Four young Englishmen conquered Japan 50 years ago — with music. They were, of course, the Beatles — the biggest pop act in the world at the time.

"I have the honour to report that the Beatles, M.B.E., were in Tokyo from the 29th of June to the 3rd of July," wrote Dudley Cheke, charge d'affaires at the British Embassy, to his superiors in London.

Noting that Tokyo had been hit by an exceptionally heavy tropical rainstorm just before the band arrived, Cheke said "the 'Beatles typhoon' ... swept the youth of Japan off their feet."