COURTEOUS JAPAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 12

COURTEOUS JAPAN.

HOSPITALITY FOR ROTARIANS.

DESIRE FOR FRIENDSHIP

"Tho desire of the refined and cultured Japanese business men to be on friendly terms with those of other nations rang truo as steel," said Mr. J. F. Shanly on his return yesterday from the Rotary convention at Tokio.

Sir. Shanly said this impression was shared by all the visitors who were privileged to hear the Japanese speak and to bo entertained by them. The hospitality of the Japanese knew no bounds. All doors were thrown open to the visitors, including tho grounds of tho Imperial Palace, and the homes of Baron Tanaka A the Primo Minister, and others. A feature of tho round of entertainments was a ball in tho peacock room of the Imperial Hotel, where many Japanese ladies attended their first dance at which thcro was jazzing.

The convention was attended by delegates from all countries bordering on the Pacific Ocean. Mr. Charles Rhodes acted as principal spokesman for tho New Zealand delegation, and Mr. Shanly said his conciso and dignified speeches were fully appreciated on all occasions. Rotary was flourishing in Japan and there were clubs in all tho larger towns.

Considerable interest was taken by tho visitors in the reconstruction of Yokohama, where a splendid new city was arising from tho ruins of the city laid waste by tho earthquake. Instead of tho narrow winding streets of tho old days there were now straight boulevards. Tho people kept the old Yokohama and tho new before the public in an earthquake museum, v.hero models of the city before and after the earthquako were on view.