The Spirit of Young Japan.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 7, 16 February 1907, Page 37

The Spirit of Young Japan.

'Die following interesting sketch from “The World and His \\ ife” is an individual and national lesson in the art of “How to Get On": The article tells of the perseverance and pluck of Mr. Ken Iloshino, late of Tokyo, Japan, later of New York, and later still of Columbia University. U.S.A., of which he is a B.A. The writer of the article met Mr. Iloshino in London, with a dress suit case full of hundreds of specimens of Japanese colour printing, which he was selling to raise money to pay for his education. It. seems that Air. Hoshino goes around with that bag full of prints because, like the most of us, he must have wherewith to live; but there is more than that in it. He first started his rapidly growing business to enable him to study at Columbia. When lie had been two years at the University, he took the bull by the horns, and boldly crossed the Atlantic to sell his prints in London, so that he might have funds to finish his course and take his degree. He met with so much success that, having done that which he set out to do when he registered at Columbia, he has come to London again. British pluck has been a byword for the world for ages; nowadays we are beginning to talk of ‘Japanese pluck.’ It is a plucky man who takes himself through college by spiling little prints, nine inches square, at a few pence each. Consider the magnitude of the undertaking! “And why did you leave Japan?” 1 asked. ■‘Because I was called ‘Cold Rice’’’the answer came pat, “and, had I stayed, would have lost my surname and coat of arms. So there you are! 1 quit home in the winter of 18!)!). and went to America, where even a Cold Rice can load a most honourable, independent life, being a boss of himself.” The explanation, though seemingly cryptic, was sufficient. Air. Iloshino is the youngest of five sons; and to be the youngest boy in Japan is no enviable position. “Cold Rice” is h.’s- name and cold rice is his portion, for he may not eat until all his older brothers are served. But that is nott the worst. The youngest son is not wanted. He must be adopted by another family who have no sons of their own. and lose utterly all connection with his own people. Decades of ancestor worship have given the Japanese a greater love of family than have any other nation of the world; and it is this custom of adoption that is driving Young Japan out into the world to seek position, just as the lack of money has driven the younger sons of Britain out into all the corners of the seven seas. "I left home at my own suggestion.” said Mr. Iloshino. “I had a little money, and borrowed my fifty dollars from a cousin. To him I sent it back when 1 arrived in New York.” The United States will not admit an alien unless he can show fifty dollars. Having returned the borrowed money, the plucky schoolboy—he was little more found himself hard up in a strange land. “After a few days 1 got work in a store to carry cucumbers—a dollar a. week. . Soon I found out. to my amazement, that one could be taught for nothing i ( n America. Then I gave up my evenings to a free school. When I had made a little progress, I went to a <hiy school, and learned with the smallest, little boys in the lowest class. In the early morning and the evenings 1 earned money by doing odd jobs and making clean for a doctor, at a salary of half a dollar a week.” **That made the day* lung for you, didn’t fcf’ - .

. “Ah, yes! Bui I was working fur my own self, and stall had my coat of aims. I >M*gan to •beam «»f making money ami position, and ret in ning to Japan honoured by my ianiilv." 'file light in his eyes as hr -poke showed how deep ami strong was the desire that lr<l the young.'dcr through those strenuous <lays in New York. Learning all day and working hard at night, hr soon macle sufficient money to start an agency for the beautiful silks of his native kind. Among a nation ol “pushers” he pushed harder than his rivals, and presently fomul himself with sufficient cash in hand to enter a college. “That was a most joyful day." said the hard-working Jap. “I ronhl hardly lielieve my good fortune. You see. L had come to America for the sake of my freedom, amt I found myself getting education as well. Three years I was at Allegheny <’olh»ge. working hard at my business in vacation times ami mi holidays. And then came the idea that 1 might get even more education in this la ml where even younger sons are as good as anyone else.” It is hard to imagine that anyone could earn money and attend school nt one ami the same time: but Mr. Iloshino did it. ami. what is more, four years after hr had landed a penniless alien in New \ ork. he had. by his- own endeavours. saved enough money to enter Columbia I Diversity! It is an amazing record of hard work, pluck, and selfdenia 1. It has been sai<l. again ami again, that the Japanese are no good at business; but when young Japan has lived for some years abroad, hr l<»srs the charaeteristirs of his laughing, pleasure loving countrvmrn. There ran be no doubt that as more ami more Nipponese are driven abroad l?y Ihe necessity of bring “boss of themselves,Japan will become a. dangerous eommrri-i tl rival to the foremost nations of the world. When young Japan Iwromcs middle-aged .Japan, with a stun- of rxperimu-r and a fund of money, he returns to his country- for his country’s good. “Young Japan" is determined to get there, and will deny itself anything for the sake of honour. Good link to Young Japan!