Susumu Toyoda

"Shopping Guide"

In addition to my linguist's duties in the Office of the Commander in Chief, GHQ, Tokyo, there were numerous occasions when I was asked to act as shopping guide for visiting dignitaries. Then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Radford, wanted to purchase antique Japanese screens, so I took him to the leading antique dealer in Tokyo. Fortunately, the Admiral was successful in finding a screen of his liking and at a good price. The old saying, "Rank has its Privilege", held true for high ranking officers receiving very good discounts at Japanese establishments. Lesser ranking denizens like myself had to pay the going rate.

I introduced Mrs. Wilson, wife of Defense Secretary Edwin Wilson, to the same antique dealer and she, too, purchased a magnificent screen. The following day the General's driver and I were asked to drive Mr. and Mrs. Wilson to Atsugi Air Base located south of Tokyo. While waiting for their luggage to be loaded, I heard the following conversation: "Edwin, I bought an antique Japanese screen for a very good price yesterday." "Why did you do that for?" The driver and I looked at each other and smiled. Here was one of America's richest men questioning his wife for purchasing an antique screen at a bargain price.

I was eagerly looking forward to taking Debbie Reynolds shopping for antiques. She and her troupe had entertained US troops in South Korea and were staying at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. They were guests of General and Mrs. Hull and apparently Miss Reynolds voiced her interest in antiques and I was asked to take her shopping. The following morning my driver and I drove to the Imperial Hotel ready to pick up Miss Reynolds for the shopping tour. Instead of Miss Reynolds, there was a tall gentleman, who looked familiar, waiting for us. He turned out to be Mr. Walter Pidgeon. He got in the car saying, "I know I am a poor substitute for Debbie, but could you take me shopping? Debbie, caught a terrible cold in Korea and she is unable to go shopping." I was delighted to be of service and I took him to my favorite place. Mr. Pidgeon proved to be a good judge of antiques but also an inveterate gentleman.

Mikimoto Pearls main store in Tokyo was another favorite place for VIP shoppers. I had cultivated a good relationship with Mr. Yoshimi, the chief appraiser of pearls at that store and he waited on the customers I brought in. I took Army Chief of Staff, General Lawton Collins, to Mikimotos to purchase baroque pearls for his wife. Mr. Yoshimi, showed the General a stunning baroque pearl necklace for a very reasonable price. I informed the General that he could not expect a better bargain for such a necklace. But the General opted not to make the purchase.

General Collin's next stop the following day was in Sendai, where the 11th Airborne Division was located. Our office received a phone call from Colonel Seedlock, one of General Collin's aides, asking that I purchase the baroque pearl necklace the General had seen the previous day and fly up to Sendai to make the delivery.

I called my friend, Mike Lynch, at the Army Aviation Unit, and asked for a flight to Sendai. I picked up the pearl necklace from Mr. Yoshimi, hurried to the Army Aviation field where Mike was waiting for me. We took off for Sendai about 200 miles north of Tokyo. As we approached the Sendai airport Mike shouted over the engine noise that the airport was socked in and he doubted we could land. But if one can believe in miracles, a hole opened in the cloud cover revealing the airport below. Mike skillfully guided the plane in, landed and taxied to where Colonel Seedlock waited. I hastily exchanged the pearl package for the money and returned to the plane for a hurried take-off — it was getting late and Mike said he preferred not to make a night landing in Tokyo.

We made it back to Tokyo safely after making an unscheduled Federal Express delivery.