Back from Japan.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 262, 4 December 1903, Page 2

Back from Japan.

A TARANAKI TRAVELLERS IMPItESSIUNS. At the present juncture, when the sturdy little people, of the Land of the Sun are looming so large in the world of politics, the average reader will nodou'bt welcome reliaWe and original inl<M'in,bt/ton regarding the interesting dap and his ways. With this in mind a News representative

waylaid a Taranuki gcntlemnn, Mr A. Kyngdon, who has just arrived from an extended tour through, the northern countries of the Mikndo's Umpire, and obtained a few impres-

sions from him. Mr Kyngdon spent some four months among the people, and explored the districts of the interior a little off the bi-alen track of the ordinary tourist. He had l>een in Japan on a former occasion, a lew years since, and having acquired some familiarity with the language a»id customs of the people Mr Kyngdon took the opportunity to study them closely. While in Osaka, the commercial capital, our tru\clhr visited the Japancse exhibition of manufactures and produce ; a marvellous collection and one showing how quicicly • the Japanese were ready to adapt themselves to Western ideas and'practicts. The value of such an exposition, both to show the foreigners their wares and to teach their own people how 'best to develop or produce those wares, did not need to he urged u second time upon them. Most of Mr Kyr.Ri:lon's sojourn was spent, as stated, in the northern, or Veddo country. Here he found the people in a flourishing condition. The rice crops were g<x)d, trade was lirisk, and manufacturers steadily

progressing in volume. In the trad* world China was looked upon as ibe chief field for export.

Replying to a query as to the Japanese opinion on the possibility r ot war Mr Kyngdnn s tt kt that therewas at present u very strong war party in Japan, The press was very consistent in urging what it ootositier the claims of the country In the Korea Peninsula, and was «' powerful advocate of the maintenance of the '• open door " policy in Ma»churia. From what he could, gather Mr Kyngdon did not think «arr would eventuate. One rea-son for this was that funds would i.ot. admit of such a contingency, as the authorities had under-estimated the cost of a conflict with a European Power. He also was of opinion that, the reported accession of Chine** troops to Mtamchuria was at the #»-. ert instigation of_ the Japunewv the, latter secretly promising to Vack up» any move against the Kussian Bear\ In the face of this !>o«sibility the? Muscovite would most'likely pronifre to concede the ".open door" in Manchuria ; but ho Would not remove hrs troops. Whether the promise would ever be fulfilled was arw other and a doubtful matter. Speaking of education, Mr fcyjigdon said he was much struck witti tlw? keen interest shown in. ih© suV ject. At higher calleges.™-very numerous, by the way—students devoted themselves with unwonted energy (to the European mind, to their looks. Children, boys and girls aliko, were given compulsory education, and at the public schools military •It-ill was a strong •foature. One tiling which could not fail to strike the visitor with some force was the manner in which excursions were organised by the. school authorities. Hundreds of happy little children might often be seen carried away by train or other means to points of'public interest—temples, ruins, etc. T'ne teachers would thou, on the spot, instruct them in the historical and other meanings attached to the places* visited. In social life, though far from th« ideals of the Western mind, there was a pronounced tendency toward a ip/ladual adoption of Occidental views and manners. This, of course, could only be a matter for slow development, but the tendency was indisputably apiMi'ent. Keferri'ivg to his travels through the less known country districts, Mr Kyngldon said he could not help noticing, even there, the English language gained ground. At every of the larger inns there was a die- ffc tionary in English and Japanese, and the (>eople were always onxious to add to their knowledge of the foreigner's idioms. Altogether this fortunate traveller seems to have found himself in pleasant places indeed, and certainly has the appearance of having enjoyed himself and things in general. In concluding his retiuirks Mr Kyngdon said, replying to a question by Ms interlocutor, that the Japanese seaport people spent large sums upon improvements to thelir hurliourfacilities, and it evidently paid t»*>m. to do so, by encouraging shipping, and, consequently, commercial relations with'other nations.