Rained hard in morning.  Packers finally came in afternoon.  Worked all afternoon packing 2 boxes, bike & toy car.  Had sukiyaki for supper the last time.  

Bell rang all morning in spite of rain. Dr. Arai came to say goodbye, & Mr. Honda brought zabuton as gift from University.  Students came to find out about ship."

The zabuton--floor cushions of raw silk and very heavy.  Originally they were covered in a dark green silk with a tassel in the center.  They were covered again in the mid-60s in the fabric shown.