THE JAPANESE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1938, Page 10

THE JAPANESE

OUTLOOK AND MENTALITY PEOPLE LIVE IN DIFFERENT WORLD Japan and its people was the subject of an interesting address delivered by the Rt. Rev. John Ross, S.J., Bishop of Tabala and vicar apostolic of Hiroshima, at the Masterton Rotary Club’s luncheon yesterday. In the course of his address, his Lordship said the present situation there was very delicate, but leaders of the church should not touch on such things, which would require profound study to understand. Japan lived, so to speak, in a different world, and people would judge it more fairly if they understood the outlook and mentality of the Japanese. “I like Japan; I might even go so far to say I love Japan, but I must qualify that by saying I am not in love with it,” he said. There were things which were attractive and pleasant, but there were others of which he could not approve. It was a beautiful country, although it was his opinion that in many regards New Zealand was much more beautiful. However, he was much more interested in the people than in the country.

The Bishop said that when he first went to Japan the impression which came to him automatically was that the people were Orientals. They had an Eastern mentality and outlook and their way of thinking was different. Japan was a strong race personally, though not so much physically, and they were men of purpose, will-power, and perseverance. Once an objective was put to them they would not let go, a quality which if turned into propel' channels called for ‘admiration. They gave absolute loyalty to a cause once it was embraced. Japan’s only ambition at present, and indeed for a number of years, was to come into line with Western civilisation. More than that, they wanted to be first. He did not like their “cock-sureness,” self-con-sciousness, and conceit, and he believed they tried to walk before they could crawl. As an instance of that, in the universities the students demanded to read Shakespeare and works of other great writers, but he felt they were absolutely incapable of understanding or appreciating it. Another thing he did not like was the way the Japanese children tyrannised the whole household.

Japanese girls were not seen out after dark, continued the Bishop. The relationships of men and women were absolutely irreproachable. A girl could pass a regiment of soldiers and no notice would be taken of her. Would one experience that in any other country? he asked. Western civilisation, however, and its attendant films, were pulling down those things ruthlessly. In conclusion, the Bishop said the Japanese, particularly in the country, were attentive, kind, and anxious to help, although in the cities they were defiant to the foreigner.