Columbus (CA 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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Rice paddies

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SaMJ a Since fhe end of the war Sasebo, the westernmost city in Japan, has been one of the two major U. S. Naval bases in this country. Relatively unimportant as a commercial port, Sasebo has had a checkered career, her fortunes rising and falling according to the fluctuations of naval activity. With American activity there reduced and Japa- nese naval strength at present small, Sasebo is once again reduced to relative obscurity. But its well-protected inner harbor, considered one of the best typhoon shelters in the Far East, and its ex- cellent port facilities indicate that, with Japanese production and overseas trade increasing every year, Sasebo may well reawaken in the not too distant future. Festival parades View of Sasebo, with artistic pinetree foliage in the foreground Hookey playing Sasebo schoolboys keep sharp lookout for the truant officer

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The Great White Ginza Ah-sc Approximately a month of our holf-yeor mission m the Far East was spent in Japan. Too short a time to explore fully the mysteries and beauties of the neat, colorful and often enchanting country, this fleeting month nevertheless gave us a chance to see why so many Americans have become Japan-o-philes since the end of the war. For the Japanese won us over not only by their overt friendliness, but also by the quality of their goods — their cameras and binoculars and chinaware and textiles — which we bought and brought back on board in such quantity that working parties had to be called away to handle the piles of crated treasures. Heian Shrine WHOTHREW THAT J BOTTLE? S3 Ths formal beauty of Japanese gardens Last minute shopping