Evening star., 1941-03-17
Nippon Women Look
To American Way
Nomura Declares
They Like Our Movies,
Books and Fashions,
But Refuse to Picket
BY MALVINA STEPHENSON,

ny NlHL v INA . Ell hLNSoINy
North American Newspaper Alliance.
Uncle Sam has friendly admirer
m Japan's younger woman who
dotes on American fashions, fiction
and movies.
This increasing Oriental taste for
"the American way" was stressed by
Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura, new
Japanese Ambassador to the United
States, in discussing the role of Jap
anese women in the world crisis.
although many of the older
women in Japan still wear the ira
ditional kimono and cling to the cul-
ture of their ancestors, the younger
ones generally prefer modern styles, -
the friendly Ambassador explained.
THE girls are particularly fond of
American clothes, because of their
practical use, and they flock to
movies made in Hollywood"
AS to the best sellers which are
published in the United States,
translated versions go on the book
shelves in Japan and are distributed
about as soon as we get them in this
country. Admiral Nomura referred
particularly to the popularity of
"Gone With the Wind"
Not Cricket to Picket.
This widespread circulation OF our
movies, literature and fashions obvi-
ously promotes an appreciation OF
things American, and inspires re-
spect for the way the United States
gets its job done.
In fact, Japanese women generally
have a friendly feeling for the
United States and, like the mothers
in every country, prefer to avoid war,
the Ambassador believes.
But, young or old, the Oriental
women are not as boldly aggressive
as their independent Western sis
ters. A picketing demonstration
say, for peace or suffrage-juSt isn't
in their book.
And, If they wanted to restrain
the japanese military policy, there
IS little or no official resort. Suf-
frage has never been granted, and
even the enthusiasm for feminine
voting rights abated with the con-
centration of the so-called emer-
gency.
Despite a traditional backward
role, japanese women have put their
hand to the wheel with amazing
facility. Their resourcefulness in
strengthening the home front might
even provide some tips for Ameri-
can women in total defense.
"China Affair" Cited.
Japanese women gained their first
major recognition in 1887 with the
appointment of Nine. Yayoi Yoshio-
ka to the cabinets council on educa-
ton. She was the first feminine
doctor in the country, operating a
hospital in Toxic.
Again, in April, 1888, when the
Central Commodity Price Commit
tee was established in the ministry
of commerce and industry, Nine.
Waka Yamada, syndicate writer,
was appointed a member. Mines.
Yoshioka and Yamada, who have
both toured the United States and
are well known here, were desig-
mated members of the Central So
cial Enterprise COMMITTEES of the
welfare ministry.
In describing the current femi-
nine front In Japan, Ambassador
Nomura referred to an article, "Our
Women In the Emergency" by Tsu-
yoshi Miyao, an official of the
Tokia municipality and frequent
contributor to government publ
cations.
"The China affair has not only
changed the normal home life Of
the people, but has brought the
Japanese woman out from the shell
ter OF her home to take an tmpor-
tant part in the activities on the
home 'front.'" the article observes.
Home Front program.
The home front program, apart
from the official government activ-
ity, was started by the Kwansat
women's group in 1887 conferences.
Principles adopted called for: Co.
operation with the governments
economic policy by urging economy
of consumption, reformation of the
mode Of living, use of homemade
goods, expansion of productivity,
subscription to national bonds, and
encouragement Of savings; promo
ton of physical training, improve
ment of sanitation, and extension
of nourishing diet; promotion of
military relief fund and aid to
soldiers families; development of
the Nippon spirit" by clarifying
the national policy, renovating the
educational system, and explana-
ton of Japan's true purpose to for
eign people.
Similar activities have been ex-
panded throughout Japan by femi-
nine organizations. The patriotic
association has 100000 members
and the National Defense Womens
Association, 100000. The so-called