. Things seen in Japan . nd in strangecontortions, beside the Imperial Moat, inTokio, where dark and placid water runs be-tween the lichen-stained walls; a Jinriksha 221 The Fviture of Japan ride to Mississippi Bay, near Yokohama,to which Perry came half a century ago toopen up Japan to the Western peoples; avisit to the theatre street of any largetown; an expedition up Fuji San ; or par-ticipation in one or other of the flower orsimilar festivals, it is just the same—thehappy Japanese obtain the maximum ofenjoyment out of them all. The flowering of the cherry-tree is anational fete. When the
. Things seen in Japan . nd in strangecontortions, beside the Imperial Moat, inTokio, where dark and placid water runs be-tween the lichen-stained walls; a Jinriksha 221 The Fviture of Japan ride to Mississippi Bay, near Yokohama,to which Perry came half a century ago toopen up Japan to the Western peoples; avisit to the theatre street of any largetown; an expedition up Fuji San ; or par-ticipation in one or other of the flower orsimilar festivals, it is just the same—thehappy Japanese obtain the maximum ofenjoyment out of them all. The flowering of the cherry-tree is anational fete. When the bloom is reallyout—and the Japanese, old and young,gentle and simple, regard the matter withgrave concern for weeks before—in Tokio,as in other towns, everyone poui-s acrossthe bridges, over the canals, and thence totheir holiday under the double rows ofcherry - trees at Mokojima. There thepeople hold high festival, even the babiesregarding the heavily-laden trees of pinkblossom with solemnly appreciative eyes, 222. JAPANESF. (iiur-s ; rill, () ii.\K-i ui:i:s lii^iUK tiu-: AN(Ii:.\T ;UI.\l, MOAT AT TOKIO. The Future of Japan into which smiles hke sunlight on a land-scape are soon bound to creep. At Mukojiuia one sees Tokio Bank-Holidaying. There are gathered togetherall sorts and conditions of men, women,and children, who promenade, a laughing,merry throng, until tired, and then betakethemselves to the chaya for tea, gossip,and rest. Even the drinking of much sakeseems not to produce drunkenness, butonly greater politeness—most amusinglyimpressive politeness—and a broadenedsmile. But the drinkers of the insidioussake are comparatively few. The manyfathers, mothers, sons, daughters, and smallchildren patronize the honourable teaand honourable cakes, and go homeafter their annual Festival of the Cherry-Blossom sober and content. Although Christmas has no meaning asa festival to the Japanese, and is merely 225 The Future of Japan kept up at the foreign se
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidthingsseenin, bookyear1911
