Evening star., 1922-09-28

THE rapid progress Of the
daughters of Nippon along
many and varied lines of en-
a deavor is being constantly
called to the attention of their
American sisters. who are also the
subject Of widespread comment at
this time. The latest news Of what
Japanese girls are doing regards
their progress in athletic sports.
According to Adachi kinnosuke. one
of their countrymen in New York.
these young ladies'. who wear mid
dies and bloome1s instead Of demure
kimonos with sleeves three yards
long, are liable to compete for space
in the sporting pages very shortly.
He says:
'It is just as well for US vainef sex
to open our superior eyes to the fact
that the women of Japan-the su-
perlative of feminine gentleness ana
ref1nement-are going to do some
terrible things to the sporting pages
of our advancing days. For that
shooting. The story of the outdoor
daughters of Nippon has just written
its preface so far. 1t is a moving.
fast moving and decidedly dramatic
tale, full of unexpected sensations.
1t is causing no end of worries to the
grandmothers of the land, as well as
the more grandmotherly government
of the country
1t seems that long-distance hiking
is quite the most popular outdoor
sport with the Japanese girls. and 1t
may interest the American f1appers
who wear knickerbockers to know
that when these oriental hikers at
~lsv - II pspt
they do attempt very often, and sue
ceed a. it. too-they' wear divided
skirts of a bright red material. They
call these skirts "hAkama.'
Fujiyama is the favorite noun
tain for Japanese climbers, as well
as being the national hobby from an
artistic point of view. Many of rh.
a regular annual event to have
day set aside for climbing the be-
loved Fuji While this is the high
est Of Japans Alps" Full is also
the easiest TO climb. being provided
with all kinds of facilities to give
he pilgrim or pleasureseeker conf
historic spots of this tiny kingdom
offer enticing rewards to the girl
mixers, too.
THE next two sports which the
i japanese girl most enjoys are ten
mis- and basket ball. According TO
Mr.. Kinnosuke, 221 girls participated
in a tennis tournament especially for
girl students of Toxic on May % of
this year. The tournament was such
a success that the Lawn Tennis As
sociation of Japan has officially an
nounced a wonan's tournament OF
greater Importance for this fall.
This is the outcome of the enthu-
siasm Of the girl students for this
snort and also of the marked support
given it by the older women OF To-
kio.
wara among, the fans at the May
torrnament and two daughters Of one
Of Japan's most prominent countesses
participated in the event. Their
mother. the Countess ArimA, IL quot
ed ,as having said that she thor.
ourhly enjoyed witnessing the sport
and that she considered that physi-
cal culture OF our sirl s.uoents ID,
after all, one OF the basic questions
of the state"
Not since the days OF Japan's
amazons Of the middle ages have
women had such freedom to enjoy
healthfuI sports instead Of posing in
the dainty. quiet poses OF the demure
Japaneke dances OF past days.
interesting comparisons in statistics
which show the benefit already de-
rived by the modern girl of his coun-
frv from the sports she has taken up
with such enthusiasm. He says:
'sIn 1Ss4--that is to say, at the
time Of the Chinese war. when the
physical power OF Iapan's manhood