Evening star., 1936-05-17
BY FRANK H. HEDGES.

BY FRANK II. HEDGES.
TOXIC. May 16 CN.AN.A.).-Short-
ly below the average stature of the
Japanese, rotund and frequently smil-
ing, his small but luxuriant mustache
graying more rapidly than his silver
f1ecked hair, Koki Hirota, Japan's new
premier. called upon to guide the ma
ton through very genuine crisis in
national thought and perhaps insti-
tutions of governance as well, looks
much better in Japanese clothing than
in that of the West.
Premier Hirota must prefer the ma
tive haori, or short, kimono-like coat
of black silk, and hakkama, or divided
and pleated skirts, to the morning
coat, striped trousers and high, winged
collar that amount to uniform for
the statesmen of this empire. For
many years as an official he wore
Japanese clothing almost exclusively,
its flowing lines lengthening and add
ing grace to his rather dumpy figure.
AS premier he must now put such
garb away with a reluctant sigh, for
use only in the privacy of his own
family.
Mr.. Hirota is dearly beloved by the
Japanese people and has genuine per-
sonal popularity. I must confess that
this puzzled me somewhat, as have
known him for 16 years and had
never felt this personal appeal, out
then I had not seen him during the
last six or seven years. and ne is
very much changed man, man
changed very much for the better, as
I was to find out.
Fought His Way Upward.
The premier's popularity is account
ed for in part by the type of life that
has been his. Born the son OF poor
stonecutter, he has had to night his
own way upward through life. Despite
prevalent notion to the contrary
abroad, the Japenese are one OF the
most democratic peoples Of the world
when it comes to personal relation
ships. Save for the members Of the
imperial family, titles are rarely USED
by them, and Prince Tokugawa be-
comes merely Tokugawa san tor MI. "
Tokugawa), either in speaking OF or
to him, for most japanese. Relations
between family and servants, too, are
more those of teacher and pupil than
of master and maid. 1t Is easy for a
man in the lowest walks CT life to rise
as high as the premiership, and MS
lowly origin endears him to the nil
lions of the empire.
All through his school and univer-
sity days, Koki Eirota made his own
way. He became an expert in judo,
which is jiu iitsu with a japanese
version of the Marquis of Queensbury
rules, and the whole of Japan is proud
of judo, feeling that it is something
the nation has given the world. Col.
Theodore Roosevelt was one of the
most popular Presidents in Japan
America has ever had, and the real
origin of this popularity was that he
himself took judo lessons and did
much to introduce that art of self
defense to the nations of the West.
AS a youth, Mr.. Hirota fell partly
under the influence of Mitsuru Toy
anna, now a venerable old man Toy
anna is the last of the genuine knighFs
errant out of feudal days. A strict
Confucian scholar, an ardent patriot,
desiring nothing for himself, he has
never hestitated throughout his long
life to act when he thought the good
of the state demanded it. He wanted
to assassinate the late Marquis Shl-
genobu Okuma when he was foreign
minister because ne thought Okuma' S
policy humiliating to Japan.
Blew Of Enemy's Legs.
He succeeded only in blowing on
one of Okuma's legs, and when that
gentleman was able to get about again
he called on Toyama, assured MIN
that he was mistaken but that he,
Okuma, respected Toyama's sincerity
and purity of motive.
This sounds rather fantastic TO
American ears, but it was not 50 long
ago that Japan was still a medieval
nation, and much medieval thinking
and tradition survive.
Premier Hirota's life is the safer
because of his early adherence to Nit
suru Toyama. When he assumed the
premiership, Mr.. Hirota announced
that he was prepared to sacrifice"
himself. Not japanese but knew he
meant he was prepared to die at the
hands of an assassin. No man can
assume high office in Japan today
without this certain knowledge. OF the
last IL premiers, 5 have died at the
hands of assassins, as well as many
others of the nations leaders. The fol-
lowers of Toyama have rallied around
the premier, and have passed the word
out quietly but effectively that if he
is killed they will see to it that his
death will be avenged with a dozen or
more other deaths, and every one
knows they mean it.
I was rather curious to see Koki
Hirota again and find what he was
like as premier and why he had ac-
quired such great but unquestioned
personal popularity. When first I
came to Japan, he was an underling in
the information section of the for
eign Office, which has since grown
into the powerful information bureau
headed by Japan's official spokesman
Was Shy and Retiring.
When I first met Mr.. Hirota in 1920
he was one Of several assistants to the
head Of the information section, then
Yosuke Matsuoka, now president Of
the South Manchuria Railway Co.
Hirota was shy, retiring individual
who spoke English badly and was