The Washington herald., 1908-04-15
JAPANESE NATIONAL FAIR

educational factor on account Of the
knowledge the travellers accumulate IN
their migratlons. These trips are taken
each year just after the rice planting in
JuIs, and after the harvest Of the rice
crop in September. Japan has already held
five small internal expositions, and they
were all we'll paUOnized. The Osaka ex-
position lasted FIVE months and the at
tendance was over 5000 a day, a number
more than twice as large as the showing
made at jamestown last summer. The
Tokyo exposition viii last for seven
months and on account OF its size. cheap
ness. and international character. the at
tendance win exceed all previous rec
ords.
The exposition will occupy three hun
dred acres OF ground. which VIII rie IN
two tracts Of about equal size. One of
these is an army parade ground and the
other is part Of the Emperor's estate.
They are located three-quarters Of a mile
apart, and will be connected by boule-
ward about 100 feet in width. On this
thoroughfare there will be operated a belt
railway TO provide rapid transportation
free to all.
Among the features never seen at any
other exposition viii be feudal tourna-
ment Ike those given by the famed sa-
mural warriors of Japan some six hun
dred years ago. This will consist of con-
tests In strength and skill by the court
iers, fox hunting. falconry, archery, and
the elaborate Moo dance, which is some
what similar TO the ancient Greek musi-
cal dramas. Special exhibitions of all
the principal Oriental games and sports
viii be provided, and the period Of the
exposition has been arranged 70 include
the cherry blossom and chrysanthemum
seasons so that visitors may see the
country al its prettiest and the people in
their holiday moods.
In order that the japanese people may
have an object lesson in the kinds Of
houses foreigners live In, the exposition
management has requested all the govern
meats which intend to erect special build
ings to follow the style OF architecture
Of their own countries. It was at first
proposed to have the cafes constructed
and equipped after the fashion of each
country, but this suggestion had TO be
abandoned because the japanese could
not afford the expensive food to which
foreigners are accustomed. The matter
OF providing foreign amusements is also
a problem on account Of the consideration
Of expenses. Up 10 this time only two
foreign amusement enterprises have ap-
peared at any Of the japanese internal
fairs. At Osaka there was a small
Russian circus which charged 121b
cents. and Carmencita, the Spanish
dancer, who gave performances for a s.
cent admission Although these prices
played 20 capacity from early until
late The curious Japanese swarmed 20
see the strange foreign doings. and the
spirit OF CaFmencita's flying heels Is stlu
the subject OF enthusiastic reminiseence
among the yokels OF inland Japan. Such
American attractions as negro jubilee
singers and dancers, vaudeville and cir
Gus acts, in which there is no talking.
and the unique devices that have been SO
popular In the amusement parks In Amer
lea, undoubtedly would prove great draw
ing cards on the Tokyo Pike.
The Japanese exposition must also be
looked upon by the foreign exhibitor from
a different point Of view. There are many
kinds OF goods that have proved popular
in other countries that could not be used
here at all. For instance, it would be a
useless expense to send certain kinds of
heavy machinery such a great distance
when there is no market awaiting t.
The poverty of the Japanese masses is so
great that their purchases must be con
fined almost exclusively to cheap necessi-
ties. Every prospective exhibitor should
keep this in mind.
After the Osaka exposition there was
much complaint from foreign exhibitors
whose trademarks were stolen and imi-
tated by the japanese. To prevent a re-
currence of this dishonesty a law will
be passed making the infringement Of
trademarks punishable by fine and i'm
prisonment. This law Will be binding
from the moment the exhibitor files his
application at the patent Office, without
regard to the date of that bureaus In
dorsement. However, in the light of past
experience and the present difficulty In
getting satisfaction from japanese courts
for even the most fragrant infringements,
the exposition officials need not be sur
prised If foreign exhibitors demand more
than fair promises OF protection. The
most certain means of Japan's convincing
outsiders Of her good intentions in this
regard is 10 make an example OF some
of its citizens who may bs easily pointed
out as offenders at this time There is
no need to wait until 1912 for reform.
Copyright 1905, by Frederic J. Haskin.)
To-merrow-speaking English in
Japan