Goodness! It appears I have neglected this blog for four months! I haven’t written anything about tango in the islands: Oahu, Maui, The Big Island—-nor did I post anything about dancing in Japan–sweet, for sure. So, more to come. Meanwhile my newest book has arrived and I am loving it: Tango Stories by Michael Lavocah…today I read about the beginning of tango in Japan. The son of a diplomat, Baron Megata, brought it when returning from several years in France. Walla! He brought stacks of records and his love and skill and started teaching upper classes for free. Tango spread quickly. By 1954 there were more than 20 orchestras tipica. Emperor Hirohito wanted D’Arienzo to come to Japan with his orchestra so much he offered “anything,” even to send a submarine! D’Arienzo never went but sent his band which had a very successful tour. D’Arienzo was afraid of flying as his close friend Carlos Gardel had died in a plane crash.