The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-06-06
JAPAN AND IT'S PEOPLE.
An Interesting Chapter on the Nations Hiss
tory, Customs and Resources.

tory, Customs and RESOURCES,
Until 1858, when the treaty between
Japan and the United States was con-
cluded, little was known about this
nations people, industries or govern
ment
The Jesuits were the main cause Of
the expulsion of foreigners; they were
greedy of power and had destroyed
some of the temples built in honor of
Japanese gods. Remembering that the
first emperor, according to the Japanese,
was the son of the god that made Japan,
that is, the god OF the universe, it will
be seen that the preaching of the Jesuits
was diametrically opposed to Japanese
law.
"In 1917 all tho ports were closed to
foreign commerce. with two exceptions.
In 1921 Japanese were forbidden to visit
foreign countries, in 1924 all foreigners
except Dutch and English were banished
from Japan, in 1910 Portuguese EN-.
bassy was executed at Nagasalki, and
in 1641 the Dutch were sent to the little
island called Deshima, which adioins
/ the port of NagasalSi and Japan re-
manned closed to all other foreigners. In
1887, thirty thousand native Christians
| are said to have been executed"
The present inhabitants are proba bly,
descended from conquerors that came
from the mainland about $50 b. G. and
! gradually became masters of the aborig-
ines 1t is from these conquerors that
| the military class, SO prominent in the
early history of Japan, are probably
! descended. Their origin, however, is
still involved in mystery 1t is more
than likely that the broadfaced peas
ants of the present day are with mix
! ture of other races, the descendants of
the original inhaaitbnts. The Indians
of Japan, j. e., the pure blooded aborig,
ines, are established in the northern
part of the island of Yezo, and are called
the Aino.
The physical difference between no.
BILE and peasant is plainly marked,
Those of the high caste have high nose S
and oval faces, the East Indian type;
the peasants, on the other hand, have
broad, fiat faces and noses. The mobiles
are the descendants of the conquerors,
the peasants, of the conquered. In this
we see the old historical story of fie1
and vassal.
The food of the people is made up OF
great variety of fruits, vegetables and
fish, rice being the principal food of the
lower classes, that is most abundantly
raised.
The whole coast swarms with fish, ano
this makes fishing the bus mess of it.
people. Mining is carried on to con
siderable extent and profit, the islands
being rich in gold, silver, copper, and
other useful metals.
The chief exports are tea, camphor,
"copper" silk, porcelain ware, and silk
worms eggs. Their works of art com
mand the highest prices. japanese
metal art-work in brass, bronze, silver
or copper, has never been excelled.
All their works of art clearly show
that the Japanese artist is student Of
nature; birds, plants, vegetables, flow
ers and foliage all being placed so as to
give an acknowledged beauty and
grace to anything they may be executed
on, whether it be rice-paper, silk. ke-
ramic ware, wood or metal
The empire is goverend by the Mikado
assisted by his cabinet of eleven depart
ments-State, Foreign Affairs, Finance
War, Marine, Education, Public Works
Justice, Colonization of Yezo, lmperia
Household and Interior. An assembly
of the people by representatives has
been formed, but as yet it has little
power in regulating affairs. The coun
try is divided into three Flu, and these
are subdivided into thirty-five Ken, ol
prefectures. The departments of State
and Foreign Affairs are the same as il
other countries; the department O.
Finance is trying To pay off a nationa
debt of about seventy thousand pounds
The department of War looks after q
fine army, which is kept drilled, ant
ready for disturbance, internal or exter
nal. The army is furnished with thu
! Murta repeating rifle. The department
of Education looks after a nationa
, system of schools and colleges. Justice
is basedon the Code Napoleon.
/ If Japan had kept it's ports open t,
, foreigners during the revival of learning
| in the seventeenth century, Japan woult
, not have been Japanese, Europeanized
European things and customs would
nave uCCll ouuSCu, pO1oSliC
| would have been absorbed by foreigners
and Japanese art would not have beer
SO distinct from all other as it is. Japal
| would not have been what it is to-day
t Japanese.
The Japanese are an Industrious, in
, telligent patriotic and courageou
) people, and have progressed in few
: years far beyond all the other Easter
e nations.-H. w. Burnett, in N. Y. Oh
server.