Japan Industrial Club - "Nihon Kogyo Kurabu"

     It is commonly believed that General Douglas McArthur was responsible for the sparing of the Imperial Palace and other specific locations in Japan from bombing during World War Two.  Like so many other "facts" concerning the war and McArthur's role, it is not true.  First of all, McArthur had nothing to do with the bombing campaign of Japan.  If any military person had any input, it would have been Air Force (Army Air Corps) General Curtis Lemay, who was in fact in charge of the bombing campaign against Japan.  But the real decision makers in this case were in the White House and the Joint Chief of Staff's Office.  They were the ones who dictated as to which places were to be spared from destruction.
     Aside from Kyoto and Nara and their historic sites, the Imperial Palace in Tokyo was one of the better known places that was spared from bombing.  Considering that this was before the age of so-called "smart bombs", it is amazing how many of the designated "safe" locations were spared from destruction during those seeming indiscriminate "carpet bombing" attacks!  It is truly a testament to the remarkable skill of those airmen of long ago who had to work with what would be considered totally inadequate equipment today!
     The city of Tokyo was in complete ruins.  Since most of the buildings were constructed of wood, the fire bombing completely destroyed the city.  The area in what used to be Tokyo looked almost like a lunar landscape with only occasional buildings still left standing.  In contrast the Imperial Palace with its surrounding moat was left intact as was the Akasaka Palace.  There were other "green" areas that were spared.  The Meiji Park with its temple was spared as was the Ueno Zoo and the surrounding park area. Hibiya Park was spared as well, and across from Hibiya Park, Frank Lloyd Wright's old Imperial Hotel was left intact, as well as the Takarazuka Theater building near by.  In downtown Ginza, the old Mitsukoshi Department Store was left standing, as was the Nichigeki Music Hall in Nishi-Ginza.  Of course the grand brick Tokyo Central Railway Station was spared as well.
     Scattered here and there throughout Tokyo, some key buildings were spared.  In Toranomon area the old American Embassy chancery was untouched.  The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters building was also untouched as well as some business buildings nearby.  The Japanese Diet, the Parliament building was also untouched.
     In the financial district of Marunouchi that is in Chiyoda-ku, most notably the Daichi Mutual Life Insurance Building, the tallest building in Tokyo before the war, was also spared.  This building's top floor (sixth floor) became the Headquarters of General McArthur when he took over as the reigning Tsar during occupation.  Not far from McArthur's HQ, the Japan Industrial Club (Nihon Kogyo Kurabu) building was also spared in the bombing.
     It seemed somewhat odd at first that the Japan Industrial Club building was spared while surrounding buildings were destroyed.  This was especially puzzling since the building housed members who were of the infamous zaibatsu, the industrial/financial conglomerate that was considered to be the engine that drove the Japanese Imperial war machine!  The club was founded by the members of zaibatsu in 1917 and it was sort of a social gathering place for all of the Japan's rich and powerful!  The building was constructed with finest materials and emulated one of those exclusive old English Gentlemen's clubs.  In fact, much of the woodwork and other appointments were imported from England.  The building reeked of "old money."
     As mentioned in the previous blog, McArthur, upon landing in Japan, immediately outlawed zaibatsu.  But then, whether under advisement of others or on his own, McArthur lifted the ban on zaibatsu when he was trying to get Japan back on its feet.  So, although the old members of zaibatsu kept a low profile for a few years, they resurfaced in the rebuilding of Japan and once more became prominent leaders of Japan.  The Japan Industrial Club never closed its doors, except perhaps during the worst period of bombing.  Its members continued to meet regularly, socialize, hold dinners.
     In 1980 while I was with our embassy in Tokyo, I happened to befriend some younger members of the new Japanese industrial and financial community.  In short, they were members of the "new" zaibatsu.  I was very flattered when they invited me to speak before their group at the Japan Industrial Club.  They wanted me to speak on the general subject of American society at the time.  Since I had been in academia recently and had contact with the younger Americans, they wanted to get a feel of what the younger generation thought, felt, etc.  Obviously, they were interested in learning as much as possible about America and Americans, their main customers for their products and wares!  Apparently my first talk was successful and they like it, for they invited me to speak at the club regularly, once a week for the remainder of my time in Tokyo.  So, for about a year, once a week I went to the Japan Industrial Club and spoke before a gathered group.  It was a very informal setting, very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.  My talks were certainly not formal lectures, they were in fact more like friendly conversations.  The members often interrupted my talk and asked questions, etc.
     I was very surprised at the informal and relaxed attitude of these leaders of Japan's industrial and financial complex.  I suppose I had somewhat of a stereotypical view of what the Japanese top executives would be like.....dressed in somber, conservative suits with stiff manners and very formal.  They were indeed mostly dressed in dark, conservative suits, but stiff and formal they were not.  They were very informal, friendly and relaxed, complete opposite of what I thought they would be like.  They all spoke English, although the fluency levels varied considerably from one to another.  Some struggled to understand my "lectures" which they wanted to be in English.  Others had no problems understanding and helped those whose fluency was lacking.
     It was a fascinating experience for me and allowed me to see another side of Japanese people.  The Japan Industrial Club is one of the older "modern" institution in Japan and is considered a very prestigious place.  There are businessmen in Japan who strive all their lives to become members of this Nihon Kogyo Kurabu and never achieve that goal.  As a gaijin, I was very fortunate to have had that experience, to have been invited to that club.