[Note: The historical images in the PHOTO GALLERY capture the historic events starting with MacArthur’s arrival on August 30, 1945 and ending with his departure from New Grand Hotel on Sept. 2 to officiate in the formal surrender ceremonies aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, 22 miles away. The “today” photos chronicle our recent visit to this charming city:]
Photo Gallery
Click the thumbnails for larger images
Historical Photos
An unarmed MacArthur, corncob pipe in hand, lands on Japanese soil at Atsugi Airdrome, 1945. UPI
“Banquet, enlivened by many toasts and band music, is given aboard Perry’s flagship before treaty signing, Port of Yoko-hama.” LIFE, Sept. 16, 1945, p. 62.     Below: Commodore Matthew Perry, his four menacing “Black Ships” (Kurofune Raiho to the anxious Japanese) in the background, opened Japan to world commerce, 1854. MIT Press.
MacArthur is met by Eichelberger (right) and Joseph M. Swing, commanding general, 11th Airborne Division (left). MacArthur’s SWPA chief of staff, Richard K. Sutherland is third from left. U.S. Army Signal Corps.
Img. 12. Surrounded by newsmen. Atsugi. At right are Eichelberger and Sutherland (partly hidden). U.S. Navy.
Yokohama in ruins, 1945. The majestic New Grand Hotel (right) stands virtually unscathed.   Photo from Hotel New Grand.
Portrait of Mr. And Mrs. Yozo Nomura. Photo from Hotel New Grand.
[continued on next page]
Subscribe Today
An interesting idea for an article and a very well-written article. It was interesting to read the letter from the officer explaining the actual circumstances of General MacArthur’s greeting of General Wainwright.
I remember the New Grand Hotel, I lived and worked there from Nov 1947 to June 1950. The hotel was a part of the Eight Army Officers Club in those days. I was bar manager for the club part. Major Knowles was the Club Custodian. He was later replaced with Maj Rabb, as I recall. I knew Young Nomura quite well.
I am not versed on if this is a “blog” or not but what an interesting study in history. I particularly liked the comparison in photos from 1945 and today. Great job.