During the Occupation of Japan, 1945-50, U.S. Army soldiers called every Japanese woman over thirty-five years of age, Mama-san. It was not a Japanese word, but pidgin English by American soldiers in an effort to communicate on their own terms. This well-meaning word quickly found use in mama-san houses which were operated by mama-sans who rented rooms by the hour to pom-pom girls. However, Mama-san House of this story was a middle class Tokyo home owned by Mama-san, a gentle lady whom Joe suspected of being a former Geisha. Here, during his off duty hours, Joe and Eiko found their Special...
During the Occupation of Japan, 1945-50, U.S. Army soldiers called every Japanese woman over thirty-five years of age, Mama-san. It was not a Japanese...
