Hi! garybuss san;
("san" is a Japanese title. The meanings in English are "Mr.", "Mrs.", and "Ms." )
Here in South Dakota USA, a common location for the Watch Tower Society to rent to hold circuit assemblies was National Guard Armories.
Thank you for the information.
Junzo Akashi(the overseer of the Japan branch) was thrown into prison at the time of World War II.
Those days, Japan and the United States were enemies.
As you knew well, Japan was militarism.
Junzo Akashi did not worship the Emperor.
And he refused to worship the Japanese national flag.
And so, he received terrible persecution.
And the Japan branch was destroyed completely.
The "body" (Japan branch) was destroyed.
However, the "head" (the world headquarters) was unhurt.
"The Society "compromised" with the American government."
When he looked at that photograph, he thought so.