I served in the US Navy from 1968 to 1972. After I completed Avionics schooling I was assigned to a helicopter squadron located in Imperial Beach, California. We shipped out for Vietnam aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard aircraft carrier.
After a stop in Hawaii we shipped out to the U,S, Navy base in Yokosuka ,Japan for ship maintenance. The Yokosuka Facility was the major naval shop repair facility in the Far East. It also had a massive Navy Exchange stocked with all types of electronic and camera equipment. All of us stocked up with audio equipment and cameras. I was able to purchase a Nikkormat 35mm which I used for the rest of my Navy service.
We had some down time while ship repairs were being made and I was able to secure a few days of liberty in Japan. I was in no rush to go off to war and hoped we could be there for the duration of my service.
One of my shipmates had been stationed in Japan and acted as a travel guide for the rest of us. We started our tour at a “hotsy-bath” which was wonderful. These are public baths in which you wash before soaking in a hot tub. After this you lie on a table where young women (in bathing suits) walk on your back as a massage. It is very civilized.
Our guide took us to noodle shops and through alleys to see some friends he knew when he was stationed in Japan.
I was able to stay with his friends for a night and caused a bit of a stir when I walked into their living room without removing my shoes.
I knew i had a few more months aboard the ship and visited the shopping district to buy a guitar. I look goofy in the photo but I had a nice experience with the purchase. A young woman took the guitar and played Sukiyaki (Ue O Muite Arukou), a song which became popular in the United States. On a train I met some students who were interested in learning Peter, Paul & Mary songs. Music is the universal language.
I had limited time in Japan and had to choose what sights I wanted to see. Several of us traveled to Osaka for Expo ’70. It was a great venue with lots of things to see.
I was still in the process learning about my new camera and Expo ’70 provided all types of subject matter.
The USA and USSR pavilion were the hits of ‘Expo 70. The USA pavilion contained a lot of space hardware and the USSR had some interesting artwork. I’ve compiled the photos into a flickr album.
