Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-15
STATURE OF THE JAPANESE.
Reason for Short Legs-Eforts to
Increase Height Of People.

From the New Orleans Times Democrat.
One Of the most extraordinary and in
teresting experiments ever attempted by
a government is now under way in Japan
1t Is the determination to make the Jap
anese race taller. heavier and larger: and
all the energy of the nation, all the many
departments of the public service will be
fcalled on to assist in this colossal under
taking.
The Japanese are. as is well known. a
small race. not only below the average of
mankind. but below that of all neighbor-
ing peoples. No satisfying reason has
been given for this popularity. although
the Japanese have an explanation of their
shOrtness. The various races whose blood
flows In that of the people Of Japan were
all OF good size. The original Inhabitants
Of the islands were Of fair height while
the Koreans, who came in afterward, but
In prehistoric times. and mixed with the
natives, were then and are today excep
| tionally large. Both Korea and China,
which have from time to time helped to
populate the country. breed people fully
up to or above the average. There Is
nothing in the climate to account for the
small size of the Japanese. as is shown
boring Philippines. 1t is possible that
famines or climatic conditions in ages
long past may have stunted the growth
Of the people: but 1T seems strange that
on Japan's neighbors.
Although small. there is no evidence
of degeneracy or weakness on the part
of the Japanese. They are well formed,
larger people, are able to endure ia
t1gue. and In the late war with Russia
showed themselves the equal OF any
known race in the physical feats they
performed, In their marches. their en-
durance. etc. Indeed, some persons
found their small size advantageous to
them making them more wiry and
better able to move faster.
1t would seem. therefore, that the OBJ
lection to the height of the Japanese
is not because of any physical un1tness
it carries, but more because of the
looks. The Japanese evidently dislike
the name of pigmies. dislike the jokes
made over their size. 1t may be that
they find their authority in korea in
terfered with or threatened by this
fact. The Koreans are tall and large,
and this fact may prove natural temp
tation to them to resist the tyranny of
their little masters.
1t remains to be seen whether this
attempt at hurrying evolution will ac-
cOmplish the result sought for. The
psychologists differ in opinion on this
point; but the Japanese. who have the
greatest faith and courage. are work
ing earnestly on the problem and de-
clare that they have every reason to
feel encouraged.
The underSlZe or the natives IS at
tributed by them to the fact that the
Japanese squat on the floor. have no
| chairs and are seldom standing. The
custom Of squatting. sitting bowlegged
on the ground. pursued through count
less generations. has had. the Japanese
Psychologists declare. the effect of re-
ducing the length of their legs Two
strong arguments are presented in sup
| port Of this theory: first the fact that
the Japanese are small only from waist
down handy legged as 1t we're No one
| would think them small to see them
seated; it is only when they rise that
one perceives that they are understood,
because of short legs: secondly, the
peasants and other workers who stand
q great deal of the time and squat less
are much taller than those of CONNER
cial rank, who spend most of their
0ours seated on the floor.