European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 30, 1959, Darmstadt, Hesse A Tii a new japanese people emerges As traditions Are toppled but millions find themselves in vacuum As reforms sweep away props by John Roderick a staff writer fourteen years ago on sept. 2 the japanese surrendered to the ., end ing the most costly War Ever fought. To Day Japan is an american ally the key Stone to the West s defense in Asia. What Are these hard working modern minded asians like writers scholars and sociologists have had a hand at analysis. They have observed that the japanese say yes when Tiey. Mean no that they Are a nation of Brilliant imitators that they Are industrious sentimental lovers of nature. Exquisitely polite at Home arid astonishingly rude in truth is that the japanese cry and laugh get angry or discouraged for very much the same reasons As do americans englishmen or Are rude selfish dishonest impolite insincere and criminal in about the same proportion As Are other people else where they seem to have a greater than Ordinary capacity for suffering silently responding to friendliness taking offence at real or fancied slights and for finding Beauty either in the squalor of the cities or the disorder of the Countryside. They have their share of intolerance an though they criticize the treatment of the american negro they do nothing to improve the lot of the Eta a whole class of outcasts in their own country. In general they idolize movie stars cheer their favorite baseball player throw pop bottles at the Umpire play the lottery pet in the Parks dance the tango and keep their noses glued to television very much As Ordinary people do in the ., or of their industriousness the japanese have been compared to the Ger mans. But in fact they More nearly resemble the English who also inhabit Small densely populated group of islands just off a major the English the japanese have erected an elaborate system of manners to permit them to live without too much conflict in Contact with the crowded Jost Ling millions in the tiny land. Long established religions and centuries of Royal Rule have Given the japanese a society which like that of the English demands respect for superiors has create Sharp distinctions Between the classes and Given an inordinate love of pageantry pomp and circumstance. During the 19th Century it was fashion Able to regard the japanese a somewhat comic doll like creatures whose chief pre occupation Lay in Flower arranging in top girl Friend goes Western Date Sticks to tradition. Below modern father does something unheard of before War. Cense burning and ritual Tea drinking. Pearl Harbor exploded this myth. The West suddenly discerned a Tough hard working nation of half modern half Feudal people who pressed into the service of a military clique were Able to Challenge the might of the The postwar occupation set in motion anew japanese revolution nearly As pro found As that begun by Commodore Perrin 1853 when he opened up the country to the Western world after 200 years of Iso but completing the country s break with feudalism the occupation redistributed the land removed the emperor fro politics gave the women the vote encouraged labor movements reduced the Power of the shinto state religion re stored Freedom of the press and revamped the tradition bound education system. A new kind of japanese has emerge from these historic changes an individual who thinks for himself takes greater initiative and understands the meaning of responsibility but the reforms also swept away some of the ancient beliefs and customs which had been the prop of Many of the com Mon people. As a consequence millions find themselves in a spiritual and moral vacuum. Some seeking new disciplines to replace the old. Have turned to Politico religious groups which stress military organization or to the communist party. With the old constraints removed crimean juvenile delinquency in particular have increased at an alarming rate. But. Despite the drawbacks the Japa Nese As a whole appear convinced that their new world is far Superior and much to be preferred to the Oldie is a world in which the ancient and the modern Jostle each other every Day of the , television sets transistor radios cocktail shakers electric washing machines twin Beds reclining chairs vacuum cleaners i i sets cloches hats sack dresses and Western style suits at test to the taste for the Kimono wooden Geta shoes. Scrolls lacquer Rice bowls chop Sticks Straw Mats for flooring apparatus for Flower arranging and the Tea ceremony give evidence of a continuing love for the countries since the end of world War ii have been in such a hurry to catch up with the rest of the world. But fewer still have plunged into the Middle of the 20th Century still clinging tightly to their treasured past. Sunday August 30, 1959 the stars and stapes u
