The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-31
NEWSPAPER OF JAPAN.
Some Difficulties of Setting Type With
 28,ooo Characters.

Yasuiiro Ishikawa (Editor of the Hochi
 Shlmbun), in the London Express.
 In the matter of circulation the news papers of Japan cannot compare with those of London. There are, however, quite a number of daily journals pub lished in Tolklo and Osaka which boast of daily issues running well into six fig ures. The journal with the best circula tion in Japan Is the Osaka Mainichi. which sells to the extent of 220,O00 copies day. The Asahi. published in the same town, has nearly as large a circulation.
 In Toko the newspapers most widely read Is the Hochi Shimbun CThe Bulletin News), which sells 100000 copies daily. The Hochi Is the great opposition journal, the organ of Count Okuma, ex-premicr, and the most influential Journal of the elddf statesmen. Then there is the Jiji Shhpo the Nichi Nichi, the Kohumin and the Asahi of Tokio, all with circula- tions of between 5000 and 1SOO00. The Kokumin Is the government organ. and it will be remembered when peace was signed the angry inhabitants of Tokio, en- ragged at it's attitude and acquiesence with the peace treaty attacked the offices and nearly caused serious outbreak.
 When l say that the Hochi is the op position organ. it must not be understood that my paper showed any opposition to the government during the war with Rus sia In point of fact, from the time when our relations with Russia were broken off the newspapers in Japan, without any exception, supported the government and the nation.
 The Jij Shimpo Is owned and edited by the son-in-law of Viscount Hayashie, the Japanese minister in London. while the Nichi Nchi Is now the property of Mir. Kato formerly minister to London. and its editor Is Christian, MT. Yokoi, who is a member of the Japanese parliament.
 The daily newspapers of Japan are much cheaper than those of London. even in these days of the ascendency of the half-penny press Most subscribers pay for their faVorite newspaper monthly, and their subscriptions work out in some cases at fraction under a farthlng a day, and In none at more than a half penny day. This, notwithstanding that advertisement rates in our papers are considerably lower than they are here. For small advertisements the highest rate l have heard of is one shilling per line; while for large advertisements I have never heard of more than $l25 page be- ing paid for one insertion.
 On occasions when we receive news of very great importance, it is customary to issue special editions. but these are not Gas they are here). complete copies of the paper. They are, on the contrary, merely leaflets. containing nothing but the particular item of important news. These are sold on the streets by newsboys at prices varying from one to one and one-half cents.
 The recent introduction of the serials story into English papers has been a fea- ture of the Japanese press for thirty years past. It will doubtless amuse English people to know that the serials system is. in our press. frequently applied to the publication of leading articles and inn portant political subjects. For instance. we may publish column of states mans speech today. mark 1t, "fo be continued" give it another column tomor- row, and keep this up until 1t is finished a week later. Similarly with leading ar tices the same practice Is frequently adopted
 The production of a newspaper1 compli- cated though it Is In England. Is much more so in Japan. We cannot use the linotype machines for setting up" ar tcles This must be done by hand, and when I tell you that in the Japanese language there are some 50,00O different characters of which 2s.O00 are in common daily use, you will understand that the compostor must be a man of no small skill and ability.
 The typeroom of a Japanese newspaper is a large compartment, with shelves all around the four walls, and in setting" copy the compositor has to run round and round the room picking out from the thousands of little receptacles the type he requires. It is at one and the same time both mental and physical exercise of a pretty strenous description.
 As an instance of the manner in which a Japanese newspaper Is conducted may state that the staff of the Hochi consists of sixty-three editors, sub-editors and re- porters. The staff Is divided into some seven or eight departments, vs., army. navy political. financial, economical city, artistic and translating. Work begins much earlier than 1t does on the London papers We cannot, as you do in England, print news within few minutes of it's arrival in the office. From the time of an item of news being written to its appear ance in print we require one to two hours, while you can do it in few minutes.