Boxer (CV 21) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS BOXER ANCHORED ir YOKOSUKA JAPAN TOKYO STREET SCENE GENERAL MacARTHUR ' S HQ IN TOKYO, JAPAN, FACING EMPEROR ' S PALACE

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JAPAN SURELY WE ' RE not going to anchor way out here? Answering with a rattle of chain in the hawse pipe, the BOXER dropped her hook in Tokyo Bay, seemingly 900 miles from land or civilization. But the famous Mt. Fujiyama loomed over the Japanese Naval Base of Yokosuka which was hidden by hills that were honeycombed with passages, machine shops, and bomb shelters, it was Nippon ' s largest Navy Yard. Once ashore, our first impression was a land of utter poverty, yet the short, plump men and women looked healthy and smiled at the Americans. We discovered later that it is Japan ' s custom to build houses and shops as flimsy as possible. In the shops we found a new sport: bargaining. Haggling for prices was a new and wonderful experience. Silk pajamas, smoking jackets, china, silver, raw silk, fishing poles, leather goods, cameras, pearls, knives and knick-knacks came aboard in boatloads. The weather in Japan is like that of Northern California. In spring, cherry, orange, peach and lime tree blossoms add color to the green countryside. We found Japan ' s main food and industry is fish and at one time it had the largest fishing fleet in the world. Fast electric trains carried us to the city of Tokyo, and curiosity drove many to Yokohama, Kamikura (the movie capitol), Zushi, and other outlying towns. Armed Forces Clubs and services, combined with the friendly welcome, made our stay most pleasurable.

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p. BOXER BLUEJACKETS ON PARADE IN TOKYO, JAPAN Ui 111 ■I jji I EM CLUB, YOKOSU I