The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-19
THE JAP As 4 BUSINESS MAN.
A searchiaE ana Net Over-Rriendiy Analysis
or MS Commercial Methods.

undergoing on5iderablo scrutiny from moro or
less interested individuals and classes In tho
occidental world. and It is doubtfulif any phase
Of the national character is now observed moro
intently, and at times with moro concern, than
the commercial instinct, which during tho last
ten years has developed 30 abnormally in this
particular quarter.
In tho minds Of certain American manufac-
turers this concern has developed into the con-
viction that as a nimble, quick.witted, CONNER.
cial competitor the Jap is proving n success. but
that not for a good many years to come will
Japan be q serious competitor of manufacturing
America 1 shall try to demonstrate.
Much useful newspaper space has recently
been wasted by the nlarmist fearful Of an i'm.
mediate commercial invasion by the custard.
colored Asiatic. These fears are entirely un.
founded, as any careful observer of things jap
anese must have already noted.
The Sl2 bicycle fake Is sufficiently recent to
be remembered by oil. The possibility of such
an invasion would not for a moment have been
considered by any one privileged to inspect the
largest bicycle factory In Japan, situated at
Toxic, where these marvellous wheels were
credited with birth.
This blacksmith shop, which through the gen.
erosity of some foreign correspondent devel-
oped, on tho American side, the dignity OF "a
splendidly equipped plant with all the modern
improvements" is a moasly, antiquated build
Ing 40 by 100 feet, surrounding two FORCES en-.
! Outraged by a pair OF wheezy, asthmatic bel
lows OF the crossroads type. A ten-foot bench.
on TO which tho fittings arc dropped from the
forge and reamed out by hand, q venerable
grtndstone, ono 47.pound obsolete English bicy-
Gle, used as a model; Ave boys and an anemio
payroll. constitute the chief furnishings OF tho
place. whose output is variously. but conserva.
lively. estimated at from two-thirds to one and
Nam fAE ht,s.,IA -~- ,-a-l lI.- -
other unlooked-for contingencies excepted. The
tubing used in their construction is carefully
selected and drawn cold from the surplus scrap
at the local gas works. When finished, tho
wheels are marvel5 of angularity, balky and are
sneercd at by the japanese jinrickisha coolies.
They arc tinidly offered for sale at $75 Japan
esel, or the equivalent Of about $40 gold, and
are bought up as curios by hustling local agents
OF foreign firms who use them as horrible ex-
amples' on the minds OF prospective customers.
Tho famous watch factory established q few
years since at Osaka. the output OF which was
destined to throw n permanent eclipse over the
watch trade in America. proved a total failure.
and the building recently burned to the ground.
This plant was one Of the most modern yet es-
tablished on the island. but for lack OF compe-
tent workmen, and that knowledge which is
only gained by years of patient experience, 1t
never attained the success expected OF II.
One paramount reason why the Japanese will
not for many years to come prove noticeable
competitors TO the American manufacturers Of
machinery and similar invented lines. is that
the present. generation was not born with me-
chanical minds nor in a mechanical country. and
every mechanician knows tho value OF these
indetinable hereditary traits.
The Oriental mind works in w%ell-worn grooves.
and ages OF training will be required ere they
become skilful artisans on Western lines.
Any Japanese with a fair amount OF intelli-
piece OF foreign machinery and duplicate the
parts. but when the duplicate mechanism fails
to perform Properiy. which is generally the case
an expert. long skilled in the use OF the par
ticular machine. to detect the rub.
Delicate machine tools, carefully pitched and
graded. have yet to reach the far East. and as
hand work: IN lieu OF machine work. is still in
task to reproduce. Will the requisite exactncss
and scientific accuracy. hundreds OF the intri-
When Japan decides to begin the manufacture
OF machinery to compete with American makers.
foreign plants and imported workmen will be
required, and the moment this labor Is employed
the cost OF production will be the same here, as
In America, II not more than there.
have made Indifferent copies Of American ma
chinery, but the local demand has always re-
lack of mechanical experience. the Japanese
buyers place but scant confidence in home pro-
wants a silk or flour mill, a steam engine or
a printing press. or any one of the many articles
the order invariably goes TO America or Europe,
and the buyer assures himself that the article
really came from abroad before he will accept
AS makers OF bric-A.hrac. straw braid, lacquer
work. bamboo and China ware; rs carvcrs OF
ESQ undoubtedly excel. but the last named arti-
Gle Is about the only one OF real interest to Amer
that wages in Japan advanced last year fully 80
per cent; over those paid the previous year. and
are steadily moving upward. and that within the
next three years they will be on n par with those
paid in America. it will be seen thnt the Ameri-
can vii still have q fighting chance in the cot
In any case, The United States could lose little
BY this competition. as 3nrown Southern cotton
whirl from one end OF the empire to the other,
and a more extended market for Japanese cotton
simply means an increased demand for our
superior American raw material.
The scarcity of labor in Japan is at present q
serious and unsolvcd problem to the native fac.
by Japan in the light OF a national blessing. and
regarded by far seeing diplomats as sinister in
it's coaception and likely 10 produce reactionary
evils of great magnitude. is mainly responsible
for the present stringenGy OF the labor market.
ing allurements of possible gain at Mukdcn,
thousands, OF mon employed in the silk and
cotton ,ot'cs n mills T.. tS",trinf %EEdownss and either fac.
doncd their posts and embarked TO China as
portcrs, grooms. solutions. &c. in tho wake OF
adventurous spirits. untitled to endure tho
rigors 9f {" winter campsign, died or
others. at the close OF the war: remained
in the country, or. pushing OH to Hong Kong.
inc 1nlllpplnc lSiHnuS, singapore, ana tnr straits
Settlements, located and devoted themselves to
making a little stake before returning to their
native land. For this reason. coupled with the
fact that increased manufacturing industries
have gradually absorbed the surplus labor OF the
country, workmen arc extremely hard TO pro.
cure. and the natural consequence is n sharp
advance In both wage and product, with every
indication Of Further and moro serious compli-
cations In the near future.
Several tea-tiring Rodowns here In Yokohama
have remained closed this season owing to tho
lack OF procurable lRhor. and the moro fortunate
ones were Obliged 10 substitute women for men.
In tho scramble for workmcn, so many children
have boon drafted into the different places that
the Japanese Government Is now seriously con-
sidcring the advisability OF formulating law to
regulate child labor.
There can be but one issue to this state OF
affairs. Ere long Japanese prices will be
forced to par with American, and always with
overwhelming superiority in favor OF the Amer
lean manufactured article.
Another point in favor OF Americans, and one
which sooner or later will prove n severe boom
erang to tho japanese. is that In business tho
Jap IL Eighty, irresponsible, and rarely sincere.
REORGANIZATION and insinccrity are ruling char
acteristics. and commercial integrity. ns prac-
tised In the Western world, is here painfully