The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-09
PEOPLE OF JAPAN
Origin and characteristics Told
Of by DR.. Iyenaga.
Second Lecture in tho University
Extension Course.
HONORABLE HARI-KIRI
Most EstimabIe Method Of Self
Destruction Described.
American Boy Advised Not to
Take Up Jiu Jiutsu.
HONORABLE HARI-KIR


Most Interesting. indeed, was the sec
ond of the university extension course
lectures on Japan, which was delivered
last night in the assembly hall at the
nigh school by DR.. Toyokichi Iyenaga.
his subject for this lecture was The
t'eudaI Regime and Society Of Japan"
ana he gave more. Information on this
subject in his hour and half talk than
could be Cleaned from all the books that
have ever been written on Japan anu
her people And he told the story Of the
origin Of the race, its development. the
characteristics of the many classes OF
people which make it UP, their manners
ana customs, in most instructive fash
Ion. His lecture was illustrated with
great number Of magnificent stereopti-
feon slides, which added greatly to its
interest.
According to the historians of our
people," said DR.. Iyenaga, the origin
OF the race is lost in the mist of fables.
Historians recount our race from the
eighth century Of the Christian era and
beyond that they recourse to the super
natural and derive It's origin straight
from heaven.
''As to the real origin of the race,
science tells us that it came from three
sources: from the lands of Siberia on
the north, and they were the original
settlers. and the immigrants from the
south and center Of Asia. Claims are
made by the representatives of the
older races that we are descended from
them. A prominent Israelite recently
set up the theory that we were descend
ed from his race and gave as a reason
our tenacity Of purpose Such com
plinnent would never have been forth
coming had we been defeated by the
Russians. As a matter of fact the Jap
anese are a mixed race, a mixture OF
Mongolian with a tfncture Of Caucas-
sian. The aJpanese are as different
from the Chinese and the Koreans as
are the Anglo-Saxons or AnglO-Ameri-
cans from the Spaniards and the Rus
SLAMS"
In describing the population of the
various parts Of Japan he said that over
two million Chinese were inhabitants of
Formosa, so you see" he added that
we have the Chinese problem to deal
with the same as you have in the Phil
ippines."
DR.. Iyenaga then described in detail
the feudal society of Japan and said
that the mikado was its spiritual ruler
and the Shotgun, its ruler de factO, or In
reality its military ruler. Next to the
shotgun in rank came the daimiOs or
feudal lords, and next the samurai, the
feudal retainers and fighters Tisiers of
the soil, the farmers, occupy the rank
in .5ociety below the samurai. Next
come the artisans, the workers at crafts
OF ali SoIL8 ana the lowest class OI So
ciety are those who follow commercial
pursuits such as merchants and bank
ers and the like 1.-The mere making Of
money for moneys sake, is looked down
upon in Japan" said DR.. Iyenaga. And
those men who trade for profit on the
products Of the soil and the efforts of
labor occupy the lowest class in Jap
anese society. The rich rice dealer, or
banker, in most cases, is the social in
feriOr Of the boatmen or carpenters who
work for them"
The minister Of religion, the shinto
and buddhist priests occupy classes in
society all by themselves.
In telling Of the customs of the people
DR.. Iyenaga talked Increasingly Of the
military tactics and weapons Of warfare
used by Samurai in-days gone by. Stere-
opticon views showed pictures of the
old time warriors and a couple Of slides
were shown depicting the modem SOL
der Of Japan. the soldier who strangled
the Russian bear, and the transforma-
ton from one mode of warfare with
obsolete weapons to the modern way
in Japan, Iyenaga said, had occurred
within the span Of life of a person of
middle age.
He described that most estimable
honora bic method of suicide prevalent
with the japanese, which is known as
EdaTa-Kiri, or Seppuku. It was prac-
ticed by all classes he said in their
endeavors to avoid the dishonor Of de-
feat or the dishonOr Of anything. The
eelf-accused victim plunged ShOTl
sword to its hflt into the left side of his
abdomen, drew 1t across his body to the
extreme right side and pulled it out
with an upward slant and then placed
the sword at the back of the head and
brought it forward with the purpose OF