During two visits in 2018 and 2019 we were able to meet a number of people who were photographed in 1951 by George Butler. Many of these people or their families had never seen pictures of themselves in this era.
In 2018 myself and five family members visited the Air Self Defense Base, formerly Camp Matsushima, where my father was stationed. A facsimile of my father’s office was created for the occasion. We were toured around the air base and met many of the command staff. This base is the home of Japan’s version of the Blue Angels acrobatic flight squadron.
In 2018 we met Mr. Toshio Murata from the fishing village of Tsukinoura on the Oshika Peninsula near Ishinomaki. Mr. Murata, 92 years old at our meeting, was photographed by George Butler when he was 26 years old. Mr. Murata continued fishing until he was 80 years old. This was the first photograph that he or his son and daughter had ever seen taken in the 1950s.
Mr. Murata at age 26. Photographed in 1951
The art student photographed by George Butler in 1951, was revealed to be the artist Mr. Teruo Tojo, 85, of Koyo-cho, Ishinomaki. He was senior in Ishinomaki High and an art club member. It seems that Mr. the photo was taken while he was sketching with a fellow student near the school. After studying at the Department of Education of Tohoku University and serving as an art teacher at junior high schools in Miyagi for about 30 years, Mr. Tojo became a professional painter. He also tought at the Kahoku TBC Culture Center.
Mr. Tojo has no memory when being taken the picture, but says "There were no chances to take a snapshot at that time. I'd like to thank Mr. Butler who left a valuable picture with color film.''
This photograph was taken at a sweet shop near Camp Matsushima in 1951. I believe the shop location is now inside the current Air Self Defense Force base. The older brother of the two boys holding each other came to visit the exhibit in Higashi-Matsushima from his home in Saitama near Tokyo after hearing about it from his younger brother.
“I was deeply moved to see myself 67 years ago. Thank you very much.”