The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-24
JAPAN TRIMS
SAILS TO MEET
I SOVIET WINDS
New Concessions to Poor
Glasses as Spirit of Democ-
racy Gains Impetus.
SACRED FETIsHEs TOTTER
New Cult Headed by Priestess
Who Predicted Jap Success
I'm War Is Growing Fast.


Ccpvvsoht, 1890, By THE NEW YORK HERALD.
spsosoI Cable to THE NEW York HERALD
TOXIC, Dot. 23.--signihcant straws
continue to show the strength of the
In Japan. Due partly to the fact that
the Emperor is a very sick man, to
whose condition. it is not desired to
draw too much public attention. but
due also to the fact that there has
been some abridging OF the once tre-
mendous social chasm that separated
tho Emperor from his people, for the
INST three or four times he has ap-
peared upon the streets Of Toxic the
imperial automobile or carriage has
not passed between lines of troops. nor
has all stree. traffic been stopped along
tho route Of the imperial cavalcade for
an hour prior to the passage Of his
Majesty. Recently police officers only
have guarded the roadway, while
trafYlc has been suspended for not more
than fifteen minutes at most.
These are great concessions to the
public, so great that they could not be
appreciated outside of Japan. 1t still
continues to be the custom for the police
To either clear all rooms above the
ground floor of houses, shops and offices
facing on the road over which the EN-
peror is to pass. or force the occupants
Of these rooms to draw the blinds closely,
because 1t is not fitting that any one
should 'look down" upon the Emperor,
pus II is predicted that this regulation
will also become thing of the past
very soon.
Now another great innovation Is pro-
posed, and by no less important a per-
Sonage than the newly appointed Min
lister to the Imperial Household, Baron
Nakamura, who suggests that some
parts OF the ultra sacred premises OF the
Imperial Palace be thrown open to the
general public. Such an innovation In
Japan would be of more Significance
than would be for Italy the throwing
open of the inner sanctunls OF the Vati-
can to the Roman street crowds Only
half century or more ago II was pro-
fame for an ordinary Japanese even to
look at the Emperor. and every one pros
trated himself face downward. upon
the ground at his approach; and now TO
be allowed actually to enter the prem
ises where he lives is to tho majority Of
Japanese almost Incredible.
Freedom Gains Gradually.
From the days of the Restoration in
Japan, when the temporal power was
replaced into the hands of the late EN-
peror Neil. It has been the wise policy
Of the governing heads to give more and
more freedom to the people, little by
little, as they could absorb IL and use 1t
properly All the liberties enjoyed by
the people of Japan have come as bene-
fits bestowed by the Throne, and until
most recently each concession from
above has the more firmly knitted the
people IN their loyal allegiance to their
Emperor. Even now. when there are
whispers Of Socialism, Communism and
8olshevism In the air, there Is never a
whisper against the sacred personages
OF the imperial family
But times are changing rapidly in
japan, and the authorities are most
frankly worried. The troops sent into
Siberia returned tinged with the propa-
ganda of the Soviets many of the
student class are becoming intoxicated
with the new ideas that the world war
net going; the girls OF Japan. now that
many OF them have been able to crowd
through the hitherto closed door that
kept them from acquiring higher eduoa-
tion. are throwing Off the multitude of
conventions and grasping at such ultra
doctrines as free love and other such
'Beif-deternination" the working class
r. awakening and the firm grip OF police
control IS being shaken loose. while
rcross the Yellow Sea the Soviet idea Is
permeating into the population of China
All of which is seen and appreciated by
the rulers OF Japan.
During the last few months this gen.
sral stirring of the people has developed
q new religious cult. which Is making
iepid and alarming progress. This is
the "Omoto-tyo," literally "the great
fundamental religion" the devotees Of
which are pledged In their loyalty to the
imperial throne. but are opposed to
practically everything else in the present
Japanese governmental system. They
preach the gospel of syndicalisnn and of
tho right OF the individual to resent all
form OF authority.
Prfestess Becomes Famous.
This cult Is headed by an illiterate
priestess; who brings trance messages
and instructions to her followers. many
CT wnorn nave given al tney own 10 the
cause OF Omoto-kyoism and have gone
out as missionaries among their fellows.
This priestess Is credited with having
predicted Japan's success In the Russo
Japanese war, following this prediction
with another one. that zone more white
race Is to be driven from the Far
East" When Tsingtao fell and German
influence was expunged in this part Of
The world. tho fame of the woman
spread.
Her latest trance communications are
TO the effect that In 1922 there will be
world revolution, with japan partic-
pating, in which all established order
will disappear. The Omoto-ityo viii
finally emerge as the leading influence
IN Japan, and under that leadership
japan will conquer all enemies and be-
come what she Is entitled to. the lead
ing Power of the world.
This has had wide appeal TO JAP
anese, so much 80 that the discipline
OF the army is affected In some posts.
The authorities were startled recently
at the discovery OF a plot within the
Sixth Regiment of the Nagoya Division,
aimed at the destruction of discipline.
and a general investigation into army