On the bridge of the 18,000-ton tanker Nissho Mam as she steamed into Tokyo Bay stood Captain Tatsuo Nitta, flashing a gold-toothed smile. He had just completed a three-week voyage from Abadan, bringing to Japan her first petroleum shipment (15,300 long tons of diesel oil and automobile gasoline) from Premier Mossadegh's nationalized oilfields. At a special introductory price averaging 5.35^ a gallon, he had quite a bargain. Waiting to receive Skipper Nitta at the Kawasaki dock was a cluster of Iranian traders.
They kissed the captain on both cheeks, handed him a big basket of flowers and an autographed photo...
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