Postwar occupation of Japan

img Ted Akimoto's Army Photographer patch (ddr-densho-299-247)

Caption: "At the end of WWII I was fortunate enough to be Photo Assignment Officer for the Signal Photo / division of the Supreme Command Allied Powers (SCAP) in Tokyo, Japan. Our responsibilities / were to take all newsworthy still photographs and newsreels requested by the Public Information / Office of SCAP. All photos taken in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-247/

img American soldier guarding royal palace (ddr-densho-299-226)

Caption: "1st Cavalry Guard at one of the entrances to the Royal Palace."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-226/

img VIPs in staff cars stand for review (ddr-densho-299-170)

Caption: "Staff cars carrying VIPs to reviewing stand for review. Dai Ichi bldg in right background."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-170/

img Crowd gathers to see General MacArthur (ddr-densho-299-146)

Caption: "Holiday crowd assembles to catch a glimpse of Gen. MacArthur the 'American Emperor.' / He was revered as such since the [sic] represented the powers which defeated Hirohito."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-146/

img Allied officers stand at attention (ddr-densho-299-185)

Officers seeming to prepare to give some sort of speech. Appear to be General Eichelberger and General Eisenhower among them.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-185/

img View of trees and a tower in Nara (ddr-densho-299-211)

Caption: "View from enlisted man's R & R hotel in Nara."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-211/

img Tojo talking with his defense attorneys (ddr-densho-299-161)

Caption: "Tojo with his two defense attorneys."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-161/

img 1st Cavalry Division parade (ddr-densho-299-139)

Caption: "Major General Chase, Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division parades / at the head of his troops and the sign made especially for the occasion." The sign reads: "1st Cav. Div. / First in Tokyo."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-139/

img Performance of Tabasco (ddr-densho-299-207)

Caption: "Las Vegas style 'Tabasco' fit the bill, as far as the GI's were concerned, and played to / full crowds."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-207/

img Carmen from the opera of the same name (ddr-densho-299-205)

Caption: "'Carmen.' The allied forces wanted to encourage the theatre arts which they had before the / war so the opera company continued to give performances which later became open to the / public."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-205/

img Ted Akimoto and a woman look at pieces of rubble from blast (ddr-densho-299-148)

First two words of caption are partially covered. May refer to a "General Hansey [?]" Caption: "…secretary and I look at some fragments trying to identify what they might / have been we're about 50 meters from the epicenter of the blast which was directly on top / of the dome in the background."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-148/

img Allied troops land in Southern Japan (ddr-densho-299-119)

Caption: "In Southern Japan, troops who only a month previous thought they would be / storming these shores under heavy fire, land amidst the usual gripes and 'snafus.'"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-119/

img War medal (ddr-densho-299-191)

Photo of a war medal in presentation box.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-191/

img American troops guard the HQ in Tokyo (ddr-densho-299-110)

Caption: "Our soldiers, all heavily armed, guard all entrances of our headquarters for / we do not know the mettle of a defeated populace."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-110/

img Ainu chieftain visiting Tokyo to present a gift (ddr-densho-299-189)

Parts of the caption are smeared unfortunately obstructing the chieften's [sic] name and date. First part of the name seems to be "Nos" and ends with "To" Caption on reverse: "[Name], Ainu tribe Chief / [Name], Chief of the Ainu tribe from Northern Hokkaido, / Japan, who is in Tokyo visiting his / friend Col. C. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-189/

img A Noh drama performance (ddr-densho-299-208)

Caption: "Noh Drama. Teaching the photographers the use of extension flashes."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-208/

img Ted Akimoto with other soldiers (ddr-densho-299-240)

On the reverse there is a stamp from the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-240/

img The ballet Scheherazade being put on (ddr-densho-299-204)

Caption: "Ballet 'Sheherazade' [sic] was more popular (fewer left at intermission) but wasn't popular with / the GIs."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-204/

img Ainu chieftain transports a gift from his people to General MacArthur (ddr-densho-299-187)

Caption: "An Ainu chieftain braves the horrible transportation system of 1947 to bring a gift from his / people to the victorious 'American Emperor' General MacArthur."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-187/

img Close up of a larger painting of Japanese settlers and natives of Saipan committing suicide (ddr-densho-299-231)

Caption: "This is a detail from a larger painting showing natives of Saipan and Japanese settlers ready to throw / themselves over the cliff at the right rather than submit themselves to the torture and death that they were told / they would face when our troops invaded." Ted Akimoto noted that "during the war many …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-231/

img American GIs help guard the Imperial Palace grounds (ddr-densho-299-140)

Caption: "To prevent the curious and those with dreams of loot from entering the palace / grounds, our troops bolster the forces of the tiny policemen of Japan."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-140/

img Prisoners being transferred from prison to the trials by bus (ddr-densho-299-158)

Caption: "Prisoners en route from prison to trials. Tojo is man with glasses in second row."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-158/

img Ted Akimoto's farewell (ddr-densho-299-235)

Caption: "My men surprised me with an impromptu 'farewell' at the airbase as I boarded an air evacuation flight / back to the states. It took 42 hours with refueling stops at Guam, Johnston Island, and / Hawaii to reach San Francisco. Then it was on to Fitsimon's Hospital, Denver, Colorado. / President Truman visited the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-235/

img Shumei Okawa being redressed by a guard after partially disrobing during the trials (ddr-densho-299-160)

Caption: "Insane (?) Shumei Okawa has his shirt buttoned by a guard after he partially / disrobed. Shortly thereafter he slapped Tojo on his bald plate causing much / hilarity in an otherwise somber arraignment [sic] proceedings."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-160/

img Tea for the ranking officers' wives under General MacArthur (ddr-densho-299-200)

Caption: "Mrs. MacArthur at a tea she gave for the wives of the ranking officers of his command."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-200/

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