The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-09
THE NEW JAPANESE MINISTER.
The Charge d'Affaires of the Japanese Lega-
ton Talks About Kuki's Successor

The Charge d'Afaires of the Japanese Lega-
tion Talks About Kuki's Successor.
Washington etter in New York World.
The diplomatic circle of Washington is much
interested in the new Japanese minister who is
tn succeed Mr.. Kuki. It is not known when he
will arrive in Washington, and the secretary of
the legation. Mr.. Shire Aka6ane, is acting
charge d'affaires. MIR Kuki was very popular
here He learned English during his residence
in Washington and he left account of his
wifes health. Mrs Kuki was beautiful woman
She dressed elegantly and she possessed social
tastes but her physique could not stand the
demands of Washington society. Her eyes grew
very sore before she left this country. and it
was through this that MIR. Kuki asked to be
called. He has now been appointed chief of the
bureau of imperial archives of japan, and this
bureau forms the national museum OF that coun-
try. In it are the art collections and curios of
the Emperor, and new additions are being
stantly made, so that the whole gives thorough
showing of Japanese art, we'll other mat
ters which usually pertain TO a grand museum
Mr.. Kuki has been for years one of the great
authorities on Japanese art. He is man of
means and culture and he has fine Dalace'at
Toxic, the capital of Japan. ] am told at the
legation that he will do much for Japanese art
The new Japanese minister is man with
history. His name is Mutsu Munemtsu. and he
is one of the greatest statesmen of japan. /
had long talk concerning him with MIR. Shire
Akabane. and from him got the following in
terest1ng facts. The new minister has been
connected for years with Japanese politics. He
is noted as a fnancler and he was chief of the
bureau which revised the tariff some years ago.
putting it on the basis of European money. He
has been Governor of Yokohama and Chairman
of the Senate. which is position much like that
of the President pro tenn. of the United States
Senate He was accused of being connected
with Gen. Saigos rebellion of ten years
ago. which was to overturu the then Cabinet. /
do not think that it proven that he one
of the rebels. but he was arrested political
offender and imprisoned for five years
During his imprisonment he had house for
himself but there were guards before its doors,
and he was under military surveillance. He
studied English while imprisoned, and he is
good English scholar After he
leased from prison he made tour of the world,
and supplemented the knowledge of English ac-
Quired from books and the Japanese teachers
by residence of year in London, and he also
spent some time In France and Germany. He
then went back to Japan, studying the various
governments as he passed through them, and he
is, all told, of the brightest-minded states
men we have"
''What kind of looking man is he?"
II have not seen him for some time.' replied
Mr.. Shire Akabane, 'but met him in Germany
is, judge. about forty five years OF age. and 70
tall for Japanese. He has very intelligent
features and his face is pleasant one. He is
very SociabIe and good talker. He 10 o hard
student, and when he was in Germany boarded
the same house. He would then get up at
o'clock in the morning and work right along
until o'clock in the evening, and ne always
seemed to have something to do He is
powerful orator he is talk
er, and he is one of the most popular pub
lie speakers of Japan. He ranks there much
the same as Senator Sherman does here or as
Samuel j. Tilden did, and his political utter
ances carry weight. He is man of literary
tastes, and his father great scholar and
bis brother is philosopher. The new minister
has written number of books. and he has
translated one of Benthams books on the spirit
of the laws into the Japanese. He speaks some
French but I do not think he speak the
German. He wears American clothes and this
even in japan, aud he is one of our most pro-
gressive men. think he will be very popular
in Washing ton.a
This secretary of the Japanese legation tells
me that the Chinese minister Is a very fine poet,
and that the poetry he writes ought to rank
high in literature The writing of poetry is
quite common among the more cultured men in
the Celestial nations, and it 10 even customary
to write letters TO friends in poe
try. The rule in such cases is that
when receives letter 10 rhyme. he must
answer, preserving in his letter the same rhyme
and metre. few days ago Mr. Shire Akabane
wrote pleasant epistie of this kind TO one of
the Chinese legation, and think it was TO Mr..
Shue. Mr.. Shue responded, etiquette
quired. and Mr.. Shiros letter fell into the hands
of the Chinese minister, and he wrote a letter to
the Japanese Secretary, complimenting him on
his effort. These facts will be surprising to the
people who come in contact with the Celestial
nations only through their cooks and washer
women The truth is that the members of the
Celestial legations at Washington a different
order of beings. They made up of of
old families, aud rule they men of fine
culture and extraordinary attachments. Many
of them speak English, and they display re-
markable intellectual and social tastes.