The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-14

Curiosity must often be felt among
those unfamiliar with japanese words
and customs about the names given to
the ships of war and of commerce sail
ing under the flag of Japan, nor would
such curiosity be trivial or unintelligent.
There is a great deal in titles and ap-
pellations, and by no means least of all
as regards ships. The directors of naval
policy in every maritime country ought
to be more careful than they sometimes
show themselves TO be in the christening
of their squadrons. The commercial
community takes care of itself in this
respect, and merchant vessels are for
the most part usefulIy and significantly
baptized But it is a foolish loss of
fine opportunity to bestow upon YES
sci of war a cognomen like too many
which might be mentioned in more than
one navy, absurdly lengthy, or stupidity
unsuitable, or entirely out of harmony
with the destiny of a battleship.
Countries like Germany and Japan,
not possessing naval traditions, have
IdQ d Cl6dH 10y DOOh " W1llC Oll, dlld
their choice of names for warships be-
comes for this reason interesting. japan
especially, which does nothing without
aiming at correctness and utility, was
sure, one would say beforehand, to have
cfristened her fighting squadrons with
sagacious recognition of how much may
lie in a name; nor will this general
opinion be gainsaid if we run over the
list of the line of battleships and cruisers
sailing under the standard of the mikado,
and notice how and why their various
appellations have been chosen.
First of all, it should be borne in
mind that ship of war and ship of
commerce have their own special words
in the japanese tongue. The latter
class, from the big ocean liner of the
Nippon Yusen Kaisha to the little ader
or rooted in junk going round the IS
lands, bears the appellation of MART.
This word, which is also used for
sword, and for the white and red flag
of the empire, properly meaning elf
Gle" is always tackled on to passenger or
trading craft, and so distinguishes them.
The word for a man-of-war, from the
superb Mikasa or Full, is "Gun-Kan.
But the japanese drop the epithet, not
saying or writing Mikasa-Gun-kan,
but only "Mikasa" What does this sig
Nifty? Simply, it is the name of a lofty
and famous mountain near Nara, in the
japanese province of Yamato, and
means "the ridge of three hats" its
summit wearing the shape of the UNI
brella like headpiece which pilgrims car
ry This mountain has been much cele-
brated in native poetry. in verses which
/ need not quote, and notably by re-
nowned singer, Abeno Nakamaro. Take
next the battleship Hatsuse. This,
again, is taken from a locality much
praised by poets, near Nara, and quite
a household word among the people.
Next comes to mind the Asahi. That
signifies ''the morning sun" which
lurninary is at once an object universal
" praised and reverenced in Japan, as
well as being the symbol and national
badge OF the empire. 1t IS "Asahi'
which figures IN blazing scarlet of dawn
on the standard of Dai Nippon. Shi-
kishima is yet another synonym for the
land of the rising sun, frequently en-
ployed IN its poetry l need not give
much explanation of the title bestowed
on the sister battleship, Full. Every
body knows how central and integral
factor in Japanese art and life is that
beautiful and stately mountain rising SO
proudly from the Pacific waves which
battle its feet. and how that lovely and
wonderful peak scars into the southern
clouds, eternally crowned with a gilt
tering diadem of snow. Yashima, next
IN my memory, and enrolled on the
catalogue of the chief naval line, recalls
the story, not OF a mountain, but of
famous battlefield on the coast Of Sa-
nuko, where the great combat befeIl be-
tween Heishi and Henji, to recite which
would go beyond my permitted space.
In the name of Hiyei, first class
cruiser, we come back to celebrated
hills, while another fine cruiser of the