New-York tribune., 1908-05-11
WESTERN WAYS IN JAPAN.
Ecils Resulting from High Collar
Tendencies IN Empire.
Ecorrszpondence Of III. Associated .,res..1

Correspondence OF
Toxic, April 16-Many Of the japanese people are
learning the English language. and such of them
as have acquired few words anxious by their
use to give evidence Of their Westernism. When
the men do 1t the result is often less RI
diculous but quite the contrary when the speakers
are typical Toxic girl graduates wearing the
characteristic 'ebi-cha hakama," or crimson skirt
which is now frequently seen in most Japanese
cities sort of convenient compromise between
the Occidental petticoat and the national kimono.
The "haikara' girl, she is called in japanese
the words are a corruption of high collar and
made TO apply Japanese men and
alike who prone to ape Western c1Istoms-has
evolved into something analogous to the summer
girl" of the United States, and not infrequently
her daring violation Of oldtime conventions fur
nishes the comic papers with a theme for sarcastic
comment indignant denunciatiou Japanese
etiquette has hitherto frowned sternly on that in
formal mingling of the sexes which is a matter Of
course in the West but the exigencies of modern
scholastic training and the tendency OF the times
already noted have dealt these old ideas shrewd
blow. Girls destined for up-to-date education
fook the capital from the provinces. and un-
less they have friends here live the
school premises must patronize the boarding
houses. where no control of their conduct can be
exercised
Allowing for Inevitable exasgeration and the love
of scandalous gossip, which is as common TO the
East as to the West It would be idle to deny that
abuses exist and that the sudden reaction from
undue restriction the opposite pole of personal
freedom has in a few instances done
harm than good It is possible now to witness
scenes which only decade ago would have been
almost inconceivable in Japan. A sort of crude
gailantry is being exploited by special group of
students both male and female Often enough
this phenomenon is genuinely platonic and does
not exceed the limits of silly adaptation of
Western sentmentaty but on the other hand
the history of of these affairs of the heart
far from innocent and end in tragedy. Regu-
larry in the vernaoular papers may read of
suicide from disappointed love by both young men
and women. and in many cases the lovers finding
ii impossible. for some reason other. to marry,
their lives by binding their bodies together
railway track in the path of approaching engine,
or taking dose of poison. Occasionally. the man
Stays his mistress with sword and then puts an
end to himself in the manner. This form OF
suicide is universally known ''shinju, is
popularity regarded everlasting disgrace for
either party to the compact to survive the other.
In connection with this "Hai-Kara' tendency
there has TO be observed In Japan certain
Western Difference toward japanese women which
ten years was unheard Of For instance. a
Ja panese will nowadays give up his seat q
woman In crowded streetcar. particularly II for
eigners are present to witness his exhibition of
courtesy and if the and his wife both attire
in Western clothes and go en-
both the clothes, he understands Western
women treated by their escorts This de
meanor. however, in all likelihood, will dropped
as the couple hack home and have
shifted their comfortable national dress.
Recently In the upper house. in the debate on
the estimates of the Education Department. Baron
FunagOsh openly referred to the banefuI effect
of ''Hai-kara'' principles. It deplored
he said. that the inclination of the rising
tion in this direction. rather than toward |
culture, while of "Hai-Kara' tendencies were /
appearing in large numbers and The cause !
of a social evils. This he thought,
the outcome defective methods of education. !
and he strongly urged the government 10 seek a !