Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-10-13
AMERICANS HAVE
ENORMOUS TRADE
WITH JAPANESE
S. Sheba Tells AID Club That Il
Amounts to $3.50, 600 Each
Month, and IS Growing

4
Directly or indirectly the minimum
amount that every japanese in Ha
wall spends with American merchants
is IS a month. A total Of $3.50. 900 ID
therefore spent with the American
merchants each month by the .Japa-
nese population Of $4,000 now in the
| territory.
The question fs therefore. not how
the American merchant can get more
trade from the Japanese. but how the
Japanese merchant can get the trade
Of their own countryInen from the
hands of the American merchants who
are swallowing II. - x. . II .:.ss...:-5 -
These are a few OF the startling
statements which were made today by
s. Sheba. editor and president Of the
Hawaii Shinpo, In his talk before the
Ad Club at their luncheon. where he
was asked 70 speak on the question:
@How can American merchants get
more trade from the japanese? ~
II have been falsely advertised "a
an orator. began Sheds, s.bnt pro-
test that ] am not an orator at all
have never touched q drop OF grape
Juice. However, II accept the hatter-
ing terms with :1hicts Il have been an.
nounced before my speech. because
believe in boosting each other and II
sou want to can me the Hawaii Spree
kels and the Hawaii Edison. | have
no objections Al a rule there Is too
much knocking here. We are too
close together We count each others
rings and stickpins and are jealous,
and then we knock.
In Transition STAGE. 80
AS Tor the manner In which Ameri.
cans can get the trade Of the Japan
ese. which Is the subject of my talk,
must remind you that the Americans
must somewhat study the psychology
of the Japanese people before they
can get our trade. The Japanese mer-
chants who win be your rivals are in
transition stage.
8 At one time they were the lowest
class In Japan They resofted TO
tricks and cheating and deceits N or
der to reach prosperity ana they are
row stiil somewhat influenced by the
old traditions They are trying to fol-
low the methods OF the Occidental
merchant but they have only partly
initiated him 80 far. Consequently
the american merchant finds it hard
10 displant the Japanese merchant III
his trade with his countryman. He
has to meet unusual competition Still1
the Japanese Is spending enormous
Sums with you. !, s. IS
fs The average plantation laborer
BETS $40 to 50 4 month. He saves
1880 and spends 1880. Board costs
his Seas be eats chiefly rice and fish.
Clothing costs 50, topacco and Incl
dentals, 81; social expenses and con-
tribntions to temples and other incl.
dental expenses So. or this the mon
ey spent for clothes goes almost en-
tirely into the hands Of American
merchants, and also the money spent
upon tobacco. 0ne-Quarter of the
board money is spent upon American
products, so cents q month on. other
things goes into American pockets.
Consequently SIS ia month Is spent BY
the lowest paid Japanese labofer for
american products, or at least $3.50. !.
600 or S350, geo q month
More American Rronutts. Used.
HoWsmuch more do you want from
u? Moreover the new generation sof
Japanese growing up here use more
and n1orP Of American products. They
dress In the Occieental fashion. while
the grown women use the old fashion.
ed kimcnos and wooden shoes. They
eat more butter and -four and use
loss rice. Therefore every day you
are sure to get more and more Japa-
nese trade. One japanese merchant
told me that he sold 65 per cent Amer
lean goods and only 80 per cent Japa-
nese ~ .sr3 - - .esss. &
In fact my eyes have been opened
today by my investigations 1t Is time
for the Japanese people tsto awaken in
self defense and. find out. how, they
can take some Of the trade away from
Tie Americans. We must start q cam.
paign amongst yoth r,e.s, %. &. ..3ssasr
But IL you. waatto win more Japa-
nese trade you must remember that
the Japanese is lust; waHiHe u,,zta the
fact that there Is value in adyertis-
Ing, and therefore you must advertise
in Japanese papers. Let the adyef-
.isemeHts be prepared in the japanese
way" ->..5ss5..s g.. =. -.