THE PRINCE IN JAPAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18079, 2 May 1922, Page 7

THE PRINCE IN JAPAN.

TOKIO GARRISON REVIEW.

CHAMPION WRESTLING MATCH. TOKIO. April 15. The Prince of Wales, dressed in the uniform of a .Japanese general (which is the honorary rank bestowed upon him), with the Prince Regent, both on horseback, reviewed this morning 14,C00 troops of the First Division of the Tokio gar- - rison. An unusual feature was that, when the Prince rode to the reviewing ground massed bands played the British National Anthem, and bugle bands played simultaneously the Japanese Anthem. The morning was gloriously fine, and the. air so clear that Mount Fuji, more than 5,00 miles distant, was visible in dim violet shadow. The Prince the beautiful piebald charger Harukoma, presented to the Crown Prince three years ago by the Prefecture of Kagoshima. The Imperial Guard review has never been attended by staff officers below the rank of lieutenant-colonel, but on. this occasion every British officer attached to the Embassy—even tho ''.aaguage students —was invited to be present. The foreign attaches made bright splashes of colour . amid the general monotony of khaki. The troops, all in field service uniform—khaki tunics, trousers, and puttees, red-banded caps, and knapsackswere drawn up on three sides of a square. They consisted of four infantry . regiments, each of three battalions, a cavalry regiment, six field batteries, engineers, and transport units;. The parade was a wonderfully fine spectacle, the appearance of the flower of the Japanese Army being strikingly impressive. The march past occupied more than . half an hour. Tho infantry went past in column of companies, marching in ■ semi-goose step, rythmically swinging their left arms straight, froni the : s-houlder. The band played tho " Imperial Guard Review March," a very inspiring quick-step. At the head of each .. regiment its battle colours were borne, in each case nothing remaining of ihe war-worn flags but their border fringes. The Prince was an interested spectator of a wrestling match Uiis afternoon in a .. small but perfectly fitted arena in the grounds of Prince Tokugawa, who had s Devn the Prince's host nt luncheon. The champions—Tochi Giyama and Onishiki, weighing 2501b. and 2901b. I respectively —entered a flower-encircled ring with the full traditional ceremony. and the entire encounter was conducted with tho closest attention to the ethical detail governing every utterance and ■ gesture. The Prince, who was seated in tho front, between Prince ard Princess Higashi Fushimi, showed appreciation of tho exhibition, which was not of the nature of a contest, but intended to show the skil, of the wrestlers. A number of bouts vere held before the champions engaged.