PICTURESQUE FIGURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22209, 9 September 1935, Page 6

PICTURESQUE FIGURE

OLD MAN OF THE SEA - ■■■ OFFICER ON TFIAININQ.fIHIfs SEVENTY YEARS OF AGE A picturesque personality who ha« attracted considerable attention among visitors to the Japanese training bnrquentine Shintokii Maru i-j the 70 years old fourth officer and instructor in practical neamanship, Mr. M. Yoshi. wara. Known to the cadets find other officers as " Xeptune " and " Ojiisan " (foster father of tlio young men o® the sea), Mr. Yoshi wara has seen the merchant marine of Japan increase from a mere handful of small trading ves. sdls to a fleut of modern ships which are found in: every great port of the world. On Ojiisan has descended the mellow dignity of ;:;ge. He cannot speak a word of English, but through an interpyeter, he snid: " The sun is sinking ' and I am in the evening of my days. I will not make many more trips on the sea. I hmve seen the midnight sun and the wonders of the deep. My son and my little wife patiently await the return of the wanderer to Kobe. Nep. tune would like to spend a few happy years ashorti with his kin before he is called on the last, voyage of all." Ojiisan has few worries. His health is excellent and he has not suffered a riy illness for over 20 years. He know? that he is almost worshipped by tls cadets 011 board. They all take thgir troubles to him. On a fine day when the sails have been trimmed and there is little work to be done, Ojiisan sits on a capstan near the foremast and fills an old day pipe while young Japan gathers round to hoar stories of tho sea from a man who has been several times round the wo:rld, and has twice been shipwiecked. Career Begiins at 13 He tells them how he was born in tiie liittle seacoast town of Onomichi. His people were seafaring folk and at the age of !!.3 he decided to follow in the footstep.il of his father and grandfather and join the crew of a coastal trading sampan. About 1880, Japan began to buiSd a vast mercantile marine and a far-sighted Government decided to establish nautical training schools. Ojiisan. was chosen for an instructor in seamanship.

" I have trained men who are now captains of some of the largest ships from whose masts fiies the fanner of the Rising ISun," he said. *?Many of my pupils distinguished themselves in tlie war witlli Russia and a number of them were in the Japanese warships which acted as convoys to New Zealand troops!lips in the Great War. I think a man is of more use to his country if he trains young men for a useful occupation instead of killing the men of other nations." Ton Years iin Steam For ten years Ojiman was on a training steamer owred by the Nautica! College of Tokio. " I left the steam boat because my ears prefer the rustle of canvas to the throb of steam engines," he said. " Men are made on sailing Bhips. The young men of Japan can make the finest sailors in the world. They know ;no fear and they are very industrious.' 1 Ojiisau is sorry that his boe is not igoing to be a sailor. The young man thinks that he is better fitted for a, business Career and is at present studying in Kobe. The old siiilor is allowed many concessions on board by the authorities. There are tiro personal servants to attend to his needs. He is allowed extra make rationu,, The" chief steward sees to Hi that various little delicacies are (served to him at dinner and everyone on board is willing to help him. " We shall miss Ojiisan sorely when he leaves üb," said n, cadet on the ship. " He is as kind as a mother to us and we all love the old man of the sea."