This silent, color home movie offers a glimpse into post-WWII Japan through the lens of a U.S. officer stationed there in 1945-46. Col. Arthur “Art” Paul Thayer Jr. was a member of the First Cavalry Division and the Sixth Army. After the defeat of Japan he was part of the U.S. Occupation forces, led by General Douglas A. MacArthur. The footage captures a range of scenes, blending personal moments, cultural exchanges, and daily life. Thayer’s wife Lucille Anne Meyer and daughter Lucille Collette “Tardy” Thayer are also shown in the film. Cultural landmarks and customs are featured throughout.

This film was donated to Periscope Film by Marian McGregor Briegel, daughter of Col. Thayer.

Film opens; Tardy Thayer at Ft. Myers Army Base poses in front of military housing (0:08). 1946 Ford Super Deluxe in driveway (:22): Yokohama ,Japan, 1946. Tardy Thayer (teenager), Lucille Thayer/mother, unknown soldier and teen boy. In backyard of home of Col. Arthur Paul Thayer, with Japanese house servants. Posing next to Japanese dignitary, wife, and children (1:16). (1:40) Tardy, Lucille and Col. Thayer. Locals dressed in suits and kimonos to celebrate local festival (1:50). Film quality low, footage becomes hazy, 1946 Ford Super Deluxe used for camping trip: Figures in film pitch tent, walk towards water for some fishing (2:22). Recreational wakeboarding along white water of river (3:20). Tardy Thayer water skiing on a board. Boat house comes into view along the water’s edge (4:06). Groups of local women and children dressed in kimonos stop and smile, pose for camera while on the way to shrine for local holiday celebration (4:10-6:06). Homes along quaint American suburban street at Ft. Myer Army base (possibly 1936) (6:20). Horse runs around inside pen, rolls in dirt before woman comes to feed horse before taking it for short ride (6:45). Some off-duty officers relax together in garden, young girl does playful salute towards camera (8:21). Officer demonstrates riding horse over obstacles, woman from earlier gets on horse and also performs jumps (8:32). Off-duty officers and wives gather for cocktail reception, man in background left is Gen. Robert Eichelberger (9:36). Desolate coastline along military base (9:44). Crowds gather on pier to see servicemen and their families off as they board USS General W. C. Langfitt (10:02). Northwest Airlines Douglas DC-4 on tarmac, families, nuns depart plane ascending air stairs (11:28). School-aged children (perhaps orphans) huddle outside on street, sit and watch man tell story (12:01). Street scenes from main street of local village, shopkeepers set up for day’s market; One man places freshly harvested root vegetables on display (12:29). United States Army Air Force Douglas C-54 Skymaster on tarmac, soldiers stand at attention, military band (12:54). Bustling street scenes from local outdoor market, vendor’s stalls line streets, pedestrians in mix of “western” dress and kimonos walk up and down street (13:28-14:41). Group of young Japanese women pose for camera in kimonos, begin playing game of Hanetsuki (similar to badminton, wooden paddle called a hagoita) (14:49). Traditional Japanese building, possibly a ryokan (Japanese inn) (15:17). Waterfall scales done side of rocky formation in forest (15:57). Forest of Hinoki Cypress trees (16:12). Young American woman partakes in recreational activity along lake front, ties sailboat to dock (16:36). Intricate woodwork with decorative carvings and colorful reliefs seen around Shinto temple (17:09). Row boats and shots of mountain tops (18:01). Orange Torii Gate along Lake Ashi, views of Mount Fuji (18:23). Jizō Bosatsu Statues on grounds of shrine/ temple (18:39). White waters of flowing river (19:06). Soldiers and Art and Tardy Thayer pose with fishing gear (19:09). Local woman prepares shaved ice cone at street cart (19:25). Japanese Alps (19:36). Cascading waterfall, perhaps Kirifuri Falls (20:13). Nikkō Tōshō-gū Shinto Shrine temple and pagoda (20:53). Film ends (22:45).

If you wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we’d love to hear from you. 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