Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1899-06-16
BUSINESS In JAPAN.
rHE NEW TREATIES OPENING
THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
Courtesy OF Shopkeepers-N Meth
DDS Not Expeditions Enough for Euro
peans or Americans-The Native Stock
Exchange Queer Place.


to trade with foreigners they will
bring about sweeping and radical
changes in the life of the people who
have been called ''the Yankees of the
east" says the New York Tribune
Except in the six ports now permitted
to trade with foreign nations-Y oko-
hama, Kobe, Tor Hiogo), Osaka, Ma
gasaki, Hakodate and Niigata-and in
thirteen other less important ones,
where foreign commerce is allowed
under severe restrictions, the empire OF
Japan is at present closed to outsiders
so far as traffic with them is con-
cerned. Practically the whole of the
interior is debarred from business in
tercourse with people of other nations,
and the result Of this is, of course. a
total unfamiliarity on the part of the
majority of Japanese with the trade
customs of the rest OF the world.
Tow that the VII lie country is to be
thrown open, however, there is sud-
den curiosity and eagerness on the
part Of its inhabitants to know how
these strangers propose to carry on
their commercial relations, and while
it will be necessary, naturally. for for
eigners to conform in some measure
to Japanese ways, it is more necessary
still that the japanese be instructed
in the more practical and less cere-
ners of Europeans and Americans.
For this purpose treaty operation COM
mittees are being formed in all parts
of the empire to explain to the Japa-
nese merchants and the people gener-
ally the most important points of diff
ference between their own and foreign
ideas. For the guidance of the for
eigners translations of the more COM
mon Japanese laws are also being pre-
pared. Many tourist in former years
would have been grateful for this
piece of work if it had been performed
sooner, for it would have kept him
from various unintentional offenses
against Japanese ideas of correct be-
havior
Above all things, the subjects of the
mikado are a polite people, polite with
a patience and persistence which know
no limit, and the best efforts of for
eigner to equal them cannot fail to
seem almost like rudeness in COMPARE
son. No European-and certainly no
bow, for example, as
does the Japanese gentleman who
meets business friend in the street.
His inclination is a veritable eastern
5alaam, and it is to be feared that he
will stare with gentle reproach at the
jerky little nod which his hurrying
foreign acquaintance is likely to give
him in return. His ceremonious in
luiries regarding the honorable
health of the exalted friend and his
llustrious family" are often destined,
t is to be feared, to be disposed of all
.oo briefly for Japanese notions of
,uch things. The idea of haste and of
,ial ceremonies, will come as bar
,arism to the native mind. but it is
pound to be manifested wherever the
foreigners obtain a considerable foot
lold in trade. Many of the Japanese
titles, too, will probably see striking
oreign traders have become well es-
ablished in them At present most of
he towns of the empire are still like
of flimsy little buildings,
scarcely better than wooden sheds
picturesque, it is true, but frail. The
to oil ND oh
n one place, but even here there is
lardly anything to distinguish it from
he rest of the city. There are no big |
warehouses, no busy factories with |
heir whirling machinery, no heavy
raffic in the streets, no hustle. no |
loise. Even in Tokyo this state OF
fairs is to be found. There are some
orse cars, which charge the modest
UNI Of 1 sen (half a cent? ride, and |
here is one electric street railway.
'ther electric lines are either in proc
IS of building or in contemplation,
ut there is much opposition to them
mong the Japanese.
"Our cities are very pretty" said a
rell-educated. Americanized Japanese
, this city the other day. and the
eople in them think the cars a dis
gurement. l can't help sympathizing
18th that feeling to some extent. OF
purse. the electric cars would be a
reat convenience in many ways, but
ley do seem out Of harmony with the
lpanese surroundings, and, really, the
nrikisha, which everybody uses-for-
gners as much as any one else-is
Ut at all a bad vehicle. 1t is COM
,rtable, and the coolies who carry 1t
- n,,iclr runners . -hA ifnrfkfshaa |