CHANGING, JAPAN

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 January 1935, Page 3

CHANGING, JAPAN

THE GEISHA MUST LEARN ANEW. Twenty years ago a performance in the Japanese Ka-bu-ki Theatre lasted 12 hours. The audience sat on cushions on the floor and took their meals in the auditorium. Only men took part on the stage. To-day not only aie the ordinary Japanese plays shortened, but chairs are provided for the audience, and refreshments are obtain-

able in the vestibule. This is but one side of a change which has accelerated in moveinent only since the war. The industrial change commenced long ago, but while industry, military and naval organisation, and foreign trade developed rapidly to the wonder of the Western world, Japanese life was scarcely moved by the revolution. On all sides the conservative habits and customs of the people were main tained. The few who broke away were phenomena. But in the last ten years the strain which modernism in mechanisation imposed on the life of the people has proved the stronger, and, in the towns at least. Western ideas in every walk of life are now manifest. Even European and American ideals of beauty arc copied by men and women. The young men especially have succumbed to the jazz craze, and to cater to their requirements dance houses have been opened where jazz, music alone is played. These dance halls are not recognised by older folk, and youth goes to them surreptitiously. There may be 70 to a couple of hundred girl dancers engaged at such a hall, and the young man pays for each dance, lie is not permitted to converse with his partner before and after dancing.

These jazz dancing girls offer great competition to the Geishas, whose attractions are fading. The wiser Geishas realise this, and hasten to copy European—or American —models. There is one great difficulty in doi ing this, a difficulty which presents itself also to the daughters of betterclass families. Nature has provided • people of the Ear East, including the ■ .Japanese, with what is known as the ■ Mongolian fold: this is a heavy droop - of the upper eyelid, and a drawing •I down of ihe brow. A few years ago a ■'wide-awake young surgeon discovered

a remedy in a comparatively easy operation, with the result that he has been beseiged by clients who were prepared to submit to the culling of the upper lid in a way that the told was removed, and the eye itself drawn more open, which gave a distinctly modern appearance to the features.

W E ST E R N E DI ' C A'l' 10 N. Matters in this sphere have proceeded so far that the Japanese educational authorities have decided to give the Geisha a Western form of education. In the past the Geisha's learning has proceeded mainly along the lines of songs and dances, the playing of the native instruments. and the exercise of the all-important “Tea Ceremony." Such simple, though charm ing. accomplishments are insufficient t oday. The modern Geisha must have a wider knowledge of tin' world, dance j the tango and foxtrot, play the piano, ‘and read notation. Al the new schools 'these things are taught alongside English. pantomimic and dramatic art and painting. The "Tea Ceremony" maintains h" place of importance since it is otic of

the fundamentals of Japanese eitquette, and the Samisen is commonly played, tfiough until ten years ago there were no schools of music where a system of notation was employed. But alongside these typical and delightful customs which maintain their popularity, there are pianos and violins for music, played by the same Japanese gills,. who must studiously perfect themselves in the elaborate and strict movements of the “Tea Ceremony, while their free hours are not occupied with tennis and other games and entertainment imported from the Western countries. Even clubs for women have been founded, an almost blasphemous idea but a year or so back. This modernising process has become very rapid of late years. In the streets of the large towns most of the men and increasing numbers of women wear European clothing. Nevertheless there arc occasions when she must revert to the old | traditional manners and styles, in dress and toilet makeup. Such occasions, as for example court functions, create a difficulty especially in regard to the coiffure. The old style demands absolutely straight uncurled hair. The upbuilding of the native coiffure is responsible for this. Yet European style establishments are springing up in considerable numbers where the straight black hair of the Japanese beauty is waved, and curled in a manner more in keeping vith the wearing of imported dress fashions, for which mannequin parades are regularly held at the high, class stores.

To-day in Japan men and women are engaged to some degree in sports and entertainments of the W’estern world. The Japanese girl is little different from the English, French, or American girl, and the children stait to play football and baseball as soon as they attend school.

MODERN FLATS. In the homes great changes have] been wrought at the same time. Modern brick and concrete buildings and | workers dwellings are taking the place of the old ramshackle wooden quarters. Blocks ol flats were erected in place of the shanties of the woilters destroyed in the last great earthquake. and each flat has its own lavatory accommodation and water supply instead of as in the old days a whole street using one pump. The builders of these new structures do not go to the oracle to consult if the Four Winds are favourable to the laying of foundations; rather he approaches the building authorities, fire police, and the Seismic Institute.

Many of the native furnishings are retained; electricity and gas is used for cooking and heating, but the hibuchi or charcoal fire is still in evidence on chilly evenings, the Japanese liking its cosiness much as English people love the open fireplace. The bedding is rolled up during the day, ami laid down on the floor al night, but chairs ami desks, bookcases, and sofas cf flic most modern styles, have invaded these new houses, and the life • f the inhabitants is forced into change. So in the business centre’s of towns, the need to satisfy the now desires; have brought about a different typo of restaurant and lea house. Beer gardens have become popular, and a great brewing industry has developed. In all directions the impetuous rush of Western modernism is apparent, while the older traditions tire pushed back and restrained tn the non-urbttn ar'-as. — Nti tori.