Japanese Here To Lay Plans For World Hop

[Photo caption]: ICHITARO TAKATA. "Make it? Of course!"

Ichitaro Takata, diminutive 41-year-old Japanese newspaper man was in Seattle today and bubbling over with pride as he outlined plans for the 'round-the-world flight of the Japanese airplane Nippon' late this month.

Takata is special representative of The Osaka Mainichi and Tokyo Nichi Nichi, the two Japanese newspapers sponsoring the goodwill flight. He came from Vancouver, B.C., last night. Tomorrow he will sail for Juneau, Alaska, and fly from there to Nome to join the aviators on their arrival from Tokyo July 26 or 27.

"There will be seven men in the Nippon on the flight across the Pacific Ocean," Takata said. "I will be the eighth man after they land in Nome. Make it? Of course! We can't stop at Nome when we have to go all the way around the world!"

Takata will accompany the flyers -- all of whom are employed on the aviation editorial staff or in flying for the Japanese papers -- as far as Santos, Brazil.

The Nippon will leave Tokyo August 24, weather permitting and after stopping at Nemuro, on the northernmost tip of Japan, will hop to Nome. From Nome the Nippon will fly to White Horse, Y.T. and is expected to reach Seattle August 29 or 30.

The itinerary will take the goodwill flyers from Los Angeles to New York City, then to South America, Africa, Europe, and home after taking about a month to circle the globe.

"This trap is of tremendous importance to the Japanese people," Takata declared, "because they are anxious to see our aviators gain a niche in the long-distance flying world. The eyes of the nation will watch the Nippon during August and September."

Piloting the twin-motor transport monoplane will be Sumhashi Nakao, veteran pilot who gained fame in Japan last year when he piloted a transport plane from Berlin to Tokyo. He is chief pilot for the flight sponsors.

Others making the trip from Tokyo will be Takeo Ohata, aviation editor of the newspapers, Shigeo Yoshida, copilot; Hajime Shimokawa, engine officer; Hiroshi Shimokawa, mechanic; Nobusada Sato, radio operator, and Chosaku Yaokawa, assistant radio operator.