Evening star., 1924-05-26
JAPANESE TRADITION
UPSET BY MURDERS
Record of Orientals for Few Mari
tai Ruptures Broken by Two
Love Tragedies.
FAITHLESS HUSBAND KILLS 8
Suitor Stays Girl in U. S. Who Re-
fused to Marry Him.
i;v Consolidated Press

Hy Consolidated Press.
LOS ANGELES, May 26.--Two love
tragedies. one following swiftly upon
rhe other. among members of the Jap
anese colony of Los Angeles have up
set tradition that goes back through
hundreds of years of the light phil
oSophy of the heart of the people of
the land of the Geishas. the cherry
blossom and lantern fetes, and re-
yeals a strange conflict of emotions
In the clash of oriental viewpoint
with occidental association and GUS
toms.
1t is said that sex crimes are seldom
known in Japan, and so far as the
record goes here. they were rare to
the degree of being unknown until
the last few days among the numer-
Gus Japanese residents of southern
California. with even divorce q rarity,
although many of the wives Were
picture brides claimed by husbands
they had never seen before their ar
rival in the United States.
The two tragedies We're complete.
There was nothing for the law to do
but investigate, for in each instance
the slayer took his own life after
having worked his revenge.
Husband in l. = Army.
The case of Seichi Nakamura, a
welI-to-do Japanese rancher on the
outskirts of Los Angeles, is one in
which the conflict of oriental mind
and occidental customs presents its
most striking contrast. Nakamura
served with the American Army in
the world war. and had absorbed a
sort OF AmeriCaniSm, warped to his
heritage of the oriental mind. That
was neither good for him nor his own
people who were his neighbors.
Nakamura, married, despoiled the
through infatuation for Yoshfs wife.
foShi, who had not even a veneer
of Americanism. retaliated by de-
spelling Nakamura's home. 1t is the
tect his own home. So Nakamura,
with his Army pistol, killed Yoshi
and his wife. and, returning to his
home. slew his own wife and himself.
Letter Tells of Tragedy.
There was mystery about the trag-
edy until a note from Nakamura to
J. Muramoto. an uncle living not far
away, was found and translated. 1t
read:
Uncle: I am writing down all the
wrong | have been doing. For four
Years / have been infatuated with
1oshfs wife. Four days ago Yoshi
olscovered this and appeared very
angry. He came to my house when
/ was away. On May 21 he and his
wlfe came over and Yoshi said he
had taken his revenge and was happy.
When | heard him mention re-
venge 1 became suspicious of my
wifes unfaithfulness. l made UP my
mind that l would divorce my wife.
despite my own wrong, but when /
told her that she said she would die,
so | decided to kill all of them and
myself.
Il felt sorry for my baby, Harumi,
so | started to take her to you to ar
range for YOU to send her back to
hawaii or Japan: although this is
take care of her for me- Farewell"
The other tragedy was the end of a
romance of old Japan-of a Japanese
lover who did not take his affair of
the heart with light philosophy, but
followed it through years and to the
conclusion that death for the object
of his affections and himself was the
only solution of his problem.
Followed Girl to L. S.
i. Tashima. the lover, was left to
nurs ehis unrequited affection when
the pretty daughter of his neighbors
sailed away for America seventeen
years ago. His one purpose was to
follow her, and few months ago he
succeeded in reaching the shores of
California and started out to search
for the loved one. He found her in
Los Angeles, the wife of Kusuno Mat
sumoto, a prosperous merchant in
Hollywood. She was happy, and re-
PEELED Tashima when he came to re-
new his suit in the belief that he
could win her love.
Il will make the decision for both
of u.s." he said, when he left her
He returned and shot her down,
killing her instantly. Then he shot
himself and survived but few min
utes. He, too, left note, and said
that the woman had made a fool of
him in Japan, leading him to believe
that she really loved him, and that
he had not forgotten.