The Teahouse of the August Moon

Captain Fisby arrives on Okinawa to implement the military's plans for Tobiki. His commanding officer, Colonel Wainwright Purdy III, assigns him a wily local, Sakini, as interpreter. Fisby accepts the mission despite being a bit of a misfit for the task.

Fisby pushes for a school built in the shape of a pentagon to symbolize progress. The villagers resist, preferring the cultural and social center of a teahouse instead. This clash sets up the tension between military modernization and local tradition.

With Sakini and Lotus Blossom guiding him, Fisby gradually adopts local customs and attitudes. His rigid plans soften as he becomes more receptive to and curious about Okinawan life. The alliance with Sakini and Lotus Blossom becomes key to his transformation.

Fisby tries to spark economic activity by having locals manufacture small items like cricket cages and geta. The products fail to attract buyers, highlighting cultural and market gaps. The setback underscores the difficulty of transplanting economic plans across cultures.

The villagers distill a potent sweet potato brandy in a matter of days. It finds a ready market among the American army, creating a profitable revenue stream. The quick success shifts the village’s focus toward maximizing this new income.

With the influx of money from the brandy, the teahouse is built in next to no time. The rapid construction signals a tangible turn toward local social life and commerce. The teahouse becomes a symbol of the new economic and cultural energy.

Purdy sends psychiatrist Captain McLean to check on Fisby. McLean is quickly won over by Fisby, and they share a lively moment at a party where Fisby greets him wearing geta, an army bathrobe (his 'kimono'), and an 'air-conditioned' straw hat. The initial professional visit begins to feel more personal.

During the visit, McLean proves to be enthusiastic about organic farming. His growing openness reinforces Fisby’s own evolving philosophy and adds credibility to local methods. This signals a potential alignment between military perspectives and Okinawan practices.

Purdy arrives in person and disrupts the teahouse party, witnessing the informal atmosphere Fisby has fostered. He orders the building and the distillery destroyed, signaling a harsh reversal of the village’s progress. The abrupt command tests Fisby’s morale and the villagers' resolve.

In a calculated move, the villagers dismantle the teahouse and hide the pieces rather than demolishing the brandy storage. They break up old water urns to preserve the brandy stock, preserving the economic lifeblood while complying superficially with Purdy's order. The act demonstrates resilience and strategic thinking.

The Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers designates Tobiki as an example of successful American-led democratization. This high-level endorsement legitimizes the village’s experimental path. The decision shifts the narrative from punitive action to political legitimacy.

Purdy experiences foreshadowed regret for destroying the teahouse and realizes the value of the community's efforts. He contemplates reassembling the teahouse as a corrective measure. The turn signals a reconciliation between military authority and local enterprise.

Following the reconsideration prompted by the SCAP endorsement, Purdy orders the teahouse to be reassembled and the villagers cooperate to restore it. The comeback symbolizes the acceptance of local culture within the framework of American-led democratization. The village cements its new status through restored social space.