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and would probably help their unworldly 18 …year…old survive。
Expenses were also a consideration。 A dorm cost far less than a
private room。 As long as I had bedding and a lamp； there was no need
to buy a lot of furnishings。 For my part； I would have preferred to rent
a flat and live in fortable solitude； but knowing what my parents
had to spend on enrolment fees and tuition at the private university I
was attending； I was in no position to insist。 And besides； I really
didn't care where I lived。
Located on a hill in the middle of the city with open views； the
dormitory pound sat on a large quadrangle surrounded by a
concrete wall。 A huge； towering zelkova tree stood just inside the
front gate。 People said it was at least 150 years old。 Standing at its
base； you could look up and see nothing of the sky through its dense
cover of green leaves。
The paved path leading from the gate circumvented the tree and
continued on long and straight across a broad quadrangle； two three…
story concrete dorm buildings facing each other on either side of the
path。 They were large with lots of windows and gave the impression
of being either flats that had been converted into jails or jails that had
been converted into flats。 However there was nothing dirty about
them； nor did they feel dark。 You could hear radios playing through
open windows； all of which had the same cream…coloured curtains that
the sun could not fade。
Beyond the two dormitories； the path led up to the entrance
of a two…story mon building； the first floor of which contained a
dining hall and bathrooms； the second consisting of an auditorium；
meeting rooms； and even guest rooms； whose use I could never
fathom。 Next to the mon building stood a third dormitory； also
three storeys high。 Broad green lawns filled the quadrangle； and
circulating sprinklers caught the sunlight as they turned。 Behind the
mon building there was a field used for baseball and football； and
six tennis courts。 The plex had everything you could want。
There was just one problem with the place： its political smell。 It was
run by some kind of fishy foundation that centered on this extreme
right…wing guy； and there was something strangely twisted … as far as I
was concerned … about the way they ran the place。 You could see it in
the pamphlet they gave to new students and in the dorm rules。 The
proclaimed 〃founding spirit〃 of the dormitory was 〃to strive to nurture
human resources of service to the nation through the ultimate in
educational fundamentals〃； and many financial leaders who endorsed
this 〃spirit〃 had contributed their private funds to the construction of
the place。 This was the public face of the project； though what lay
behind it was extremely vague。 Some said it was a tax dodge； others
saw it as a publicity stunt for the contributors； and still others claimed
that the construction of the dormitory was a cover for swindling the
public out of a prime piece of real estate。 One thing was certain；
though： in the dorm plex there existed a privileged club posed
of elite students from various universities。 They formed 〃study
groups〃 that met several times a month and included some of the
founders。 Any member of the club could be assured of a good job after
graduation。 I had no idea which … if any … of these theories was correct；
but they all shared the assumption that there was 〃something fishy〃
about the place。
In any case； I spent two years … from the spring of 1968 to the spring
of 1970 … living in this 〃fishy〃 dormitory。 Why I put up with it so long；
I can't really say。 In terms of everyday life； it made no practical
difference to me whether the place was right wing or left wing or
anything else。
Each day began with the solemn raising of the flag。 They played the
national anthem； too； of course。 You can't have one without the other。
The flagpole stood in the very center of the pound； where it was
visible from every window of all three dormitories。
The Head of the east dormitory （my building） was in charge of the
flag。 He was a tall； eagle…eyed man in his late fifties or early sixties。
His bristly hair was flecked with grey； and his sunburned neck bore a
long scar。 People whispered that he was a graduate of the wartime
Nakano spy school； but no one knew for sure。 Next to him stood a
student who acted as his assistant。 No one really knew this guy； either。
He had the world's shortest crewcut and always wore a navy…blue
student uniform。 I didn't know his name or which room he lived in；
never saw him in the dining hall or the bath。 I'm not even sure he was
a student； though you would think he must have been； given the
uniform … which quickly became his nickname。 In contrast to Sir
Nakano； 〃Uniform〃 was short； pudgy and pasty…faced。 This creepy
couple would raise the banner of the Rising Sun every morning at six。
When I first entered the dormitory； the sheer novelty of the event
would often prompt me to get up early to observe this patriotic ritual。
The two would appear in the quadrangle at almost the exact moment
the radio beeped the six o'clock signal。 Uniform was wearing his
uniform； of course； with black leather shoes； and Nakano wore a short
jacket and white trainers。 Uniform held a ceremonial box of untreated
paulownia wood； while Nakano carried a Sony tape recorder at his
side。 He placed this at the base of the flagpole； while Uniform opened
the box to reveal a neatly folded banner。 This he reverentially
proffered to Nakano； who would clip it to the rope on the flagpole；
revealing the bright red circle of the Rising Sun on a field of pure
white。 Then Uniform pressed the switch for the playing of the anthem。
〃May Our Lord's Reign。。。〃
And up the flag would climb。
〃Until pebbles turn to boulders 。。。〃 It would reach halfway up the pole。
〃And be covered with moss。〃
Now it was at the top。 The two stood to attention； rigid； looking up at
the flag； which was quite a sight on clear days when the wind was
blowing。
The lowering of the flag at dusk was carried out with the same
ceremonial reverence； but in reverse。 Down the banner would e
and find its place in the box。 The national flag did not fly at night。
I didn't know why the flag had to be taken down at night。 The nation
continued to exist while it was dark； and plenty of people worked all
night … railway construction crews and taxi drivers and bar hostesses
and firemen and night watchmen： it seemed unfair to me that such
people were denied the protection of the flag。 Or maybe it didn't
matter all that much and nobody really cared … aside from me。 Not that
I really cared； either。 It was just something that happened to cross my
mind。
The rules for room assignments put first… and second…year students in
doubles while third… and final…year students had single rooms。 Double
rooms were a little longer and narrower than nine…by…twelve； with an
aluminium…framed window in the wall opposite the door and two
desks by the window arranged so the inhabitants of the room could
study back…to…back。 To the left of the door stood a steel bunk bed。 The
furniture supp