FIRST CLASS FLIGHT TO TOKYO 1961

FIRST CLASS FLIGHT TO TOKYO 1961
Originally uploaded by roberthuffstutter

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH JAPAN BEGAN LONG AGO
CHAPTER ONE
My love for Japan began long before I arrived at Tokyo International Airport in August 1961.

The flight from San Francisco in a Pan American 707 was joyful. After a brief stop in Hawaii, we were told that our next stop would be Japan. Kimono clad women employed by the Japan Tourist Bureau served us Kirin and Sapporo beer in-flight.

The captain announced we were flying over Midway Island and shortly afterwards, we were affored hot towels rolled and foled in a unique manner. Some of us sailors were curious about the towels and unrolled them, wiped our brows and disposed of them. The attendants laughed politely and demonstrated how the hot towel should be pressed to our brows and over our eyes, a resfreshing introduction to what we would remember later when we were able to enjoy the ofuro.

Of course, that did not happen aboard the plane; it was mentioned by some of the older servicement who had been to Japan. So we pressed the steaming towels to our brows, then over or eyes. It was a refreshing event and one that I still perform upon waking.

When the plane arrived, we were met by special buses that drove us to our new duty stations, Atsugi Naval Air Base.

Chapter Two will be posted if there is anyone interested in my tour of duty in a New Japan.
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FIRST CLASS FLIGHT TO TOKYO 1961
Uploaded by roberthuffstutter on 17 Aug 09, 7.39PM PST.