sayonara

[Captain Kong]

I met Hanako in Moji
If I called her `anako without the H she would go mad,
"You no call me anako, anako is hole in ground, me no hole in ground, me Hanako, Hanako is butterfly. you Number 10 boy.
At home, I would share a hot bath tub with her mother and father, we would bathe and shower first and then sit naked in the large Hot Tub whilst drinking hot Sake. A most unusual experience for a Bolton lad.
Cheers
Brian ,
she looked a bit like this one...............

[John Pruden]

dopey bastard mate of mine told the mamasan I was john lennons brother then called me john but a bit of fast scouse talking got me out of that one?jp

[Lou Barron]

Nice to know that the Japanese treated you guys a lot better than they treated us

[Ivan Cloherty]

Nice to know that the Japanese treated you guys a lot better than they treated us

Alas Lou, we all have different experiences of different parts of the world, and not one of us would swop our experiences for yours, and you will always retain our admiration for what you endured, but we also cannot change what we experienced and thankfully we did not have to endure what you endured, so my friend please do not take umbrage at what we recount, as our hearts will always be with you.

[John Callon]

Prior to 1964 Japan was well known for cheap drinks and bargains on electrical goods i.e. tape recorders, transistor radios and all of the rest of the stuff that Merchant Seamen seemed to collect. In 1964 Japan hosted the Olympic Games and everything changed. Prices went up on just about everything. And I mean EVERYTHING if you get my meaning. We were there on the Iberia as a floating hotel along with the Caronia, Oriana and a couple of other passnger ships, all berthed in Yokohama. We were still getting 1000 Yen to the pound, and in spite of price rises everywhere, one was still able to have a good time. The real killer came in 1967 when the pound was devalued against all other world currencies. I was on one of Bibbys in New Westminster, Canada when the news came through. Against the US$ the pound fell by 40% and against the Yen it went from 1000 Yen to the pound to 260 to the pound. Needless to say, the days of partying in Japan were well over.
Regards
John

[j.sabourn]

#25... John that may of been the time when the 1d. oxo cube made its departure. Maybe the japs cornered the market. that era 1966 was the era that our world started its roller coaster ride downwards as among the others were the debacle of the seamens strike. As regards Japan and the what we considered the good days were very short lived 46 to 66, 20 years and henceforth Japan was back on the world stage as a leading power, without the supposedly advantage of having armed forces as such. However they have made a better job of it than the west if only that they have proper safeguards and are allowed restriction to immigration especially to a certain one which is barred from residence. They have always been an industrious nation with a strong belief in being able to map their own future. Although the present youth of japan has a certain amount of decadent attitude to them, the bulk of the japanese people still live to certain concepts, which are ones the west gave away, any decadent attitudes have been imported by the west. What they consider as Honour and Duty are still a strong essential to the average jap, in the west this is in extreme short supply. Especially from our purported leaders. Cheers JS

---------- Post added at 01:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:13 AM ----------

During the time of apartheid in SA many will remember that a japanese citizen was considered a Blanc wheras other orientals were considered as non blanc. Already then Japan was considered a world power. Japan must hold the world record of from rags to riches in such a short space of time. JS

---------- Post added at 02:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:45 AM ----------

#26... In addittion one should also remember that the japanese were the fore runners of our present day suicide bombers. The only difference being that the japanese died with a human Deity on their lips, and the present day, I wouldnt call them modern, die with a supposedly Heavenly Deity on their lips. Most westerners if they have to die violently I should imagine is Oh ****. JS