IMPRESSIONS OF JAPAN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 70, 22 August 1947, Page 5

IMPRESSIONS OF JAPAN

REV. J. C. J. WILSON’S ADDRESS ROTARY LUNCHEON TALK “The average Japanese hasn’t a clue as to what democracy means. They have a faint impression that it involves general freedom enabling everyone to do as they like. In a country like that with the old traditional ideas so deeply rooted all sorts of troubles are cropping up. They cannot understand the average man having a voice in the Government, and they seem hopelessly unfit to adopt the attitude towards it that we adopt. In my opinion therefore democracy as we know it is going to . take a long time to grow.”

In this way Rev. J. C. J. Wilson, padre to the J-Force and recently repatriated, concluded his very interesting talk at the Rotary Club’s luncheon last Wednesday. Similarity to Maori Tongue

He stated that he had been stationed with a N.Z. Unit on a small peninsula jutting into the Inland Sea, and not far from a small and drab little town called Yannai. He drew attention to the close resemblance between some pf the Japanese place-names and the Maori tongue and* added that although the language was difficult to learn the Maoris seemed to pick it up fairly readily. There was unfortunately a great gulf of misunderstanding between the two peoples. The Japanese thought differently from the European in almost every way. It seemed impossible to know what they really did think though they might put on the friendliest front imaginable.

Amazing Docility

The outstanding feature of the Japanese people today was their docility. It was so pronounced to be extraordinary. Trouble was anticipated when the thousands of returning Japanese ’ officers arrived home but it was amazing to reflect that there had not been one single anti-occupation disturbance anywhere. The docility was even marked in the Japanese one towards the other. One theory gave the reason for the brutal Japanese atrocities as due to the repression and frustration of the boys and girls in their homes and later in their schools. There was no natural expression and the greatest virtues were obedience and respect. It was considered therefore that the soldiers of Japan’s mvading armies, when openly encouraged to throw off all restraint rushed to the other • extreme and were guilty of the most hideous and beastial behaviour. Lacking Initiative The Japanese as a race were highly regimented but it was the accepted opinion of those who studied them that as individuals they were very undeveloped and lacked initiative. It had been said that if a 40-year Englishman or American was placed alongside an average Japanese, the latter would appear as a child of ten years. ■ On the other hand the Japanese still cultivated the old handcrafts and it was possible to buy the most exquisite handmade articles in the shops. Speaking of the countryside, he :said that every available foot of land was cultivated and the whole landscape appeared like a vast parkland. It was -an absolute picture, the built-up paddy-fields in the vallies being as neat as it . was possible to imagine. They certainly knew Row to grow things. , Ceremonial and Face-Saving Great emphasis was placed on ceremony. Everywhere this could be seen. The famous ‘tea ceremony’ which occupied some two hours could be described as the very quintessence of courtesy wrapped up in the most delicate ceremonial, and young school girls were especially trained for its performance. In the •same way two 20-stone wrestlers occupied some twenty minutes in prolonged ceremonial procedure as a prelude to a bout which -seldom lasted one minute.

The speaker likewise described the fashion of ‘face-saving’ which was developed to a high degree. He instanced the selection of husbands and wives by the parents with the assistance of an intermediary and \said that this feature played an -enormous part in Japanese life.

At the conclusion of his address Ttev. Wilson was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by acclamation on the motion of Rotarian Bell.