Andrew T. McDonald and Verlaine Stoner McDonald
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- May 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780813176079
- eISBN:
- 9780813176109
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Kentucky
- DOI:
- 10.5810/kentucky/9780813176079.003.0009
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Cultural Studies
The twilight of Rusch’s years are highlighted in Chapter 8, beginning with distinguishing honors Rusch received during the 1970s. Rusch’s health became increasingly frail as KEEP confronted various ...
More
The twilight of Rusch’s years are highlighted in Chapter 8, beginning with distinguishing honors Rusch received during the 1970s. Rusch’s health became increasingly frail as KEEP confronted various crises. The Kiyosato Farm School closed for lack of applicants, the consequence of a changing Japanese economy. There was scandal at KEEP, as Ryo Natori was accused of misappropriating funds sent from America. Then cancer began to cast a shadow over Rusch’s life, as his dearest friend, Karl Branstad, succumbed to the disease. The ailment also took the life of three of Rusch’s other protégés at KEEP, most painfully Ryo Natori, who passed away from liver cancer. Because Rusch was unable to travel and raise money owing to his ill health, the prospects for KEEP looked grim until Eli Lilly Jr. bequeathed over $2 million in Lilly stock to KEEP. Rusch died of cancer at the age of seventy-nine at St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo.Less
The twilight of Rusch’s years are highlighted in Chapter 8, beginning with distinguishing honors Rusch received during the 1970s. Rusch’s health became increasingly frail as KEEP confronted various crises. The Kiyosato Farm School closed for lack of applicants, the consequence of a changing Japanese economy. There was scandal at KEEP, as Ryo Natori was accused of misappropriating funds sent from America. Then cancer began to cast a shadow over Rusch’s life, as his dearest friend, Karl Branstad, succumbed to the disease. The ailment also took the life of three of Rusch’s other protégés at KEEP, most painfully Ryo Natori, who passed away from liver cancer. Because Rusch was unable to travel and raise money owing to his ill health, the prospects for KEEP looked grim until Eli Lilly Jr. bequeathed over $2 million in Lilly stock to KEEP. Rusch died of cancer at the age of seventy-nine at St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo.
Andrew T. McDonald and Verlaine Stoner McDonald
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- May 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780813176079
- eISBN:
- 9780813176109
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Kentucky
- DOI:
- 10.5810/kentucky/9780813176079.003.0006
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Cultural Studies
Rusch returned to Japan to find destruction, despair, and starvation everywhere. Rusch began his work for the Civil Intelligence Section in Tokyo, uncovering evidence for the International Military ...
More
Rusch returned to Japan to find destruction, despair, and starvation everywhere. Rusch began his work for the Civil Intelligence Section in Tokyo, uncovering evidence for the International Military Tribunal of the Far East (IMTFE). Rusch hoped that the Allies would bring justice to postwar Japan, but the Americans had an agenda. As part of the effort to facilitate a peaceful occupation, Rusch secured evidence supportive of American policy, absolving Emperor Hirohito of blame for the Pacific War. Rusch was instrumental in acquiring the Saionji-Harada Memoirs, volumes of notes cataloguing the imperial family’s resistance to militarism. Rusch also recovered evidence of an international Communist conspiracy in Japan, a development that greatly enhanced his standing among his anti-Communist superiors. Rusch soon discovered the level of compromise and corruption in the Occupation government as he saw innocent Japanese being purged while some war criminals, such as the biological warfare mastermind Shiro Ishii, received immunity. During this time, Rusch met a former kamikaze pilot, Ryo Natori, a teenager he hired as a houseboy. Natori became a surrogate son and was a key figure in the rest of Rusch’s life. Rusch also used his considerable power to punish those who sold Seisen-Ryo and stripped Rikkyo University of its Christian identity.Less
Rusch returned to Japan to find destruction, despair, and starvation everywhere. Rusch began his work for the Civil Intelligence Section in Tokyo, uncovering evidence for the International Military Tribunal of the Far East (IMTFE). Rusch hoped that the Allies would bring justice to postwar Japan, but the Americans had an agenda. As part of the effort to facilitate a peaceful occupation, Rusch secured evidence supportive of American policy, absolving Emperor Hirohito of blame for the Pacific War. Rusch was instrumental in acquiring the Saionji-Harada Memoirs, volumes of notes cataloguing the imperial family’s resistance to militarism. Rusch also recovered evidence of an international Communist conspiracy in Japan, a development that greatly enhanced his standing among his anti-Communist superiors. Rusch soon discovered the level of compromise and corruption in the Occupation government as he saw innocent Japanese being purged while some war criminals, such as the biological warfare mastermind Shiro Ishii, received immunity. During this time, Rusch met a former kamikaze pilot, Ryo Natori, a teenager he hired as a houseboy. Natori became a surrogate son and was a key figure in the rest of Rusch’s life. Rusch also used his considerable power to punish those who sold Seisen-Ryo and stripped Rikkyo University of its Christian identity.
