“A couple of hundred yards east down the wall of people, a cry arose that could have been a cheer or a scream. I looked over to see two American soldiers who stood a head-no, a head and shoulders-above the crowd that surrounded them. As I was about to step into to the road to see what was happening, three big men came up before I knew it and standing six feet from me, their mouths working constantly, started opening packs of gum and throwing the sticks in our direction, They were so offhand about it, we were all too startled to move. The soldiers started gesturing us to pick up the gum, and I suspect the first one to take a stick did so less out of a willingness to accept charity than a fear of being punished if he refused. This was a man in a crepe undershirt and knee-length drawers, brown shoes and garters to hold up his socks, who timidly stretched out his hand and showed not the least pleasure of having received a stick of chewing gum. The rest were like pigeons flocking for beans.”
Akiyuki Nosaka, “American Hijiki”
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 