The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-06-14
JAPANESE JOURNALISM.
The Difficulty of Setting Type When
1000 Letters Are Used.
St. Louis Republic.

ese newspapers are in St. Louis.
One of them, Mr.. Hoshi. editor OF
a New York Japanese publication, is
busy at a little space in the liberal
arts building, where he proposes soon
10 establish Japanese worlds tair
Journal which will deal chiefly with
matters concerning Japanese exhibits.
He has 10000 characters OF type
on the way here. and the preparations
at his space arc guarantee OF the
earnestnesS OF his intention. Side by
side with the Japanese articles will
be an English translation. Doubt
less. this sample OF Japanese journa-
lism will be an interesting study Tor
visitor to the fair.
Though the press parllnent has
adjourned. i is apropos to remember
that Japan for the first time was rep
resented at a gathering OF the KIND.
Mr.. Harada read paper on Saturday
morning which was a summary OF
Japan's progress in the publication
of newspapers. The facts then pre-
sented are startling when seriously
considered, as indeed any resume OF
Japanese development during the last
50 years is startling
When it is realized that ~ daily
newspapers are now supported by the
population of Toxic, it appears that
the proportion OF readers in the p
100000 population is very large. The
circulations average between $4,000
and 100000. the latter being that OF
the largest and most successful
papers.
The city OF Chicago has about e.
100000 souls and supports FIVE morn
ing and Ave afternoon papers. OF
course, there are in addition trade
journals, and the circulation of sew
eral Chicago dailies run above Ioo.-
600 vet. in round numbers, the tg-
ures show about the same newspaper
reading population in Toxic as in
Chicago.
Mr.. K. Miyamatz is among the
foremost representatives OF Japanese
Journalism now in St. Louis. The
chief obstacle to newspaper puollca-
tion in Japan. he says, is a technical
one-the great numbers of characters
which are used in the written lam
guage.
"It is quite the same" he remark
: ed. "as if there were 1000 letters in
the English. and all OF these characters
were necessary in your typesettlng.
Accordingly your electrical typeSet-
ting machines are impossible with
MS as yet"
To obviate the difficulty. the pro-
eressive element of Japan is attempt
ng to bring about revolution ut IS
tremendous undertaking. by abol-
.shine the Chinese characters. The
purpose is either to accomplish writ
ten expression through the Japanese
svIfbry or a6 letters. or to make the
change and adopt the Roman alpha
bet of 26 letters.
81 have great hopes that this Will
he done" said Mr.. Miyamatz. I'm
fact am sure it will be done eventu-
s,rv A movement TO do. away with
the Chinese usage was first begun 20
wears ago. 1t seemed beyond teaSl-
biIity at the tins. but | am conhdent
that the next few years will witness
success. English is now taught IN all
Of the schools. and the advantages
of a more convenient alphabet are be-
ING impressed yearly upon larger
and larger element of the popula-
ron The time must come when the
majority of our people will be ready
for simpler and more direct system
Of writing"
To those who have watched the
hand-typesetser in America pick his
letters from the numerous sections
Of the case the task has appeared eN-
tremely complicated. To set type we'll
in English requires skill which is
not easily acquired. But the Japan
49, ono race han