JAPAN: It’s Legal Now

General Douglas MacArthur announced the beginning of the end of a four-year-old U.S. experiment in anti-fraternization. Purpose of the new regulations, said SCAP in its best military English, is to establish “as far as is practicable the same relationship between Occupation personnel and the indigenous population as exists between the U.S. troops stationed in the U.S. and the indigenous population of the U.S.” The new rules, moreover, are intended “to permit an attitude of friendly interest and guidance toward the Japanese people, which is reflective of democratic ideals.”

Henceforth G.I.s may, without risking the guardhouse, give presents of castoff clothing, chewing gum or cigarettes to their Japanese friends, male or female. The G.I.s can also take their girls to Japanese movies without worrying about MPs. They are free to enter Japanese theaters, restaurants, hotels or hospitals, and to be entertained by Japanese friends in their homes. They may travel around Japan without official, written permission, and it is all right for them to compete in “all sports” with the Japanese, who are anxious to match some of their baseball teams against service outfits.

Under the new rule there will also be fewer “off-limits,” signs which in the past had served chiefly to steer G.I.s to the more interesting hot spots. Said one G.I.: “If it weren’t for the off-limits signs, we couldn’t have found half the good geisha houses.”*

But a lot remained to be done before official U.S. attitudes toward the Japanese “indigenous population” reflected democratic ideals. G.I.s are still not allowed to entertain Japanese friends in U.S. billets. Osaka’s big new hotel, which houses U.S. officers and civilians, has a special side entrance for Japanese. Washrooms in Tokyo office buildings taken over by the Occupation forces are still marked: Officers, Enlisted Men, Japanese.

* G.I. language keeps confusing geisha houses with those of less decent repute.