MODERN JAPAN

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 85, 9 January 1928, Page 3

MODERN JAPAN

BECOMING MORE WESTERN IN LIFE AND IDEAS PEOPLE WANT BUTTER AND BEEF In the process of moulding Japanese life on Western lines lie great potentialities for the development of New Zealand export trade in primary products. That is the opinion of Bishop juji Nakada, of the Japanese Holiness Church, Oriental Missionary Society, now terminating in Auckland a short visit to the Dominion, states the “New Zealand Herald.” Japan, said Bishop Nakada, was fast absorbing Western ideas—in clothing and food as well as civics and other phases of community life. Where not long ago butter was seen on but very few- tables, it was now demanded by ati increasingly large section of the people. They were, too, rapidly becoming a nation of incat-eatcrs, aud these circumstances, combined with a huge wool importation bill, which lengthened anmmlly as the Japanese more and more adopted European attire, betokened increasing trade with New' Zealand and Australia. Great as were already Japan’s purchases of wool from the Dominion and the Commonwealth, he had no doubt they would increase. “The people want butter and beef, but there is not enough of either,’’ said the Bishop. “Butter—nearly all the produce of Japan—costs the equivalent of 3s. a lb., and beef is as dear. A high-duty wall was responsible for restricted importations of butter and

meat. Discussing the problem of finding new lands for the settlement of Japan’s surplus population, the visitor said eyes were now directed chiefly toward the Japanese concession in Manchuria, Russian Siberia, aud Brazil. Already 200,000 Japanese were settled in the Manchurian concession, which was chiefly suited to cattle farming, but Japan was watching with interest tue evacuation of Russian peasantry Iron! Siberian territory alongside. Due to the oppressive taxation and regime of Bolshevism, Siberia, a land of wonderful agricultural possibilities, especially in the growing of rice, was bein£ allowed, in a developmental sense, to drift. There, rather than in Manchuria, could his countrymen successfully settle in millions. In the meantime, everv steamer leaving for South America'was carrying Japanese tjoine? to the coffee plantations of Bra* zil, where already 50,000 had emt8r, f t he" idea that the Japanese looked toward Australia and New’ Zealand as desirable outlets for their “spare millions” was scouted by Bishop Nakada.“No one thinks of it,” he declared. Bishop Nakada said the spread, of Christianity in Japan was something at which to marvel. In Japan, as tbe world over, the middle-class was the backbone of the nation, and, although few’ in numbers compared with the. far greater masses of low-class people, wielded immense influence. It vvas significant, and a happy augury tor die Christian future of the country, diat the middle class had largely become Christian, although not a few of the aristocracy, including several members of the Diet, had embraced its tenets.