The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-12-29

HAZEL
EYES
BY Hazel
Yokohama, Japan
November 20 delayed

Monroe found a cold and rainy
day awaiting us-a day when a
raincoat was necessary and a fur
coat felt good.
Yokohama, now a shipping CEN
ter for the raw silk industry, was
lust an obscure fishing village
with a few groups of matched
cottages in 1853 when the famous
"Black Ship" commanded by
Commodore Perry appeared in the
bay. Since its opening as a Trea-
tv Port in 1850 it has grown TO De
one of Japan's most importan.
cities with a population OF
1852. 988. 1t suffered quite a bit
of damage during the war.
It's harbor was reconstructed
and improved after the disastrous
earthouake-fire of 1923 and IS
protected by breakwaters s,4oo
feet long. The quays n piers
have a total mooring capacity ioI
81 ocean liners while the buoys
and docks may moor 80 vessels.
The town itself is divided INTO
three sections. the eastern par'
az which used to be the foreign
concession. The residential ols-
trict for foreigners is contained
in 4 range of low hills called the
huff and the rest is called native
town and occupies the greater
portion of the city.
Taxis are unavailable and ar
rangements for hiring a private
car are almost impossible but can
he made well in advance OF ar
rival. Most passengers rely Oh
their feet. or a tri-shaw-a three
wheeled affair pulled by an un-
dernourished looking Jap strong
as an OK. +,
On the south suburban coast OF
Yokohama an excursion may DC
made along tranquil MISSISSIPPI
bay through the districts OF non-
moku ana Negishi where is To-
Gated the Negishi race track. Inns
race course commands a lovely
view Of the city and bay. RACING
season is in spring and >utun.n.
It was not until afternoon that
we made our first sightseeing trip
under the efficient direction OF
the Japan Travel bureau the
onlv travel agency allowed TO
operate in Japan and ons when
seems to be doing a good top
under present conditions, The iifst
thing they did was to pin a pink
paper rose on us to designate us
as American tourists-as II any
one would take us for anytnlne
else!
About fifty of the passengers
went on this Sunday sightseeing
trim to Kamakura in more or less
modern motor coaches effective
" decorated with wall vases Oh
flowers. 1t is a common thlne
in Japan to see public vehicles
decorated with flowers - the
Japanese love flowers and spe-
cialize in flower-arrangemeht'
considering this attainment a
vital part of one education ana
upbringing.
At Kamakura we saw the
Hachiman (Shinto) Shrine ana the
Daibutsu, the gr,,.t bronze image
of Buddha.
The Hachiman Shrine is STU
ated on a hign hill nd reacheo
bv climbing a long, wide tlight
of steps. 1t is guarded by a huge
einko tree % feet iii clrcumfer-
ence and 10 feet tall. The Shrine
is considered a national treasure
in spite Of the fact that the Jap
anese are said to be getting away
from both Shintoism and Buddha-
ism. their two main religions for
centuries. NJ less an authority
than General Douglas Macarthur
has said a great vacuum exists III
Japan today regard religion
and the time and opportunity Tor
Christianity is great.
The great Budona, a bronze
f;o,re of Amida, ore of tht buo-
dbist divinities, il AZ feet, 0 M
ches tall and it, clrel1niefehce
at the base is 81 &C. Inc laee
Is 7 feet. 8 inches -, and tne
width of the eyes 3 feet, > lnehes,
THE silver boss On the foreheaa
weighs 80 pounds and the image
weighs go tons. | climbed up tne
steep, narrow staircase inside the
Ruddha which reaches up TO us
shoulders. The Buddha was cast
in 1852. $40 years before the DIS
covery of America. The sculptor
was Ono-G oroeman, one OF tne
leading sculptors of his day. Inc
great Buddha is a superb specl-
men of the art of lasting. The
position of the hands particularly
catch the eye. They r placed
on the lap, palms upward and
thumbs touching, the Buddhist
sign of steadfast faith, and the
half-closed eyes, made of pure
gold. look as ger.tle as those OF