The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-22
JAPAN NOT WARLIKE,
PREMIER HARA
What Other Race Has She
Conquered: He inquiries
Of Critics.
PEACEFUL BY TRADITION
Statesman Points to Literature
and Home Practices to Prove
His Argument.

TOXIC, Nov. l (by mail) denying
that Japan is militaristic and inviting
foreign critics TO study Japanese history
to prove the contention. Premier Takashi
Hara has written an article under his
own name in the Chutoo, Seiyukai organ,
which is entitled Japanese National
Characteristics as Misunderstood by the
World" with the subtitle. us Japan
Really a Milltaristic Nation?"
"As 1 am a Government official" he
writes, sit is very difficult for me to
make my views public, but 1 shall ex-
press my observations as one of the
Japanese subjects.
There are many misunderstanding
entertained by foreigners about Japan,
due to lack of study. L have not ex-
amined all of the criticisms, Of course.
Some are much to the point, so that they
may be taken as useful advice to inn
prove ourselves. In the main, however,
the criticisms do not show that the
Japanese national characteristics are
properly understood.
I'm the first place. it IS charged that
the Japanese is an aggressive race,
bellicose and lacking in civilization other
than the art of war. This misunder-
standing may be attributed to three de-
history is disregarded; second, Japanese
literature and art are set aside. and,
third, the true conditions of the life of
the people have not been studied by the
critics.
Not II Conauering Race.
Japan has no record In her history
of having conquered other races, as
every one knows. The foreign wars in
the Meiji era. especially the Russian war,
were simply wars for self-defence
against foreign aggression. In how diff
cult defensive position Japan was
placed in the Russian war the intelli-
gent men of England. who financially
and automatically supported Japan, and
the intelligent men of America, who Of
| ficiated in bringing about peace should
know full well. AS the result of the war
with Russia Japan came to control
Corea, Saghalien and Manchuria, which
was recognized by the Powers as neces-
sary to remove the root of evil and in
sure peace in the Orient. The Powers
then heartily supported Japan's move.
IF Japan's history is examined clese-
ly it is rich in records of warfare, TO
be sure, but it is n great mistake to
jump at the conclusion that the Japa-
nese people have been q warliSe race
| altogether, born and reared In the midst
of wars. The wars of japanese his
| torical records have been political wars.
In the days before civilization had ad-
vanced, political and military wars we're
employed for the same purpose by all
countries which are now civilized.
Turning in the direction of arr, a
study Of Japanese art will enable an
observer to understand most clearly
the true characteristics of the japanese
people. The study OF the japanese art
was introduced to western countries by
men like the late Fenellosa and other
! close observers. There is no art object
of Japan which is not somehow related
| with the Buddhist religion whether in
| paintings. sculptures or buildings. The
masterpieces Of Japanese art are Bud
dhist paintings Buddhist images or
Buddhist temples These facts will tel
most eloquently how peace loving and
devoutly religious the Japanese are.
! The ideas of the Japanese people are
not aggressive or bellicose.
THE Nishildye, which Europeans and
Americans appraise so much, are repre-
/ sensations of the peaceful and peace
/ loving society and customs of Japan.
| They are evidences to prove how lels-
urely and sedate the japanese people
are, and to prove that the Japanese are
not a warlike or chauvinistic people.
| We pay especially high tributes ond
thanks to Fenellosa, who was an Ameri-
can, and who studied Japanese art ard
introduced 1t to the world.
Liternsure Devoted to Peace.
THE same thing may be said about
! literature. IF poetry, songs and other
forms o. literature really represent
ideas and national characteristics of
nation. there can be no literature SO
devoted to peace and the praise Of peace
as the Japanese literature.
Thus reviewed, one can see that the
misunderstanding of a section of for
eigners are based upon their Ignorance
of tho true Japanese characteristics,
the history and literature. Such for
eign critics base their opinions upon
their own Authorizations. The intelligent
persons In the world want to study the
japanese characteristics calmly and
dispassionately. Rather than anything
else, II should be said that the Japa-
nese people are backward race II
they can pursue n contented family
life they will shun activity and tend to
indulge In idleness. That is prevailing
custom.
Again. TO succeed to ones fathers
! business or trade Is regarded as the
/ first principle of moral conduct. Sue
ceeding to his fathers business, main
tanning his fathers house. aging like his
father and being buried in his an
cestors graveyard IS regarded as the
life work. How can such n people be
charged with warlike ambition and
dangers OF aggrandzlng foreign terri
tory? II there be one thing which has
troubled the statesmen OF the country
most since the foundation Of the empire
/ IL has been how to lead the leisure
| loving people into enlightenment so
that they may receive whe benefits OF
modern civilization and that the empire
might be made as great as she Is to-day.
ranked, ms she now II, among the first
class Powers of the world. When
section of foreign critics fear Japan's
development and talk of Japan's ag-
gresslve ambition they are lacking in
true understanding OF Japan, too
ignorant OF things japanese"
AWAITS EFFECTS OF WAR.