Japanese Found Over Sink

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30365, 14 February 1964, Page 12

Japanese Found Over Sink

Housework and Japanese men are not usually considered compatible. However, yesterday a reporter of “The Press” went to see two Japanese students and found them bent over the kitchen sink, quite happily doing the dishes for the hostess, Mrs W. Grant. The two 23-year-old students, Messrs Hideo Hatakeda and Yoshikazu Takada, of Osaka, are here for six months on their own goodwill mission and to increase New Zealanders’ knowledge of Japan, "“hey have more than 500 colour films showing all aspects of life in Japan. They have been in New Zealand for four months, mainly in Auckland. In order

to cover more ground they bought a second-hand car which has temperamental fits from time to time, and refuses to go. The two men have become expert in judging the moment they have to get out and push it up the steeper hills.

New Zealand life appeals to them. Everything was so peaceful, they said. Since only the moneyed in Japan can afford homes with large gardens the number of homes with fruit trees in the garden has come as a surprise. Their first impressions of New Zealand were that it was scenically very like Japan and a country for older people. There seemed few activities for young people compared with Japan where although the young people were shy, they were very active and joined many clubs.

They have had no difficulty getting used to the food.

Mr Hatakeda has become an enthusiast for mashed potatoes and lamb. Both like mutton, and would like to see a greater exchange of trade between the countries. Both play in their university orchestra, and, like many young people in Japan, enjoy Western music. Mr Hatakeda plays the flute as well as the shakuhachi, a primitive bamboo flute. Mr Takada plays the clarinet. Since his arrival, Mr Takada has liked Maori music, so much so that he has sent his own arrangement of the poi song home in time for it to be performed by the university’s brass band before a crowd of more than 2000. He has since received a letter telling him it was very popular. On their return to Japan, Messrs Takada and Hatakeda intend to begin! a New Zealand society. They would also like to see a student exchange scheme between the countries.