A reader remembers a column about Gen. Douglas MacArthur's office in the Dai-Ichi Insurance building. It was ideally situated for the role he was to play -- it overlooked the Imperial Palace. He established his own imperial pre-eminence when the Chinese carpet he always used in his office was delivered: It was too large for the room. He was asked where he wanted it cut. "Cut?" was his indignant reply. "Move the walls." And so they did.
When Dai-Ichi renovated its building some five years ago, it was decided to preserve this historic office and open it to the public. Our reader wonders if it is still possible to see it. Yes, it is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is no charge. From the Sakuradamon intersection, with the palace on your left, it is the fourth building on the right. Information is available at (03) 3216-1211.
A professor who teaches English correspondence at a prestigious Tokyo university gave each of his students a copy of the column that included a great deal more about MacArthur and those times. They were asked to write me a suitable reply. He also hoped to encourage them to write letters to Japanese newspapers. I have been negligent. Several years have gone by. The students may never see their comments, but you may find them interesting. I wish I could summarize them all.