The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-03-27
GIVEN
FOR VOYAGERS' I
TO JAPAN
Members Of Sheba Excursion Who
Leave Today for Orient Bidden
Farewell BY Large Gathering
Speakers Point Out How Closer
Relationship Between Two Re
gions Will Work to Benefit of
Both. st

a 1afeWeH reception and banquet
was tondered last night 20 the members
Of the Sheba excursion TO Japan, who
will leave on the shinyo Maru at four
o'clock this afternoon, by the japanese
Merchants Association, the Japanese
Medical Association, aud the Japanese
bankers and hotel keepers of Honolulu
az the Mochizuki Club at Waikiki.
About seventy representative business
and professional men Of Japan resident
in Hawaii greeted with toasts and ban.
zais Ex-Secretary n. A. Mott-Smith,
Hon. w. o. Smith, Mr.. and Mrs. q. c.
Kennedy and Rev. w. ID. Westervelt
The banquet hall and tables were
beautifully decorated with crotons,
palms an hibiscus. DR., It. Katsunuma
was the toastmaster. In introducing the
guests Of the evening and extending to
them the good wishes of his fellow
countrymen, DR.. Ratsunuma spoke of
the many advantages that must accrue
through the more intimate aequain.
taneeship of those who are about TO
journey to the land of the rising sun.
as a result of their first handed observa.
tions on life in the Orient
First Excursion from Islands.
DIR. Fl. Arita, acting consul for ia.
pan, said that there had been num-
Der of excursions from his country to
Hawaii, but that this was the first
American excursion to japan from the
Islands He congratulated Sheba on
having the idea Of arranging such a
jaunt. 81
Honolulu he said, sis the city OF
the Hibiscus, while Toxic is the city
of the Sakura--the cherry blossom. ;,
The members of the excursion would,
he said, see TOXIC at its hest, in the
cherry blossom time. Arita spoke of
the Taisho Exlositiony sshieh ,opeaed AT
|T0tfU the twentieth of this month ~
perhaps not so ambitious as that to be
held In San Francisco in 1915, but
carefully gotten up and representative
of all Japanese manufacturers.
Il. A. Mott Smith said that he was
going to Japan not as minister of for.
eign affairs but on private Affairs. He
said he was glad Of the opportunity.to
see more Of a people with whom ne had
had long aequaintaneeship and for
whom he had the highest regard and
respect. He spoke of the important
part the Japanese have performed IN
the economic development of Hawaii.
He felt pleasure at the opportunity this
vacation trip afforded to see how the
Japanese live in their own land, !,
Would Cement Friendship. Z.
Manager Aoki Of the Yokohama
Specie Bank responded that il was bet.
ter to see once than to hear hundred
times. This excursion would, he said,
tend to further cement the permanent
peace and friendship of Hawaii and
japan. a'. a.&
W. o. Smith said he was sorry he
eouid not go. Appreciation Of the ster.
ling qualities of both nations would
come more and more through initial
knowledge and acqIaiptanceship. The
Japanese and Americans live on good
terms in Hawaii because they Know
each other. Human nature Is about the
same in all lands, he said, and in every
land honesty, justice and fair play were
equally the--ideals of mankind.
ID. Yonekura, president Of Japanese
Merchants Association, spoke in his
own tongue and was interpreted by Mr..
Y. Mikami He echoed w. o. Smith s
sentiments and spoke of the better un-
derstanding that would accrue to the
two countries as a result Of closer ac,
quaintanceship.
Americana Will Be Honored.
Rev. w. ID. Westeryelt spoke in happy
vein and extended an invitation TO the