m36_i_a_2b_i_94_04_19

TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS "IMPHO TOKYO"

Imperial Hotel
Tokyo

nice and comfortable. On the porch was a desk Mr Miyaoka used,
a small table really. I was asked if I should like to wash up and
was shown into the little room marked {illegible} off the porch away
from the house. I was a bit disconcerted not knowing the proper
procedure for it was the real Japanese style. A sort of well
with stone sides was on the right of the door. a wooden railing
around it and a plank across one end with a bamboo bucket
and dipper - towels on a rack as well. So I carefully washed my
hands by pouring ice cold water on them, and then made my
appearance. only to find the hot water was waiting for me in
the bathroom at the other end of the house. The wash stand
was very low and lined with a silvery metal, set in this was
a shallow metal basin filled with warm water, so I had
a real wash after all. The water is heated in a tiny tub
with a cover. charcoal being put into a place at the back.
and then the water is dipped out. They also have a real
Japanese tub and Mrs Miyaoka removed the boards from the
top so I could look inside. there is a stove for charcoal to heat
the bath water. Its really a very pleasant system.

It was then lunch time and we sat down at the table.
Each of us was brought a square wooden tray about a foot
square. On which was a wine glass, soon filled with some
red wine. The {word struck out: 'chap?'} wooden chapsticks on a little green china
rest an inch long in the shape of some vegetable. In one little
cup was a delicious thing. large white beans with a rather sweet
taste and cold. Also cold was some spinach in another cup
with very fine grated dried fish on top. Both of these
things were delicious. Then a bowl of soup was brought in