VISITS TO JAPANESE HOMES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 20, 23 April 1947, Page 7

VISITS TO JAPANESE HOMES

PERMISSION FOR N.Z. SOLDIERS

RIGID CONTROL OF DANCES

(By the New Zealand Press Association Representative with the Press Delegation in Japan) All ranks of the New Zealand Brigade in Japan are permitted to visit Japanese homes provided they have received an invitation to do so, and provided the prestige of the force is not brought into disrepute by their presence in such company. This is the basis of the fraternisation laws as they apply to 2 N.Z.E.F. and it is to the credit of the Commander, Brigadier L. Potter, that he has modified the original directive on this matter—which in effect, said: "There will be no fraternisation"—and has applied it in a commonsense way to meet the changes in relationships between soldiers and civilian nationals that have occurred in the year after the arrival of the first New Zealand troops in Japan. It is no exaggeration to say that American troops, despite their rigid fraternisation orders, mix quite freely and openly with Japanese of

either sex. On the whole, British, Australian, Indian and New Zealand soldiers are somewhat reserved in

;heir relations with Japanese civi

ians, though so far as some New Zealanders are concerned firm friendships have been made. This, however, is the exception and not the rule.

The probable reason why there is no real and widespread fraternisation is found with the Japanese themselves. It is impossible for the average New Zealand soldier to knod or find out exactly what the Japanese are thinking however much they may smile and bow and ingratiate and humble themselves.

One example of fraternisation which is popular with the units at Chofu, the base area of the New Zealand Brigade, is dancing, and the men themselves have built a commodious and well-appointed hall in which are held regular weekly dances. The supply of girls comes from nearby villages, and before they are accepted they have to undergo a thorough medical exam- i I ination. The girls arrive at the hall with Japanese police escort, and return with the same escort. They show that they obviously enjoy the dance and, indeed, their dancing is equal to that of the modern New Zealand girl, despite the fact that the majority of them have danced in the European way for only a' very short time. In fact, many of them were taught to dance by the soldiers and by a few girls who were transported from the United States, and who already were accomplished dancers. The conduct. of these entertainments is above reproach and similar in every respect to any well-con-ducted dance in New Zealand, with a modern and old-time programme, specialty numbers and, of course, supper. The men themselves provide the music and control the evening, and never yet has there been the slightest cause for complaint or criticism.