First edition of this comical post-war chronicle of culture shock, a witty survey of the everyday differences that US servicemen will experience at home after living in occupied Japan.
Very good.
Price: $200.00
"Nice of you to prepare dinner, dear—but it still looks raw!"
A window into the daily life of a US serviceman meant in part as a light-hearted momento, and in part as an introduction to Japanese culture for their loved ones back home. The brainchild of two Navy servicemen, WHEN WE GET BACK HOME uses the conceit of soldiers acting "strangely" when they return home, while in fact they have simply come to appreciate differing aspects of Japanese culture. The servicemen delight in kotatsu instead of furnaces, futons instead of beds on frames, and chopsticks instead of silverware. They insist on taking shoes off in the house, wash themselves before getting in the bath, and have developed a preference for green tea over coffee.
While the images depict amusing tableaux that stand alone, each is faced with a few paragraphs describing the cultural context that gives rise to the scene. The text also includes many Japanese words common to the serviceman's vocabulary ("daijobu"; "dozo"; "suteki").
An ebullient document of cross-cultural influence in the postwar period.
(Tokyo): (Kyoya Co.), (1953). 7'' x 5''. Original color pictorial wrappers, priced $1.00 on rear wrapper. Illustrated with full-page black and white images facing each page of text. [4]. 117, [3] pages. Faint stamp to front wrapper. Rubbing and some residue from former sticker removal to top edge of front wrapper. A bit of soil and edgewear. Interior clean.
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