| Dear Yuichi:
Finally, I received copies of the Omori video tapes. One came from Japan
and the other from Los Angles(Angels?). I am glad that I received the
two copies because I will send one to my Japanese aunt in California so
that she can give me a rough translation of the Omori segment ( part ).
I want to thank you for your assistance in having the tape sent to me.
I am very thankful to Taeko Sasamoto for warning me about the fact that
it was part of a game show; otherwise, it would have been more of a surprise
( shock ) to see how the interviews were used.
I cannot make any comments about the show at this time. I can only give
you some of my impressions about it. It is rather amazing that a TV company
will spend so much money and time in getting the interviws and then use
them briefly in what seems to be an inappropriate manner or way. I seemed
to look much older than I think I look. I am anxious to learn how and
why the actors were used in portraying the POWs. I was happy to see how
the canal at Omori looks today ( now ). I will give you additional comments
after I hear from my aunt in California. I hope they gave me credit for
allowing them to use many of my photos and other documents; although they
did not show most of them.
I am enclosing some additional photos which were taken when the film crew
was here. They had moved a chair into the middle of my living room for
my interview. Mika Yamamoto is shown with her cameraman and sound man.
They took many pictures of the photos and documents that I have in the
three ring binders ( books ). I had to build customized bookcases to house
( keep ) the books and records that I have about the POWs, Omori and Japan.
The upper shelf on the left contains general information. Three-quarters
(3/4) of the bottom shelf are books written by former POWs who were in
Omori. The three-ring binders contain photo-copies of the books which
are not available now. The file folders on the upper right contain photos,
negatives, documents and other materials about Omori. A small third book-case
has the 3 ring binders ( white ) which will be kept by my children. The
first three are personal materials which concerns me. The two black binders
and all of the other materials ( books, documents and etc. ) will go to
the Adm.Nimitz Museum. My collection of maps ( including pre-war and post-war
Tokyo ) are not shown. These photos should give you a better insight about
me, what I have collected and how I work.
I will be sending Taeko copies of the photos and I will include a copy
of the first page of this letter to her in order to save time and effort.
Thank you for the letter of 2/15. That is a good photo of you and Hap
Halloran.
The last ten days have been busy ones for me because I am trying to finish
doing some editing on the manuscript which Derek Clarke ( England ) sent
to me along with his drawings which he had made while he was in Singapore
and Omori. I have not been able to work on it since last Ocober. Unfortunately
he died in December. I had to make titles for each chapter and to put
captions ( titiles ) on the drawings. It has taken a lot of work and time
to do this, but I hope it will help his widou and children get the manuscript
published in England. I expect that it will take me about a week to finish.
My best wishes to you and your family.
Sincerely
Bob
Robert R. Martindale |
