Shot by a member of the U.S. military in 1950, this 16mm home movie features views of Japan’s Izu islands’ Hachijo-jima, and Hong Kong in 1950, featuring the site of future Cordial Mansions, Chunking Arcades, Little India, and Hachijo-jima island harbor. It also shows the christening ceremony of a Norwegian fishing boat “Krill”, in Japan. Based on research it seems this footage was likely shot by a member of the U.S. 8th Army before the relocation of the unit from Japan in July 1950.

0:16 Corpulent older U.S. serviceman with a 8th Army Division patch, wearing green sunglasses

0:23 Another pencil-mustachioed serviceman with a camera

0:31 US Army Jeep, plate ZA-13030

:51 Sunken ship – possibly a freighter — in the port of a small city

0:52 Panorama of the city and the mountain

1:34 Mustachioed man running home to get something and back to the Jeep

2:00 Address plate on the house out of focus, military house, garden and deserted streets

2:38 The green-sunglass G.I. distributing candy out of a tin, to the crowd of Japanese kids. Some are emaciated, but most seem well-fed. Some kids, mostly girls, are bowing after receiving this gift, as customary, for politeness.

3:41 Same gentleman from further away, absolutely swamped with kids

4:04 Having distributed three tins of candy he’s still surrounded by children and adults, who also want to have a candy.

4:08 Two young women getting candy and laughing, embarrassed.

4:11 Older man gets a piece of candy.

5:04 A third man, previously unseen, playing golf on the common lawns of the military housing, wearing only a pair of tighty-whities.

5:44 The pencil-mustachioed man sitting on the ground drinking beer and smoking, wearing only a pair of boxers.

6:10 Points his rear end at the camera

6:16 Japanese people going for a swim off a ship

6:30 Japanese and American tourists in rowboats.

7:00 More Japanese youngsters going for a swim off the ship Kuroshio-maru

7:16 Japanese man wearing sunglasses and a young woman in a swimsuit.

7:52 A group of Japanese youth, teasing each other and laughing.

8:20 Striking a pose for the camera with the Japanese women.

9:20 Japanese kids and youth on the boat, rowing a two-place boat

10:00 Dolphins

11:01 The golfer with a camera by his wife (?)’s side

11:15 Children using repurposed airplane fuel tanks as single-seat kayaks.

17:10 Children and adults on the pier

17:26 Boy, pretending to boss people around

17:41 Elderly Japanese man

17:20 The ship number K163

19:03 Old man and a boy sitting together.

19:12 Children

19:54 The K163 ship’s name – Kuroshio-maru, Tokyo. Its believed this vessel was built in 1947 by the Tokyo Harima Shipyard, and known as Cruise Boat Type 28

20:06 Children diving into the water off stern railing

20:24 sailboats

20:54 American in Hawaiian shirt.

21:13 The golfer up close

21:16 …and their wives and girlfriends

21:23 Lazy sunbathing afternoon

21:20 Fishing boats and the coast

22:06 Woman caught changing into a swimsuit

22:25 Japanese on the pier

26:37 A Japanese woman in a swimsuit

27:29 same as 8:20 except it’s now the golfer striking a pose with the Japanese women.30:10 Playing cards

31:58 Hong Kong. Street Lottery and Chinese currency exchange

32:15 On the right side street corner Fresh-pressed Orange Juice

32:29 HK policeman walking by an advertisement “Mody Brothers apparel company” and “Life Cordial Co. Ltd.” Currently the site of Cordial Mansions.

32:40 Tsim Shar Tsui, intersection of the Nathan road and Middle Road – Starlight Bar and Star Hotel, Murphy’s bar , facing Rose Hotel and bar

32:50 A Caucasian-looking man and a Hindustani-looking man seem quite unhappy about being filmed.

33:14 A woman in a cheongsam, unclear footage

33:16 Chunking arcade shopping mall built in 1950 and demolished in 1962, replaced with Chunking Mansions. It was considered Hong Kong’s Little India at the time.

37:00 Back to Japan, high tea, talking with a Japanese man

38:10 Setting the table.

38:29 The mustache is gone, but it’s still our man, with Sports Illustrated type magazine

38:49 A demure Japanese woman with a crooked canine tooth (yaeba which is a beauty standard in Japan) – possibly the wife of the bald Japanese man is looking through the magazine

39:17 A young Japanese woman, serving some beer

39:40 Raising a toast

41:22 shaky footage of driving in Japan – tunnels, road and the seaside.

41:22 Inspecting a Norwegian fishing boat “Krill” accompanied by a Japanese mayor and Japanese officials

42:50 Christening and raising a Norwegian flag on the “Krill”

43:53Views of the wharf, fishing boat and the crowd.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com