Evening star., 1948-01-27

and fro in evident eagerness to create an Or
dered life and stabilized social order. This
outward activity Is duplicated In forms Of intel.
lectual and spiritual revival which are particu-
larly observable in the larger cities, as II the
people having shed the inhibitions of the past
are seeking to hll up the vacuum created by
the collapse of police state and the bankruptcy
Of age-old institutions. The Japanese are q
pragmatic people but quick to seek meanings
in things and interpret them nystically. The
promises Of their discredited overlords have
turned out to be deceptive and unreal: some
thing greater prevailed, one system conquered
another, one kind Of thought produced more
potent effects than another What was the
cause, what was the secret Of that victory?
They are seeking an answer in each field where
doubt exists and where the evidence before
their eyes requires some satisfying enlighten-
ment. Things American are in great demand,
democracy is being welcomed without reserva-
ton and often too fast for people unused to
: the heady wine of sudden freedom The Chris
: tianity of the West is being examined with
renewed interest; 1t was something new for
old-timers to see so Japanese catechumens
baptized into the Christian faith In the chapel
Of the Jesuit University at Tokyo on Christmas
eve and count 14oo worshippers at the several
services there. Great numbers of them were
not Christians but Buddhists or Shintoists
seeking spiritual consolation. Neither number
in itself sounds impressive to ears accustomed
to church attendance in the United States.
What is significant to Catholics and Protestants
In Japan Is the relativity, the pronounced in
crease over past years and the wholly changed
attitude.
Questions on Role af New Nation.
Meanwhile, two hundred miles westward from
Japan, in Korea, Communist forces are con-
ducting an organized assault on both Christi
anity and democracy. Farther westward, IN
China, the numbering of Christian missionaries
by Communist troops and the gradual elimina-
ton OF Christian institutions in the areas under
their control make the contrast not only striking
but of definite political significance for the
future of Eastern Asia.
The receptivity of the Japanese mind in this
period of transition and the benevolent Curl
osity respecting America was further exempl-
fed by an interesting experience in Hiroshima.
Having resided over week in the remnants OF
the devastation caused by the atomic bomb
and after many conferences with survivors,
was asked to give my impressions to journa-
list representing the Kokura Mainichi Shimbun.
His questions did not deal with the devastated
city lying outside the window nor with the
perished in that area, but with different world
Of thought. was put through cross-examina-
tion dealing with international relations, moral
values and reconstruction What are your i'm
pressions of Japan? What do you think Of the
present attitude towards life of the Japanese as
defeated nation? What was your purpose in
coming to Japan? Have you hope for Japan
threatened as it is by black marketeering and
imitation? How does Japan compare with the
other defeated nations in Europe? Do you
think democracy is making progress in Japan?
The same thirst for understanding OF vest
ern thought was evidenced in other cities as
well-Yokohoma Kobe, Shimonoseki, Ya.na-
guchi, Hagi, Matsue. Yonago Tsuwano and
Tottori. But a different, less westernlzed
atmosphere was discernible in the last five
named localities. These ancient japanese
communities lie on the far side OF the high
mountain range over towards the Sea OF
Japan which are sometimes called the Japa-
nese Alps; as that region suffered no direct
damage from borhbardment, the inhabitants
have not been fundamentally disturbed IN
their ancient traditions and one sees old Japan
in its pristine character. But there Is now no
hostility towards the foreigner and the di1-
ferences in psychological reactions are dlHer-
ences in degrees not quality The old police
harassments and the control OF wrong
thoughts" have been replaced by an openness
of mind and inquiry which makes all for
eigners, particularly Americans, welcome. This
aspect was especially apparent in certain
regions where it might least be expected.
December Is not pleasant In those remote
localities on the far side of the mountains;
the coastal country is exposed to the icy
winds that sweep across from Korea, Man
churia and Siberia On more than one night
the damp, penetrating cold was so numbing
in the unheated, 1imsy japanese houses that
I determined to take brisk walk through the
town before going to bed. 1t was the only
way of warming up before diving into the
accumulation Of blankets laid on the cold
straw mating on the floor, Japanese style
Alone and unguarded roamed at viii through
darkened streets and country roads without
the slightest fear, performance we rarely
attempted in occupied Germany on dark
nights. In this country not an American
soldier or civilian has been molested. ! was
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