Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-04-26
JAPANESE CHILDREN.
Games and Pleasures Connected With
Their Youthful Days.

We are accustomed to see in our
homes and in the stores, fans, bamboo
ornaments, dolls and various articles
which we know have been made in
a far-off country called Japan. This
4and seems so far away, so entirely
separated from our lives, that we sell
dom take an interest in the inhabi-
tants.
Sometimes our curiosity is aroused
by the fantastic pictures on the fans.
Their houses seem to us very tame and
listless affairs. They are not over
burdened with furniture, so the little
brown babies can roll and toss to
their hearts content without fear of
breaking the bric-a-brac.
The little girl who possesses a Jap
anese doll has a good idea of the APP
pearance of Japanese boy or girl.
The little American, however, general
ly designates the little foreign Gadv as
an old thing" and gives it scant at
tention. \ little daughter of Japan
would prize it very highly and would
strap it on her back and carry it
around for a long time Dolls. in
Japan are looked upon with great
respect. Each member of a family re,
ceives at some stated period in youth
set of dolls. These are never de-
stroyed, but are looked upon as fam
lily possessions, and upCn a certain day
they have a festival in honor OF them,
and this is called the Feast of DCGls
Each family upon this day exhibits
with pride the collection of dolls amid
much feasting and merriment. All
Of this would thoroughly delight many
little American mothers.
Japanese dwellings are very pictur-
esque when seen with native surround
ings. We, who know nothing of the
idle, sygoing life, the clatter. the
tea and the tinkling ornaments and
pretty lanterns, cannot fully appreci-
ate them. The little brown babies. we
are told, roll over the floor and seem
to thoroughly enjoy themselves. We
know that their hair is cut in very
look very comical to American eyes.
In some places their hair is entirely
shaved from the head. but here and
there are tufts of hair which vary in
shape and number according to the
age of the child
When he goes out he has wooden
shoes, which make him appear two or
three inches taller, and these are
neither laced nor buttoned. They are
fastened to the foot by a thong. made
of grass and covered with stout paper,
which passes between the large toe and
the one next TO it. This would be de-
cidedly uncomfortable for an Ameri-
can child, but the little natives OF
Japan feel no discomfort, because the
skin between the large toe and the one
next to it has become hardened and
calloused on account of this habit.
They play many games which are
familiar to us. Spinning the top IS 9
great diversion with them, and. al.
though the top is not the same shape
as ours, it spins very we'll. They also
play blind mans buff and puss il
corner and a variety of here we 81
round the mulberry bush, all of which
them seem to enjoy hugely. Of course
they have a few games which are es
sential Japanese, and these are some
times very complex.
Wrestling is a national sport il
Japan; in fact, the country is famou
for its wrestlers, and the boys deligh
in initiating the champions. The
growl like wild beasts and seem t.
take more interest in this part of tn
sport than in being able to throw tn
opponent. Adults, as we'll as children
indulge in what seem to US yer,
childish amusements. but we must no
view this from our American stand
point, for they think that their civil
izaticu is vastly superior to ours an
look with contempt and derision upo
our many sports.
A little Japanese girl is taught to b
gentle, modest and obedient TO he