The Coolidge examiner., 1930-12-26
prepared by the National Geogra phic
EnniatN ANashi d q

NBreDared by the national GeOBTupulC
Society, Washington. D. c.
TIME recent burning in Tokyo
of the plant of the Japan
Advertiser best known Amer
lean daily newspaper in the Orient,
arOuSeS interest in its Japanese
competitors and the way in which
western newspaper methods have
been adapted to conditions in the
Land of the Rising Sun. That
Japan should, in the very few years
have speedily caught up with the
van of periodical publication is less
wonderful when one remembers
that the Orient is the birthplace of
the "art preservative," and that
China possesses the oldest news
paper in the world.
There have been similar newspa-
pers from remote antiquity in
Japan; small sheets roughly struck
off from wooden blocks detailing
some great political fact, or de
scribing some crime or some gen
orally interesting event.
The first attempt at a modern
journal in Japan was in 1864, when
the Kuaigai Shimbun was under
taken by Joseph Hess, pictur-
esque character, who in 1850 was
cast away in the wrecking of a
junk, rescued and carried to Amer
lea. Here he lived for q number
of years, acquired a smattering of
western ideas and methods, and,
when Japan was opened after the
visit of Commodore Perry, returned
to his native land as an inter-
prefer.
The first modern newspaper
monthly worthy of the name was
founded by John Black, an English
man, one of the first foreign resi-
dents of Yokohama. This was in
1872. Since then Japanese journal
ism has grown with wonderful
rapidity, both in volume and in
character. There are now some
eight hundred newspapers and mag
azines published in the empire, of
which more than two hundred are
in Tokyo.
OF the newspapers there are the
KuampO, which is the official ga
Zette, containing the government an
nOuncements. such as laws, regu-
lations and appointments; the KO-
kumin, much quoted in press dis
patches from Tokyo, as giving the
government opinion Of things in
ternational during the premiership
of Prince Katsura, and the Nichi
Nichi, as expressing popular senti-
ment of the better sort.
Jiji-Shimpo Is "The Times"
The Jiji-Shimpo corresponds in
Times" "Jiji' means timely
events" or daily events" Shin
po" is the word for journal or
merely paper"
The Jiji-Shimpo is a monument,
in a way, to the memory of it's
founder; not more a monument
than a constant reincarnation of
his spirit and influence. 1t was
founded 4S years ago by the late
Fukuzawa Yukichi, who was often
called the japanese Gladstone. No
account of Japan, however, brief,
and particularly no reference to it's
intellectual and literary develop
ment, would be complete without
reference to the life and influence
of this remarkable man.
The policy of the paper is in
dependent. 1t is partisan only in
that it is liberal, devoted to prog
ress, and opposed to any retrograde
policy in japanese civilization.
When it takes occasion to differ
with the government it does so with
dignified and logical criticism, and
not with the hysterical effusions
that appear IN the "yellow" jour
nails that have developed in Japan
as elsewhere.
Because of this scholarly and
dignified character, Jiii-Shimpo
Yields a great influence and it's
voice is potent in shaping and con-
trolling public opinion.
The paper emphasizes its com
mercial department and a staff of
trained men looks after this part
of the news.
A foreign department of three ed
itOrs cares for the cable and tele-
graph dispatches and keeps in close
and intelligent touch with interna-
tional affairs.