Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-02-19
Some Facts About Japan.

W lhC SEAS VI japan huu OhOuOlsk.
Il commences with the kurile islands,
and desCends in a southwestern direc.
ton to the Loochoo group, to which
the Japanese reasserted their claim in
1919. The southern portion of the
island OF Saghalien WAS ceded to Rus
STA, in exchange for the kuriles. The
government is an empire, and known
in Japan as Nippon, meaning Suns
origin. or land over which the Sun first
rises, thus denoting the position it &C.
cupies in the extreme East. The
principal islands number ten that are
quite large in area, and half dozen
groups, numbering in all about 1000
isles and islets, many of which are,
however, barren rocks, or sterile waste,
uncultivated and uninhabited. The
area embraces about 14S,000 square
miles. Much OF the country is billy
and volcanic, and at times earthquakes
prevail. The rivers are numerous, but
short. There are many lakes; one,
Biws, being 80 miles long and 20 wide.
The country abounds in minerals.
The population, in 1887, numbered
100000. The principal cities in
Japan are Toxic, accredited with about
100000 inhabitants, Ozaka about half
that number, and Rioto about $40, 900.
The last named was the ancient CAPT.
tai, and had been in existence Gen.
turtles before Toxic, and considerable
time before Ozaka was founded. The
Emperor's court now resides at Toxic,
and it is there that foreign legations
are stationed. Yokohama, about
eighteen miles to the south of the
capital, on the western shore of the
Bay OF Yedo, enjoys by far the greater
proportion of the whole foreign trade
of japan. The chief exports are tea
and silk. the former going principally
to the United States and England and
the latter to France.
Although possessing considerable
mineral wealth, Japan is not rich
country, and is said to have a his
tory extending back $500 years, with
rulers whose unbroken line extends
$50 B. C. The Mikado is An absolute
sovereign. The religions are Buddhism
and Shinto, although the latter is
noted more for an absence of the ca.
sential element of all religion, if it
means to bind fast to some definite
creed or tenet. Shinto means, liter.
ally, way OF the GODS" it contains no
moral code. even asserting that there
is no need of q system of morals, as
the whole duty of a good Japanese
consists in obeying implicitly the
commands of the Mikado, who is q
direct descendent and actual represen.
tative Of the Sun. It also embraces
system OF hero-worship, in which re.
nowned warriors are exalted into the
places of demi.gods. Buddhism and
the Confucian philosophy are of more
modern origin.
Since the admission of foreigners
into japan, various Christian missions
have been established. principally in
Toxic and Yokohama, and quite .
number of missionaries reside through
out the country. In the older history
Of Japan. Christianity WAS prohibited
by government edict.
The present Mikado, Mutsuhito, is .
wise and enlightened ruler, born in
1852, who ascended to the throne in
1867. Within the past few years,
Japan has made unparalleled progress
in civilization, adoption of Western
manners and systems. The feudal
form has been abolished, retaining,
however, distinctions of caste CORE.
spending 10 the European titles of
duke, marquis, count and the like.
The standing army of Japan, ON q
peace footing, is 10000 men, which
may be increased in time Of war to
100000. Tho navy consists of 10 FIRST.
class battleships, l second.class battle.
ship, l third-class battlesbip, 3 coast
defense ships, 8 armored cruisers, 16
cruisers first.class. IA cruisers other
classes, Is gunboats, IS torpedo-boat
destroyers, 46 torpedo boats first.class,
Al torpedo boats other classes, 4 trans
ports and auxiliaries, 4 dispatch boats.
The war vessels carry 562 heavy guns
and ], l68 secondary and machine guns.
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EATINa.TRUsT AT THE STATE FAIR
A change in the policy of the Inter-