MAJOR ASADA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1417, 18 April 1912, Page 5

MAJOR ASADA.

SON OP A FAMOUS GENERAL,

WHY HE IS HERE.

AN .INTERESTING INTERVIEW,

MontioW was made a few days ago of th» Visit to Now Zealand of Major. K.yoiuu Asada, of tho Japanese Imperial "Army Start. In tho course of an interview .witii si Dominion* reporter, Major A,snda touched upon various topics of interest to the New Zealand public, Major Asada. is tho son of Huron Nobnoki Asada, who was «. noted general officer 111 tho recent war,'SiiCM>'cdi)lf;;'l>s he did, General Jlasegawa in command nl (ho corps d'elite (die Guard) after (he battle of Liao Yang in I'JOl. The major has come to Now Zealand with letters to tho Defejico Department, who are doing all in their power to make his stay a pleasant one. 110 is much, interested in such New Zealand industries ns agrieuliuro and and military affairs seem to be a somewhat secondary consideration with him. On Military Matters. When spoken to regarding military mat. I iers, the major appeared to be rather in tho dark as to our "new idea.", .Even when a brief outline of recent military doings was explained to him he was rather mystified over the term "eompuU:>ry," Jo hi* mind the word compulsion w:is Entirely foreign to tin? idea of serving one'a country, for in Japan it is looked upon as an honour to which every man aspires. Questioned as to the punishment iniucte<Mipon (hos<? who tlitl not sorvo thoir time in the Japanese forces, the major seemed rather doubtful as to what was tho exact method of punishment. Imprisonment, he said, was certain, but far how Jong he..couhi not remember, as the public spirit was very much against "shirkcrs, and very few ever tried to avoid tlieir training. The .Japanese training, he went on to say, extends over a period of two years for the infantry, and three, years tor other branches of the service, Before tic war with-Uiissia tlio time had, been three years for alt branches. While undergoing training the young Japanese go into barracks in much the same wav af the Germans do. . On Horseflesh and Staples. On other subjects. Major Asacla had more to say. The chief object of his visit to New Zealand is to inspect our horses and ascertain what prospects exist with respect to an export tirade. in theln to Japan. J.lie Japanese horses, Iho.iiinjor added, are small, but very fierce, and during the Itusso-Jananese war Japan imported a number ol' horses from Australia. -Major Asada. has already inspected tho horses, at Mount Cook Barracks, and he pronounces'them to be'far above those used in his own ai'iny in riuulitv, build, anil mettle. j ' . to our horseflesh he was interested in our wool, which he said was heavier ill texture, especially in the crossbrcds, than .the Australian wool, .and "therefore mora .serviceable when converted info uniforms. lu Japan tho land ■ settlement is very close, and there is no room for largo .sheep stations, so that, his people aro lorccd to got thoir wool from ullioi* conntries. Oil his tour, through the country Major Asada hopes to nick up useful ideas applicable to agriculture in his own couuMx- , ; On Japanese Emigration. : When, interrogated re Japanese 'inumRi'ntioj), • the Mnjor was a< littlo' reticent as far us New Zealand and Australia wero concerned. . Very, little, ho wml;' was known about either of them in Japan, and for somo time at least, North' Manchuria, Korea, New Caledonia, andlSouth America would bo tho chief immigration grounds for his countrymen. As vet, not many Japanese luyd emigrated to' Fiji or to any of tho South I'acific Islands. On Philology—A Striking Observation. Major Asada recently paid a sliort visit to Jtotorua, and was immediately .struck by the similitude between his own language and that of tho Maori.. He found no difficulty in pronouncing tho Maori words, and, in tho case of many of them, ho understood' tho meaning ifithdut interpretation. For instance, tho Japanesa a/lirmativo "Yes" is "Ai," aiid is pronounced exactly in tho snino wily as tho corresponding Maori "Aye." Agjiiy; tho Japanese have a -word very similar !o the' Maori "Wlialcarcii'urowa,'" aiiil.'lio at once translated the Maori tomean"j seo off," "Bid .farewell." .' More Minihir still is tho Maori word "Ohinemutu". to';.,' the Japanese "Ohinomotou," tho "o" iiieaiiinsr "an obeisance," and "-hiuoiiioTou" "to the rising sun." _ As to tho probable causo of this similarity Major Asada thinks'that'tile Maori* originally camo from Japan, and went thence to Borneo, the Celebes,-and on to Now Zealand. Touching, on the difference ill height between the Japanese ami tho Maoris, the Major went on to sfato that the .Tapaneso were aware, from ancient records and history, that in past ages they had been much taller thivn they now are. Climatic conditions wfinld a<icount for the changes in stature, and, even now, there were many Japanese who were fully lift, ill height. 'It would 1-,# remembered that* the Admiral of tho Japanese squadron (Aso and Royal which visited New Zealand waters recently, was taller than most Europeans. TCevortin? to philology, Major Asada mentioned fliaf, tho general sound of his.own- tonguc-and that of the Maori were very much, similar. and he thought that it would be a very easy matter for a Japanese, to learn Maori—much easier than. to .learn. .English. _ ■ In conclusion, Mojor Asada stated that ho felt deeply indebted to the Defence Department, the Hon. Mr. T.aurenson, and other members of the Cabinet., for; tho courteous reception given him.' and- for the trouble which tlicv had 'a'ien.in showing him the various things which lie was interested in.