The Washington herald., 1908-01-19
JOURNALS OF JAPAN
Newspapers Now Have the
Occidental Crispness.
FAVOR YELLOW JOURNALISM
PabEic's Love for Sensation Ha.
Brought AbOut q Complete Revolu-
and ExtFns Have Become Common
First Daily Founded in 1870.

Before 1870 there was not "a single daily
newspaper ia the japanese empire. says
"A writer in the New York Evening Post;
but in modern Japan daily newspapers
are almost as universal rs they are in
Europe and America. it Is also OBJ
served that they are just as various in
ability. character and aim" The most
popular journal of the country circulates
quarter Of "A million daily
japanese journalists and reporters
eagerly sieze upon every event or Incl
dent that lends itself to sensational de-
velopment, and, with a few important
exceptions, exploit It 10 the extreme.
Nothing amazes the foreign Journalist
more than the triviality OF incident thar
is deemed sufficient 20 flood the streets
Of a japanese city with extras, and the
din and Glamour Of the noisy vendors
calling out the headings Of the latest
sensation for the moment oyerwhelm all
other business.
Even midnight or the very early hours
Of the morning, or whenever the paper
receives the news. becomes an apprOpTi-
for fresh or first accounts Of some ques-
ti0n in which the public may be expected
to take an interest. The japanese news
boy is usually "a man. often OF gray
hairs, but always with d shriu or stem
torian voice of sufficient power 10 awaken
the sOundest sleeper al the most sleepy
hour and it is curious 10 note, as he
races along the street rain or shine, how
many windows viii slide open and heads
pop cut ia eager expectancy after these
newspaper extras.
Craze for Extras.
During the war with Russia the craze
for news extras was at its greatest
height, and all hours OF The day OF night
the news venders could command q suf-
ncieHt number Of patrons 10 make their
frequent rounds a profitable enterprise.
Undoubtedly. the greatest newspaper
in Japan is the Jill Shimpo, This journal
was founded by the famous AIr. FulZJ-
zawa. who did more than any japanese
Of his time 10 interest his counuymen in
the wisdom of adopting Western CiviIZa-
ton. The Jill is still carried on by the
Fukuzawa family, and under the able
editorship Of its leading writer. Mr. x.
Ishikawa, it has attained reputation
IN Japan equal to that OF the Times, of
London in the British empire The edi-
tor Of the Jill wields a pen of power and
his utterances are accounted the sauest
and most representative Of japanese ex-
pressions of national opinion.
Though the Jill claims TO he an in
dependent organ. its editorial chair is Un-
deTstOOd 10 keep q sympathetic ear to-
ward all matters relating 10 govern
ment policy and opinion.
The Asahi Shimbun. under the edi-
toTship Of Mr.. X. Iksbe. is less Conserva-
tive than the Jill, and perhaps more
frankly outspoken in affairs Of inIerna-
tioual import though It must be ad-
mitted that of late its Utterances have
been marked by a cOmmendabIe m0dera-
tion. The Nichi NIchi lately purchased
by the ex-CabineJ minister. Mr. Takaaki
kat0, is, under the editOTship 0f Mr. s
Honda and certain government writer's,
attaining a place of prominence and pow
er in the journalistic world Of Japan.
During the discussion Of recent questions
in Japan and the United States. these
three papers, which represent the highest
standard that japanese journalism has
reached, always maintained a sober and
Comm0n-sense view of the situation. and
have perhaps done more than all other
influences to allay any excitement Of the
masses about exaggerated rum0rs from
America.
One Radical Organ.
The oSe radical organ that continues
10 survive despite its frequent digrss-
sions from the governments dignifed
policy Of reserve on important interna-
tional questions" is the Hochi Shimbun.
The Hochi IS the only japanese news
paper that has shown any decided dis
position 10 discuss JaPan-American Uues-
tions in an immoderate tone. AT times
its articles on the immigration question
and the general treatment OF japanese
subjects in the United States were so
intemperate as TO call for severe rebuke
from the authorities, as likely to lead 10
unpleasant complications if the masses
should begin to demand what the paper
suggested"