QUEST FOR NEW LIFE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2882, 21 September 1916, Page 3

QUEST FOR NEW LIFE

WOMEN OF JAPAN. The "Japan Advertiser" says: Of all the signs of progress in present-day Japan none is more striking than the rise of woman in the Mikado's Empire. After centuries of inferiority in a country that until tho last few years lias always subordinated the position of women, self-realisation among the Japanese fair sex, tho dream of ages, is becoming a fact among a handful of advanced women. As yet there are no suffragettes in the land of Nippon; no cries of "votes for women," but there are many movements, although differing in their principles, in which all agree that the time has arrived for an advancement in tho position of woman. Several instances of revolt from the bondage of old Japan are found to-day, '.among the Japanese women.' A mild sensation was created a few weeks ago when Miss Tokutomi, daughter of the foremost newspaper man in Japan and a member of the House of Peers, joined the Salvation Army. Mr. Tokutomi is famous in Japan as a writer; ho is editor and proprietor of the "Kokumin Shimbun" ; bub all of his pleadings availed nothing in keeping his daughter from leaving her home and entering active work for Christianity. She was .entreated to at least tako tho more moderate course of joining tho Church, but she replied that the churches of to-day did not meet the demands of Christian religion in Japan. She added that she was not satisfied to live a life of luxury, being treated like a doll, without any real purpose in life. Somo girls, after leaving school, aro: earning their own livelihood. They believe that if the position of woman is to be raised she must have the capacity of economic she cannot ho independent hor position remains the same; she must continue to bow down and be the slave of man. Recently the daughter of a wealthy Government official was matched to a young man whom she flatly Tefused to marry. She-is a member of the. Now Woman, an association which has as its organ a magazine, edited by women, and known as the "Joo" (Queen). Although just 20 years old, she has translated a great part of the works of the famous women's writer, Ellen Key. "I am sorry to have disappointed my parents so many times'," sho declared recently, "but I couldn't help it. Marriage is one of tho most important events of a woman's life; others should not bo allowed to settle such a thing for a girl. I want to understand a man and to be understood ■ otherwise, what is married life? Love must bo germinated in the .'hearts of each other. I will not revolt against my parents, who have given mo every, luxury a girl could want, in any other inconsistencies in Japanese society which I think ought to ho altered. That is, as long as I am under their care, but the moment I am' economically independent, I will live according to rational principles. "I was so hard pressed by my parents that I nearly left home, but I believe I may make my parents change their ideas, at least temporarily. "I do not intend to die an old spinster, nor do I think a woman should live the samo as a man. I know a woman must possess feminine traits." This is an illustration of the trend of the new women's movement in Japan. Its backers'admit-,jt is still in its infancy, but they predict great advances the next few' years. The Japanese woman of the future, tbey say, will have a will of her own, with a corresponding improvement in her life's station. , " -