Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-11
SAMURAl TELLS
OF OLD JAPAN
HORIZON YokA YAMA, SCION OF
WARRIOR CLASS, DESCRIBES
FALL OF sHoeuNATE
Has Been Visiting In ottumwa--ls
Studying to Become Missionary
In His Veins Courses the Blood Of
Centuries of lndomltabIe Ancestors.

From Saturdays Daily.
Forty years ago, Japan awoke from
feudal state as strongly entrenched
as against any rights of the common
people as that which existed in Eu.
rope during the time of the Crusades, !"
said HORIZON Yoka Yama of Japan, a
young Japanese noble who Is studying
In this country.
Mr.. Yoka Yama is visiting in OF
tumwa at this time, intending to re-
turn today to Kansas City where he
is attending the Kansas city universi-
ty. He Is preparing to become a mis-
sionary to his own people. When in.
terviewed yesterday afternoon by a
representative of the Courier, he talk
ed in most interesting manner Of the
history Of Old Japan and it's awaken.
Ing into new Japan.
Five hundred years ago." said the
young man, there existed in Japan
besides the emperor, two great and
noble families. For hundreds of
years previous to this time these
families had lived and had alternately
held the chief power under the empe.
ror. Each in turn had become the
commander in chief of the Mikado's
armies.
Because Of their position the fami-
ly holding this honor would become
very powerful and then the emperor
would transfer his favor to the other
family.
One Family Becomes All Powerful
'In this way the emperor managed
his turbulent and powerful .shoguns
or commanders in chief. But the time
came when one family was extermin.
ated and there remained but the 9th.
er. In this family the office of sho-
gun became hereditary and, the at
that time incumbent moved his CAPT.
tai to Yedo. now Toxic, while the en-
peror remained in the sacred city of
Kioto
AS war lord and chief Of all the sa-
mural, or warrior class, who held all
OF the power Of Japan, the Shotgun be.
came the real ruler of the country, the
emperor being only figure head, hav.
Ing no temporal power but retaining
the respect and almost divinity, vest.
ed in his office because OF the tabled
divine origin of his family.
Shotgun Actual Ruler.
about 800 years ago the Shotgun
became entirely the temporal head IF
the nation, The Mikado was retired
from all active participation in the
government The Samurai, and their
leaders, the daimios, formed one-six.
teenth or more Of the population and
owing to the rights and privileges
given them by the Shotgun to retain
their good will. they had even the
power of life and death over the com
mon people.
rs it not strange" continued this
young Samurai, for such he is" that
the very people who first opposed the
opening of our country should be re-
sponsible for Its wonderful develop.
ment of recent years?
When Commander Perry came 10
our country, he was admitted by the
prime minister of the shotgun. Pre-.
vious to this time we had been living
in state of seclusion from the other
countries. When Commander Perry
was admitted, the emperor, the father
Of the present Mikado, sent a reproof
to the snogun for his action in this
matter. Many Of the lords and the
Samurai sided against the shotgun.
their leader and in favor of the mi.
| kado.
Emperor Secures Following.
At last the emperor found himself
at the head of sufficient power to cope
with the Shotgun. This opportunity
was not neglected The Shotgun find.
ing himself unable to meet the situa.
ton asked leave to resign and this
was granted him.
"And then, for the first time In five
centuries, the Mikado stood as the
real ruler of Japan. Though at the
head Of the reactionary party. his rule
became one Of progress and that of
his son, our present lord-well that Is
recent history. All the world today
knows of Japan.
In the drastic measures that fol.
lowed the origin Of the new regime.
all Of the old power and privileges of
the Samurai were taken away and
they were ordered to give I'D their
two swords, the insignia of their
class. long sword for the enemy, the
short one for themselves, when their
code of honor demanded that they
commit hari-kari.
Rebellion Of the Samurai.
"A great rebellion followed and the
Samurai that resisted were crushed
All. but the spirit OF the Samurai still
lives as many Russian who had to
meet and fight them on the field, in
the recent war, may testify"
HORIZON Yoka Yama is the son of a
samurai family. For 800 years past
his ancestors lived in the same vii.
lage and ruled the common herd as
they pleased. All Of the traditions
and priceless heirlooms given to his
class by record of centuries of in.
domitable courage and contemptu.
Gus disregard of their own lives, are
his.
An Epic Of Japan.
And yesterday as he told the great
story of Japan he looked, felt, and in
mind was the Samurai. The story to
1