IN THE NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 22513, 4 December 1936, Page 1

IN THE NEWS

JAPAN AND THE JAPANESE DISPLAY AT PUBLIC LIBRARY Japan is once more in the news, thus the display in tho lending library is this week devoted to that country and its inhabitants. Works which, give the history of the Japanese nation are ‘ Japan: The Rise of a Modern Power,’ by Porter; ‘An Outline History of Japan,’ by Gowan; and ‘ Modern Japan,’ by iM'Govern. “ To most Europeans, the new Japan is a world unknown and unknowable. Into that world ‘ The March of Japan,’ by Edgar Lajthe, takes readers. During a long stay in the Land of the Rising Sun the author had intimate insight into the curious double life whicli Japan leads—visiting the tiny hovels of the peasants and tlie magnificent palaces of modern industry. By night and by day ho probed into the secrets of lokio and its five million inhabitants, and here he reveals to his readers the bathing rooms which play such an important part in Japanese life, the life of the notorious geishas. “He describes the teeming commerce of the country, explains clearly how the Japanese can produce their goods so much more cheaply than the rest of the world. He shows the recent advances made in their administration and internal economics. He describes the hours of the miners and the dormitories of the textile workers; of the miraculous rise of Mikimoto, the Pearl King. He also describes tho Japanese penetration into Asia, and in this connection makes some forecasts.” Further chapters deal with the film and the theatre, music, Japanese schools, and literature. Li ‘Towards Understanding Japan; Constructive Proposals For .Removing the Menace of War,’ 'Sidney L. Gnlick gives “ a clear and sympathetic picture of the new and critical situation that arises as the Washington Treaty ends. For over 50 years Dr Gulick has known the Japanese, their psychology, their language, their ambitions, and their passing economic necessities; and out of this deep and intimate knowledge comes this timely book.” Among the chapter headings are: The Yellow and White Races; Japan and Her Neighbours; Japan, Problems and Policies; Policies of the United States Towards Japan; The Asiatic Immigration Exclusion Movement; Japan and International Trade; The Predicted War; Outlines of a Constructive Policy. ‘ Japan’s Pacific Mandate,’ by P. H. Clyde, constitutes “ an introduction to some of the problems in the administration of the 1,400 islands (Micronesia) in the Western Pacific which., _ were granted to Japan at .the cpiiD‘i)?on .of tihe : World • Xfar... • Because been,! rumoured that the islands were being fortified contrary to the terms- of the mandate, the position had begun to assume a position of importance in international affairs.” 3he author was invited to investigate. Throughout his entire study Professor Clyde seems to take special pains to make clear distinction between facts and fancies. In ‘ Manchuria, Cradle of Conflict,’ Owen Lattimore gives a summary of the Japanese campaigns which culminated in the establishment of “ Manohoukuo.” His information jvas up to date in the spring of 1935. Further, “he discusses the relation between Manchuria as a geographical region and ‘ Manchoukuo ' as a political structure from the viewpoint of contemporary history as a whole.” Reviewing ‘ Militarism and Fascism in Japan,’ by C. Tamin and E. Yoljan, the ‘ Labour Monthly ’ expresses the opinion that “ coming just when Japan is making a new move in her consistent ad well-planed policy of ‘ preserving the peace of Asia,’ the publication of this excellent book is very timely. Its scope is really wider than the title suggests, for in addition to tracing the growth of the numerous reactionary societies up to the period of their most intense activity (1931-1932), when they attempted four coups and assassinated a Finance Minister, two Premiers, and one of the biggest finance capitalists, it gives an outline of the whole development of Japanese Capitalism. “ Ono merit in contrast to most books in English on Japan is that the authors have gone direct to sources in Japanese for most of their material. This is all the more necessary, as in Japanese journalism material for foreign consumption is notoriously different from that put on the home market.” Reviewing ‘The Problem of the Far East,’ hy Sobei Mogi and H. Vere Redman, the same journal writes that this book is of importance because “ the problem of the Far East is not merely the problem of those countries situated in the Far East, but of the whole world. The starting point of the next war may occur, not in Europe, but in the Far East.” Describing the hook: “ ‘ The Problem of the Far East ’ is discussed by liberal-minded people satisfactorily both because of its objective outlook and its comprehensive contents. It consists of throe facts; the first fact dealing with modern Japan, comprising six chapters, starting with the historical survey of Japan, political insitutions, economic institutions, Labour and Socialist movement, and social conditions clown to the last; the problem of modern Japan. The second part, Modern China, consists of a similar series like the first part. 'The third section is International Relations in the Far East.”

Other good hooks are ‘ Australia and the Far East ’ and ‘ Japan In Crisis,’ by IT. Vere Redman; ‘Up and Down the China Coast,’ by “Ranger”; and ‘A Frenchman in Japan,’ by Maurice Dokobra.