View Full Version : Seoul and Tokyo in MASH.


senor boogie woogi
09-26-2007, 09:51 AM
Hello,

Watching MASH, I have seen that Seoul and Tokyo are the most popular places to getaway, or to send patients forward from the MASH unit.

My question is, what were these two cities like during the Korean War, (let's say 1952 or so)

How much was Tokyo rebuilt in 1952 from World War II? It was only 7 years after the surrender, and I am sure much of the place still was bombed out and the people there impoverished. Hard for me to believe that the city sprung back to life that quickly to the point that it would be a suitable getaway for anyone. I could see the military in their compounds living well, but the general condition of the Japanese people to still be a poor existance. I could see Winchester wanting to go back there from Korea, but still would be not the greatest place in the World.

Seoul was occupied by both North and South Korean forces numerous times in the conflict. Maybe a place to send a wounded patient out of Korea, but not really a good place to hang out for the weekend to drink and curousing.

Is there a place called We-shang-bu (the town near where the 4077th was?) Or is it a make believe place?

Lastly, is there any place on the internet where one can get the music played in MASH, especially the funny Asian music (one song I love sounds like "My Blue Heaven" in an Asiatic language).

Senor

Mikado
09-26-2007, 08:07 PM
Lastly, is there any place on the internet where one can get the music played in MASH, especially the funny Asian music (one song I love sounds like "My Blue Heaven" in an Asiatic language).
The Asian songs on M*A*S*H were in Japanese...things American were, not surprisingly, popular during the Japanese occupation by the USA
McArthur was so popular that the Japanese treated him like a demi-God, funny story, during McArthurs campaign to be president ( Which he spent in Japan, rather than going back to the USA ) the Japanese made huge banners praying for his election! ( Unfortunately, they got the Rs and Ls mixed up....you figure it out! :lol: )

Ohio8
09-27-2007, 08:12 PM
Hello,

Watching MASH, I have seen that Seoul and Tokyo are the most popular places to getaway, or to send patients forward from the MASH unit.

My question is, what were these two cities like during the Korean War, (let's say 1952 or so)

How much was Tokyo rebuilt in 1952 from World War II? It was only 7 years after the surrender, and I am sure much of the place still was bombed out and the people there impoverished. Hard for me to believe that the city sprung back to life that quickly to the point that it would be a suitable getaway for anyone. I could see the military in their compounds living well, but the general condition of the Japanese people to still be a poor existance. I could see Winchester wanting to go back there from Korea, but still would be not the greatest place in the World.

Seoul was occupied by both North and South Korean forces numerous times in the conflict. Maybe a place to send a wounded patient out of Korea, but not really a good place to hang out for the weekend to drink and curousing.

Is there a place called We-shang-bu (the town near where the 4077th was?) Or is it a make believe place?

Lastly, is there any place on the internet where one can get the music played in MASH, especially the funny Asian music (one song I love sounds like "My Blue Heaven" in an Asiatic language).

Senor

There is a Uijongbu, and it's in South Korea.

tdf4077
10-07-2007, 09:25 PM
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cpoc-www.korea.army.mil/ag1cp/AreaI/Images/uijongbu%2520map.gif&imgrefurl=http://cpoc-www.korea.army.mil/ag1cp/AreaI/Images/1.htm&h=582&w=483&sz=99&hl=en&start=20&um=1&tbnid=xvG9ErCFReeNgM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Duijongbu%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4DGUS_en___US225%26sa%3DN

here's a map of the 4077th's home. Just copy and paste that mess into a search. But yes, it's a real city...just spelled differently.

I was always taught in school that largely due to McArthur's influence and the US helping them out, Tokyo was fairly well re-built by 1952.

Ohio8
10-31-2007, 04:48 PM
Actually, Seoul was bombed during the Korean War.