The Washington herald., 1907-08-20
HITACHIYANACOMING
Jim Jefries of Japan Will
Visit America.
MASTER OF THE JIU-JITsU
Notifies the Secretary OF War,
Whom He Met when Taft Party
Visited TokyO-Is Anxious 10 Have
Americans Know that He Is on
His Way 60 This Country.

FIitachiyana the Great is coming 70
America In fact. at this very moment
he is upon the Pacific bound from the
land Of cherry blossoms to the land of
promise, the land which viii promise him
big audiences. To assert that you never
heard of Hitachiyana the Great is 10
confess that you were not a member'i
Of the Taft party which went 10 thesI
Orient two years ago and visited Japan
before returning home; it is also 10 admit
that you knew little or nothing Of jiu-d
Jitsu.
Hitachiyana the Great is the champion
jlu-jitsn artist of Japan. To the Japanese
wrestling ring he is what Jim Jefrries is
10 the American prize fight riEg. They
talk about him IN all the barber shops
Of Tokyo and Yokohama, and admireshim
in every circle of japanese life Hi1achi-
yana also has the genius Of a circus spress
agent; he knows the value Of pure Pread-
ing matter in American newspapers and
he has schemed carefully to herald his
coming and TO get his name befope the
American public. HitachIyana the Great
has written TO mis- good friend. Secretary
Of War Taft. the only American hos ever
saw against whom he declares her fears
TO test his prowess. telling him that he Is
coming and asking him TO let his friends
and acquaintances know Of the fact.
Hltachiyana evidently knows that the
Secretary OF War has many friends and
acquaintance.
Gives Exhibition for TaGjParty.
When the Taft party was IN Tokyo.
two years ago. the japanese minister OF
war arranged a jiu-jitsu exhibition as
a part Of the programme Of entertain
ment for Mr.. Taft and hisJ friends II
was really a grand government affair.
Hitachiyana. the champion jiu-jitsuist
Of all Japan, was Invited 70 be present
and give an exhibition. So were ali the
/ other prominent wrestlers Z OF the coun-
/ try II was spectacle which aroused
/ the admiration Of ali 11se Americans,
among whom were SecTezary Taft. Mrs
I Nicholas Longworth. then Miss Alice
! Roosevelt, Brig. Gen. Edwards. Repre-
| sentative Bourke Cochran, and all the other
! congressman and notables Of the party
L
/ one of the events Of the exhibition was
/ "a match between HltclhE1na, and the
/ former champion OF the empire. from
whom he had won the belt
4 Hitachiyana again succaNbed IN fore
/ ing his antagonist to the DlHt amid the
/ wild cheers Of the Japanese and the vOcif-
erous applause Of the Americans. When
I Hitachiyana had succeedaf in flooring
/ HIS man he leaped from the stage and
/ rushed 10 the box occupied by Secretary
/ Tart and received the Secretary's greet
! ing and congratulations Hatachiyana
is a larger man. physicallyd Mr. TAFT,
/ weighing nearly 30 pounds
Admires Secretary's sPhysique.
/ He declared that Secretary Taft look
| ed TO him to be perfeCzt specimen Of
physical manhood. and that he would
( hesitate TO enter the wrestling ring with
/ him. There was mutual admiration be-
tween the two men. and the great Jlu-
jitsu match was the talk OF the Taft
/ party for a long time. NV the Japa-
nese champion is coming 20 America,
and he has written 70 the Secretary. an
nounclng his coming This Is what he
wrote
Tokyo Jandn. June IS. 1907.
Hon. " II. Taft, Department ofTWar, Washington,
/ ID. G.. L. ). A.
Honorable Sir: ] shall e7Cr remember the honor
you have conferred upon me Ia permitting % be
presented TO you while on your yisit 10 Japan last
year.
Il has been ny intention % yislr yGur great coun-
tTy. which cherished for the plst several years.
but have been far prevented y realize ny de-
sire / nos have, however. been crshlFd 10 find an
opportunity 20 take a short trip 20 America am
planning 10 leave japan for the triu- on August s.
[ While in the United States On not intend u
siFe regular exhibitions of the JGlnnese method o.
/ wrestling. although I might have occasions 70 give
[ match or two with a few Of my disciples whom
[ intend % take along with me.
l ven much regret 10 hear that you are leaving
America for the Philippines and vSn be absent al
tie time J shall be IN your county, ( should how.
ever. appreciate your kindness Tey much il YOU
would announce my visit 10 your friends and &C
quaintanccs before you leave the United States.
especially regret 70 miss you when I shall be IN
your country. because It has been nay earnest Wish
70 receive renewed honor in again presenting myself
personally @ you.
With my best remembrsnces and wishes for your
health and success in every way I remain. ven
faithfully years HITACHIYANA.