The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-09-19
By GLENN BABE

1OhYO, sept. l9.-1ne three most eminent Japanese with Am erican ''pasts" are Korekiyo Taka- hashi, former minister of finance; Count Kentaro Kaneko, privy coun- cillor, and Yosuke Matsuoka, chief defender of Japan's Manchurian activities before the League of Ma tions in 1932-33.
 Takahashi is 80 years old, with the American chapter of his life 65 years behind him. When IA, he served as an indentured worker in California, chafing at his lot and such tasks as driving the COWS home for milking.
 sBut," he explained, unhappy as was at the time, I know that I laid the foundation then for the vigorous health which has carried me through long life"
 Takahashi was born of obscure parents in Tokyo in 1854 When he was 13, he and another boy were chosen by the elders of their clan to go to the United States to learn the language and customs of the strange "barbarians" then knocking at Japans door.
 Bound for Three Years
 When the boys arrived in San Francisco, the American to whom they had been sent, arranged for them to enter the home of an Oak land friend under a form of term labor contract then much used in California. They were bound for three years. But Takahashi was such an unruly servant that his employer was glad to release him after nine months. Aas
 Returning to Japan, Takahashi taught school, got into government service and rose to be minister of finance, which post he held in six cabinets. In 1921-22 he was prime minister.
 Count Kaneko, now 81, and one of tthe seniors of the privy coun- cil, was graduated in law from Harvard in 1878. At Cambridge he began close, friendly relation with America and Americans that survived half a century, making him an interpreter to his country p'cr' of the United States and it's Ideals.
 Admired Roosevelt
 At the close of the Russo-Jap- anese war in 1905, after he had held two cabinet posts, Kaneko was appointed to the delegation that negotiated peace with Russia at Paramount. During Ilat stay in AmeriTa. he formed an attach ment with. and vast admiration for, President Theodore Roosevelt Back in Japan, he wrote frequent ly Of his talks with T. R. and in- sisted that the President then Q905-0D approve Japan's assump- ton of the. hegemony of the Cri- ent f%t
 When the American-Japan so- ciety was formed in Tokyo 15 years ago, he became it's president. But in 1924, when Congress passed laws excluding Japanese immi- grants, Kaaeko, his national pride deeply offended, resigned the presi- dency of this society.
 Of a later generation, Yosuke Matsuoka sought his schooling in California high schools and the University of Oregon in the nine ties. He received law degree from Oregon in 1900 and came home to carve out a career in di- plomacy. But command .of fluent, idomatic English and brilliance were not sufficient to overcome the handicap of not having been graduated from the nest of fledg- ling diplomats, the Imperial Uni versity of Tokyo. He was an out sider. advancement was slow and he resigned from the service.
 A combination of business and politics called him. He became vice president of the great South Man. churian railway and member of the house of representatives. His eloquence and knowledge of Man churian history gave him his big chance in 1882 when Japan needed a fluent pleader to argue her case in respect to Manchoukuo before the League.
 Matsuoka was chosen, made a brilliant defense and when the oth- CT nations voted to censure Japan in spite of him, he led his delega- ton from the hall and Japan from the league.
 Back home, he took up a new political task, placing himself at the head of a fascist-like move ment for national regeneration through abolition of all political parties. The movement has not flcurished; Matsuoka is, still a one- man party.