2 54 TEE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



graduating with the doctor's degree, of each school. The degree may- 

 be given either for completion of the regular course or for a satisfactory- 

 piece of research conducted under the auspices of University Hall. 

 To the latter admission is either by graduation from the university 

 with gakushi rank or by examination. Thus the way is open to the 

 highest degree for the non-college trained man who is capable of doing 

 research work and satisfies the faculty, or the graduates, as to his 

 ability. This provision for the exceptional man is, I believe, especially 

 commendable and stands in contrast with the growing tendency of 

 universities in the United States to standardize everything. Degrees 

 in Japan open the way to appointments on the bench, in the civil ser- 

 vice, and to responsible positions in mercantile life. They are, there- 

 fore, much in demand, and there are always many more applications 

 for admission to the universities than can possibly be accepted. At 

 Kyoto there are now 984 students, of whom 70 are in University Hall, 

 or, as we should say, are graduate students. At Tokyo there are over 

 5,000 students and there are now nearly 10,000 alumni. Of 5,737 

 admitted in the years 1905 to 1909, inclusive, 1,076 were graduates of 

 the colleges, 4,709 came from the higher schools, and 1,029 were 

 admitted by examination. Of those who enter the university a large 

 number remain to graduate. At Kyoto the proportion is 70 per cent. ; 

 a sure test of the quality both of students and professors, though 

 passing standards in examinations are low, 60 being a passing mark. If, 

 however, one may judge by a very brief experience in meeting univer- 

 sity men in Japan, few who are unfit survive. Degrees in Japan have 

 one further peculiarity. They are revocable for anything which involves 

 moral culpability. The Bakuslii have the power of revoking as well as 

 recommending degrees, though a three fourths vote is necessary for 

 that purpose. 



The University at Tokyo supports no dormitory, and at Kyoto most 

 of the students lodge outside the grounds. They, as in the lower 

 schools, wear uniforms and pay moderate tuition fees. Professor Basil 

 Hall Chamberlain, speaking from his long experience says : " As for the 

 typical Japanese student, he belongs to that class of youth who are the 

 schoolmaster's delight — quiet, intelligent, deferential, studious almost 

 to excess. His only marked fault is a tendency common to all sub- 

 ordinates in Japan — a tendency to wish to steer the ship himself." To 

 the stray visitor Japanese students seem much like those in America. 

 Their actual greater age is not apparent, since in Japan nobody looks as 

 old as he is. They are generally sturdy, well set-up looking, young men. 

 Formerly they devoted too little attention, it is said, to physical culture, 

 but the introduction of gymnastics, changes in diet, and the introduc- 

 tion of sports has worked wonders. A professor in the University of 

 Tokyo struck an answering chord when he remarked to a group of 

 American visitors, " Yes, the campus is very beautiful — but it is not 



