separation or dishonor.

More and more I found myself being irresistably drawn by the color and pageantry of those bygone centuries, while contemporary travellers were telling me that in Japan even then the old and new could still be found, living side-by-side. I could hardly wait to go and find out for myself if this were true, for I sought love, a love I was not finding from those around me but which I hoped still lived in the land of the samurai.

So, at last, I went to Japan. That was five years ago, when I had just barely come of age. I found myself walking under thousand-year-old avenues of cryptomerias and ginkgos, watching the subtle mists play between their knobby trunks, quite as in some Hiroshige color print. I half expected to see some feudal duke coming toward me in armor, though but a few blocks away was the subway station where I had just left the train.

I sat down to savor the scene and to live into its atmosphere, unaware then that it is a tradition even older than Japan's which brings together the homosexual and rus in urbe. Later I learned about this, but then I knew no more than that a young boy came along and sat briskly down beside me. His English was no better than my Japanese, but both were adequate to convey to me that he was far too businesslike for my taste.

Seeing that I was giving him short shrift he suggested taking me to a place I might find more interesting. This proved to be the first Gay Bar I had ever entered, although it was really a Gay Bar and more too, for it was also an Introduction Club. At that time many of the larger cities had them.

We approached a large private residence. My new found friend knocked. When the master of the house slid open the door a conversation ensued which I barely heard, for through the

open doorway I could see a European man making love to the most beautiful Japanese boy I could imagine-exactly my ideal, I said to myself.

The question, "Are you homosexual?" brought me abruptly back. "Are you?" the master repeated. So blunt and forthright an inquiry had never before been presented to me. After gulping a couple of times and glancing again at that handsome boy inside I assured him I was indeed. We were then admitted and seated. Another attractive boy brought us tea, and then our host produced a photograph album containing pictures of young men of various types, with a word or two about their ages and various interests.

It was expected that one would leaf through these pages until a particular picture proved interesting. On payment of a modest fee the master of the house would thereupon send this young man the inquirer's picture and some descriptive comments. If all proved satisfactory a meeting would be arranged, and then you were on

your own.

The whole business I found too embarrassing to go through with, besides my handsome boy was all taken up with his European, but evidently there were many who found this a satisfactory arrangement. Do not suppose though that in those precious three weeks I did not meet and go with two or three very delightful Japanese boys. So that when it came time for me to leave Japan I was more determined than ever to understand and to draw close to this lovely land and its people.

I determined to return for a longer stay as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I was perfecting my reading and speaking of the language. I explored the writings of Magnus Hirschfeld and Iwan Bloch (in German) and the many French historians and others who have written about Japanese culture and social customs. I went to the Library of Congress and wangled my