Tokyo office of WWII general opened to public for a week

Tokyo, July 30 (IANS/EFE) The Tokyo office of General Douglas MacArthur, from where he led the US occupation of Japan between 1945 and 1950, has been opened to the public to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The office, located within the former headquarters of insurance company Dai Ichi Life in central Tokyo's Chiyoda district, will be open till August 3, said official Japanese channel NHK.

However, only a few lucky visitors will be able to visit the office that usually remains closed to the public as all tickets were sold out soon after the announcement on Wednesday.

The building, located in front of one of the moats of the Imperial Palace, was personally chosen by MacArthur as the headquarters of the General Command of the Allied Forces in Japan upon his arrival in Tokyo in August 1945, following the surrender of Japan that ended the war.

Much of the office, the five-starred general held until 1950 -- although the US occupation lasted two years more -- have been preserved including his chair and table, the latter without drawers due to the express wish of MacArthur, who was famous for his hatred of paperwork.

Two nautical themed paintings the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces had himself ordered to be put up on the walls have also been preserved.

It was designated a historic building by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2004.

--IANS/EFE

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