JAPAN 



3116 



JAPAN 



The People 



Their Characteristics. In no other part of 

 the world, perhaps, is there a more interesting 

 people than the Japanese, nor one toward 

 which more attention has been directed in 

 recent times. They are of the Mongol race, 

 closely related to the Chinese and the Koreans, 

 though shorter in stature than either of those 

 peoples. When Chinese and Japanese are 

 thrown together in situations where distinc- 

 tions of dress are lost, as in some American or 

 European university, it is practically impos- 

 sible to distinguish between the two. 



Just what the mingling process has been 

 from which the modern Japanese have evolved, 

 students do not know, but they recognize 

 among the inhabitants of Japan two distinct 

 types. That with which the world is familiar 

 from the everywhere-present Japanese print is 

 the fine or aristocratic type, by far the rarer 

 of the two. It is distinguished by unusual 

 stature, according to Japanese standards; by 

 the oval head and face, well-shaped nose, 

 almond eyes and pallid or slightly olive skin, 

 and by the almost total absence of hair from 

 the face. The people of the coarser type are 

 shorter and stockier, have broader faces, darker 

 skins and flatter noses ; and have, on the whole, 

 a more genial, good-natured expression. Since 

 the early days of their history the Japanese 

 have laid stress upon physical education, and 

 some of their systems have become famous; 

 yet they show a decided lack of physical de- 

 velopment, and in their exercises depend rather 

 upon quickness and agility than upon strength. 



Many of the women, with their smooth skin, 

 black hair and delicate hands, are very pretty 

 in their youth a peculiarly happy youth, for 

 Japan has been called "the paradise of chil- 

 dren" but very few of them retain their 

 good looks after their girlhood days have 



Mental and Moral Qualities. As alert men- 

 tally as they are physically and possessed in 

 an unusual degree of the powers of imitation, 

 the Japanese have profited by their contact 

 with other nations, but have managed at the 

 same time to keep the basic traits of their 

 character unchanged. No characteristic is 

 more prevalent than their gaiety and love of 

 laughter. The cheerful looks noticeable in a 

 crowd of holiday-makers are not masks for 

 the occasion; they are evidence of deep- 

 seated contentment. Even though he has 

 troubles, the Japanese has been taught that it 



is a disgrace to air them in public, either by 

 gloominess or by ill-temper. Courteous, kind, 

 brave, the Japanese down to the lowest classes 

 have many very attractive qualities; but a 

 certain deceitfulness is associated with their 

 extreme politeness, while a total lack of con- 

 sideration for women is a very unpleasant part 

 of their nature. 



Living in a land with so much beauty about 

 them, it seems but natural that the Japanese 

 should be themselves producers of beauty, 

 and indeed their art works and their manu- 

 factured products are sought the world over 

 (see subheads Manufactures and Art, below). 



Mode of Life. A Japanese house seems to a 

 visitor from America or Europe a rather un- 

 substantial structure. It is usually of one story, 

 is built of wood, and has sliding screens of 

 paper instead of windows, doors and parti- 

 tions, the outer ones backed by wooden shut- 

 ters. On the floor are straw mats, and that 

 these be thick and soft is a necessity, for they 

 constitute the sleeping-place for the family. 

 Since shoes must be removed on the porch, 

 these mats do not get dirty as do the rugs 

 in our homes. Beds, chairs, and . draperies 

 there are not, nor are there any tables except 

 the low lacquered stands on which the food 

 is served. Desks for reading and writing, how- 

 ever, are common. 



Except . in the poorer districts, rice is the 

 staple food, and with it is served fish, seaweed, 

 eggs, beans or something else to give it flavor, 

 or perhaps only the sauce made from soy 

 beans. Tea is used everywhere, and the com- 

 mon fermented drink is called sake. 



The dress varies much, according to the 

 wealth and position of the wearer; the peas- 

 ants, whether men or women, have as their 

 regular costume slips of coarse cotton, while 

 the higher classes wear robes of silk, sometimes 

 embroidered and often of great value. All the 

 costumes are alike in one respect, however; 

 they are loose, and allow the greatest freedom 

 of movement. The graceful, flowing robe of 

 the women has been introduced into Western 

 countries, where it is much used as a lounging 

 costume, under the name kimono. The Japa- 

 nese woman, however, does not wear hers 

 hanging free, but confines it with a silken 

 girdle, called the obi. 



Education. The present system of educatk 

 is not an outgrowth of the old native sys 

 but has been worked out according to Aim 



