Says Admiral Kobayashi –

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 24

Says Admiral Kobayashi -

DISTINGUISHED JAPANESE NAVAL VISITOR CHATS OF HIS HOMELAND

This article was written 'by Vice-Admiral Seizo Kobayashi. commanding the Japanese Squadron. It first appeared in the Melbourne "Herald." ...

T is a very importan thing that one nation should understand the conditions of another. It is good to. travel for this purpose; it is good for people to meet, that ti their minds may meet too and understand each other. I have many friends overseas who think that in the big earthquake in 1923 all Japan was swallowed. They ask me how we are able to carry on our business when all is ruined. They do not understand that it is only Tokyo and Yokohama that are chiefly hurt. In that big earthquake long we remember how graciousp the people overseas w r ere in introducing reljef funds at once, so prompt and so voluntary. The people of Japan will never forget this. I am glad that we are recovering. In Tokyo 80 per cent, of the buildings have been rebuilt, and in Yokohama 60 per cent. But these two cities do not cover all Japan. Because the first is the political centre and the other is the business and foreign centre much attention was directed to their part in the disaster, but the real centre of Japan is Osaka and Kobe, 400 miles apart from Tokyo. These cities never suffer from earthquakes, and they progress day by day. Somebody imagines the earthquake disrupted all Japan, but it took place in just a small corner, in which happened to lie the c'apital. Now I come to more important, matters, showing how necessary it is that countries understand the point of view of each other. I had the pleasure of attending the Geneva Conference last year, and of meeting the British delegation, including Mr. Bridgeman, the First Lord of the Admiralty; Vice-Ad-miral Field, and my old acquaintance, Sir Joseph Cook, and his naval adviser, Captain Feakes. At that time Great Britain, Japan and the United States are enjoying most cordial relations, no prejudice existing among us. Really, 1 think it is better sentiment than ever before. Once America felt some resentment for certain things, but that has passed. That good relation showed by the three countries feeling that our naval armaments do not —what shall I say?— threaten each other. Bach armament is in proper relation to the needs of the countries. Our idea was to limit the armament to the status quo, if possible to reduce it, without losing the present ratio. At the same time w r e understood that Great Britain after the war cut off, or “scrapped” many ships in order to meet financial difficulties. Now things have become more normal, and our island Empire can readily understand, from our own needs, that Britain must have cruisers to protect trade routes. So we solicited to allow a certain number of cruisers over a certain age. Actual fighting ships must be modern, but elder cruisers may well be used as patrols, to meet needs. This was our suggestion, because we understand so well Britain’s necessities, but unfortunately there was a difference of opinion what sort of cruisers should be

built in the future, so we came to no conclusion. By that conference, however, we got to know what three countries required, so the next conference we may come to certain useful conclusions. Last year’s meeting—what shall I say?—“cleared the air,” and made a fine road to success next time. Now let us leave the matter of politics. lam asked much what we think of the change in women. I see short dresses, and bobbed hair, and I am asked if I feel surprise. Of course not. In Japan our girls sometimes do the same. Office girls, typists, shop girls wear short dresses and cut their hair, and mingle freely with men as heh*e. Of course it shocked the older people at first, and bewildered them, and I will tell you why. In Japan, in times just before this, when a Japanese wife became a widow, she cut off her hair so that all might know her sorrow. When young girls did it, the older people stared in sympathy. They could not understand—how shall I say—the sudden mortality of husbands. Prince Tokugawa, the father of our Consul-General in Australia and New Zealand, is the President of the House of Lords in Japan. He was sent as the leader of our delegation to the Washington Conference. He was asked by the newspapers of America what he thought of the young American woman. This is what he said: “Japan ladies are so conservative, and reluctant to express their feelings, but American ladies are quite frank and open and cheerful, just like those ladies treat their legs. American ladies have their knees high up.” It is true. When ladies are so candid with their legs, it comes the same in their dispositions. In Japan, then, we have the “modern givl.” That is what we call them. When something shocks us, we shrug and say: “It is the modern girl.” Perhaps there is a little condemnation, a little contempt, in the term. It is hard for the old-fashioned to change. Sport changes the attitude of people in my country. We are becoming fond of sport. When I was a boy at school, English teachers were our masters. They taught us to play football, and all the high schools grew fond of it.

Later American teachers came to the country, and they taught the boys to play baseball. For long baseball became the most popular game in Japan. Lately football is reviving. That Prince Tokugawa I wrote about is the President of the Japan Football Association, and be Is very interested in the game. Then tennis is very much played. I think you know that we have international players, very good. One woman, Miss K. Hitomi. is a lady sporter, as I may call her. She is wonderful. She is a champion at the high jump, and her running is much admired. In Japan she is very popular, and gains much admiration. She is in charge of the sports section of a great paper in Osaka; quite young. She attended the International Women’s games in Norway and secured highest points. She is now in Europe for the Olympic Games. She holds the world’s record for a long jump.

It can be understood that all the praise and talk about this young lady encourages the other girls, and all the ladies’ schools are keen to have champions. I think you would be surprised to see how good they are at basketball, and all the English and American games. It is said; if only we can get over the surprise and learn to understand that, generally speaking, we are very much alike, having the same desires, the same admiration for the good in each other, the same needs, there would be an end to the silly thought that all our minds are set on stealing advantages that can come to us so easily by conferring in a friendly way and seeking to advance ourselves by advancing each other. It is not only the best way, but it is the only way.