The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-11

Nippon Boseki Kaishs at Osaka. This
company has about 10000 sDindles and
the mills employ nothing but native Ia
Dor. Foreign artisans were used in the
beginning, but are no longer needed. a
great many women are employed and
some children: for the latter a school
is maintained for two hours day in
the building. Cotton yarn is now sell
ing for about 40 cents a pound and is
becoming one of the leading articles
of export. China is the largest pur-
chaser. Some idea of the growth Of
this branch of industry can be gathered
from the fact that the export of cotton
yarn amounted to less than $4,000 in
1891 and 1892; in 1896 it had grown to
over 81, 600, 900; in 1898 to over $10,000,0O0,
and during the last two years it has
averaged about $15000,000
At Osaka I also visited a brush in
dustry and found that from bones i'm
ported from the slaughter houses of
America and from bristles purchased
in Russia and in China they made
tooth, nail and hair brushes for export
to both Europe and America. Here
too, they have dispensed with the for
eign labor which they employed in the
beginning.
Earthenware is manufactured in
abundance, and Of every variety. The
exports of porcelain and earthenware
reached almost 100000 last year. In
KyOtO we visited a pottery and found
two rooms in which the finished prod
uct was displayed. The first contained
beautiful specimens of Japanese skill,
graceful in shape and dainty in decOra-
ton; the second was filed with big
pieces in loud colors and of inferior
workmanship. These last articles, we
were informed, were made especially
for the American trade.
Some beautiful porcelain work is done
in KyotO, the decoration representing a
high degree of artistic skill.
One of the most famous kinds of
china produced by Japan is known as
Satsuma ware, the glazing Of which is
of a peculiar tint and has a, cracked
appearance. The secret of the manu-
facture of this ware was brought from
Korea by the caDtives taken in war
some 300 years ago, and the industry
still flourishes in Japan, although it
has persisted in Korea. KOgOShima is
the center for Satsuma ware and a col
Ony Of Koreans living near there, as
well as japanese manufacturers. pro-
duce excellent specimens
Lacquer work has been done in Japan
from time immemOrial, samples of
which, centuries old, can be seen in
temples, palaces and museums. When
gold and silver are used in connection
with the lacquer, the product is often
very valuable.
The bronzes produced in the little
shops scattered over Japan give play to
the artistic taste which one finds here.
Osaka and KyOtO are noted for their
brOnzes. Sometimes various metals are
inIaid in the form of flowers, birds, ami
mails and landscapes, producing a most
pleasing effect. Then there are damaS-
cine factories and places for embroid
cry and for pictures made in cut vel
vet, etc
No one can pass through Japan with
out being impressed with the taste
which seems to be national, and with
the delicate skill which has been hand
ed down from generation TO generation.
And nothing, in my judgment, more
clearly exhibits this union of taste and
skill than the cloiSonne work. Upon a
metallic base, as a vase, plaque or box.
an artist draws a design: this design
is then outlined with fine wires of gold
and silver, then enamels of various col
ors are filled in. When the enamelS are
hardened and the whole polished, the
product is a thing of marvellous beauty.
I have not space to speak of some of
the minor industries, such as paper
making, matches lin which japan mo-
nopolizes the trade of the east), fans.
umbrellas lanterns, napkins, etc. The
Japanese lantern which we use for or
namentation is here a practical thing.
in daily, or rather nightly, use. These
lanterns hang in front Of the houses
and are carried on the streets. They
are also used for illumination on fns~
tive occasions. At the time of the ma
val review and on the reception to Adj
miral Togo, Yokohama and Toxic were
illumined by these lanterns as 1 never
saw an American city lighted.
When Japan was opened to the COM
merce of the world. there were few
business houses or trading establish
ments of any size. Now there are sew
eral department stores and large whole
sale houses, besides manufactures and
trading companies of Importance. One
business man in Toxic, Mr.. K. Okura.
has private collection of curios valued
at 81, 900, coo, which he offered to sell in
Europe or America, the proceeds to be
given to the government for carrying
on the war against Russia. Osaka has
a successful business man who has
earned the name of the Japanese Car
negie' by giving fine library to that
city.