New-York tribune., 1921-11-28
New
Regent, Called
Idol Of Japan
Crown Prince Was Champion
Wrestler at Peers School,
an Apt Pupil and Shows
Many Democratic Traits
Opposes General Staff
Elder Statesmen, Alleged
Militarists, Not Consult
ed in His Appointment
BY Midori Komatsu
ny NIIUOII 1NU1IldtSU
Special Correspondent of the "Chu-
gai Shogyo," of Toxic.

Dy WllQOrl hOmatSu
Special Correspondent of the "Chu-
gai Shogyo," of Toxic.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.--As the
Prince of Wales is the most popular
young man in England, so Crown
Prince Hirohito, who yesterday became
Regent of Japan because of the illness
of Emperor Yoshihito, his father, is the
idol of the Japanese. He was educated
at the Peers School, Toxic, where he
was treated just like any of the stu
dents studying-in that school, who are
sons Of mobiles and wealthy commoners.
While in the school the young prince
showed himself exceptionally clever,
not only in the acquisition of knowl-
edge but in the mastery of athletic
sports. He was especially fond of
wrestling, and daily enjoyed this sport
with his classmates. Being physically
very strong, Prince Hirohito rarely lost
the matches and was known as one of
the champion wrestlers of the school,
After being graduated from the
school the prince continued his studies
under private tutors, who were select
ed from among university professors
and eminent educators. The most
prominent among them was Shigetake
Sugimura, probably the most noted and
respected educator of Japan. Former
ly principal of u high government
T~txs
years ago from official service and has
since been spending his life in educa-
tional work, chiefly instructing young
men living in a boarding school under
his management. Many Of those who
studied under him are to-day leaders
Of Japan. He is man of upright
character, leading the life of poor
scholar. The selection of such a man,
a ,commoner without any connection
with the imperial court, as tutor to the
Grown Prince was unprecedented in
/ the history of Japan, and his appoint
ment caused much surprise and de-
light to the Japanese public at the
time it was announced. 1t is under
stood that his appointment was made
in Difference to the desire of the
princes mother who is adored by the
Japanese people on account of her lib
,
heart.
Won Popularity in Europe
Last spring Prince Hirohito made =
tour of Europe by way of completing
| his education Everybody knows how
popular he was in the countries he
! visited and what good impression he
made on all the people he came in con-
tact with during his travels. To the
prince it was the best education he had
ever received He came home with his
, vision widened, his ideals more demo-
cratized than ever and his thirst for
knowledge of the civilized nations Of
| the West made keener. In the first
speech he made to a group of repre-
sentative men of japan after his return
from Europe Prince Hirohito frankly
admitted that Japan had still much to
learn from Occidental nations, and en-
| phatically urged his hearers to do their
best in arousing the people of Japan to
the necessity and Importance of falling
in line with the progressive ideas of
the West.
acter of the Grown Prince are told in
connection with his foreign tour. Dur
| ing the voyage across the Indian Ocean
one of the bluejackets on board the
warship on which the prince travelled
was washed overheard during n gale.
The prince was deeply touched when he
heard Of the incident and at once
opened subscription list for the relief
of the bereaved family of the unfor-
tunate seaman, himself making hand
some donation to the fund
Has Democratic Ideas
While in Scotland, as guest of a
wealthy Scotch noble, Prince Hirohito
was present at garden party given in
his honor, to which his host and hos
tess invited many farmers and their
families living on their estates. The
prince was deeply impressed as he saw
mingled with the humble guests as if
they were all equals. Turning to his at
tendants, he remarked, 81 wish that our
rich mobiles would follow the example
of our host and hostess"
That Prince Hirohito is magnani-
nous in mind was we'll illustrated in
an incident on an underground railway
of London. Eager to learn the condi-
tions of life in the great metropolis as
much as possible, the prince seized
every available opportunity to go out
incognito and see the streets for him
self. On one of these occasions he
boarded an underground car, bought
ticket, but forgot to show it to the con-
NUStol W HnNC ~ PuHSucu IOI tUiS
the conductor, not knowing who he
was, spoke rather severe words to him
as he alghted from the car. His at
tendants were horror stricken, fearing
that His Highness would burst into
| wrath. Their fear, however, was wholly
unwarranted, for the prince took off
his hat and humbly apologized for his
| mistake.
The prince enjoys humor, even
though it is at his expense. During
his stay at Paris he visited the EiHel
Tower and, being invited to buy some
souvenirs by salesgirls at one of the
stores at the foot of the tower, he
fumbled in his pockets and found that
he carried no money. In perfect
French, for he is a master of that
language, he said, "Sorry 7 can't buy,
for ! have no money" All laughed, in
which the prince most heartily Joined.
Elder Statesmen Not Consulted
Such man is Prince. Hirohito. who
will hereafter assume the conduct of
the Japanese Empire as regent, with
Count Chinda, formerly Ambassador at
Washington for many years, as adviser.
AS an official telegram received at the
Japanese Embassy here has it, his des-
lgnation as regent was the result Of
joint recommendation by the Cabinet
and the Privy Council. From this it
appears that in this matter no opinion
was sought of the Genro, or Elder
Statesmen, who are very often de-
scribed by the American press as being
the real rulers of Japan and the pillars
I \ a Y-ro