A JAPANESE HOST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 121, 27 June 1914, Page 3

A JAPANESE HOST.

BEAUTIFUL EASTERN HOME. Under date of April 10 an account was sent from Yokohama to an American exchange of the entertainment of a party of Hawaiian excursionists in what is supposed to be the most sumptuous home in Japan. The dinner waft given by President Soicliiro Asano of the Toyo Risen Kaisha, says an American exchange. President Asano's home at Takanawa is very remarkable for two things —for its wondrous beauty, a gorgeous and bewildering Japanese beauty—and for the perfect hospitality that President and Mme. Asano there dispense to their friends and acquaintances and to all whose good fortune brings them an invitation. The head of the T.K.K. line has established the now well-known custom of inviting to tea at this house all passengers who travel aboard his steamers. The Hawaiian party was, however, especially favoured. In addition to the tea invitation it received a Cordial invitation for dinner on the night after the steamer arrived. A train from Yokohama conveyed the party to Takanawa, about fifty minutes ride" from Yokohama, and in the outskirts of Tolcio. Carriages awaited the visitors at the station —queer little closed carriages in which four people

can sit if their legs are not too long. The carriage dashed through the rain and mud for a quarter of an hour and then suddenly the party emerged into a new and bizarre world, alighting from tlj.e carriages under a broad entrance and being ushered in stately fashion into the beautiful Asano residence. Like a Museum. To an Occidental eye the home of President Asano is curiously like some museum of splendid art, like the ideas of form and colour that the Occidental receives from looking at ancient Japanese prints. It embodies this and blends with it the newer Japan—the Japan of modern conveniences and comforts adapted to the tastes of all guests. The Hawaiian party was ushered up a series of broad staircases, into a specious drawing room and later into a great dining hall. Ami everywhere was the glitter and the sheen of rich colour and richer substance—every--where the glories of Japaneso art, the prized heritages of Japanese history. Ancient Samurai .in armour, bronzes, porcelains, lacquer 'work, huge vases, marvellous silk embroidery, cunningly woven mattings, inlaid floors over which shod feet never tread —all the amazing array of things that has made this .the most noted private residence in Japan were unrolled before the eves of the visitors.

111 the drawing room President and Mme. Asano and their two daughters received the guests. ••tHere also were T. Isaka, managing director of the T.K.'K. line; H. Eitaki, former Consul-General for Hawaii, and recently on leave of absence; T. Tanaka of the Japanese Foreign Office, who visited Hawaii about a year and a half ago; K, Imanishi,"banker ami business man, and by the way, a brother-in-law of Arthur K. Ozawa, of. Honolulu; and several other distinguished Japanese. Most of them, including President Asano, wore the Japanese ceremonial costume for such occasions, rich, dark kimonos with the family emblem on.each shoulder. A Wonderful Entertainment. After a pleasant hour in the drawingroom dinner was served in a large upstairs dining room. It was a Japanese dinner, the perfection of culinary art. Course after course produced new gastronomic delights. As favours handsome fans were given the ! guests, and President Asano and others I autograjjliod these fans in Japanese I characters.

During the evening the guests were treated to entertainment by a wonderful juggler and later came an even greater surprise when a Japanese girl in gay kimono sat down at the big piano'and sang several Occidental songs in a voice of really remarkable quality. E. A. Mott-Smith, who is keenly interested in music, likens her voice to that of the famous Parepa Rosa, the diva noted in a bygone generation. The girl has never been educated musically except in Japan, yet she sings English, French, and German with equal ease, and her voice is superior to any heard in Honolulu in three years. Her singing was a special entertainment for the Hawaiian party, which numbered several musicians. Another feature of the evening was the presence of a Japanese watercolour artist, who drew sketch after sketch ami gave them to the visitors.