Beginning of the Affair

Few wives could resist opening such a letter, even though it was addressed to the man of the house. Reeking with a Japanese perfume called Kiss Me, its contents glowed with bygone passion: "Many moons have passed since we parted . . . I was an innocent maiden [but] I shall cherish forever that night I learned for the first time the shameful pleasures of life . . ." It was signed "Your Tsuyuko [Misty Child]."

In the homes of some 11,000 prominent Japanese businessmen (names carefully selected from Japan's Who's Who), thousands of outraged wives opened (or at least savored) Tsuyuko's fragrant little three-page note. Many were breathing too hard to get past page one. Page two brought the gimmick: a publicity pitch for a sad (and bad) new Nikkatsu Studio movie titled Iro Zange (Confessions), based on a bestseller of the '303.

At first the studio was delighted when it began to get letters from wives who obviously had not got beyond page one. Last week, however, it admitted that matters had got out of hand when three frantic husbands telephoned begging for a second letter to set things straight.

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