WHEN THE JAP IS IN LOVE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 208, 2 September 1899, Page 3 (Supplement)

WHEN THE JAP IS IN LOVE.

FLIRTATION IN JAPAN

The Japanese Romeo neither asks nor receives kisses from his dark-eyed Juliet, nor does ho press her dainty hand to make her aware of the fervor, of his passion; but he continues to court tlie native maiden to their mutual satisfaction, and, knowing no more about these things than he, she misses nothing. When a Japanese belie wishes to indulge In a little flirtation, she waves her long hanging sleeve, or perhaps Just her right hand with the palm turned downwards. Fan and handkerchief flirtations are as little known or practised as kissing, but tlie language of (lowers is familiar to both sexes and as much employed. Lovelorn maids and ardent swains express the tenderness of their devotion In poetry—good, bad, or indifferent, according to tlie smitten one's ability. Japanese poem-making being of a rather mechanical nature, bad poetry—that is, very bad poetry—is less common than with us. judging native poetry, of course, by tlie native standard.

One of tlie most romantic incidents in native history (says a London contemporary) is the story of the marriage of Mlnanioto Yoritoino, a celebrated Shogun of the 12th century. The Minainoto family had been vanquished and almost exterminated by their rivals, the Talra. Yoritoino was the head of the Minamoto family, nnd, being ambitious, determined to restore the prestige of his house, despite Its hopeless condition, lie was a shrewd, diplomatic young fellow, and one of his first acts was to endeavour to ally himself by marriage with some powerful noble. The Hojo family had always been friendly, so Yoritoino inquired which was the most beautiful daughter.

He soon found thnt Masago, the eldest, was noted for her loveliness, while her younger sister was as plain as Masago was beautiful. The plain daughter was the child o fa second wife, Masago's mother having died when she was very young. Yoritoino, anxious to secure the good-will of Hojo's wife, resolved to address himself to the younger and plainer sister, so lie wrote her a letter and sent It by his chief confidential retainer. Morl'nagn. The more Mortnaga thought of his mission, the less he approved Ids master's decision, for he argued to himself that Voritoino would soon tire of the ugly girl, and then her mother would like him even less than if he had never married tier. So the retainer destroyed the letter and wrote another like It, but addressed to Masago. Morlnaga arrived with the forged letter, and Masago accepted Yorltomo'a proposal. When they saw each other a most passionate and devoted affection was kindled in their breasts. But it was the old story of true love never running smooth. When Masago and Yoritoino were betrothed, Hojo, the father, was in Kioto, and on his way home, meeting a Taira noble, he promised Masago in marriage to him.

When Hojo came home, though he was distressed at the turn of affairs, yet he considered his word of more importance than that of Masago, and declared that she should m.irry the Talra. Tlie wedding day came, and with great ceremony the despairing Alasago was married to the Talra, but before night came the bride had fled with Yoritoino.

Hojo feigned great displeasure with the runaway pair, but secretly he much preferred Yoritoino to the Taira noble, and was easily pacified. Finaly his beautiful daughter persuaded him to lend the assistance of tlie whole powerful Hojo family to her husband, and witli his aid tlie latter not only vanquished the Taira, but became one of the greatest nobles Japan ever boasted.

One of the most Interesting temples near Kyoto Is the Kiomiduz. In the smaller of the two structures stands a shrine dedicated to the god Be-no-Kainl, the special protector of lovers. Before this shrine is a high wooden screen of lattice work, and when Juliet wisher.! to make sure of Romeo's affections she purchases from the priest a printed prayer, which is long or short according to the length of her purse and her opinion of the constancy or fickleness of her own particular Romeo.

The printed slip is folded into a narrow strip and tied to one of tlie divisions of tho lattice by the little finger and thumb of the right hand only.

Near every temple in Japan are certain trees which are supposed to be peculiarly loved by the gods and to be sacred to them. Anyone injuring or causing to be injured one of them will bring down the wrath of the "kaml" or god whose particular property it is. If the trees be injured in the name of anyone the kami avenges himself on that person instead So that when a girl finds that her swain's love has cooled, and she thinks revenge would be sweet, she makes a straw mannikin and calls it by his name. If she is very vengeful she may also cake one of her hated rival. At 2 o'clock at night—called the hour of the bull —she rises, and, clad in a white nightdress only, with high clogs ou her feet, her hair hanging loose, and crowned with an iron tripod on which three lighted candles are stuck, she proceeds to the shrine of the patron god of the family.

All consecrated trees are hung with straw wreaths, and knowing this she selects one so decorated. She mills the straw effigy to it, while she repeats a prayer that the kami will avenge the insult to his sacred tree, not upon her, but upon her recreant lover and her rival.