THE NEW JAPAN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 670, 24 October 1933, Page 4

THE NEW JAPAN

v Whence did she glean her power, this new Japan who has been looming of late with such a for- j midable front on the internation- j al horizon? And how was she nurtured to the strength with which she now wields the big stick in things industrial, to the common detriment of all competitors ? The new Japan was in fact born in 1867, after a great travail had agonised the medieval State structure that hitherto bore that name. For centuries Japan had been a nation steeped in obscurity; self-centred, self-

sufficing, self-complaisant. An age-old policy of isolation had placed her in ethical quarantine, a recluse who made few contacts with the world. Her society was feudal, virtually snb- 1 I jected to the despotic Shogun j | and his warrior easte of Samurai. The modemising of Japan was electric in aspect. The ascent to the throne of the new Mikado, or | god-king, Mutsohito, marked the advent of a new outlook. This dignitary, entering a post long held in scorn, revived it to its -rightful status, and Japan bei came again a theocracy. Worship of a traditionally national deity allied te loyalty for an inspiring ruler proved potent coer- ! cives, and the national f ealty was

* transferred from military bho- j I gun to pacifist Mikado. Kevers- | ; ing the old order of mental in- j | sularity, Mutsohito wooed suc- 1 | cess with the very policy of Wes- j ternising that had earned the downfall of the obsolete military dynasty. With what vigour the country grew through adolesence until she attained national majority is an epic story . 5 The maritime gates of the country were thrown open to f oreigners ; commerce was encouraged, industry fostered. Obsoletism became the crime culpahle; Western forms of organisation, govern-

ment, education, were every- ' where adopted, not from slavish I imitation hut after judicial sifting. The people's vision was dirp.p.ted outward as well as inward,

they kept pace mentally with the new greatness that was thrust | upon them. Industrialism induc- ; ed wealth, which was • utilised with rare wisdom in many-sided development. In short, the wand waved over Japan, transformecl her with almost magical rapidity into an intelligent Power of the first order. But the new life bred new needs. National consciousness retrogressed to a will for dominion that became, at the urge of sheer necessity, flagrant • and aggressive. Wars of acquisition were f ought, first China and then Russia being the victims. The lat-

ter particularly was mulcted oi many priceless possessions. Korea, Manchuria, Liao-Tung, went the way of the new Eastern quantity. Japan, riding roughshod, fought her way to first place in the Pacific. Such has been the turbulently successful youth of the new Japan. But the policy oriented with such good purpose has fallen upon evil days. The militant Samurai, now recogmsed as tne "jingoist school" hold the rems. The insatiahle demand? of a hungry industrialism are proving hard to control. Japan seeks a vent. She has disearded the

meekness that made her great, and with .the arrogance of the strong preaches a denial of pacifism. ' Tactfuh sympathy 'then would seem to be the most estimable quality • among her con > freres. She must be persuaded ; to seek national greatness : through proper channels.