New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
A JAPANESE INVASION.
Meaning of Little Army of Japan
csc Students at Our CmCersities.

An English university professor who was re-
Gently delivering series CT lectures at a great
American university remarked the presence o.
several attentive Japanese students
'T have lectured attended lectures az uuiver-
sites In five or six European countries during the
last few years." he said. "and always there were
or two Japanese faces in the audience. The
Japanese the constant element in the edUca-
tional fux. Wherever there IS anything to be
learned you will find your Japanese student sit
ting with serious face. steadily absorbing. And
from all four OF the globe the Japanese
taking back TO the home country to-day the latest
knowledge in all branches-the best thought in the
world
This general outpourtns Of Japanese students has
been quietly going under subsidies from the
Mikados government for the last forty years, and
it has been particularly directed OF late toward
the United States. where. according TO the best
statistics obtainable. there at least three
hundred Japanese studying at various universities
and colleges. These students form about IL per
cent Of the japanese population OF the United
States percentage of students unequaIled in any
other foreign element in our population OF our
general population only one-quarter OF per cent.
about two hundred thousand. students in
universities colleges or professional schools
The Japanese students in America significant
of Jaoans world wide hunt for efficiency. The
Japanese government spends upward of s50.G0o
year in sending it's best students TO America and
Europe to learn the latest educational methods and
garner the advanced results of the scientific
dred and fifty of these subsidized students study
ing in various countries to-day. and each year
they carry back 10 their native land not only great
stores of scientific knowledge but also the latest
information about manufacturing processes Of all
kinds. Each student has a maximum allowance
from the government of $500 year and in special
cases this may De increased by much $50
for touring special study In all cases
allowance of 500 is made for outfit, which probably
accounts for the fact that every japanese student
a frO0S a silk In addition
$3.50 is allowed for travelling expenses each way
students who go to study in the Western states
and 500 to those who 10 our Eastern Univer-
sites
This little company of seekers for efficiency is
supplemented by larger army OF Japanese who
go to foreign universities at their own expense
either with the idea OF returning Japan with the
advantages that foreign education gives
or OF training themselves for special occupations
in the country in which they study. These men
and women form the greater part OF the Japanese
students in America. Some of thera are
scions of wealthy Japanese families who will go
back TO Japan TO conduct great commercial enter
prises. An example OF these is Enkf Ri. Of
OF the weaIthiest three families in Japan His
grandfather the Rockefeller of the FOruosar
oil trade. Mr.. Ri is studying foreign trade. bust
ness organization. accounting, commercial law and
economics at New York University.
a large proportion Of the students, however, is
drawn from the poorer classes, and frequently they
toll At some form Of manual labor during the day
in order to take courses at some university at
night. A number of New York families have
found that the Japanese servant was studying
economics and finance at the university in the even
ing.
These ambitious young Japanese. although they
nay have been graduated from high schools or
Universities in their country, purposely select
form of manual labor TO support themselves here
n order that they may have their minds clear for
he university work.
The largest university contingent Of japanese
he East is at New York University. in this city /
where there thirtysix OF the busy little yellow
nen and women. Five are studying in the law /
school, three in the school of pedagogy. three /
axe regular evening college courses, and twenty
i've in the School OF Commerce The large +
lumber Of japanese in the School OF Commerce is /
attributable 10 the voracity with which the Jap
Inese gobbIe up American commercial theory.
They are among our best students-keen. alert !
md conscientious" declared officer OF the |
chool; but it is curious fact that they do not
lock the more practical courses. such those
4 accounting They take more general work than
ny other class OF students. The theory and
philosophy of business what they appear 20
want. and courses in business management.
nance. economics. railroad management and
inliar subjects seem to attract them trreStSt+bly-
It is interesting note that of the two women
tudents in the university. one, Miss Nobu Foruya.
OF semi-royal family. and is taking courses in
terature languages and philosophy simply
matters Of general culture enjoy IN her home
fe when she returns. The other woman student,
Iiss Ume Kitagawa. of Toxic is studying ad-
anced subjects in the school OF pedagogy with
he idea OF applying her knowledge a teacher
Japan.
Far sighted educators in the group work OF
aese students the phenomenon OF great national
nbiton. for, they say, just the island kingdom
evoted years OF study military science toward
ne task of conquering the power of Russia and
nfo-cing a sort OF yellow Monroe Doctrine in the
ar East. so now she i training her SONS TO con-
uer the world Dy force of but in COM
lercial effectiveness and the force Of her advanc-
e science and philosophy.