Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-22
JAPAN PAPER TELLS
Of ENVIRONMENT
Vivid Description Given in
Handsome Volume That
Appears in u. S.

A fascinating account Of the en-
thronement of His Imperial Majesty
Hirol1ito, the 124th Emperor OF Japan,
and an engaging description and inter
probation of the rites attending the
notable event, are contained in the EN-
thronement edition" of the Japan Ad-
Vertiser. a leading newspaper OF the
Orient. copies of which recently have
made their appearance in this country.
The volume, printed on f1ne grade
of glazed paper and handsomely bound
IN purple linen. is the work of Benja-
min w. Fleisher. publisher and editor
of the Advertiser.
The work is dedicated ito the many
who are interested In the promotion of
international peace through the inter-
probation and advancement OF more
correct understanding of the aims, as
pirations and ideals of the people OF
one nation to the peoples Of other ma
tons"
Compared to Symphony.
THE accession to the throne" the
work comments. has been compared
by learned antfropologist of Toxic
to a symphony In three movements.
The first of these occurred In the early
darkness of Christmas morning, 1925,
when, Immediately the reigning En-
peror had died, his eldest son presented
himself at the Imperial Shrine and as
sumed the privileges and responsible
ties of the throne and in prayer inform
ed his ancestors of the act.
Later in the day, the formal cere-
mony of transferring to his possession
the imperial regalia of mirror sword
and Jewels was carried out. The Sec
ond movement was the enforcement
i,, old .1alapo al Kv0tn nm NOVeyn.
Der 10, 1928. The Emperor again wor-
SHIPPED before his ancestors. and an
nounced to them his accession to the
throne that they In their day occupied,
and appeared as Emperor before the
representatives of the foreign powers
and the japanese nation. The last, most
solemn. most mysterious, most prtmi-
tive movement took place in the night
between November IA and 10. 1t was
in essence sacrifice Of flrst-fruits to
the ancestral Sun Goddess and an act
of mystic communion with her. 1t was
performed in plain wooden hut by the
EMPEROR himself after elaborate cere-
monies of publication. Simplicity was
set in a gorgeous frame, and the En-
peror, In his solitary vigil, was guarded
and surrounded by the highest OF the
land. Thereafter came state banquetS.
ritual and state dances OF incredible an
tiouity, acts of worship at various
shrines, and on November n the re-
turn to Toxic"
Each Phase Interpreted.
Under separate headings, each phase
of the mystic, colorful ceremony Is
described and interpreted The volume
is li9 pages of reading matter, replete
with illustrations, the chief one being
a reproduction In color of an original
woodblock print of "Himeji Castle"
home of the Emperor and Empress, by
Hirosho Yoshida, who Is known as the
father of modern color print work IN
The chapter headings suggest the
wealth of historical and descriptive
matter found in the volume: Sacred
Fields Selected for Cultivation OF Rice
for Daijo-Sai" tthe great feast which
the Emperor shares with the peopie):
s'Rice Planting Ceremony, Singing and
of sacred Rice Conducted According
to Fixed Ritual" when the Kashiko-
Dokoro Passed in Colorful Pageant to
Kyoto." Mystic Rites of Shinto In
voking Aid of National Deities," "The
Great Food Festival and Significance OF
the Daiio-Sai," Symbols of Sovereignty
Are Treasured Gifts From Sun God
dess." Ceremonies and Festivals OBJ
served Yearly by the Imperial Court"
court Musicians History Goes Back
More Than Thousand Years" and
others.
Personality Is Pictured.
A study of the personality OF the
young Emperor-he is only 29-is the
subject of an article contributed by
Count YoShinori Futara. "Considera-
ton Of others is the outstanding trait
of his majesty" he writes.
A congratulatory message sent to the
Emperor by President Coolidge on be-
half of the people of the United States
is given prominent place In a repro
duction of messages from the heads OF
nations with which the volume con-
cludes. "Couched as they necessarily
are In formal language" the editor
states. they constitute striking Illus
tration of the wide circle of Japan's
international friendships"
In a statement congratulating the
Japan Advertiser on interpreting the
spirit of Japan as revealed in these
ceremonies" j. Tanako, premier, said:
81 have no doubt that the japanese
people will make every effort in the
future to contribute to the development
/. of higher civilization and to the main
tenance of world peace, inspired by this
spirit of Japan which springs from
the historic national unity Of the
Japanese people"