Pages 134-135 Dads Military Album Vol. II
Journaling:
The Special Services Branch provided entertainment for the military. In 1946 as part of their mission to make recreation away from home as nearly homelike as possible wherever American troops are stationed Bowl games began in overseas theaters. Tokyo hosted two bowl games while Dad was in Japan, the Sukiyaki Bowl Two and the Rice Bowl Eight.
The Sukiyaki Bowl was added during the 1953 season to allow all four branches of the service to participate. For the 1954 season the Special Services committee decided to go back to All Star team representation. The second Sukiyaki Bowl was played on 19 December 1954 between the 3rd Marine Division and the Army All Stars with the Marines winning 27-13. Rice Bowl 8 was played on New Years Day 1955 between the Air Force and the Marines. Air Force won 21-14.
I would bet that Dad went to both football games, but his photographs are not identified. I know they were shot at Meiji Bowl Stadium because of the building in the background. The building is the Imperial Art Museum also known as the Art Gallery in Meiji Park.
One of Dads photographs includes the Armys mascot, a mule clearly indicating that the photographs are from the first Bowl game. Another clue that Dad photographed this game. Two weeks before the game he purchased an Argus 35mm camera. I am sure he wanted to try it out.
While researching these photographs I came across a firsthand account of the game by R. John Raspys. The old Meiji stadium was jammed with some 8000 fans from all branches of the Armed Forces, including a good number of Army and Air Force dependents. Among the crowd were at least 3000 Marines.
The Army trotted out their mascot, a dressed-mule. The Marines, naturally, paraded their bulldog, resplendent canine in crimson and gold. Except that bulldog was a she-and she wasnt even a Marine!
She was in fact, a pedigreed Army bulldog named Duchess, owned by 1st Lt. James R Rork. Rock loaned his dog to the Marines avoiding a last-minute mascot crisis.
Great howls of joy went up from the Marines,[when they won] including dozens of blown-up condoms. It was a shocker at the time. The Army generals growled, their wives hyperventilated, and the MPs raced around in futile efforts to apprehend the crafty perpetrators.

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