DIGNITY OF SILENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1929, Page 3

DIGNITY OF SILENCE

ROYALTY AND THE JAPANESE MASSES. THE NEW TOKIO. Mr John Beveridge, of Laery, Beveridge and (Jo., lias just returned from a fascinating visit to the Orient, returning by way of 'Honolulu and California. Ho was in Tokio in May last when the Duke of Gloucester arrived to invest the Mikado with the Order of the Garter.

“it was” lie said, a great occasion for the Japanese, and the representative of the British Throne was received with all dignity. Unfortunately the day of his arrival in Tokio was marked by a heavy downpour of rain which marred the spectacular part of the proceedings; nevertheless the 'procession of notabilities to the Emperor’s Palace wa sviewed by hundreds of thousands of people. There were no outward signs of jubilation, for it is seemingly customary for ceremonies in which the Mikado takes part to be conducted in silence, without any outward ebullition of feeling from the 'crowds. Indeed I believe that the Japanese do not consider it etiquette to look down upon such a function. Mr Beveridge was told that it was not considered the thing for Japanese to gaze at Royalty from a first-floor or any floor above, as they would lie looking down whereas those “below the salt’’ should ever look up. One interesting part of the programme of games, sport, etc., that was arranged to mark the occasion was a series of Rugby foot ball matches between the crew’s of the Duke’s warship and the 'Japanese students from the Tokio University, who evidently have taken up Rugby seriously. In all, five games were played on different days. Of these the warship crew won four and one was drawn.

A NEW TOKIIO. “The new Tokio is going to he n very fine city,” said Mr Beveridge. “They are doing away with all the narrow little streets, and replacing them with fine dignified boulevards, whilst the buildings that are facing them are designed after American plans for the greater part, and most of them are being erected in reinforced concrete as being the best form of construction to withstand the .effect of. earthquakes. The American ideas are favoured because Japan is more closely in touch with that continent than she is with the Old World. Every year hundreds of thousands of Americans flock over to Japan to see the cherry-blossoms, and Japan sends many hundreds...of thousands of her children to American colleges. So the new Tokio is going to be entirely different. from the. old city. Yokohama has not been restored at anything like the same rate. It has to be remembered that afteir the big shake there a good many business people deserted Yokohama for Kobe, which went ahead at the expense of its less fortunate neighbour. Now", however, there seemed to be a disposition to return to Yokohama. Many of the ruined places are much as they were after th e shake, but thei disposition is now to clear away and build afresh.

THE LUXURY OF CLEANLINESS

“Inland Japan has many charms,” said Mr Beveridge. “Two of the nicest places to stay are Minoshita and Nikko, where there ar© two of the best hotels in the country, 'both owned by a millionaire Jap ail who has lavished money on these places. Can you imagine a great open space in. the centre of the hotel, surrounded with artistically-built cubicles for dressing and in the centre a luxurious Roman bath in marble let into the floor, whilst overhead (the ceiling) is nothing more or less than a huge glass tank,/in which goldfish disport themselves? This semi-swimming bath for. the guests of the hotel is open pretty well at all times, but there is one inexorable law throughout Japan, that anyone entering a public swimming bath must first of all have a thorough cleansing; hence the fact that each cubicle is a small bath-house with a shower, in itself.”

A GREAT STEAMSHIP LINE. “One of the great prides of Japan is her Nippon Yusen Ivaisha line of steamers. There are about 150 vessels in the line, but the finest of these are being reserved for the wonderful American trade, and in opposition to the Dollar Line. Whilst, we were in the East three new 20,000-ton steamers were launched for this line, two at Nagasaki and one at Yokohama. These are motor driver! ‘••hips of the Very latest design, and are to he employed’ in the Japan-Seattle-San Francisco service. At the launching of til© vessel at Yokohama there were 00.0(10 people present. The departure of these steamers from the principal ports is really a wonderful sight. Circular Quay, Sydney, when a P. and 0 boat leaves is not in it. When we left for America we found on reaching the quay an enormous crowd of sightseers and w.e literally had to fight our wav to the gangway. When 1 protested against the arrangements, which might very easily prevent passengers catching their steamers, particularly busy business people who are engaged up to the last minute, I was told that it, was not to be prevented—it was the Government. The. people had an interest in the steamers—did not the Government guarantee 10 per cent, to the shareholders ?—and if the public