1917 (202 entries)
1917.01.01 — New Year: national holiday.
1917.01.02 — Snowing. Streets and shops gaily decorated for the New Year. Shops show new goods, great quantities being piled up outside.
1917.01.03 — Miss Catherine Stinson, the American aviatrice, makes record flight at Osaka in face of strong gale, looping the loop several times.
1917.01.05 — Severe earthquake in Formosa, destroying sixty houses and killing thirty-three persons. Some 1,200 people left homeless.
1917.01.08 — The Chiyoda coast-guard ship foundered in a storm on her way from Port Arthur.
1917.01.10 — Emperor gives 30,000 yen to the fund for establishing a medical department at Keio-gijuku University.
1917.01.14 — The armoured cruiser Tsukuba blew up at Yokosuka, supposedly from spontaneous combustion, with loss of 153 lives. The cruiser was a ship of 13,750 tons, launched in 1905. The Tsukuba was the first modern warship built without a ram.
1917.01.16 — Lieutenant Yamamura, while piloting a Curtis aeroplane at Oppama, fell into the sea owing to being overturned by a gust of wind. As he was strapped to the machine he was under water 23 minutes and when rescued did not recover consciousness.
1917.01.21 — Imperial Diet reassembled after New Year holidays. Political parties hold caucus meetings and plan to move a motion of impeachment against the cabinet, the Kenseikai and the Tokuminto agreeing and the Seiyukai deciding to remain neutral.
1917.01.22 — A portion of the Koseikai party decides to join the Kenseikai and the Okuminto in moving a motion to impeach the cabinet.
1917.01.23
- Premier Count Terauchi, Viscount Motono, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Shoda, Minister of Finance, address the Upper and Lower houses of the Imperial Diet on the Government's policy. The Foreign Minister made special reference to the increasing friendship with Russia and the possibility of economic cooperation with the United States in China, with which country Japan desired cordiality.
- Mr. Leo Tolstoi, son of the famous Russian author, visits Tokyo to make a study of Japanese literature and see historic places.
- Lieutenant-General Ijichi died at Atami. He was a prominent officer in the wars with China and Russia, and received General Stoessel's surrender at Port Arthur, as representative of General Count Nogi.
- Dr. Starr, of the University of Chicago, visits Japan for the third time, to take a long walking tour through the rural parts of the empire.
1917.01.24 — Budget Committee meets and decides to abandon establishment of a Sino-Japanese bank in Manchuria.
1917.01.25 — Motion of impeachment moved in the Imperial Diet asserting want of confidence in the Government on the score of having been formed and having acted in a matter not according to the Constitution of the empire. Before the motion was put to the House a mandate arrived from the Emperor declaring the Diet dissolved and calling for an appeal to the country. Accordingly a general election will be held on April 20th next.
1917.01.26 — Suspension electric railway, the first of the kind in Japan, planned between Otawachi and Takayamachi in Gifu prefecture, a distance of over 71 miles. The new line will be a purely Japanese system, lighter in weight and less expensive than foreign systems. The South Sea Trading Company increased its capital to 3,000,000 yen and issued new shares. The company has planned a great extension of operations, with headquarters at Singapore, and new branches in Sumatra and the Philippines.
1917.01.27 — Big order for Japanese cocoons arrived from the Puhara districts of Central Asia through the Bank of Siberia, the order being necessitated by cessation of imports from Europe. Death of Count Munemoto Date, former lord of Sendai. The deceased nobleman was a descendant of the famous Date Masamune who despatched a mission to the Pope in the 17th century, with plans for Japanese expansion abroad.
1917.01.31 — Subscription to Russian 5 per cents reached 70,000,000 yen and had to close at 5 p.m. owing to large oversubscription.
1917.02.02 — A magazine in the godown of the Yokohama Warehousing Company blew up, causing a loss of 300,000 yen.
1917.02.03 — The Indian poet, Sir Rabindra Nath Tagore, arrived at Yokohama from the United States, en route to India.
1917.02.10 — Tachiyama, one of Japan's greatest champion wrestlers, planned a trip to the United States with a party of ten companions of the ring, to sail next June.
1917.02.12 — Government Commission appointed for the investigation of Finance, Trade and Diplomacy after the war, under the auspices of the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce, Finance, Communications and Foreign Affairs. Baron Hayashi, Japanese Minister to Pekin, arrived in Tokyo and reported improvement in relations with China, owing to the settlement of recent negotiations and the resolution of America and Japan to cooperate in the financing of China. Viscount Ookochi, Viscount Tsunetada Kato and Dr. Kawai were appointed to represent Japan at the International Conference to convene at Rome in April. Mr. Morisane Mita, of the Imperial Household Department and one of the leading French scholars of Japan, died. He had long been a tutor in the Imperial Family.
1917.02.15 — Department of Communications announces that since the beginning of the war 28 ships representing a tonnage of 147,500 had been sold to Foreign countries, chiefly England, Norway and Spain.
1917.02.16 — Mr. Akizuki, formerly ambassador to Vienna, was appointed head of the new investigation bureau organized on the 12th.
1917.02.17 — Mrs. Shohin Noguchi, one of the most famous painters of Japan, passed away at the age of 71. She had been art teacher to many of the members of the Imperial Family and other distinguished personages and won a high place at the art exhibitions of the nation. The annual meeting of the Bank of Japan announced that last year's transactions represented a total of 48,618,000,000 yen, which was 1,394,400,000,000 yen more than the previous year.
1917.02.19 — The Osaka Medical College and hospital were burnt with a loss of about one million yen.
1917.02.20 — Annual Meeting of the Bank of Chosen decides to increase capital to 20,000,000 yen, necessitated by expansion of business in Korea.
1917.02.21 — Resignation of Viscount Hanabusa, President of the Japan Red Cross Society, and of Baron T. Ozawa, vice-president of the Society. Surgeon-General Baron Ishiguro was appointed President and the Hon. S. Hirayama vice-president of the Society. A committee including such well-known names as Viscount Kaneko, Barons Shibusawa, Takahashi, Sakatani and Megata, Mr. Shidehara vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. J. Inouye, Dr. Takamine, Hon. Tokutaro Sakai and others, together with the American Ambassador and Dr. Teusler, were appointed for the improvement of relations with the United States. The first item on their programme is the hastening of cooperation between America and Japan in the finance and commerce of China.
1917.02.23 — Germany having determined upon a ruthless submarine warfare, Japan decided to arm merchant ships plying in waters of the war zone; and the shipping companies decided on an average 20 per cent increase in freight rates from April 1.
1917.02.27 — Government permission given for professors in Imperial universities to offer themselves as candidates for election to the Imperial Diet, and due notice of such permission sent to university presidents.
1917.03.06 — Viscount Masatoshi Okoshi, Viscount Tsunetada Kato and Mr. Yabachi Kawai left as delegates to the International Conference on Commerce in Rome.
1917.03.08 — Lieutenant Sawada, one of Japan's most expert airmen, while flying in an aeroplane of his own design, fell from a height of 700 meters and was killed: cause unknown. Hon. George Wilkins Gutherie, American Ambassador to Japan, died of apoplexy in Tokyo.
1917.03.09 — Mr. Kuro Hosho, one of the foremost actors of Japan, died.
1917.03.10 — Inaugural meeting of the Japan Industry Club, comprising leading magnates of the nation.
1917.03.13 — Funeral of the late American Ambassador at Trinity Cathedral, Tokyo, attended by representatives of the Imperial Government and of his Majesty the Emperor, with a Guard of Honour from the Army. The body taken by train to Yokohama to be sent to the United States, the Imperial Government offering a warship for the purpose.
1917.03.14 — The various Chambers of Commerce of the empire met in Tokyo to discuss the problem of the British ban on exports.
1917.03.15 — Mr. Y. Yamaji, an eminent journalist and historian, died. The Exhibition commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the removal of the national capital to Tokyo opened at Uyeno Park. The Bank of Japan announced a reduction in the rate of interest on loans, owing to redundancy in the money market. With increasing income from exports, specie has accumulated until the note issue of the Bank of Japan has arisen to 410,000,000, while the legitimate margin of issue is only 105,000,000 yen.
1917.03.16 — Arrival of Mr. Wang Tah-Sieh, special envoy from Pekin, bringing the highest decoration of China to the Emperor of Japan. The Japanese Deposits Bureau accommodated France with a loan of 26,246,000 yen for one year and nine months at 6 per cent, and one per cent for underwriting.
1917.03.17 — Officials for the Chemical Industrial Exhibition were selected as follows: President, Viscount Kiyoura; vice-president, Baron Takei; Manager, Hon. S. Hirayama. The exhibition will open from Oct. 10 to November 20 and will represent Korea, Formosa, Kwantung and Saghalien as well as Japan proper. Japanese honourary consulate opened at Haifou, French Indo-China.
1917.03.19 — The one hundredth day after the death of Prince Oyama, when appropriate services were conducted at the tomb.
1917.03.20 — Dinner given by Premier Terauchi to leading political personages. Resignation of Count Yoshikawa as president of the Privy Council, Viscount Kiyoura being appointed to succeed him.
1917.03.21 — Three-million yen fund for soldiers of the Allies reached beyond the million yen mark. On account of severing diplomatic relations with Germany the Pekin Government asked permission of safe-conduct for the German Minister in Pekin while proceeding home by way of Japan and America.
1917.03.22 — Announcement by Department of Agriculture and Commerce of a tremendous increase in demand for Japanese paper in India and Australia. Exports have increased from 40,000 tons in 1915 to more than 100,000 tons this year, and will probably reach 200,000 tons before the end of the year.
1917.03.24 — Decision of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha to arm its liners proceeding to Atlantic waters, the Miyazaki Maru being the first one.
1917.03.25 — Warship Asama, which had been abroad and damaged off the American coast, returned to Japan for fuller repairs.
1917.03.28
- An extraordinary Cabinet Council met to bring the budget for 1917 into final form. Revenue for the year was estimated at 608,529,641 yen and expenditure at 551,105,610 yen, the excess of revenue over expenditure to be placed as reserve.
- The Imperial Privy Council issued regulations protecting the rights of Japanese and Swedish engineering firms in China.
1917.03.30 — A general meeting of the directors of the Toyo Kisen Kaisha passed resolutions disposing the profits for the last term and revising the regulations concerning warehousing and hotel management, the latter being a new department added to the company's enterprises. The total profits for the term were 3,250,099.98 yen.
1917.03.31 — Dr. S. Takezoye, formerly professor in the College of Literature in the Imperial University, Tokyo, and one-time minister to Korea, died. He was a master of the Chinese classics and an expert in the composition of Chinese odes. Among his more distinguished poems is the ode on the death of General Count Nogi.
1917.04.01 — Funeral of Lieutenant Sugino killed in an aeroplane accident in the suburbs of Tokyo, attended by leading officers of the army.
1917.04.03 — Jimmu Tenno-sai, the annual national holiday in memory of the demise of the first Emperor of Japan. The whole country a scene of beauty with cherry-blossoms, and vast crowds of people swarming everywhere to see them.
1917.04.04 — The clearing house banks give a dinner to Premier Terauchi and leading officials of the Imperial Cabinet, at which important addresses were delivered.
1917.04.06
- Vice-Admiral Murakami, Commander of the Third Squadron, was appointed Chief of Naval Education, while the former occupant of that position, Vice-Admiral Arima, was made Commander of the Third Squadron.
- Matches stored in an Osaka warehouse spontaneously ignited, resulting in a 2,500,000 yen fire.
1917.04.07 — The new Asano dockyard at Tsurumi was formerly opened. The new yard has 20 docks and 20 cranes, and can accommodate ships of 700 feet, or over 30,000 tons. The capital of the company is 3,750,000 yen.
1917.04.11
- Anniversary of the death of the late Empress Dowager was duly observed with appropriate ceremonies at the Imperial Mausoleum in Momoyama, the Emperor being represented by H. I. H. Prince Kuni.
- Mr. Lindsay Russell, president of the Japan Society of New York, who was staying in Tokyo, visited Premier Terauchi.
- The National specie holdings reached at total of 736,000,000 yen.
1917.04.13 — The centenary of Tadataka Ino, the famous Japanese geographer who compiled the first map of the country, was commemorated at the Genkuji temple at Asakusa. A copy of this map was the first map of Japan introduced into Europe, brought thither by the famous Japanologue, Von Siebold.
1917.04.14 — Dinner given by General Oshima to patrons who support the Home for Disabled Soldiers at Koishikawa. Over 40 responded to the invitation; and Marquis Okuma made an address.
1917.04.15 — Returns from the Department of Agriculture and Commerce report a remarkable increase in the export of Japanese beer since the beginning of the war, rising from a value of 2,500,000 in 1916 to twice that amount in the succeeding year, an increase of 56 per cent.
1917.04.16 — Dr. Tanakadate, of the Engineering Department of the Tokyo Imperial University, the most noted Japanese authority on aeronautics, resigned on account of age.
1917.04.17 — The annual Imperial Cherry-blossom Garden Party was given at the Shinjuku Palace, attended by their Imperial Majesties and many distinguished Japanese and foreigners.
1917.04.18
- Imperial regulations were issued prohibiting trade with enemy nations, in accordance with the resolutions passed at the Economic Conference of the Allies held in Paris.
- Professor Berry of the United States visited the Experimental Agricultural Farm and delivered a lecture on "The Land as the Basis of Civilization."
1917.04.20 — The General Election for members of the Imperial Diet was held, when the Terauchi Government was returned in triumph at the polls, with the following results: Seiyukai 111 → 159 (+48); Kenseikai 200 → 119 (−81); Kokuminto 28 → 36 (+8); Independent 42 → 67 (+25). The celebrated American aviator, Art Smith, and his mother were welcomed to Japan again with great enthusiasm.
1917.04.22 — A riding party composed of veterans of the Russo-Japanese war under the late General Count Nogi, was organized and rode to the Tamagawa river, joined by Lieutenant-General Kawai and some sixty other high officers.
1917.04.23
- The Institute of Natural Science held a meeting when Baron Kikuchi was elected president and Dr. Sakurai vice-president.
- Viscount Akimoto, former lord of Tatebayashi, died at the age of sixty-one. At one time he had been an official in the French Legation and a Minister Plenipotentiary abroad. For many years he had been leader of the Seiyukai party among the peers.
- The inaugural meeting of the Sakurakai, or Society of the Cherry-blossom, was held at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, when addresses were delivered by distinguished Japanese lovers of the beautiful blossom. The object of the society is to promote the planting and preservation of cherry-trees and to publish literature on the subject.
- The 23rd of April, being the same as March 3rd of the old calendar, was the day of greatest ebb-tide when hundreds of Japanese turned out on the beaches clam-digging off the coasts of Shinagawa and presented a spectacle of gay and unique picturesqueness.
1917.04.24 — The Decree of the Imperial Privy Council prohibiting trade with enemy nations was formally promulgated and officially announced.
1917.04.25
- General meeting of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha decided to increase the number of directors from nine to thirteen; and President Kondo reported the tonnage of the company's ships as over 500,000 valued at over 100,000,000 yen, with lines running to every part of the world.
- The Oriental Tourist Company, an organization for the promotion of travel in the Orient, with a capital of 250,000 yen, held its inaugural meeting for the election of directors. The company expects to purchase a beautiful site at Hinoyama where it will erect villas and hotels for tourists to enjoy matchless views.
1917.04.26 — The Government announced a domestic loan of 40,000,000 yen at 5% for railway purposes.
1917.04.27 — General Kuroki and Vice-Admiral Ariji were appointed Privy councillors.
1917.04.28 — The body of the late American Ambassador was conveyed to the Japanese warship Azuma to be taken to the United States, all ships in Yokohama harbour showing respect by flags at half-mast. The departure of the casket was witnessed by Admiral Togo and other high officers of the navy and nation, including Viscount Motono, Foreign Minister. The Azuma weighed anchor at 3 p.m. for America.
1917.05.01
- The Japan-American Society of Tokyo held a meeting and decided to hold the inaugural meeting of the Society on the 11th, with the following officers: Honorary President, the American Ambassador; Vice-presidents honorary, Dr. Clay MacCauley, Baron Megata, Mr. L. Russell, Baron Sakatani, Consul-General Scidmore, Baron Shibusawa, Dr. Takaminé, Prince Tokugawa, Baron Takahashi, President, Viscount Kaneko; vice-presidents, Mr. B. W. Fleisher, Mr. Hioki.
- Mr. Shuji Izawa, a noted philanthropist and member of the House of Peers, died. He was the inventor of a new method for the cure of stammering and established a school to teach it.
1917.05.02 — Marquis Matsukata was appointed Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, vacant since the death of Prince Oyama.
1917.05.03 — Mr. S. Tatsuké, secretary to the Japanese Embassy in Paris, was appointed Minister to Chilé.
1917.05.04
- Mrs. Gutherie, wife of the late American Ambassador, sailed for the United States.
- Sir Conyngham Greene, the British Ambassador, proceeded to the Imperial Palace and presented to H. I. H. the Crown Prince, the Royal Victorian Order, conferred by H. B. M. the King of Great Britain.
1917.05.05 — An explosion at one of the warehouses of the Tokyo Warehousing Company in Osaka destroyed 140 houses and killed 46 persons and injured 200 more, with a total loss 10,000,000 yen. The accident was caused by the careless handling of a cask of chlorate of potash.
1917.05.07 — On hearing of the calamity Baron Iwasaki, president of the Tokyo Warehousing Company, proceeded to Osaka, where he visited the wounded and distributed a million yen among the sufferers.
1917.05.08 — The Asiatic Olympic Games were held in Tokyo, participated in by Chinese, Filipinos and Japanese.
1917.05.09 — The Hon. S. Hirayama and Dr. Tomii were appointed officials in connection with the reception of petitions sent in to be submitted to the Emperor.
1917.05.10
- The Railway Board issued a report of revenue for 1916, the total receipts being 134,245,000 yen, an increase of 19,920,000 over the previous year.
- The Nippon Yusen Kaisha declared a dividend of 70 per cent, net profits for the term being 38,478,000 yen.
1917.05.11 — The newly organized Japan American Society held its inaugural meeting at the Bankers' Club, Viscount Kaneko presiding; when speeches were delivered by Premier Terauchi, Viscount Motono, Consul-General Scidmore, Marquis Okuma, Prince Tokugawa, Baron Shibusawa, Mr. S. S. McClure and others.
1917.05.12
- A Cabinet Council decided to summon the 39th session of the Imperial Diet on June 21 to continue for 21 days, the Speaker to be chosen by the Seiyukai, which commands a majority in the House.
- The Osaka Shosen Kaisha decided to increase its capital from 24,750,000 yen to 50,000,000, and for this purpose to issue shares to the face value of 25,750,000 yen.
- The Olympic Games closed with the following points: China 49, Philippines 74, Japan 123. The 25 mile Marathon race was won by Japan in 2h, 31m, and 23s.
1917.05.14 — The decree prohibiting trade with enemy nations was enforced from this date, the black list being published in the national Gazette.
1917.05.16 — Dr. Adachi was appointed Minister to Belgium. Mr. Nakamura and Mr. Arai were appointed members of the House of Peers.
1917.05.18 — A Cabinet Council decided on a supplementary Budget of 138,000,000 yen to be presented for approval at the coming session of the Imperial Diet.
1917.05.19
- Japanese steamship lines to America raised freight on tea to 30 yen per ton, but the tea men demanded that it be reduced to 15. By mediation of the Vice-Minister of Communications the figure was settled at 18 yen per ton. The ordinary rate was yen 7.50.
- Mr. Terada succeeded Mr. Okazaki as chief secretary of the Imperial Diet.
1917.05.20 — Professor Tamai, of the Tokyo Aviation School, while flying with a passenger, Mr. Yugawa, plunged to the earth and both were killed.
1917.05.22
- The United Association of Russian Traders and Masters of Industry planned to organize a new shipping company for service between Japan and south Russia with a capital of 20,000,000 roubles, half to be subscribed by Japanese and half by Russians.
- The city of Yonezawa in Yamagata prefecture was almost totally destroyed by fire, caused by carelessness.
1917.05.23 — Premier Terauchi called on Marquis Saionji and had a long conference that has attracted the attention of the public everywhere.
1917.05.25
- G. F. Mitchell, the great American tea expert, was received in Tokyo and entertained at the Maple Club, by the Central Council of Japanese Tea Guilds.
- His Majesty, the Emperor, attended the graduating exercises of the Tokyo Military Academy and presented prizes to the more distinguished graduates of the year, who were honoured by being asked to read essays before the Emperor.
- A great conflagration destroyed 181 houses in the city of Fukui.
- The Government announced that the total of the national specie reached 840,000,000 yen.
1917.05.26 — The Council of Prefectural Governors was held when the Premier, Count Terauchi, and Mr. Shoda, Minister of Finance, delivered addresses. Mr. T. Hayashi, a director of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, resigned office and his action received the approval of the Board of Directors.
1917.05.31 — The N. Y. K. liner, *Miyazaki Maru*, was torpedoed in the English Channel.
1917.06.02 — The Hon. T. Hara, leader of the Seiyukai party, Viscount Kato, leader of the Kenseikai party, and Mr. Inukai, leader of the Kokuminto party, were invited by the Premier to his official residence to confer regarding their acceptance of a position on the Diplomatic Advisory Board.
1917.06.03 — A special Cabinet Council at the residence of the Premier decided on the establishment of a Diplomatic Advisory Commission for the purpose of adjusting international relations, especially at the peace conference to take place after the war.
1917.06.05 — Baron Hatano, Minister of the Imperial Household, was promoted to the rank of Viscount.
1917.06.06
- The new Diplomatic Advisory Commission was formally appointed by Imperial Order, the members being Baron Goto, Minister of Home Affairs; Admiral Kato, Minister of the Navy; General Oshima, Minister of War; Viscount Motono, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Viscount Hirata, Mr. Hara, Baron Makino, Viscount Ito and Mr. Inukai.
- A meeting of the Tokyo Municipal Council decided to establish a great commercial museum on the grounds of the Tokyo prefectural office, at a cost of 600,000 yen.
1917.06.10 — The buildings of the Chuo University were destroyed by fire, the loss being 200,000 yen, including the magnificent Meyer library which contained many rare volumes.
1917.06.11 — Japan's destroyer flotilla attacked enemy submarines in the Mediterranean, when the destroyer *Sakaki* was damaged by an enemy torpedo, the commander and many officers being killed.
1917.06.12
- A syndicate of Japanese bankers decided to float a French loan of 50,000,000 yen at 6 per cent, commission for underwriting to be 1 and one half per cent, and redemption to be three years hence.
- His Highness Prince Li of Chosen arrived in Tokyo, his first visit to Japan.
1917.06.13 — Viscount Ishii was asked to head the Japanese Commission appointed to visit the United States to carry on negotiations with the Washington Government, the other members of the Commission being Vice-Admiral Takeshita, Major-General Sugano, with a military and a naval officer and two other officials, the party to start on July 28.
1917.06.14 — Prince Yamagata celebrated his 80th birthday by giving a party to distinguished friends at Mejiro and in honour of his removal to his new residence at Kojimachi.
1917.06.18
- The first meeting of the new Imperial Diplomatic Advisory Board met at the Imperial Palace.
- According to returns from the Department of Communications the number of vessels now building in Japanese yards, of over 1,000 tons, is 111, the aggregate tonnage being 544,580.
1917.06.21 — A special session of the Imperial Diet was summoned, Mr. Oöka of the Seiyukai being elected Speaker of the House, and Mr. Hamada of the Kokuminto, Deputy Speaker.
1917.06.23 — The Emperor formally opened the Imperial Diet, making a speech from the Throne, to which representatives of the Upper and Lower House appropriately replied.
1917.06.27 — Funeral obsequies of the mother of Viscount Motono, Foreign Minister, were performed at Aoyama cemetery with Buddhist rites.
1917.06.28 — A motion of impeachment was moved against the cabinet in the Imperial Diet by the Kenseikai party and a few independents, on the ground that the Government lacked the support of any political party, as constitutional government required, the motion being lost by a large majority.
1917.06.29 — In reply to interpellations in the Imperial Diet the Minister of Foreign Affairs announced that an understanding had been reached with the United States concerning the Note despatched by Washington to Peking, and that the communications between the two countries would be published at the proper time.
1917.07.02 — The Government announced that the total of exports for the past six months reached a value of 708,000,000 yen and imports 448,000,000 yen, leaving a favourable balance of trade to the amount of 260,000,000 yen. Total volume of trade for the term shows an increase of 50 per cent over that of the corresponding period last year.
1917.07.04 — Certain Japanese businessmen, chiefly those connected with the Formosan Sugar Company, decided to organize a South Seas Industrial Company with a capital of 5,000,000 yen, the idea being to purchase sugar plantations in Java.
1917.07.09 — Viscount Hanabusa, a Privy Councillor, died, after long service in diplomatic life. He was at one time Minister to Russia and for a long time the president of the Japan Red Cross Society.
1917.07.11 — His Majesty the Emperor attended the graduating ceremony of the Imperial University, and conferred gifts on the most successful students.
1917.07.16
- Baron Otori, councillor to the Japanese Embassy in Paris, was appointed Minister to Mexico; and Dr. Nagaoka of the Foreign Office was appointed to succeed him in Paris.
- Admiral Knight, of the American Asiatic squadron, arrived at Yokohama and proceeded to Tokyo to convey the thanks of the United States Government to the Emperor for sending the body of the late American Ambassador to Japan home in an Imperial warship.
1917.07.18
- The Minister of Foreign Affairs tendered a state dinner to Viscount Ishii about to proceed to the United States as head of the Japanese Mission to Washington.
- An American architect arrived in Tokyo for the building of the new International St. Luke's hospital of which Dr. Teusler is director, and for which a million yen has been collected, the site chosen being that once occupied by the old American Legation in Tsukiji, Tokyo.
1917.07.20
- The Government announced a new invention for the improvement of the wireless telephone, by which conversation can be carried on simultaneously without one party waiting for the other to cease speaking.
- The Nippon Yusen Kaisha decided to raise its freight rates on non-subsidized lines to America after August 1st to 20 dollars a ton, after Sept. 1st to 25, and October 1st to 30 dollars a ton.
- Commissioners from Roumania, sent to Japan to secure physicians for army service, received the assurance of the government that 100 would be sent in detachments of ten for eight months.
1917.07.22
- A race up Fujisan was conducted, being won by a soldier named Ishikawa, who reached the summit in 2 hours, 37 minutes and 57 seconds, the 2nd place being won by a student in 2 hours, 31 minutes and 33 seconds, breaking all former records.
- According to reports from the Tokyo Clearing House transactions for the last six months in deposits amounted to 2,239,314,000 yen, and loans to 2,202,210,000 yen, an increase of 685,112,000 yen in deposits and of 513,300,000 yen in loans over the corresponding period for last year.
1917.07.23
- The Association for aiding the sick and wounded soldiers of the Allies held a meeting at the Peers Club and announced that some 1,900,000 yen had been collected, and steps were taken to distribute the fund among the Allied countries.
- A party of primary school teachers was formed for the purpose of making a visit to America to study educational methods, to leave Yokohama on September 18.
1917.07.25 — The funeral of the late Captain Yedo who perished when the British warship Vanguard was blown up, took place in Tokyo.
1917.07.28
- Viscount Ishii sailed by the Korea Maru on a special mission to the United States.
- A battalion of the 50th Infantry Regiment made a forced march up Mount Norigataké, a peak of the Japanese Alps, 9,900 feet high and noted for its steepness, reaching the top in a few hours.
1917.07.30 — Being the anniversary of the demise of the late Emperor solemn services were held at the Shrine in the Imperial Palace, and also at the Momo-yama mausoleum where Prince Kanin acted as Imperial representative.
1917.07.31 — With a view to promoting uniformity in colonial administration and especially in relations between Chosen and Manchuria a Colonial Bureau was created, with Mr. Shirani, chief of the Civil Office of the Kwantung Government-General, appointed head, and Mr. Tachibana, a councilor of the War Department, as vice chief. General Baron Y. Nakamura, president of the South Manchuria Railway, was appointed Governor-General of the province of Kwantung, while General Baron K. Nakamura relinquished that office to become a member of the General War Council. Hereafter the South Manchuria Railway will have a director instead of a president, to which post Dr. S. Kunizawa was appointed. A Colonial Investigation Committee was also organized with Baron Goto, Minister of Home Affairs, as chief.
1917.08.01
- A new rank known as juni was created in the army between that of non-commissioned officer and sub-lieutenant, to be ranked as officer's class and to be given to special non-commissioned officers who take a four months' course at the Officers' Training College.
- The work of refloating the warship Otowa which went aground off Nami-kiri, had to be abandoned, leaving the ship a total wreck.
1917.08.02
- Baron Yamané, chief Aide-de-camp to the Imperial Crown Prince, passed away.
- The Government decided to proceed with the construction of new buildings for the Imperial Diet at a cost of 7,500,000 yen, to be completed in eight years.
- The family of the late Captain Yeto who perished when the British dreadnought Vanguard blew up, was given a donation of 4,000 yen by the Government.
1917.08.04 — Mr. K. Kumagai resigned as head of the Government Electric Bureau and was succeeded by Mr. H. Higo of the Postal Savings Department, and Mr. Amaoka, secretary of the Cabinet, was appointed head of the Postal Savings Bureau.
1917.08.06
- For purposes of information regarding South America a naval attaché was appointed to the Japanese Legation in Brazil.
- The Tokyo Amalgamated Industrial Association decided to establish an office for the encouragement of Trade and Industry.
1917.08.10
- Marquis Kido, a member of the House of Peers, died.
- Baron Iwasaki, the well-known financier, purchased the famous library of Oriental books owned by Dr. Morrison, adviser to the Pekin Government, for 360,000 yen. The library will be established in a suitable building in Tokyo.
1917.08.11
- According to official returns the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan during the first six months of this year was 12,657, an increase of 5,725 over the corresponding period of last year, made up as follows: British 1,435; American 2,696; Russian 3,610; Chinese 4,176; Dutch 100; French 224; Germans 3.
- Dr. Baron Okuda, mayor of Tokyo, passed away, at the age of 58. The late mayor was an eminent jurist and a great leader in education, being head of the Chuo University. The municipal funeral extended him was one of the largest in modern times.
1917.08.14 — Dr. Okuda, Mayor of Tokyo, and Mr. K. Matsuoka, were created barons. Dr. Ichiki, ex-minister of Education, was made a Privy Councilor.
1917.08.15
- The Lower House of the Imperial Diet decided to despatch five members to the United States for inspection of industries, namely, Messrs. Shimada, Masao, Mochizuki, Uyehara and Yamané.
- Baron Iwamura, former instructor in the Academy of Fine Arts, died at his villa in Sagami.
- The Dutch warship van Tromp entered the harbour of Nagasaki, the first ship of that nation to visit Japan for 15 years.
1917.08.19 — Baron Kikuchi, professor emeritus of the Imperial University and one of the foremost of modern Japanese educationists, died at Chigasaki, his summer home, at the age of 63.
1917.08.24 — According to forecasts published by the Department of Agriculture and Commerce the prospects of the approaching rice harvest are of the best. An increase of some 50 per cent over the average year is expected.
1917.08.25 — Representatives of six chambers of Commerce held a meeting in Tokyo to consider the question of the American ban on steel exports. Viscount General Oseko resigned the directorship of the Peer's School and was succeeded by Mr. T. Hojo, President of the North-Eastern University.
1917.08.26 — A Municipal funeral was given the late Baron Okuda, mayor of Tokyo, at Hibiya Park, when more than 25,000 citizens attended. Representatives of various departments of industry, such as shipbuilding, engineering and electricity, met in Tokyo to consider the best way of supplying the deficiency in steel.
1917.08.28 — The Yokohama Dock Company held a general meeting of shareholders and resolved to increase the Company's capital to 10,000,000 yen. The Mitsu Bishi Company, having recently extended its shipbuilding department, decided to make it independent of the head of office and establish a separate company to be known as the Mitsu Bishi Shipbuilding Company, Ltd., with a capital in shares of 50,000,000 yen.
1917.09.01 — The Department of Agriculture and Commerce and of Home Affairs issued a departmental ordinance prohibiting cornering of the market or raising unduly the prices of the necessities of life, appropriate penalties being appended to the regulation. The commodities first to come under the ordinance are rice, iron, coal, cotton yarn, cotton tissues, paper, dyes, drugs and chemicals. A meeting of the charter members of the Southern Pacific Sugar Manufacturing Company proposed to make the capital of the Company 6,000,000 yen, and Mr. T. Hiraoka, ex-governor of Karafuto, was appointed president of the Committee. Admiral Suzuki, vice-minister of the Navy, was transferred to the commandership of the Training Squadron, and was succeeded by Vice-admiral Tochinai.
1917.09.09 — Mr. M. Doi, president of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce, passed away at an advanced age.
1917.09.10 — Flight Lieutenant-Commander Isobé, who distinguished himself in performing great feats at the Front in France, returned to Japan to rest and recuperate. Professor Hoshino, of the Department of Literature in the Tokyo Imperial University, died at the age of 79. He was an authority on Chinese classics and philosophy and the doyen of the University staff.
1917.09.11 — Regulations for a War Insurance Bureau were published, the director of the Bureau to be Mr. Y. Katayama of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Dr. Aoyama, Dean of the Medical Faculty of the Tokyo Imperial University, resigned and was succeeded by Dr. Kumagawa.
1917.09.13 — The Government decided to send commissioners abroad for the investigation of economics and finance, and appointed the following gentlemen to act: Baron Megata; Mr. O. Matsumoto, Secretary of the Department of Finance; Mr. T. Sekiguchi, an engineer of the same department; Baron Ito, secretary of the Extraordinary Industrial Investigation Committee; Mr. S. Hishida, interpreter to the Korean Government-General; Mr. C. Koiké, manager of the head office of the Kuhara Mining Company; Mr. K. Matsumoto, vice-president of the Meiji Mining Company; Mr. Y. Yamashita, director of the Sumitomo Steel Works and Mr. U. Yoneyama, managing director of the Mitsui Bank. The Financial Commission is expected to bring about closer economic relations between Japan and the United States.
1917.09.14 — America, having transferred some of her shipping from the Pacific to the Atlantic, asked Japan to fill the deficiency, and the Nippon Yusen Kaisha decided to withdraw three of its steamers from the European line and run them between Seattle and Vladivostock for the sake of supplying Russia with munitions.
1917.09.15 — The Government issued new regulations for the conditioning of silk exports, the former regulations, which were made chiefly in connection with exports to India, having become out of date owing to the increased demand for Japanese silk in the United States. The treaty signed between Japan and Sweden regarding mutual protection of industrial property in China on August 24th, 1916 was ratified in Tokyo August 15th, 1917.
1917.09.17 — Marquis Chalfondreri, the new Italian Ambassador, was received in audience by their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, when credentials were presented and a decoration from the King of Italy handed to the Emperor for the Imperial Crown Prince. The Department of Agriculture and Commerce issued regulations prohibiting the export of matches, glass manufactures, enamelled ware and braids unless inspected and passed by the guilds or prefectural offices concerned, the standard of inspection being made uniform. The Department of Foreign Affairs decided to create a Bureau of Legal Affairs, and an Asiatic Section in the Bureau of Commercial Affairs, expenses therefor to be asked for at the next session of the Imperial Diet.
1917.09.19 — A Committee of members of the Lower House of the Imperial Diet and a number of primary school teachers proceeded to America for purposes of investigation, sailing by the Shinyo-maru on this date. Returns published by the Department of Communications show Japan's merchant marine now to number 300 with an aggregate tonnage of 805,405, of which 50 ships were under charter, representing a tonnage of 154,850, and used in foreign waters by foreigners; while 101 ships with a total tonnage of 376,015 were engaged in ocean service as follows — European: 20 ships, 69,104 tons; North American: 49, 291,059; South American: 1, 2,898; Australian: 5, 14,382; Indian: 22, 73,823; South Seas: 4, 14,753.
1917.09.20 — The Department of Education announced the organization of a High Educational Council, with Viscount Hirata as chairman and Baron Kubota vice-chairman. A Chemical Industrial Exhibition was opened at Uyeno Park to emphasize the progress of chemical industry in Japan.
1917.09.24 — The Forest School of the Japan White Cross Society was opened at Chigasaki for children of weak constitution, Hon. Ebara being appointed head of the institution and Dr. Ishikawa medical adviser. This is the first school of the kind to be opened in Japan.
1917.09.25 — The new Japanese law for the control of shipping was passed by the Privy Council. This law was drafted for controlling the routes of ships, freight and charter rates and the nature and size of cargoes, in accordance with the interests of the Allies. Count Yoshinaga Kanroji, an old Court noble, passed away at his residence in Sendagaya, Tokyo.
1917.09.27 — H. I. M. the Emperor proceeded to Chiba to honour with his presence the graduation ceremony at the Cavalry School. The inaugural meeting of the Imperial Industrial Company for exploitation of Japan's new south sea islands was held at the Imperial Railway Association building, Tokyo.
1917.09.28 — A general meeting of the Toyo Kisen Kaisha for the first half of 1917 declared a dividend of 35 per cent. It was stated at the meeting that two steamers now under construction to the order of the Company had been sold to the French Government. With the 15,000,000 yen in cash now on hand the Company proposes to build two passenger boats of 25,000 tons each and 13 cargo boats.
1917.10.01 — In the early morning of October 1st a terrible typhoon passed over Japan, doing wholesale damage to property and destroying nearly one thousand lives, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto suffering most. The Military Government at Tsingtau was replaced by a Civil Administration, of which Mr. Masanosuke Akiyama, of the Korean Government-General, was appointed chief, and Admiral Yoshimatsu was appointed chief of the combined squadron. Dr. Kiichi Horiye of the Keiogijuku University, Tokyo, left for China to deliver lectures at Pekin on Economics and Finance, in response to an invitation from the Chinese Government.
1917.10.02 — His Majesty, the Emperor, despatched an Imperial Chamberlain to inspect the districts damaged by the recent typhoon and report to the Imperial Court. Their Majesties have donated large sums in aid of those suffering from the storm. Baron Megata was given a farewell dinner at the Bankers' Club before proceeding on his financial mission to the United States.
1917.10.04 — A conference of Middle School directors convened at the first Middle School, Tokyo. The forecast of crops issued by the Department of Agriculture and Commerce predicts a harvest of about 300,000,000 bushels of rice, or an increase of some 12 per cent over last year.
1917.10.05 — An association for the relief of the victims of the typhoon was organized by Tokyo capitalists, led by Baron Shibusawa, and the offering of funds was proposed.
1917.10.06 — Mrs. G. Frank Barker, of Duluth, Minn., with her husband arrived at Yokohama. Mrs. Barker is a noted enthusiast on things Japanese and will remain in Japan for some months.
1917.10.08 — His Majesty the Emperor made a donation of 100,000 yen to the Relief Fund for the victims of the typhoon.
1917.10.12 — The Imperial Government despatched Drs. Tadao and Harada, two expert engineers, to assist in the relief of those suffering from floods at Shanghai and Tientsin.
1917.10.13 — The list of pictures accepted for the annual exhibition of Art held by the Department of Education was issued. Several works were offered by foreign artists but only one was accepted, a painting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs by a Russian lady artist. Her Majesty the Empress proceeded to the Central Military Preparatory School where H. I. H. Prince Atsunomiya is a student, and inspected the institution, leaving a gift with her Imperial son.
1917.10.15 — The subject for the annual poetry symposium at the Imperial Palace was announced as "Pines on the Sea Coast." A new political party called the Ishinkai, composed of various independent members of the Imperial Diet, was formed, numbering some 54, and rules and bylaws for a constitution were adopted.
1917.10.17 — H. I. H. Prince Kitashirakawa accompanied by the Princess left Tokyo for Formosa to visit the shrine of his illustrious father who died on an expedition to Formosa some years ago. The Princess is a daughter of the late Emperor and a sister of the present Emperor.
1917.10.18 — H. I. M. the Empress visited the Tokyo School for the Deaf and Dumb, and bestowed gifts on the students.
1917.10.19 — The Department of Communications announced that its experts had invented a method of sending and receiving wireless telephone messages simultaneously, the trials having come off satisfactorily. The invention will be available to the public shortly. The inventors are Drs. Tonekawa. It was decided to build an embankment for protection against floods at Fukagawa and other wards exposed to such devastation at a cost of 4,000,000 yen.
1917.10.21 — Mrs. G. Frank Barker and her husband visited the tombs of the famous 47 Ronin at the Sengaku temple and did homage to their illustrious spirits.
1917.10.22 — The annual memorial services for those killed in war were held at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo for three days, with various entertainments such as Noh dramas, wrestling matches and religious dances. H. I. M. S. Akashi which had been operating with the Mediterranean fleet, returned to Yokosuka and was welcomed with great enthusiasm. The flagship bore the remains of the captain and 50 sailors of the destroyer Sakaki which was sunk by an enemy submarine. The Nippon Yusen Kaisha was officially requested to start a service between America and Vladivostock to carry munitions to Russia. This is the first step taken by the Government in accordance with the law for the control of shipping during the war.
1917.10.23 — H. I. M. the Emperor despatched a representative to worship at the Yasukuni Shrine in honour of those fallen in war.
1917.10.25 — Mr. Roland S. Morris, the new American ambassador, and family, arrived in Tokyo.
1917.10.26 — H. I. M. the Emperor visited the annual Exhibition of Fine Art at Uyeno Park.
1917.10.29 — M. Nicholas Zenopol, envoy from Roumania, arrived in Tokyo seeking to conclude a treaty with Japan. He presented a letter from the King of Roumania and intends to establish the first Legation of his country in Tokyo.
1917.10.30 — The new American Ambassador proceeded to the Imperial Palace and presented his credentials from Washington to his Majesty, the Emperor. Frank Champion, an American aviator, was killed at Kochi by the fall of his aeroplane while performing feats before a vast throng of people. His Japanese friends are preparing to erect a monument to his memory.
1917.10.31 — A grand military review in honour of his Majesty's 39th birthday was carried out at the Yoyogi parade ground, Tokyo, attended by all the high army officers and high officials of State, as well as foreign ambassadors, whom his Majesty invited to a banquet at noon. The Foreign Minister gave a banquet in the evening. The Imperial Birthday was utilized as Flower Day to collect funds for sufferers from floods and the typhoon, large sums being realized.
1917.11.02 — H. I. M. the Empress attended the Chemical Industrial Exhibition at Ueno Park.
1917.11.03 — H. I. H. Princess Higashi Fushimi gave birth to a son. The day happened to be the anniversary of the birth of her father, the late Emperor. Baron Kubota was gazetted as a privy councillor.
1917.11.05 — Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and Empress left by train for the Grand Army Manœuvres held near Kyoto, the occasion being taken advantage of to make an Imperial visit to the mausoleum of the late Emperor.
1917.11.07 — The new Japan-American Agreement concluded by the Ishii Mission to the United States was formally published, and favourably received in official circles of the Empire.
1917.11.08 — A great scarcity of small coins being experienced, the Department of the Treasury issued subsidiary paper money in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 sen bills.
1917.11.10 — The Shotokukyu Palace, the residence of the ex-king of Korea, was destroyed by fire, the loss being over 900,000 yen. His Majesty the Emperor gave notice that the Imperial Diet would meet on December 25.
1917.11.13 — His Majesty the Emperor visited the Grand Army Manœuvres in the south at Hikoné, attended by an official retinue and the foreign military attachés. The Department of Agriculture and Commerce issued a second forecast of the year's rice crop reducing the total to 275,000,000 bushels on account of the recent typhoon. The Nippon Yusen Kaisha announced its total revenue for the year as 69,450,000 yen, the net gain being 29,000,000 yen, the annual dividend to be about 50 per cent.
1917.11.14 — In a collision of tram cars at Tannowa 4 persons were killed and 71 injured.
1917.11.15 — Two Japanese representatives of the Young Men's Christian Association sailed for America to proceed to the Front in France to take part in Y. M. C. A. work there. The Oshima Steel Manufacturing Company was inaugurated with a capital of 6,000,000 yen, Baron Okura and Mr. Asano being the principal stockholders. The new company is expected to do much toward supplying Japan with more shipbuilding material. Owing to the increasing importance of Chemical Industries in Japan a joint meeting of all those interested in such industries was held in Tokyo to organize a Chemical Industry Association and make other important arrangements for the progress of chemistry.
1917.11.16 — The S. S. Kamakura Maru, which had been on duty in the Mediterranean Sea, returned with sailors who were to be replaced by others to be taken for service in that place. Most of the sailors brought back were either wounded or invalided home.
1917.11.17 — Mr. W. Hardy, who was a sailor on board Commodore Perry's ship, when that gallant officer first opened the doors of Japan to intercourse with the outside world, reached Japan on a visit from his home in Oregon. Though over 80 years of age Mr. Hardy still looked every inch a sailor and wore the uniform of a man-of-war's man, and remembered distinctly all the details of the negotiations carried on between Commodore Perry and the Shogun more than 60 years ago. The old sailor has been feasted and feted by the Japanese all over the Empire. The Imperial Government appointed Viscount Chinda, Japanese Ambassador in London, and M. Matsui, Japanese Ambassador in Paris, as Japanese delegates to the Allied Conference to be held in Paris.
1917.11.18 — Mr. Hardy, the American sailor, made a formal visit to the monument in memory of Commodore Perry's landing at Kurihama, where he offered a prayer and received a cordial reception from the citizens.
1917.11.20 — The Imperial Chrysanthemum Party was held at the Akasaka Palace attended by their Majesties and over 2,000 invited guests. Sailor Hardy also attended and was presented to the Emperor.
1917.11.26 — Viscount Ishii and his party arrived home from America and received enthusiastic reception. In order to meet the domestic demand for wool, the supply of which from abroad has been cut off by the war, the Government decided to rear sheep in Manchuria and to have the Imperial Diet set aside the sum of 8,000,000 yen for that purpose at the next session.
1917.11.27 — The eleventh annual meeting of the Russo-Japanese Association took place in Tokyo with the President, H. I. H. Prince Kanin, in the chair. The number of members present was 120, including the Premier and the Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as the Russian Ambassador. His Majesty the Emperor attended the graduation ceremony of the Higher Military College.
1917.11.29 — A dividend of 50 per cent for the term April to September was adopted at a General Meeting of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and it was decided to increase the Company's capital from 44,000,000 to 100,000,000 yen. Since the war the Company opened new lines to South America, West Australia, Liverpool and New York, and the 99 largest steamers under the Company's auspices represent a tonnage of 450,000. The Kokugikan, a noted wrestling hall in Tokyo, was burnt down, and one of the wrestlers who held himself responsible for the fire, attempted to commit suicide by hurling himself into the flames, but was rescued. The building cost over 1,000,000 yen to erect and could accommodate 30,000 spectators.
1917.12.01 — The Kaigai Kogyo, a new immigration society for the purpose of sending Japanese to foreign lands, held its inaugural meeting and announced a capital of 10,000,000 yen. The Tobacco Monopoly Bureau decided to increase the price of cigarettes and cut tobacco by 20 per cent. Ikeda Shoin, the famous woman painter of Tokyo, passed away.
1917.12.03 — The Department of Finance announced the Budget for the coming year at total of 722,500,000 yen, which is 110,000,000 more than last year, the increase to be met by appropriating some 69,000,000 yen from last year's surplus, the remainder to be made up from increased taxation and raising the price of tobacco and postal rates. Transit tax and the consumption tax on kerosene are to be abolished.
1917.12.10 — The Nippon Yusen Kaisha decided to run a quarterly service to Port Said with a steamer of 6,000 tons. The Tokyo Stock Exchange was destroyed by fire, caused by defective insulation.
1917.12.16 — The Uraga Dock Company launched a new steamer of 10,000 tons, built for France.
1917.12.17 — Mr. Yamashita, president of the Yamashita S. S. Company, offered a donation of 1,000,000 yen toward the extension of the Government's aeroplane service. The Government carried out a general change of governors in the various prefectures, supposedly for political reasons.
1917.12.18 — Mr. Hepburn, an American banker, contributed 500,000 yen for the establishment of chair of American history and institutions in the Imperial University, Tokyo. M. Xenopol, Roumanian Minister to Japan, died in Tokyo, the funeral taking place on the 20th, and attended by high officials of State. A beautiful wreath was sent by his Majesty the Emperor.
1917.12.22 — The Government decided to open a Legation in Argentina, and a consulate-general at Chingtufu, Yunan, Petropavlovsk, Capetown and Panama. An explosion of gas at the Kirino colliery, Fukuoka, entombed 377 miners, all of whom lost their lives.
1917.12.23 — Baron Aoyama, one of the most distinguished physicians in Japan, and one time attendant on the late Emperor, died. He had for many years been dean of the medical faculty of Tokyo Imperial University.
1917.12.25 — Dr. Mori, the famous novelist, better known as Mori Ogai, was appointed president of the Imperial Museum and chief librarian of the Imperial Household.
1917.12.26 — The opening ceremony of the Imperial Diet.
1917.12.27 — Heavy snow storms in Fukui, Ishikawa, Toyama and Niigata, interrupting railway traffic for several days.
1917.12.29 — The Imperial Crown Prince proceeded to the Imperial Villa at Numadzu to spend the winter months. The Hon. S. Hirayama, Imperial Court Councillor, was promoted to Shinin rank.
1917.12.30 — Baron Hayashi, Japanese Minister to Pekin, returned on a visit to Tokyo.
1918.01.01 — The Emperor held the usual New Year reception for high officials of State and foreign diplomats at the Imperial Palace. Baron Senge, of the House of Peers, died at the age of 74. He was at one time governor of Tokyo and Minister of Justice.
1918.01.04 — The committee in charge of reërecting the wrestling amphitheatre recently burnt, agreed to build a new one after the plan of the Colosseum at Rome, to cost 650,000 yen.
1918.01.05 — The annual New Year Banquet was given by His Majesty at the Homei Hall in the Imperial Palace, to which high officials of State and foreign Embassies and Legations were invited. His Majesty honoured the guests with a gracious address, to which Premier Terauchi and the British Ambassador, Sir W. Conyngham Greene, responded.
1918.01.08 — The annual New Year Army review was held in front of the Imperial Palace grounds at Nijubashi by His Majesty the Emperor, some 20,000 troops participating.
1918.01.09 — The rank of Field Marshal of the British army was conferred on his Majesty the Emperor of Japan by his Britannic Majesty, the King of England, and accepted by the Emperor, who in turn asked King George to accept the same rank from the Emperor of Japan, felicitations being mutually exchanged.
1918.01.10 — The Fujita Bank was established with a capital of 10,000,000 yen, and opened for business.
1918.01.12 — The Naval Department announced that a Japanese warship had been despatched to Vladivostock. The Yamashita S. S. Company decided to open a new line between the South Sea Islands, Port Said and the United States. The Government decided to despatch Dr. Kitajima, a medical expert, to China in connection with the outbreak of Bubonic Plague raging there.
1918.01.15 — Baron Miyahara, the famous inventor of the Miyahara boiler, and Vice-Admiral of the Imperial Navy, died.
1918.01.17 — Lieutenant Sakamoto, a military aviator, was killed by the fall of his aeroplane at Tokorozawa.
1918.01.18 — It was announced by the Imperial Household Department that the consort selected for the Imperial Crown Prince was H. I. H. Princess Nagako, eldest daughter of Prince Kuni. The annual poetry symposium was held at the Imperial Court and the best poems for the year adjudged.
1918.01.22 — The reopening of the Imperial Diet after the New Year recess. Important speeches were delivered by the Premier, Viscount Terauchi, and by Viscount Motono, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
1918 (166 entries)
1918.01.27
- Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress repaired to the Imperial Villa at Hayama for the winter months.
- Vice-admiral Oguri, who had been on important duty in the Mediterranean for some months, returned to Tokyo.
1918.01.29
- The Government decided to reconstruct the harbour works at Honto in Karafuto (Saghalien) at an outlay of 2,500,000 yen.
- The beautiful Kegon waterfall at Chuzenji became a pillar of ice and so continued for some time.
1918.01.31 — An association for the development of literature and art was formed by certain leading scholars, journalists, politicians and business men, who will hold a meeting thereafter once a month. Mr. Asabuki, formerly a director of the Mitsui Company and one of the foremost business men in Japan, passed away after a short illness.
1918.02.01 — Mr. Ishibashi, a painter returned after an absence of fifteen years abroad, where he became a member of The Royal Academy of Great Britain and received a pension from the Royal Institution. Mr. A. Sato, Japanese Ambassador to Washington, returned home.
1918.02.04
- Vice-admiral Akiyama died at Odawara. He was a distinguished tactician, and was on board Admiral Togo's flagship during the war with Russia, being the writer of the famous despatches then sent out.
- Mr. T. Miyaoka, a distinguished lawyer of Tokyo, was invited by the American Bar Association to deliver a lecture at the annual meeting, and accepted the invitation.
1918.02.07 — Mr. M. Munekata, formerly governor of Tokyo and a member of the House of Peers, died.
1918.02.08 — The Japan Petroleum Company at its annual general meeting decided to increase the company's capital to 50,000,000 yen.
1918.02.09 — The Japanese Financial Commission under Baron Megata returned from the United States, and reported satisfactory negotiations.
1918.02.10
- An army officer from Mexico arrived for the inspection of Japan's military system.
- The Marquis Hachisuka, a noted Privy Councillor and formerly lord of Tokushima, passed away at the age of 73. He lived for seven years in England for educational purposes and was at one time Japanese ambassador to Paris, governor of Tokyo and president of the House of Peers. Marquis Hachisuka was one of the three famous daimyo who made themselves thoroughly familiar with modern learning.
1918.02.14 — Professor S. Anezaki was requested to proceed to California to represent the Imperial University of Tokyo at the semi-centenary celebration of the University of California.
1918.02.18 — Mr. N. Oshikawa, president of the Government Iron Works, for reasons not yet ascertained, committed suicide at his villa in Osaki. He was a member of the House of Peers and formerly was Vice-minister of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
1918.02.19 — A large steamer was launched for France at the Uraga dockyard.
1918.02.20 — The Japan Raw Silk Association held a meeting and agreed to organize an Imperial Silk Trade Association for the purpose of dealing with the situation brought about by the restrictions on imports in the United States, headquarters to be at Nagano.
1918.02.21
- Viscount Ishii was formally appointed Japanese Ambassador to the United States.
- In return for 200,000 tons of steel Japanese yards have agreed to supply America with the following tonnage: Kawasaki Dockyard 72,000 tons; Nippon Kisen 30,000; Suzuki Shokai 31,000; Asano Dockyard 71,000; Uraga Dockyard 31,000; Yokohama Dockyard 22,000; Mitsubishi Dockyard 30,000; Yokohama Iron Works 16,000; Mitsui Company 20,000 — total 320,000 tons. The establishment of a great Japan-American Trust Company is contemplated by leading financiers in Japan, America and China, with a capital of some 20,000,000 yen.
- According to Government investigations the total deposits in Japanese banks amounted to 2,958,851,000 yen, an increase of some 1,000,000,000 over the corresponding period of last year.
1918.02.22 — Mr. R. Fujiyama, president of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce, decided to establish a Public Library at a cost of 200,000 yen.
1918.02.24 — It was decided that the 19 new ships now building in Japanese yards would go to America, most of them being over 12,000 tons.
1918.03.25
- Viscount Uchida, Japanese Ambassador to Russia, arrived in Tokyo.
- A great fire at Mito destroyed over 500 houses. The fire was started by sparks from a railway locomotive.
1918.03.26 — The Japan Bankers' Association gave a farewell banquet in honour of Viscount Ishii, the new Japanese Ambassador to Washington. More than 150 guests were present, including Prince Tokugawa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the American Ambassador. The American Ambassador proposed the health of his Majesty the Emperor, and Viscount Motono that of the President of the United States.
1918.03.30
- The Yokohama Specie Bank established agencies in the Argentine republic and Java.
- The association consisting of those holding the degree of LL. D. held a meeting and recommended the following gentlemen for the degree of Doctor of Laws: Viscount Suematsu; the Minister of Justice, Mr. Matsumuro; Mr. K. Makino, chief of the Tokyo District Court, and Mr. Minoru Oka, chief of the Commercial and Industrial Bureau of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
1918.03.31 — Viscount Tajiri was formally elected mayor of Tokyo.
1918.04.01 — The Sapporo Agricultural College was amalgamated with the Tohoku University to form the Hokkaido Imperial University, Dr. Sato being appointed president of the institution.
1918.04.04 — Viscount and Viscountess Ishii sailed for the United States, being seen off by the American Ambassador and other distinguished persons.
1918.04.07 — Dr. M. Kumagawa, head of the medical department of the Imperial University, passed away at the age of sixty one.
1918.04.11 — The Department of Agriculture and Commerce decided to establish commercial museums at Singapore and Harbin this year to introduce Japanese manufactures.
1918.04.14 — Messrs. Kitada and Asami succeeded in purchasing 17 steamers formerly plying on the Sungari river, being assisted in the transaction by the South Manchuria Railway.
1918.04.15
- Negotiations for supplying steamers to America were successfully concluded, twenty ships to be handed over by the beginning of May, namely: From the N. Y. K. the Ceylon Maru, 6,440 tons; the Tottori Maru, 9,660; the Kirin Maru, 5,500; Tosa Maru, 7,600; Penang Maru, 8,200; Jinsen Maru, 5,500; Rangoon Maru, 8,900; two others not yet named; Osaka Shosen Kaisha: Indo Maru, 7,900; Java Maru, 7,900; Malay Maru, 7,100; Toyo Kisen Kaisha: Seiyo Maru, 10,300; Persia 4,750; Mitsui Bussan Kaisha: Miyoji Maru, 4,300; Kenzan Maru, 6,170; the Yamashita S. S. Company: Komakata Maru, 4,320; Odaru Maru, 4,000; and four other ships all under 5,000 tons by other companies.
- A site for the erection of a statue in memory of the first American Minister to Japan, Townsend Harris, was selected at the Honkakuji temple near Yokohama, where he first resided.
1918.04.16 — The rice exchanges of Japan were ordered to suspend transactions by the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce to check increase of price.
1918.04.18
- Tokyo city purchased 181,000 trees to be set out along streets, river banks and in parks, to take the place of those uprooted by the typhoon last autumn.
- Dr. Tomii, a member of the House of Peers, was appointed a Privy Councillor.
- H. I. M. the Empress inspected the first regiment of the Imperial Guards and witnessed some manoeuvres and military exercises.
1918.04.19 — The Japan Red Cross Society will despatch a mission to America, England, France and Italy, with Prince H. Tokugawa at the head.
1918.04.23
- Viscount Motono, Minister of Foreign Affairs, resigned and Baron Shimpei Goto was appointed to succeed him, the latter having had a long and distinguished career in politics.
- A meeting of the Cherry Association was held at the Imperial Hotel when over 70 species of cherry blossoms were exhibited and speeches made by Baron Shibusawa and Dr. Miyoshi, and a poem composed and read by Viscount Tajiri, the new Mayor of Tokyo.
1918.04.25 — H. I. M. the Emperor proceeded to the Electrical Exhibition at Uyeno and also visited the Exhibition of Fine Art.
1918.04.25 — The Imperial Government issued regulations for controlling the price of imported rice, and arranged to import rice itself for that purpose.
1918.04.26 — The Tokyo Municipal Office decided to increase the number of electric cars in the city and extend the tramway system, at an outlay of some 30,000,000 yen.
1918.04.27
- According to statistics issued by the Tokyo city authorities the number of houses in the city is now 62,076, and the population 2,349,830, of whom 1,262,373 are males and 1,087,457 females, an increase of 68,409 in the number of inhabitants in the metropolitan area.
- A number of Tokyo capitalists, including Mr. S. Hayakawa and Mr. Kichibei Murai, decided to form a company to erect a beautiful hall in Japanese architecture for the use of public meetings in the capital, the site to be at Uchisaiwai-cho and the cost 1,500,000 yen.
1918.05.02 — The annual general meeting of the Japan Red Cross Society was held at Hibiya Park in Tokyo, and attended by her Imperial Majesty, the Empress.
1918.05.04 — At a convention of public school teachers held in Tokyo it was decided to extend the age of compulsory education from 6 to 8 years.
1918.05.05 — Over 1,000 delegates attended the annual meeting of Young Men's Associations convened in Tokyo.
1918.05.10 — The Japan Red Cross Society appointed as its delegates to the Red Cross Societies of the Allies the following gentlemen: Prince Yoshihisa Tokugawa, Dr. Ninakawa, Dr. Sawamura, Mr. Y. Naito, Mr. Kageyama, and Mr. Yoshida as interpreter.
1918.05.13 — Several thousand Chinese students attending colleges in Tokyo held a mass meeting to protest against the new convention between Japan and China, and about one thousand decided to leave for home to emphasise the protest. The Japanese authorities did what they could to appease the indignation of the students by assuring them that there was nothing derogatory to the dignity of China in the new treaty, but without much effect.
1918.05.14 — The Government promulgated regulations for the proper taking of an official census of the empire, the work to begin October 1, 1920. This will be the first time that such a work has been scientifically and accurately attempted in Japan.
1918.05.15
- The second agreement between Japan and the United States for exchanging steel for ships was signed by both parties at the American Embassy in Tokyo, the total ships in this case to be 28, representing a tonnage of 246,000.
- Passenger rates were raised on the Imperial Government Railway throughout Japan by 25 per cent and freight rates 20 per cent, to begin from July 16.
1918.05.16
- The military Convention between Japan and China for the better policing of Manchuria, and Siberia if necessary, was signed in Pekin by representatives of both governments, the details not being made public.
- Mr. Amano Kashun, one of the Legation guards who helped to save the life of the British Ambassador when the building was attacked by the Mito ronins during the last days of the shogunate, passed away at the age of eighty-three. He was the first Japanese to receive a decoration from Queen Victoria and was received in special audience by Prince Arthur of Connaught during his last visit to Japan.
- Yokohama decided to erect a new Higher Technical School at a cost of 750,000 yen.
1918.05.19 — Mr. Arai Keizo, an official of the Mitsui Bank, was run over and killed by a train with which his jinrikisha collided, the two railway guards whose carelessness allowed the accident committing suicide afterwards.
1918.05.20
- The Government began the sale of foreign rice to control the price of staple food in Japan.
- The Japan-American Association held its annual meeting at the Tokyo Bankers' Club with an attendance of 80 members, including the American Ambassador and Viscount Kaneko and other distinguished persons.
1918.05.21 — According to an official forecast the wheat and barley crop in Japan this year will be about 10 per cent below normal.
1918.05.22 — The Oriental Colonization Company held its annual meeting and passed a resolution to increase the Company's capital to 20,000,000 yen.
1918.05.24 — It was officially announced that Mr. Arthur E. Bryan, the new Trade Commissioner for Canada, had arrived in Japan and opened an office for the Canadian Government at Yokohama.
1918.05.25 — Herr Gunther, former chief of the civil administration at Tsingtau, who had remained there under Japanese inspection since the capitulation of the fortress, was sent to Japan as a prisoner of war, and placed in the detention camp on the island of Shikoku.
1918.05.27
- Graduation ceremony at the Tokyo Military Academy, attended by H. I. M. the Emperor, who presented prizes to the honour graduates.
- Count Ogimachi was appointed Lord Chamberlain to the Imperial Court in succession to the late Prince Takatsukasa.
1918.05.28 — At a conference of the chiefs of police of the Empire the Procurator-General delivered an address warning the public against dangerous thoughts and lack of harmony between rich and poor. He declared it his intention to prohibit all literature likely to influence improperly the minds of young people.
1918.05.29
- The cruiser Tatsuta was launched at Sasebo.
- Princess Yasu-ko, eldest daughter of Prince Fushimi, was married to Nagataké Asano, grandson of Marquis Asano, the wedding being celebrated in the style of old Japan.
1918.06.04 — Miss Nobu Hirayama, daughter of the Hon. Shigenobu Hirayama, and Miss Sada Sato, eldest daughter of Dr. Sato, were selected as companions to the Princess Yoshiko, who has recently been betrothed to the Prince Imperial.
1918.06.06
- Lieutenant-General Akashi was appointed Governor-General of Formosa in succession to General Baron Ando, resigned.
- The warship Adzuma, which had been operating in Indian waters, in conjunction with Allied fleets, returned to Maizuru naval station.
1918.06.08 — Count C. Watanabe, formerly head of the Yokohama Specie Bank in London, died, leaving a widow, who is a daughter of the late Prince Oyama.
1918.06.10
- Mr. Zenzaburo Yasuda appointed a member of the House of Peers by virtue of being the highest tax-payer in the Empire for the year.
- Tokyo city decided to despatch an expert to the United States to study the management of municipal tramways, and Mr. Motosuke Masuda was appointed.
- Excavation on a five-mile tunnel through Mount Itanna was commenced, which, when completed, will be the next longest tunnel to the Simplon tunnel in Switzerland. The venture will cost 10,000,000 yen and take seven years to finish. The new tunnel will shorten the Tokaido railway and lead through Atami.
1918.06.13
- It was ascertained that the management of the Imperial Railways was carrying on business at a loss of 30,000,000 yen a year, and to make good the deficit the Railway Bureau decided to raise freight and passenger rates, the new regulation to come into force July 16.
- The new Bolivian Minister proceeded to the Imperial Palace and presented his credentials to the Emperor. He is the first Minister from the South American state to Japan.
1918.06.14 — Prince Tokugawa and suite left Yokohama on a Red Cross mission to Europe. Dr. Tanakadaté left with the same party to attend a meeting of British scientists in London.
1918.06.18
- His Royal Highness Prince Arthur of Connaught arrived in Japan on a mission from King George of England to present to the Emperor of Japan the baton of a Field-Marshal of the British Army. The Prince was welcomed at Yokohama by high officials and in Tokyo by His Majesty the Emperor in person. The Prince received a round of entertainments and was presented by the Imperial Court with famous gifts and by the city with swords of old Japan.
- Lieutenant Sakamoto, of the naval flying corps, fell to the earth with his machine and was killed, the observation officer being only injured.
1918.06.25
- Baron Sakatani, who had been on an extended trip to China for purposes of financial investigation, returned to Tokyo.
- Prince Arthur of Connaught and suite visited Nikko and remained over night at the Kanaya Hotel.
1918.06.26 — The Chilian naval training ship *Baraida* reached Yokohama.
1918.06.27 — Prince Arthur of Connaught, after returning from the Nikko trip, visited the Oriental-English Girls' School in Azabu, conducted by the Canadian Methodist Mission, and then proceeded to the mansion of Marquis Inouye at Uchiyamada where he was shown valuable family treasures.
1918.06.28 — Prince Arthur proceeded to the Imperial Palace and had a farewell audience with his Majesty the Emperor, when an Imperial luncheon was given.
1918.06.29 — On this day Prince Arthur went shopping to Maruzen's Book store in the forenoon, taking a walk through Nihonbashi; and in the afternoon his Royal Highness visited the mansion of Marquis Mayeda, after which a reception was given by the British Association at Shinjuku.
1918.07.04
- The Naval Academy, which hitherto admitted no more than two hundred students annually, decided in view of naval expansion plans to admit 300.
- Lieutenant-General Kolchakhoff, commander of the Russian garrison along the Chinese Eastern Railway, came to Tokyo to request Japan to despatch troops to eastern Siberia.
- The Tokyo municipal Council decided to expend over one million yen in enlargement of its water system reservoir to meet increased demands for city water.
1918.07.05
- The Tokyo Municipal Education Department selected seven directors of primary schools to proceed to America to study educational methods and school management.
- Some 1,500 young men graduated from Waseda University this year.
1918.07.06 — The Japanese training squadron, including the *Asama* and *Tokiwa* returned from a cruise in North and South American waters, having been absent since last March.
1918.07.09
- Premier Terauchi invited a number of business men and members of the Imperial Diet to his official residence to confer on the proposal to raise over 2,000,000 yen for the encouragement of aviation in Japan.
- Mr. K. Honda was appointed Japanese minister to Switzerland in succession to Mr. Y. Miura recalled.
1918.07.12
- An unusually severe typhoon passed over Kyushu and southern Japan, causing much damage to property, especially along sea fronts.
- An extraordinary cabinet council was convened in Tokyo to consider the despatch of Japanese troops to Siberia in aid of the Czechs in accordance with a proposal made by the American Government.
- The super-dreadnaught *Kawachi* of over 20,800 tons was blown up while at anchor in the Inland Sea in the bay of Tokuyama and sank in four minutes with the loss of 621 lives.
1918.07.15 — At the Elder Statesmen's council met to consider the question of intervention in Siberia Prince Yamagata approved the proposal while Marquis Saionji and Marquis Matsukata were neutral, deciding to leave the matter to the Diplomatic Advisory Committee.
1918.07.16 — At the Diplomatic Advisory Committee meeting held on this day Baron Makino was decidedly opposed to sending Japanese troops to Siberia, thinking the present forces there sufficient, while Mr. K. Hara, leader of the Seiyukai party, approved the despatch of troops in cooperation with America, but was opposed to Japan's taking any initiative. The council decided to abandon intervention on a large scale.
1918.07.17 — The Diplomatic Advisory Committee held a meeting to draft an answer to the American proposal for intervention in Siberia.
1918.07.19
- The cabinet and the Privy Council held meetings to consider the proposal to intervene in Siberia.
- At a riot in Shanghai there was a collision between the native and Japanese police in which some were killed and several wounded.
1918.07.22 — Viscount Uchida, Japanese ambassador to Russia, resigned on the ground that he did not approve the Government's Russian policy.
1918.07.24
- About 600 army officers were granted promotion.
- The 13th anniversary of the death of the late General Count Kodama was observed at the Seishoji temple, attended by Premier Terauchi and many high persons of state.
1918.07.26 — Memorial service for the 600 men who lost their lives in the dreadnought "Kawachi" was held at Yokosuka naval station under the auspices of the Admiralty. An explosion of gunpowder being transhipped at Shimonoseki station killed sixty persons, injured many others and destroyed a great deal of valuable property.
1918.07.27 — According to a report published by the Department of Finance the number of failures during the first half of the year was no less than 2,400 including banks and business companies, caused chiefly by tightness of money and keenness of competition in the economic world.
1918.07.29 — Owing to the continued drought scarcity of water was experienced in Tokyo, so that the authorities had to forbid the use of city water for irrigation purposes or for any purpose not deemed an actual necessity. It was announced by the Finance Department that the total of Japan's subscriptions to Allied bonds since the beginning of the war amounted to 477,909,000 yen. The Yokohama post office was destroyed by fire, with no serious loss of mail matter. His Excellency the new French Ambassador, M. Marcel Delanny, proceeded to the Imperial Palace and presented his credentials to the Emperor. The Department of Agriculture and Commerce established a Food Investigation Commission with a view to regulating the prices of food stuffs and the conditions of demand and supply.
1918.07.30 — Being the seventh anniversary of the demise of the late Emperor, a religious ceremony was observed at the Imperial Court and at the Imperial Mausoleum at Momoyama.
1918.08.01 — A grand exhibition was opened at Sapporo to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Island of Hokkaido as a colony. A meeting of the Diplomatic Advisory Council was convened to draw up a reply to the American proposal as to intervention in Siberia.
1918.08.02 — Owing to the enormous appreciation in the cost of paper and printing materials the Government decided to raise the prices of school textbooks by from 20 to 50 per cent, the new prices being published in the Official Gazette. A syndicate of bankers met at the Bank of Japan to consider the issue of Exchequer bonds to the amount of 100,000,000 yen to furnish funds for foreign exchange. Japan issued a formal announcement as to the military expedition despatched to Siberia, according to which the troops are sent to Vladivostock to assist the Czech-Slovaks and will evacuate the territory as soon as their mission is accomplished. Regulations were promulgated for the issue of 100,000,000 yen in Exchequer bonds for purposes of providing exchange funds. The warship Kasuga which had been doing Allied service in Indian water, returned to Japan. Commander Aiba, who distinguished himself in the Russo-Japanese war by capturing Admiral Rojestvensky, passed away at his home in Tokyo. Mayor Ando of Yokohama resigned and Mr. Seishu Kubota was chosen as his successor.
1918.08.05 — The Government put on sale Korean rice with a view to regulating the price of food, through specially appointed agents. His Majesty the Emperor made a donation of 500,000 yen to the Imperial Aviation Association, and a sum of 50,000 yen to improve means of allaying the terrible dust storms of Tokyo. A collision between a cart laden with gunpowder and an electric car at Ebisu station in Tokyo caused an explosion that killed two, injured 27 and damaged the car. Among the injured were Viscountess Matsumaye and Madam Matsuda, wife of Major-General Matsuda.
1918.08.06 — Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress left Tokyo for the Imperial Villa at Nikko to spend the summer holidays. The Nippon Yusen Kaisha decided to erect its new head office opposite the Marine Insurance Company's building near Tokyo Central Station at a cost of 7,000,000 yen. The new office will take five years in construction and will be one of the largest and finest structures in the capital. Food riots began among the fisher women in Toyama ken, which extended throughout most of the empire.
1918.08.07 — The total amount of postal savings deposits was announced to be 500,630,000 yen.
1918.08.09 — General Otani was appointed of the Japanese expedition to Siberia, with Lieutenant General Yui as chief of staff and Lieutenant-General Takeuchi as Commander of the Communications brigade.
1918.08.11 — The first detachment of the Japanese army landed at Vladivostock and the officers of the division left Tokyo the next day.
1918.08.13 — Owing to the ferocity of the rice riots His Majesty the Emperor made a donation of 3,000,000 yen towards poor relief, and the Government expended 10,000,000 yen in buying up rice to be sold at low rate to the poor. To check mobs the Osaka authorities issued regulations forbidding more than five persons to be seen walking together anywhere on the street, under pain of imprisonment for 20 days or a fine of 20 yen.
1918.08.15 — The S. S. China of the China Mail S. S. Company stranded at the entrance to Tokyo bay en route from San Francisco and was taken off by a tug from the Yokosuka Admiralty. The Shunju Kai, a powerful newspaper club, passed resolutions against the Government's ban on news of the rice riots, and sent a memorial to the Home Minister asking that the ban be withdrawn, the latter consenting to the request. The Government issued emergency regulations authorizing the officials to commandeer rice at fixed rates for the relief of the poor and those in need of food.
1918.08.19 — A conflagration in Kanda, Tokyo, destroyed over seventy houses, including many schools and business companies. Baron Megata was appointed head of the Siberian Economic Commission for aiding Russia in time of emergency. Two colonels of the Czech troops arrived in Tokyo to convey thanks for the despatch of Japanese troops to Siberia.
1918.08.21 — Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress returned to Tokyo in view of the distress over food riots. General Knox, the British Commander for Siberia, arrived in Tokyo; also the new minister to Japan from Argentina, M. Pugnalin.
1918.08.25 — The Imperial Government prohibited the exportation of objects made of gold or silver, as well as exports of gold and silver bullion already prohibited.
1918.08.27 — The Government fixed the price of rice at 33 yen per koku. A koku is about five bushels.
1918.08.30 — A typhoon swept over the Kwansai districts of Japan doing a great amount of damage to life and property.
1918.08.31 — The fortieth birthday of His Majesty the Emperor.
1918.09.02 — A meeting of national journalists held at the Seiyoken Hotel, Tokyo, passed a unanimous resolution to oppose the Terauchi cabinet and bring about its impeachment.
1918.09.04
- A meeting of the Diplomatic Advisory Council, decided to advise extension of Japan's military operations in Siberia and to recognize the independence of the Czeck-Slovaks.
- The premier, Count Terauchi, invited to his official residence Dr. Kanasugi, leader of the Seiwa Club, to discuss the advisability of having the club unite with the Shinseikai, a government club, for the purpose of facing successfully the opposition in the Imperial Diet.
1918.09.05 — A meeting of the headmen of the various city wards in Tokyo was held to consider the necessity of supplying daily requirements of the poor at a cheap rate and the advisability of providing cheap tenements for poor citizens, to relieve the present distress.
1918.09.06 — In a public speech Mr. Hara, leader of the Seiyukai expressed divergence of opinion from the Diplomatic Advisory Council. Social and political disaffection broke out in various parts of the country owing to the government's policy, and all the political parties decided to urge the impeachment of the cabinet, the Seiyukai, however, taking an attitude of caution. It became apparent that the cabinet would soon have to resign.
1918.09.07 — In a great speech at Sapporo Viscount Takaaki Kato, leader of the Kenseikai, attacked the policy of the Terauchi cabinet and urged its impeachment on the ground that the cabinet had forfeited the confidence of the public by trying to send a larger expedition to Siberia than the Allies had advised and because the government had despatched an army to north Manchuria without explaining clearly to the nation the objective of the expedition, thus producing a misunderstanding abroad as to the military motives of Japan. He contended that the cabinet also prejudiced friendship between Japan and China by helping the northern as against the southern faction in that country. Moreover, the cabinet had made grave mistakes in managing the prices of commodities and had inflated the currency to cope with the situation, causing abnormal rise in prices. The cabinet tried to crush disaffection and to muzzle the press, causing riots.
1918.09.08 — A volcano on one of the Kurile islands erupted and a great tidal wave appeared along the coast, overwhelming 23 fishermen.
1918.09.09 — In reply to criticisms urged against the despatch of so many troops to Siberia a representative of the War Department issued a public explanation to the effect that Japan had sent only three army divisions to Siberia, together with the necessary artillery, aviation, telegraph and railway equipment.
1918.09.13 — Being the seventh anniversary of the death of General Baron Nogi, a solemn memorial service was held at the late residence of the General in Tokyo, attended by a large number of high personages and officials, including army and navy officers.
1918.09.16 — The Bank of Japan raised its discount rate by 2 rin. The Nippon Yusen Kaisha presented to the family of the late Captain Tominaga, who lost his life by suicide after the sinking of the Hitachi Maru by the Germans, the sum of 50,000 yen.
1918.09.17
- Viscount Motono, who had been eleven years Japanese Ambassador to Russia and latterly Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Terauchi cabinet, passed away at his residence in Tokyo, death being due to cancer.
- Some 25 wounded Czechs from Siberia arrived at St. Luke's Red Cross Hospital in Tokyo.
1918.09.18 — The signal for a change of cabinet was given when the Emperor summoned to the Imperial Palace Prince Yamagata and Marquis Matsukata, when the formation of a new ministry was discussed.
1918.09.19 — Marquis Okuma was summoned to the Imperial Palace and conversed with the Emperor about the change of cabinet. He returned to the Palace the next day, and also Marquis Matsukata. There was a long conference on the same day between Prince Yamagata and Marquis Saionji.
1918.09.21 — Premier Terauchi proceeded to the Imperial Palace and tendered his resignation to the Emperor; and Marquis Saionji was immediately requested to undertake the formation of a new ministry.
1918.09.22 — Marquis Saionji visited Prince Yamagata and Marquis Matsukata and expressed his unwillingness to undertake the premiership, recommending Mr. Hara instead.
1918.09.23 — Mr. Hara, leader of the Seiyukai party, visited Marquis Saionji and Prince Yamagata, and finally acceded to the Imperial request to undertake the formation of a new cabinet.
1918.09.25 — Marquis Saionji repaired to the Imperial Court and informed His Majesty of his inability to undertake the organization of a new coalition cabinet, advising that Mr. T. Hara be asked to form a party ministry instead.
1918.09.27 — Mr. T. Hara, leader of the Seiyukai, proceeded to the Imperial Palace and accepted the request of the Emperor to organize a new cabinet.
1918.09.29 — The new Premier was accorded an Imperial audience and intimated to His Majesty the names he had selected for the new cabinet; and upon their being approved by the Emperor the installation of the new ministers of State was at once proceeded with in the presence of the Emperor.
1918.09.30 — Viscount Oura, formerly Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, passed away at his Kamakura villa after a brief illness.
1918.10.01 — At a meeting of the Kenseikai called to discuss the new Seiyukai cabinet Viscount Takaaki Kato expressed cordial approval of the formation of a party cabinet as a sign of a nearer approach to constitutional government, but said that the conduct of the new ministry must be watched with the keenest interest and caution.
1918.10.02 — The Department of Agriculture and Commerce published a first forecast of the year's rice crop, estimating it at about 295,000,000 bushels, exclusive of Korea and Formosa, or an increase of some 9.4 per cent over the normal yield.
1918.10.03 — Mr. T. Nakamura, newly appointed Minister to the Argentine Republic, was received in a farewell audience by the Emperor, and soon afterwards left for Argentina.
1918.10.04
- The new Premier gave a luncheon to the leaders of various clubs and political parties in the House of Peers.
- Prince Lvoff, a noted figure in Russian politics, visited Japan on his way to the United States.
1918.10.05 — At a meeting of the Seiyukai called to discuss the platform of the new cabinet, Premier Hara defended the decision of the cabinet not to publish any platform at present, as the policy of the ministry would be the same in office as when the party was out of office. The principles of the party were well known to the public. As for the pressing questions of the day, the cabinet would give them the most careful attention.
1918.10.07 — The Prime Minister invited representative journalists to luncheon at his official residence and asked for their support in the work of the government. Mr. Kuroiwa, editor of the Yorodzu, responded for the Japanese press men and Mr. Joseph Sharkey, of the Associated Press, for the foreign journalists.
1918.10.08 — Mr. B. Nakano, formerly president of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and a noted citizen of the empire, passed away.
1918.10.14
- Baron Ozaki, a member of the Privy Council, died. He was the father of Madam Ozaki, wife of Mr. Yukio Ozaki, formerly Mayor of Tokyo and Minister of Justice, the two families being related only by marriage.
- The subject for the Imperial poetry symposium at the New Year was announced as: Snow on a Clear Morning!
- Some forty more wounded Czechs arrived at St. Luke's Red Cross Hospital in Tokyo.
1918.10.18 — Mr. Akaboshi contributed 1,000,000 yen toward promoting interest in certain studies of importance to the nation; and it was decided to organize an association to carry the purpose of the donation into effect, Baron Makino being appointed adviser and Mr. S. Hirayama, Manager.
1918.10.23
- Spanish influenza invaded Tokyo and thousands of persons were soon prostrated with the sickness, which was specially rife among school children, many schools having to close until the epidemic had passed.
- The French Ambassador, M. Delanney, left for Paris on receiving a cable informing him of the death of his wife.
1918.10.24 — The French General appointed to command the Czech troops in Siberia arrived in Tokyo on his way to the front.
1918.10.25 — The Government issued an emergency Imperial Ordinance suspending import duty on rice to prevent continued inflation of price. H. E. the American Ambassador, Roland Morris, called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and held an important conference. The war tank presented to the Japanese army by the British Government arrived in Japan.
1918.10.26 — To replace the late Mr. H. W. Denison and the late Baron Motono as Japan's representatives on the Hague Tribunal, Baron Dr. Hodzumi and Dr. M. Tomii were appointed.
1918.10.29 — The Government recalled Mr. G. Hayashi, Minister to Pekin, and appointed Mr. T. Obata, head of the Political Affairs Bureau in the Foreign Office, to take his place. Dr. Minoru Oka, director of the Commercial and Industrial Bureau in the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, resigned and Mr. E. Okamoto, director of the Forestry Bureau, was appointed to succeed him. Cables were received announcing the safe arrival in England of H. I. H. Prince Higashi-Fushimi, Japan's Envoy to the Royal Court of England, who was received in audience by the King and Queen. Mrs. K. Mineshima who contributed 500,000 yen towards the construction of a chemical industrial school, was decorated with the Sixth Order of the Crown. Major-General Inoue, Commander of the Tsingtau garrison, was appointed Military Attaché at the Japanese Embassy in Washington.
1918.11.03 — Miss Caroline Furness, emeritus professor of Astronomy at Vassar College, was welcomed to Tokyo as a representative of American women war workers.
1918.11.05 — Count Hijikata, one of the heroes of the Meiji period, passed away at the age of eighty-six. Mr. T. Shimamura, one of the leading playwrights of Japan, and formerly professor of Dramatic Literature at Waseda University, died.
1918.11.09 — Mr. H. Motoda, a director of the Seiyukai, and Viscount Terauchi, were appointed members of the Diplomatic Advisory Council.
1918.11.12 — An Imperial Rescript was issued summoning the Imperial Diet to meet on December the 25th.
1918.11.13 — His Majesty the Emperor left Tokyo to attend the annual military maneuvers in Tochigi prefecture. The conclusion of the European Armistice was formally announced and the national flag was ordered to be flown over all residences for two days. Unofficial celebrations in honour of the return of peace were held at various places. The Tokyo Municipal Council met and decided on a formal celebration of peace at Hibiya park on the 21st.
1918.11.15 — The students of Keio University held a lantern procession in Tokyo, some 3,000 attending. Cables were received announcing that H. I. H. Prince Higashi-Fushimi had proceeded to France and Italy where great welcome was accorded to so distinguished a representative of the most distant of the Allies.
1918.11.16 — The students of Waseda University held a special meeting in celebration of the return of peace, when Marquis Okuma delivered a characteristic oration. Various schools and associations engaged daily in lantern processions in honour of peace.
1918.11.18 — On concluding the annual military manœuvres His Majesty the Emperor conferred 129 decorations on living and departed heroes, among the latter being included Ota Dokan, founder of Yedo castle, and Daté Masamune, the famous daimyo of Sendai in ancient times, who despatched the first Japanese embassy to Rome in the 16th century. Captains Tobimatsu and Takahashi were killed while flying, by the collapse of their aeroplane.
1918.11.19 — The naval and military officers to attend the Peace Conference were chosen. His Majesty returned to the capital from the annual military manœuvres.
1918.11.20 — Count Yanagisawa was appointed on the Tokyo Municipal Assembly in place of Mr. B. Nakano, deceased. His Majesty the Emperor went to view the chrysanthemums at the Akasaka Palace gardens. The Fine Arts Exhibition of the Department of Education closed, having been visited by 258,346 persons, or 15,000 more than last year.
1918.11.21 — The citizens of Tokyo formally celebrated the European Armistice, when 2,500 distinguished guests were invited to meet the city and government officials at Hibiya park and more than a million people turned out to witness the proceedings and the parade. The Mayor of Tokyo and the Premier read addresses and response was made by the British Ambassador in the name of the foreign representatives. Decorated cars, floats and other forms of demonstration were seen moving about the capital all day. At night a monster lantern procession of more than 100,000 persons marched through the main thoroughfares and visited the Imperial Palace grounds, where the procession was viewed by Their Majesties.
1918.11.24 — Viscount Chinda, Japanese Ambassador in London, and Mr. K. Matsui, Japanese Ambassador in Paris, were appointed to represent Japan at the Peace Conference. At a later date it was decided to name Marquis Saionji as Japan's chief plenipotentiary at the Peace Conference.
1918.11.25 — Some 270 persons accused of riots on account of the high price of rice were brought to trial in the Tokyo District Court.
1918.11.26 — Instructions were issued by the Government to governors of prefectures that the people under them were to be warned to be frugal in habits so as to save money for after-war conditions. His Majesty the Emperor attended the graduation exercises of the Naval Staff College in Tokyo, and presented prizes to the honour students. Messrs. Shinkichi Takahashi, Kokichi Sonoda and Takashi Masuda were raised to the peerage by the Emperor, being created barons, in recognition of their services to national finance. Yokohama held grand celebration of the Allies' victory.
1918.11.27 — Marquis Kinmochi Saionji was appointed to head Japan's delegation to the European Peace Conference, to be attended by Baron Nobuaki Makino, Baron Sutemi Chinda and Mr. K. Matsui. General Oshima was appointed Commander of the Tsingtau garrison and left at once for his post. Mr. Harunobu Hayashi, professor of French in the First National College, passed away. He was the son of a French father; and his mother was the sister of Matsudaira Tadamoto.
1918.11.30 — Baron Shinkichi Takahashi died. General Akiyama, Ichinohe and Osako were decorated with Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun.
1918.12.01 — Prince Li of Korea formally proposed betrothal to Princess Masako Nashimoto-no-miya of the Imperial House of Japan. The Kawasaki Dock Yard at Kobe doubled its capital to 40,000,000 yen, owing to increase of business. According to an announcement made by the Department of Finance the Budget for 1919 will require 1,058,000,000 yen, while Revenue in sight amounts to only 1,037,000,000 yen, showing a deficit of some 21,000,000 yen, which is to be met by loans.
1918.12.04 — Princess Masako Nashimoto formally accepted the offer of marriage proposed by Prince Li of Korea. Baron Renpei Kondo and Messrs. Yeigo Fukai, Kikusaburo Fukui and Matazo Kita were appointed Finance delegates to the European Peace Conference.
1918.12.10 — Baron Makino was seen off by over 3,000 persons as he sailed from Yokohama for the Peace Conference.
1918.12.16 — Lieutenant Genshiro Nozawa and 127 others were appointed to proceed to Europe to take over the German submarines allotted to Japan. Mr. Torikichi Obata, new Japanese Minister to Pekin, left with his family for the Chinese capital.
1918.12.19 — General Uchiyama was despatched by His Majesty the Emperor to bring New Year greetings to the Japanese troops in Siberia. Premier Hara summoned representatives of the various political parties and explained to them the new Budget for the year 1919-20. The total bank deposits at the end of November in Japan amounted to 4,200,000,000 yen. It was decided to hold a grand ceremony in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the Imperial Constitution on February the 11th.
1918.12.21 — His Majesty the Emperor was pleased to confer on Marquis Saionji the Grand Cordon of the Chrysanthemum in recognition of meritorious services to the nation. The War Office announced that troops would be despatched west of Irkutsk to cooperate with the troops of the Allies in allaying strife in Russia and assisting the Omsk Government.
1918.12.22 — An important meeting of the Imperial Diplomatic Advisory Council met when Viscount Terauchi attended for the first time. Problems with reference to China, the Peace Conference and other important diplomatic subjects were discussed. Professor Nakajima, of the Department of Literature in the Imperial University, Tokyo, died of influenza. Mr. Jimbei Kawashima, the famous weaver of exquisite silk tapestries, in Kyoto, died.
1918.12.24 — Marquis Saionji came up from his villa at Okitsu to proceed to the Imperial Court to thank His Majesty for appointing him head of the Japanese delegation to the European Peace Conference.
1918.12.25 — The Imperial Diet was formally opened, when the Premier proceeded to the Imperial Palace to report the proceedings to His Majesty. The session formally commenced on the 27th.
1918.12.25 — His Majesty made a gift of 10,000,000 yen to facilitate increase of schools for higher education in the Empire. The Imperial Diet was opened on this day.
1918.12.26 — Professor K. Miura, Mr. H. Saionji, Prince Konoye and Mr. S. Matsuoka were appointed in the suite of Marquis Saionji, Japan's chief envoy to the Peace Conference.
1918.12.28 — The Imperial Government appointed a commission to investigate the doings of Japanese soldiers in Siberia. A committee was also appointed on Treaty Revision.
1919.01.01 — Japan's great National Holiday.
1919.01.03 — New Year religious ceremony at the Imperial Palace. Baron Kondo, president of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, left for the European Peace Conference.
1919.01.04 — Marquis Saigo, seventh son of the famous patriot, Takamori Saigo, died at the age of fifty-four. Sumako Matsui, an actress, committed suicide because of the death of her patron, Shimamura Hogetsu.
1919.01.06 — H. I. H. Prince Higashi-Fushimi returned from a mission to England, and was welcomed by the Princess and many distinguished persons at the steamer. The Foreign Office announced that the Japan-American treaty of Arbitration was extended for a further term.
1919.01.11 — Marquis Saionji and suite left Japan for the European Peace Conference, being seen off by a large number of distinguished officials. The Bankers' Club at Osaka was destroyed by fire.
1919.01.12 — Colonel Faure, a famous French aviator, and forty others, came from France to act as flying instructors in the Japanese army, being warmly welcomed in Tokyo.
1919.01.15 — Lieutenant-General Nakashima, a high authority on Russian Affairs, was appointed to the General Staff office. Vice-admiral Baron Arichi, a privy councillor, passed away. Mrs. Asako Hiroōka, sister of Baron Mitsui, a distinguished Christian and a leader in the women's movement, died at Osaka.
1919.01.16 — Princess Yasuko, recently married to Mr. Asano, and daughter of Prince and Princess Fushimi, died of influenza.
1919.01.18 — The Reimeikai, a democratic organization composed of young men determined to modernize Japan, held a mass meeting in Tokyo. The Minister of Foreign Affairs invited distinguished financiers to confer with him in the establishment of a financial syndicate for the purpose of promoting finance in Eastern Russia. Dr. Harada, president of the Doshisha University, resigned.
1919.01.21 — Prince Yi, former Emperor of Korea, died in Seoul. Consequently the marriage of his son, Prince Yi, Jr. had to be postponed. In the Imperial Diet the Minister of Foreign Affairs announced a policy of special friendship for China which attracted considerable attention, as indicative of Japan's attitude at the European Peace Conference.
1919.01.22 — The sum of 100,000 yen was appropriated as expenses for the state funeral of Prince Yi, ex-king of Korea.
1919.01.23 — Miss Ruth Law, the noted American aviatrix, arrived in Japan. Major James Marsden, who went through the war in Gallipoli and in France, arrived in Tokyo as assistant Military Attaché at the British Embassy.
1919 (168 entries)
1919.01.25 — It was decided to treble the capacity of military arsenals by establishing new works at Atsuta, Oji and in Korea in view of the experiences gained in the European war.
1919.01.28 — The Tokyo Road Improvement Association decided to expend a sum of 40,000,000 yen on the improvement of streets and roads.
1919.02.03 — A heavy snowfall in Tokyo, the heaviest for twelve years.
1919.02.05
- The first part of Dr. Midzukuri's History of the European war was published in a volume of some 3,000 pages. The second part will be issued as soon as the Peace Conference ends.
- A meeting to pass a resolution against racial discrimination was held at the Tokyo Seiyoken Hotel, and the resolution passed unanimously.
1919.02.10 — Both houses of the Imperial Diet moved a resolution of congratulation to His Majesty the Emperor on the occasion of the Thirtieth Anniversary of the promulgation of the Imperial Constitution, and a special ceremony was conducted at a memorial hall erected for the purpose, after which distinguished statesmen visited the tomb of Prince Ito, the compiler of the national constitution.
1919.02.12 — Prince Yamagata, head of the surviving Elder Statesmen, was taken ill with influenza and remained in a precarious condition for some days, when he finally recovered to the relief of almost universal anxiety.
1919.02.14
- A meeting for the purpose of discussing how best to remove present restrictions in foreign countries caused by racial discrimination was held in the library of the Lower House of the Imperial Diet.
- The Governor of Tokyo Prefecture summoned the director of the city electric bureau and cautioned him that improvements must be carried out in the city tram service, to prevent overcrowding and other intolerable conditions.
- Marchioness Kuroda died from an attack of influenza.
1919.02.17
- The Japanese troops in Siberia engaged the enemy and a great battle was fought, in which one Japanese regiment, which became detached, was completely annihilated.
- Princess Oyama, who was one of the first Japanese ladies to be educated in America, died of influenza. After returning to Japan she married an officer of the army who later became Prince Oyama.
- Mr. T. Matsuura, a distinguished educator, was appointed tutor to the Imperial Princes.
1919.02.18 — General Baron Fukushima died of apoplexy. He was one of the most distinguished of army officers, having seen action in almost all Japan's wars since the Restoration, and had rendered the nation great service.
1919.02.21
- Kogyo Terasaki, one of the most famous of the nation's artists, passed away.
- Vice-admiral Baron Ito died.
1919.02.26 — The Minister of Communications departed for Korea to attend the Funeral obsequies of the late Prince Yi.
1919.02.27
- Viscount Kano, headman of the town of Ichinomiya, passed away.
- There was a sudden slump in the rice market owing to imports of rice from Saigon.
1919.03.01
- The naval training fleet with Vice-admiral Nakano and 120 cadets left for a long cruise, during which they will visit Formosa, China, Manila, Singapore, and sail all round Australia, calling at the various ports, the route covering some 20,000 miles.
- A great universal suffrage demonstration was held at Hibiya Park in Tokyo.
- A general amnesty for political prisoners was announced in connection with the death of Prince Yi, ex-king of Korea.
1919.03.02
- The War Office officially announced that a detachment of some 200 troops under Major Tanaka in Siberia was wiped out in an encounter with the Bolshevik forces, all being killed except the wounded.
- Her Majesty the Empress conferred a gift of 20,000 yen on the College for the education of peeresses at Aoyama to assist in raising the institution to the rank of a university.
- A meeting comprised of over 1,200 students from Japan, China, India and Siam was held at the Seiyoken Hotel in Tokyo to organize an Asiatic League as a counter proposal to the League of Nations.
- It was announced that Marquis Saionji, the chief of Japan's delegation to the Peace Conference, had arrived in Paris.
1919.03.04 — Jinzo Narusé, president of the Women's University, and one of the foremost educationists in Japan, died of cancer, after a long illness.
1919.03.05 — While engaged in bomb practice a naval aeroplane with two flying officers fell into Shimizu Bay and both occupants were drowned. Viscount T. Fukuoka died.
1919.03.07 — Death of Viscount Mishima, governor of the Bank of Japan. He was one of the leading financiers of the Empire and had been educated in the United States. At one time he was Minister of Finance.
1919.03.09
- The Revised Election Law passed in the Imperial Diet with a vote of 205 to 144.
- Dr. Sanaye Takada was appointed honorary president of Waseda University.
1919.03.13
- All members of the Imperial Diet of more than ten years standing were honoured with Imperial decorations.
- Marquis Inouye and Count Yoshikawa were announced as new Privy Councillors.
- Mr. Junnosuke Inouye, president of the Yokohama Specie Bank, was appointed successor to the late Viscount Mishima, as governor of the Bank of Japan, and Mr. Seishiro Kimura was made vice-governor.
1919.03.17
- Mr. Yukio Ozaki and party left Yokohama on an inspection tour in America and Europe.
- The Department of Foreign Affairs announced the formation of an international agreement for the management of the Siberian railway.
1919.03.20
- The bill prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors to minors passed the Lower House but was rejected by the Upper House, 135 votes to 77.
- Death of Mr. Shimpei Tsunoda, manager of the Rice Exchange, and a noted politician, and also a poet of some skill.
1919.03.22
- The new State Reformatory was opened at Tokyo.
- The Imperial Cherry Blossom Party was appointed to be held this year on the 17th of April at the Imperial Garden at Shinjuku, to be carried out on a grander scale than usual on account of the conclusion of peace.
- Viscount Inaba, Imperial Master of Ceremonies, passed away.
1919.03.25 — The House of Peers passed the revised Election Law.
1919.03.26 — Dr. Kingo Tasuno, a celebrated engineer and architect passed away.
1919.03.27 — The closing ceremony of the Imperial Diet took place, attended by His Majesty the Emperor, who delivered a speech. Baron Yujiro Nakamura, Governor-General of Kwantung, was replaced by Baron Gonsuké Hayashi, ex-minister to Pekin.
1919.03.29 — The Department of Education conferred the degree of LL. D. on Professor Kiroku Hayashi, of the Department of Diplomacy in the Keio-gijuku University, and a frequent contributor to THE JAPAN MAGAZINE.
1919.03.30 — The Diplomatic Advisory Council met at the official residence of the Premier and discussed the matter of having an anti-race-discrimination proposal presented to the Peace Conference in Paris. Instructions were at once telegraphed to the Japanese delegates attending the Conference.
1919.04.01 — A ceremony commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of local-self-government in towns and villages was held in various parts of the empire, with lectures and addresses on the subject. Lieutenant Fumio Mitsui was killed by the fall of his military aeroplane while making a cross-country flight.
1919.04.03 — Anniversary of the demise of the first Emperor of Japan, Jimmu Tenno, and a national holiday. Mrs. Kiyoko Tokonami, wife of the Minister of Home Affairs, died.
1919.04.06 — Hundreds of thousands thronged to such places as Asukayama, Uyeno, Mukojima and other places to see the cherry blossoms then in full bloom. H. I. H. Prince Nashimoto, Commander of the 16th Army Division, departed for his command of the garrison in Manchuria.
1919.04.12 — Dr. Ryutaro Nomura was appointed president of the South Manchuria Railway Company, and Mr. Seiichi Nakanishi as vice-president.
1919.04.13 — The Department of Education decided to create a Bureau of Industrial Education, for the promotion of industry.
1919.04.17 — His Majesty the Emperor honoured the Fine Art Exhibition and the Live Stock Exhibition at Uyeno with his presence. Her Majesty visited these exhibitions on the following day.
1919.04.18 — Wholesale changes were made in the governors of prefectures throughout the empire, the changes being for the first time independent of party politics.
1919.04.20 — The huge iron framework of the new wrestling hall under construction was blown down and some workmen were killed and others wounded. The Epidemic of Spanish Influenza attacked members of the families of Imperial Princes, one case proving fatal, that of H. I. H. Prince Takeda, brother-in-law of His Majesty, the Emperor.
1919.04.21 — The Advisory Board of Foreign Affairs held a meeting and decided to despatch a message to all Japanese embassies abroad requesting the respective countries to support Japan's proposal for the abolition of race-discrimination.
1919.04.22 — The Imperial Cherry Blossom Party held annually had to be abandoned owing to wet weather.
1919.04.25 — The Seiyukai party published an account of the proceedings of the 41st annual session of the Imperial Diet.
1919.04.27 — Death of Baron Mitsu Mayejima.
1919.04.28 — Premier Hara addressed the Conference of Prefectural Governors in Tokyo. A fire broke out in Yokohama destroying 3,000 houses and causing a loss of 50,000,000 yen.
1919.04.30 — Funeral obsequies of H. I. H. Prince Takeda. A meeting of the Advisory Board on Diplomatic Affairs was held to discuss the Shantung question.
1919.05.01 — A meeting of the Kokuminto party decided to make certain concession on the Shantung question.
1919.05.02 — Death of Dr. Kaneji Takagi and Dr. Tai Ido. A despatch was received at the Foreign Office announcing that the Shantung question had been settled in Japan's favour. All newspapers issued extras to announce the good news.
1919.05.03 — A heavy storm of hail injured much of the crop in the Kansai region. The Minister of Foreign Affairs visited His Majesty the Emperor and reported that the Shantung question had been settled in Japan's favour by the Peace Conference in France.
1919.05.05 — The Toyo Kisen Kaisha decided to open a new route between Singapore and New Orleans in rivalry with the Osaka Shosen Kaisha's Hongkong-New Orleans line. At a great meeting of 250 newspaper men at the Imperial Hotel Premier Hara made an address. His Majesty the Emperor despatched an Imperial chamberlain to inquire into the distress caused by the great conflagration in Yokohama, bearing a gift of 5,000 yen for the destitute.
1919.05.07 — The formal ceremony in honour of the Coming of Age of the Crown Prince was celebrated at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, and great crowds witnessed the progress of the Imperial Prince along the way. Admiral Heihachiro Togo, the head of the tutors to the Crown Prince, was presented a set of gold cups in commemoration of the Majority of the Prince.
1919.05.08 — A grand banquet was given to Princes of the Blood and high naval and military officers and foreign diplomats at the Imperial Palace in celebration of the Majority of the Prince Imperial.
1919.05.09 — The fiftieth anniversary of the Imperial capital to Tokyo was celebrated by a great meeting at Uyeno Park, Tokyo, attended by their Majesties the Emperor and Empress and vast throngs of people. The occasion was marked by a daimyo procession after the ancient manner through the streets of the capital.
1919.05.10 — The thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of municipal government in Tokyo was celebrated at the City Hall, rewards being given to municipal officials and servants of long standing. The roof of the Imperial Diet buildings was damaged by fire, which caught from neighbouring houses.
1919.05.11 — It was decided to establish a great hydro-electric company on the Ujikawa with a capital of 50,000,000 yen. The Governor General of Formosa invited some sixty leading business men of Japan to discuss the possibility of establishing hydro-electric works in Formosa with a capital of 30,000,000 yen, as a joint enterprise with the Government. The annual wrestling matches of Tokyo began on this day.
1919.05.12 — Dr. Tsuyoshi Mishima, a distinguished Privy Councillor, died. He was a famous Chinese scholar and did a great work for classical Chinese education in Japan, being at one time tutor in Chinese to the present Emperor.
1919.05.13 — Her Majesty the Empress started on a southern tour to visit the Imperial Mausoleum at Momoyama and to see Kyoto.
1919.05.16 — It was decided to establish a Public Hall for the city of Tokyo at an outlay of 2,000,000 yen in commemoration of the Coming of Age of the Prince Imperial. One of the first labour meetings to be held in Japan took place at the Y. M. C. A. Hall in Kanda, Tokyo.
1919.05.20 — The Japan Bank decided to discount accepted bills taken in promotion of foreign trade, with a view to improving the money market.
1919.05.24 — Lieutenant Muramatsu was killed by the fall of his aeroplane while flying over the aerodrome at Kagamigaura.
1919.05.25 — The Ceremony for awarding prizes from the Imperial Academy was held at the Tokyo College of Fine Art on this date, when five distinguished scholars received awards.
1919.05.27
- The Ceremony of raising the frame of the Meiji Shrine took place at Yoyogi, attended by the Premier and many other distinguished personages.
- The Annual General Meeting of the Japan Red Cross Society took place at Hibiya Park in Tokyo, attended by Her Majesty the Empress.
1919.05.28 — The Annual Meeting of the Ladies' Patriotic Association was held at Hibiya Park, honoured with the presence of Her Majesty the Empress.
1919.05.29
- An important meeting of the Advisory Diplomatic Council considered matters relating to Japan's foreign policy.
- The vernacular papers reported that His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince would visit Europe in the coming autumn.
1919.05.30 — It was officially announced that the Japanese consulates at Kirin, Tsinan, Fuchau, Singapore and Batavia were raised to consulates-general.
1919.06.01 — The Imperial Government announced its recognition of the republic of Finland.
1919.06.04 — Death of Prince Tokudaiji, formerly Grand Chamberlain of the late Emperor, and brother of Marquis Saionji, now a delegate to the Peace Conference.
1919.06.06 — Death of Dr. Enryo Inouye, a famous scholar.
1919.06.10 — Death of Governor Inouye of Tokyo, during a banquet at the Imperial Hotel.
1919.06.11 — The Tokyo prefectural assembly met and voted 50,000 yen toward the funeral expenses of the late Governor Inouye.
1919.06.15
- The 150th anniversary of the death of the noted painter, Harunobu, was commemorated at the Daiyen temple, Yanaka.
- On this date Safety Week began in Tokyo, citizens wearing badges with green crosses in red circles to warn the public to avoid accidents.
- The gallery of a Yokohama cinema hall was precipitated into the pit killing three and wounding several.
- Funeral of the late Governor Inouye at Hibiya Park.
1919.06.20 — Mr. Hiroshi Abé was appointed to succeed the late Dr. Inouye as Governor of Tokyo. Seven German submarines surrendered to Japan arrived at Yokosuka from Malta.
1919.06.22 — Dr. Uyeda, director of the College of Literature of the Tokyo Imperial University, was appointed president of the Jingu Kogakukan at Ise.
1919.06.23
- The Japanese warships patrolling the coasts of Africa and the South Seas on behalf of the Allies returned to Kure.
- Death of Mr. Tetsuzo Eto, leader of the Seiyukai party.
1919.06.25
- The War Department decided to despatch part of the Fifth Army Division to Siberia owing to increasing depredations by the Bolsheviks in Maritime Russia.
- This day was the 17th birthday of H. I. H. Prince Atsu.
1919.06.26 — The Minister of Foreign Affairs announced the conclusions of the Peace Conference at Versailles and intimated that as a result of the conclusions reached there would be some changes necessary in the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, so as to bring it into harmony with the League of Nations Covenant. The changes, however, would but tend to make the Alliance more effective than ever.
1919.06.27 — His Majesty the Emperor despatched messages of greeting and felicitation to all the sovereigns of the Allies in regard to the signing of the Treaty of Peace. The Imperial Government decided to proclaim July 1st as a public holiday in celebration of the Peace Treaty.
1919.06.28 — Lieutenant-General Ken-ichi Oshima resigned as commander of the Tsingtau garrison and was succeeded by General Yuhi, Chief of Staff in the army in Siberia.
1919.06.30
- It was reported in the press that H. I. H. Prince Kan-in would be Japan's envoy to convey personal greeting from the Emperor of Japan to the Allied nations in connection with the conclusion of peace.
- Another army officer was killed in an aeroplane flight at Tokorozawa aerodrome.
- The Minister of Home Affairs issued admonitions to the municipal officials of the various towns and cities of the empire to treat those under them generously in view of the great advance in the cost of living.
- His Majesty the Emperor received a message of felicitation from King George of England in regard to the signing of the Treaty of Peace.
1919.07.01 — This was a national holiday in honour of the signing of the Treaty of Peace. Government and other official celebrations were held in Tokyo and various official centers throughout Japan.
1919.07.06
- Districts in the south, especially around Okayama and Hiroshima, suffered great damage from heavy rains and consequent floods.
- The Department of War announced its decision to employ female nurses in military hospitals, an innovation due to the influence of the European war.
- The Japanese naval officers returning from patrol service in the Mediterranean Sea, including Vice-admiral Chisaka and Rear-admiral Sato, were banqueted by the Emperor.
- Premier Hara gave a garden party at his official residence in honour of the signing of the Peace Treaty, inviting both Japanese and foreign guests.
- The Minister of War gave a similar reception for the same reason, attended by about 1,000 guests.
1919.07.10 — General Hasegawa, Governor-General of Korea, arrived in Tokyo to make a special report on conditions there to his Majesty the Emperor.
1919.07.11 — Four German submarines allotted to Japan arrived off Tokyo in charge of Japanese officers from Malta, and were viewed by large numbers of people.
1919.07.12
- The placing the roof on the new Meiji Shrine was celebrated by a special ceremony.
- His Majesty the Emperor gave a special banquet to civil and military officials in celebration of the signing of the Peace Treaty.
1919.07.16 — Count Taisuké Itagaki, the champion of Japanese liberalism, passed away at the age of 83. He was one of the most distinguished of the Tosa leaders in the early Meiji Restoration, and was once attacked by an assassin and severely wounded, because of his ideas on liberalism and democracy. His memorable words when the assassin attacked him still ring through the annals of Japan as a good omen for the future of constitutionalism in this country: "Itagaki may die, but liberalism shall live!" He attained to the office of a Minister of State but his principles never made him popular in official circles and he lived mostly in retirement.
1919.07.17 — Death of Dr. Kenzo Wadagaki, one of the most distinguished scholars of the empire, and a Christian, under which auspices he was buried.
1919.07.20 — Count Itagaki's funeral, which was attended by many thousands of mourners.
1919.07.21 — Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress, proceeded to the Imperial villa at Nikko for the summer months.
1919.07.23 — The Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Shimamura, entertained the Commander and officers of the French warship d'Estrées and the French Ambassador, at the Naval Club, Tsukiji, in honour of their visit to Japan after the war.
1919.07.26 — The Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Tokonami, invited newspaper men to his residence and discussed with them the advisability of adjusting prices of food.
1919.07.29 — Mr. Nakahashi, Minister of Education, delivered an address on the need of encouraging economy during the present high cost of living. As this was the first time a Minister of State issued an allocution in the language of the common people it caused a great degree of interest. The first snow fell on Mount Fuji, which was much earlier than usual in the season.
1919.07.31 — The typesetters of Tokyo went on strike for higher wages and 16 dailies of the capital were obliged to suspend publication, Tokyo having no newspapers for three days, when the strike was settled, wages being finally raised 30 per cent.
1919.08.03 — It was rumored in the press that Mr. Shidehara, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, would succeed Viscount Ishii as Ambassador to Washington.
1919.08.06 — The Imperial Government Railway Bureau decided to abolish first class cars on the Government railways, except on through express trains. It was announced in the Official Gazette that the Monopoly Bureau had decided to raise the price of tobacco. Dr. G. Mitsukuri, of the Tokyo Imperial University, passed away.
1919.08.11 — The Minister of War proceeded to Nikko to inform His Majesty the Emperor of the reforms that were proposed in the governments of Formosa and Korea.
1919.08.12 — The Governor-General of Korea resigned and Admiral Baron Saito was appointed in his place, with Dr. Rentaro Mizuno as Chief of the Civil Administration. Mr. Tsunetada Kato was appointed special ambassador to the Omsk Government.
1919.08.15 — At a meeting of the Diplomatic Advisory Council it was decided that Japan should not join the proposed Consortium for China unless Manchuria and Mongolia were excluded from its purview. The banking department of the Mitsu Bishi Company was made a separate institution with a capital of 50,000,000 yen, with Baron Iwasaki as governor.
1919.08.16 — A meeting was held at the Imperial Hotel to organize a Labour association for the purpose of promoting harmony between capital and labour, Baron Shibusawa being appointed president. Premier Hara made an address.
1919.08.19 — The original document of the Peace Treaty arrived from France and was conveyed to the Foreign Office. It was announced that certain changes had been made in the regulations affecting the governments of Formosa and Korea, permitting the appointment of civilians as Governors-general of these colonies.
1919.08.23 — Marquis Saionji arrived home from Versailles where he had been Japan's chief delegate to the Peace Conference. He announced that Japan had now become one of the five greater Powers of the world, participating in the same world-problems as England and America. He said Japan might not be satisfied with the outcome of the Conference and the war, but she must remember that neither was any other country. The Marquis was met at the station by many distinguished persons and afforded a hearty welcome.
1919.08.25 — Marquis Saionji, head of the Japanese delegation to the Peace Conference at Versailles, was welcomed by the Imperial Cabinet and His Majesty the Emperor sent him some appropriate gifts. A farewell banquet was given by the Premier to Admiral Baron Saito, new Governor-General of Chosen, on the eve of his departure to the peninsula. Mr. Totsuke Koyama, M. P., formerly editor of the Tokyo Mainichi, died at Kamakura.
1919.08.26 — General Otani was appointed Inspector-General of military education, and Lieut-General Oi was appointed to succeed him as Commander-in-Chief of the Allied forces in Siberia.
1919.08.27 — Marquis Saionji proceeded to the Imperial Villa at Nikko to report to His Majesty in regard to the Peace Conference at Versailles.
1919.08.28 — On learning of great distress caused by typhoon damage in Formosa His Majesty despatched suitable gifts to those suffering from the storm.
1919.09.01 — Baron Saito started for Korea. The directors of the Bank of Taiwan decided to increase the capital of the institution from 30,000,000 yen to 60,000,000 yen.
1919.09.02 — As the New Governor-General of Chosen and the Chief of the Civil Administration were leaving Nandai station in Seoul for the official residence a bomb was thrown at the carriage by some miscreant, with no ill effect to the officials but causing wounds to several spectators.
1919.09.05 — Mr. Junkichi Noguchi, new chief of police affairs in Korea, on setting out for his post, was seized with illness and died.
1919.09.06 — An Imperial Academy of Fine Art was established by the Department of Education, after the manner of European countries, the purpose being to promote interest in fine art by holding annual exhibitions free from narrow views and representing the highest talent of the nation.
1919.09.08 — A banquet was tendered to Marquis Saionji, in honour of his return from the Peace Conference, by Tokyo city, the event taking place at the Imperial Hotel, Baron Shibusawa presiding. Speeches were made by the guests of honour emphasizing the importance of the public taking more interest in international affairs and in the study of foreign languages.
1919.09.09 — Admiral Baron Saito, in assuming the governor-generalship of Korea, announced that his policy would be in strict accordance with the Imperial Rescript on Korea, devoting the most careful attention to promoting good-will between Japan and Chosen and abolishing all racial discrimination and partiality.
1919.09.11 — The Yokohama Specie Bank announced a half-yearly profit of 103,696,589 yen and declared a dividend of 12 per cent. Mr. Kijuro Shidehara was appointed Japanese ambassador to the United States, to succeed Viscount Ishii, resigned. Baron Makino arrived home from the Peace Conference.
1919.09.12 — The Government published a further forecast of the rice crop, estimating it at about 280,000,000 bushels, or some 12,000,000 bushels more than last year.
1919.09.18 — Captain Burnett, new military attache to the American Embassy, and Mrs. Burnett, arrived in Tokyo. Mrs. Burnett has long had a deep interest in things Japanese, and is of considerable literary talent, having presented poems to the late Empress.
1919.09.19 — Death of Baron Vice-admiral Yamanouchi.
1919.09.22 — While flying over the aerodrome at Tokorozawa two Japanese lieutenants fell with their machine to the ground and one was killed and the other seriously injured.
1919.09.24 — The Japanese delegates to the International Labour Congress at Washington were named: Mr. Eikichi Kamada to represent the Government, Mr. Yamaji Muto to represent capitalists and Mr. Uhei Masumoto to represent labour.
1919.09.25 — The Prime Minister gave a reception to Baron Makino after his return from the Peace Conference, together with Dr. Tachi, one of his suite to the Conference.
1919.09.26 — Some disturbances were reported in connection with the establishment of the new régime in Korea.
1919.09.29 — The Toyo Kisen Kaisha at its general meeting declared a half-yearly dividend of 20 per cent.
1919.10.01 — Baron Hachirojiro Mitsui, head of the great House of that name, passed away in his 71st year, mourned by a large circle of friends and by the nation at large.
1919.10.02 — A further forecast of the annual rice crop by the Department of Agriculture and Commerce estimated it at 305,000,000 bushels.
1919.10.05 — Mr. Uhei Masumoto was elected as Japan's labour delegate to the International Labour Congress at Washington, in place of Dr. Takano who resigned.
1919.10.12 — The Swiss Minister, M. de Salis, left for home, the Legation to be in charge of the secretary during the Minister's absence.
1919.10.13 — The new Japanese Ambassador to Washington, Mr. Shidehara, left for America, Mr. S. Saburi accompanying him as secretary.
1919.10.15 — The Imperial Fine Art Exhibition was formally opened to the public. The hunting season opened.
1919.10.20 — The ceremony of conferring an Imperial sword on the Field Marshall of the Japanese army for the first time was carried out with appropriate form. It was publicly announced by attending physicians that Count General Terauchi, who had been long ill, had passed away. Afterwards, however, the Count commenced to breathe again and the report had to be withdrawn and funeral preparations stopped. The Count lived for several days afterwards.
1919.10.22 — The mails were carried for the first time by aeroplane between Tokyo and Osaka, three aviators taking part, prizes being offered for record time. The flight was entirely successful both ways, the distance being covered in 3 hours and 22 minutes by the winner.
1919.10.24 — Death of General Akashi, Governor-General of Formosa at Fukuoka, while recuperating. He was fifty five years old, and was raised to the peerage by the Emperor. During the Grand Naval Manoeuvres off Boshu an explosion occurred on the battleship Hyuga in which 14 men and one officer were killed. On the same day a Captain on board the torpedo boat Hamakase was washed overboard and drowned.
1919.10.27 — His Majesty the Emperor attended a meeting of the Privy Council to deliberate on the ratification of the Treaty of Peace, when the Imperial sanction was given to the Treaty.
1919.10.28 — The first Imperial Naval Review since the conclusion of the war was carried out off Yokohama, His Majesty inspecting the hundreds of warships assembled for the occasion. Owing to the high cost of living the Department of Education gave permission to students of Middle schools to wear native dress instead of foreign school uniform.
1919.10.29 — The officials of the Kawasaki Dock Yard distributed the sum of 3,750,000 yen among its employees to tide over the high cost of living.
1919.10.30 — At 11 a.m. a telegram was sent to Paris announcing Japan's ratification of the Treaty of Peace.
1919.10.31 — This being the Imperial birthday a grand ball was given by the Foreign Minister to which many high personages were invited.
1919.11.01 — The famous priest, Soen Shaku, of the Zen sect, passed away at Kamakura.
1919.11.02 — A bronze statue of the late Prince Oyama, one time Field Marshal of the Imperial Army, was unveiled at the War Office grounds.
1919.11.03 — Count Terauchi, one time Prime Minister and Governor-General of Korea, passed away at his residence in Oiso.
1919.11.09 — The giant battleship Nagato, 33,800 tons, was launched at the Kuré Navy Yard. His Majesty the Emperor left Tokyo to attend the army maneuvers near Kobe, stopping at the Nagoya palace on the way. The War Office announced that henceforth service with the colors would be only two years, except in the case of cavalry.
1919.11.12 — The Kenseikai party held a meeting in Tokyo and passed a want-of-confidence resolution against the Government of the day.
1919.11.15 — At the conclusion of the grand military maneuvers His Majesty gave a banquet to the officers of the army at Osaka.
1919.11.16 — His Majesty, while attending the grand military maneuvers, paid a visit to the mausoleum of his Imperial father at Momoyama.
1919.11.19 — A grand banquet was given by the Japan-American Association at the Tokyo Bankers' Club, when Viscount Ishii, and other distinguished persons, made speeches on the international situation.
1919.11.20 — The regulations against enemy trading were abolished. Dr. Kubara, president of Kyoto University, passed away.
1919.11.21 — The Imperial Chrysanthemum Party was held at the Akasaka Palace grounds. It was decided by the Tokyo municipal authorities to carry out a system of harbour reconstruction for the city; also to permit the construction of an underground railway for the metropolis.
1919.11.22 — On learning that the American Senate would not ratify the Treaty of Peace the Department of Foreign Affairs held a conference in regard to the matter.
1919.11.24 — The Imperial University won the annual boat race on the Sumida river. The question of despatching reinforcements to Siberia was discussed by the cabinet council and it was decided not to do so.
1919.11.25 — Marquis Takamaro Nakayama, while traveling in Kyoto, was seized with fatal illness and passed away.
1919.11.26 — An Imperial Ordinance was issued exempting from import duties such necessities as eggs, beef, beans, cotton yarn and cotton cloth. The Japanese Minister to Madrid, Mr. Jujiro Sakata, died of heart failure.
1919.12.07 — It was announced that the two army divisions to be created in Chosen would be completed during the year 1920, while newspapers report that a further division will also be established.
1919.12.15 — The Department of Agriculture and Commerce announced the establishment of forest insurance, the first experiment of the kind in Japan.
1919.12.16 — It was proposed by a number of Japanese manufacturers to inaugurate a ship commercial museum to carry Japanese goods to various parts of the world for exhibition.
1919.12.17 — The new headquarters of the Seiyukai Party, to replace the building recently destroyed by fire, was opened with due ceremony. Mr. Yoshitaro Kawasaki, in commemoration of his retirement from active business, contributed a sum of 1,000,000 yen to the city of Kobé, to be used in establishing a mercantile marine school, adding an endowment of 500,000 yen.
1919.12.18 — It was decided to build a station for Nagoya larger than that of Tokyo, at an outlay of some 20,000,000 yen. Prince Kuni's mansion was destroyed by fire at a loss of 800,000 yen. The Medical School established by Aichi prefecture was raised to the rank of a university.
1919.12.20 — The Government decided to make appropriations for the establishment of new Legations in Poland and Greece and consulates in Saigon and Havana as well as in some parts of China.
1919.12.23 — It was reported in the press that Mr. Eiichi Kamada, president of the Keiogijuku University, would resign in March of 1920. A marriage ceremony was solemnized between Prince Hiroyoshi Fushimi and Miss Tomo-ko, a daughter of Prince Ichijo, at the Shrine of the Imperial Palace.
1919.12.24 — The Imperial Diet was opened with due ceremony. One of the members of the Diet, Mr. Riyo Shirakawa, passed away. He was a graduate of the Imperial University and a well known journalist.
1919.12.26 — The Imperial Diet was formally opened, the Imperial address being read by the Premier in the absence of His Majesty the Emperor. An appropriate response was made to the Imperial message. Mr. Komajiro Kikuchi, Counsellor in the Department of Foreign Affairs, was appointed to the same position in the Japanese Embassy in Rome; and Mr. Chonosuke Yata was appointed Japanese Consul at Honolulu.
1919.12.27 — Dr. K. Furuichi was raised to the peerage, with the rank of Baron.
1919.12.28 — The Japan-American Raw Silk Association was incorporated with a capital of 10,000,000 yen.
1919.12.31 — Admiral Kataoka passed away. He was one of the heroes of the Russo-Japanese war, when he succeeded in decoying the Russian fleet into the Tsushima channel where it was annihilated by the Japanese fleet under Admiral Togo.
1920.01.01 — The greatest of the nation's holidays. Lieutenant-General Inouye died.
1920.01.03 — The Emperor gave the annual New Year Banquet to State Officials.
1920.01.05 — The annual Imperial Banquet was given to the Foreign Diplomatic Corps and other high personages, the guests numbering over one thousand. At Otsuna station 20 passengers were injured in a train collision.
1920.01.06 — The Tokyo fire brigades held their annual parade and exhibition of athletic feats.
1920.01.08 — Mr. Y. Takegoshi, Ex. M. P. was appointed a member of the compilation committee in the Imperial Household. Dr. Seiichi Honda, editor of the Osaka Asahi, and one of the most distinguished journalists of Japan, died of influenza.
1920.01.09 — Count Akimasa Yoshikawa passed away.
1920.01.10 — Mrs. Shinko Saionji, daughter of Marquis Saionji, passed away.
1920.01.13 — Mr. Yoshitaro Kawasaki, of the famous dockyard of that name, was raised to the peerage by His Majesty the Emperor in recognition of his invaluable services to the shipbuilding industry in Japan. Mr. Keiichiro Yasukawa, a coal magnate, was also made Baron at the same time. His Majesty the Emperor issued a Rescript on the conclusion of world Peace. The annual budget for Tokyo municipality was announced at 19,000,000 yen.
1920.01.15 — The annual ceremony of opening the great wrestling hall at Ryogoku was held, and the contests began.
1920.01.18 — Marquis Ikeda and his mother both died of influenza.
1920.01.19 — Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress repaired to the Imperial Villa at Hayama for the winter months.
1920.01.20 — Mr. Kazuyoshi Yagiu, formerly president of the Taiwan Bank, passed away.
1920.01.22 — The Imperial Diet formally resumed session after the New Year holidays, when speeches were delivered by the Premier, the Foreign Minister, the Minister of War and the Minister of Finance.
1920.01.24 — Marquis Kuniyuki Tokugawa was despatched to Switzerland to attend the International Convention of the Red Cross Society.
1920 (234 entries)
1920.01.25 — Admiral Baron Saito, Governor-General of Korea, returned to Tokyo for the first time since assuming office.
1920.01.27 — Viscount Yoshinari Matsudaira, formerly daimyo of Takasu in Mino, passed away.
1920.01.30 — Mr. Tsunetada Kato, Japan's representative to the Omsk Government, returned to Japan.
1920.02.02 — Mr. Morinobu Hirota, new Japanese consul to Seattle, set out for that city, with his family.
1920.02.03
- Mr. Bunzo Kubota, who went with Japan's delegation to the Washington Labor Congress, was appointed chief of the Social Bureau newly established by the Tokyo municipality.
- Owing to a revolution in Vladivostock the officers of the Rezanoff régime fled to Japan in a warship, under protection of a Japanese admiral, arriving at Tsuruga.
1920.02.04 — Officials of the railway department announced that steam would be supplanted by electricity on the Japanese railway as soon as possible. The annual outlay on coal is at present 62,000,000 yen, but since there is plenty of water power, electricity can be used much cheaper.
1920.02.05 — A Japan American Fishery Company was established for operations on the Pacific coast of America with a capital of 15,000,000 yen.
1920.02.07 — The Department of Agriculture and Commerce announced that the rice crop for the year would be about 305,000,000 bushels, an increase of 11 per cent.
1920.02.09 — The Continental Joint Stock Company was organized with a capital of 10,000,000 yen to open trade with Germany, importing especially medical and surgical supplies. Nearly 150 medical men are interested in the undertaking.
1920.02.11 — An aviator named Tsunetaro Oguri fell while flying at Shizuoka and sustained serious injury. He graduated from the Curtis Aviation school in 1918.
1920.02.12
- Mr. Pegler, Minister from the Czecho-Slovak Republic, arrived in Japan and presented his credentials.
- The remains of the late Jujiro Sakata, Japanese Minister to Madrid, were brought home.
1920.02.17 — Baron Ishiguro, surgeon-general in the army, and Mr. Hideyoshi Arimatsu, were appointed Privy Councillors.
1920.02.18 — Memorial services for the late Admiral Kolchak were held at the Russian Cathedral in Tokyo, and attended by many high personages.
1920.02.21 — The Naval Department announced that two warships, the Mikasa and the Mishima, were despatched to Saghalien to protect Japanese citizens owing to a Bolshevik uprising.
1920.02.22 — A great mass meeting took place at Hibiya Park in favour of manhood suffrage.
1920.02.23 — Marquis and Marchioness Mayeda left on a trip to France.
1920.02.24 — Tokyo experienced the first heavy snow storm of the year.
1920.02.25 — An American company amalgamated with some Japanese Match Companies with a joint capital of 30,000,000 yen, half to be supplied by each nationality.
1920.02.25
- The bill to enact universal manhood suffrage, which was presented to the Imperial Diet, was voted down after some hot discussion.
- The new Minister from Finland was cordially welcomed to Japan, a banquet being given in his honour by the Esperanto Society.
- Baron Shimpei Goto was appointed president of the Russo-Japanese Society, in succession to Count Terauchi, deceased.
1920.02.26 — Premier Hara explained to the members of the Imperial Diet the reason why the Government could not support the bill for universal manhood suffrage was because the nation was not ready for so radical a measure, and it would cause disturbance in the national class system by abolishing the tax qualification.
1920.02.28 — The Tokyo municipal tramway went on strike for higher wages, leaving the city without means of locomotion for many hours. After a compromise with the management the cars resumed traffic on the following day.
1920.03.01 — The largest theatre in Asakusa was burnt down with a loss of 3,000,000 yen.
1920.03.02 — The Imperial Diet was suddenly dissolved and a general election announced to take place on May 10.
1920.03.05
- The Japanese consulate at Hamburg Germany was reopened, being closed during the war.
- The Sumitomo Bank decided to increase its capital from 30,000,000 yen to 70,000,000 yen.
- Notice was received of the arrival of the new British Ambassador, Sir Charles Eliot.
1920.03.08 — Mr. and Mrs. Roka Tokutomi returned from their long tour of Europe. Mr. Tokutomi is one of the most distinguished novelists in Japan.
1920.03.09
- In honour of the formal opening of the new Meiji Shrine to take place in 1922, it was proposed to hold a grand Exposition in Tokyo at a site near the grounds of the Shrine. The first overseas aviation contest took place when two aviators flew from Tokyo to Korea.
- It was proposed to construct a tube railway through Tokyo, the work to be finished in 1922.
- The army aviators who had succeeded in crossing to Korea, returned to Tokyo.
1920.03.10
- Two delegates were appointed to attend the International Academic Convention at Brussels, Dr. Unokichi Hattori and Dr. Man Oda.
- The War Department proclaimed a holiday to all military men in honour of the anniversary of the battle of Mukden, and celebrations were held all over the empire.
1920.03.12 — The question of Japan's military expedition to Siberia was discussed at a committee meeting of high officials.
1920.03.16
- Dr. Benjamin Ide Wheeler, President Emeritus of the University of California, arrived in Japan as head of a party of Americans who came to study the questions now at issue between Japan and the United States, all being cordially welcomed by Japanese officials.
- Telephone charges were revised and the charge made to depend on the time consumed and the number of calls.
1920.03.17 — At the convention of prefectural governors held in Tokyo Premier Hara explained the reasons for the recent dissolution of the Imperial Diet and his policy regarding the approaching general election.
1920.03.19 — The Japan-American Society tendered a grand banquet to Mr. Thomas W. Lamont and party at the Tokyo Bankers' Club, when a warm welcome was extended to the American financiers, a large number of Japanese being present and many interesting speeches were made by both Americans and Japanese.
1920.03.20 — The Hon. Isaburo Yamagata, ex-minister of Communications, was appointed to represent Japan at the Marine Labor Convention.
1920.03.21 — Mrs. Takeko Inouye, mother of Marquis Inouye, died today.
1920.03.22
- Mr. Ryotaro Hata, Minister to Sweden, was transferred to Norway.
- Princess Murakumo, a nun, and sister of Prince Kan-in, died at the Buddhist convent in Kyoto.
1920.03.23 — H. I. H. the Crown Prince started on a trip to the Kyushu.
1920.03.24 — Dr. Benjamin Ide Wheeler delivered a lecture before the law department of the Imperial University on Geographical Cogitations in Relation to the Pacific Ocean.
1920.04.25
- A strike on the Tokyo tramway system held up traffic for four days, to the great inconvenience of citizens. The leaders of the strike were arrested by the police and traffic restored in due course. The cause of the strike was some dissatisfaction with the management.
- The Hon. Kaichi Uchida and Dr. Kimpei Matsuoka were appointed delegates to the Conference of ship owners at Genoa, and left for that place.
- Experimental races were held for the selection of candidates to attend the international Olympic meet, the record being broken by Yozo Kanaguri who ran 25 miles in 2 hrs, 29 m, 48 s.
1920.04.26 — A banquet was given at the Imperial Hotel in welcome of Mr. Charles Cheney and party who came to Japan in connection with the Silk Association.
1920.04.27
- The ban on exports of certain grades of cotton yarn was removed by the Government in order to equalize prices in which there was a slump.
- A conference was opened at the Bankers Clubs by representative Americans and Japanese to discuss matters of difference between the two countries, the question of immigration first being taken up.
1920.04.28 — The nuptials of Prince Yi of Korea and Princess Nashimoto were solemnized at the temporary palace at Toriizaka, Azabu, the ceremony being in pure Japanese style. His Majesty the Emperor sent special congratulations and announced a special amnesty to prisoners in Korea in honour of the occasion. An official reception was tendered by the Premier at his residence to the party led by Mr. Vanderlip, attending the conference on Japan-American affairs. Mr. Ariyoshi, formerly the Japanese Consul-General at Shanghai was appointed new Japanese Minister to Switzerland. Mr. Tokichi Tanaka of the Foreign office was at the same time appointed Councillor to the Japanese Embassy at Rome, and Mr. S. Furuya Councillor at Washington.
1920.04.29 — Japanese troops were despatched to Nikolaivesk to inquire into the massacre of Japanese there, the division landing at Alexandrovsk, north Saghalien.
1920.04.30 — The French Ambassador gave a garden party on the Embassy grounds, inviting many distinguished Japanese officials as well as the foreign envoys.
1920.05.01 — A banquet was given at the Bankers Club in honour of Mr. Frank Vanderlip and party.
1920.05.02 — His Majesty the Emperor returned to Tokyo from Hayama where the winter months had been spent.
1920.05.03
- A military agreement was concluded between Russian army and navy commanders of the Maritime provinces of Siberia and the Japanese commanders despatched to Siberia.
- The Mayor of Tokyo gave a theatre party to the Vanderlip mission.
1920.05.04
- Consul General Imai was appointed to Sydney, Australia; and Mr. Fujita to the same position in Kwantung, and Mr. Shotaro Kurino as second secretary to the Embassy at Washington.
- The baseball team of the University of Chicago arrived in Japan for a series of games with Japanese universities. Bishop M. C. Harris and wife arrived by the same steamer.
1920.05.07
- The Programme of the spring meeting of the great wrestling contest was issued.
- H. I. H. Prince Fushimi invited leading officials of the Government and others to a banquet at his mansion.
1920.05.10
- The General Election for members of the Imperial Diet.
- The new Italian Ambassador arrived in Japan.
- A conference of the Elder Statesmen was held at the Imperial palace for consultation on an important matter.
- The first game of the Chicago baseball team was played against Waseda University, the game ending in a draw.
1920.05.12
- As a result of the General Election the Seiyukai, representing the Government, lost in Tokyo and some other cities, but gained in the rural districts. The results of the polls were as follows: Seiyukai 271; Kenseikai 107; Kokuminto 29; Independent 44. Thus the Government obtained an absolute majority, as was expected.
- Major General Tsuno was appointed leader of the troops sent to suppress the Bolshevik forces massacring Japanese at Nicolaivsk.
1920.05.13 — The Minister of War tendered a banquet to the Admiral of the British squadron at Yokohama; and on the same evening the Admiral and officers attended a banquet given them by the British Ambassador.
1920.05.14
- The officers and men of the British squadron were taken on an excursion to Kamakura and in the evening were given a reception by Admiral Nawa, chief of the Naval Station.
- The Vanderlip party left for home on the Korea Maru.
- The Chicago team defeated Keio University, 1-0.
1920.05.16
- Mr. Hajime Motoda, M. P. was appointed Minister of Railways. Count Ogi was appointed Minister of Justice, reorganizing the cabinet, to counteract a movement against the cabinet in the House of Peers.
- A special session of the Imperial Diet was summoned to meet on June 29.
1920.05.18 — Relaxation was permitted in examinations for entrants to service in Embassies, allowing candidates from commercial and civil organizations to apply.
1920.05.19 — A reception was given the Chicago baseball team by the Japanese Y. M. C. A.
1920.05.20
- The annual meeting of the Japan Red Cross Society was held at Hibiya Park when her Majesty the Empress honoured the occasion by an address, responded to by H. I. H. Princess Kanin.
- It was announced that the submarine cable at Yap Island under Japanese mandatory will be transferred to private management.
1920.05.21 — In the second match with Keio the Chicago team met a draw, but in the third match the next day Keio won 3-1.
1920.05.24 — Baron Gonsuke Hayashi, Governor-General of Kwantung, was appointed Japanese Ambassador to London, in succession to Viscount Chinda; and the Hon. I. Yamagata, one time civil governor of Chosen, was made Governor General of Kwantung.
1920.05.26 — The proposal to raise the fares on Tokyo tram cars was sanctioned by the Railway Department. As the Seventy-fourth Bank, under the management of Mr. S. Mogi, of Yokohama, had been temporarily closed and was on the point of insolvency as a result of the recent financial panic, relief measures were decided upon by the Yokohama Raw Silk Export Trade Association.
1920.05.27 — Announcement was made by the Central Government that Professor Dr. Inazo Nitobé of the Law Department of the Tokyo Imperial University, had been appointed director of the Social Department of the League of Nations. On learning that M. Deschanel, president of the French Republic, had been injured by falling from a railway train a telegraphic message of sympathy was sent from the Imperial Household to him.
1920.05.28 — The original estimated expenditure for the National Defence is not to be lessened, as some supposed, from 413 million yen, but the matter is to be brought up at the special session of the Diet if the sources for the fund appear inadequate; already the expense for shipbuilding (1920) has reached 75 million yen. The War Department has decided upon a change in the color of the military uniform, from khaki to sepia green, the latter being more in harmony with the landscape. Formerly, during the Russo-Japan War, when fighting in barren mountainous regions, our troops found the color of their khaki uniforms a protection. This would not be true to-day.
1920.05.29 — General Hyoe Ichinohe was appointed president of the Peers' School, and public procurator Torajiro Ikeda, LL. D., was sent to America to study the institutions relating to his department, especially the Juvenile Court system. It was decided to reorganize the Medical School of Aichi prefecture and elevate it to the rank of a college.
1920.05.30 — Only two of the ten flying machines that started from Rome, Italy, for Tokyo, reached Japan safely, after making 24 stops en route. Leaving Taku, Korea, at 6:30 a.m. on the 30th, the aviators reached Osaka parade ground at 10:30 and 11 a.m. respectively, having flown about ten thousand miles. This was the first time they had set foot on the soil of Japan. They were warmly welcomed by Mayor Ikegami of Osaka, Governor Ikematsu, and General Machida, Commander of the Fourth Division, together with thousands of citizens, and entertained in the city that night. The mayor of Osaka wired their safe arrival to the Mayor of Rome.
1920.05.31 — The two heroes of the Rome-Tokyo flight left Osaka at 9:55 a.m. for Tokyo, arriving at the latter city a few hours later. Lieut. Masiero reached the Yoyogi parade ground at 1:10 p.m. and Lieut. Ferrarin at 2:28. A vast crowd of people of all classes welcomed them enthusiastically, and entertained them at the Tsukiji Seiyoken hotel. This ambitious flight was first conceived by the Italian poet and leader, D'Annunzio. The trip as carried out occupied over one hundred days, the party starting February 16th. Eight of their associates having perished on the way, these two alone were able to overcome the many and fearful obstacles that met them and at last bring their machines safely through the long aërial way from the land of the lemon and the orange to that where cherry blossoms scent the air. The Italian ambassador was moved to tears when Lieut. Masiero alighted at Yoyogi and Viscount Tajiri, Mayor of Tokyo, at once sent a congratulatory message to Rome. When the dreadnought "Mutsu" was launched at the naval port of Yokosuka, the spectators were estimated at 120,000. This ship is considered one of the greatest in the Orient. It is called one of the mighty "pillars of the Navy." Its tonnage is 33,800. As to armaments, the latest devices are to be in use. The Bank of Japan has declared a disbursement of forty million yen relief capital to aid those dealing in cotton yarn who suffered in the recent financial panic.
1920.06.02 — Consul S. Ichikawa was appointed to the post at Panama, Central America.
1920.06.03 — H. I. M. the Empress granted a special audience to the two Italian aviators without waiting to be requested by the French Ambassador, to show her admiration of their wonderful prowess. This is a unique case in the annals of Japan. Sir Charles Eliot, the British ambassador who recently assumed his new post, gave a garden party at the Embassy to celebrate the King's birthday. Foreign envoys and leading representatives of Tokyo Society to the number of one or two thousand were invited to this initial function.
1920.06.04 — A session of the Paris Society was held at the Kōyōken, Shiba, Tokyo. The Society is composed of those who once lived in Paris and was started twenty years ago. The president is Count Shinichiro Kurino. Countess Takiko Terauchi died at the age of fifty-seven, at her villa in Oiso at three p.m. to-day. Professor Juntaro Takahashi, M. D. of the Imperial University, Tokyo, died to-day. He was connected with the Department of Pharmacology. His wife is of German birth, her name being Louisa Henrich. Dr. Henry Van Dyke, the eminent American author, is delivering two lectures at the Imperial University, at the request of the authorities, on the 4th and 5th inst. The subjects are "Books as Food" and "Poetry and Patriotism."
1920.06.05 — Dr. Van Dyke's lecture on "Poetry and Patriotism." A parting reception was tendered Chinese students soon to return home after a period of study in Japan. The projectors were Dr. Touru Terao and other well-known men and the place was Uyeno Seiyoken. More than three hundred were in attendance. It was finally established beyond a doubt that the Japanese residents at Nikolaievsk, Siberia, and all the defence corps were annihilated by Russian Partizans. Deepest regret is expressed by men of all shades of political belief.
1920.06.06 — The whole student body of Japan gave a reception at Hibiya Park to the Italian aviators, at 1 p.m.; about 50,000 male and female students attended. An address of welcome in Italian was delivered by a member of the Tokyo College of Foreign Languages and souvenirs were presented. Mr. Lewis L. Clarke, who was with the Vanderlip party during their stay here and afterwards visited China, returned to Japan and gave a dinner at the Imperial Hotel to which over 120 distinguished Japanese were invited. Barons Kondo and Sakatani and Viscount Kaneko responded to the speech of welcome made by Mr. Clarke. The host and hostess as well as their daughter appeared in Japanese dress, and expressed the sincerest good-will toward Japan and a desire for close relations between the two countries, Japan and America.
1920.06.09 — The Department of the Imperial Household has decided to build a hotel for foreign guests on a vacant lot containing 20,000 tsubo of land, at Shirogane, Shiba, Tokyo. The daily press reported the plan and stated that the ground was formerly the site of a daimyo's mansion. Dr. Chūta Itō is now preparing elaborate plans. Dr. Van Dyke was guest of honor at a reception given by the Tokyo Woman's College, and delivered a lecture on the subject "Woman as a Light."
1920.06.11 — The various political parties in the Lower House of the Diet elected representatives to go to Mukden and welcome the members of the U. S. Congress now on tour. The welcome committee consists of Hon. Teijiro Yamamoto and fourteen others together with Secretary of the Diet Taguchi. Dr. Yoichiro Saito, head of the Court of Appeals, Osaka, died this day.
1920.06.12 — The death of Mr. Ryōhei Toyokawa of Tosa, Kochi, is chronicled. He was one of the meritorious figures in the industrial world of Japan, having assisted the late magnate, Yataro Iwasaki, and his house in their great business enterprises.
1920.06.14 — There was an explosion at the Yubari coal mine, Hokkaido, causing the tragic death of more than two hundred miners. The President of the University of Paris arrived in Tokyo on a sight-seeing tour.
1920.06.15 — Dr. Tajiri, Mayor of Tokyo, invited the Italian aviators to a theatre party and reception at the Imperial. Hon. Sadazuchi Uchida was relieved of his office as minister plenipotentiary to Sweden. The House of Peers chose Marquis Hachisuka and fifteen others to represent them as a welcome committee to entertain the U. S. Congressmen soon to visit Japan.
1920.06.17 — The President of the University of Paris and his suite proceeded to the Imperial Palace and were received by H. I. M. the Crown Prince. Baron Chūshin Ishiguro, since he has been appointed a privy councillor, has resigned his office, the presidency of the Red Cross Society of Japan. Hon. Seishin Hirayama, vice-president, succeeded him, and ex-governor Sakamoto became vice-president. Professor Dr. Masutaro Niida, of the Law Dept. of the Imperial University and nine associates, issued a declaration against the withdrawal of troops from Siberia, and made strenuous efforts to have their views adopted.
1920.06.18 — The Minister of the Imperial Household, Takanao Hadano, resigned his position and was succeeded by Baron Yūjiro Nakamura, appointed directly by H. I. M. the Emperor. The Baron was once general superintendent of the Government iron foundry, and also governor-general of the Kanto district.
1920.06.19 — Mr. Kintomo Mushakoji, chief secretary of the Bureau of Politics, of the Department of Foreign Affairs was appointed first secretary of the Legation of Japan in Belgium. Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Commerce Tetsutaro Inuzuka, resigned his office in order to become director of the International Labor Conference, his former position being assumed by Mr. Ryuzo Tanaka.
1920.06.23 — H. R. H. Crown Prince Carol, of Rumania, arrived in Tokyo and was met by H. I. H. the Crown Prince and together the two drove to the Kasumigaseki Palace. The War Department published the truth about the Nikolaievsk massacre.
1920.06.24 — Prince Carol of Rumania was received in audience by the Empress and the Crown Prince. Prince Carol presented his credentials and decorations to the Imperial House and retired. Later he went again to court to attend a banquet in his honor at the Toyoakira Palace. A memorial service for the victims of the Nikolaievsk massacre was held at the assembly hall of the Diet by both Houses. Premier Hara read an address of condolence in which he promised to take some steps to obtain satisfaction for the barbarous deed. Many thousands heard him speak. The Japan Factors met at Hirokoji, Kyobashi, to organize a free Japanese American debating Club. Dr. Rutter and Dr. Masujiro Honda and about 60 other Japanese and American journalists were present.
1920.06.26 — Baron N. Kanda was re-elected president of the Tokyo English-Speaking Society at the 18th meeting of the organization. The Rev. C. F. Sweet was chosen first vice-president and Mr. Midori Komatsu second vice-president.
1920.06.29 — Ferli Mansion, belonging to Marquis Paulucci, Italian Ambassador to Japan, was blown up by an anarchistic group during the recent disturbances at Ancona and other Adriatic points in Italy.
1920.07.03 — His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince, went by motor car to the Imperial University, listened to lectures, and visited the libraries and University hospital.
1920.07.05 — A great international celebration of the American Independence Day took place in Yokohama, with elaborate lantern decorations, fireworks, etc., on the water front.
1920.07.06 — Princesses Takeda and Asaka went to Numazu to visit T. I. M. the Emperor and Empress at the Imperial villa there.
1920.07.07 — A cable message from Vladivostok says that refugees arriving from Nikolaievsk confirm the statements already made by others that a reign of terror existed in Nikolaievsk until the Japanese relief force entered the city. About 800 men, women and children were slain by Triepitsin and his followers. Dr. Niwa, professor in the Medical College of the Tokyo Imperial University and an authority on pharmacology, went to Germany to investigate poisonous gases. Mr. Hajime Motoda, Minister of Railways, was relieved of his post as member of the Diplomatic Advisory Council and Mr. Ikuzo Ooka, Seiyukai leader and former president of the house of representatives, has taken his place. Prince Yoshimaro Yamashina, who recently attained his majority, was decorated with the first order of merit and Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun and Paulownia. H. I. H. Prince Kuni, who attended the launching of the light-cruiser Kitakami at Saseho, stopped at Numazu on his way back to Tokyo and was received in audience by T. I. M. the Emperor and Empress. He reported the result of his mission.
1920.07.08 — H. I. M. the Empress returned to Tokyo for the purpose of receiving in farewell audience the Crown Prince of Rumania.
1920.07.09 — Marquis K. Tokugawa, vice-president of the Japan Red Cross Society, who went to Europe to attend the World's Red Cross Conference held in Geneva early this year, arrived home on the Atsuta Maru from Marseilles, France. Other prominent Japanese gentlemen on the same steamer were Dr. A. Ninagawa, adviser on international affairs; Mr. K. Kijima, for thirteen years Japanese Consul-General in Lyons and his family; Dr. S. Komatsu, professor in the College of Science of the Imperial University of Kyoto; Dr. S. Fujita, professor in the College of Medicine of the Imperial University, Sendai; Mr. K. Katayama, Superintendent of the Hygienic Laboratory of the Korean General Government; Mr. I. Kitawaki, of the department of Agriculture and Commerce; and Mr. S. Takayama of the Yawata Iron Foundry, Kyushu.
1920.07.11 — In the Tokyo District Court this day Bei Yei, a Chinese formerly employed at the Russian Embassy as "boy," Cho Kin Kai, a Chinese formerly employed at the Chinese Legation in Tokyo as cook and a Japanese named Sankichi Shibuya, formerly a gatekeeper at the Russian Embassy, were charged with complicity in the explosion of a bomb outside the Foreign Office, Tokyo, October 31, 1919, during the Imperial birthday celebration. All three were found guilty and the first-named Chinese was sentenced to imprisonment for 15 years, the second for 12 years and the Japanese for 7 years.
1920.07.12 — The Former Empress Eugenie of France, widow of Napoleon III, died in Madrid, Spain, to-day. The Empress Eugenie was 94 years old.
1920.07.13 — Great Britain and Japan have each formally notified the secretariat of the League of Nations that they have prolonged the term of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance for another year.
1920.07.14 — The French residents of Tokyo and Yokohama celebrated Bastille Day, the French national holiday, with a special dinner and grand ball at the Oriental Palace Hotel, Yokohama. Baron Yoshitaro Kawasaki, former vice-president of the Kawasaki Ship-Building Yards, Kobe, died in Tokyo.
1920.07.15 — Mr. H. Perez Dupuy, the first Minister from Venezuela to Japan, arrived on the Empress of Asia. Mr. Dupuy said that he was here to encourage Japanese immigration to his country as well as to establish a legation in Japan. Dr. Wu Ting Fang, leader of the Southern party, China, who has been staying in Japan for some time, left for home. The typists of Yokohama have organized a branch of the Japan Typists' Association. The initial organization was completed at Tokyo with great ceremony last month, and is called the first child of the S. M. U., or Salaried Men's Union.
1920.07.16 — According to a cable from Tacoma, Wash., U. S. A., Dr. Issi Tanimura, commissioner of agriculture of the Japanese Government, has sailed for Japan, with a number of blooded animals for presentation to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. The gifts are from the United States Government.
1920.07.17 — H. I. M. the Emperor returned to Tokyo from Numazu. Dr. Fusakichi Omori, Kamakichi Kishigami, Naokata Yamazaki and Keita Shibata, professors of the Imperial University, Tokyo, who were ordered to attend the Pan-Pacific Scientific Conference in Hawaii, left Yokohama on the Persia Maru. Dr. Kishigami, after attending the Conference, will go to America on a mission of scientific inspection under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Mr. Araji Miura, first secretary of the Legation in Madrid, Spain, has been ordered to attend the seventh International Postal Conference in Madrid as Japanese delegate. An eruption of the volcano Tarumaye in Hokkaido, not far from Lake Shikotsu, took place at about 6:30 p.m. Flames and ashes shot out of the summit of the volcano. Ashes were carried to a distance of 12 miles by the wind. The establishment of Juvenile Courts and Children's Homes throughout Japan is provided for in the House of Peers' bill passed to-day.
1920.07.18 — A mass meeting to attract public attention and sympathy toward the movement for enfranchising women was held at the Meiji public hall, Kanda. Several women speakers argued the need for the political emancipation of the women of Japan. It is understood in official circles that four new legations viz., Greece, Czecho-Slovakia, Poland and Rumania will be established by the Japanese Government within the year. In this connection the names of Mr. Fujitaro Otori and Mr. Shobu Satoh are heard. The former, it is said, will be offered the position of Minister to Greece, while the latter, who is at present Secretary of the Legation in Sweden, will be named as Minister to Poland.
1920.07.19 — At the Naval Club, Tsukiji, Tokyo, a banquet was tendered to Dr. J. Ingram Bryan, former Editor of The Japan Magazine, by high officers of the Navy, in view of his early departure for England. In proposing the health of the guest of the occasion, the president of the Naval Medical College referred very appreciatively to his efficient instruction in the Naval College, and also to his work in promoting a better understanding between Japan and English-speaking nations. Another farewell banquet will be given for Dr. Bryan by officers of the Imperial Navy, to-morrow evening. Baron G. Hayashi, New Japanese Ambassador to Great Britain, left on the Iyo Maru for London.
1920.07.20 — To the library of the late Dr. Morrison, now belonging to Baron Iwasaki, the head of the Iwasaki family, some 19,000 books have recently been added. Among these, there are three rare volumes, viz., "The Gospel as Preached in Japan," "The Essence of Christianity" and "The Guide to the Evangelical Movement in Japan." The first of these three volumes is said to have been published 250 years ago in Amakusa, Kyushu, by the Mission School there and is the work of a Spanish Catholic missionary. It is prepared in Japanese with Roman letters. It is believed that this is the only copy existent in the world now, as the work was suppressed and its further publication forbidden by the Tokugawa Shogunate. The library, with its office for Oriental investigation, will be opened to the public just as soon as the new library building is completed. Dr. D. Ebina, newly elected President of Doshisha University, Kyoto, delivered a lecture at the Hyogo Church in Kobe. His subject was "World Reconstruction and Aspiration." Nearly 1,000 persons attended. In the House of Representatives, a petition was introduced to have Article 5 of the Peace Preservation Regulations abolished. This clause prohibits women from attending or participating in any political gatherings. The gallery was filled with a large crowd of women. A Committee of nine was appointed to consider the matter. Dr. M. Itakura, legal adviser to the Peking Government, who was recalled to Tokyo by the illness of his father, arrived in Tokyo. Mr. Tetsutaro Yoshimura, a medical practitioner of Aoyama, Minamicho, Tokyo, has sent in an application to the mining office through the Mayor of Yokohama to work the rich mineral field underlying the southern section of Yokohama.
1920.07.21 — Count Tadamasa Sakai has been appointed private Secretary to Count Oki, Minister of Justice. Viscount Kikujiro Ishii, the New Japanese Ambassador to France, was invited to attend a general meeting of the League of Nations Society of Japan which was held at the Peers' Club at noon.
1920.07.22 — The Japanese Red Cross corps is bringing 25 Polish orphan children accompanied by 5 adults to Tokyo. They left Vladivostok on July 19th by the Chikuzen Maru. The annual Y. W. C. A. Conference of Japan opened at the Ferris Girls' School, Bluff, Yokohama, under the direction of Miss Jane Scott, newly appointed national secretary. Miss Scott will be assisted by Mrs. Ibuka, national president, and the secretaries from five cities and thirty students' organizations of Japan. Between three and four hundred Japanese girl students and working girls are expected to attend the conference, which will last until July 30th.
1920.07.23 — H. R. H. Prince Carol of Rumania reached Suma near Kobe from Kyoto where he will spend a few days at Baron Sumitomo's villa. Baron Sumitomo was host at a typical Japanese fishing picnic along the beach in honor of the Rumanian Prince in the afternoon. The Report of the removal by the French Government of the ban on the import of Japanese habutai, general silk tissues and silk goods is officially announced. The impressive memorial service in honor of the victims of the Nikolaievsk affair was held in the compound of the House of Parliament this day under the auspices of both Houses. Government officials and thousands of persons attended the function. A public meeting at Osaka also attracted thousands. A fund to aid the families of those killed in the massacre was started at one of the memorial services, and now all the newspapers are receiving subscriptions.
1920.07.24 — Another volcanic eruption occurred on Mt. Tarumaye, Hokkaido. Dr. Imai, Professor of Hokkaido University, has been ordered to go to the mountain to investigate. The annual river fête (Kawabiraki) takes place this evening on the Sumida river at Ryogoku bridge. It was formally announced yesterday that T. I. M. the Emperor and Empress would go to Nikko next Tuesday to spend the midsummer at the Imperial villa at Tamozawa. Mr. Kuwajina, consul from Japan to Chicago, left for his post yesterday by the N. Y. K. Katori Maru. Among the passengers sailing for America by the same ship were Dr. Hirayama, Director of the Osaka Sanitary Institute, Mr. Takazumi Mitsui, and Mr. Takaatsu Mitsui, son of Mr. Y. Mitsui, who are going to America for study; also Mr. Tadao Kamiya, President of the Nippon Trading Company. According to an announcement made yesterday in Yokohama, the famous Island of Enoshima near Kamakura will have a steel and concrete bridge to link the island to the mainland in the near future. Prince Yoshimaro, of the house of Yamashina-no-Miya, will lose his rank as Imperial Prince by his own request and be given the rank of subject, in accordance with the amended regulations governing the Princes of the Blood. Professor T. Hirose of Keio University, who has been studying philosophy and literature in France since April 1919, returned to Kobe from Marseilles on the Shizuoka Maru. Dr. G. Yamakawa, professor of the College of Engineering of the Imperial University of Tokyo, who has been touring America and Europe since last July in the study of the electrical industry, also returned. A Seashore Summer School for Yokohama children will be inaugurated next summer, according to an announcement made by Mr. K. Kozaki, Director of Education in Yokohama. The city has provided three bathing places for the Summer School pupils. An official statement was issued by the Imperial Household Department regarding the illness of H. I. M. the Emperor. The official communiqué states that owing to pressure of official business in recent years His Majesty has suffered from fatigue. Glucosuria (sugar in the urine) has been observed, and he has been subject to attacks of hip gout and nervous trouble, together with difficulty of utterance. Lately the condition of His Majesty has somewhat improved but his utterance occasionally lacks clearness and he is easily fatigued. Except for urgent affairs of state His Majesty will continue to rest and will refrain for the present from discharging all formal duties such as audience with diplomatists and other ceremonies at the Palace.
1920.07.25 — Mr. Takeo Goto, a leading member of the Tokyo Musical Society, will sail from Kobe for Marseilles on the Atsuta Maru July 31st. Mr. Goto will investigate the musical systems in different European cities, later returning home by way of the United States.
1920.07.27 — The Order of the Sacred Treasure (Sixth Class) has been conferred on Dr. J. Ingram Bryan in recognition of his long and efficient services as instructor in the Imperial Naval College. Mr. J. Okazaki, President of the Osaka Steamship Company of Kobe, has recently contributed half a million yen to the city. With a part of this money a municipal lodging house will be erected by the city of Kobe at a cost of about 220,000 yen. H. R. H. the Crown Prince Carol of Rumania, with his suite, set out on his return trip on the T. K. K. Korea Maru. A group of high officials of the Imperial Household, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Governor, the Mayor and other leading citizens went on board to bid farewell to His Highness at Yokohama.
1920.07.29 — The forty-third session of the Imperial Diet came to an end to-day. Premier Hara addressed the Diet and read the Imperial message ordering the special session closed. The Japanese minister, Mr. Obata, lodged a protest to-day with the Chinese Foreign Office, regarding the alleged firing of Chinese gunboats on the Japanese residents at Nikolaievsk. This protest was accompanied by a mass of evidence. Henry Augustus Cox, a British subject, professor in Waseda University, was granted the right to be naturalized as a subject of the Japanese Empire. Korean General Government decrees were issued for the creation of provincial and village advisory councils, as the first step toward local self-government in Korea.
1920.07.30 — The Russian Grand Concert Company will appear on the 30th and 31st at the auditorium of the Tokyo Y. M. C. A. in order to assist the families of the Nikolaievsk victims. Temporary quarters near Tamachi station, Tokyo, for the American School, are nearly completed and ¥102,740 pledged for permanent support. The Chinese Government has finally consented to the Japanese proposal that a joint investigation of the alleged bombardment of the Japanese garrison by Chinese gunboats at Nikolaievsk should be made.
1920.07.31 — It is announced that Major-General Romanov, who was a resident of Yokohama until last March when he went back to Siberia to join the forces of General Semionov, died at Chita on July 24th. His family is still in Yokohama. As a result of the recent visit of H. R. H. the Crown Prince of Rumania to Tokyo, a commercial treaty between the two countries is in process of preparation and the establishment of a Legation will be realized in Tokyo before long.
1920.08.01 — Sir Charles Eliot, the British Ambassador to Japan, who is now taking a vacation trip, arrived in Seoul on Friday evening (July 30th). The British Ambassador visited Admiral Baron Saito, the Governor-General of Korea, yesterday and attended a tea at the British Consulate the same afternoon. The Governor-General gives a luncheon in the Ambassador's honor on the 2nd. Dr. Wilhelm Solf, the German Envoy to Japan, with his family and suite arrived at Kobe on the Nanking Maru. It is said that if Japan establishes an Embassy at Berlin, he will become the new German Ambassador at Tokyo.
1920.08.02 — F. S. Kilby and A. Sunman, two British aviators exhibiting at the Susaki flying meet, were instantly killed by a fall from the sky before 30,000 spectators. Yukichi Goto, a Japanese aviator, made the altitude record of the day, as his machine for registering altitude broke when he was 5,000 meters in the air. This is believed to be a new altitude record for Japan. Among the aviators who participated in the day's events was Sha Buntatsu, a Formosan, who gave a creditable exhibition with his aeroplane.
1920.08.03 — Mr. D. Verenikis, the Greek Minister to Japan, returned to Tokyo on Saturday (July 31st) after a month's absence in China. Mr. Verenikis went to Peking to negotiate with the Chinese Foreign Office in regard to a new commercial treaty between China and Greece. He returned to Japan by way of Tsingtao and was the recipient of many courtesies from the Japanese authorities there, and was most favorably impressed with the Japanese administration of Kiauchau, China. Mr. W. R. F. Stier, honorary educational secretary, and Mr. W. S. Ryan, physical director of the Tokyo Y. M. C. A., who have been attending the Y. M. C. A. Summer School at Gotemba, are now at Karuizawa attending the Federated Missions conference.
1920.08.04 — A musical recital was given by the Meon Gruppe of the Imperial University of Tokyo at the Kobe Y. M. C. A. Hall, over 1,000 persons attending. The college musicians are about to take a summer vacation trip to Korea and Manchuria.
1920.08.05 — Dr. M. Matsuda, chief of the Treaty Bureau of the Foreign office, was appointed councillor of the Japanese Embassy in Paris, France.
1920.08.06 — Mr. F. Thiel, the former German Consul General at Yokohama, who has been appointed councillor of the German Embassy in Tokyo, with his family, has registered at the Oriental Palace Hotel, Yokohama. A monthly meeting of the directors of the Kokusai Kisen Kaisha, Japan's third biggest steamship firm, which is capitalized at ¥100,000,000, was held at Oriental Hotel on Wednesday (4th), President K. Matsukata presiding.
1920.08.07 — The Glee Club of the University of California gives an interesting program at the Tokyo Y. M. C. A., this evening and at the Kaihin Hotel, Kamakura, on Sunday, and at the Gaiety Theatre, Yokohama, on Monday. The Czecho-Slovakia Government has purchased two ships from the Uchida Kisen Kaisha, viz., the Taikai Maru, 8,000 tons; the Shunko Maru, 10,000 tons. Both are new ships and their price is ¥230 per ton.
1920.08.08 — The first prize-awarding ceremony under the auspices of the Imperial Aviation Society was held at the Kaikosha (Military Club) at Kudan. Goto, Yamagata, Sha Buntatsu (Formosan), Yasuoka and Shimoda were the respective participants. Baron Sakatani, vice-president of the Society and Major-General Yagi, chief examiner and other officers were present; also Dr. Tanakadate, Dr. Yokota, authorities on aeronautics, Inouye, chief of the Aviation Board and others interested in the enterprise. The meeting was opened with a speech by Baron Sakatani, chairman, followed by the report of Major-General Yagi. To Goto and Yamagata were awarded the first places and also gold medals donated by the Tokyo Asahi News Company. The message of H. I. H. Prince Kuni, the Honorary President of the society, was read by Baron Sakatani and the response of Marquis Okuma, president, by Major-General Yagi, followed by the response of Toyotaro Yamagata. The prizes were ¥2,800 to Y. Goto, ¥2,600 to T. Yamagata, ¥1,300 to Sha Buntatsu, ¥1,000 to K. Yasuoka, ¥800 to T. Shimada, and ¥300 to H. Takahashi. The Sendai community celebrated the 300th anniversary of the return from Rome of Rokuemon Hasekura, retainer of the lord of Sendai, Masamune Date, who was sent to the Vatican as a special envoy. The celebration took place at the Komyoji temple, Kitayama, where Hasekura's tomb is situated. The Pope's envoy, who is now in Japan, was invited to participate in the festival.
1920.08.09 — Dr. Frank L. Brown, General Secretary of the World's Sunday School Convention, with several commissioners, arrived at Yokohama.
1920.08.10 — Dr. A. Tanakadate, professor in the College of Engineering of the Imperial University, left Kobe to-day on the Shizuoka Maru to attend the International Conference of Weights and Measures to be held at Paris on September 28th. Dr. Tanakadate will make a study of Aeronautics in Europe and America also.
1920.08.12 — Viscount K. Ishii, newly appointed Ambassador to France, and his family left for Europe to-day.
1920.08.14 — Representatives from China and Japan, including Dr. Inazo Nitobe, Under-Secretary of the League of Nations, in addition to others from European countries, commenced a Quaker and all Friends Conference at London, to-day. The object of this conference is to consider the nature and basis of the Friends' peace testimony and its application to the needs of the world at present.
1920.08.15 — Miss Ise Ichinohe who has been studying foods from three points of view, viz., scientific, practical and delectable, for many years, started on a research trip to Manchuria, China.
1920.08.17 — Mr. K. Tanaka, chief of the Civil Engineering Bureau of Kanagawa prefectural government, was appointed to go to America to study metropolitan projects and residential problems.
1920.08.19 — A cable from Manila states that the Nanto Shoji Kaisha Ltd. has sold the big Payatos Estate in Rizal Province to some Filipinos for 775,000 pesos. The sale was the result of numerous protests against Japanese ownership of the property.
1920.08.21 — Dr. Tasuku Harada, former president of Doshisha University of Kyoto, and family, sailed from Kobe on the Tenyo Maru for Honolulu. Dr. Harada will teach Japanese History and Literature in the University of Hawaii and will also engage in the work of Americanizing Japanese there. Messrs. H. Akama, J. Kubota and J. Kikuchi of the Department of Education are about to leave for the United States on a tour of inquiry.
1920.08.22 — From the first of the month till now typhoons, cloud bursts and floods have occurred in various localities throughout the country. An incomplete tabulation gives 242 houses washed away, 18,910 flooded and 91 deaths.
1920.08.23 — Shigeru Kanda, M. Sc., of the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory, discovered a new star in the Milky Way at 10:35 p.m. at his private home with his younger brother's assistance.
1920.08.24 — Mr. Yotaro Suzuki, who has been appointed First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy at Washington, left for his post by the Tenyo Maru from Yokohama. The Central Meteorological Observatory which has hitherto occupied an old tower gate at Daikan-cho, Kojimachi-ku, Tokyo, for over two decades, removed to a new building situated on the site of the old Imperial bodyguards' quarters at Takebashi.
1920.08.25 — Princess Nagako Kuninomiya, who is to be the bride of the Crown Prince, returned to Tokyo from Kamakura, where she has been spending the hot season. Viscount Hatano, former Minister of the Imperial Household Department, went yesterday to Miyanoshita to pay his respects to the Crown Prince who is now spending a part of the summer there. Mr. Julius Jeppe of Cape Town, and his eldest daughter, are staying at Cherry Mount Hotel, Yokohama, and expect to remain there some time. About 1,000 Sunday School children attended the reception meeting held in honor of a party of the World's Sunday School Convention delegates at the Kobe Y. M. C. A. last Monday (25th). Professor W. G. Owens of Bucknell University and about twelve other delegates were present. Professor Ishii of the Peers' College left for Europe and America on the Tenyo Maru to study the conditions of national education in various countries.
1920.08.26 — Mrs. Mary B. Wanamaker, wife of Hon. John Wanamaker, died on August 23, in Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. Wanamaker, who before her marriage was Miss Mary B. Brown, was her husband's partner in a life of philanthropy and service. Her death will prevent Mr. Wanamaker's attendance at the World's Sunday School Convention in Tokyo this October.
1920.08.27 — The Reverend Henry Loomis, D. D., a missionary and scholar who had lived in the Orient since 1872, died at the age of 82 years at Karuizawa, Nagano, August 27, 1920.
1920.08.28
- According to a cable from Peking, the Chinese Government has decided to appoint Mr. Hei Wei-teh Minister to Japan.
- Baron Hayashi is appointed Ambassador to London; Viscount Ishii, Ambassador to Paris; Viscount Mushakoji, first secretary to the Japanese Legation in Belgium; and Mr. Saito, chief of the Home Department, and also Baron Megata delegates from Japan to the League of Nations Conference at Geneva, Switzerland, the middle of November.
- Viscount Chinda, the retiring Ambassador to London, sent out a farewell message to the British people, expressing his thanks for the cordiality and kindness received during his stay in England.
1920.08.29 — According to investigations concluded by the Department of Justice, the number of convicts at the end of July was 53,816. Since August 1st 6,867 have been released. As compared with the corresponding month of the preceding year, these figures show a decrease of 5,169.
1920.08.30 — Invitations have been issued to a big garden party to be given by the America-Japan Society for the American Congressional party Monday afternoon, September 6th, at Koraku-En, Koishikawa Arsenal Gardens.
1920.08.31
- A great fire occurred at Ikao, the famous hot springs, yesterday morning at 2 a.m. and was subdued at 6:10 a.m. According to investigations which were completed at 4 p.m. the same day, 97 buildings, accommodating 250 households, were burned. Except the Ikao hotel, the Chigira besso and a few others, all the hotels were destroyed. So far it is ascertained that one man, a servant at a hotel, was fatally burned and four others severely injured. The total loss is roughly estimated at ¥5,000,000, of which only ¥200,000 is covered by insurance.
- Mr. Toyotaro Yamagata, a young and popular flyer who showed good results in the mail flight between Tokyo and Osaka some months ago, was killed on Sunday (the 29th). Mr. Yamagata, who was 23 years old, was flying over the Ito aviation grounds at Tsudanuma, near Chiba, on Sunday morning, in a new Gorham aeroplane. The aviator was looping the loop at a height of 600 meters when his machine was attacked by a gust of wind, and the left wing broke. The aeroplane fell on the field and was completely wrecked. His death was instantaneous.
- Prince Yamagata, head of the Genro returned to Tokyo after a fortnight's visit in Kamakura.
- Today being the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor, the usual ceremony was held at the Imperial Sanctuary in the morning, at which Prince Kujo, chief ritualist, officiated.
- A disastrous tidal wave occurred in Saghalien. Two hundred persons were killed, 120 houses destroyed and 150 more damaged.
1920.09.01
- Mrs. Morrison, widow of the late G. E. Morrison, former adviser to the President of China, arrived at Yokohama yesterday on the Canadian Pacific liner Empress of Japan on her way to Peking. Mrs. Morrison spent yesterday in Tokyo, most of the day being passed in looking over the famous library her husband collected, now the property of Baron Iwasaki in Tokyo. To this library, the most famous collection of books on the Far East in existence, Baron Iwasaki has made several rare additions, and Mrs. Morrison spent some time going over these.
- Professor F. P. Purvis, who held the chair of Marine Architecture in the Imperial University of Tokyo for the past 19 years, has resigned his post and been granted a life pension of ¥2,000 per annum. His services have been of the greatest value to this country and have been highly appreciated by the Japanese authorities. The degree of Doctor of Engineering was conferred on him by the Imperial University several years ago, and on two occasions he has been decorated by the Government. Dr. and Mrs. Purvis will continue to reside in Tokyo.
- Sir Charles Eliot, the British Ambassador, who visited Korea, Tsingtao and Shanghai during his summer vacation, returned to Tokyo.
- According to a cablegram from Vladivostok, the foreign consuls have sent a letter to the Japanese commander, General Oi, asking him to protect foreigners. The letter drew attention to the lawlessness that exists in Vladivostok and the surrounding districts. It also stated that the consuls had appealed to the Russians, who had promised to take measures for the protection of foreigners, which, however, had proved to be ineffective.
1920.09.02
- The Yokohama Y. W. C. A. has established a home for the foreign business and educational women of Yokohama and for the entertainment of women transients at No. 55 Bluff.
- The worst typhoon that Manila has experienced since 1905 occurred last night. Many were killed, hundreds of houses were destroyed, while the tramway and lighting systems were completely paralyzed. The losses are estimated at over 3,000,000 pesos. Heavy damage has been caused in the provinces, too, and hundreds have been rendered homeless.
- The American Congressmen and party arrived in Tokyo.
- According to a cable from Geneva, August 29th, in conformity with the resolution adopted at the International Labor Conference at Washington, D. C., in 1919, an international commission of emigration has been constituted, one-third of the members being government delegates, and one-third workers' delegates. Brazil, Canada, China, France, Japan and India have nominated government representatives; Australia, Germany, the United States, Poland, Italy and Sweden have nominated workers' delegates; South Africa, Argentine, Spain, Greece, Czecho-Slovakia and Switzerland have nominated employers' delegates. The Presidency of the commission has been assigned to Viscount Cave, of Great Britain.
- The New Minister of Switzerland to Tokyo, Mr. Charles L. E. Lardy, was the guest of honor at a reception given by the Swiss residents of Yokohama at the Oriental Palace Hotel, Yokohama.
1920.09.04
- It is understood that the Government has accepted the resignation of Baron Ishiguro, President of the Japan Red Cross Society, and has appointed Mr. Hirayama, Vice-President of the Society, as his successor.
- According to a cable from Sourabaya, Java, the representatives of the Japan Petroleum Company of Tokyo, who arrived here half a year ago to make inquiries about the eventual possibility of buying oil fields for their company in the Dutch East Indies, have concluded a contract with the Colonial Petroleum Company, a Dutch company of the Standard Oil Trust. From reliable sources it is learned that this contract includes the purchase by the latter of its rather rich oil fields in the district of Samarinda of the Eastern province of Dutch-Borneo, including the establishment already existing on the grounds.
- Madame Kajiko Yajima, the president of the Japan W. C. T. U., 88 years old, who went to England to attend the world's W. C. T. U. convention held in London last March, returned on the Katori Maru after an absence in England and America of 175 days.
- Viscount Ishiguro retired yesterday as President of the Japan Red Cross Society, his promotion to the rank of Viscount being announced at the same time. He has served the Society over forty years.
- The most severe storm for 30 years has been raging in Formosa. Heavy rains caused floods which swept away several houses, submerged others and caused three deaths. The Taihoku bridge was washed away.
- A tornado of usual violence caused two deaths and the destruction of 70 buildings in Gumma prefecture yesterday. The heavy downpour accompanying the storm caused the Karasu river to rise 10 feet, flooding 800 houses. The storm covered 14 square miles and lasted about 5 hours.
1920.09.06
- Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress have been pleased to contribute ¥2,200 through the Home Office to be distributed among the relatives of those who lost their lives in the Nikolaievsk massacre.
- Mr. Shigeo Mikawa, expert attached to the Samukawa sheep ranch in the Hokkaido, conducted by the Agricultural and Commercial Department, brought 106 head of sheep from America by the Arabia Maru.
- According to a cablegram from Berlin, Japan is to receive one of the latest and best equipped of Germany's Zeppelins, which is to be turned over to Japan by the German Government in accordance with the terms of the treaty of Versailles.
1920.09.07 — The Yokohama Municipality announced that an industrial exhibition would be held at the Yokohama Memorial Hall, October 16-19. The exhibition will be limited to Chinaware, lacquer and photographs.
1920.09.08 — Mr. F. Romos, Consul-General in Yokohama from the Republic of Brazil, was among the passengers who sailed for Seattle on the N. Y. K. liner Kashima Maru.
1920.09.09
- Viscount Uchida, the Foreign Minister, this day tendered a welcome luncheon in honor of the U. S. Congressmen and party at his official residence and distinguished Japanese attended. After the luncheon Etsudo Otake, a Japanese artist, entertained the guests with his unique impromptu paintings.
- Massacre relics will be exhibited with the double object of comforting the spirits of the Japanese massacred at Nikolaievsk and of appealing to the public sympathy for the bereaved families. This exhibition of the personal effects of these victims, of paintings of the scene of the massacre and of records of the miserable life led by the Japanese held in prison, the illustrations being by noted painters and from the record of the Department of War and of the Navy, will be held in Asakusa, commencing the 11th instant.
- Yokohama tendered a welcome reception in honor of the members of the American Congressional party at Memorial Hall, at which Mayor Kubota presided, from 4-7 p.m. The Yokosuka Naval Band furnished the music for the evening entertainment.
1920.09.10 — Dr. U. Hattori, professor of the College of Literature of the Imperial University of Tokyo, is expected to reach Kobe from Marseilles on the Mishima Maru Thursday, after an extended trip through Europe and America. Dr. Hattori was exchange lecturer at Harvard University on Oriental religion and philosophy some years ago.
1920.09.11
- Today being the anniversary of the death of General Count Nogi, a memorial service was held at his residence at Shinsakamachi, Akasaka. Lectures were delivered by Professor K. Uyeda and Dr. Segawa.
- Thirty-two women have been enrolled as special students in the College of Literature of the Imperial University of Tokyo, which opens today. One of them, Mrs. Chizuko Yoshimura, is 48 years old and was formerly a teacher in the Peers' School.
1920.09.12
- Lieutenant Hamada, chief gunnery officer, and three other officers were killed outright and senior officers Aoki and eight others were seriously injured in an explosion the cause of which is not known on board the Japanese battle cruiser Haruna.
- Professor Dr. Sakue Takahashi, an authority on international law and a member of the House of Peers, died at 5:50 p.m. at the Sato Juntendo Hospital. His age was 54 years.
1920.09.13
- The American Congressmen left Japan on the army transport Madawaska, some members of the party remaining behind.
- Marchioness Matsukata died suddenly this morning at her residence in Tokyo. The Marchioness was born in Kagoshima in 1845 and was married to Marquis Matsukata when she was 17 years old. She was the mother of nine sons and five daughters and leaves more than seventy descendants.
1920.09.14 — Mr. Hioki, Minister to Sweden, who is reported to be appointed minister to China in succession to Mr. Obata, is expected to arrive in Tokyo on Wednesday (the 15th). Professor Augustine H. Smith will lead the great Sunday School chorus. The first united chorus rehearsal for the Sunday School Convention was held at 3:30 p.m. at the Y. M. C. A. building in Kanda.
1920.09.15
- Japan's naval delegates to the International Communication Conference to be held at Washington, D. C., U. S. A., started to-day. They were Captain Junichi Kiyohara and assistants, viz., Capt. Yoshitake Kiyokawa and Commander Isoroku Yamagata.
- About 120 Polish orphans are expected to arrive in Tsuruga today aboard the Karafuto Maru, Mr. Iida, Secretary of the Japanese Red Cross Society, having left Tokyo yesterday evening to meet them.
- The Seiyukai Party celebrated the twentieth anniversary of its foundation.
- The funeral of Marchioness Matsukata, wife of the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, took place at Aoyama Cemetery with Shinto rites. At the funeral service Princess Kitashirakawa, Prince Fushimi, Prince Kan-in, Prince Yamashina, and Prince Kuni, sent representatives, while among those present were Mr. Hara, the Premier; Baron Nakamura, Minister of the Imperial Household; Mr. Tokonami, Minister of Home Affairs; Mr. Nakabayashi, Minister of Education; Prince Tokugawa, Marquis Kuroda, Admiral Togo, Field-Marshal Kawamura, Baron Okura, Viscount Shibusawa and Baron Furukawa.
1920.09.16 — A telegraphed inquiry has been received by the Sunday School Convention's General Secretary from the Chinese Government through Mr. Charles R. Crane, United States Minister to Peking, concerning the number of delegates who will visit China after the convention at Tokyo. Plans are being made for the entertainment of the visitors.
1920.09.17
- A large brilliant assemblage of Princes and Princesses of the Imperial family, Cabinet Ministers, Privy Councillors, Field-Marshals, and other high naval and military officers and a large number of dignitaries and ladies assembled at Uyeno station this morning when their Majesties the Emperor and the Empress arrived from Nikko. The Emperor wore a military uniform while the Empress was in foreign dress. His Majesty is greatly improved in health.
- Mr. John Wanamaker, joint general Chairman of the World's Sunday School Association, will not attend the convention at Tokyo, according to word received at convention headquarters. Dr. Frank L. Brown, General Secretary of the convention, cabled Mr. Wanamaker to come and Baron Shibusawa invited him to be his personal guest during the convention. A reply to both cables has been received: "Totally unfit. Resuming work. Profoundly regret losing visit to Shibusawa." This being the anniversary of the battle of the Yellow Sea in the Japan-China War, Admiral Togo, Admiral Inouye, Admiral Yamamoto and other officers attended the usual annual luncheon at the Naval Club in Tsukiji, Tokyo.
1920.09.18 — Mr. Katsutaro Inuzuka, Japan's delegate to the International Labor Council, left Tokyo for Europe by the N. Y. K. liner Kumano Maru.
1920.09.19
- Their Majesties, the Emperor and the Empress, have contributed ¥2,000 toward the relief of the sufferers from the recent floods in Kochi prefecture, and ¥500 for those in Okayama prefecture and ¥500 for those in Iwate prefecture.
- It is announced that Captain J. R. Brinkley will leave for Europe within a few days on the Kumano Maru together with Baron Megata and the Japanese delegation to the first meeting of the League of Nations. Captain Brinkley will be attached to the Bureau which the Japanese War Office is opening in Paris in connection with the League.
1920.09.20
- According to an official publication, the specie in the possession of the Government in the Bank of Japan aggregated ¥2,000,000,000 on September 15th.
- Announcement is made of the appointment of Dr. Saeki as President of the newly organized Institute for National Food Investigation.
1920.09.22 — An extraordinary meeting of the Diplomatic Advisory Council was held at the Premier's official residence. All the members of the Council were present.
1920.09.23 — His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince will give a luncheon at his palace at Takanawa to the Governors of the prefectures which his Imperial Highness visited after his formal installation as Crown Prince in the autumn of 1916. The Governors of Kyoto, Nagasaki, Saga, Fukuoka, Miye, Nara, and of ten other prefectures are to be invited. Mr. Kobashi, Vice-Minister of Home Affairs, and Mr. Tsukamoto, chief of the Bureau of Shrines and Temples, will also receive invitations.
1920.09.24
- Professor Ernest Wilson Clement of the First Higher School of Tokyo returned on the Manila Maru from a vacation trip to the United States.
- M. Bapst, the French Ambassador to Tokyo, has been promoted to be commander by the Legion of Honor.
- Dr. Masaharu Anesaki, professor of Literature, Tokyo Imperial University, has been recommended as Emeritus professor to the University of Strassburg. Dr. Anesaki went to France last year at the invitation of the French Academy to deliver lectures on Oriental religions.
- A tourist party of Korean woman teachers of elementary schools, consisting of 16 members, visited the Kansai district, enjoying sightseeing at Kamakura and Enoshima and will reach Tokyo tomorrow.
1920.09.25
- Formal protest by Japanese residents in Los Angeles, members of the Japanese Association there, has been made to President Wilson, according to a semi-official dispatch reaching Tokyo. The following resolutions were submitted to the President: "The anti-Japanese referendum proposed by the Californians is a menace to the life of the Japanese residents and is against justice and humanity.
- The agricultural achievements so far attained by Japanese settlers are so great and beneficent to the Californians that any attempt to exclude them cannot but be considered as the work of selfish anti-Japanese agitators.
- The Japanese understand that real Americans never support any discriminatory treatment of foreigners, and therefore we hereby pass these resolutions expressing our sincere desire, and trust that we may be given most fair treatment in the name of both humanity and the American national principle of fairness and justice." Admiral Nagamatsu died at Sendagaya, Tokyo. He may rightly be described as one of the pioneers who laid the foundations of the modern Japanese Navy. Born in 1839 at Yedo, Admiral Nagamatsu studied Dutch in his early years and in 1859 he, together with Katsu (afterward count) and Buyo Enomoto (afterward viscount) went to America on board the Kanrin Maru, a warship owned by the Shogunate Government. This was the first instance of a Japanese warship's crossing the Pacific. In 1862 Admiral Nagamatsu proceeded to Holland to supervise the building of the Kaiyo Maru, a warship ordered by the Tokugawa Government. Even after the construction of the warship, Baron Nagamatsu remained in Holland for six years studying shipbuilding. On his return home, he was appointed professor of the Naval College, where he taught the art of shipbuilding. On the establishment of the Yokosuka dockyard in 1877, Admiral Nagamatsu was appointed first chief of the Dockyard and laid the foundations of the present Naval Shipbuilding Yard and Arsenal.
1920.09.26 — The ceremony of unveiling the bronze statue of the late Keijiro Amenomiya, a noted business man, took place at the Sojiji Temple, Tsurumi. Mr. Noda, Minister of Communication and other friends were present.
1920.09.28 — Imperial sanction has been given for the wedding of Princess Yasuko Yamashina, niece of Her Majesty, the Empress, and Mr. Nagatake Asano, heir to Marquis Asano. The preliminary ceremony took place to-day.
1920.09.30
- The executive committee of the America-Japan Society held a conference at the Bankers' Club to discuss the California question and to consider in what manner the society could serve the best interests of the two countries.
- Successive rains ending with a typhoon on Friday night (September 30th) caused much loss of life and damage to railways, tramcar lines, and bridges; many houses were destroyed by landslides or swept away by the flood and 54 persons were killed and many injured. The visitation of calamity was especially noticeable between Tokyo and Yokohama and in Kanagawa prefecture. Also in Ibaraki, Shizuoka and Atami, many persons are reported missing and many houses were swept away.
1920.10.01 — The First Official Census was taken throughout the empire. This being the thirty-fifth Anniversary of the founding of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Japan's greatest steamship line, all the steamers and launches of the firm in the port of Kobe were decorated with flags. The harbor presented a beautiful scene.
1920.10.02
- A gang of 400 bandits attacked Hunchun in Chinese territory near Korea and burned the consulate of Japan, fifteen Japanese citizens, including officials of the consulate, being killed and more than twenty others wounded early in the morning of October 2nd. Many Chinese and Koreans also were killed by the attacking gang.
- Mr. Charles Francis, U. S. Labor Commissioner, who recently arrived in Tokyo in connection with the Sunday School Convention, visited Mr. Inouye, Governor of the Bank of Japan, and had a conference on the Japan-American question.
1920.10.03
- A Baby Show was opened at the Imperial Dolls' Hospital under the auspices of Mr. Nishiyama, principal of the Imperial Kindergarten and 335 babies were entered; the youngest parents are Mr. Iwao Yamamoto, 28, and Mrs. Yamamoto 17, while the oldest couple are Mr. Kinsuke Nozawa 62, and Mrs. Nozawa 37.
- The autumn regatta of Keio University was held on the upper reaches of the Sumida river. Many thousands of spectators were present to witness the twenty or more events which made up the programme.
1920.10.04 — A garden party was given at the French Embassy at 2 p.m. under the auspices of the Franco-Japanese Association, which was attended by about three hundred foreign and Japanese members. H. I. H. Prince Kanin, President of the Association, honored the occasion by his presence.
1920.10.05
- At the first meeting of a newly organized Buddhist Sunday School in the Botanical Gardens, Koishikawa, Tokyo, 2,000 boys and girls attended. Its declared object is not religious, but rather moral and educational.
- The T. K. K. liner Tenyo Maru arrived at Yokohama from San Francisco with a heavy shipment of gold coin and bullion valued at ¥30,000,000.
- Viscount Kencho Suematsu, Privy Councillor, died.
- The Jiji Shimpo, one of the leading Tokyo dailies, was legally recognized as a joint stock company.
1920.10.06
- Shuroku Kuroiwa, proprietor of the Yorozu, a leading Tokyo newspaper, died.
- The International Anti-opium Association at Peking has received the gratifying intelligence in a note from the Japanese legation that, having referred the association's letter of June 10 to his Government the minister, Mr. Obata, has received word that the Japanese Government has definitely decided to abolish entirely the opium monopoly system at Tsingtao and in the Kwangtung leased territory, in the course of this year.
1920.10.07
- Bunji Suzuki, president of the Yuaikai, Japan's nearest approach to a labor union, delivered an address at a labor mass meeting at the Kobe Commercial Museum.
- Mr. Hajime Hoshi, president of the Hoshi Pharmaceutical Company of Tokyo, recently decided to make a donation of 2,000,000 marks to the German Government to be distributed as that Government sees fit for the promotion of scientific research.
- Baron Renpei Kondo, president of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, newly elected president of the Japan Shipowners' Association, addressed a general meeting of the Association at the Oriental Hotel, Kobe.
- Count and Countess S. Chinda arrived in Tokyo after a thirteen years' absence from their homeland. During this period Count Chinda has served as Japan's representative in several of the European capitals and in Washington D. C., and most recently as ambassador to the court of St. James, in London.
1920.10.08 — Mr. Hiraoka, formerly chief of the Saghalien Civil Administration Office, has been appointed chief of the Roads Bureau in the Tokyo Municipal Office.
1920.10.09
- For the relief of the Koreans who suffered from the recent floods in Korea, His Majesty the Emperor has been pleased to contribute ¥15,000. Governor General Saito has been instructed to use this sum for the benefit of the flood victims.
- A cable from San Francisco October 9th reports that Judge Maurice T. Dooling, of the United States District Court, has granted citizenship in the United States to two Japanese named Hoshino and Kodama, under the provisions of the naturalization law making persons who served in the military and naval forces during the war eligible without any previous declaration of intention.
1920.10.10
- Mrs. J. R. Wilson, wife of President Wilson's only brother, attended the sessions of the Eighth World's Sunday School Convention in Tokyo.
- Over ten thousand children and adults took part in the Sunday School Rally at Hibiya Park at 1 p.m. They carried banners and sang "Stand up, stand up for Jesus." The hundreds of groups of youngsters gave an impressive demonstration of the energy and enthusiasm of Japanese youth.
1920.10.11 — The thousand delegates from the World's Sunday School Convention in Tokyo paid a visit to the seaside town of Kamakura. Children from five Sunday schools lined up on both sides of the station platform welcomed the visiting guests.
1920.10.14 — The Yokohama citizens tendered a reception in honor of the delegates to the World's S. S. Convention in the public park.
1920.10.15 — The announcement is made that Mr. Jiro Harada, a business man over 70 years old, who was until last year in the service of the Konoike House in Osaka as its managing director, had decided to donate all of the property which he had amassed in his lifetime, amounting in value to ¥10,200,000, to relief work.
1920.10.16
- Prince Tokugawa has been elected president of the Sino-Japanese Literary Association to succeed Hon. Y. Komatsubara, who died some time ago.
- The second dormitory for Chinese students will be opened by the association in Hongo, Tokyo, next month.
1920.10.17 — The Art Exhibition of the Imperial Kanten Art Institute opened at Uyeno Park and will remain open for a month.
1920.10.18 — Admiral Saito, Governor General of Korea, arrived in Tokyo for a conference.
1920.10.22
- The Kozu Odawara line, which is the first section of the new Kozu-Numazu road now in course of construction by the Imperial Government Railways, was opened to the public.
- The library containing about 3,000 German law books collected by Dr. Sternberg, formerly professor in the Tokyo Imperial University was purchased by the Meiji University at the price of over ¥10,000.
1920.10.23
- A cable from Seoul, Korea, October 23rd informs us that a Japanese detachment routed 400 bandits near Teutaoken, Chientao. The fleeing bandits are being pursued. Fourteen Japanese were killed and 9 wounded. The outlaws left behind 16 dead. Their casualties are thought to be heavy. Another Japanese detachment is engaging the outlaws between Paomikou and Sektaken.
- A cable from Vladivostok Oct. 23rd states that the Japanese military authorities effected the evacuation from Habarovsk smoothly and without the least obstacle.
1920.10.24
- The subscription of the South Manchurian railway loan amounting to ¥15,000,000 closed. The loan was oversubscribed to nearly twice the amount required.
- Mr. Henry Bowie, founder and formerly president of the Japan Society of San Francisco, who has been living in Tokyo since the autumn of 1918, left for home on the Siberia Maru.
- The purchase of the Yokohama Electric Railway by the Yokohama Municipality has been ultimately concluded. The price fixed is ¥6,200,000.
- The South Manchurian Railway has contributed the sum of ¥100,000 to the relief fund for the famine sufferers in North China through the Japanese Minister in Peking. The Company is conveying free of charge all provisions and other goods from Manchuria to North China for the benefit of the famine sufferers.
1920.10.27 — Rev. Dr. D. C. Holtom delivered a lecture on "The Political Philosophy of Shinto" at the meeting of the Asiatic Society recently. Mr. Eki Hioki, former Minister to China and also to Sweden, has been selected to be Japan's Ambassador to Germany.
1920.10.28 — Commercial visitors from the Dutch East Indies were entertained at luncheon by Mr. J. Inouye, Governor of the Bank of Japan, and in the afternoon an elaborate garden party was given in their honor by Mr. Raita Fujiyama, president of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce, at his private residence in Shiba.
1920.10.29 — Mrs. Diana Agabeg Apcar was appointed honorary consul of the Armenian Republic, and submitted her official credentials to the Imperial Government of Japan through Mr. K. Inouye, Governor of Kanagawa prefecture. A Sunday School meeting was held in Osaka, the Reverend L. Williams Butcher, D. D. of London being chief speaker. The Pageant "From Bethlehem to Osaka" was given in the Central Public Hall; five thousand people attended.
1920.10.30 — H. I. H. Prince Kanin presented the silver watches granted by H. I. M. the Emperor to the honor graduates of the Aviation School at Tokorozawa. Dr. M. Adachi, who is Japan's Envoy in Brussels, has recently received appointment as one of the suite of plenipotentiaries of the League of Nations assembled in Geneva.
1920.10.31 — The usual Review at the Yoyogi Parade Ground and a garden party at Kasumigaseki Palace were two official functions of the celebration Sunday of the birthday of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan. H. I. H. the Crown Prince reviewed the troops at Yoyogi instead of the Emperor. The Foreign Minister and Countess Uchida received the guests in the palace from whence they proceeded to the gardens.
1920.11.02 — The official celebration of the dedication ceremony of the Meiji Shrine was observed at Hibiya Park under the auspices of the Tokyo Municipal Office. Among those present were Cabinet Ministers, Foreign Envoys and leading citizens. Mr. A. Sailinha, president of the Bank of Java, who arrived in Tokyo on October 25, to observe financial conditions and also to transact business connected with the medical conference to be held in Java next year, was decorated with the Third Order of the Sacred Treasure this day by the Imperial Court in appreciation of his efforts for the advancement of friendly relations between Japan and the Netherlands.
1920.11.03 — Mrs. Tsuneko, wife of Captain Ichijo of the Japanese Navy and heir to Prince Ichijo who is now in France, sailed from Kobe to Marseilles on the Kitano Maru this morning. This noble family is one of the oldest in this country, having an unbroken lineage of more than two thousand years. Mrs. Taneko Kuroki, wife of the heir to General Count Kuroki, sailed from Kobe on the Kitano Maru for Marseilles to join her husband who is now in France.
1920.11.04 — H. I. H. the Crown Prince left Tokyo today to attend the Military Manoeuvres at Kyushu which will commence November 8th.
1920.11.06 — An industrial exhibition of the manufactures and products of Kanagawa Prefecture opened at Yokohama Memorial Hall.
1920.11.07 — Baron Matsui, former Japanese Ambassador to France, with his family landed in Kobe this morning from the Kamo Maru.
1920.11.08 — H. I. H. Prince Higashi Fushimi entertained foreign diplomatic representatives at a garden party at his residence; those who attended included Premier Hara and other Cabinet Ministers, Court and Government Officials and many prominent business men. Viscount Shibusawa, president of the League of Nations Association in Tokyo, invited its members and friends to a dinner at the Peers' Club. According to the latest official returns, the number of foreign tourists of different nationalities who visited this country during the first half of the current year was 15,252 men and women, being 90 less than for the same period of last year. H. I. H. Princess Yasuko Yamashina and Mr. Nagatake Asano were married today. Over seventy fishing boats off Kyojun were overtaken by a sudden squall, ten of them were wrecked, twenty men were drowned and fifty are missing.
1920.11.11 — Mr. Tatsuo Morito, former assistant professor of the Tokyo Imperial University who was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for the publication of an article dealing with Kuropotkin's studies on socialism some time ago was taken to Tokyo prison.
1920.11.12 — The Japan Salvation Army celebrated its Silver Jubilee at the Tokyo headquarters. Baron Saito, Governor-General of Chosen, who was staying in Tokyo left for Seoul.
1920.11.13 — H. I. M. the Empress dispatched Baron Omori, Chief Steward of her Majesty's Household, to the Fukudenkai orphan asylum at Shimoshibuya and bestowed presents on the Polish orphans who recently arrived from Vladivostok.
1920.11.14 — Rev. Dr. Bachelor, a well-known British missionary of Hokkaido and an authority on the Ainu race, delivered a lecture entitled "Past and Present of the Ainus" under the auspices of Marquis Yoshichika Tokugawa of the Eiseikai Kan.
1920.11.15 — Dr. John C. Ballagh, educator and one of the oldest Presbyterian missionaries, died at Kamakura.
1920.11.16 — A general meeting of the Russian Society in Japan was held at the Orthodox Church, Surugadai, Tokyo. Bishop Sergi delivered a lecture on "Ninety Years' Work of the Catholics in Japan."
1920.11.17 — Sixty German aeroplanes given to Japan by the allies as war trophies were brought to Yokohama from Hamburg by the O. S. K. Steamer Havana Maru. Baron Den, Governor General of Formosa arrived in Tokyo.
1920.11.18 — Her Majesty the Empress visited the Art Exhibition in Ueno Park and also the Children's Sanitary Exhibition at Ochanomizu.
1920.11.19 — The Tokyo Asahi, one of the largest newspaper concerns in Japan, has moved into its new building, Takiyamacho, Kyobashi-ku, Tokyo.
1920.11.22 — At the joint orchestral concert given by Marquis Tokugawa in his Nanki Concert Hall, Azabu, His Highness Prince Kanin and thirty members of the Imperial family were present. Mr. Bohumil Sykora, assisted by Mrs. Hillberg, pianist, gave splendid cello solos and the great pipe organ recently imported from London was installed.
1920.11.23 — The visiting American Baseball Team played an Exhibition game at Waseda University at 2 o'clock.
1920.11.25 — Madame Masako Miwada and Madam Ayako Tanahashi were received in audience by the Empress at the Imperial Palace; and her Majesty commended them for the service rendered in the advancement of female education in Japan.
1920.11.27 — Mr. Motokichi Takahashi, a member of the Japanese Imperial Diet, died in Seattle, Washington, whither he had gone to study conditions.
1920.11.29 — The N. Y. K. passenger steamer Kokura Maru, which ran aground on a reef off the Island of Yap, is a total loss but passengers, crew and mail are safe, it is announced by the Yokohama Office.
1920.11.31 — Their Excellencies Eki Hioki, Japan's Ambassador to Germany, A. Ariyoshi, the new Minister to Switzerland, and T. Kawakami, the new Minister to Poland, all left Kobe for Europe to-day on the N. Y. K. liner Kamo Maru.
1920.12.01 — His Excellency Hu-Wei-Tei, who arrived here recently as the Representative of the Peking Government, was received in audience at the Imperial Palace by His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince, to whom he presented his credentials.
1920.12.02 — Dr. T. Fukuda, the director of the Kanagawa Prefectural Sanitary Office, arrived at Yokohama and visited the principal Japanese officials of the city and members of the consular body. The Asano cement factory at Taihoku was destroyed by fire. The loss is estimated at ¥300,000.
1920.12.03 — The throne has granted ¥40,000 toward the 1300th anniversary celebration of the death of Prince Shotoku Taishi, which will occur in April, 1921, at Horyūji Temple near Nara. Prince Sumi, fourth Imperial son, celebrated his fifth birthday. Attended by a retinue, he went to the Imperial palace and received the congratulations of his Imperial parents. The Minister of Peru and Madame de Freyer have returned from China and opened the office of the Legation at their residence, Kojimachi, Tokyo. Mr. S. Tamura, president of the Kobe Chamber of Commerce, with Messrs. Honda and Suga, vice-presidents, were decorated by the Chinese Government in appreciation of their services in promoting friendship between Japan and China. Their Imperial Majesties graciously contributed the sum of ¥10,000 a year for the next five years for the maintenance fund of the Japan Red Cross Hospital.
1920.12.04 — H. H. Prince Takehiko Yamashina, second sub-lieutenant of the Imperial Navy, has joined the Navy Aviation Corps at Yokosuka for the study of aeronautics.
1920.12.05 — The Tokyo Academy of Music gave a concert in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the death of Beethoven. The day was celebrated at the Kanagawa Girls' School also.
1920.12.06 — The 139 Polish orphans who were being cared for at the Fukuden orphanage by the Japan Red Cross Society left for Seattle on the Suwa Maru. The third general meeting of the Tokyo Women's Club was held at the Y. W. C. A. Hall, Kanda, Tokyo. Madame de Warzee made an address on "Primitive Literature and its Relation to the Development of the Races."
1920.12.11 — In the interest of Japan-American relations, a conference was held of the combined Associations working for Peace such as The Japan Peace Society, The Japan Emigration Society, The League of Nations Association and others at the Seiyoken, Tsukiji, Tokyo. The subject was the Anti-Japanese Land Legislation in California. The speakers of the day were Marquis Okuma, Professor Dr. Anezaki, Hon. S. Ebara, M. P., Dr. J. Soeda and some others. Prizes were awarded the winners of the Osaka-Shikoku-Kyūshū flight, at the Military Club, Kudan, Tokyo. Civil aviators and members of the Imperial Aviation Association were present. The occasion was honored by the presence of His Imperial Highness Prince Kuni who delivered a short address which was responded to by Baron Sakatani on behalf of the aviation associations.
1920.12.16 — On the Island of Yap in the South Seas, by the visitation of a typhoon (N. E.) and heavy rain and a tidal wave almost all the dwelling houses, stores and officials buildings were destroyed and nine thousand natives suffered loss of food and dwelling houses; 80%-90% of cattle and poultry were destroyed, so no lives are reported lost. At almost the same time, at Menza, Argentine, a violent earthquake occurred and a certain spot in the street vomited boiling water, by which a number of persons were killed and injured.
1920.12.17 — Count Hirosawa, member of the House of Peers, was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to Madrid, Spain. Baron Shimpei Goto accepted the Lord Mayorship of Tokyo. The Japan Red Cross Society gave a banquet at headquarters. Among the distinguished guests invited were Count Chinda, ex-Ambassador to England, and Baron Matsui, ex-Ambassador to Paris and also many prominent officials of the Foreign Office and the War Office.
1920.12.18 — General Oi, Commander of the Japanese Expeditionary Army in Vladivostok, is in Tokyo recuperating from influenza.
1920.12.21 — A cablegram from Buenos Aires states that the casualties from a violent earthquake are estimated at over 400.
1920.12.22 — H. I. M. the Emperor attended a meeting of the Privy Council in the Imperial Palace, the first such session he has been able to attend for more than a year.
1920.12.23 — The ceremony of unveiling a bronze bust of the late Dr. Tanemichi Aoyama, a noted authority on medical science, took place at the Tokyo Imperial University.
1920.12.24 — Mr. Sadazuchi Uchida the newly appointed minister plenipotentiary to Constantinople, Turkey, left Tokyo to-day. Professor Omori, the well-known authority on Seismology has visited Asama volcano several times with his assistants since the recent eruptions on the 10th, 14th, 18th and 22nd to make scientific investigation of the actual conditions.
1920.12.25 — The 44th Imperial Diet was regularly convened to-day.
1920.12.25 — Their Majesties, the Emperor and the Empress have been pleased to grant the sum of ¥277,000 to soldiers and sailors' relief associations. H. I. M. the Empress has sent messages of sympathy to the invalids at the Red Cross, Relief Society and Charity hospitals and to the orphans of the Fukuden Kai, together with new year's gifts of money and cloth.
1920.12.28 — The two houses of the Imperial Diet met to-day in short sessions and then adjourned to reassemble January 21st after the holiday recess. Dr. H. Nagaoka of the Imperial University and Captain S. Hirase inspector of Navigation for the N. Y. K. returned to Japan on the *Empress of Asia*. Dr. T. Harada, former president of Doshisha University, started on the *Korea Maru* for Honolulu to take the chair of Japanese language in the University of Hawaii.
1920.12.30 — H. I. M. the Emperor has made a present worth ¥30,000 to Prince Yi, the former ruler of Korea, to commemorate the marriage of Prince Yi's son and heir to Princess Nashimoto of Japan; the present consisted of 2,800 shares in the Bank of Chosen.
1921.01.05 — The Annual Imperial New Year's banquet was held in the state room of the Imperial Palace. H. I. H. the Crown Prince attended in the absence of H. I. M. the Emperor and Princesses also. The Lord Chamberlain conveyed the Imperial greetings to the guests, to which Mr. Hara, the Premier, replied for the Japanese guests and Mr. Basil Krupensky, the Russian Ambassador, for the Foreign Envoys. Viscount Osako, formerly Chamberlain to H. I. M. the Emperor, died.
1921.01.08 — Professor Jacoulet, a veteran teacher of French in the schools of Tokyo and well known to both foreign and Japanese residents, died in the General Hospital at Yokohama.
1921.01.09 — Prince Yamagata, who had been staying in the Capital for some time, left for Odawara.
1921.01.12 — At the monthly meeting of the Imperial Academy held this afternoon, Dr. Sanji Mikami and Dr. S. Okamatsu were appointed to represent the Academy at the general meeting of the League of Academies to be held at Brussels in the middle of May, 1921.
1921.01.13 — Baron Goro Ijuin, fleet Admiral and former chief of the Naval General Staff and veteran of the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars, died in the early morning hours at his home in Tokyo at the age of seventy years.
1921.01.14 — The opening of the annual Wrestling Tournament at the Kokugikan is announced to-day.
1921.01.15 — T. I. H. Prince and Princess Higashi-Fushimi, Counts Uchida, Toda, and Ogimachi, Prince Ito and other high officials of the Court and the Foreign Office were present at a dinner given yesterday at the Imperial Palace in honor of the retiring Ambassador from Italy and Countess Paulicci.
1921.01.17 — Dr. K. Kuwada, who will represent Japan at the International Red Cross Conference at Geneva, departed for Europe. The Japanese steamer *Sakura Maru* foundered at a point 20 miles off Luzon, but 22 members of the crew have arrived at Appari, a seaport of Luzon.
1921.01.18 — The University presidents now in Tokyo for the annual conference, will be given a dinner at the Imperial Palace this evening, H. I. H. the Crown Prince attending in place of T. I. M. the Emperor and the Empress.
1921.01.19 — The first German ship *Kleist* a war prize arrived at Kobe, Captain G. W. Dring. This is one of 13 merchantmen Germany is turning over to Japan.
1921.01.21 — Mr. T. H. McConnell, general agent for the Ford Motor Car Company, New York, left Kobe to-day en route to Tokyo to present 100 reels of American educational films to the Japanese Government as the personal gift of Mr. Henry Ford as a token of the cordial relations existing between America and Japan.
1921.01.22 — A memorial festival for the famous Forty-seven Ronin was celebrated at Sengakuji, Takanawa, Tokyo. This was the 219th anniversary of the day they broke into the mansion of their master's enemy. Baron Aliotti, newly appointed Ambassador from Rome to Tokyo, arrived at Yokohama. Mrs. Tomo Matsumoto of Kodama-gun, Saitama prefecture, a graduate of the silk yarn high school here and author of a work on sericulture, has been chosen to represent the women agricultural workers of Japan at the third session of the International Labor Conference to be held in Geneva. The main building of the Court of Appeals at Taiko, Chosen (Korea), was destroyed by fire. The loss is estimated at about ¥300,000. The Ice Breaker *Baikal*, under the direction of Lieutenant Commander Mochizuki, experienced most unusual hardship and perilous struggling with icebergs, communicated with the *Chuka Maru* and was finally rescued by the *Tairei Maru* and the warship *Mikasa* and returned to Otaru, Hokkaido.
1921.01.23 — Mr. Soëtsu Yanagi, having visited Seoul, Chōsen, on important business concerning the establishment of a Korean Antique Arts Museum, returned to Tokyo and said the prized collection would be exhibited for public inspection by about April in Tokyo before said establishment shall be realized.
1921.01.24 — His Imperial Highness Prince Yi left Tokyo this evening for a visit of several days in Seoul, Chosen.
1921.01.25 — At the Annual General meeting of the Asiatic Society of Japan held at the British Embassy, Dr. Masujiro Honda delivered a lecture on Omotokyo. H. I. M. the Empress has graciously donated a substantial sum to aid the children of the pauper schools of Tokyo. The world-famed violinist, Mr. Mischa Elman, arrived at Yokohama on the *Empress of Russia*.
1923 (117 entries)
1923.05.20 — Mr. Pinkney Tuck, and Mr. Peyton, until recently American and British Consuls respectively at Vladivostok, arrived in Tokyo. Both the British and American consulates in Vladivostok have been closed, due to demands from Moscow which the respective governments deemed impossible to fulfil.
1923.05.21 — The Far Eastern Olympic Games officials of the participating countries were received in audience by H. I. H. Prince Chichibu, the honorary president of the games, at the stadium in Osaka.
1923.05.22 — The third general meeting of the Ladies Peace Association was held at the residence of Mr. Soichiro Asano, Takanawa, Tokyo. At the meeting, Miss Mary Dingman delivered a lecture on "peace."
1923.05.24 — The Conference of provincial Governors began at the Home Department, to be held for one week. Dr. Mizuno, minister of the Department, presided at the meetings.
1923.05.29 — Mr. H. Nagata, deputy Mayor, was appointed the Mayor of Tokyo as successor to Viscount Goto.
1923.05.30
- The third memorial service for the victims of the Nikolaivsk massacre was observed at the Asakusa Honganji Temple in Tokyo.
- Dr. C. C. Pierce, professor of the University of Southern California and Dr. Wm. H. Craushaw, Dean of Colgate University, N. Y. gave addresses on "Japanese-American Relations" and "League of Nations and Americans" before a large audience in Tokyo under the auspices of the League of Nations Association of Japan.
1923.05.31
- According to statistics compiled by the Foreign Affairs Bureau in the Home Department, foreigners residing in Japan, as registered at the end of last year, numbered 29,043, of whom 8,000 were women. Compared with the preceding year, the above number indicates an increase of 2,663.
- These figures include 2,562 of British nationality; 2,549 citizens of the United States, 2,663 Russians, mostly refugees from Soviet Russia, and 19,635 Chinese.
1923.06.01 — Mr. A. A. Joffe, the Soviet Representative, and members of his party were honored by a dinner given by leading Japanese who are interested in the restoration of Russo-Japanese trade and political relations. Mr. Joffe was unable to attend due to illness but his secretary thanked the hosts.
1923.06.04 — Dr. Wilhelm Solf, German Ambassador in Tokyo, has been made doyen of the diplomatic corps in Tokyo during the absence of Sir Charles Eliot, British Ambassador.
1923.06.05
- Rev. Alexander D. Hail, one of the pioneer missionaries of Japan, died at his home in Osaka. He was 79 years old.
- Dr. Hail, who was connected with the work of the American Presbyterian Mission in Japan, had labored in this country for forty-five years, establishing friendships throughout Central Japan and exercising an influence for good throughout many a community. He was a native of Macomb, Illinois.
1923.06.06 — Madame Solf, wife of the German Ambassador, left Tokyo for her home via the Siberian Railroad.
1923.06.07
- The Empress gave ¥5,000 to the Lighthouse Keepers' Association following a visit to the Kanonzaki lighthouse recently on her way to Tokyo from Miura.
- The Imperial Court has awarded special posthumous honors to Dr. Uichi Torigata, a wireless expert, who died June 5, investing him with the Second Class Order of the Sacred Treasure and promoting his court rank to junior fourth grade.
1923.06.08 — The funeral Service for the late Prince Narihisa Kitashirakawa, who lost his life in an automobile accident in France, was held at Gokoku Temple in Koishikawa, Tokyo.
1923.06.09 — Mr. Fritz Kreisler, the world famous violinist, who has just completed a tour of the Far East, returned to the United States on the steamer Empress of Canada from Yokohama. Mr. Kreisler left Japan a few weeks ago for China, playing at important places on route.
1923.06.12 — Mr. I. Tokutomi, proprietor and editor of the Kokumin Shimbun, who was recently honored by the Imperial Academy for his work on the modern history of Japan, was the guest of honor at a dinner at the Imperial Hotel.
1923.06.14 — The members of the Belgian business mission, shortly leaving for home, were the guests at a luncheon given at the Belgian Embassy.
1923.06.15 — The 820 ton steamer Kurushima Maru sailed for the South Seas from Shibaura, Tokyo, with a party of 32 scientists and business men headed by Viscount Katagiri, amid an enthusiastic send-off.
1923.06.16 — Mr. O. Ewerlof, new minister to Japan from Sweden, presented his credentials to the Prince Regent at the Imperial Palace. He later was received in audience by the Empress.
1923.06.19 — Mr. M. Aall, professor of philosophy in the University of Christiania, Norway, gave lectures at several universities, while he stayed in Tokyo.
1923.06.20 — Mr. T. Kawakami, ex-Minister to Poland, has been appointed Japan's delegate in the Russo-Japanese negotiations and Mr. A. A. Joffe, special envoy, received the formal appointment as delegate from the Moscow Government. The Government has decided to appoint Mr. H. Nagaoka as Minister to the Netherlands, which post has been rendered vacant by the transfer of Minister Tatsuki to Brazil. Mr. Nagaoka has been Minister to Czecho-Slovakia.
1923.06.20 — Mr. M. Takahashi, head of the Japanese parliamentary mission to the International Parliamentarians' Conference in Copenhagen, and his party was given a farewell dinner by Viscount Takahashi, president of the Seiyukai, at the San-entei in Shiba.
1923.06.21 — The Kobe Women's Club invites all England speaking people, both men and women, to a special meeting at the Tor Hotel to hear an address by Miss Jane Addams, well known American social worker.
1923.06.23
- Mr. Fuko Matsumoto, who was one of the best Japanese painters, died. He was 84 years old. During the Meiji revolution he espoused the cause of the royalists. He later was appointed adviser to the Japan Fine Arts' Academy and made a member of the Imperial Fine Arts' Academy.
- Mr. Tazuki, the newly appointed Ambassador to Brazil, was received in a farewell audience this morning at the Imperial Palace by the Prince Regent, and the Empress. The Ambassador will leave Yokohama for his destination on June 30 on the liner Shinyo-maru.
- Mr. and Mrs. Y. Tokugawa were hosts at a dinner in honor of their house guest, Prof. Joseph Hollman, the celebrated violin-cellist. The dinner was given to mark the occasion of Prof. Hollman's decoration by the Emperor with the third class order of the Rising Sun. This is the highest decoration ever conferred upon a musician, either Japanese or foreign, in this country.
1923.06.24 — A large garden party was given by Prince Yoshimitsu Tokugawa, 11 years old, grandson of the late Prince Keiki Tokugawa, the last Shogun, in celebration of his ascendancy to the title of Prince at his residence in Koishikawa.
1923.06.25 — Mrs. Joffe, wife of the Russian envoy in the Far East, addressed the Russo-Japanese Women's Association.
1923.06.26
- Commissioner and Mrs. William Eadie arrived at Yokohama on the steamer Empress of Asia. Commissioner Eadie succeeds Commissioner Duce who recently left for England. A welcome reception was given Commissioner and Mrs. Eadie next day at the Salvation Army hall in Kanda, Tokyo.
- Mr. Hajime Matsushima, former consul-general in Chita, who has been appointed councillor of the Embassy in Paris, will sail for Marseilles leaving Kobe on July 5.
1923.06.27 — It is officially announced that Viscount Masatake Sengoku will be appointed President of the Imperial Board of Decoration, in succession to the late Count Ogimachi.
1923.06.28 — The Japan-Russia pourparlers began at the Tsukiji Seiyoken Hotel in Tokyo at noon.
1923.06.29
- The death of Dowager Princess Yasuko Arisugawa, fourth daughter of the late Marquis Mayeda and wife of the late Prince Takehito, at Yugawara, marked the passing of the second oldest Imperial family of Japan. The House was founded by Prince Yoshikoto, son of the 106th Emperor. The late Prince Takehito, 10th of the line, died in July, 1913, without an heir and the reigning Emperor has ordered his third son Nobuhito to become head of the House.
- The ashes of the late Marchioness Namiko Mayeda, who died in Paris two months ago, arrived at Kobe accompanied by Marquis Mayeda. The funeral services will be held July 30 at the Mayeda mansion.
1923.06.30 — Major General Pabst, the newly appointed Netherlands Minister to Japan was received in audience by the Prince Regent at the Imperial Palace when the Minister presented his credentials.
1923.07.01 — A special ceremony in celebration of the sixty-fifth anniversary of the opening of the port of Yokohama to foreign trade was held July 1 at the Yokohama Memorial Hall.
1923.07.03 — Shifting of consular positions have been announced by the Cabinet. Mr. S. Morioka has been appointed consul in Ichang; Mr. S. Shimada, consul in Harbin; Mr. T. Yoshida, consul in Sourabaya; Mr. R. Kasuya, consul in Yunnan; and Mr. S. Urata consul in Hamburg. A branch consulate has been established in Rio Plata and Mr. S. Hayao has been placed in charge.
1923.07.04 — Dr. Baron Chusaburo Shiba, a member of the House of Peers and professor in the Imperial University, has been appointed president of the Government Aviation Institute. He succeeds the late Dr. S. Terano.
1923.07.06
- It is reported that the Prince Regent will be promoted to the rank of Commander of the Navy, and to that of Lieutenant-Colonel, of the Army, on the occasion of the Emperor's Birthday celebration, October 31.
- Prince Yi Kon, heir of the late Emperor of Korea, now student in the military Staff College, has been promoted to a captaincy in the Imperial army. Prince Yi will be graduated from the school in November and then will proceed to European countries for study. Mr. Kenkichi Yoshizawa, new Minister to China, was received in audience by the Prince Regent. It is said that owing to the absence of President Li Yuang-hung, Mr. Yoshizawa will present his credentials to the State Council.
1923.07.07 — General Pabst, the minister for the Netherlands, presented his credentials to the Prince Regent.
1923.07.09 — Dr. Josef Svagrovsky, Minister from Czechoslovakia to Japan arrived at Yokohama on the steamer Empress of Canada and immediately took charge of the Legation in Tokyo.
1923.07.12 — The Department of Education has ordered 30 professors in various universities and higher technical schools to study in America and Europe.
1923.07.13
- Mr. Cyrus E. Woods, new American ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Woods, and Mrs. Woods' mother, Mrs. J. A. Marchand, reached Tokyo.
- The Government has selected Dr. M. Adachi, Ambassador to Brussels; and Mr. T. Mayeda, former Tokyo deputy-mayor, as Government delegates to the fourth International Labor Conference in Brussels, October 22 to 29. Mr. Mayeda was recently appointed Government representative on the International Labor Directors' Commission of the League of Nations, and will leave Tokyo shortly for Europe.
1923.07.16 — Memorial services for Count Taisuke Itagaki, known as the Japanese "Father of Liberty," took place to-day at the Seisho Temple in Shiba. After the ceremony, many of those present gathered before the late Count's statue which just has been completed and which is to be sent to Kochi, Shikoku, the late Count's native place.
1923.07.20 — The Duchess d'Aosta, who is of one of the leading noble families of Italy, and her son the Duke of Spoleto arrived at Yokohama on the steamer Empress of Asia. They are on their way to Europe. They were greeted by His Excellency Nobile Giacomo de Martino, the Italian ambassador, Captain Cantele Ferrucio, Italian naval attache and Rear-Admiral Yamamoto who represented the Prince Regent. The 40th anniversary of the death of Prince Tomomi Iwakura, one of the three greatest heroes of the Meiji revolution, was celebrated to-day in Tokyo and Kyoto. Princess Dowager Higashi-Fushimi who is a daughter of the late prince attended the service held at the Iwakura home.
1923.09.01
- At 11:58 a.m. a violent earthquake shook the Kanto district. Tokyo and Yokohama sustained the most severe damage. Two thirds of Tokyo and nearly the whole of Yokohama were destroyed by the earthquake and subsequent conflagrations. Tokyo burned for two days and two nights.
- Tokyo and the neighbouring afflicted prefectures were placed under martial-law, and General Fukuda was appointed Commander-in-Chief.
1923.09.02
- An emergency requisition order was promulgated, to be applied in the prefectures of Tokyo, Gumma, and Kanagawa.
- The Yamamoto Cabinet was formed during the conflagration, and the installation ceremony took place in the gardens of the Palace. It was constituted as follows: Count Gombei Yamamoto — Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs; Viscount Shimpei Goto — Home; Junnosuke Inouye — Finance; General Giichi Tanaka — Army; Admiral Hyo Takarabe — Navy; Baron Kenjiro Den — Agriculture and Commerce; Ki Inukai — Communications; Kazutsugu Yamanouchi — Railways; Kiichiro Hiranuma — Justice; Keijiro Okano — Education. The following appointments also were made: Judge Dr. Hideo Yokota — President of the Supreme Court; Kakichi Uchida — Governor-General of Formosa; Joji Matsumoto — President of the Bureau of Legislation.
1923.09.03
- The Bankers' Association passed a resolution for the promulgation of a moratorium, to be applied in the devastated area, and for military assistance in guarding safes and valuables left in the devastated district.
- The Imperial House announced a grant of ¥10,000,000 out of the Privy Purse to the relief fund.
1923.09.04
- According to the estimate of the damage in Tokyo, by the Metropolitan Police Board, the number of destroyed houses in Tokyo is 316,087 and the number of sufferers, whose houses were destroyed, is 1,356,740, in Tokyo alone. The casualties are 130,000 in Tokyo.
- Nearly all the telephone exchanges in Tokyo and Yokohama were burned. The government ordered fresh telephone equipment from America.
- The American Red Cross at Manila announced a relief party, including 2 superintendents, from 10 to 25 army surgeons, and from 50 to 150 nurses would start for Tokyo with a great quantity of medicines and other relief materials.
1923.09.05
- President Coolidge sent the following message of condolence to the Emperor: "I am moved to offer you the most heartfelt sympathy and express to Your Majesty my sincere desire to be of any possible assistance in alleviating the terrible sufferings of your people." Through the Japanese Ambassador at Washington, Premier Yamamoto expressed the deep gratitude of the Emperor and the people of Japan for America's sympathy and aid, to the American Government. He said, "This precious sympathy on the part of America can not fail to draw still closer the bond of friendship and trust between the two countries and has created a profound impression in the grateful hearts suffering in Japan." Mr. Otohiko Ichiki, former Finance Minister, was appointed President of the Bank of Japan.
- Mr. Kurahei Yuasa was appointed Inspector-General of the Metropolitan Police.
1923.09.06
- The Chinese Government announced that the export duty on cereals exported to Japan would not be levied.
- The Library of the Tokyo Imperial University was entirely destroyed by fire. It burned for three days, and over 500,000 books were burned. The loss is estimated at ¥100,000,000.
- The former Emperor of China sent a message of condolence to the Emperor through the Japanese Minister at Peking. He presented a gift of 10,000 yuan and various treasures of his dynasty to the relief fund.
- The South Manchurian Railway formed a large relief party, and decided to expend ¥1,500,000 for immediate needs, sending great quantities of food, clothing, medical materials and timber by steamers at anchor at Dairen.
- Out of 15,000 factories in Tokyo and suburbs about 9,000 were destroyed; 135,000 labourers are estimated to have been thrown out of work. Some perished and a large number left for the country districts.
- Some 2,700 Chinese in the city and suburbs were made homeless and they are to be sent back to their country at the government's expense.
- The total material loss incurred by the Imperial House is estimated at ¥20,000,000.
1923.09.07 — The government promulgated three urgency Imperial Ordinances: (1) A moratorium, an order permitting the postponement of the discharge of private debts, incurred before the disaster by those living in the devastated area, until September 30. (2) An ordinance prohibiting profiteering — prohibiting cornering, refusal to sell, or selling at excessive prices, all necessaries of life under penalty of imprisonment up to three years or a fine up to ¥3,000. The officially recognized necessaries of life are: (1) Food, (2) kitchen utensils and table-ware, (3) medicines and medical materials, (4) vessels, vehicles and other means of transportation and their accessories, (5) building materials and tools, (6) fuel and oil, (7) cotton, woolen yarn and manufactures thereof, (8) paper, (9) trunks and wrapping materials, (10) geta (clogs) shoes and cleaning materials therefor, (11) stationery. (3) An Ordinance prohibiting circulation of alarmist rumours calculated to disturb public order or instigate crimes or under penalty of imprisonment up to ten years or a fine up to ¥3,000. The transmission of electricity in Tokyo, stopped for six days, was resumed in some places from the 7th. Electric cars began to run again in the undamaged districts. Steam trains began to run between Tokyo and Yokohama. Information about the diplomatic corps in Tokyo and Yokohama was published by the Foreign Office: Germany — Ambassador, family and staff safe. Embassy partly destroyed. United States — Ambassador, wife and staff safe. Embassy entirely destroyed by fire. American Consul in Yokohama and his wife and Miss Doris Babbit were killed. Belgium — Ambassador, family and staff safe. Embassy partly destroyed. Brazil — Minister and wife safe. Legation entirely destroyed by fire. China — Chargé d'Affaires, family and staff safe. Legation entirely destroyed by fire. Denmark — Chargé d'Affaires and staff safe. France — Ambassador and family, and staff safe. Embassy entirely destroyed by fire. Consul-General in Yokohama dead. Great Britain — Chargé d'Affaires family, and staff safe. Embassy partly damaged. Consul at Yokohama safe. Italy — Ambassador and staff safe. Embassy damaged. Mexico — Minister, family and staff safe. Legation safe. Norway — Chargé d'Affaires and staff safe. Holland — Minister and staff safe. Legation damaged. Portugal — Chargé d'Affaires and staff safe. Legation safe. Siam — Minister, family, and staff safe. Legation damaged. Sweden — Minister and staff safe. Legation safe. Switzerland — Minister, family, and staff safe. Legation safe. Czechoslovakia — Minister and staff safe. Legation damaged. Argentine — Chargé d'Affaires, wife and daughter were seen at Yokohama Station when the earthquake occurred, but missing since. Chili — Chargé d'Affaires and family in Yokohama missing. Legation destroyed by fire. Spain — Minister and staff safe. Legation destroyed by fire. The military and naval attachés who were in Tokyo, are safe. Peru — Chargé d'Affaires and wife missing. Some American doctors and nurses of the Rockefeller Hospital at Peking left Tientsin for Japan on an American Red Cross vessel with large quantities of medicine and medical stores.
1923.09.08
- The American slogan for raising relief funds in New York — "Every minute means another life saved!" — was enthusiastically welcomed by the Japanese people. It was adopted as the slogan of the various relief parties which arrived from all parts of the Empire.
- The Governor-General of Australia has sent £10,000, and large quantities of food and clothing amounting to £50,000 in value, to the Japanese Government. It is reported £50,000 more will be added.
1923.09.09 — The number of life insurance companies belonging to the Life Insurance Company Association was 36, of which 26 had their premises destroyed by fire. The insurance of these companies was 458,000,000 yen, in Tokyo alone. If the insurance in Yokohama is added it amounts to 700,000,000 yen. The losses these companies sustained from the catastrophe is estimated at 20 or 30 per cent. of their total insurance.
1923.09.10 — The organization of the Committee on Reconstruction was decided on by the Cabinet to-day.
1923.09.11 — The Daishinsai Zengokai (Society of Reconstruction), was formed among the leading members of the Imperial Diet and the influential business men of Tokyo. Prince Tokugawa was elected President, and Viscount Shibusawa and Mr. Kasuya, President of the House of Representatives, were elected Vice-Presidents. The Society will assist the government in relief and reconstruction work.
1923.09.12 — Imperial Edict issued. Mindful of the grand examples set by Our Imperial Ancestors, following the earthquake. The edict expresses grief at the catastrophe — describing the fires in Tokyo, Yokohama, and other cities, the obstruction of communications, the circulation of wanton rumours alarming the public, and comparing the calamity to the historic occurrence of the Ansei Era. The edict commands the Government to devise measures for quick relief, to suppress wild rumours, and establishes a special institution for the reconstruction of the Capital. The edict is countersigned by the Prime Minister and other Ministers of State.
1923.09.14
- General Read, of the U. S. Army, arrived in Japan from the Philippines, to express sympathy for the disaster to Japan.
- The loss sustained by the army of Japan is estimated at ¥300,000,000.
1923.09.15
- The Prince Regent visited the scenes of the fire, to encourage the officials to do their utmost in the relief and reconstruction work.
- The government announced that during 3 years to come only improvised buildings, such as barracks, will be allowed to be built in the fire devastated area of Tokyo. The government will plan the reconstruction of Tokyo and lay out the principal roads, parks, and important buildings during that time.
- About fifty banks in Tokyo and suburbs re-opened business on the 10th. The result was a great increase of deposits over amounts drawn out.
- The amount insured in Tokyo and Yokohama by the fire insurance companies of Japan is estimated to exceed ¥3,600,000,000.
1923.09.17
- According to the estimate made by the Metropolitan Police Board, the number of people who went out into the country from Tokyo during the period from the 1st to the 17th of September, is 626,000.
- The loss sustained by the medical world in Tokyo from the earthquake and fire is estimated at seventy million yen. As most of the larger hospitals in Tokyo were destroyed, first aid to the sufferers was difficult.
- Residences of the Princes of the Blood it has been decided will be used as residence for members of the diplomatic corps. The American Ambassador will occupy the residence of Prince Takeda-no-miya in Takanawa, and the French Ambassador will occupy the residence of Prince Kitashirakawa-no-miya.
1923.09.19
- Baron Hikokichi Ijuin was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- The wedding of the Prince Regent with Princess Nagako Kuni has been postponed until early next year. The Regent wishes to show by this decision his sympathy with the people in their great trouble.
1923.09.21
- Most of the magazine companies in Tokyo sustained damage from the quake. There were about 370 magazines published in Tokyo and 70 of them will publish their October numbers.
- Official wages in Tokyo are as follows: Carpenter — ¥3.50; Mason — ¥3.50; Coolie — ¥1.80–¥2.20; Navvy — ¥2.60; Fireman — ¥2.80; Woman labourer — ¥0.90; Blacksmith — ¥3.00; Sailor — ¥5.00; Drayman with wagon — ¥7.50–¥9.00; Carters with cart — ¥3.50.
1923.09.24
- Sakayé Osugi, the well-known Japanese anarchist and "two others" were killed by Captain of Gendarmerie Amakasu. Captain Amakasu was immediately arrested and is to be tried by court-martial.
- Foreign relief funds as published by the Relief Commissioner's Office: London £150,000; American Silk Association, New York $400,000; Canada $245,000; Australia £60,000; Straits Settlements $40,000; French Red Cross F.50,000; Red Cross of Sweden £250 and 2,865 bales of rice; France F.1,200,000; British Government 100 tons of rice; French Indo-China 100 tons of rice and medical stores; Batavia ¥50,000; Biel & Co., Egypt ¥500; Berkshire Knitting Mills ¥30,848.32; Glasgow £10,000; Huntley & Palmers Co. London 10,000 boxes of biscuits; Japanese Societies in New York, Boston, Seattle, Singapore, Manila, India and Java ¥462,360.69; Relief Organization for the Motherland of Honolulu ¥100,000.
1923.09.25
- The main part of the United States Asiatic Squadron departed from Tokyo Bay. These vessels, under command of Admiral Anderson, rushed to the rescue as soon as the news of earthquake and fire could be flashed by wireless. The crews of some of the vessels went on half rations in order that the greater portion of their stores could be taken on shore for free distribution.
- According to investigations by the police, the casualties in Yokohama were as follows: Population before disaster 438,755; Killed 23,440; Injured 42,050; Missing 3,182; Total casualties 68,675.
1923.09.26
- Since the formation of the present ministry it has been busily engaged in relief work. Domestic and foreign affairs, therefore, have been neglected. However, with the establishment of the Restoration Bureau the government regained its normal condition, and to-day resumed ordinary business concerning domestic and foreign affairs.
- Since the earthquake many disputes concerning leases and rented houses have sprung up. Settlements of these disputes, however, has been obstructed by the bad condition of communications. The government, therefore, decided to organize circuit courts in the district offices in the devastated area, for the prompt solution of these disputes by reconciling the parties concerned.
1923.09.27 — The restoration measures for Yokosuka include the broadening of the principal roads, the establishment of an electric-car service and the addition of the reclaimed land, which covers about 30,000 tsubo, to the city of Yokosuka. The roads will be of three widths, 90 ft., 72 ft., and 48 ft. respectively. The authorities established barrack-style buildings in which they accommodated the sufferers in the city. The primary schools in Yokosuka have been opened. The official organization of the Restoration Bureau was published in the Official Gazette to-day. The bureau is under the direct control of the Prime Minister and is responsible for the city-planning of Tokyo and Yokohama as well as general restoration. The principal officials of the bureau will be: The President; Two Vice-Presidents; One Chief-Engineer; Seven Directors; Fifteen Secretaries; Thirty administrative officials; One hundred and five engineers; One hundred and fifty subordinate officials; Three hundred and fifty assistant-engineers. The sections of the Bureau will be: President's Secretariat; Section of City-planning; Section of Land-adjustment; Section of Construction; Section of Public Works; Section of Supply; Section of Accounts.
1923.09.28 — Mr. Hoover, Secretary of Commerce of the United States, sent a message to the Japanese Government in which he says: "With friendly regard toward Japan, America will be glad to send various materials, needed in Japan, without any change in current prices, to Japan. We wish Japan to send her orders for such materials as she needs as promptly as possible."
1923.09.29 — The Home Department drafted four tentative plans for the restoration of the capital. These need ¥1,000,000,000, ¥1,500,000,000, ¥2,000,000,000 and ¥3,000,000,000, respectively. Among them the plan favored by Viscount Goto is said to be the second one. According to this plan, it is said, ¥700,000,000 will be expended for the buying up of the land which will be used for new roads. In buying up the land, it is said, the law of expropriation will not be resorted to. The remaining ¥800,000,000 will be expended for the construction of roads, bridges, ward offices, water-works, markets, and underground construction. The ¥1,500,000,000 will be expended during the next five years. The ¥700,000,000, for land, will be raised by floating domestic bonds.
1923.09.30 — Her Majesty the Empress visited the barracks for the sufferers in various parts of the city, and enquired after the health of the sick and wounded.
1923.10.01 — The bureau of educational affairs of Tokyo city has drafted a plan for the building of temporary primary schools and will present it to the municipal council. According to this draft, the number of primary schools destroyed by fire in Tokyo is 118, and the number of children attending these schools is estimated at 148,400. It is estimated that about 40 per cent. of these children went into the suburbs or into the country, and about 89,000 of them still remain in the city. The plan includes the building of 90 temporary schools to accommodate these children, and the adoption of the double teaching system. These temporary schools will be divided among the wards, and the construction is to be completed by November.
1923.10.02
- One of the greatest losses in the recent catastrophe was the destruction of various libraries. The destruction of the libraries of the Imperial University, Meiji University, Senshu University, Nihon University and the Commercial College, as well as the public libraries at Ohashi and Hitotsubashi is an irredeemable loss. The League of Nations Association of England cabled to the League of Nations Association of Japan that it will help Japan in any way possible. The latter cabled to England that Japan needs books on law, economics, sociology, politics and literature, for the restoration of her libraries. It also requested that the various peace organizations of the world supply Japan with books.
- Mr. Thomas, President of the World's Educational League, cabled to the Imperial Educational Association of Japan that the World's Educational League has started a co-operative movement among the children of fifty countries in the League to help in the restoration of the primary schools in Japan.
- The Japanese members of the Japan American Association expressed their gratitude to the Government and people of America at the dinner given to-day in honour of the American Ambassador, Admiral Anderson, of the American Asiatic Squadron and General McCoy. The Japan Peace Association sent messages of thanks to the various peace organizations throughout the world expressing its wish to co-operate with them in the promotion of the world's peace.
1923.10.03
- The Japan Physical Education Society has decided it is not well to give up wholly its programme fixed before the earthquake, for the sake of the national health, and also from the point of view of encouraging the nation's spirit to push on with restoration. The Society will send Japan's champions to the Eighth Olympic Games at Paris. It has announced it will hold a great athletic meeting in Tokyo in the middle of November. The provisional selection of the champions to send to Paris will be held in various parts of Japan in the middle of November and the final selection will take place in Tokyo in April.
- Mr. Lowell who was sent to Japan as representative of the section of relief for the sufferers from fire and earthquake in Japan by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, arrived to-day. He came also at the request of the American Newspaper Association and the Japan Society of America. He said if there is any shortage in paper and ink he will endeavour to supply these materials.
1923.10.04 — In spite of the fact that most of the offices of the principal women's organizations in Tokyo were burnt relief work by the various women's organizations in Tokyo has been carried on actively. The League of Tokyo Women's Organizations was formed in the first days of the disaster and the devastated district was divided into several parts, each being in charge of one of these organizations. These organizations helping the municipal authorities in distributing milk and other relief materials are the Jiyu Gakuin Girls' School, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the Young Women's Christian Association of Hongo Church. The Ladies Patriotic League is supplying much clothing. The Women's Buddhist Association is collecting money and clothes from various parts of Japan. It is noteworthy that the various women's organizations are uniting in the relief work irrespective of their beliefs and principles.
1923.12.06 — The Hochi reports that the Episcopal churches in Canada and the United States will, with the knowledge of the Japanese Government, start in their countries a subscription fund for donating 150 elementary schools to the earthquake-stricken cities of Tokyo and Yokohama. Premier Count Yamamoto invited the leading members of the political parties to an interview and conversed about the important problems of the Government; according to the papers, he denied the report that he countenanced the cause of Universal Suffrage, thereby giving a great surprise to the public. At Canton, China, foreign gunboats, seven British, two Japanese, and one French, sent ashore marines, in order to prevent Dr. Sun-yat Sen from taking possession of the Customs House.
1923.12.07 — Public interest has been attracted by the information that Mr. Karakhan, the Soviet representative in Peking, has made known to the Japanese Minister there that Russia is willing to set aside, for the earthquake-fire sufferers, seventy fisheries in Siberia and half a million dessiatinas of forest lands in Kamchatka and grant them the privilege of navigating the Amur River. In many quarters, this is believed to be Russia's "bait" for Japan to enter into negotiations with her. Mr. Wang-cheng Ting, who represents the Chinese Government in negotiations with Mr. Karakhan, arrived in Tokyo, his alleged mission being to conduct an investigation regarding the slaying of Chinese during the post-earthquake disorders; but better informed people expect China to resume the conference with Russia, upon his return to Peking.
1923.12.08 — Meiji University, of Tokyo, the winner of the baseball laurels in the Intercollegiate Contest of the season, has decided to send its players to the United States, where they will hold games with the teams of the best colleges. Vernacular papers report that the Committee on the Relief of Japan, of the Russian Government, will send a delegation to the Far East, for facilitating the realization of the proposed aid to earthquake sufferers, and that, in order to avoid a waste of time, they will take with them full data about the resources of the concessions offered. Viscount Korekiyo Takahashi, the leader of the Seiyu-kai, defined the attitude of his party toward the Government, saying that the restoration of the fire-scarred areas should be undertaken with due respect for the welfare of the rest of the country, and that the many problems of current interest (such as Universal Suffrage) should be handled soberly and with conservatism.
1923.12.10 — The Prime Minister denied the report that, in his interview with the Seiyu-kai leaders held on the 6th, he mentioned discountenancing the Universal Suffrage Bill; he declared that he reserved freedom of judgment in this respect. Press dispatches from Peking are to the effect that, in order to avoid the recurrence of cases like the Lincheng Affair, the Chinese Government will organize a body of Railway Police; that the law which will put it into effect has just been approved by the President; and that the duty of the Railway Police is to maintain order in trains and in the zones of the various lines in the country. It is reported that Russia has the intention to withdraw from Outer Mongolia, where the influence of China is too deeply rooted for her to remove it, so that she has come to recognize the advisability of giving up the country in exchange for a tighter grip on the Chinese Eastern Railway. Mr. Karakhan who is said to wish to maintain Soviet representatives at the seat of each Tuchun Government in China, has already appointed them at several places.
1923.12.11 — The convocation of the Imperial Diet in its Forty-seventh Session was held by H. I. H. the Crown Prince, who attended at the opening ceremonies and read the Imperial edict; each House passed two resolutions, one expressing grief over the occurrence of the earthquake and following disasters, and the other thanks for the sympathies of the foreign nations. The Kakushin Club, the friends and followers of Mr. Inukai (therefore the pro-Government party), met in full meeting and arrayed themselves for Parliamentary battles; the resolution they adopted is of quite a different strain to that of the Seiyu-kai. Information from Peking is to the effect that, as regards the wireless question, Washington is insisting on the establishment of an exclusively Sino-American plant and does not harbor any intention of carrying it out as a joint undertaking with Japan. The Press of China is stirred over the news about the Japan-British-French intervention regarding the Customs House at Canton, the papers fearing that it may culminate in international control of the Customs; but the foreign papers in China claim that the intervention is to limit the occurrence of such affairs to Canton only and, therefore, is for the good of the country. The return by France of Kwanchow Bay is being seriously considered in the Chinese Capital, and the Government is expected to nominate the envoy who is to carry on negotiations with the representative of the French Government. In the House of Peers, Count Yamamoto delivered a speech, expounding the need of the concerted efforts of the nation to steer the ship of state. In the House of Representatives, Viscount Goto, Home Minister, was bitterly assailed, his opponents finding in his relations with Osugi, the anarchist, a subject for attack. The Foreign Minister was nominated to preside over a committee which will study what Japan will present to China, for the general uplift of her people (a college, library, and scientific laboratory are suggested); a well-known Chinese, Mr. Chu, arrived at Shimonoseki en route to Tokyo, his mission being to make suggestions to the Foreign Minister about the matter, when here. There is every indication that the lumber market will experience a tremendous fall through overstock.
1923.12.13 — The European cable that Earl Balfour was appointed to aid in the restoration of the library of the Tokyo Imperial University by presenting European books to replace those destroyed has much impressed the public mind.
1923.12.15 — In the House of Representatives, Mr. T. Yamamoto, of the Opposition, criticized the Government as regards "the Government's proclivity to pet the city (Tokyo), by unjustifiably neglecting the interest of the country in general"; attacks on the Home Minister went on unabated; reference was made to the Suffrage Bill. The Pan-Pacific Club held a luncheon at the Imperial Hotel, Mr. Caffery the American Charge d'Affaires and Mr. Wangcheng Ting being the guests of honor.
1923.12.16 — In the House of Representatives, the Government was assailed by Mr. Nagai, of the Kensei-kai, concerning the killing of Koreans and Chinese during the earthquake days. The bill for the restoration of Tokyo and Yokohama was on the program; its author, Viscount Goto, was frequently criticized. A campaign has been started in Kobe, to induce the Government to open a silk-conditioning house there. It is reported from Shanghai that the Chinese cotton-mill owners in China, who have been curtailing the working hours of their establishments, made overtures to the British and Japanese mill-owners in China, with a view to reducing the production of cotton yarn.
1923.12.17 — In the House of Representatives, in the debate on the Restoration Bill, the Seiyu-kai held fast to its contention that the official projects would exhaust the wealth of the provinces, while the government parties maintained that the rebuilding of Tokyo is bound to bring prosperity to them, by buying up the goods they produce; the Budget was discussed, as regards which the Opposition was very critical. The Home Office officials finished their task of drafting the Suffrage Bill; it is said that this will give the vote to all the male population over twenty-five years of age. Raw cotton imports for the first ten days of December totalled 60,135 bales, in which America shared to the extent of 9,221 bales and India 40,914 bales. It is ascertained that up to this date the debentures issued by the electricity generating companies aggregate ¥109,440,000, ¥79,440,000 having been floated at home and ¥30,000,000 abroad.
1923.12.19 — The Seiyu-kai decided to cut down a considerable portion of the Budget for rebuilding Tokyo, and a mass meeting was held by irate citizens of Tokyo against the curtailment of the Budget.
1923.12.20 — The amendment of the Seiyu-kai was adopted by the lower house, and the government was bitterly criticized by the other parties for its surrender to the Seiyu-kai.
1923.12.21 — A French naval surgeon arrived with a complete tent-hospital, a present of the people of France for the earthquake sufferers.
1923.12.22 — It is reported from Peking that the French Government refused to enter into negotiation about the return of the Kwangchow Bay Colony, owing to China's refusal to pay to France the Boxer indemnity in gold. The government's bill indemnifying the fire insurance companies, allowing the latter's payment of "sympathy allowances" to the earthquake sufferers, was blocked by the Seiyu-kai.
1923.12.23 — The House of Peers passed the rebuilding bill as amended by the lower house. Baron Kenjiro Den, Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, tendered his resignation, in protest against the blocking by the Seiyu-kai of the insurance bill. The Oriental Hotel, Kobe, was badly damaged by fire shortly after midnight, the damage being estimated at ¥300,000; the manager Mr. Kent Clark, was injured. Mr. Wang-cheng Ting, representative of the Chinese Government, left Tokyo for home; it is understood that, through his visit to this country, the governments of Japan and China reached an important understanding about concerted attitude toward Russia. The American tourist's ship Franconia arrived at Yokohama; among her passengers is Mr. Vicente Blasco Ibanez, the famous Spanish author, who was given an enthusiastic reception by his Japanese admirers.
1923.12.24 — A Canton dispatch states that the people of that city are indignant about the part the United States played in the allied seizure of the customs house there and may declare a boycott against merchandise from that country. The Extraordinary Session of the Diet came to an end, and H. M. the Emperor handed to the Prime Minister an edict giving expression to his satisfaction over the work done by the Diet. The House of Peers passed a resolution, in which, to all intents and purposes, is a vote of distrust in the Cabinet. Baron Den's resignation having been accepted, Dr. Keijiro Okano, Minister of Education, was appointed to occupy the vacant portfolio while retaining that of Education.
1923.12.25 — It is announced that the Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (electric machinery company) will promote jointly with the Westinghouse Company a large plant for the manufacture of electric machinery. H. M. the Emperor formally convoked the regular (forty-seventh) session of the Diet. A Hongkong cable states that the customs imbroglio at Canton has been satisfactorily settled, and that the warships of the nations concerned would soon leave the port.
1923.12.26 — The Mayor of Tokyo officially states that the cost of rebuilding Tokyo which will have to be defrayed by the Municipal Government will run up to ¥521,425,000; another report which gives the figures for the restoration of the damaged properties of the State, such as railways, posts, telephones and telegraphs, government offices, etc., says that they will aggregate ¥570,000,000 or thereabouts. It is reported from Bombay that, at a national mass meeting of the Indian people recently held, resolutions were adopted demanding the abolition of the discriminating treatment meted out to their compatriots who have emigrated to other lands.
1923.12.27 — It is stated that the Japanese Ambassador at Washington made some representations to his Government concerning the anti-alien land law in California. A committee of thirty members has been appointed in the Foreign Office for discussing the best way for Japan to advance civilization in China: it is said that an appropriation of one million yen will be granted for establishing laboratories and libraries in China next year.
1923.12.28 — The Yamamoto Cabinet tendered its resignation, holding itself responsible for the attempt made on the life of the Crown Prince; a band of reactionaries stormed the official residence of Viscount Goto, Home Minister, claiming that he should directly be held responsible for the event.
1923.12.29 — H. H. the Crown Prince rejected the resignation of the Cabinet. Political conversations and conferences have become very frequent, the Elder Statesmen receiving a larger number of callers than usual.
1924.01.01 — Viscount Kiyoura, President of the Privy Council, is reported to be the choice of the Throne for the Premiership. A semi-official estimate states that, since November 15, 1923, when the population of Tokyo was ascertained to be 1,529,000, some 300,000 persons have come to establish homes in Tokyo, this fact being heralded as a sign of the resurrection of Tokyo.
1924.01.02 — The choice by the Prince Regent of Viscount Kiyoura as the new Prime Minister confirmed.
1924.01.03 — The public is given to understand that Viscount Kiyoura will organize his Administration with his supporters in the House of Peers. It is announced that the Department of Communications has ordered a large quantity of automatic telephone machines from the United States. Viscount Kiyoura, seeing that his task is hindered by many difficulties, has requested the Throne to relieve him of it.
1924.01.04 — The Throne is said to have prevailed upon Viscount Kiyoura not to weaken, and he has resumed his cabinet building; the Kenkyu-kai decided to give its support to him.
1924.01.05 — The advent of Viscount Kiyoura as Prime Minister has caused much antagonism. The Kensei-kai decided to launch a national campaign against him, if he succeeds in forming a cabinet.
1924.01.06 — A Peking cable states that a Belgian missionary was killed at an out-of-way place in Kiangsu, and that the foreign Press in China is considerably wrought up.
1924.01.07 — The Kiyoura Cabinet is finally organized, the foreign portfolio being assigned to Baron Keishiro Matsui, who has been Ambassador in many foreign capitals. It is reported from New York that the outlook for the loan proposed for floatation in England and the United States is very bright.
1924.01.08 — At a political gathering held by a large number of members of the House of Representatives, a resolution was adopted, declaring that the Kiyoura Cabinet is an anachronism fathered by the privileged class and will hasten the undesirable class struggle.
1924.01.09 — It is announced that the new government will not touch the suffrage bill, which has elicited much adverse criticism against the men now in power. On the Rice Exchange, the cereal for delivery in March was quoted at ¥40 per koku, such a price not having been realized for three years past; it is regarded as a sign of the constant rise in the price of commodities and the advent of an interim boom, much dreaded by far-sighted business men.
1924.01.10 — Agitation against the Kiyoura Cabinet has grown serious, with all the parties in the lower house lining up for the campaign; Mr. Inukai and Mr. Yukio Ozaki will lead the agitators. The Asahi is authority for the statement that the Minister of Finance will have a loan of ¥250,000,000 issued at New York toward the end of January or in March. Newspapers state that the Toyo Kisen Kaisha, which operates regular liners between San Francisco and Manila, via Yokohama, Kobe and Shanghai, will be purchased by the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and that the latter will increase its capital to ¥150,000,000.
1923.10.06 — Dr. Beard of New York, who had assisted Viscount Goto, when mayor of Tokyo, received a telegram from Viscount Goto, now Minister of Home Affairs, and started at once for Japan. He arrived on Oct. 6.
1923.10.07 — The Society for Vocational Aid plans the training of carpenters, anticipating a shortage of carpenters in future, and has gathered 350 young men to be trained from among the sufferers.
1923.10.11 — The number of primary schools destroyed is 430. The number of their pupils are about 210,000, excepting those who removed to schools elsewhere. The cost of temporary restoration will be ¥10,000,000, and ¥100,000,000 will be needed for permanent restoration.
1923.10.12
- The draft plan for the restoration of Tokyo has been decided on and the experts are now drawing the maps. As soon as these maps are ready the plan will be discussed by the Restoration Board and the Cabinet. The Japan Fire Insurance Association announces that the amount insured in the fire-devastated districts of Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectures by the fire insurance companies is about ¥2,000,000,000. Among 46 fire insurance companies belonging to the Association there are 14 companies which chiefly do re-insurance business. The total amount insured in the devastated district in Tokyo prefecture by the remaining 32 companies belonging to the Association is ¥1,018,400,961, and that in Kanagawa prefecture is ¥412,715,039. That in Chiba, Saitama, and Shizuoka prefectures is under investigation. The amount insured in the devastated districts by the foreign fire insurance companies is estimated at ¥300,000,000. The amount insured by the Japanese companies not belonging to the Association is about ¥156,000,000. The total amount insured in the devastated area therefore is about ¥1,890,000,000.
- The National Treasury Department of the Bank of Japan began business from Sept. 3. There was no change in the amount of deposits at the end of September, in comparison with that of the end of August, showing the amount of ¥5,450,000. At present, this amount has increased to ¥5,900,000. There is no change in the amount of bonds deposit at the Bank. For a few days directly after the moratorium was withdrawn much money was withdrawn. The Business Department which deals with coupons and bonds, and the Issue Department have been very busy. The total amount of impaired bank-notes and coins exchanged for new ones by the Issue Department of the Bank during the period from Sept. 3 to Oct. 1 was ¥1,889,000. The amount of half-burned coupons and bonds exchanged for new ones by the Bank during the same period was ¥6,500,000. If the possessor of coupons and bonds, completely burnt, knows the numbers and symbols of his bonds, he will be paid in full.
1923.10.13
- The Social Education Bureau of the Home Office, the Social Education Bureau of the Tokyo City Office, the Metropolitan Police Board, the Music Restoration Society, the Military Band and the Naval Band have decided to hold benefit performances for the sufferers.
- The Tokyo City Office sustained a loss of ¥70,000,000, in the destruction of buildings etc. Rebuilding will cost over one hundred million yen.
1923.10.14
- At the opening ceremony of the tent hospitals contributed by the United States and built on the premises of Prince Takamatsu's residence in Azabu, the Crown Prince, the American Ambassador, General McCoy, the representative of the United States Red Cross, Lieut.-Colonel Burnett, attaché of the American Embassy, Premier Yamamoto, Viscount Goto, Home Minister, Baron Ijuin, the Foreign Minister, Mr. Hirayama, President of the Red Cross Society of Japan, and other distinguished officials were present. This hospital consists of 500 tents and can take in 1,500 patients.
- The last census in Japan took place on Oct. 1, of 1920. In view of the recent catastrophe however, a new census will be taken on Nov. 15. The census in the districts outside the devastated area will be limited to inquiry about refugees. The delivery of baggage from railway stations to destination hitherto has been left to private transporters. However, the damage they sustained in the recent catastrophe was so great that they cannot resume business. Therefore, the Railway Department plans to undertake the business itself. The Department has ordered 300 motor trucks from America to be used for this purpose.
1923.10.15
- The views of Dr. Beard for resuscitating Tokyo will be embodied into a plan and published in the near future. His plans cover the relation of Yokohama to Greater Tokyo.
- An official investigation gives the approximate damages from the earthquake as 8,158,000,000 yen for Tokyo, 780,000,000 yen for its suburbs and 700,000,000 yen for Yokohama, which in addition to other districts visited by the earthquake makes a total of 10,150,000,000 yen, besides which the total losses of public property is placed at about 1,370,000,000 yen. The catastrophe thus deprived Japan of one-eighth of her national wealth, which was estimated at 80,000,000,000 yen in the national census taken on October 1, 1921. In addition there is the loss and damage due to the catastrophe such as suspension of factory work etc.
- As soon as the Governor-general of Australia received news of Japan's disaster he appealed to the people of Australia for contributions for a relief fund, which finally reached ¥1,800,000 (¥500,000 from the government and ¥1,300,000 from the public). Several leading newspaper men of Sydney came to Japan on the Australmount with a great quantity of relief material. The 1,000,000 lbs of flour, 290,000 cans of fruit, 160,000 cans of jam, beans, sauce, milk, biscuits, and canned beef, and blankets, clothes and medical material were brought to be distributed among the sufferers.
1923.10.16 — As the result of conferences held at the Premier's official residence on the universal suffrage question, a Government bill is to be submitted in the next session of the Imperial Diet, whose attitude is looked forward to with great interest. The important points discussed at the conferences are reported to be the abolition of the existing rate qualifications, the granting of the franchise to Japanese men including students 25 years of age and over, resident in one place for six months or more, limiting election to the Lower House to them, the inclusion of Buddhist priests and primary school teachers, the exclusion of Upper House members elected by mutual vote, titled members and representatives of the highest tax payers under the present Election Law as to franchise and qualification for election to the Diet, the fixation of the voting day as a national holiday, the limitation of expenditure in an election, the restriction of canvassers, restriction of election offices, the free delivery of one announcement of candidature, the employment of public primary school buildings for election meetings, forbidding electors' resting places in the neighbourhood of the voting-place, the strict punishment of those violating these rules and the nullification of election of those whose conduct is improper.
1923.10.17 — A party of 10 Japanese musicians is to visit Honolulu and the American Continent soon and will visit important towns until March, 1924 performing Japanese music. The party includes two daughters of Mr. N. Motoori, who perform new Japanese children's songs and dancing, Mr. Seifu Yoshida, a "shakuhachi" player, Mr. M. Miyagi, a "koto" player and some vocalists. This is in acceptance of an invitation from New York musicians and to give thanks for the American people's kindness and sympathy shown in the recent earthquake. They will exhibit to Americans Japan's real music.
1923.10.18 — The national defence expenditure for the Army and Navy will have to be the principal object of a great re-adjustment in the Budget from next year as a result of the prospective great decrease in the national revenue on account of the earthquake, while the work of resuscitation will involve an enormous amount of money. Re-adjustment of the military and Naval expenditure will prove a bar to the smooth compilation of the Budget. The world's powers have not ceased to build armaments even since the conclusion of the Disarmament Treaty. The League of Nations Association of England has proposed the suspension of the plan to build a Naval base at Singapore, following the Japanese earthquake. But it cannot be expected that the Japanese disaster will stop the project from passing the British Parliament. The Japanese Navy Department considers it necessary to adjust the shortage of auxiliary warships in the fiscal year 1925-1926 in consequence of the withdrawal of obsolete ships. The plan already drafted at the Naval Staff Office has been rendered impossible by the recent earthquake. Still about 420,000,000 yen will be allotted to the Navy as continuing expenditure already fixed after disarmament. Additionally, 150,000,000 or 160,000,000 yen will have to be spent for restoring the arms, ammunition and military institutions damaged by the earthquake.
1923.10.19 — Benbodo, a Korean, who was arrested by the Senju police, was running across the Ohashi bridge in Senju on September 3, when the citizens were in great confusion after the earthquake, and came into collision with a number of the local people on guard. He dropped a parcel in the quarrel, and it was found to contain a bomb.
1923.10.20 — Mr. Bickel President of the United Press has visited Japan. He said he feels great sympathy for the Tokyo citizens especially as he was a sufferer from the earthquake in San Francisco. An inquiry has been made by the charge d'affaires of the Chinese Legation of the Japanese Government as to Chinese dead or missing due to the earthquake.
1923.10.21 — Two delegates of the American Y. M. C. A., and other American Christian Associations have come to Japan to offer to present to the Japanese Government 150 or 200 primary school buildings ready for erection in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Chiba Prefectures to replace those destroyed by the earthquake and fire.
1923.10.22 — The level of the tide in Tokyo Bay was raised 0.5-1 "shaku" by the earthquake, while the low land on Honjo and Fukagawa sank so much in many places that the tidal water flows in, compelling many residents to quit the place. There is a plan to collect the rubbish in the devastated parts of Tokyo to fill up this land.
1923.10.23 — The demand for architects, carpenters, civil engineers and other persons with occupations mostly wanted for the rebuilding of the Metropolis is unlimited, and training is being given at the Extraordinary Relief Office and the Tokyo City Labour-Exchange. A training school has been opened by the Section of School Affairs of the Tokyo City Office for graduation in six months for architectural drawing and in three months for carpentry, cycle and signboard painting work. The main roads of Tokyo are to be re-constructed based essentially on the existing highways. It is intended to remove the disordered condition of the traffic in the city before the earthquake and to re-build the roads radially. The roads contemplated have the Tokyo Station as the centre with trunk roads. It is planned to have high speed electric railways, underground and elevated.
1923.10.25 — "Kiri," Japanese "geta" wood, is best produced in the northern part of Japan. Chinese Paulownia clogs are being sold in Japan at present, and they command a very good sale, as they are look like the Japanese wood, while they are much cheaper than the latter, although lower in quality.
1923.10.26 — The new Cabinet has dismissed 12 prefectural Governors and changed 18.
1923.10.27 — The Russian Cathedral, one of the noted buildings in Tokyo, was burnt after the earthquake, and will be re-built with contributions from its 30,000 Japanese believers and those in Europe, which its chief priest will visit.
1923.10.28 — November 11, the fifth anniversary of Armistice Day is to be celebrated by a meeting of boys and girls and a lecture meeting on a large scale in Tokyo under the auspices of the Tokyo Prefectural Office, the Tokyo City Office and nine peace societies.
1924 (198 entries)
1924.01.11 — The Asahi's Peking correspondent reports that Mr. Karakhan, the Soviet Representative, in a letter to Dr. T. C. Wang, the Chinese Plenipotentiary in the Russo-Chinese Conference, frankly deprecated the servile efforts of China to be in tune with the Russian policy of the Imperialistic Powers and dwelt upon the necessity of breaking away from their influence; he stated that the interests of the Soviet Government are merely economic, and that Russia is prepared to give recognition to the predominant position of the Chinese nation as regards the Chinese Eastern Railway. Rumors are persistent that the birth of the Kiyoura Cabinet would tear asunder the bitterly opposed factions in the Seiyu-kai, which has more than half the seats in the House of Representatives, the inevitable being the splitting up of the party; the greater number of the leaders of the party are regarded as antagonistic to the Administration. A tent hospital, the gift of the French people for the earthquake sufferers, covering a plot of 7,000 tsubo (5.5 acres), is put up on the site of an old Daimyo mansion in Shiba-ku; its advanced appointments, comprising steam-heating, electric lighting, X-ray apparatus, and so forth, have aroused the attention of the medical profession of Tokyo.
1924.01.12 — In an interview with Press representatives, Viscount Kiyoura, Premier, and Baron Mizuno, Home Minister, declared that the Cabinet decided to give its support to the Universal Suffrage Bill, which it would introduce in the forthcoming session of the Imperial Diet. But, according to the ministers' ideas, the vote should be extended to only those male subjects of the Empire who either are the heads of families, or earn their own living, and to be carried out in the General Election of 1928; these restrictions find little favor among the public. The gloom over the Cabinet due to the anti-Government agitation of the Opposition took a turn for the worse, as the younger, freer-thinking members of the three parties in the lower house — the Seiyu-kai, Kensei-kai, and Kakushin Club — held a rally with newspaper men and adopted a vote of censure against the Kiyoura Government.
1924.01.13 — Press dispatches from Shanghai report that Dr. Schurman, the American Minister to China, who arrived there on January 9, from an extensive trip in South China, declared that the administration of all the customs houses in China should be placed under single control to prevent the Military Governors from trying to seize the surplus receipts of the customs houses in their respective Provinces. The Minister of Finance gave out the statement that the gold reserves of the nation totalled ¥1,653,000,000 on December 31, 1923, which amount, compared with that of ¥1,780,000,000 on August 15, was less by ¥127,000,000. The Meteorological Observatory of Kobe ordered from England a 10-inch telescope, the best of the kind in Japan.
1924.01.14 — It is cabled from New York that the exchange value of Japanese currency dropped to $44.50 for ¥100. Seeing that the anti-Government campaign has assumed serious proportions, reports are circulated in semi-official quarters that the cabinet is prepared to dissolve the Diet. A Shanghai cable states that Dr. Sun Yatsen, who, refusing to recognize the right of the Peking Government to rule China, has raised an army at Canton in readiness for any eventuality, indignantly remarked that the Powers' intervention in the customs question was a serious violation of the agreements of the Washington Conference. Arrangements have been made to bring in the works of the prominent living painters of France, for organizing an art exhibition in Uyeno for the season.
1924.01.15 — The Prime Minister invited the leading members of the House of Peers to his official residence and explained to them the platform of his Administration: spiritual and moral uplift of the people, the adoption of better training in education and the guidance of the people's thought; economic revival, the immediate rebuilding of the cities and districts devastated by the earthquake and fire, and industrial advancement of the people of the provinces; as regards industrial advancement, the Prime Minister recounted the need of the uplift of village life and economy, development of local industries, and the extension of foreign commerce; he finally made reference to the necessity for the adoption of universal suffrage. The gap in the ranks of the Seiyu-kai, resulting from the birth of the Kiyoura Cabinet, is steadily widening, so that an open breach is believed to be imminent. A number of the younger members of the House of Representatives, irrespective of party connections, met in conference and adopted a remarkable resolution denouncing the cabinet. The public is stirred by the extraordinary news that Viscount Miura, a prominent member of the Privy Council, taking exception to the Kiyoura Cabinet as an unconstitutional organization, wishes to goad the political parties to join hands in rooting out the government and will soon come to Tokyo to seek an interview with the party leaders. At the Akasaka Imperial Palace, H. H. the Crown Prince received in audience Mr. Wang Yin-pao, the new Chinese Minister, who presented to the former his credentials, together with the recall of his predecessor. A Peking special to the Asahi is to the effect that the Chinese Foreign Minister addressed the Diplomatic Corps a note, demanding that foreign warships navigating the inland waterways of China should cease interfering in the internal affairs of the country. Another big earthquake, though not so destructive as that of September 1, rocked Tokyo, Yokohama and vicinity, Tokyo reporting the number of persons killed or injured to be more than fifty; in Matsuda completely destroyed houses run up to 337 and those partially destroyed 1,003; railway communication with Kobe was stopped for a while.
1924.01.16 — An unusual surprise for the public took place at the residence of Viscount Korekiyo Takahashi, President of the Seiyu-kai, where, at a meeting held to determine the attitude of the party toward the government, he overruled the opinion of those who wished to come to the support of Viscount Kiyoura and thus initiated war against the cabinet. After his determined pronouncement, he declared that he, being serious in what he had said, would give up his peerage honors and fight in the lower house as a representative of the common people. The course he resolved to take has elicited much eulogy in many quarters. Seeing that his path is by no means unobstructed, the Prime Minister, at a banquet attended by some members of the House of Peers, stated that he is determined to fight to the end. As will be seen from its platform, the government takes special interest in the life of village people, economic, industrial, and moral, and, therefore, may, it is said, decide to create an independent department, to which agricultural affairs now managed by the Department of Agriculture and Commerce will be transferred.
1924.01.17 — As expected, the inevitable split in the Seiyu-kai took place, when Baron Yamamoto, Mr. Nakahashi, Mr. Motoda, and Mr. Tokonami jointly notified Viscount Takahashi, President, of their decision to leave the party; it is expected that a considerable number of the members of the party will follow them. The Minister of Finance gave out a statement that, in order to relieve the one-sidedness of exchange, resulting from the unfavorable balance of trade, the government would sell whatever portion of the gold reserves are held abroad, for facilitating the importation of those articles really necessary for the requirements of Japan to-day.
1924.01.18 — A Peking cable states that the ministers of eight of the treaty nations met in conference, regarding the recent repeated maltreatment of foreigners, and agreed to take determined measures, whenever, in the future, their nationals are molested by Chinese. At a meeting attended by the Foreign Minister and some other notables, the government decided to establish libraries and institutes for the study of classics and science in Peking, Shanghai, and Canton. Viscount Shibusawa, representing the steel interests, had an interview with the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, in an effort to cause the government to aid the privately-owned mills.
1924.01.19 — Viscount Miura, who resigned from the Privy Council, to have freedom to take part in the anti-government agitation, called the leaders of the Seiyu-kai, Kensei-kai and Kakushin Club together and prevailed on them to agree to carry on an inter-party campaign for the object in view. Emigration to South America showed a decided increase after the great earthquake; for instance, a liner recently sailed from Yokohama with 470 passengers, of whom 350 are said to belong to this class of travellers. A sumptuous tea-party was held by Dowager Princess Kaneko Higashi-fushimi, at her residence in Azabu, in honor of Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt and Mr. Kermit Roosevelt, who had arrived in Tokyo a few days before; invitations were extended to many other Americans prominent in local society. It is announced that Viscount Shibusawa will undertake a trip to the United States, to see what he can do about the anti-Japanese movements there.
1924.01.21 — The policy of the parties in opposition to the government was definitely drafted, as a result of the conference of their leading members at the Maple Club, where a resolution was carved touching upon the establishment of the regime of party cabinets beyond all hindrance, the overthrowing of the influence of the "privileged classes," the refusal to recognize the Kiyoura Cabinet as a legitimate body, and agreement to carry on a joint campaign by the parties concerned. A New York dispatch to the Asahi states that the loan which the Japanese Government contemplates issuing in London and New York will bear interest at 5 per cent. Because of the fact that the Diet is to resume its sitting on the 22nd, the political world is full of activity: all the important parties in the lower house, which are in the Opposition, held conventions and listened to the addresses of their respective leaders; Mr. Inukai, of the Kakushin Club, declared that, to-day, when the public mind is losing its balance, the organization of a government which relies on the support of the peers' party, numbering less than one thousand in membership, is a great anachronism; Viscount Takahashi, of the Seiyu-kai, spoke to the effect that it is of the utmost importance for Japan to have a government squarely based on the people and pursue policies that will promote industries, conduce to right thinking, by the people, and foster their life; Viscount Kato, of the Kensei-kai, pointed out that the Kiyoura Cabinet, being a cabinet of, by, and for the privileged people only who have nothing to do with the welfare of the general public, is utterly devoid of a constitutional character.
1924.01.22 — After a long adjournment, the Forty-eighth Session of the Imperial Diet was opened, the House of Peers resuming its proceedings in the morning; at the outset, the Peers passed a vote approving a congratulatory address to be presented to the Crown Prince as regards His Marriage to Princess Nagako Kuni; as usual, the Prime Minister was given his turn to deliver a speech to explain his policy of administration. In the House of Representatives, the meeting was uneventful, but this was the lull before the storm. An address of congratulation to be presented to the Crown Prince was read and adopted. A member of the Opposition moved that the house adjourn till the 29th, and this was passed, a piece of deeply-laid strategy of the opponents of the government. A mass meeting was convened by the three parties in the lower house at Uyeno Park, as a demonstration against the ministers, the speakers comprising the leaders of the parties and Mr. Ozaki. At the general shareholders meeting held at the Imperial Hotel, the Kanegafuchi Spinning Company declared a dividend of 60 per cent for the current term.
1924.01.23 — In the House of Peers, Baron Sakatani, Marquis Sasaki, and Marquis Tokugawa attacked the government from all angles, the last-named peer prophesying that the wrong arts of some titled men would bring the hate of the nation on the heads of the whole nobility. Baron Sakatani, who is President of the Japan Peace Society and an influential member of the Japan-American Association, candidly declared that the anti-Japanese legislation in the lower house of the American Congress would likely sow the seeds for an unfortunate event. The budget which the Kiyoura Cabinet introduced into the lower house comprises the same estimates as those that the Yamamoto Cabinet had prepared, the expenditures amounting to ¥1,409,000,000 and the sum for the repairing of Yokohama Harbor ¥6,800,000.
1924.01.24 — The parties of the Opposition agreed to introduce a bill of non-confidence against the ministers in the session of March 2.
1924.01.25 — The pretty, ancient custom of exchanging odes was followed by the Imperial Prince and Princess to be married on the 26th; first the Crown Prince wrote his inspirations on a shikishi which was placed in an artistic letter-box, and which one of his chamberlains took to the bride; the bride returned the box with hers; the proceedings were carried on as ceremoniously as in ancient times. In the House of Peers, Count Yanagisawa criticised the government as regards the manner in which the interests of the workingmen are represented in the international labor conference. A Peking cable states that the Chinese Government lodged a protest with the Japanese Minister about the alleged fact that Japanese lumbermen cut down 160,000 piculs of standing trees in Manchuria and exported them to Japan without the knowledge of the Chinese authorities.
1924.01.26 — The Imperial marriage was performed. At 7 o'clock in the morning, one of the Chamberlains of the Crown Prince officiated at a rite in the Sacred Mirror Shrine and Imperial Ancestors' Shrines in the Palace, reporting to the national deities and spirits of the past Emperors the solemnization of the Ceremony; at 9 o'clock, Viscount Iriye, Chief of the Chamberlains, was at the mansion of Prince Kuni and, in the presence of her parents, informed Princess Nagako of the readiness to begin the ceremony; at 10 minutes after 9 o'clock, the bride, accompanied by Viscount Iriye and Baroness Shimazu, left the home of her family in an automobile, escorted by a mounted guard of honor; at 10 o'clock, a rite was performed in the Sacred Mirror Shrine, and fifteen minutes later, the Prince and Princess drank cups of wine, an observance signifying that they were now man and wife; at 11 o'clock, they were ushered into the Imperial Ancestors' Shrines and introduced as such; at half past 2 p.m. they left the Palace for the Akasaka Palace; at 3 p.m. the wedding luncheon was served. The whole city of Tokyo was in gala attire for the occasion, and hundreds of thousands of country folk having come up to the capital to witness the pageantry, the streets were thronged with crowds. In commemoration of the marriage of his son, His Majesty the Emperor granted a general pardon to various classes of criminals serving their terms in penitentiary and officials who had been reprimanded or degraded through mistakes or wrong acts committed; further he granted the Prime Minister one million yen as a fund for philanthropic work, such as the care of ex-convicts, relief of paupers, etc., and another one million yen for the enhancement of elementary school education in Japan proper; the Governor-general of Korea ¥200,000 for the same educational purposes; the Governor-general of Formosa ¥60,000; the Governor-general of Kwantung ¥20,000; the Governor of Karafuto ¥8,000; the Governor of the mandate islands in Oceania ¥2,000. His Majesty also awarded honors to 258 persons for philanthropic work; fourteen of them being foreigners.
1924.01.27 — The Imperial couple went to Numazu and visited their parents, spending the winter there.
1924.01.28 — The Ibukisan Maru, a tramp-vessel of the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, which was carrying 8,697 tons of lumber, flour, copper cable and wire, and general merchandise from a port on the Pacific Coast of the United States went aground at the entrance of Tokyo Bay and was refloated afterward; but to get free, her master had to jettison the greater part of the cargo.
1924.01.29 — Those members of the Seiyu-kai who, countenancing the Kiyoura Cabinet, severed their relations with the party, incorporated themselves as the Seiyu-honto (the Real Seiyu-kai); they take pride in being free from radical ideas, by which they mean such a movement as that for universal suffrage; Baron Tatsuo Yamamoto who, representing the leaders of the party, delivered an address at the incorporation meeting, stated that the party has bequeathed the spirit of Prince Hirobumi Ito, the founder. There are 151 names on the membership roll. The Roosevelt Steamship Company of New York and the Kokusai Steamship Company of Kobe have agreed to maintain a joint monthly service around the world, with the ports named as termini. The Crown Prince and Princess gave a formal reception to the members of the Diplomatic Corps at the Imperial Palace, in honor of their wedding. His Excellency Cyrus E. Woods, American Ambassador, accompanied by his wife and the latter's mother, Mrs. Marchand, returned to Tokyo, bringing a wedding present for the Imperial couple. The President Taft, an American liner plying to the Orient, picked up the crew of the Mary Horlock, a British steamer, loaded with a big cargo of lumber from the United States, which foundered about 700 miles off the Japanese coast on January 26. The three parties of the Opposition agreed to carry on a joint campaign, during the general election, against the candidates supporting the government.
1924.01.30 — In the House of Peers, Dr. Eigoro Kanasugi summed up the anti-Japanese bill framed in the lower house of Congress as the result of American jealousy of Japan; Mr. Mannoshin Kamiyama, a pro-Kensei-kai member of the house, assailed the government as being a plaything of some peers and therefore utterly unconstitutional. The independent members of the upper house remonstrated with the Premier as regards the latter's alleged determination to dissolve the House of Representatives. A mass meeting of the opponents of the cabinet in Osaka, styled the people's grand convention in the Kwansai, was held, the principal speakers being the leaders of the three parties of the Opposition and Mr. Ozaki. The Asahi states that arrangements have been made by some merchants to import German steel produced in the Ruhr, which may change the market conditions to some extent.
1924.01.31 — Attempts were made to derail an eastbound train, carrying the Opposition leaders who had attended the mass meeting in Osaka, at a place near Nagoya; the news caused a big stir among the public. The Diet was dissolved due to extraordinary rowdyism perpetrated in the lower house this afternoon. A member of the Opposition interpellated the government regarding the railway accident; when the Minister of Railways was about to ascend the rostrum to make answer, several ruffians effected entry into the gallery of government deputies and started to attack the occupants, the result being tremendous commotion in the house; the Speaker immediately ordered a recess; while the recess was yet in effect, the Edict of Dissolution was issued. Public opinion seems to be adverse to the cabinet, on the ground that the dissolution was declared during a recess; outside the Diet, bystanders had a free fight with the police.
1924.02.01 — The Navy Department states that, in accordance with the agreements of the Washington Disarmament Conference, Japan is at the end of the first part of her scrapping program, the warships condemned being the Asahi, Settsu, Mikasa, Aki, Satsuma, Ibuki, Shikishima, Hizen, Ikoma, Kurama, and Katori. The German-Asiatic Bank will resume its business in Japan, establishing the head office in Yokohama and branch offices in Tokyo and Kobe. A Shanghai special reports that the representatives of the commercial interests of Japan, England, France, and the United States there passed a joint resolution protesting against the alleged approval of the new Chinese Trade Mark Law by the ministers of their nations in Peking. Shipments of raw silk from Yokohama to the United States totalled 19,549 bales in January; as compared with the quantity in the preceding month, the decrease amounted to 10,704 bales. The political situation grew more uproarious, due to the fact that the unwarranted dissolution by the cabinet of the Forty-eighth Session further intensified the feeling of the Opposition; each party convened a grand meeting of its parliamentary members, where the speakers declaimed to their heart's content; at a gathering of the anti-government people in Uyeno, the police called a halt to the proceedings, culminating in a clash with the audience.
1924.02.02 — The Executive Committee of the Japan branch of the League of Nations, with Baron Shibusawa as Chairman and Baron Sakatani as his deputy, passed noteworthy resolutions; the Japan branch will formally advise the British branch that the reported establishment of a British naval base in Singapore is quite contrary to the spirit of the terms of the Washington Conference and may endanger the relations between the Powers concerned; another resolution is that the Japan branch will introduce at the international convention of the League to be held at Lyons, France, this year, topics for discussion regarding the equality of all races in commerce and trade and the possibility of eliminating racial discrimination.
1924.02.03 — The New York correspondent of the Asahi sends a cable, stating that the Japanese loan, the negotiation for which has been going on for some time past, will see the light within a few days, and that the American bankers wish to obtain terms more remunerative than the representatives of the Yokohama Specie Bank had been offering.
1924.02.04 — The Minister of Finance made public a bulletin that, during the month of January, imports amounted to ¥210,137,000 and exports ¥110,158,000, showing the total to be ¥320,295,000 and the excess of imports ¥99,979,000.
1924.02.05 — A Peking cable to the Asahi states that, on January 2, at Fentai, Pechili, a Chinese army officer, commanding a squad of soldiers, assaulted a Briton, employed in a local railway, who refused to allow the Chinese to hitch their car to a train about to start; the British Minister lodged a vigorous protest with the Chinese Government about the affair. A bulletin of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce announces that the rice crop of 1923 was 55,466,154 koku, which quantity, as compared with the record of the previous year, was less by 5,227,696 koku. Madam K. Yajima, organizer of the Women's Christian Temperance Union in Japan and one of the best known social service workers in the Far East, is reported to be critically ill. The West Camerun, a cargo boat of the Admiral Line, which made Yokohama early in the morning of the 5th, was caught in a dense fog and went aground off Tsurumi. Dr. J. M. Coulter, head of the department of biology in the University of Chicago, is in Tokyo, to give a series of lectures in the various educational institutes in Japan. Lieutenant C. Nutt of the United States Air Service, arrived at Tokyo from Manila, to make arrangements for the world flight of American war aeroplanes.
1924.02.06 — Nearly 100 enthusiastic members of the Tokyo-Yokohama post of the American Legion gave the retiring American military attache, Lieut-Colonel Charles Burnett, a rousing send-off at a farewell dinner held at the Imperial Hotel. Viscount Kiyoura and Baron Matsui, Foreign Minister, held a conference to determine what attitude Japan should take toward Russia. The German Ambassador Dr. Solf, accompanied by his wife and daughter, left on a trip home via Siberia. An international medical association for the study of diseases in the torrid zones will meet in Tokyo in the fall, it being believed that some twenty-three countries, represented by about 300 scientists, will participate in the meeting.
1924.02.08 — Dr. Henry C. Emery, the representative of the Guaranty Trust Company, formerly professor of economy at Yale and chairman of the United States Tariff Board, died aboard the President Lincoln, between Shanghai and Kobe on January 6. The Foreign Minister, in a statement to the Japan Advertiser, declared that land laws affecting emigrants to California and Washington are unfair discrimination. The cabinet decided that the general election is to be held on May 10. Many efforts are being made to induce the government to put an end to the emergency tariff.
1924.02.09 — Dispatches from Peking are to the effect that Germany and China have concluded a new agreement, for the payment by the former to the latter of an indemnity of ¥100,000,000.
1924.02.11 — To-day being the anniversary of the founding by Emperor Jimmu of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor presented decorations or material gifts to those persons who performed meritorious services for the country; among the foreigners so distinguished were Dr. R. B. Teusler, head of St. Luke's International Hospital, Bishop John McKim, of the Episcopal Mission in Japan, Rev. David Bowman Schneder, head of the Tohoku Gakuin, Miss Hannah Riddell, head of a lepers' home at Kumamoto, Miss A. Caroline Macdonald, and William Wheeler. Some 5,000 adherents of the Opposition held a meeting at a park in Tokyo, this being followed by a melee with the police.
1924.02.13 — It is reported that, as a memorial of American sympathy for the earthquake sufferers, the authorities contemplate establishing a hospital with the sum of six million yen, surplus of the funds given by the American Red Cross; the Asahi states that the government has obtained the consent of the Americans. The Gubernatorial Conference opened and the Premier asked the governors to defend the position of the cabinet. Dowager Princess Kitashirakawa and Dowager Princess Takeda returned from France, where they have been several years; Prince Kitashirakawa, the consort of the former, was killed in an automobile accident near Paris last year. Because of the eagerness of importers to get in their goods while the emergency tariff is in force (it will come to an end on March 31), there is extraordinary congestion in the port at Yokohama. Mr. Karakhan, the Soviet Representative in Peking, is reported to be endeavoring to obtain China's consent to the proclamation of an independent Mongolian Republic. The Minister of Finance gave out that the loan which had been under negotiation in New York and London was successfully issued, the American bankers undertaking to subscribe $150,000,000 and the British bankers £25,000,000.
1924.02.14 — A dispatch from Vladivostock states that the Soviet authorities there delivered a note to the acting Japanese Consul, that they would hereafter not recognize his authority. This is taken as an attempt to force Japan to open a conference with the Soviet representative in Peking.
1924.02.15 — Admiral Takarabe, ex-Minister of the Navy, regarding the reported discontinuation of the Singapore naval base, declared that the announcement is welcome news to all who are interested in the promotion of world peace and showed that Great Britain does not entertain any prospect of hostilities with her former ally.
1924.02.16
- The authorities of Vladivostock formally prohibited the exchange of mails between Japan and Russia with a note sent on the previous day, so that the mail which included the note itself would be the last batch from Russia.
- The officials of a law court here made public that some thirty radicals, who had been subjected to a preliminary examination since May, 1923, are incriminated by their efforts to open in Japan a branch of an international communists' organization, to cooperate with the radicals of Russia, and establish what they would call the Soviet Republic of Japan.
- The Navy made manifest its readiness to uphold the cause of international peace, and faithfully put into practice the terms of the Washington conference, by completing the first period of warship scrapping today, the warships condemned being the Hizen, Mikasa, Kashima, Katori, Satsuma, Aki, Settsu, Ikoma, Ibuki, and Kurama.
- Mr. Shoda, the Minister of Finance, at a banquet given by the Prime Minister for Privy Councillors, said that only a part of the money obtained by loans floated in London and New York should be spent abroad, and that the policy of the Government would be to encourage the use of home-made materials wherever possible, in the reconstruction of the quake-wrecked cities of Tokyo and Yokohama.
1924.02.17
- Press dispatches from Warsaw are to the effect that the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Poland and Japan was approved by the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Polish parliament.
- The political agitation against the Cabinet is still red-hot; more than 20,000 people took part in a demonstration at Uyeno Park and paraded the streets, frequently clashing with the police.
- The Tokyo Rotary Club celebrated the nineteenth anniversary of the International Rotary at the Bankers' Club and listened to addresses by Baron Matsui, Bishop Herbert Welch, Viscount Shibusawa, Mr. Miyaoka and Mr. Yoneyama.
1924.02.18
- The Laconia, a Cunarder on a round-the-world trip, with 723 passengers, berthed alongside the Customs Quay at Yokohama in the afternoon. Many of the passengers are prominent citizens of the United States.
- Announcement was made that the flight over Japan by American aeroplanes will commence on May 1st, when they are expected to alight on Little Shumushu, the northernmost island of the Japanese Empire, and end by a start from Kagoshima for Shanghai on the 18th; the route is along the eastern coast of the islands; there will be five stops, including one week at the Naval Aerodrome at Kasumigaura, near Tokyo; the flyers will be received by the Army and Navy as guests of honor.
- The business of Tokyo curio dealers and silk merchants picked up due to the visit of the Laconia. A large amount of money is said to have been spent by the American visitors.
- The medical profession of Tokyo strongly condemns the proposed establishment of a hospital with six million yen, from the funds collected by the American Red Cross for the relief of earthquake-sufferers, on the ground that it would be a waste of money.
- A dedication service was held at Kobe opening the new Central Methodist Church erected as a memorial to the late Bishop Walter R. Lambuth, of the Southern Methodist Church.
- On behalf of the South Manchuria Railway, the Syndicate Banks decided to float a loan of fifteen million yen, the issue price being 95 yen and interest 7 per cent.
1924.02.19
- It is announced that Professor Robert Nichols, of the department of English Literature of the Imperial University of Tokyo, accompanied by his wife, will soon leave for Hollywood, Cal., where he will interest himself in motion picture scenarios.
- At a banquet at the Bankers' Club, Mr. Shoda, the Minister of Finance, defended his policy regarding the loan issued in London and New York. He said it was impossible for the government to stay away from the world's monetary centers, in order to obtain better terms; that the reconstruction of Tokyo and Yokohama had to be rushed, ¥700,000,000 being needed up to the end of 1925.
- It is reported from Moscow that the Soviet Government contemplates asking Japanese press correspondents in Russia to leave immediately, as a result of the refusal to admit a certain Russian journalist into Japan.
- A Peking dispatch to the Asahi is to the effect that Mr. Karakhan, the representative of the Soviet signified Russia's willingness to recognize China's sovereign power over Mongolia and withdraw troops therefrom, renounce Russian extra-territorial rights and all special privileges in China, and to have an equal share in the control of the Eastern Chinese Railway.
1924.02.20
- At the instance of Premier Viscount Kiyoura, a conference of the dignitaries of the various religions in Japan was held in Tokyo, for the inculcation of sane and sound thoughts in the minds of people. He deplored the fact that the public mind is prone to frivolity, to take moral life as a thing of little worth, to blindly pursue the attainment of material ends, to allow public order and social discipline to slack, and ruin the unique constitution of the nation.
- Press cables from Moscow are to the effect that the supreme committee of the Soviet has decided to retract the lumber concessions in Siberia which Russia offered to Japan for the relief of earthquake sufferers, on the alleged ground that the relief proposed is impracticable.
1924.02.21 — According to a Shanghai cable, an English electrical engineer, who had charge of the erection of a wireless station in the interior of China, discovered in Sinkiang, a province lying partly in Mongolia, oil-fields, which, measuring from one end to the other several thousand miles, he believes are the largest and richest in the world; he had conversations with the managers of the local branches of the oil companies of England and the United States, who sent cables to their home offices, requesting the dispatch of experts to investigate. Parties interested include the Mitsui Company, of Japan, and a New York firm. A Dairen message states that, under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce (Japanese) there, a conference will be held by representatives of the chambers at home and those of the Chinese chambers of Mukden, Yinkow, Liaoyang, Tieling, etc., and points in Shantung, in April. It is announced that thirteen delegates will represent Japan at the Ninth World Sunday Convention in Glasgow, which will convene for one week in the middle of June.
1924.02.22
- The Asahi attributes to a well-known official of the Foreign Office the statement that Japan's position in the matter of giving recognition to Soviet Russia stands by itself and, therefore, is different from those of England, France or Italy, with the consequence that Japan does not feel obliged to act in concert with other nations; that she may give up her claims against Russia as regards the payment of the cost of supplies she furnished to the Russian Army during the World War; and that what she cares for is that Moscow should respect the concessions the Imperial government of Russia gave to Japan in Siberia as a result of the Japan-Russia War and treat Japan with fairness concerning Saghalien.
- A Vladivostock dispatch reports that the postal authorities of Vladivostock, giving way to appeals of the Japanese bankers and business men there, have relaxed the severity of the anti-Japanese postal regulations and will admit commercial mail in unsealed envelopes.
- A semi-official report is being circulated that economic cooperation with China is the only solution of the food situation and industrial problems of Japan, and that an investigating organ will be established by bureau heads of departments concerned, to study methods for its realization.
1924.02.23 — It is cabled from Peking that in the parley between Dr. T. C. Wang and Mr. Karakhan on the 22nd, the terms of China and Russia greatly approximated, and that it was decided to hold a preliminary conference, upon the success of which the final, formal conference will be convened. The French Minister, in an interview with Mr. Koo, Foreign Minister of China, regarding the question of the payment of the outstanding sum of the Boxer Indemnity in gold, pressed the Chinese Government to carry out the assurances of Huang-hu. According to an authentic estimate, despite the nominal amount of ¥550,000,000 of the loan floated in New York and London, the Imperial Government will not be able to get hold of more than about ¥470,000,000, as something like ¥80,000,000 will have to be spent for services of the underwriters and the conversion of old debts. Due to the efforts of Mr. Hua, Director of the Hang-ye-ping Iron and Coal Company, who has been in Japan for some time past, the Yokohama Specie Bank has decided to make a loan of one million and a half yen to the Chinese firm. Fishery concessions in Siberian waters will be exploited by Japanese fishermen on the strength of a provisional contract covering three years, based on the Portsmouth Peace Treaty; the fees that they will have to pay to the Siberian Government will amount to ¥1,750,000. The Methodist Episcopal Mission of Japan will spend ¥3,200,000 for rehabilitation work in the quake-rocked districts.
1924.02.24 — Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess, who have been making a tour in the West, visited the Grand Shrines of Ise and performed the prescribed rite for the worship of the Ancestral Spirits. It is announced that the Governor-general of French Indo-China will come to Japan, as the envoy of the French Government for the Imperial Wedding and some other missions.
1924.02.25 — Baron Matsui, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, transmitted through the American Embassy an expression of his appreciation for the rescue by the President McKinley of the crew of the Kyosei Maru on January 6th. The Minister of Home Affairs gave out an ordinance, announcing that the Reconstruction Board would be abolished and followed by the establishment of a bureau which will be subject to his jurisdiction. Decision to advance to fire insurance companies eighty million yen at 4 per cent interest to be paid back in fifty years was reached by the Cabinet; on the other hand, the underwriters are ordered to indemnify the losses of their policy-holders to the extent of 10 per cent of the properties lost, provided the insured value of these properties does not exceed five thousand yen. The anti-Government parties in the lower house issued a joint statement, proclaiming that the Seiyu-honto is their common enemy, whose sole object is to enslave them to the Kiyoura Government and that they will make their best efforts to defeat the Seiyu-honto in the forthcoming General Election. The Budget of the fiscal year 1924-1925 includes appropriations of ¥133,000,000 for the Government-general of Korea, ¥90,370,000 for the Government-general of Formosa, ¥15,000,000 for the Government-general of Kwantung Peninsula, and ¥4,190,000 for the Government of the mandated islands in Oceania.
1924.03.08 — Peking dispatches state that Karakhan, Soviet representative, in an interview with the Japanese Minister, handed to the latter the reply of the Moscow Government concerning the demand of Tokyo for the reopening of the Japanese Consulate in Vladivostock and exchange of mails between Tsuruga and Vladivostock; the reply is said to be a flat refusal and that the Soviet Government has decided not to make such arrangements with any nation which has not yet established formal relations with Russia. In an interview with Press representatives, the Foreign Minister said it is a mistake to expect that so weighty a problem as the recognition of Soviet Russia could be settled overnight, and that the Tokyo Government has full confidence in the ability of the United States Government to solve the anti-Japanese Question.
1924.03.09
- The Toyo Taku-shoku Kabushiki Kaisha (The Oriental Development Company), which was organized to work for the commercial and industrial development of Korea will be empowered to extend its operations to Manchuria.
- The Police of the Government-general of Korea will hold a conference, to which invitations have been extended to the consular police in Manchuria, to discuss measures dealing with the maintenance of peace and order on the Manchurian borders of the peninsula.
1924.03.10 — Premier Viscount Kiyoura, in an official statement to an American paper, expressed the confidence of the Japanese nation in "America's sense of justice" and her "consideration for the sensibilities of others" regarding the anti-Japanese bill. A Shanghai cable states that the agitation of the anti-Japanese Chinese there will be revived again. Mr. Bunji Suzuki, the labor leader, often called the Gompers of Japan, has declined the offer of the Soviet representative Karakhan who intimated to him that Russia is willing to confer some forest and fishery concessions in Siberia on those working people who suffered from the disaster of September.
1924.03.11 — A new treaty of commerce and navigation was signed between Japan and Siam; throughout the negotiations, Japan showed the utmost friendship to the Siamese Kingdom, and Baron Matsui, Foreign Minister, sent a congratulatory cablegram to the King when the treaty was signed.
1924.03.12 — A Kokusai cable from Peking states that Dr. C. T. Wang reported to the Cabinet that he and Karakhan have come to the following understanding: 1. Russia agrees to the abolition of all former treaties and to the conclusion of a new and satisfactory treaty. 2. A formal conference shall be convoked immediately. 3. China agrees to formal recognition of the Soviet Government of Russia before such negotiations are begun. It is learned here that the Foreign Minister of China recently addressed a note to the representatives of the powers in Peking, requesting that the latter consent to the opening of the special customs conference, as agreed upon at the Washington Conference. Many leading members of the Emergency Relief Society headed by Prince Tokugawa visited St. Luke's International Hospital, for an inspection. A baseball stand having a seating capacity of 50,000 will be erected at Edagawa, Osaka, by the Hanshin Electric Railway Company, which has set aside ¥850,000 for the purpose. An organization, the object of which is to foster friendship between Japan and France, will soon be set on foot by Viscount Shibusawa, Dr. Takuma Dan, Mr. Kintaro Hattori, and many other notables; it proposes to bring French scholars to Japan, at a cost of 300,000 francs annually, to deliver lectures and teach French.
1924.03.13
- Ambassador Cyrus E. Woods called at the Foreign Office this afternoon and delivered to Baron Matsui, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the American Red Cross check for $3,000,000 to be turned over to a committee for the erection and endowment of a charity hospital.
- President Byram of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad, expressed faith in the possibilities of the trans-Pacific trade.
- The three largest labor organizations in Japan — the Japan Federation of Labor, the General Federation of Workers in the Government Factories, and the Mariners' Association of Japan — have agreed to support Mr. Bunji Suzuki, President of the Japan Federation of Labor, as the chief delegate to the International Labor Conference.
1924.03.14
- The Earthquake Relief Society, of which Prince I. Tokugawa is the president, gave St. Luke's International Hospital ¥25,000 today in recognition of the charity work done by this institution.
- Dr. R. B. Teusler, of St. Luke's International Hospital, declared that Japan should make official efforts to encourage post-graduate work among the promising students in universities and hospitals in the United States.
- The Yen-Dollar exchange has had an alarming decline. To-day, it was quoted at 41⅛ cents.
- Peking cables report that the French Minister delivered a warning to the Chinese Government as regards the disposal of the Chinese Eastern Railway; he pointed out that the greater part of the railway is owned by French shareholders.
1924.03.15 — The Home Minister, in connection with the establishment of a charity hospital with the donation of ¥3,000,000 from the American Red Cross, appointed a number of eminent persons as the board which will have charge of its affairs. About 100 labor unions in Korea have agreed to incorporate themselves into a federation and to unionize Korean labor in Japan, by establishing a branch office in Tokyo. The Fishery Commissioner of the Government at Chita has demanded that the Japanese owning the concessionary rights on the Siberian coasts, if they desire to renew them, pay a rental of ¥550,000 for arrears, and further to draw drafts for ¥1,200,000. A Peking special to the Tokyo papers reports that the Wang-Karakhan negotiations on March 13th went on for more than twenty hours setting a record.
1924.03.16 — An official statement given out at the Secretariat of the Minister of the Imperial Household states that the condition of His Majesty the Emperor who has been ill from a malady of a chronic sort for many months past, is showing general improvement, except in his speech and memory. A Moscow special to the Tokyo papers reports that the Foreign Department of the Soviet Government of Russia has just made the announcement that the formal conference between Russia and China has been started. The representative of the Chinese Eastern Railway at Peking delivered a protest to the Foreign Minister of China on the ground that the reported agreement about the retrocession by Russia to China of the Chinese Eastern Railway, as arrived at between Karakhan and Dr. C. T. Wang, is a flagrant violation of the treaty of 1896 and therefore null. On March 14th, the British Minister to China obtained an interview with Mr. Wellington Koo, Foreign Minister, and insisted on giving immediate signature to the pact for the retrocession of Weihaiwei; but Mr. Koo, refusing, pointed out that the public in China is dissatisfied with the terms, adding that the only possible way of a speedy settlement of the matter is for Britain to make further concessions to China. The Department of Communications has received a report from the Chief of the Wireless Station at Choshi that he was successful in exchanging telephonic conversations with a steamer 3,500 miles away from the coast of Japan: a record-breaking achievement in the field of radiography. The Osaka Rotary Club, which was formally admitted as a member of the International Rotary Club in February, 1923, has launched a new campaign for promoting international friendship both at home and abroad; the membership numbers 1,349.
1924.03.17 — Replying to a delegation of Japanese who called at the Embassy, Hon. Cyrus E. Woods, American Ambassador, enlisted himself in their movement to preserve the Mikasa, Admiral Togo's flagship in the Battle of the Japan Sea, which had been condemned to the scrap heap at the Washington Disarmament Conference; the movement is being carried on with much ardor in some quarters. M. Paul Claudel, French Ambassador, who had audience with the Crown Prince this morning, presented to the latter the wedding present from the President of France. Despite sanguine reports the Wang-Karakhan parley has come to a standstill; it is reported from Peking that the Soviet representative of Russia in the Chinese capital, irritated by the Chinese government's hesitancy to sign the draft formulated by him and Dr. C. T. Wang, served upon the Chinese authorities an ultimatum, declaring that Russia would invalidate the terms, if China should not sign within three days from March 16th; Dr. C. T. Wang, who represented China during the negotiations, left Peking for Taitung-fu, Shanghai, in fear of being made the scape goat of the affair; a foreign paper published in Peking has attributed the faltering of the Chinese Government to adverse influences exerted by Tokyo and Washington.
1924.03.18 — After a consultation of some length, the Army and Navy and the Japan Red Cross have come to an agreement about the appointment of a delegation to the international Red Cross convention which will meet in Paris between April 28th and May 2nd; the delegation will be headed by Dr. Kageyama, Chief of the medical staff of the Red Cross, assisted by Mr. Sugiyama of the Japanese Embassy in Paris and Mr. Kagata of the Japanese Embassy in Berlin. It is cabled from Peking that, when M. Karakhan's note was considered at the Cabinet meeting on March 17th, many officials condemned Russia as having violated international rules of courtesy, with the result that China would return the note of Karakhan with an answer that, while the Chinese Government is giving its utmost consideration of every clause of the Wang Karakhan agreements, the attitude that Russia has suddenly assumed is exceedingly regrettable. An importers' organization of Tokyo sent a cable to the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, asking them to exert their influence with the Admiral Line for gaining a day in the President Jefferson's passage to Yokohama, which was scheduled to arrive April 1st; seeing that a number of imported articles will become dutiable on April 1st, consignees in Tokyo urgently desire to have all their goods in before that date.
1924.03.19 — Prince Hirotada Kachono-miya, son of Prince Hiroyasu Fushimi, a lieutenant in the Navy, died of illness at the Naval Hospital in Sasebo. At a point three miles off Fukase, a fishing-village ten miles from Sasebo, a naval base, Submarine No. 43 collided with a cruiser and immediately sank with all hands; she had a crew of forty-two. At Tsuchi-ura, Ibaraki Prefecture, Dirigible No. 3 caught fire and fell to the ground a mass of burning, tangled wreckage; her crew, two officers and three sailors, met with instantaneous death, their charred bodies being found in a grove. The airship was making a flight from Yokosuka to Tsuchi-ura, where the naval aerodrome is located. The Asahi printed a Peking special that, at an interview with Wang on the 18th, Karakhan stated that unless China signed the agreement by 2 o'clock in the afternoon on March 19th, Russia would regard all their past efforts as having come to nothing and refuse to carry on the negotiations. The Privy Council which is giving its deliberation to the Treaty of Lausanne, is reported to have criticized the Cabinet concerning the latter's alleged tendency to servilely follow in the footsteps of other governments in international affairs.
1924.03.20 — The Soviet representative of Russia, having received definite instructions from his home government as regards the sudden breach of his parley with Dr. Wang, delivered to Mr. Wellington Koo a note embodying five points: 1. Russia will consider the negotiations between Karakhan and Dr. C. T. Wang as having been completely and lawfully brought to an end. 2. Russia will refuse to go into another conference, concerning the agreements which have just been agreed on. 3. Russia will not give her consent to anything which it is believed will seriously and adversely affect the future relations between herself and China. 4. Unless the draft of the Wang-Karakhan text should receive immediate signature, Russia is at liberty to assume an entirely free position in discussing any treaty or agreement which may come up between China and Russia. 5. Unless China signs the Wang-Karakhan draft within the time limit set forth, China must first recognize the Soviet Republic of Russia unconditionally before establishing any connection with the latter. The Chinese Government holds that Wang simply put his name to the document as an indication of the fact that the conferences he had been carrying on with M. Leon Karakhan were successfully brought to an end, while Karakhan maintains that Wang was the accredited representative of China and that his signature should bind her as such. Seeing that his activities with the Chinese Government have come to nothing, Mr. Karakhan is turning his attention to Japan; it is reported from Peking that he paid a call on Mr. Yoshizawa, the Japanese Minister, today and exchanged views with the latter about many things. Three Japanese consular officers, including Mr. Gunji, Vice-Consul, who had been in prison at Vladivostock, were deported by order of the Moscow Government; Mr. Gunji, being too weak to stop at his home, was taken direct from the prison to the wharf, where a steamer was waiting to take him to Japan.
1924.03.21 — It is stated that the note of the Chinese Government demanding the payment of indemnities to the relatives of the Chinese who were killed during the excitement of the earthquake period has been delivered to the Foreign Minister, who however is not expected to comply with the demands; spokesmen of the Foreign Office declare that Peking has failed to obtain even the release of several Japanese who have fallen into the hands of Chinese bandits. The unsuccessful issue of the Sino-Russian pourparlers continues to engross the attention of the press; Dr. C. T. Wang, who held himself responsible for the recent diplomatic fiasco, tendered his resignation, which was accepted by the President of China; from now on negotiations between China and Russia, if any, will be in the hands of Mr. Wellington Koo, Foreign Minister.
1924.03.22 — Mr. Stanislas Patek, Polish Minister, was received this morning in audience by the Prince Regent and presented to the latter the Insignia of the Order of the White Eagle, which is the highest decoration of the Republic of Poland. The Kyoto Industrial Exposition was formally opened this morning at the Municipal Office of Kyoto, in the presence of some 1,000 notable persons, Mayor Mabuchi presiding over the proceedings. Mr. Gunji, Vice-Consul at Vladivostock, who returned to Tokyo a few days ago, gave a surprise to Tokyo officialdom with the statements that Vladivostock today is not much worse than what it was under the Imperial regime, and that Japan should recognize the Moscow Government.
1924.03.23
- Mr. Wellington Koo, in a note to Karakhan informing the latter that he had been appointed successor to Dr. C. T. Wang, requested him to fix a date for resuming the informal conference.
- Announcement is made that Prince Higashi-kuni, who is in Paris prosecuting certain studies, has been appointed envoy to Rumania to return the visit of Prince Carol to Japan some time ago.
- The Privy Council has passed the bill authorizing the existing provisional treaty between Japan and Peru to further remain in effect, the term being from April 1st to December 31st.
1924.03.24
- "Save the Mikasa" (Admiral Togo's flagship) movement being sponsored by Baron Shiba, Baron Togo, Dr. Yamada of the Imperial Tokyo University, and some other gentlemen, for the purpose of preserving the famous warship, they approached the American Ambassador and he has promised to make a favorable recommendation to the United States Government.
- An Asahi special from Peking is to the effect that, judging from the frequent exchange of calls between Mr. Karakhan and Mr. Yoshizawa, negotiations about the proposed conference of Japan and Russia have made favorable progress.
- The Department of Railways has decided to carry out its plan of electrifying the portion of the Tokaido Line between Tokyo and Odawara; the actual work will be commenced in November.
1924.03.25 — The Metropolitan Police which has been carrying out an investigation about the number of voters eligible for the forthcoming General Election estimates that there are 180,197 persons having such qualifications. The Cabinet decided to leave beef, eggs, and rice out of the Emergency Free List which expires at midnight, March 31st. The Cabinet approved the budget estimates for the fiscal year 1924-25, the items of expenditure being ¥1,347,173,000 and revenue ¥1,320,793,000; the deficit will be defrayed with the reserve carried forward from the current fiscal year. Mr. Bunji Suzuki, President of the General Federation of Labor of Japan, is elected candidate for the office of delegate to the International Labor Conference to be held in Geneva in June; his competitor was Mr. Yozo Nagato, of the General Federation of Naval Plant Workers, who was defeated by a vote of 71 to 65. Leaders of Catholic churches in Japan are collecting materials relating to Buddhism, Shintoism, and Mohammedanism, for placing them on display at the International Religious Exposition to be held in Rome at the Vatican next year.
1924.03.26 — Dispatches from Peking state that Mr. Wellington Koo made several approaches to Mr. Karakhan for the resumption of the conference between China and Russia; but the latter has been refusing to say anything definite other than that he is awaiting instructions from Moscow. The new French Embassy will be erected on the site of the old structure which was destroyed in the earthquake conflagration; M. Paul Claudel hopes to have the work started during the forthcoming visit of Governor-General Merlin of Indo-China. As a result of the retrenchment policy, the Navy has decided to reduce the number of arsenal workers by 10,000 in May and make a sweeping readjustment in the working plan of all arsenals in Japan. In opposition to the radical movement in Korea, thirty-three leaders of some eleven organizations have formed a federation to urge members of their organizations to cooperate with the public in support of the government.
1924.03.27
- Mr. Soho Tokutomi, the famous editor of the Kokumin Shimbun, publishes a book dealing with the Pacific war; his theme is that the Washington Conference has added nothing to the permanency of peace in the Pacific Ocean, so that there is every necessity for Japan to be prepared for any eventuality.
- Permission has been given to U. S. destroyers to enter two closed ports in the Kurile Islands — Kashiwabara Bay in Paramushiru and Bettobi in Yetorofu, to allow them to meet the round-the-world airplanes of the U. S. Army.
- What will be called the Fabian Society of Japan will soon be organized in Tokyo by Professor Isoo Abe of Waseda University and some other socialist thinkers; the aim of the society is to make a systematic study of various phases of politics, economics, and social problems in general on the basis of science.
- It is learned that a conversation between the representatives of Japan and Russia took place in Peking yesterday, due to the fact that M. Karakhan received instructions from Moscow, whose attitude toward Japan is said to have become conciliatory.
1924.03.28
- The Chinese Government has decided, it is stated, that, as regards the pourparlers with Leon Karakhan, any amount of formal negotiation would not attain the end, with the result that the matter would be taken up with him in private.
- The American destroyers which will be sent to the Kurile Islands to carry supplies to the American aviators on their round the world flight, will take on board Japanese officers who will assist in guiding them through the straits between the islands.
- Dr. Kiyosue Inui, lecturer at the University of Southern California, delivered a significant speech at the Pan-Pacific Club luncheon held at the Imperial Hotel. Cables from the Chinese capital report that, in a conversation which he had with Mr. Karakhan on March 28th, the Japanese Minister made further representations to the former concerning the many complications at Vladivostock; that Karakhan filed with Yoshizawa a plain-spoken protest as regards the reported signature of Japan to the protocol allowing Rumania to annex Bessarabia.
1924.03.29 — Mrs. Cyrus E. Woods, the wife of the American Ambassador, delivered a speech before a gathering of the Tokyo Women's Club, at a meeting at the Imperial Hotel; in paying tributes to the Japanese people, she said in part, that "in America many of my friends wondered at what they called my fortitude during the disaster, and admired what they named bravery in wanting to return to Japan — on the contrary, it was only a desire to return to the land where I could enjoy new inspirations and new friendships." A naval committee has been appointed for carrying on investigations about the further curtailment of naval strength of the world, for which purpose a second disarmament conference is being proposed.
1924.03.30
- A Paris dispatch says that the French Government has decided to recall M. Paul Claudel, Ambassador to Japan, whose term will soon expire.
- The foregoing report has aroused the large circle of Japanese friends of the ambassador, including many well-known writers and literary critics, to adopt a resolution requesting the authorities at Paris to leave him at this post.
- It is reported from Peking that a considerable number of Chinese students there have started to organize a movement to cause the Chinese Government to lose no time in giving recognition to the Soviet Government of Russia.
1924.03.31 — Funeral services for Prince Kwacho, whose death took place at Sasebo two weeks ago, were held at the Imperial Cemetery at Koishikawa, Prince Chichibu, the second son of the Emperor, being present. The Asahi's Peking correspondent cables that, in the ten sittings of the Yoshizawa-Karakhan pourparlers, the question of opening a formal conference between Russia and Japan was brought out on some occasions; but Japan insisted on solving the complications in Vladivostock first, particularly the arrest of an army officer and a naval officer who had been sent there to learn the Russian language; on the contrary M. Leon Karakhan is instructed to maintain an unamenable attitude against the Japanese claims with the result that even the most discerning find it difficult to say, how soon the conference will materialize into fact.
1924.04.01
- A Peking cable states that the sensational charge is being made against the Soviet envoy that he has been distributing Russian gold among the educational bodies and students, in order to form Chinese public opinion favorable to Russia.
- It is stated on good authority that, at the meeting between Karakhan and Yoshizawa on March 29th, which was devoted to the latter's demand for the immediate release of the Japanese prisoners in Vladivostock, Karakhan did not give full consent to Yoshizawa's proposal to re-establish consular representation in each country; the Japanese Minister grew quite firm and frankly told the Soviet envoy that it would be no longer useful for them to hold further conversations; the Japanese Minister will soon start on a trip to the South.
- The treaty with Turkey was taken under deliberation by the Privy Council.
- It is cabled from Canton that fighting was resumed between Dr. Sun Yat-sen, southern President, and General Cheng Chiung-ming, rebel commander, on the East River, in the Province of Kwantung; Sun's troops are claiming victory.
- The Emergency Free List which has been admitting a large number of foreign-produced commodities duty-free passed out of existence at midnight, March 31st.
- Both official and open market rates on yen-dollar exchange in Tokyo are identical for the first time in many weeks, the quotation being forty-two cents.
- At the weekly meeting held yesterday, the Cabinet took into consideration the bill for universal suffrage; the ministers are inclined to favor restricting the proposed extension of the franchise to male citizens possessing certain financial qualifications.
- The French Ambassador Paul Claudel and Madame Claudel were hosts last night at a brilliant ball in the Imperial Hotel in honor of Admiral Frochot of the French Battleship Jules Ferry, now in Yokohama harbor, and members of his staff.
1924.04.02 — It is learned here that tenders were invited by the Government of Vladivostock on April 1st, for granting rights to exploit the Siberian fisheries, without participation of Japanese fishermen. A Peking dispatch to the Asahi states that Mr. Wellington Koo, Foreign Minister of the Chinese Government, in a note addressed to the Soviet representative late in the night of April 1st, signified China's willingness to sign the terms of the Wang-Karakhan convention without any alteration whatever, provided Russia agrees to reserve the "three affairs" for settlement in a separate protocol in future; the "three affairs" mean the nullification of the treaty between Russia and Mongolia, the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Outer Mongolia, and the disposal of the landed properties of the Russian Orthodox Church in China. With reference to the reported invitation of the officials at Vladivostock calling for tenders for fishery rights (which fact constitutes a grave violation of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty against the interests of Japan), a spokesman of the Foreign Office declares that Japan should be prepared to resort to measures vigorous enough to meet the attitude of the Russians. What may be translated as the Imperial Economic Council (Teikoku Keizai Kaigi) is set up by the Cabinet, so that affairs closely bearing on the economic development of Japan might be radically investigated; it will be an organ immediately subordinate to the Prime Minister and comprises 110 persons, prominent in all walks of life.
1924.04.03
- A press message from Vladivostock says that the pending fishery question, though it was adversely settled for Japan, may yet have another chance for settlement.
- It is reported from Peking that M. Leon Karakhan, when he received the second note of the Chinese Government, immediately sent a cable to Moscow, asking for instructions about the matter.
- M. Albert de Bassompierre, Belgian Minister, declares that his work of relief for the earthquake refugees with funds and supplies amounting to 2,000,000 francs will come to an end by April 15.
- The steamer Resolute, bringing 270 tourists on the Raymond & Whitcomb round-the-world tour, will arrive in Kobe today from Shanghai, remaining in the Western Japan port four days and sailing for Yokohama April 7th.
1924.04.04
- It is reported in official quarters that what will be considered the counterpart of the recently-established Imperial Economic Council is now contemplated by the ministers; as the Economic Council was set on foot for studying the nation's needs in material life, so the proposed organ will have for its field the investigation of affairs relating to the spiritual and moral uplift of the people.
- Press dispatches from Peking state that the French Minister there served upon the Chinese Government a note, warning that the restoration of the Russian Exclusive Concession in Hankow, China, as proposed by M. Karakhan, would be a flagrant violation of the Franco-Chinese protocol governing the concession.
- M. Leon Karakhan has just given out that citizens or subjects of a nation which has not yet established diplomatic connections with the Soviet Republic shall hereafter be prohibited from entering Russia; this is believed to be another attempt of the Soviet to force Japan into giving recognition to their country.
- After a long preliminary hearing, the Tokyo District Court has delivered a verdict of robbery and murder against a gang of thirty-seven pirates headed by one called Ezure; the charge against them was that they killed twenty-one Russians on the Amur in 1922 and robbed their victims of goods valued at ¥100,000.
1924.04.05 — The Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps of Peking, representing the ministers of all the nations concerned in the Lincheng Affair, delivered to the Chinese Foreign Minister a request for payment of an indemnity for those foreigners who suffered maltreatment at the hands of the bandits at Lincheng, Honan; the indemnity is fixed at 354,220 yuan. The Diplomatic Corps at Peking entered a protest with the Chinese Government as regards the Trade Mark Law. M. Leon Karakhan, the Soviet envoy, has received instructions from his home government that Russia refuses to resume the conference halted by the rupture of the Wang-Karakhan pourparlers. The authorities of the Home Office decided to check the growing vogue of employing air planes in political propaganda in the General Election. The number of candidates seeking election to the House of Representatives reached 612, of which 131 belong to the Seiyu-kai, 152 to the Seiyu-honto, and 148 to the Kensei-kai. The Bureau of Social Affairs has given out a plan for building 8,000 small dwelling-houses, at a cost of ¥10,000,000, for those homeless people who are now living in relief barracks.
1924.04.07 — With reference to the abolition of the Mixed Courts in Shanghai, the Diplomatic Corps recently announced that the nations concerned are willing to assent if the Chinese courts should not fail in upholding the legal rights of foreign subjects and if China assents to extending the foreign concessions in Shanghai. At its Convention at Okayama the National Women's Christian Temperance Union declared in favor of prohibition, the abolition of licensed prostitution, and suffrage for women. Sonosuke, the famous actor of the Imperial Theater died on the stage at a theater in Shinjuku, near Tokyo, where he was playing in the drama "Mercy of Tsubosaka Kwannon."
1924.04.08
- M. Leon Karakhan is reported to have asked the permission of the Chinese Government to establish a trade agency in Shanghai for the Soviet Government of Russia.
- The Chinese Government is reported to have informed the French Minister that, in the light of treaties which China under the Manchu Dynasty concluded with Russia, the disposal of affairs relating to the Chinese Eastern Railway rests with China and Russia only.
- A business commission from China now on tour in this country was received in audience by the Prince Regent.
- A medical commission to which has been entrusted the investigation of beri-beri, under the auspices of the War Minister, is in session.
1924.04.09
- It is confirmed here that the French Government has no intention of recalling M. Claudel, the ambassador.
- It is stated that the Tokyo Rotary Club will be represented at the International Rotary convention in Toronto this summer by Mr. Tsunejiro Miyaoka.
- The Cabinet approved a law governing the organization of the Bunsei-shingi-kai, an advisory organ to the Prime Minister, for formulating policies about the moral, spiritual, and intellectual education of the public; it is to be organized with fifty members, from the various classes of the nation.
- The T. K. K. steamer Siberia Maru arrived at Yokohama from San Francisco this morning, with four Japanese fishermen who were picked up by a Norwegian steamer, after they had been adrift for forty-five days clinging to the wreck of their fishing boat which had been wrecked off Hakodate, Hokkaido.
- The Japanese fishing companies, who are vitally concerned in the solution of the Siberian Fishery Question, have given expression to their grievances; they allege that the rent is too high, the area leased is too small, and there are too many unnecessary limitations imposed on their fishing activities.
1924.04.10 — It is learned here that an official of the Section of the Far East, of the Foreign Office of Russia, who it is believed is conveying important instructions to the Soviet representative in Peking, has passed through Changchun, Manchuria, en route to the Chinese capital. Peking dispatches are to the effect that the Yoshizawa-Karakhan conversations were held on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of April, showing that some progress has been made.
1924.04.11 — The first session of the Imperial Economic Council was held this afternoon; the important feature of the proceedings was the speech of Viscount Kiyoura, Prime Minister, who stated the raison d'etre of the organ; some of the members attacked the government as regards the official ruling to carry on the debates behind closed door; ten bills were introduced into the council, dealing with all the aspects of the economic life of Japan; Baron Sakatani was elected Manager of the section of finance. The Suffrage Committee of the Privy Council is reported to have had an acrimonious debate with the Home Minister Dr. Midzuno, the representative of the Cabinet; the privy councillors found fault with the government's idea of restricting the suffrage to male persons earning their own living. Dispatches from Peking say that the negotiations between Karakhan and Yoshizawa made no progress on April 10th, due to the firmness of both envoys in holding to their respective claims. The Municipal authorities of Tokyo carried on street demonstrations for the adoption of the Metric System for the everyday use of the people. Arrangements have been completed by the Department of Railways and the Nippon Yusen Kaisha for the sale of through tickets between Shanghai and all the important railway stations in Japan.
1924.04.12 — According to a Moscow dispatch, steps are being taken by the governments of Mongolia and Russia to establish a bank which will be operated under their joint management. The Imperial Government has given out that Mr. Tamon Maeda is appointed chief delegate of the government for the International Labor Conference to be held at Geneva this summer. The convening of a scientists' conference of the Pacific nations in Tokyo in 1926 came up for deliberation at the Department of Education today; invitations will be sent to some 200 scientists in the twenty-two nations bordering on the Pacific Ocean next spring; the proposed gathering is to be held at the Tokyo Imperial University in November. The reduction of money for warship-building to the amount of ¥88,000,000 may possibly put the Navy to the necessity of carrying out another "adjustment" in its various shipyards; as these shipyards employ about 55,000 mechanics, the first thing to be done in this direction will be to discharge about 9,000 men. Three Japanese destroyers left Ominato this morning for the Kurile Islands to meet the American world-fliers. It is announced that the Missionary Association of Japan will meet for the spring session in the new Y. M. C. A. building near Umeda Station in Osaka on May 13th. The Admiral Oriental Line will reduce the time of its southbound schedule from Hongkong to Seattle one day beginning May 30 by limiting the stay of its steamers in Hongkong to one instead of two days.
1924.04.13 — A Washington dispatch saying that the House of Representatives passed the new Immigration Bill which will debar Japanese subjects from the United States, is received. Nine athletes holding national records in various field sports and six champion swimmers were chosen to represent Japan in the Olympic Games in France this year. They leave from Kobe by the N. Y. K. steamer, Katori Maru, on April 27th, reaching Marseilles on June 4th. Word has been received that the Suzuki Shoten, of Kobe, entered into an agreement with the Soviet Government of Russia to purchase the output of the zinc mine at Tutuhe, near Vladivostock; shipments already completed amounted to about 6,000 tons, while ores which are yet to be sent to Japan are estimated at 7,000 tons.
1924.04.14 — In the Korean Imperial university which will be on the same footing as those in Japan colleges of Law, Literature, and Medicine will be created and the Preparatory School is to be established this year. Both Viscount Shibusawa and Baron Sakatani, in an interview with the representative of a foreign paper in Tokyo, were quite frank in denouncing the American politicians for the passage of the anti-Japanese Bill. Five Japanese who performed conspicuous services for British subjects in the period following the September earthquake were awarded decorations at the British Embassy. A Shanghai cable states that Rabindranath Tagore, the well-known Indian poet and philosopher, has arrived there on his way to Peking, where he will deliver a series of lectures on philosophy. Press dispatches from Hitokappu Bay, Yetorofu, which was almost unknown to the Japanese public before arrangements were made to greet the American fliers, report that the U. S. destroyers Pope and John D. Ford safely reached there. Laws pertaining to the adoption of the Metric System for weights and measures in this country will come into operation in July. M. Leon Karakhan gave out through the Rosta News Agency that the parley is discontinued till the Tokyo Government has made up its mind about the matters they have taken up. The eyes of the Japanese nation are centered on Washington and the American legislation which Japanese consider involves their national pride and honor. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Baron Matsui, appealed through the American correspondents in Tokyo "against the final passage of the proposal designed to exclude Japanese" from the United States. The U. S. destroyers Truxton, Pillsbury, and Paul Jones of the American Asiatic Fleet arrived at Yokohama; after a few days' stay there, they will leave for their respective destinations, where they will await the arrival of the American world-fliers. The Spanish Minister to Japan, Don Jose Caro, sailed from Kobe on the President Lincoln en route to Madrid via San Francisco and New York on a temporary leave of absence. It is cabled from Seoul that Lieutenant-Commander Minotsuma and Captain Matsui who have been undergoing preliminary hearings at the hands of the Soviet authorities in Vladivostock were found guilty and will soon be sent to Moscow for formal trial. A Hongkong cable reports that arrangements have been made there for putting in commission several armed launches to escort steamers on the Hongkong-Kongmoon run, to safeguard the steamers from attacks by pirates.
1924.05.15 — The Japanese exclusion measure passed both houses of Congress in the U. S. A. to take effect on July 1.
1924.05.17 — One of the American world fliers arrived at Kashiwabara Bay and another at Kataoka Bay, Chishima.
1924.05.19 — Baron Saito, the Governor-General of Chosen, with his suite of over 30 persons, was steaming down the Yalu River on a tour of inspection of the frontier, when, at a point near Kozanchin, Heian-Hokudo, shortly after 9 o'clock, over 10 bandits appeared from the hills on the Chinese side and fired at the boats of the Baron and his suite. The latter returned the rifle fire and succeeded in driving away the would-be assassins, who hurt no one.
1924.05.20 — The American Ambassador, Mr. Woods is reported to have tendered his resignation to President Coolidge.
1924.05.21 — A New York despatch reports the acceptance of the resignation of Mr. Woods by the President.
1924.05.22 — The three American world-fliers reached Kasumigaura at 5:25 p.m. amidst the enthusiastic welcome of many Japanese Government officials and private persons.
1924.05.24 — The basic terms of the Russo-Japanese negotiations were drafted.
1924.05.25 — A union of ex-soldiers in Tokyo held a meeting at the Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo to pass a resolution against the anti-Japanese bill in the United States. In the north of Chichibu, Saitama-ken, a hail-storm occurred that lasted over an hour, inflicting severe damage on the mulberry crop.
1924.05.28 — A Washington despatch reports the signing of the immigration law by President Coolidge on the 26th. The Japanese Government decided at an extraordinary cabinet meeting held on the 28th to lodge a protest with the United States. The protest was telegraphically sent by the Foreign Minister Baron Matsui to Ambassador Hanihara.
1924.05.31 — A series of Imperial banquets will be held in the Homei Hall of the Imperial Palace from to-day to June 4th in celebration of the marriage of H. I. H. the Crown Prince with H. I. H. Princess Nagako. At the first dinner given to-night, about 300 foreign and Japanese officers and officials were invited. A man was found dead in the grounds of Viscount Inouye's mansion, Enokizaka-machi, Akasaka, Tokyo. He committed suicide in his indignation over the Japanese exclusion bill in the United States. He had three letters in his pocket. One was addressed to Ambassador Woods. His name is unknown. Mr. Woods, with his wife and her mother, is to leave Tokyo for home on the morning of June 5th and will embark on the President McKinley which sails from Yokohama at 3 p.m. on the 6th.
1924.06.05 — This morning the Tokyo Municipal celebration of the Imperial wedding was held in the Imperial Palace grounds. Their Highnesses appeared in the pavilion at 10:20 a.m., when tens of thousands of citizens gathered in front of the pavilion and cheered "banzai." Mayor Nagata read a congratulatory address, which was followed by an Imperial message read by His Highness in a loud and clear voice, which was distinctly heard in every corner of the grounds. The whole city celebrated the occasion. Various entertainments were held everywhere, all the streets were beautifully decorated with flags and paper lanterns. At 1 p.m., a national meeting was held over the American question, at the Kokugi-kwan, Ryogoku, when all the political parties, 18 unions formed on account of the American question, students', labour and other unions were represented. Every orator spoke with fervency, calling upon the Americans to reconsider.
1924.06.07 — Premier Viscount Kiyoura proceeded to the Akasaka Palace at 4:03 p.m. and presented the resignation of his cabinet to the Prince Regent, as he saw the impossibility of remaining in office with the result of the general election which went against the Government. The Prince Regent then summoned Count Hirata, the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, and questioned him on the matter. Consequently, Marquis Tokugawa, the Grand Chamberlain, was sent to consult Prince Saionji in Kyoto. The ladies and gentlemen in the dancing hall of the Imperial Hotel were taken by surprise by the raid of 17 members of the Taikosha, advocating nationalism, who performed sword-dances before them. The intrusion was caused by indignation over the American exclusion bill, and some Japanese young men and women's indulgence in dancing, apparently indifferent to the national peril which confronts Japan. Mr. Rabindranath Tagore, a famous Indian poet, arrived in Tokyo at 8:45 p.m. from Western Japan, after visiting Nara and Osaka. It is eight years since he last came to this country.
1924.06.08 — Captain D'Oisy, a French round-the-world flier, reached Hiroshima at 10:07 a.m. from Taikyu, Korea, which he left at 6:20 a.m.
1924.06.09 — Viscount Kato, the leader of the Kensei-kai, repaired to the Akasaka Palace at 11:24 a.m., summoned by the Prince Regent, and was commanded to organize a new Cabinet. He left the palace at 11:40 a.m. Captain D'Oisy left the Osaka Parade Ground at 8:34 a.m. and reached Tokorozawa at 11:50 a.m., where he was welcomed by many Japanese Government officers and officials and private people. Mr. R. Tagore lectured at the Tokyo Imperial University at 3:30 p.m. In the course of his speech, he alluded to a great affront recently received by Japan from another country, stating that he and all his countrymen in India were indignant at it.
1924.06.11 — Viscount Kato, the leader of the Kensei-kai, proceeded to the Akasaka Imperial Palace at 9:55 a.m. and presented the Prince Regent with a list of the names of the new Cabinet. The list was approved by the Prince Regent. At 1:30 p.m., he again repaired to the Imperial Palace, accompanied by the Cabinet ministers-elect. Immediately, the installation ceremony took place. The members of the new Cabinet are: Viscount Kato, Premier; Baron K. Shidehara, Minister of Foreign Affairs; R. Wakatsuki, Minister of Home Affairs; Y. Hamaguchi, Minister of Finance; General K. Ugaki, Minister of Army; Admiral Takarabe, Minister of Navy; S. Yokota, Minister of Justice; R. Okada, Minister of Education; K. Takahashi, Minister of Agriculture and Commerce; T. Inukai, Minister of Communications; M. Sengoku, Minister of Railways. At the same time the resignation of the Kiyoura Cabinet was accepted.
1924.06.19 — The reply to the protest presented against the Japanese exclusion bill by the Japanese Government to the American Government was handed by the latter to the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Hanihara by the Secretary of State on the 16th. The text of this reply was published by the Foreign Office.
1924.06.20 — Mr. Yoshizawa, the Japanese Minister at Peking, who was conducting the Russo-Japanese negotiations reached Tokyo at 8:45 p.m., summoned by the Foreign Minister, to talk over the question. Five persons at Higashi-Hamana-mura, Shizuoka-ken, found to be infected with pest.
1924.06.21 — The question of the leadership of the Seiyu-honto was concluded by the acceptance of the post by Mr. Tokonami.
1924.06.22 — Mr. R. Tagore left Japan for home by the "Suwa-Maru." Captain D'Oisy, the French flier, who was decorated with the fifth order of the Rising Sun, sailed for home, promising to come again in January next.
1924.06.25 — The 49th session of the Imperial Diet was convoked.
1924.06.26 — Mr. Roy Chapman Andrews, at the head of an American Mongolian scientific expedition reached Yokohama by the "President Cleveland." He said he was going to Peking to set about preparations there for the expedition to Mongolia to be made next year.
1924.06.27 — The Japan Christian Association held a general meeting and carried a resolution by a great majority to decline receiving the donation of 2,000,000 yen, which it has received yearly from America, upon the expiration of the present term in September next.
1924.06.28 — The opening ceremony of the special session of the Imperial Diet was held in the House of Peers in the presence of the Prince Regent.
1924.06.30 — Mr. Alexander A. I. Mosjuhin, a leading Russian musician, arrived at Tokyo Station at 9:20 a.m., to give concerts at the Hochi Auditorium.
1924.07.01 — It being the day fixed for the enforcement of the new American immigration act, the nation was much perturbed. A national meeting was held at the Zojo Temple, Shiba and a big oratorial meeting on Sanno Hill, Akasaka, on the American question. Similar meetings were held in other places in the country. Resolutions were passed at the meetings calling for the provision of discrimination against the Japanese in the law to be abolished; and it was telegraphically conveyed to the President and both houses of Congress of the United States. The Imperial Diet was opened. Both houses took up at first the American question and adopted resolutions deploring the new law. At about 12:30 p.m., a young man entered the American Embassy grounds and tore down the American flag and fled with it. A policeman pursued him but could not arrest him. The matter was much regretted by the Japanese Government, and the offender was thoroughly searched for by the police. At 4 p.m., Mr. Jefferson Caffery, charge d'Affaires at the American Embassy, visited the Foreign Minister, Baron Shidehara, at the Foreign Office, and inquired about the affair. The Cabinet held an extraordinary meeting to discuss the steps to be adopted. At 6:50 p.m., Baron Shidehara visited Mr. Caffery at the Imperial Hotel and apologized for the incident. The metric system was put into operation.
1924.07.02 — The offender in the American flag affair was arrested in Osaka, and the flag carried away by him was delivered to the American Embassy. A Washington despatch states that the State Department declared that responsibility for the attack against the American flag in Tokyo lies upon "irresponsible individuals" and that the Government attaches no more importance to the incident than to others of similar nature which have been reported since the immigration law was passed. At 10:40 p.m., Prince Matsukata died. Sub-Lieutenant C. Ura was killed at the Kagamigahara Aviation School. He was descending from a height of 300 metres, when the machine suddenly crashed.
1924.07.05 — The Lower House approved the appropriation of 40,000 yen for the state funeral of the late Prince Matsukata. Major Maclaren, a British flier, left Shanghai at 9 a.m. and reached Kagoshima at 5 p.m. after flying the distance of 870 kilometres in seven hours. He and Flying Officer Plenderleith were welcomed by 50,000 people who gathered on the shore waving the British flag.
1924.07.07 — Major Maclaren left Kushimoto at 9 a.m. and reached Tsuchiura at 2:48 p.m. The state funeral of the late Prince Matsukata took place at the Matsukata residence at 8 a.m. The Chamberlains to the Emperor, the Empress and the Crown Prince and Prince and Princess Kan-in worshipped at the altar. The ceremony ended at 1 p.m. The coffin left for the Aoyama Cemetery at 2 p.m. After the interment ceremony, the veteran statesman of the Meiji Restoration was laid eternally to rest in the bosom of the earth, at 5 p.m.
1924.07.13 — The first Feast of Lanterns (O-Bon) was held on the former site of the Military Clothing Office, where about 35,000 persons were burnt to death in last year's earthquake. At the repository of ashes there was offered incense and flowers by the Tokyo Municipality and there was worship by an endless number of the bereaved families amid the chanting of the Buddhist sacred books.
1924.07.15 — Viscount K. Kuroda, the first Japanese artist in foreign style painting, died of illness at his residence, Kogai-cho, Azabu, Tokyo. He was a great benefactor of the Japanese artistic world, which was led by him to its present prosperity.
1924.07.16 — The British round-the-world fliers were missing after leaving Toshimoe at 5:30 a.m. The Hamakaze and Isokaze, Japanese destroyers, were searching their whereabouts.
1924.07.18 — The missing British fliers were found to have taken to the water at Tokoton Bay on the west coast of Urufsupu Island, Chishima.
1924.07.20 — The special session of the Imperial Diet was closed on the 18th and its closing ceremony was held in the House of Peers on the 19th. The kawabiraki (the opening of the river season) festival was held at Ryogoku on the Sumida as usual this evening. It has been an annual function in Tokyo since the Tokugawa period. Thousands of set and other fireworks were sent up late into the night. The visitors were unusually few.
1924.07.27 — The Tairei-Maru, a steamer of 1,256 tons belonging to the Kita-Nippon Kisen Kaisha, Otaru on her way from Osaka to Otaru collided with the Shinpo-Maru, a steamer of 4,736 tons owned by the Kishimoto Kisen Kaisha, Kobe, at a point 3 miles off the Note Light House at 8:20 p.m., and sank in 25 minutes. Only 25 persons were rescued out of 145 passengers and 42 crew.
1924.07.29 — Mr. Yoshizawa, the Japanese Minister to China, left Tokyo for Peking at 8:30 p.m. He returned here on the 20th ult. to report on and arrange for the Russo-Japanese negotiations.
1924.07.31 — The Law Raising the Import Duty on Luxurious Articles was promulgated and put in force at once in Japan and her territories.
1924.08.03 — Mr. Hanihara, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States, came back by the Korea-Maru at 8 a.m.
1924.08.04 — The first meeting of the Russo-Japanese Conference was held at Peking at 4 p.m., when Mr. Yoshizawa, the Japanese Minister to Peking, handed to Mr. Karakhan an important note frankly stating Japan's demands.
1924.08.09 — Gas exploded in the Iriyama Colliery, Fukushima-ken, suffocating to death about 70 miners working in the pits.
1924.08.12 — An Imperial ordinance relating to undersecretaries and political Councillors was issued. The nominees to the posts were accepted by the Cabinet Council held to-day. They were later sanctioned by the Prince Regent and were publicly announced.
1924.08.21 — The instructions of the Ministers of the Interior and Finance regarding the retrenchment in local budgets was forwarded to the prefectural governors with the joint signature of the two Ministers.
1924.08.22 — The result of the investigations of the Statistical Section of the Tokyo Municipality with reference to the extent of the losses sustained in the earthquake and fire was made public, as follows: City of Tokyo ¥3,732,228,107; Suburbs of Tokyo ¥83,688,698; City of Yokohama ¥1,180,969,767; Elsewhere in Kanagawa Prefecture ¥279,366,992; Total Loss of All the Departments of the Cabinet ¥107,229,558; Loss of the Household Department ¥2,000,000; Prefectural Districts, except Tokyo and Kanagawa ¥126,009,151; Total ¥5,501,512,273. A mixed train on the Uyetsu Line after having left Sakata was derailed between Atsumi and Nedzu-ga-seki at about 3 p.m., on account of the track being destroyed by a storm, and one locomotive and six freight cars fell into the sea, with a number of casualties. The line is a new one, opened on the 31st July.
1924.08.24 — In Kagawa, Okayama, Shimane, and most recently in Toyama and Ishikawa Prefectures, especially in the first named prefecture, narcotic phrenitis has been very virulent, with a high death-rate. Experts have been despatched to those districts by the Hygienic Bureau of the Home Department.
1924.08.27 — Viscount Ishii, Japanese Ambassador to France; Mr. Adachi, Japanese Ambassador to Belgium; and Mr. Matsuda, Japanese Minister to Switzerland, were appointed Japanese representatives at the Fifth Assembly of the League of Nations at Geneva, Switzerland.
1924.08.31 — According to a report published by the Central Meteorological Observatory, the earthquakes perceptible to human beings from September 1st last year to August 31st this year numbered 1,441 in Tokyo and 2,756 throughout the country, 7 and a half per day average.
1924.09.01
- This being the first anniversary of the great earthquake and fire of last year, the Tokyo people observed the day by eating unhulled-rice as they did in the days of the disaster. At 11:58 a.m., when the shock occurred last year all the temples in the city tolled their bells, the factories' whistles sounded and the tramcars stopped for a minute. Services for the victims were held at the leading temples; especially at the charnel erected on the site of the military clothing department, Honjo, where over 32,000 persons were killed by the fire on the day of the catastrophe, a service was held in memory of the dead. The mourners who worshipped at the charnel numbered about 500,000 people up to noon. At the Zojoji Temple in Shiba Park and the Sensoji in Asakusa Park memorial services attracted many. The Prince Regent graciously made inquiry about the present state of the restoration program for the devastated area, and Mr. Wakatsuki, Minister of the Interior proceeded to the Akasaka Palace at 10 a.m. and was granted an audience by the Regent to whom he reported in detail the progress of the restoration work.
- At about 6 p.m. General G. Fukuda, while on his way to the Chosenji Temple where a lecture meeting in memory of the catastrophe was to be held, had just got out of his motor in front of the Enrakuken Restaurant, Hongo, when he was shot at in the back by a would-be assassin, but he was not injured. The offender was arrested on the spot and found to be a socialist.
- He confessed that he attempted to kill the general to take revenge in connexion with the death of Osugi, one of his comrades, on the occasion of last year's disaster, for which he thought General Fukuda was responsible as Commander enforcing Martial Law in the Kanto District.
1924.09.05 — Owing to the defeat of the candidate he recommended for Director of the Electric Bureau of the Tokyo Municipality, in the Tokyo Municipal Council, Mr. H. Nagata, Mayor of Tokyo, tendered his resignation to the Governor of Tokyo Prefecture, also those of the three deputy mayors.
1924.09.06 — At a little past 9 a.m. Sub-Lieutenant Tanno of the Navy, a Tenth Course student of the Kagamigaura Hydroplane Corps, fell from a height of 50 meters to the water and was seriously wounded. The machine was smashed.
1924.09.07 — The extent of the damages caused by the storm in Northern Formosa was larger than imagined. According to various reports there were casualties of over three hundred, and more than seventeen thousand houses were wrecked.
1924.09.12 — At 7:30 a.m. a launch and a vedette-boat both belonging to the battleship Nagato came into collision in the Yokosuka Naval Port. The launch sank immediately, and seventeen were drowned. An express train for Tokyo was approaching Kusatsu-machi, in Hiroshima Prefecture, on the Sanyo line, on its way to Hiroshima when it ran into a landslide caused by a storm. The locomotive, mail car and one passenger-coach were upset, which caused seventy casualties.
1924.09.13 — Narcotic phrenitis invaded Tokyo. According to the investigation by the Medical Section of the Metropolitan Police, there were ten cases up to today. A scout-aeroplane of the 6th battalion of the Flying Corps at Heijo, Korea, crashed at Heiko, while engaged in maneuvers. Sergeant Ebine, pilot, and Lieutenant Moriwaki observers were killed. They are the first victims since the establishment of the flying corps in Korea.
1924.09.16
- It was officially announced that the Tenancy Adjustment Law will go into operation from December 1, 1924.
- The Russo-Japanese Conference reached a deadlock through Mr. Karakhan's opposition to new instructions to the Japanese delegate.
- A storm occurred in Tokyo and vicinity at about 6 p.m. and flooded the city, submerging about 40,000 houses. In Yokohama, about 8,000 houses were submerged. The districts adjoining Tokyo and Yokohama suffered severe damage.
1924.09.18 — A rather severe earthquake was felt at about 10 a.m. The affected area extended from Sendai in the North-East to Nagoya in Western Japan. In Tokyo, a number of houses were demolished.
1924.09.20 — Dr. H. Nagaoka of the Scientific Laboratory having made researches to discover a method to take gold from mercury, for the past twelve years, has succeeded and has made public details concerning his discovery.
1924.09.24 — The B-type scouting aeroplane No. 270 fell from a height of 100 metres in a trial at the Kagamigahara Airdrome. Two military officers were killed.
1924.09.30 — Dr. Saito, Chief Surgeon of the Aichi Medical College Hospital, operated on a youth aged 25, an epileptic, and succeeded in removing a tumor by cutting the cerebrum. This was the first surgical operation of the kind in Japan. The patient is in a satisfactory condition.
1924.10.04 — General Li Lie-chung, special emissary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen to Japan, arrived at Yokohama on the 3rd and at once came to Tokyo, where he put up at the Imperial Hotel. He will stay in Tokyo for about a week.
1924.10.05 — The coaster "Toyokawa-Maru," 600 tons, ran on a sunken rock off the west coast of Karafuto on account of a storm, and sank. Nine of her crew were saved and 14 are missing.
1924.10.06 — Tokyo was without a mayor for a long time after the resignation of Mr. Nagata. The Municipal Council selected three nominees for the Mayoralty. Viscount Goto, formerly Mayor of Tokyo, declined the offer. Mr. Z. Nakamura subsequently was offered the position, and he accepted.
1924.10.09
- The appointment of Mr. Z. Nakamura as Mayor of Tokyo received the Imperial sanction.
- At 4:10 p.m., Major Petro Zanni, the Argentine world-flyer, arrived in good spirits at Kagoshima from Shanghai.
1924.10.10 — Dr. Ku Hung-Min, a Chinese scholar, arrived at Tokyo, where he will stay for about 10 days, in which he will speak before the Daito Culture Association, etc.
1924.10.11 — A labour census was taken throughout Japan. Major Petro Zanni, the Argentine world-flyer, reached Kasumigaura at noon.
1924.10.12 — Dr. Nagaoka published the results of his successful studies of methods of the extraction of platinum and tin by the electrification of gold at a meeting of the Imperial Academy. Mr. Wang Yung-pao, the Chinese Minister to Japan, arrived at Moji and at once left for Tokyo.
1924.10.14
- The Japanese Government decided to make a statement to the Peking Government and Chang Tso-lin protecting Japan's special rights and interests in the Three Eastern Provinces of China in connection with the Chinese disturbances; and it telegraphically instructed Mr. Yoshizawa, the Japanese Minister at Peking and Mr. Funatsu, the Japanese Consul-General at Mukden, accordingly.
- General Lu Yung-hsiang, the Commander of the Chekiang forces, and General Ho Feng-lin, now fugitives, arrived at Nagasaki by the Shanghai-Maru and left there for Beppu at once.
1924.10.16
- Violent storms occurred in Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture on July 11, August 9, and October 6, blowing down 6,000 houses.
- The draft Metric Treaty was adopted to-day by the Cabinet and immediate steps were taken for the Imperial sanction and promulgation.
1924.10.17 — It snowed in Asahigawa and Yubari, Hokkaido and in Niigata Prefecture for the first time this season.
1924.10.18
- Professor Goldschmit, an authority on physiology and dean of the science department of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin, engaged by the Agricultural College of the Tokyo Imperial University, arrived in Tokyo, accompanied by his wife.
- The re-opening of the Japanese-Russian Conference was proposed by M. Karakhan to the Japanese Minister in Peking, Mr. Yoshizawa, after being suspended since the 6th.
1924.10.24
- It was announced by the Military Department that a force of about one infantry battalion will be despatched from the Japanese Garrison in Manchuria to Chinwangtao to join the Japanese army in China to protect Japanese residents in North China, in view of the war situation in the neighbourhood of Shanhai-kwan.
- The Japanese-Russian Conference was re-opened at 4 p.m. to-day at the Japanese Legation.
1924.10.28 — The census taken in Tokyo on the 1st shows that the population of Tokyo is 1,917,308 with 375,511 houses and 418,354 families, as against the pre-quake number of 2,550,000.
1924.10.30
- Fire broke out in one of the barracks in the Shiba Palace grounds, and fanned by a violent wind the flames reduced to ashes 690 houses, whose 4,000 occupants had been burnt out in the conflagration following the earthquake on September 1, 1923.
- The Aviation Corps of the Japanese Army made a non-stop flight between Tokorozawa and Seoul.
1924.10.31
- The 45th birthday of H. I. M. the Emperor was celebrated in the Homei Hall of the Imperial Palace at noon, where a banquet was given to over 1,000 guests, including members of the diplomatic corps and Government officers and officials. The military review was held as usual at Yoyogi.
- Dr. Kusama, the Chief of the Department of Bacteriology of the Kitazato Laboratory, succeeded in discovering a new pathogene of eruptive typhus after elaborate research for 10 years. He lectured on the subject to university professors and other scholars in the hall of the laboratory.
- It is reported that a great eruption occurred in the sea bottom near Hatoma Island. The sea was seen boiling furiously. It was muddy, and the surface was strewn with pumice stone.
1924.11.03 — Grand military manoeuvres were held for three days from to-day.
1924.11.08 — Air manoeuvres were held for the first time in Japan by the Naval Flying Corps at Kasumigaura.
1924.11.10 — A "thrift week" was started to-day throughout the country under the auspices of the Central Thrift Encouragement Commission, holding lectures and cinematograph shows, distributing posters and circulars and taking other means on a large scale to encourage thrift and savings.
1924.11.11
- It was decided to convoke the 50th session of the Imperial Diet on December 24, as announced in the Official Gazette to-day.
- M. Karakhan rejected all the proposals of Japan at the Japanese-Russian Conference. The Japanese Minister, Mr. Yoshizawa, consequently asked the Tokyo Government for final directions as to whether to terminate the negotiations or not.
1924.11.14 — Fire in Iriya-machi, Shitaya, Tokyo, destroyed about 180 houses. Land of an area of about 100,000 tsubo, on the right bank of the Shinano River, at Nishi-Kanbara-gori, Niigata Prefecture, slipped with a great noise.
1924.11.15
- A plan is being drafted by the Osaka Municipality for holding a big exhibition in the city in the spring of 1929. The fair will be on an international scale and will occupy an area of 10,000,000 square metres in the suburbs of Osaka. The Municipal Assembly has been asked to approve the cost of investigations concerning the scheme.
- The Osaka Hotel was destroyed by fire on the 13th. The loss is estimated at 1,000,000 yen, of which 360,000 yen is covered by insurance.
1924.11.17 — It has been informally decided that H. I. H. Prince Chichibu, a younger brother of the Prince Regent, will take a trip abroad, leaving Japan in June next. He will visit at first England and will stay there for about two years, and in the interval he will visit France, Germany and other countries. It will be his principal object to see the relations between the rulers and the ruled in Europe. He will take the incognito of a Marquis throughout his visit abroad. Mr. Edgar A. Bancroft, the new American Ambassador to Japan, arrived to-day.
1924.11.18 — A scheme is under progress to relieve the Koreans in Manchuria, who are unable to support themselves and join bands of ruffians simply for bread, by giving them sufficient work to lead a proper life. They are to be employed on farms in Kirin by a certain influential Chinese in North Manchuria. The plan is being given substantial support by the Japanese Government and Korean Government General.
1924.11.19 — The Home Department intends starting health insurance. It asked for an appropriation for carrying out the project in the next fiscal year but the cabinet has decided to put off the undertaking to the fiscal year 1926-1927, under the retrenchment policy.
1924.11.20 — The Finance Department has made public the next fiscal year's revenue and expenditure, as adopted at the Cabinet meeting on the 19th, to be 1,445,850,000 yen revenue, including 1,291,670,000 yen ordinary revenue and 154,180,000 yen extraordinary revenue, and 1,533,300,000 yen expenditure, consisting of 1,009,210,000 yen ordinary expenditure and 524,090,000 yen extraordinary expenditure, there being a shortage of 87,450,000 yen not covered by revenue.
1924.11.21 — The Education Department has forwarded to Italy a part of the Japanese exhibits at the Religious Propaganda Exhibition to be held for a year at Rome from the end of December. Much more will be forwarded towards the beginning of December. The exhibits will number about 350, not a few of which are interesting photographs, etc.
1924.11.22 — The 6th meeting of the Far Eastern Tropical Medical Society will be held in Tokyo on October 18, 1925. The arrangement committee met on the 20th. Over 10 countries will be represented at the meeting: Australia, British-India, North Borneo, Ceylon, China, Cuba, French-Indo-China, Macao, Dutch-East Indies, Sumatra, Philippines, Siam, Straits Settlements, Malay States, the United States and Japan. The invitations will be sent to these countries early in January next.
1924.11.23 — Music broadcast by the K. G. O. Wireless Station, San Francisco, for a few hours from 6 p.m. on the 22nd was heard at the Electric Experimental Station of the Communications Department at Osaki in the suburbs of Tokyo. This is the first American music transmitted to Japan over radio-telephony. The Siamese Crown Prince arrived at Yokohama by the Taiyo-Maru at noon on the 22nd, accompanied by his consort and suite. The Prince told the pressmen that he would not be able to stay long in Japan and wishes to come again in the spring to view the natural beauties of this country. An old tofu-ya (bean-curd) dealer in Fukushima picked up a piece of stone 25 years ago. It was taken to the Tokyo Imperial University for examination and was found by a certain English expert, who happened to be in Japan, to be worth 1,700,000 yen. While seeking a buyer secretly, the man died in November, 1923. A legal dispute occurred over the ownership of the treasure among the relatives of the deceased, and it was settled amicably by the arrangement that the stone will be held in custody by the lawyer. It is like a piece of soap in size.
1924.11.26
- The Imperial Academy has been asked to accept 50,000 yen as a scholarship fund, by Mr. Henry Robinson on behalf of the late Dr. Mendenhall of America, his friend, in compliance with his will. The Academy is considering whether to accept or not. Dr. Mendenhall was a teacher of some leading mathematicians of Japan.
- The Imperial Household Department is reported to have been informally notified by the Italian Embassy that the Crown Prince of Italy will visit Japan in April next by way of returning the visit to Italy by the Prince Imperial of Japan some years ago. The Kasumigaseki Palace will be occupied by the Prince of Piedmont during his stay in Tokyo, and the necessary arrangements will be completed by the end of March next.
- As wireless telephone communication will be officially permitted within 10 days, Mr. Iwahara and other directors of the Tokyo Hosokyoku, just established with a capital of 300,000 yen, met to-day and considered the question.
- It seems to be the official desire to promote the Japanese Legation in China to an Embassy, within this year, as the Japanese Government is reported to be communicating about it with the English, American and other Governments desiring to carry out the plan ahead of others. The Foreign Office has obtained the approval of the Finance Department for the necessary cost.
- The Institute of Physical Education of the Department of Education, erected recently at Yoyohata in the suburbs of Tokyo, is claimed to be unequalled in the world, practically and scientifically. Under Dr. Kita, its President, the details of its operations have just been drafted.
1924.12.02
- The Yokohama Municipal plan to greatly extend the harbour of Yokohama is being materialized. The Municipal authorities have been considering means to realize it without any additional burden on the Municipal finances, and have found the plan to reclaim the foreshore of Yokohama best for the purpose. The reclaimed ground will extend over 1,100,000 tsubo as far as the mouth of the Tsurumi River, as the basis of the extended Yokohama harbour, in which 53 steamers of 15,000 tons may berth along quays.
- Mr. H. Shimoi who has been teaching in the Oriental Languages School, at Naples for the past ten years, left Marseilles for Japan on November 2nd, accompanied by his family.
1924.12.03 — An air monster, a monohydroplane for bombarding and scouting, purchased recently from Germany by the Kawasaki Shipbuilding Yard, was to visit the Kasumigaura Naval Aerodrome to-day, leaving Kobe at 8 a.m. and flying over the Enshunada and Beshu, with a German engineer as a pilot. She has a speed of 110 miles with a cruising speed of 90 miles per hour.
1924.12.05 — The official consideration of the proposed labour union law is not progressing satisfactorily, and doubt is even held as to the possibility of the bill being presented to the next session of the Imperial Diet.
1924.12.06 — An official investigation gives the yearly consumption of rice in Japan as 56,890,278 koku, which works out at 1.71 koku per capita.
1924.12.07 — On the 6th, a representative of the Dutch Fokker Aeroplane Co. visited a Japanese air officer in Osaka to seek an understanding regarding the intended round-the-world trip by Portuguese Naval officers in the spring of next year. Two hydroplanes will leave the base of the Portuguese Naval Flying Corps in April and take a westward course. It is intended to cover the world in four months as against the half year, which was taken by the American round-the-world flyers this year.
1924.12.09 — The Army Department is said to have decided to abolish four divisions at the end of May next. These divisions will be the 13th (Takata), 15th (Toyohashi), 17th (Okayama) and 18th (Kurume) involving 16 infantry regiments, 4 cavalry regiments, 4 artillery regiments, 4 engineering battalions and 4 transport battalions.
1924.12.10 — The draft Universal Suffrage Law was considered at the Cabinet conference on the 9th. It was mainly approved, although the final decision was not arrived at.
1924.12.11 — The Communications Department obtained the Cabinet's approval of raising the registration fee of letters from 7 sen to 10 sen and to apply the sum of 1,460,000 yen produced thereby to improving the treatment of its employees.
1924.12.12 — The draft Universal Suffrage Law, at to-day's Cabinet conference, after careful consideration of the amended part of the draft, was at last adopted.
1924.12.13 — The Kwanto, a Naval special service boat, stranded off the coast of Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on the 12th.
1924.12.14 — In the fatal accident to the Kwanto, 98 men are missing, while 116 men were rescued. Captain Torino was taken into a lifeboat and arrived at Maizuru with other survivors on the evening of the 13th.
1924.12.15 — The ceremony of opening the Japan-France Association was held on the 14th, between H. I. H. Prince Kan-in, the Honorary President, of the Japan-France Society, Cabinet Ministers and many other distinguished personages were present.
1924.12.16 — The engagement of Miss Kikuko Sakai, the younger sister of Count T. Sakai, with Lieutenant-Colonel Marquis Mayeda has been announced. She is a tennis enthusiast and is noted for her beauty. The first sanatorium on a plateau in Japan is projected at Ochiai-muta, Suwa-gori, Shinshu, where Mr. S. Yonezawa and other chief residents are taking interest in it as a semi-public enterprise under the direction of Professor Uyematsu of the Tokyo Medical College. The sanatorium will be put up by June, 1926, with a capital of 1,000,000 yen. It is being planned after the model of similar establishments in Italy and Switzerland. The Japan Aerial Navigation Co. plans starting a regular daily aerial passenger and mail service between Osaka and Fukuoka from April 1, 1925, and has applied for permission to the Government. At first, 4 hydroplanes will be used, and 6 will be added by the end of August.
1924.12.17 — It is understood that the Government has at last decided to promote the Japanese Legation at Peking to an Embassy in April. Mr. Yoshizawa, the present Minister, will probably be the first Ambassador. The highest priced land in Tokyo is in a section lying in the neighbourhood of the first Mutual Building, Kyobashi, Tokyo, where it is estimated at 1,500-1,700 yen per tsubo. The lowest priced land in the capital is at Senda-machi, Honjo, where it is 62 yen per tsubo.
1924.12.19 — Mr. T. Matsudaira, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been appointed Japanese Ambassador at Washington, and on the 18th, the installation ceremony took place at the Akasaka Palace. The Choshi Meteorological Station reports the total number of earthquakes this year as 1,067.
1924.12.20 — 500 articles will be sent from Japan to the International Decorative Art Exhibition to be held at Paris in April next.
1924.12.21 — One labour deputy and two advisors will be appointed to represent Japan at the 7th International Conference from among candidates recommended by the six large Chambers of Commerce, by February 15. At an extraordinary Cabinet conference held on the 20th, it was decided to keep up the existence of the Port Arthur Engineering College. Dr. S. Kobayashi of the Korean Government Hospital, a student of flies, has announced his discovery that the fly absolutely cannot grow in excrement and dirt more than 3½ inches from the surface.
1924.12.23 — A big society to promote Japanese and Russian friendship is reported as privately in course of formation to comprise about 8,000 noted politicians, business men and others. A memorandum was exchanged between the projectors and the Soviet Government as to friendly relations between the two countries. As a first step to cultivate friendship between the two countries, the society will hold an exhibition of Japanese pictures at Moscow in September next. The society has as its principal purposes the encouragement of colonization, business enterprises and trade. It has also the plan to erect a Japanese-Russian Hall. Mr. C. Takeuchi, proprietor of leper hospitals, is said to have discovered a medicine, which is a herb essence. He speaks of its great efficacy, as he has injected it into 1,000 patients with successful results.
1924.12.24 — The population of Japan on October 1, 1924 is estimated by the Statistics Bureau of the Cabinet at 59,138,900, including 29,622,200 males and 29,516,700 females. England will hold an international conference in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the opening of railways in the world, in London in June next, and has recently requested Japan to send a number of railwaymen as deputies. The 50th session of the Imperial Diet was convoked to-day.
1924.12.25 — The Government has a plan under consideration to form a food stuff investigation committee as a means to solve the burning question of food by finding a fundamental policy. The committee will be formed of producers, consumers and importers. On October 1st, the population of Osaka Prefecture stood at 2,996,500, according to a census taken by the Statistics Bureau. Of this number, 1,561,600 were males and 1,434,900 females. Osaka city had a population of 1,431,500, of which 773,300 were males and 658,200 females.
1924.12.26 — The opening ceremony of the Imperial Diet was held in the House of Peers at 11 a.m. to-day in the presence of the Prince Regent.
1924.12.28 — At 1:30 p.m. on the 27th, powder exploded, while it was being carried from the Otaru waterfront to Temiya Station, with the result that a few small boats were sunk, nearly all godowns at the station collapsed, 120 persons were killed and 300 persons were wounded. Fires occurred in several places on the waterfront. The well-known library of the late Lafcadio Hearn will be opened to the public next year. Some years ago, it passed into the possession of the Toyama High School, which has decided to erect a building for it early next year.
1925.01.02 — The Tokyo Asahi announces its plan to carry out a grand flight to Europe this spring, with the support of the Aviation Bureau and the Military and Naval Aviation Offices. Tomioka Tessai, a leading artist of the nanga school in Kyoto, died on December 31 at the age of 89.
1925.01.03 — T. I. M. the Emperor and Empress will celebrate their silver wedding this year.
1925.01.05 — The engagement has been announced of H. I. H. Prince Kuni Jr. and Princess Tomoko, the third daughter of H. I. H. Prince Fushimi, Sr. On October 1, 1925, a national census will be taken, for which 250,000 yen has been earmarked in this fiscal year's Budget.
1925.01.07 — The New Year's parade of the fire brigades was held to-day in front of the Imperial Palace.
1925.01.08 — Mr. Tamotsu Murata, who rendered valuable services to the fisheries of Japan, died on the 7th at the age of 84. The New Year's military parade was held to-day in the presence of the Prince Regent, who reviewed the troops.
1925.01.09 — Prince George, the fourth son of the King of England, is coming to Japan in the spring on board the Hawkins, the flagship of the British Oriental fleet. He will meet the Prince Regent, with whom he became acquainted when the latter visited England.
1925.01.10 — Rev. M. Uyemura, of the Fujimi-cho Church, Tokyo, an elder of the Japanese Christian world, died of apoplexy on the 8th. He was 69 years of age.
1925.01.11 — It snowed in Tokyo to-day. The snow fell to the depth of 1.3 sun, the first deep snow of the year.
1925.01.12 — Abbot Otani Koyen of the East Hongwan Temple intends travelling in Europe and America, accompanied by his third daughter Tadako. In an interview with a press representative, he signified his wish to meet men in the political and economic centres in America and to try to moderate the anti-Japanese sentiment there.
1925.01.13 — It is proposed in Tokyo to hold a great exhibition in May next in commemoration of the silver wedding of T. I. M. the Emperor and Empress and of the resuscitation of the capital, under the auspices of the Government and the Municipal authorities.
1925.01.14 — St. Luke's Hospital, Tsukiji, Tokyo, took fire at 2:05 p.m. on the 13th. Fanned by a strong northerly wind, the flames threatened to spread to all the buildings, but they were fortunately put out in thirty minutes, after destroying the main building entirely and other buildings in part, thanks to the efforts of the fire brigades, helped by soldiers, students and others.
1925.01.15 — Mr. K. Yamamoto of Osaka and Mr. K. Akita of Kyoto made an ascent of Mount Fuji on the 4th and came back to Osaka on the 6th. It is stated by Mr. Yamamoto that at the summit, the temperature was 12° below zero. The first communistic industrial village in Japan is making its appearance in Haneda-mura in the suburbs of Tokyo, where 22 medical instrument and other special glassware manufacturers, whose works were destroyed by the conflagration after the earthquake, intend building their factories there, which will be operated for the joint account of the villagers. The Government is interested in the attempt and has decided to loan 500,000 yen for capital out of the commercial and industrial resuscitation fund.
1925 (299 entries)
1925.01.16 — The Tokyo Imperial University lost many buildings and much equipment, never to be replaced, in the earthquake. Above all, the destruction of its library of 700,000 books aroused the world's sympathy, and about 250,000 books have so far been presented to it by foreign Governments, educational institutions and individuals, besides the Japanese. Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., of New York has contributed 4,000,000 yen towards the cost of building the University library and the University has gratefully accepted the offer. The recent census taken in Yokohama gives its population as 389,700, including 207,000 men and 182,700 women.
1925.01.17
- Returns of the Tokyo Municipal Social Bureau show that in August, 1924, the total number of working women in Japan amounted to something like 3,600,000, about 13 per cent of the total population of women in the country, including 1,300,000 farmers, 1,000,000 miners, 400,000 mental workers and 400,000 business women.
- The first foreign school has been established in Yokohama since the earthquake at the instance of some foreign Consuls. It is named the Yokohama International School.
- Professor Narusawa of the Hamamatsu Normal School is reported to have invented a silencer for airplane motors, and to have got a patent for it, after hard toil and application for ten years.
1925.01.18 — The Military Artillery and Engineering School was destroyed by fire to-day at about 1 a.m.
1925.01.19 — A purely Japanese house of present day style is to be erected in the grounds of the International Decorative Fine Arts Exhibition to be held in Paris from April 15th, in which Japanese exhibits are to be properly arranged.
1925.01.20 — The building of the widest Japanese national road is nearly completed in Kanagawa Prefecture. It is about 60 feet in width.
1925.01.22 — Death is reported of Mr. S. Kubota, the President of the Oriental Colonization Co. Ltd., at 4:15 a.m. to-day. A man of exceptional ability, he was the Mayor of Yokohama before he took the presidency of the above company. He was a man of bright future. The Metropolitan Police Office has given out a table showing the principal causes of fires occurring in Tokyo in the past three years. According to it, the fusing of electric wires stands at the head of the list, being followed by chimney sparks, cigarette stubs, incendiarism and oil in the order named.
1925.01.23 — The Asuka-Maru, the first heavy oil motor boat of the 10,000 ton class, will arrive at Yokohama shortly from Scotland to the order of the N. Y. K. She is of the up-to-date system with 8 motors of 6 cylinders, 4,000 H. P. Her sistership Atago-Maru is being built. The much-talked-of Japanese-Russian Convention was at last signed at Peking at 2 a.m. on the 21st. It is projected officially to build a large old people's home at a cost of about 4,000,000 yen at Tsurumi, near Yokohama.
1925.01.24 — Post office insurance shows a marked increase. At the beginning of this year, it stood at 6,109,487, representing the value of 764,697,074 yen, an increase of 1,274,587 policies and 189,626,635 yen in value over the same date, 1924. The authorities are intent upon increasing the total value to 1,000,000,000 yen by October, 1926, the tenth anniversary of the creation of the system.
1925.01.25 — It has been arranged between the Russo-Japanese Mutual Aid Society and the Russian Government to hold fine arts exhibition in Moscow this year and in Tokyo, in May, next year, about 150 pictures and engravings by first rate Japanese artists being sent to Russia and a number of those by prominent contemporary Russian artists to Tokyo. The projectors hope to cultivate friendship between the two countries, taking advantage of the resumption of their diplomatic relations. Kan-o Fujima, one of the greatest dancers in Japan, died at the age of 86 on the 23rd. Matsumoto Koshiro, one of the most famous actors in Japan, is his adopted son.
1925.01.26 — A fire broke out at Senju, near Tokyo at 1:50 a.m. on the 25th. A gale prevailing, the flames soon spread in all directions. It was brought under control at 4:30 a.m. after destroying 121 houses. The total loss is estimated at about one million yen.
1925.01.27 — The Home Department has decided to build a typical sanitary village after a model in America, the cost being estimated at about 200,000 yen, to be defrayed over five consecutive years.
1925.01.28
- A big band-stand is being erected in Asakusa Park, Tokyo at a cost of 60,000 yen. The first concert will be held in the spring of next year.
- The European and Asiatic transcontinental connection via Siberia is being re-opened in March next as a result of the Russo-Japanese Convention. Preparations are being made by the railway authorities here for facilitating foreign visitors by that route, most of whom will land at Shimonoseki via Manchuria.
- The bridges destroyed by the earthquake fire have been rebuilt more quickly than other works of reconstruction. It is said that the Nihom-bashi and the Kyo-bashi will be left in their present condition with the parapets damaged to commemorate the catastrophe and as a reminder in the centre of the Metropolis.
1925.01.29 — The text of the new Japanese-Russian treaty was carried to Tokyo by Mr. Iijima, a diplomatic probationer, from Peking, at 12:15 p.m. on the 28th. It is in English and covers about 30 pages.
1925.01.30 — The Foreign Office and the Russo-Japanese Association are studying means for emigration to Siberia, dealing with the question of the overpopulation of Japan, as an outcome of the Russo-Japanese entente. The Russians and Chinese are not suitable for the cultivation of Siberia, for they cannot work in water, while the land easily may be made into good paddy fields, with an abundant supply of water. For this, the Japanese are thought to be best suited.
1925.01.31 — It snowed on the 30th. The snow fell to a depth of about a foot, breaking the record for the past forty years for that date.
1925.02.01 — This morning the temperature was the lowest experienced in the past several years, registering 8.6° below zero in Tokyo.
1925.02.02 — It has been decided to preserve the Mikasa in the harbour of Yokosuka. The Japan Women Pharmacists' Association met on the 1st and discussed the proposal to memorialize the Government for controlling by law the selling of dry milk, on the ground that some dry milk in the market is so bad and has so little nutritive value that it is believed to be partly responsible for the increased death rate of infants.
1925.02.04 — The Koreya-Maru struck her bow against the end of No. 6 quay of the Yokohama Customs at 1:30 p.m. on the 3rd while she was being brought alongside with the result that the bow was bent in over an area of 6 feet by 20 feet. The damage is estimated at about 150,000 yen and it will take about a month to repair it. The passengers and cargo were transferred to other steamers. Mr. Matsudaira, the new Japanese Ambassador at Washington, who was booked by the steamer, has had to put off his departure.
1925.02.05 — Mr. S. Yokota, the Minister of Justice, died at 5:55 p.m. on the 4th. He took cold at the end of January. A man of strong will, the deceased was apprenticed to a dry-goods store in his boyhood in Ashikaga, his native place. Later, he came to Tokyo with the ambitious desire to study, and attended a law school while he acted as a newsboy early in the morning. Soon, he got employment in the office of Mr. Toru Hoshi, an influential member of the Liberal Party, which was the ladder to his success. He gradually rose to prominence as a politician and became a leading member of the Seiyu-kai, until he took the portfolio of Minister of Justice. Mr. Takahashi, the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, was appointed the interim Minister of Justice, in succession to Mr. Yokota. The number of private aviators in Japan is increasing yearly and amounts at present to 161, of which about 50 are actually engaged in regular aviation, in the inspection of machines and in the training of aviators, the remainder being idle without regular work to do.
1925.02.06 — It is announced that the Japanese-Russian mail service has been re-established.
1925.02.07 — Messrs. Y. Muto, G. Masuda and S. Yoshiuye, M. Ps., have introduced in the Diet a resolution in favour of the prompt lifting of the export ban on gold.
1925.02.08 — The funeral of the late Mr. S. Yokota, the Minister of Justice, was held to-day at the Aoyama Cemetery. It was attended by about 3,000 mourners, including the Cabinet ministers and other dignitaries.
1925.02.10 — The scrapped warship Tosa was sunk off the Mizunokoshima Light House at 7 a.m. on the 9th.
1925.02.11 — It has been decided to erect a public hall in Hibiya Park at a cost of 3,000,000 yen. It will begin to be built this autumn and will be completed in the summer of 1927. It will cover an area of 880 tsubo. Its basement will be used as a cinematograph-hall, a swimming bath and a restaurant under Municipal management, its first floor will be rented to firms as show-rooms and its second floor will be used as a public hall, capable of accommodating 2,500 men.
1925.02.13 — Japan in the winter is being photographed by the Imperial Government Railway for the purpose of sending the films to the principal European and American railways and steamship companies and attracting foreign tourists to this country. The pictures represent winter views of Mount Fuji, other mountains, lakes, skiing, snow-ploughing on railway lines, etc. Mr. Bancroft, the new American Ambassador, worshipped at the Meiji Shrine yesterday, accompanied by an interpreter. Led into the inner shrine, by the Shinto priests, he stood uncovered in front of it, and bowed gravely just as the Japanese do, apparently praying in silence for a while. He told a newspaper man that he was glad to worship at the great shrine as a representative of the United States on the Kigensetsu (the Anniversary of the Accession of the Emperor Jimmu).
1925.02.16 — The ex-Emperor of China, who lives a lonely life in a humble house beside the Japanese Legation, Peking under the care of the Japanese Minister, expresses the desire to visit Japan and to see the Prince Regent.
1925.02.17 — The Imperial Household Department has decided to purchase 15 Imperial and other state carriages from England, for use in Imperial processions of the first order, as most of the gilded carriages formerly in use were destroyed in the earthquake and automobiles only have been employed in Imperial cortèges since then. The total cost of the carriages is estimated at 300,000 yen.
1925.02.18 — The battleship Kaga will be remodelled into a seaplane tender of up-to-date type by the summer of 1926 at the latest. She will be fitted with equipment designed on the basis of practical knowledge.
1925.02.19 — Mr. W. Seki, the Parliamentary Undersecretary of War, died of illness on the 18th. He rose from a school teacher and studied in universities in America, receiving the degree of M. A.
1925.02.20 — The Privy Council on the 20th passed the universal suffrage law.
1925.02.21 — Viscount Makino was chosen the Keeper of the Privy Seal in succession to Viscount Hirata, and he will be succeeded by Dr. T. Ikki as the Minister of the Imperial Household.
1925.02.23 — The cause of the explosion of No. 3 SS Naval airship on March 15th has been inquired into carefully by a committee for the past year, and Dr. Terada, a member of the committee, has discovered it to have been a transmitted electric wave.
1925.02.24 — The Universal Suffrage Bill was introduced in the Lower House on the 21st.
1925.02.25 — The Statistical Section of the Tokyo Municipality has given out returns of the earthquake in September, 1923. According to them, the total losses are estimated at 5,500,000,000 yen, of which 3,662,160,000 yen, or 66 per cent, belongs to Tokyo and the rest Yokohama and other districts. The total number of the killed or wounded in the catastrophe amounted to 156,693, nearly equal to the total number of the killed and wounded in the Japan-Russian War. Of the above losses of property, merchandise amounted to 2,030,090,000 yen, buildings to 1,874,710,000 yen, household furniture and utensils to 869,460,000 yen and articles in storage to 106,630,000 yen.
1925.02.26 — Dr. Sata of the Tokyo Tubercular Laboratory, Osaka has published a report of the study of the existence of tubercular bacilli in the open air, detailing how their survival varies by month and temperature of direct sunlight.
1925.02.27 — The basic treaty between Japan and Russia was approved by the Privy Council on the 25th, when the Cabinet met and held the last conference on the question. Later, the Premier repaired to the Palace and obtained Imperial sanction to ratify the treaty.
1925.02.28 — A memorial proposing the abolition of the system of licensed prostitution was discussed by a committee of the Lower House on the 27th. Mr. Kataoka, the Parliamentary Undersecretary of Home Affairs, opposed the proposal, stating that the Government has no intention to restrict or abolish the system. The memorial was rejected.
1925.03.01 — Mr. B. Suzuki, the leader of the Japan Labour Federation, has been chosen the first candidate as deputy of labourers at the 7th International Labour Conference to be held at Geneva in May next.
1925.03.02 — Mr. K. Koike, the President of the Tokyo Gas Works and the Koike Bank, Ltd., died of lymphadenitis of an acute nature on March 1st. His heir is at Oxford University.
1925.03.03
- The Universal Suffrage Bill passed the Lower House on the 2nd.
- Professor Mukoyama of the Osaka Higher Technical School will go to Europe and America this spring to prosecute his studies regarding his peculiar method of artificial silk manufacturing, in which he has been interested for the past ten years, the only student of the subject in Japan.
1925.03.04
- The House of Representatives has passed a resolution expressing congratulations on the recovery of friendship between Japan and Russia.
- Marquis Kuni came back from England on the 3rd by the Kashima-Maru. He went there in May, 1924 and studied principally military science and languages.
1925.03.05
- The Cabinet has decided to introduce a bill concerning the law of the Japan Wireless Telegraph Company. The bill provides for the establishment of the company with a capital of 20,000,000 yen for the purpose of making equipment for wireless telegraphy and accessories for use by the Government.
- General Iguchi on the second reserved list died on the 4th at the age of 71, with the relapse of kidney-disease. In the war with Russia, he distinguished himself as a staff officer attached to the general headquarters of the Manchurian army.
1925.03.07 — No through railway service between Japan and European Russia will be resumed as a result of the new Russo-Japanese entente until about September next, for there is much to be arranged between the railways concerned.
1925.03.09 — The Federation of Athletic Sports of All Japan has been organized, its foundation meeting having been held in Tokyo on the 8th and Mr. R. Hiranuma, M. P., being selected the Managing Director.
1925.03.10
- Arrangements have been concluded for starting work on the first underground line between Uyeno and Tokyo of the Tokyo Underground Railway Co., under the control of Okura & Co. early in April. The cost of construction is estimated at 6,000,000 yen for the distance of 1.6 miles between the two places and it will take about two years to complete the work. This is to be the first underground railway service in Japan.
- The Aviation Bureau of the Department of Communications has decided to start a regular air mail service between Tokyo and Osaka in this fiscal year, accomplishing the project long pending in the Japanese aerial and communications world.
1925.03.11
- The Live-Stock Exhibition has been opened at Uyeno, Tokyo. It will be held from March 10 to May 18.
- Countess Mutsu, accompanied by her son, is sailing for England, her native country. She has been teaching foreign languages to H. I. H. Prince Chichibu and will act as his guide in England, which he is to visit shortly.
1925.03.12 — The silver wedding of T. I. M. the Emperor and Empress has been officially announced to be held on May 10.
1925.03.13 — The Tokyo Municipal Statistical Bureau has published returns concerning suicide. It is shown by them that during 1924, there were 1,220 suicides in Tokyo, consisting of 664 men and 556 women. The latter is 45.57 per cent of the total, much greater than in Europe and America. Suicides were committed mostly in May and least in February. The most popular methods were the taking of rat-poison, followed by hanging, drowning, cutting by edged-tools, jumping in front of trains and taking poison in the order named. The suicides were mostly of 21-30 years of age in both sexes. Those afflicted with incurable diseases form most of the suicides, and mental derangement, family discord and misfortune were other reasons.
1925.03.14 — The Imperial Aviation Association has offered to the Tokyo Asahi 50,000 yen as prizes to the aviators participating in the paper's undertaking of a flight to Europe.
1925.03.15 — The total military expenditure defrayed by Japan during the ten years since the Tsingtau Battle reached something like 900,000,000 yen.
1925.03.16 — The anniversary of the death of Julius Caesar was celebrated on March 15th in the green-room of the Kabuki Theatre, where "Julius Caesar" was played. It was attended by the Italian Ambassador and the Italian Embassy staff. Matsumoto Koshiro represented Caesar, Ichikawa Sadanji, Antony; and Ichikawa Sumizo, Brutus. The ceremony was held before a bust of Caesar.
1925.03.17 — The Russian Embassy buildings in Tokyo, which have been unoccupied since Mr. Kroupensky, the last Ambassador of the Russian Empire, quitted them about five years ago, were transferred to-day by the Tokyo Prefectural Office to Secretaries of Embassy appointed by the Soviet Government, who preceded the arrival of the new Ambassador.
1925.03.18 — An Atami despatch states that General Miura, a veteran statesman, who was in a critical condition on the 16th, is rallying miraculously.
1925.03.21 — The project is being considered by the Governor and people of Yamanashi Prefecture to develop the northern part of Mt. Fuji's base for a pleasure resort and villas. Governor Homma met 10 prominent business men in Tokyo on the 20th and talked over the scheme, which is taking concrete form.
1925.03.22 — It is understood that this summer the Prince Regent will visit Saghalien, where he will go by warship, sailing from Yokosuka, at the beginning of August. The journey will be about two weeks.
1925.03.23 — It has been decided by the Tokyo Municipal Social Educational Section to establish a night school for labourers, giving them education for citizenship and social training. There will be three courses, preparatory, main and post-graduate. In the main course, lessons will be given in sociological ethics, jurisprudence, politics, economics, psychology, sociology, philosophy, foreign literature, astronomy, physiography, social politics and English. Men and women labourers not younger than 18, who can understand the lessons in the preparatory course, will be admitted. This is the first school of the kind as a Municipal enterprise in this country.
1925.03.24 — It is reported from Dairen that Dr. Omi and two other physicians of the Dairen Hospital, Manchuria have succeeded after two years' experiments in finding that man without gastric juice can keep in health and can work as usual, digesting completely ordinarily cooked grain, beef, fish, etc. and absorbing nutrition. This is a new record in the world's medical science. The same physicians have also succeeded in finding a process of curing cancer of the stomach by a major operation, solving one of the most difficult medical questions. These discoveries will be announced by the physicians at a national meeting of medical men to be held shortly at the Fukuoka Medical College.
1925.03.25 — Another medical discovery is regarding pleurisy. This stands at the head of military disease problems. The key has now been found for the solution of this great question by Surgeon-Captain Kamibayashi, whose researches for the prevention of the disease have met with recognition by the Medical Department of the Tokyo Imperial University, which has decided to confer a degree on him.
1925.03.27 — Viscount Goto and his suite left Tokyo for Harbin on the evening of the 26th amidst the cheers of a crowd assembled at Tokyo Station. The Viscount will stay about five days in Harbin and come back to Tokyo about April 17th.
1925.03.28 — As a result of the readjustment of armaments, it has been finally decided to abolish the 13th (Takata), 15th (Toyohashi), 17th (Okayama) and 18th (Kurume) Divisions.
1925.03.29 — The reconstruction of the Yokohama harbour work, totally wrecked by the great earthquake, has been completed, and was celebrated on a large scale on the 28th, when all the ships in the harbour were fully dressed and fireworks were sent up from the morning. The celebration at the hatoba was attended by thousands of notables, including Princesses of the Blood. The reconstruction cost 10,000,000 yen, defrayed by the Home Department, under the supervision of Dr. Aki.
1925.03.30 — After stormy debates the Manhood Suffrage Bill has at last passed both houses of the Diet.
1925.03.31
- The Department of Agriculture and Commerce has been divided into the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Department of Commerce and Industry, with the approval of the Diet. The new organization will come into force on April 1st.
- Mr. T. Ichiki has been appointed the Minister of the Imperial Household and Count Makino the Keeper of the Privy Seal. The installation ceremony was held in the Palace on the 30th.
- The railway authorities have decided to stop all trains, except the special expresses, at Shimbashi Station from the summer in accordance with the request of a society for the welfare of the Ginza.
1925.04.01
- A young school clerk in Korea, Tatsuji Oshimi, aged 34, made desperate by his dismissal went out in a small boat with his wife and four children to the offing, where they threw themselves into the sea. The boat, which drifted ashore, contained two pairs of clogs and two pairs of small rubber shoes. A letter left behind in the house expressed the wish to go to the resting place of the father.
- On the 31st, the closing ceremony of the Diet was held after dealing with many epoch-making bills, covering administrative and financial readjustment, the reformation of military administration, the change in the upper house system and manhood suffrage.
1925.04.02
- H. M. the Emperor will bestow wooden cups on persons of not less than 90 years of age throughout Japan and her territories in commemoration of his silver wedding on May 10th. The recipients of the cups are estimated to total about 26,000.
- On April 1st Mr. K. Takahashi was appointed ad interim Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.
- A French economic mission sent with the support of the French Government to inspect tradal relations between Japan and France arrived by a French mail steamer at Yokohama on the 1st. The same steamer carried also the first Brazilian minister accredited to Japan.
1925.04.03
- The military authorities are considering a further reformation of the military administration and means for national mobilization. The greatest lesson learned from the World War was the progress of arms and national mobilization, in both of which Japan is behind the Western powers.
- Joint Grand Naval and Military manoeuvres will be held in the middle of October in Ise Bay and along the Tokaido. A big combined fleet under Admiral Yamashita, the Chief of the Naval General Staff, and the Third Division under General Inouye, will participate in the manoeuvres.
- The Army is effecting the independence of the aviation corps on May 1st next as a solution of a long standing question, by which the aerial fighting force in this country will be improved completely from its present inferior position compared with those of other powers.
1925.04.04
- On the 3rd inst., Mr. Takahashi, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and of Commerce and Industry, visited the Premier Viscount Kato, to whom he stated his desire to resign the leadership of the Seiyu-kai and his portfolios as nearly all important questions, which he had supported in the past, had been satisfactorily solved.
- After this interview, Mr. Takahashi met Mr. Inukai, the Minister of Communications, to whom he stated his desire.
1925.04.05 — The Government has decided to thoroughly readjust the national and local taxes as declared in the Diet, and will shortly appoint an investigation committee. There are said to be two opinions held among the financial authorities, one of which is to fundamentally reform the taxation system by localizing the land and business taxes and creating the property tax as a national tax in their place, while the other opinion is for improving the present methods of taxation and for creating a capital tax, the land and business taxes to be reduced.
1925.04.06 — Mr. Takahashi has signified his intention to recommend General Baron Tanaka to be Seiyukai president believing that the Baron is an able statesman of wide knowledge and good administrative capacity. This recommendation has been approved at a recent meeting of the Seiyu Party's management.
1925.04.08
- In connection with the resuscitation of Yokohama, no concrete plans have been decided on as yet for inducing foreigners to come to Yokohama and settle there. First of all, hotels and facilities for the re-establishment of business must be provided for. There are already projects for the object under consideration, including the building of a theater with a capital of about 500,000 yen to be invested in by foreign and Japanese subscribers.
- At a regular Cabinet meeting held on the 7th, the resignation of Mr. Takahashi was discussed. The Cabinet members all regretted it, but had to admit it as unavoidable in the existing circumstances.
- The Government is taking a national census on October 1st, five years since the previous census in 1920. This census will have a particular significance, as the new voters' register will be prepared on its basis, necessitated by the advent of manhood suffrage. At the same time, unemployment will be investigated among the labouring and intellectual classes.
- H. I. H. Prince Chichibu is busy preparing for his foreign tour which will start at the end of May, when he will sail from Yokohama by the Hakozaki-Maru.
1925.04.09 — The Akagi, a naval tender, will be launched at Kure on the 22nd. She will have a displacement of about 25,000 tons and is the most powerful of her type of ship in the world.
1925.04.10 — On the 9th, the ceremony of promoting the peerage rank of Viscount Makino, former Minister of the Imperial Household and now Keeper of the Privy Seal, and Admiral Baron Saito, the Governor of Korea, was held in the presence of the Prince Regent in recognition of their meritorious services to the state. The former became a Count and the latter a Viscount.
1925.04.16 — There has been a great change in the personnel of high Naval officers. Admiral K. Suzuki, High Military Councillor, was appointed Chief of the Naval Staff Office, Admiral G. Yamashita, the Chief of the Naval Staff Office, a High Military Councillor, Vice-Admiral K. Yasuho the Commander-in-Chief of the Kure Admiralty and Vice-Admiral S. Momotake the Commander-in-Chief of the Sasebo Admiralty, to succeed Admiral Y. Takeshita and Admiral H. I. H. Prince Hiroyasu respectively, who were appointed High Military Councillors, and Vice-Admiral Osumi was appointed the Vice-Minister of the Navy.
1925.04.17
- Mr. S. Nishimura, an expert swimmer, will sail soon from Kobe for London for the purpose of swimming the Dover Strait.
- The installation ceremony took place in the Imperial Palace before the Prince Regent of Mr. U. Noda, and Mr. K. Okazaki, appointed Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry respectively, in the place of Mr. K. Takahashi.
1925.04.19 — Increased sun-spots are feared to be an ill omen of a great crop failure this year. Professor Dr. Nakamura of the Tohoku university states that the crop failed in 1909 and 1917 for the same reason as above, when the North-Eastern District suffered most severely. This year, too, the same district will perhaps have the worst crop.
1925.04.20
- The first air-mail service in Japan was started to-day from Tachikawa near Tokyo to Osaka and from Osaka to Fukuoka. The Asahi No. 31 taking mail, sent to Tachikawa by an automobile from the Tokyo Central Office, started for Osaka shortly after noon in the face of a strong westerly wind and reached Osaka at 3 p.m. The flight was successful and took only 2 hours and 40 minutes between the two places. A similarly successful result was obtained by the aviator from Osaka to Fukuoka. Taking mail from Osaka, he left the place at 11:10 a.m. and arrived at Fukuoka at 2:50 p.m., the time taken being only 3 hours and 40 minutes.
- H. I. H. Prince Chichibu leaving Japan shortly for foreign travel, members of the sporting and athletic societies in Tokyo assembled at the Meiji Shrine Stadium to bid farewell to the Prince. There were 5,000 school children and members of young men's associations and boy-scouts. Each body marched past the Prince.
1925.04.22
- The weavers are said to be hard hit by the general tradal dullness and to be producing only common patterns for this summer season, refraining from putting out novel patterns.
- The Akagi, a seaplane-tender, was launched at the Kure Admiralty's dock today.
1925.04.24 — Mr. T. Tanaka, formerly the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been chosen as the new Japanese Ambassador to Russia. It was previously decided to appoint Mr. Yoshizawa, now Minister in Peking, but the result of Dr. Omi's medical examination of his sprain compelled the Japanese Government to give up the appointment. The Japanese Navy is extending its aviation corps under a plan to have 17 corps by 1929 as against the present 12 corps.
1925.04.25 — Mr. Coupe the new Russian Ambassador, and his suite arrived at Tokyo Station on the 24th. They were very strictly guarded by the police at the station.
1925.04.26 — The Mayor Selection Committee of the Yokohama Municipal Council unanimously decided to recommend Mr. Ariyoshi as a candidate for the Mayorship at a general meeting of the Council to be held early in May. Mr. Ariyoshi was formerly the Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture. He is considered to be a man of ability with a clear head.
1925.04.27 — The biggest submarine boat in Japan had been built at the Kure Naval Arsenal. This boat, No. 52, has a displacement of 1,700 tons. She has been specially designed by the Imperial Navy.
1925.04.28 — Mr. R. Uchida, President of the Kokuryu-kai, has been prosecuted in connection with a plot to assassinate the Premier.
1925.04.29 — The Japan Aerial Transportation Research Institute has decided to start an air-mail service between Osaka and Shikoku on May 20th. The Chinese Legation is to be promoted shortly to an Embassy with Mr. Yoshizawa, the present Minister in Peking, as the first Ambassador. At the same time, the Chinese Legation in Tokyo will be made an Embassy.
1925.04.30 — In connection with the proposed construction of a large theatre in Yokohama for the foreign and Japanese residents, the Yokohama Fukko-kai has decided to adopt the type of the Kabuki Theatre, Tokyo, in accordance with the desire of the resident foreigners, who support the idea of the purely Japanese style much more than the Western style.
1925.05.01 — A great change is reported in the personnel of high military officers. 10 Major-Generals were promoted to Lieutenant-Generals and 20 Colonels to Major-Generals. Lieutenant-Generals Morioka and Muto were appointed High Military Councillors, Lieutenant-General Kanaya the Vice-Chief of the Military Staff Office, Lieutenant-General Tanaka the Commander of the Guard Division, Lieutenant-General Wada the Commander of the First Division, Lieutenant-General Itami the Commander of the 9th Division, and Lieutenant-General Watanabe the Director of the Military College.
1925.05.02 — It is understood that an Imperial grant of 1,000,000 yen will be made to the young men's and women's associations, religious associations and other public bodies throughout the country, out of the cost of the celebration of the Imperial Silver Wedding, which will be carried out in the simplest possible way.
1925.05.03 — In connection with an Imperial gift to be made to persons of advanced age on the occasion of the Imperial Silver Wedding, the total number of those not less than ninety years stood at 17,500 throughout Japan on May 2nd, of whom those of not less than 110 years numbered 11, headed by Mrs. Ishi Shiraishi in Nagasaki Prefecture, who is aged 114. It is noteworthy that 9 of these most aged persons are women.
1925.05.04 — Negotiations have been progressing for the combination of three political parties, the Seiyu-kai, the Kakushin Club and the Chusei Club and they are said to have been concluded nearly successfully.
1925.05.05 — The Manhood Suffrage Law was promulgated in to-day's "Official Gazette."
1925.05.06 — A celebration of the promulgation of the Manhood Suffrage Law was held to-day at the Seiyo-ken Restaurant, Uyeno. About 5,000 persons attended it, including the Cabinet Ministers and parliamentary and non-parliamentary members of the Government parties.
1925.05.09
- It is understood that the military authorities are setting about the preparations for the national mobilization plan.
- Viscount Goto visited the Premier and is said to have laid before him a project to organize a joint-stock company with a capital of 200,000,000 yen for the object of developing the resources of Siberia, getting 7 per cent subsidiary interest from the Japanese Government on the capital in lieu of the expenditure for the despatch of troops to the place. The Premier said he would carefully consider the matter and give a reply.
1925.05.11
- The Imperial Silver Wedding was celebrated throughout the country. In the Imperial Palace, a luncheon was given by the Prince Regent to about 200 civil and military functionaries. The whole city of Tokyo was in gala attire.
- H. I. H. Prince Chichibu was promoted to Lieutenant.
1925.05.12 — The Premier invited to-day the private projectors of the proposed Japan Wireless Telegram Co., Ltd. to a luncheon at his official residence. The guests listened to the Premier's speech and to the Communication Minister Mr. Inukai's detailed explanation of the company's organization.
1925.05.13 — In the small hours of to-day, fire broke out in the town of Kumagaya, Saitama-ken. Fanned by a gale, the flames spread rapidly in all directions and burnt down over 700 houses, devastating one-sixth of the town, until they were checked at 5:30 a.m.
1925.05.14
- The regimental colours of the 16 infantry and 4 cavalry regiments, which were abolished on account of armament reduction, will be returned with ceremonies to the Prince Regent on the 25th, when they will be taken by their bearers to the Imperial Palace.
- An extraordinary general meeting of the Seiyu-kai was held at which the installation of Baron Tanaka as the President and the celebration of the combination of the three political parties took place. About 2,000 persons were present.
1925.05.16
- H. I. H. Prince Chichibu is leaving Japan for England shortly. Before his departure, it has been earnestly desired by his parents and dignitaries of the Imperial Household to select his fiancée, but no suitable one seems to have been found for the past few months.
- About 60,000 freight cars of the nationalized railways and the railways connected with them are to be equipped with an automatic coupler for the three days beginning July 17th.
- In a trial run, the Tokyo Asahi aviator, which is to shortly visit Europe, made a non-stop flight over a distance of 1,500 metres between Tachiarai and Morioka on the 12th, piloted by Captain Abe, breaking the record in Japan.
1925.05.17 — After an amount of difficulty, the Tokyo Municipal project for the building of the underground railway lines in the city of Tokyo and environs has at last been approved conditionally by the competent authorities.
1925.05.18 — The Communications authorities are said to have decided on a fundamental policy for the encouragement of private aviation on a very comprehensive plan from next fiscal year.
1925.05.19 — The Seiyu Party is thinking of new platforms to be announced as a means to extend its influence by taking advantage of its fusion with two other parties. Its executives are almost at one as to a revision of the import tariff as most urgent of what to be adopted as a platform, as it is thought to be easy to procure an additional revenue of 100,000,000 yen by it.
1925.05.20 — The educational authorities are said to have decided to revise considerably the present primary school text books in consideration of the progress of the times and to use the revised books from the beginning of next school year.
1925.05.21 — Baron Tanaka, the new President of the Seiyu Party, is said to have a new Chinese policy for the permanent welfare of Japan and the co-existence and co-prosperity of the two countries, which he wishes to accomplish by having China abolish the likin and all other taxes on merchandise, for the object of insuring the liberty and development of trade in the interior, to have a gold exchange system established in China, in addition to the existing silver exchange system, to develop traffic and communications and to readjust the finances of the central Government, to fix its financial sources and to stabilize the political situation in the country.
1925.05.22 — The establishment of the Japanese Embassies in China and Turkey has not been realized in the past under various circumstances. It is said negotiations will be started formally within a few days. The Turkish Embassy will be placed in Constantinople, Mr. Obata being its first head.
1925.05.23 — The military authorities are said to have finished investigations concerning a revision in the Conscription Law and to have decided to present the bill to the next session of the Imperial Diet after considering it at a conference of the Military, Naval, Educational, Home, Foreign and Judicial Departments.
1925.05.24
- A severe earthquake visited Tajima Province shortly after 11 a.m. on the 23rd, destroying completely Toyooka-machi and Kinosaki-machi, the latter of which was known as a famous hot spring place.
- The two Tokyo Asahi aviators Hatsukaze and Kochikaze will leave Japan for Europe over Siberia in the middle of July. The Russian Government has approved the passage of the aviators over Siberia.
1925.05.25 — H. I. H. Prince Chichibu left Yokohama for England by the warship Izumo at noon on the 24th. The Prince Regent and other Imperial Princes and Princesses, high dignitaries, the corps diplomatique, members of both Houses and others, together with thousands of school pupils and people sent him off enthusiastically at the Yokohama hatoba.
1925.05.26 — The ceremony of returning the colours of the 16 infantry and 4 cavalry regiments, which were abolished recently on account of the armaments readjustment was held in the Imperial Palace at 10:30 a.m. on the 25th.
1925.05.27 — On the 26th, 180 military officers were put in the first reserve list, including Generals Fukuda, Yamanashi, Ono and Machida and eight Lieutenant-Generals.
1925.05.28 — It has been officially announced that H. I. H. Crown Princess had been examined and found by the court physicians to be pregnant and to be in the fourth month. She is doing well.
1925.05.29 — Mr. Inukai, the Minister of Communications, has decided to resign the post and to retire from the political world, in which he has taken an active part for the past forty years or so. He is also resigning membership of the House of Representatives. Mr. Kojima, the Vice-Minister of Communications, is following the step. On the 27th, Mr. Inukai visited Baron Tanaka, the President of the Seiyu-kai and Mr. Takahashi, its former President, to whom he submitted his decision for approval. In a statement made by him concerning the above course, he gives the reason for his resignation as his ardent wish to devote himself hereafter to the spreading of the purpose of the manhood suffrage, piloting, if he can, the youths, newly enfranchised, as their adviser, for the remnant of his active life, which will be only five or six years.
1925.05.30 — On the 29th, a regular Cabinet conference was held, and it considered and accepted formally the resignation of Mr. Inukai.
1925.05.31 — Mr. K. Adachi the manager of the Kensei-kai was appointed the Minister of Communications in succession to Mr. Inukai and the installation ceremony took place to-day in the Akasaka Palace.
1925.06.16 — The Department of Communications is said to have informally decided to include in next fiscal year's Budget 23,000,000 yen for creating an international line of flight and for encouraging private aerial transport services. Mr. Hatano, the Director of the Aviation Bureau, denies the above information regarding at least the budget. As to the creation of an international line of flight, he confirms the report, saying that Mr. Adachi, the Minister of Communications, will perhaps not be opposed to it. He is desirous of having at first a line from Tokyo to Shanghai via Osaka, Shimonoseki, Phyongyang and Dairen and is thinking of demanding an appropriation of 15,000,000 yen or 20,000,000 yen consecutively in three or five years.
1925.06.17 — Mrs. K. Yajima, a famous Christian and formerly the President of the Japan Women's Christian Temperance Union, died at the age of 93 on the 16th. She travelled three times in foreign lands, her second foreign tour being made at the age of 88 and the third one at the age of 90, on the latter occasion of which she went as a peace messenger at the end of 1921, when the Washington Conference was held. Being solid and self-possessed, she was full of overflowing affection. She will be remembered forever as a benefactor of the women's reform and social works in Japan.
1925.06.18 — With regard to the expected accouchement of the Crown Princess, it is understood that the ceremony of wearing a band will be held on July 1st, the day of the dog, according to the old custom.
1925.06.19 — The Pan-Pacific Scientific Conference, formed for the object of studying and discussing scientific questions concerning the Pacific and the Pacific Coast and of promoting the happiness and peace of the Pacific races, first met in Honolulu in 1920 and then in Melbourne and Sydney, with a considerable effect produced. It is understood that its third general meeting will be held in Tokyo from October 27th to November 9th, 1926, the countries interested, England, America, Russia, France, Chili, Mexico, Holland and China having already been invited to it formally through the Foreign Department.
1925.06.20 — A meeting of the board of directors of the Keio University held on the 17th is reported to have approved formally and unanimously a proposal to resume baseball matches between the University and Waseda University teams. Consequently, Mr. T. Itakura, Director of the Physical Educational Department of the Keio University, visited the Waseda University and met Mr. Tanaka, its Managing Director, and Mr. Takata, its President, with whom the necessary arrangements were concluded. The two baseball teams will match at the end of September next for the first time in the past twenty years, as eagerly wished for by fans for many years.
1925.06.21 — A scheme to exchange students between the Tokyo Commercial College and the Hanoi College in French-Indo-China it is said will be realized this summer, when about three students of the Japanese college will visit French-Indo-China to study her commercial, economic and tradal affairs and conditions for about two months. The scheme was started at the instance of Governor Merlin of French-Indo-China on his recent visit to Japan.
1925.06.22 — In consideration of the present unemployment question and the yearly growth of the population by hundreds of thousands in Japan, the Government is said to have decided to firmly establish a population policy, under which emigrants will be sent to foreign lands on a large scale and settlement in Japanese districts, led by Hokkaido and Miyazaki and Iwate Prefectures, will be greatly encouraged. Settlement in these Japanese districts will be protected directly by the state, involving a cost of about 700,000,000 yen, and the work will be accomplished consecutively in several years.
1925.06.23 — It is understood that the Department of Education is making energetic efforts to quickly solve the question of night middle schools, which has stood for many years past. Its plan may be outlined that the term will be six years, the graduates from the first rate night schools will be accorded the same treatment as ordinary middle school graduates in regard to the qualifications for entering high technical schools and will be allowed to enter without examination.
1925.06.24 — A number of skeletons were found under the castle-tower of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo, when the coolies engaged in repairing the damage in the earthquake unearthed the foundation. Some of them were standing and each had an ancient coin on the head or the shoulder. There are different opinions stated by scholars as to their origin, and that of hito-bashira (human pillars), men buried alive as sacrifice to the God protecting the building seems to be most favoured.
1925.06.25 — A splendid lecture-hall is nearing completion at the Tokyo Imperial University at a cost of 1,000,000 yen contributed by the Yasuda family. It will seat 1,700 persons. It is a four-storied iron reinforced concrete building covering an area of 519 tsubo.
1925.06.26 — Yokohama is being reconstructed with much tardiness, there being still vestiges of the disaster found everywhere. There are different reasons; one is thought to be the very small number of foreigners coming back and trading or settling in the port, owing to barrack building not having been allowed in the former settlement through the necessity to readjust land. This being feared to ill affect the prosperity of the city, the authorities concerned are said to have decided to grant the building of barracks in the settlement.
1925.06.27 — In connection with the military training of boys, the abolition of the one year's volunteer system has been earnestly discussed by the military authorities, most of whom seem to be in favour of its abolition from the year after next, in order to make military training at schools significant.
1925.06.28 — It is understood that the financial authorities are considering amendments in the direct and indirect national tax law, partly in pursuance of a social policy, the principal points of amendment being the raising of the lowest taxable income, a change in the progressive rates of the income tax, the enhancement of the succession duty, the abolition of the cotton textile consumption duty, the soy tax and the medicine stamp duty, the imposition of a heavy tax on interest on capital and the creation of a toilet goods tax and a beverage tax. It is desired to fix the lowest taxable income at 1,000 yen and to make the progressive rates of the income tax per millage instead of percent at present.
1925.06.29 — The Mikasa, the flag-ship in the Battle of the Sea of Japan, will be kept as a memorial on the Shirahama Coast, Yokosuka. On the 26th, Admiral Takarabe, the Naval Minister, invited the officials of the Mikasa Preservation Society to a dinner, when Baron Sakatani, the President of the society, said that it was quite reasonable to keep the Mikasa, which is a relic of the war waged when the national fortunes were at stake and that it was the national duty to keep her, the Japanese nation being under obligation to join in the work. The warship will be used as a summer college or a place for lecture-meetings with a lecture-hall arranged for seating about 1,000 persons.
1925.06.30 — Human bones were discovered in a shell-mound at Koyasu-machi on the outskirts of Yokohama by professors and students of the Keio University. The skeleton lay on the back and measured about 5 feet 4 inches. It is presumed to belong to a man of about 60 years of age from the worn teeth and the shape of the skull. There were many shell ornaments, stone arrow-heads, etc. beside the skull. Professor Masaki of the University says that shell-mounds and skeletons have hitherto been considered nearly unconnected, but the recent discoveries of human bones in shell-mounds in Miyazaki Prefecture and other places have furnished a new question to the scientific world. If the present discovery was directly connected with the shell-mound, the bones were perhaps of a man existing in the prehistoric age, or about 3,000 years ago.
1925.07.01 — The ceremony of wearing the maternity belt by the Crown Princess was held to-day in the Akasaka Palace. The belt was of pure white silk about 12 feet long, which was doubled over and wrapped double by red torinoko paper.
1925.07.02 — It is understood that the Department of Home Affairs has drafted a plan for improving the most important roads in the country, the total length of which amounts to 1,500 ri at a cost of 150,000,000 yen, or 100,000 yen per ri, to be appropriated in ten consecutive years.
1925.07.03 — A meeting of projectors of a big hotel in Yokohama was held on the 2nd, when Mr. Ariyoshi, the Mayor, spoke in outline of the project. According to the speech, the hotel is to be built by the Municipality for facilitating the residence of foreigners in the city and to be managed by a company. The meeting then selected the foundation committee of the hotel company, including Mr. T. Isaka as the Chairman and many distinguished businessmen in Yokohama as the members.
1925.07.04 — It is said that an international Buddhist conference will be held in Tokyo for the first time in this country. It will sit for three days commencing November 1st, 1925.
1925.07.05 — An electric exhibition will be held in Osaka under the auspices of the Electrical Association, commencing from March 20th and ending May 31st, 1926. The cost is put at 2,000,000 yen and the scale will be the biggest of the fairs concerning electricity, hitherto held in Japan.
1925.07.06 — It is said that the Bureau of Imperial Mews intends buying from England studs at 70,000 yen per head in the next fiscal year.
1925.07.07 — A big Buddhistic exhibition is planned by Mr. T. Yamada, a noted explorer of the South Sea Islands, by collecting about 5,000 Buddhistic national treasures and semi-treasures and other fine art products of note in Japan in commemoration of the third anniversary of the disastrous earthquake on September 1st, 1923. It will be held in Tokyo in August and September. There are many prominent persons supporting the plan.
1925.07.08 — Baron Goto is said to have recently visited the Premier and stated in particular his project to establish a big Japanese-Russian company for the purpose of developing resources in Siberia, Manchuria and Mongolia, asking for consideration of it by the Government.
1925.07.09 — It is understood that the educational authorities have decided to mutograph general scenes in the Japan Alps.
1925.07.10 — On the 9th, the Prince Regent gave audience to the four pilots and engineers of the two airplanes of the Tokyo Asahi, which are to shortly start on a journey to Europe. This is thought to be a great and unprecedented honour bestowed on private aviators.
1925.07.11 — At a regular meeting of the Vice-Ministers held on the 9th, the proposed lowering of the postage of letters and post-cards by the countries joining the Postal Union was discussed. Finally, it was decided to act in concert with these countries under the International Postal Treaty.
1925.07.12 — In connection with the establishment of a Japanese Embassy in Turkey this fiscal year, it is stated that Mr. Obata, the Ambassador, Mr. Ashida, the First Secretary, and other officials of the Embassy will leave Japan for the post towards the beginning of September. Men of good ability have been chosen for the staff, in order to carry out successfully a Japanese scheme to make economic development on the Mediterranean Coast and Asiatic countries, as one step of which a system of travelling commercial attache will be adopted to cultivate commercial relations between Japan and Balkan States and West Asiatic countries, until finally diplomatic as well as commercial relations will be established with Persia.
1925.07.13 — Before the World War, the remittances from the Japanese settlers in foreign lands amounted yearly to 25,000,000–27,000,000 yen, and the amount once increased to about 70,000,000 yen in 1919 or 1920. The world's economic dulness diminished the figure later, and the latest amount is reported to be about 52,000,000 yen, against which there is the yearly amount of 3,000,000 or 4,000,000 yen from the foreigners in Japan to their respective home lands, the balance left amounting to about 50,000,000 yen in favour of Japan.
1925.07.14 — The national road over Hakone, which was greatly damaged by the earthquake, has been completely repaired now and the opening ceremony of the reconstructed road was held at the Fuji-ya Hotel, Miyanoshita on the 11th. The road is from Yumoto-mura to Onsen-mura and is 2 ri in length, it being nearly twice the width of that before the earthquake.
1925.07.16 — The establishment of a museum is being proposed among the people of Kamakura, for the purpose of exhibiting about 1,000 national and other treasures held in many Buddhist temples in the place, some of which were destroyed or burnt in the earthquake and have no suitable places to keep the treasures.
1925.07.16 — The Government has decided to start the work of spreading political education among the nation, which it considers as urgently necessary in connection with the operation of manhood suffrage, and is studying means to carry out the decision.
1925.07.17 — The amount of new appropriations asked for to the Finance Department by the various departments for the fiscal year of 1926–1927 is said to be about 400,000,000 yen, of which 140,000,000 yen is demanded by the Navy, against which there will be no good source of revenue but to the amount of about 60,000,000 yen. With such a poor source of revenue, the financial authorities are said to be determined not to accept the demands but for enterprises which are most imperative.
1925.07.18 — The holding of an exhibition of home products is proposed officially to show how these products are equally good as the imported goods and to imbue the idea how it is important to use home products instead of the imported among the people. The exhibition will be held on a large scale in Tokyo or Osaka.
1925.07.19 — Heavy rains fell in Seoul, Korea since the 17th, and many houses in it and vicinity were inundated.
1925.07.20
- According to a later report, the floods inundated 15,000 houses in Seoul and vicinity, there being 20,000 refugees.
- The Imperial Navy has a plan to build four 10,000 ton cruisers, four 1,500 ton destroyers and six 1,500 ton submarine boats as successors to certain superannuated auxiliary ships.
1925.07.21 — A remarkable invention of making charcoal from rubbish was thought out by a workman and has been completed by Dr. Kawai of the Agricultural College of the Tokyo Imperial University, it being thought to revolutionize the charcoal industry in the country. Tokyo has daily 200,000 kwamme of rubbish, 10 per cent of which, or 20,000 kwamme can be made into 2,000 or 3,000 kwamme of charcoal of good quality, according to the method. The rebuilding of the Yokohama pier, which was destroyed in the earthquake, has been under way since February last and will be completed by September 1st, 1925, as it is being hurried up. Sesshu Hayakawa, who is now in Germany, will come back to Japan early next year in order to make himself purely Japanese films and to export them to the world. He will be accompanied by about ten foreign actors and actresses.
1925.07.22
- H. I. M. the Emperor is announced to be much improving in health at the Imperial Tamozawa Villa, Nikko.
- At the Budget conference of the Home Department, held on the 21st, it is said to have been decided to approve the building of the Tokyo-Yokohama canal and the Tokyo harbour as originally proposed.
- The project to build a big hotel for foreigners in Yokohama is making substantial progress. The standing foundation committee has been selected, consisting of certain five young millionaire Japanese businessmen and two foreign businessmen, Messrs. D. H. Blake and Marshal Martin. The hotel is to be erected by the Municipality at a cost of 1,000,000 yen and to be let to the hotel company, which will have a capital of 1,000,000 yen.
1925.07.23 — The price of rice has been soaring sharply, and has reached the exorbitantly high level of 48 yen for first grade rice, at 45 yen for second grade rice and at 43 yen for third grade rice per koku which correspond to 60 sen, 58 sen and 56 sen per sho respectively. The prices are little lower in prospect and are even expected to run up much in addition, making the prices per sho about 1 yen, breaking the past high record.
1925.07.24 — The Imperial Navy has decided to send the warship Tama to San Francisco to attend the celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the independence of California, which will be held on September 5th to 12th.
1925.07.25 — The Home Department has decided to build charity hospitals in Tokyo and Yokohama with the fund of 8,000,000 yen kindly collected by the American Red Cross Society on the occasion of the earthquake and sent to us. In Tokyo, the hospital will be constructed at Yokoami-cho, Honjo, Tokyo, and Dr. Miura will be appointed its President.
1925.07.26
- Two airplanes of the Asahi left Yoyogi for Europe via Siberia this morning amidst the enthusiastic cheers of banzai of about 200,000 persons assembled at the parade ground to see off the brave pilots and engineers, including princes of blood, ministers and other high dignitaries.
- The Japan Tourist Bureau announces that American tourist parties consisting of 3,000 persons will visit Japan from this autumn to the end of the year.
1925.07.27
- Dr. Kusama of the Medical College of the Keio University is reported to have succeeded in discovering the germ of the measles. He has recently spoken of his many years' research and its results at a meeting of the Japan Pathological Institute.
- Baron Matsui is spoken of as likely to be appointed the Ambassador to London in succession to Baron Hayashi, who is to leave London for Japan at an early date. Baron Matsui is considered a most suitable diplomatist to serve in England.
1925.07.28 — An agitation has been started by religionists for having Art. 5 Clause 1 No. 3 of the Peace Police Law abolished. Shinto and Buddhist priests and other religionists are prohibited to join political parties under this article, while they are given the same right as the common people to be elected, besides to elect, by the Manhood Suffrage Law. As long as the above provision is in force, they will have to be independent members of the Diet, even though they should be returned, without being able to join powerful parties and practically apply politics. This the agitators cry as a restraint on the religionist members of the Diet and a grave insult to religionists.
1925.07.29 — The 6th grand aerial meeting will be held on October 1st on the shore of Lake Biwa under the auspices of the Imperial Aviation Association.
1925.07.30 — Mr. E. A. Bancroft, the American Ambassador to Japan, died at 9.50 P.M. on the 28th in Karuizawa. He had been seriously ill with an ulcer of the stomach since about the 15th while in the villa of Dr. Nitobe, Karuizawa avoiding the heat of summer. He was 69 years of age. On November 1st, 1924, he left San Francisco for Japan and was in office only for full nine months. He told a newspaper man that friendship between Japan and America must be promoted quietly and practically.
1925.08.01 — The Kato Cabinet tendered its resignation on July 31st, owing to dissension among its members.
1925.08.02
- The resignation of the Kato Cabinet was accepted by the Prince Regent on August 1st. At the same time, Viscount Kato was asked by His Highness to form another Cabinet.
- On the evening of the 1st, it was decided to form the second Kato Cabinet with the members, Viscount Kato, Premier; Baron Shidehara, Foreign Minister; Mr. R. Wakatsuki, Home Minister; Mr. Y. Hamaguchi, Finance Minister; General Ugaki, War Minister; Admiral Takarabe, Naval Minister; Mr. Y. Egi, Minister of Justice, Mr. R. Okada, Minister of Education, Mr. S. Hayami, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. N. Kataoka, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. K. Adachi, Minister of Communications; and Mr. M. Sengoku, Minister of Railway. This is a pure Kensei-kai Cabinet.
1925.08.03
- The installation ceremony of the new Cabinet took place on the 2nd.
- It has been arranged that the Prince Regent will leave Yokosuka for Karafuto by the warship Nagato on the 5th. The departure of His Highness has been put off by the Cabinet crisis.
- The two Asahi airplanes arrived at Harbin on the 2nd, when there were 100,000 Japanese, Chinese and Russian people welcoming them with cheers on the field.
1925.08.04 — The opening ceremony of the Tokyo-Yokohama national road No. 1 was held in Kawasaki on the 3rd. The road was built at a cost of 3,500,000 yen and in a period of eight years.
1925.08.05
- At a regular Cabinet conference held on the 4th, the taxation adjustment bill, which led to the recent political change, was passed unanimously.
- A quay at Shibaura, a first step towards the building of the Tokyo harbour, is nearing completion at a cost of 2,000,000 yen. When completed, steamers up to 3,000 tons will be brought alongside the quay, although no foreign vessels can enter the harbour, which is not an open port.
1925.08.06
- It rained heavily in Tokyo and vicinity this morning and later it developed an electric storm. A large number of houses was inundated and the tramcar service was interrupted on a few sections.
- The Government has started the discussion of the draft labour law, which has been deferred on account of the political change.
1925.08.07
- It is understood that the Post Insurance Bureau has decided to raise the present maximum amount of policy of 350 yen to 500 yen, considering the present amount to be too small in the existing social and economic conditions. There is opposition raised by life insurance companies to the decision, but the opposition is officially thought to be unreasonable.
- The farewell service for the late Ambassador Bancroft was held on the 6th at the St. Andrews Church, Shiba, Tokyo. The Ambassadors and Ministers, state ministers and other high dignitaries and proxies of Princes and Princesses of the Blood attended it. After that, the coffin was carried to Tokyo Station, escorted by cavalry, where it was received by two infantry regiments, and was taken to Yokohama by a special train. At the Yokohama pier, it was removed to the warship Tama, which weighed anchor for America at 1.45 P.M.
1925.08.08 — The new Italian Ambassador to Japan, accompanied by a secretary, arrived at Shimonoseki at 7 A.M. on the 8th and put up at the Sanyo Hotel. Interviewed by press representatives, he told them that the first thing that pleased him on setting foot in Japan was that everything he had met gave him a feeling as if he were in his second home and he was taught on landing at Shimonoseki the reason why Japanese and Italian friendship was naturally growing in intimacy.
1925.08.09
- The long standing question of concentrating the offices of the various Government departments in one place has been nearly decided. It is planned to build these offices around a lot of ground outside the Sakurada Gate, where the Department of Justice stands at present.
- The warship bearing the Prince Regent entered the Port of Wakkanai at noon on the 8th. The port was crowded with a large number of visitors welcoming His Highness.
1925.08.10
- Military education at universities, academies and middle schools has been pretty successful, despite a very short period having elapsed since its commencement. Encouraged by this, the Educational Department has decided to appropriate 1,000,000 yen yearly from next fiscal year for the more satisfactory accomplishment of the purpose, distributing it among these schools pro rata.
- The two Asahi airplanes arrived at Irkutsk on the 8th after flying over the Lake of Baikal successfully.
1925.08.11
- The Naval authorities are said to have two plans for the building of auxiliary warships to serve as successors to certain old ships, one being to construct four 10,000 ton cruisers and 10 big submarine boats in three consecutive years from the fiscal year beginning 1926–1927 at a cost of 158,000,000 yen and 20 first class destroyers, 2 special service ships and 3 gun-boats in three consecutive years from the fiscal year beginning 1928–1929 at a cost of 162,000,000 yen and another being to build four 10,000 ton cruisers, 20 first class destroyers, 10 big submarine boats, 2 special service ships and 3 gun-boats in five consecutive years beginning 1926–1927 at a cost of 320,000,000 yen.
- The Home Department is said to have at last decided to abolish the system of district offices.
1925.08.12 — The Yokohama Municipality has a project under contemplation to extend its water-works system. At the end of 1924, Yokohama had a population of 475,228 and according to the past ratio of increase, the number is calculated to reach 703,000 in 1934, 951,000 in 1939 and 1,391,000 in 1944, and it is necessary to extend the water-works system to meet this increased population.
1925.08.13 — The 6th general meeting of the Far Eastern Tropical Medical Association will be held in Tokyo from October 11th next. There will be twenty-two countries represented at it and 150 foreign scholars coming to attend it. The Reception Committee is drawing up an elaborate programme for the reception of the foreign visitors, who will be shown Japanese plays. Dr. Nagayo, one of the Japanese delegates at the meeting, wishes the Tokyo citizens to give the most cordial reception to the visitors, for the meeting has great international significance in that it will do much towards the promotion of friendship between the foreigners and Japanese who attend, contributing something to international peace.
1925.08.14 — With reference to the unemployment question, the Social Bureau is said to have decided to encourage enterprises among the six principal cities so that those unemployed people, who are in very straitened circumstances, can be given employment and relieved. For this, the above cities will be allowed to float bonds.
1925.08.15 — Prince George, the third son of King George, who is on the flagship Hawkins of the British Oriental Fleet, will visit Japan towards the end of September, accompanying the Commander in Chief of his fleet. The Prince is to be received formally by the Japanese Court and he will stay probably at the Kasumigaseki Palace.
1925.08.16 — Next fiscal year's new appropriations asked from the Department of Finance by the various other departments amount to 228,028,000 yen, and when the amount is added to the previously estimated general expenditure, the total Budget for the fiscal year will reach about 1,600,000,000 yen.
1925.08.17 — The Prince Regent arrived at Yokohama after visiting Karafuto, and will stay at the Hayama Villa for some days. His Highness will then visit his parents at Nikko in a few days.
1925.08.18 — The Naval authorities have decided on the building of warships to take the place of the present old auxiliary ships at a cost of 320,000,000 yen to be defrayed consecutively in the five years beginning the fiscal year 1926–1927. The ships to be built will be 4 10,000 ton cruisers, 20 first class destroyers, 10 big submarine boats, 3 special service ships and 3 gun-boats, numbering 40 in all.
1925.08.19
- The period of suspension of the import duty on foreign rice was extended from August 31st to October 31st, 1925 by Imperial Ordinance No. 4.
- The Yokohama Municipality plans enlarging its water-works system by 50 per cent at a cost of 7,000,000 yen, getting the fresh supply of water perhaps from the Sagami River.
1925.08.20
- An epidemic of cholera broke out in Kobe, the patient being a Chinese sailor on a French mail steamer.
- Mr. S. Tsukiyama, a noted sword maker, has had the honour of receiving an official order for a sword to be given by H. I. M. the Emperor to the grandchild to be born to H. I. H. the Crown Princess towards the end of November next, known as the mamori-gatana (the sword for self protection).
1925.08.21
- Dr. Takakusu projects setting up a Women's University in the suburbs of Tokyo, where a lot of land has already been acquired for the university buildings. The Musashino Joshi-Gakuin, Tsukiji, Tokyo will be transferred to the above place and promoted eventually to the rank of a university.
- The funeral service of Miss Hisako Kuno, a noted pianist who committed suicide in Vienna, was held today. There were about 200 mourners.
1925.08.22
- The great Buddhist image at Uyeno, Tokyo is to be replaced by one to be cast by Dr. C. Ito, as the old one lost its head on the occasion of the great earthquake. The new image will be about 15 shaku in height.
- A prisoner is reported to have invented a cloth made of feathers. The process is to break feathers into fibres, which are used as the woof in weaving. The cloth resembles woolen cloth and is very strong and light, shedding water well. A patent is to be applied for.
- Revised Telegraph Regulations were announced in the Official Gazette today, to be put into operation on November 1st.
- The Ochiishi Wireless Telegraph Station, Nemuro, Hokkaido was burnt down this morning. It was the oldest station in Japan, and communicated with ships in the Pacific. Its business will be temporarily taken charge of by the Choshi and Odomari (Karafuto) stations.
- One of the important reconstruction works in Yokohama is the laying out of Nogeyama Park. It is planned for the park to cover a total area of 23,000 tsubo, consisting of 10,000 tsubo of water reservoir, 10,000 tsubo of the former site of the Mogi Villa and 2,000 tsubo of the former site of the Mayor's official residence. It will be opened early next year.
- A similar project is in progress in Tokyo. The Tokyo Municipality was given Uyeno and Inokashira Parks and the Hama Imperial Palace ground by the Imperial court on the occasion of the Imperial wedding in January, 1924. A committee of scholars and officials has been considering means to make the places attractive to the citizens. Uyeno Park will be the first to benefit by the elaborate plans of the committee and work will begin early next fiscal year at a cost of 1,000,000 yen.
1925.08.23
- Representatives of the six largest Municipalities in Japan met and decided as a means to relieve unemployed labourers to quicken the carrying out of already fixed enterprises and to commence certain new works such as the rebuilding of roads, bridges, etc. The Municipalities are officially allowed to raise public loans for the above object.
- The educational authorities are said to have decided on a project to establish a women's fine art school next fiscal year.
- The two Asahi fliers reached Moscow today.
1925.08.24
- Mr. I. Kuwana, the Chief of the Plant Inspection Section of the Yokohama Customs, is reported to have found seven new species of scale-insects. He is to report it to the world's learned societies. He is widely known as a student of insects noxious to ornamental plants and fruit trees.
- It has been decided to erect a seismologic laboratory in the Tokyo Imperial University at a cost of 600,000 yen to be defrayed in three consecutive years. The foundation work has been started and the building of the laboratory is to be completed in 1927.
- The Communication authorities are said to have nearly decided to lay out a grand aviation field by reclaiming 120,000 or 130,000 tsubo of the foreshore of Tokyo Bay as the first step in the establishment of an airline, provided the estimated cost of the latter is approved by the Diet. Aviation fields also will be established in Osaka, Shimonoseki, Kyushu, Seoul and Dairen.
1925.08.26 — The time taken by the two Asahi fliers from Tokyo to Moscow is given by the Tokyo Asahi as 66 hours 30 minutes for the Hatsukaze and 67 hours 54 minutes for the Kochikaze.
1925.08.27 — The Government has nearly decided to raise the maximum amount of post insurance policies from 350 yen to 500 yen, subject to the approval of the next session of the Imperial Diet. Official consideration is being given to the possibilities of child insurance, with the hope of submitting a bill regarding it to the Diet.
1925.08.28
- The proposed Italian fine art exhibition in Tokyo it is reported will not be held this year for the reason that the Italian fine art critic, who had been expected to come as the chief of the committee of arrangements, fell ill, and also other circumstances retarded the progress of the preliminaries. The exhibition is expected will be held in October, 1926.
- Today the temperature was unusually hot, the thermometer having registered 92.1° F., which broke the record this summer.
1925.08.30 — The educational authorities plan a law concerning kindergartens with a view to improving the present unsystematic state of affairs, and establishing a united system as a part of primary education.
1925.08.31 — The gratifying news is published that H. I. M. the Emperor, who celebrates his 47th birthday to-day, at the Nikko palace, looks much better, being able to walk and talk without difficulty.
1925.09.01
- The French Exhibition will be held at Uyeno from September 3rd.
- Two cases of cholera have occurred in Kanagawa and Negishi, Yokohama. One of the patients is a boatman and the other a cargo coolie. A preventive injection is being given to those living at sea, fisher folk, lightermen, etc.
- It being the second anniversary of the great earthquake to-day, grand memorial services were held in Tokyo and Yokohama for the dead, which renewed the deep sorrow of those who lost their families in the catastrophe.
- The 210th day, one of the critical days for the rice crop, passed peacefully today.
1925.09.02
- The British Prince George will visit Japan on the flagship Hawkins of the British Far Eastern Squadron about September 15th.
- Two Russian aviators have reached Japan. One of them was compelled to make a stop in the Shimonoseki strategic zone and to give up further flying, while the other reached Tokorozawa safely today.
1925.09.04 — Grand manoeuvres will be held by the aviation service from September 21st to 29th on the Kwanto plain extending over Tokyo, Saitama and Chiba Prefectures, in commemoration of the independence of the service. This is the first of such manoeuvres in Japan.
1925.09.05 — A conference on railway and steamship connections between Japan and Russia is to be held in Moscow at the beginning of October, when details concerning the matter are to be arranged between the Railway Department of Japan and the Russian authorities. The Japanese commissioners, including officials of the Railway Department, the S. M. R. and the Korean Railway, are to leave Japan for Moscow shortly. It is stated by a commissioner that when the traffic connection is arranged it will open a route from Japan to Europe, which can be covered in one-third of the time and one-half the cost compared with what it is at present.
1925.09.06 — In the cholera epidemic in Yokohama 18 cases have been reported since the first. Suspected cases are reported from Tokyo and Kobe.
1925.09.07 — Cholera has appeared in Tokyo and is spreading in various directions. There have been 44 true and suspected cases in the city. The sanitary police are taking every means to nip the epidemic in the bud.
1925.09.08 — It has been decided to present a set of silver cups with the Imperial crest to each of the four Russian aviators, who have made a successful flight from Russia to Japan, which the Japanese Government considers to have done much for the development of aviation and the cultivation of friendship between Japan and Russia. This is unprecedented special official treatment accorded to foreign aviators.
1925.09.09
- The Yokohama Municipality is taking a positive way of encouraging the residence of foreign traders and other foreigners, who left Yokohama for Kobe and other places at the time of the earthquake, by building them dwelling houses on the Bluff, each of which will cover an area of 35 tsubo and have a lawn of 80 tsubo. The design has been drawn up by a specialist in foreign dwelling houses and is thought to be ideal, each house costing about 5,000 yen.
- Fire broke out in the hygiene room of the Medical College of the Kyushu University at 8.20 P.M. today, and after destroying several rooms, 715 tsubo in total area, it was extinguished at 10.20 P.M. This is the second fire recently occurring in the Medical College.
1925.09.11 — A clinical thermometer has been invented by Mr. Hori of the Ito Aeroplane Works. It resembles a watch in shape, which is connected with a copper tank of small finger size by a copper wire. No longer than 40 seconds is necessary for taking the temperature with it. Another thermometer made by Mr. Hori has a device, by which temperature is recorded automatically on the chart. The medical professors who were shown the thermometers and who experimented with them have spoken of them admiringly. The 220th day, the second critical day for the rice crop, passed quietly today.
1925.09.13 — The population of Yokohama is estimated approximately at about 385,000 as against 441,000 existing in 1922 and 313,000 soon after the earthquake. It is learned that the Crown Princess will care herself for her expected infant giving it her own breast. This is a departure from past usage, by which all Imperial infants have been put under the care of nurses soon after birth.
1925.09.14 — Mr. A. Maki and six other explorers have come back to Yokohama after their successful exploration of unexplored Canadian Rockies.
1925.09.15 — Prince George of England arrived at Yokohama this morning on board the Hawkins. He was welcomed by Masters of Ceremonies, Naval officers, the Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture and many other persons. At 2 P.M., he left for Tokyo.
1925.09.15 — Dr. T. Terao died at 10.30 p.m. in his villa at Gotemba, where he had been recuperating since January, 1923. He was the first scholar of political science in Japan. He was one of the seven professors of the Tokyo Imperial University advocating war with Russia before the Japan-Russia War. In the first revolution of China, he helped largely in the building up of the revolutionary Government and acted as advisor to it for a time, contributing much towards the cultivation of friendship between Japan and China.
1925.09.16 — Prince George of England arrived at Tokyo Station, where he was received by Prince Takamatsu. He drove straight to the British Embassy. After a short recess there, he made visits to the Imperial family. He paid homage at the Meiji Shrine, after which he went to the Imperial Palace, where he was warmly received by H. M. the Empress, and the Prince Regent. He was given a banquet in the Homei Hall.
1925.09.17
- There has been a great change in the personnel of local Governors as a result of the establishment of the Kensei-Kai Cabinet.
- The King and Queen of the Belgians after travelling in India will leave Colombo for home in October by an N. Y. K. steamer. Their preference for a Japanese steamer is appreciated here as an honour to the Japanese shipping world.
- The Hatsukaze, one of the Asahi airplanes, reached Berlin to-day. The Kochikaze, her companion, had to go back to Koenigsberg on account of motor trouble.
- Abbot Koen Otani of the East Hongwan Temple has retired on account of a heavy debt, privately contracted.
1925.09.18
- At 3.25 p.m. the House of Peers took fire. The flames soon spread to the whole building and to the House of Representatives near by. The fire was extinguished at 5 p.m. after destroying the main buildings of both houses.
- General Yui, reserve, died of cancer of the stomach at 7.30 p.m. at the age of 66. He was an able officer and was once looked upon as a possibility for the position of Chief of General Staff.
1925.09.19
- At an extraordinary Cabinet meeting it was decided to build semi-permanent wooden buildings for the Diet to be ready for use by January 20.
- Mr. C. Ninomiya of Osaka has been officially commended on account of his designing a good model of a flying machine thirty-two years ago, when no flying-machines had yet been invented.
1925.09.20 — At 1.45 a.m. the house of Prince Tokugawa at Sendagaya, Tokyo caught fire. The whole building was soon ablaze, as the fire was discovered too late and there was insufficient water. The flames were subdued at 3.15 a.m. after destroying seven buildings covering an area of 900 tsubo. Prince and Princess Tokugawa were at their Dzushi villa. The total loss is estimated at 1,000,000 yen, of which 350,000 yen is covered by insurance.
1925.09.22 — The Post Office Insurance Bureau of the Communications Department plans operating earthquake insurance, for which it has nearly concluded the necessary investigations. There is some opposition raised by private fire insurance companies, but this will be disregarded, according to the authorities.
1925.09.23 — Desirous to establish a permanent national food policy solving a long standing question of great importance in connection with the problem of population, the Agriculture and Forestry Minister is consulting with the Korean Government-General. The latter has a plan to increase the rice crop in Korea by 8,000,000 koku in a decade, with which she will be able to supply annually 9,000,000 koku to Japan proper, including 4,000,000 koku as supplied at present. This would be sufficient to obviate foreign rice importation and insure the self-supply of food by Japan.
1925.09.24
- In connection with the official project for aerial navigation lines, it is understood that if the estimated expenditure of about 2,500,000 yen for the fiscal year of 1926–1927 is approved by the Diet, a weekly service between Tokyo and Dairen and a tri-weekly service between Osaka and Shanghai will be started.
- Viscount Hamao, President of the Privy Council, met with an accident at his residence in Tokyo. While taking a walk he fell into a hole in which fallen leaves and sticks were being burnt. He was badly burnt about the head, breast, feet and hands and became unconscious. It was some time before he was discovered by the family.
- The opening of the Tokyo-Uyeno section on the Government electric railway lines is expected on November 1.
1925.09.25 — Viscount Hamao died at 3.40 p.m. in the Tokyo Imperial University hospital. He was 77 years of age. Viscount Hamao was a man of the greatest sincerity, pure and noble, says Premier Viscount Kato, and it is a great national loss that he died without being able to further devote himself to national affairs.
1925.09.26
- The Italian flier de Pinedo reached Kasumigaura at 5.51 p.m. after travelling a distance of 36,000 kilometers.
- Baron Matsui was invested as Ambassador to the Court of St. James's at the Akasaka Palace.
1925.09.27 — Mr. Y. Kataoka, who won an international reputation for his recovery of gold worth £100,000 from the Yasaka-maru lying at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, returned to Tokyo to-day, accompanied by Captain I. Hamada.
1925.09.28 — It is officially announced that from October 1st, foreign postage rates will be lowered to 10 sen for letters not exceeding 20 grams in weight, with 6 sen for each additional 20 grams, to 6 sen for post cards, to 12 sen for return post cards, to 2 sen for printed matter to 50 grams, to 10 sen for business papers not exceeding 150 grams in weight, with 2 sen for each additional 50 grams and to 4 sen for commercial samples not exceeding 100 grams in weight, with 2 sen for each additional 50 grams.
1925.09.29 — The funeral service of the late Viscount Hamao was held in the Tokyo Imperial University Hall.
1925.09.30
- Baron C. Hozumi and Dr. K. Okano have been appointed the President and Vice-President of the Privy Council respectively as recommended by Prince Saionji, their installation ceremony being held on the 30th in the Akasaka Palace before the Prince Regent.
- The Asahi fliers entered Paris on the 28th, finishing the second part of the flight from Japan to Europe.
1925.10.01 — A big meeting of noted Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Formosan Buddhists will be held in Tokyo on November 1st.
1925.10.02 — There was a heavy downpour of rain from the 29th to the 1st, the heaviest recorded in 50 years, causing extensive damage to the Kwanto District. In Tokyo alone, 42,332 houses were flooded. Everywhere in the district there were casualties and means of communications were interrupted.
1925.10.03 — A national census was taken at 12 a.m. on the 1st. At the same time, an unemployment census was also taken.
1925.10.04
- The rice crop of this year is officially estimated at 61,494,210 koku, based on the conditions existing on September 20th, an increase of 4,323,797 koku, or 7.6 per cent over the actual harvest in 1924 and of 3,154,738 koku, or 5.4 per cent over the average yield for the past five years.
- Dr. G. Yamawaki, Member of the House of Peers, while walking in the street at Tamachi, Akasaka, Tokyo, collided with a quickly moving bicycle. He fell on his back and struck his head on the concrete pavement, sustaining a severe wound. He was taken to the Keio University Hospital, where he is lying in a serious condition.
1925.10.05 — The ceremony of placing a band or sash around the body of the Crown Princess, who is enceinte, was held in the Akasaka Palace.
1925.10.06 — The executives of the Seiyu Party have published the principal planks of its policy.
1925.10.07 — According to the unemployment census taken by the Tokyo Municipality on the 1st, there were 10,544 unemployed persons in Tokyo, 25.8 per cent of the employed.
1925.10.08
- Mr. H. Arimatsu, a member of the Privy Council, suffered a stroke of apoplexy at his home on the morning of the 6th. He was the President of the Bureau of Legislation in 1916, after which he was appointed a member of the Privy Council.
- Dr. Yamawaki died at 8.30 p.m. in the Keio Hospital. He was 77 years of age.
1925.10.09
- The Government has decided on its policy in connection with the Chinese Customs Tariff Conference, proposing the adjustment of unsecured loans by additional Customs income to be levied.
- As a result of the national census taken on the 1st instant, it has been ascertained that Tokyo has a population of 2,080,000. As compared with the number before the earthquake, the figure shows a decrease of 100,000.
1925.10.10 — The Electrical Exhibition was opened at Uyeno to-day.
1925.10.12
- Returns of the Statistical Bureau of the Cabinet, just published, show that during 1924, there were 2,041,106 births in Japan, 1,041,723 males and 999,383 females, a decrease of 42,985 from 1923, and 1,273,720 deaths, 653,577 males and 620,143 females, a decrease of 77,099 from 1923. Still births numbered 125,839. Births were thus greater by 743,574 than deaths, being 12.57 per 1,000 population, which is .41 larger than in 1923.
- The Sixth Congress of the Far Eastern Association of Tropical Medicine was opened in the Tokyo Imperial University Hall at 9 a.m. to-day. Premier Viscount Kato delivered a speech of welcome.
1925.10.13 — At a Cabinet conference held to-day, Japan's general policy respecting the Chinese Customs Tariff Conference was decided.
1925.10.15 — A baseball match will be held on the 17th between the Keio and Waseda teams on the Waseda ground. It has created a sensation among the fans throughout Japan, as it is twenty years since there has been a baseball game between these universities.
1925.10.16 — Mr. M. Hioki, Japanese Deputy at the Chinese Customs Tariff Conference, left Tokyo for Peking on the morning of the 15th. In the train, he published a statement, declaring that he was not pessimistic as to the success of the conference, which depends upon the Chinese attitude towards the Powers, which were joining the Conference with the same sympathy towards China as signified at the Washington Conference.
1925.10.17
- The Trappist monastery near Hakodate, Hokkaido was nearly destroyed by fire on the morning of the 16th.
- Cholera has been stamped out in Tokyo. On the 16th, the Metropolitan Police removed the prohibition on fishing along the coast of Tokyo Bay.
1925.10.18
- Dr. K. Tanaka and Dr. T. Koyama have been chosen as court physicians for the expected Imperial grandchild.
- The former is the Chief of the Pediatry Dept. of the Japan Red Cross Hospital and the latter a professor in the Chiba Medical College, both having high ability and character.
- The Italian flier de Pinedo left Japan on the morning of the 18th, from Kagoshima for Shanghai.
1925.10.19 — The big pier at Yokohama has been nearly completed, at a cost of 1,660,000 yen. Its completion will be celebrated on the 28th inst.
1925.10.20 — The baseball match between the Keio and Waseda teams, eagerly looked forward to by the fans, was held on the 19th, when the Keio was beaten with a score of 0 to 11.
1925.10.21 — The projectors of the big hotel company in Yokohama have adopted the name Hotel New Grand for the hotel and will set to work organizing the company at once.
1925.10.22 — The father of photography in Japan has been ascertained from old records to have been Toshinojo Uyeno, who took a photograph of Lord Nariaki Shimazu in the 12th year of Tenpo (1841).
1925.10.23 — The Tokyo Municipal Social Bureau announces that of the university, college and middle school graduates, about 18,000 this year, about 60 per cent are unemployed.
1925.10.24 — Baron Matsui, the new Japanese Ambassador to the Court of St. James, left Tokyo for Yokohama to embark on the Empress of Asia bound for Vancouver at 3 p.m.
1925.10.25 — The Financial Bureau has decided to issue bonds of 150,000,000 yen for next fiscal year, of which 100,000,000 yen will be for reconstruction after the earthquake, 40,000,000 yen Railway Bonds and 10,000,000 yen Korean Industrial Bonds.
1925.10.26 — The Government has decided to give military training to boys for four years before joining the army, the total number of hours being 800, a yearly average of 200 hours.
1925.10.27 — The Kure Admiralty has succeeded in sending carrier pigeon messages from a submarine under water by shooting a tube up to the surface with a time-stop device, in which is put a pigeon. The tube came to the surface in 2.8 seconds, when it opened, letting the pigeon free to carry a message to its destination.
1925.10.28 — Fire broke out at the Shibaura Works of the Tokyo Municipal Electric Bureau at about 6 p.m. and reduced to ashes most of the works and 42 electric cars under repair, inflicting damage of about 2,000,000 yen.
1925.10.30
- Mr. H. Doke, member of the House of Peers, died of inflammation of the lungs at 3.45 p.m. He was 65 years of age. He was once Director of the Agricultural Bureau of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
- The first general meeting of the Japan Scientific Association was held in the Tokyo Imperial University hall. The association was formed to serve nationally as a means of friendship and union of Japanese scholars and internationally as a representative body.
1925.10.31 — The Tokyo Municipality has drawn up a plan for an underground railway to be built in the capital in 13 consecutive years at a cost of 187,000,000 yen. The work of construction will be started next fiscal year.
1925.11.01 — A grand meeting of Buddhists of East Asia was held at 9 a.m. in the hall of the Zojo Temple, Shiba, Tokyo, priests attending from China, Korea and Formosa.
1925.11.02 — H. M. the Emperor will decorate General Drummond, who is taking care of Prince Chichibu in England, with the Second Order of the Rising Sun, and H. M. the Empress will present Lady Drummond with a fine gold lacquered case. They will be carried by Baron Hayashi, who is shortly leaving for England to attend the young Imperial Prince.
1925.11.03 — The Old People's Home at Takinogawa, Tokyo is starting a new system of caring for old people in general. In the home, there are at present about 250 poor and helpless aged persons. Besides, it is planned to receive in the home those who are not so poor, but are in circumstances compelling them to live separate from their family.
1925.11.04 — The Tokyo Prefectural Office has decided to abolish some impositions on the poor from a social point of view. These impositions include taxes on rikishas for public service, on doss-houses and patent medicine peddlers.
1925.11.05 — Dr. Kishi, who has been devoting himself to a scientific study of the soil of Tokyo, is said to have discovered that the earth is of a nature unique in the world.
1925.11.06 — The total amount of post life insurances is estimated to reach over 1,000,000,000 yen by the end of this month. The Post Insurance Bureau has drawn up a plan for increasing the amount to 10,000,000,000 yen and the number of policy-holders to about 30,000,000 in the next ten years.
1925.11.07 — The Tobacco Monopoly Bureau has raised the prices of cigars, cigarettes and other tobacco by 20 per cent.
1925.11.08 — As a result of the national census taken on October 1st, the population of Tokyo has been ascertained to be a little over 1,995,000.
1925.11.09 — The Yokohama Municipality has decided to purchase perpetual leases in the former settlement in Yokohama in order to hasten the reconstruction of the foreign business quarters by giving capital to the leaseholders, for which a loan of 3,000,000 yen will be raised by the Municipality.
1925.11.10 — The jury system is expected to go into force in Japan three years hence and the authorities have decided to spread knowledge about it among the people at a yearly cost of 200,000 yen from the end of this month.
1925.11.11 — The Japanese Government has decided to participate in an international exhibition to be held in Philadelphia, in June next in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of American independence. A Japanese village will be built in the exhibition grounds, in which Japanese tea-houses will be set up, Japanese products will be sold and Japanese entertainments will be given. Marquis Komura of the Foreign Office is said to desire to send leading Japanese actors, actresses and dancers to the exhibition.
1925.11.12 — Dr. Okano has been chosen President of the Imperial Academy.
1925.11.13 — Certain French scholars are visiting Japan one after another next year to give lectures to Japanese students of France, and in exchange Japanese scholars are to visit France.
1925.11.14 — An unemployment census taken on October 1st shows that there were in Tokyo 385,300 persons earning less than 200 yen a month, of which 18,000 were unemployed, which works out at 4.68 persons per 100 employed persons.
1925.11.15 — The second census taken by the Osaka Prefectural Office gives the population of Osaka as 2,115,000, a yearly increase of 68,000 on an average since 1920.
1925.11.16 — At the inaugural meeting of a union of 20,000 chauffeurs, a photograph was presented by the Chief Secretary Mr. Sumitani, of the late Prince Arisugawa, Prince Li and the late Prince Ito in an automobile, driven by Mr. K. Okura. The photograph was taken in about 1909, when the automobile was run to the Okinoshima Villa of the late Imperial Prince, in Aizu, by Mr. Okura to show that it was suitable for use by the Imperial court.
1925.11.18 — The Government has decided to grant a loan of 120,000,000 yen to the Korean Government in 12 yearly instalments for the realization of the latter's plan to increase the yield of rice in the peninsula.
1925.11.19 — At a Cabinet conference, the next fiscal year's general Budget was decided as 1,598,235,000 yen, including ordinary expenditure of 1,078,859,000 yen and extraordinary expenditure of 519,376,000 yen. The revenue is 1,529,026,000 yen, leaving a shortage of 69,209,000 yen, which is to be met by the surplus brought over from the present fiscal year.
1925.11.20 — At the second national meeting of teachers of English held for three days from the 19th, under the auspices of the Society for the Study of English Teaching in the Department of Education, Professor Minamiishi of the Doshisha College proposed oral examination in English at examinations for entrance to the High and Technical Schools, in order to reform the present system of English teaching in the middle schools, which is too much inclined towards writing and reading and not towards speaking.
1925.11.21 — The Municipalization of perpetual leases in the former settlement of Yokohama is progressing satisfactorily. The total area purchased, to be purchased soon and applications for selling amounts to 90,600 tsubo, the purchasing price being 35 yen on the Bluff and 130 yen in Yamashita-cho, maximum.
1925.11.22 — The Yokohama Municipal Council passed the estimated cost of 1,000,000 yen for the New Grand Hotel building, which will begin to be erected in January, 1926 and will be completed in 1927. Mr. C. Shimooka, the Chief of the Civil Administration of Korea, died this morning in his Tokyo residence at the age of 56. Graduated from the Tokyo Imperial University, he entered the official world and served successively as the Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Commerce and Home Affairs and the Chief Secretary of the Privy Council, until he was appointed Chief of the Korean Civil Administration upon the formation of the first Kato Cabinet.
1925.11.24 — A project is being promoted for the annual celebration of the foundation of the state with the object of arousing the national attention to the ideal of the state's foundation and the national spirit and love of peace. Mr. H. Nagata, ex-Mayor of Tokyo, is Chairman of the Arrangements Committee. The first celebration will be held on February 11, 1926.
1925.11.25 — As a result of the unemployment census taken recently, Yokohama and neighbourhood were found to have 9,043 unemployed persons out of 494,195 on the census register.
1925.11.26 — November 29th is the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the Doshisha University, Kyoto, and its students decided to create a pension fund of 50,000 yen for their teachers by paying 50 sen every school term for 15 years. This is an unprecedented project in schools in Japan. The university has hitherto been financially unable to allow pensions to its professors.
1925.11.27 — It has been officially decided to give certain railway men police power, perhaps from March 1, 1926, the men to be so authorized being station masters, assistant station-masters and conductors in charge of passenger trains.
1925.11.28 — Plans are being made for erecting a monument for Mr. Richardson, an Englishman, who was killed at Namamugi in August, 1862 by a retainer of the Satsuma clan, which event is known as the Namamugi affair, by the local district chief and other persons, including the mayor of Tsurumi.
1925.11.29 — The Toho Electric Power Co. plans to run a regular passenger motor car service between Tokyo and Yokohama along the newly built national road, using the storage battery system, storing electricity unused in the night.
1925.11.30 — An investigation made by the Tokyo Municipal Social Bureau at 184 works in Tokyo shows that out of the 93,574 workmen investigated, over 40 per cent finished the ordinary elementary course, dyers being mostly uneducated and mechanics being mostly educated. Of the works investigated, 19 had schools of their own, 14 held lecture meetings, 5 gave education to their men outside and 8 otherwise educated them, an exceptional fact being that one machine factory had a middle school for its men.
1925.12.01 — The new American Ambassador, Mr. MacVeagh arrived by the President Taft.
1925.12.02 — The peasant labour political party inaugurated on the 1st was prohibited by the Minister of Home Affairs on the night of the same day, under Art. 8 Clause 2 of the Police Regulations for the Maintenance of the Public Peace.
1925.12.03 — Mr. B. Yasuda, formerly Vice-Minister of Home Affairs, accepted the position of Chief of the Korean Civil Administration.
1925.12.04 — The second national census taken in 1925 shows there are in Japan 22 cities, each of which has a population of not less than 100,000, led by Osaka with a population of 2,114,809 followed by Tokyo with 1,995,303. Nagoya comes third with 768,560, Kyoto fourth with 679,976, Kobe fifth with 644,212 and Yokohama sixth with 405,888. These are the six largest cities in Japan. On October 1, 1925, Japan had a population of 59,736,704. Compared with the first census taken five years ago, the population shows an increase of 3,773,651 or 6.7 per cent.
1925.12.06 — The Crown Princess gave birth to a princess at 8.30 p.m.
1925.12.07 — At 3.30 a.m. a fire occurred in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, destroying 200 houses in the busiest quarter of the city.
1925.12.08 — Mr. H. Kubota of the Chiba Medical College hospital is reported to have found a radical cure for cancer and to be presenting a thesis for a doctor's degree.
1925.12.09 — The railway authorities have decided to run electric trains on the Tokyo-Odawara section of the Tokaido line only after sufficient trial. It may not be until March that the section is entirely electrified.
1925.12.10 — The Korean census shows the population to be 19,519,903, an increase of 1,451,787 over the figure at the end of 1914.
1925.12.11 — Prince and Princess Asaka returned to Japan from Europe and America, where the Prince had travelled for three years.
1925.12.12 — The Yokohama Municipality plans establishing an industrial laboratory in the Yokohama Commercial and Industrial School, for silk research and for making industrial tests for the public. The naming ceremony for the Imperial Princess, born on December 6, was held in the Akasaka Palace. She was named Princess Terunomiya.
1925.12.14 — The new building of the Imperial Diet has been completed in 90 days after the old buildings were destroyed by fire on September 18. This is a record in the architectural world of Japan.
1925.12.15 — About 25,000 odes have been presented to the Imperial Court from Japan and foreign lands from which will be chosen those to be recited at the Imperial poetry party at the New Year. The subject given was "clear river-water."
1925.12.15 — The Manchurian situation having grown serious, the Cabinet decided to reinforce the Japanese army stationed in South Manchuria to preserve the peace and to protect Japanese rights there.
1925.12.17 — A mixed brigade has been organized from the 12th division at Kurume, Kyushu for despatch to South Manchuria. Dr. John R. Mott, President of the International Y. M. C. A., accompanied by Mrs. Mott and Mr. Frederick Mott, his son, arrived at Yokohama. Dr. Mott, who collected large contributions in America for the Japanese sufferers from the earthquake, told a press representative in his opinion America must have friendly sentiments towards Japan and that his many Japanese friends know that he has not the least sympathy with America in her attitude to Japanese immigrants.
1925.12.19 — Mr. U. Isakura, a lacquer ware merchant, in the city of Kure, is said to have succeeded in inventing a process for rescuing submarine boats from disaster. H. I. M. the Emperor had cerebral anaemia of a slight nature this evening, but soon recovered.
1925.12.21 — The Finance Minister, Mr. Hamaguchi made an informal announcement of the Budget for the next fiscal year. The expenditure for the fiscal year will amount to 1,598,291,785 yen, comprising 1,075,470,376 yen ordinary expenses and 522,821,409 yen extraordinary expenses.
1925.12.22 — Baron Okano, Vice-President of the Privy Council, died at his Oiso villa.
1925.12.23 — 51 educational bodies in Tokyo Prefecture passed a resolution calling for the abolition of the entrance examination to middle schools. This resolution and a memorial concerning the question have been presented by their representatives to the prefectural and municipal educational authorities.
1925.12.24 — H. I. H. the Crown Princess and her recently born daughter are reported to be in very good health.
1925.12.26 — The opening ceremony of the Imperial Diet for the 51st session was held in the House of Peers. H. I. H. the Prince Regent honoured it with his presence and read the Imperial rescript opening the parliament. Viscount Okabe, a court councillor, died of hemorrhage of the brain at the age of 72. When young, he studied at Cambridge University. He was Minister of Justice, when Prince Katsura formed his second cabinet, in 1908.
1925.12.28 — The Tokyo Imperial University hospital will start night consultations from about January 20, as the consultation office which has been under construction for some time has been completed, in order to meet increased requirements by consultation at night.
1925.12.29 — A labour club has been formed by university and college students in Tokyo, with the object of reforming habits of luxury and indolence among the student class. The members of the club will do farming, while attending school. A farm has been acquired in the suburbs of Tokyo.
1926.01.01 — The Prince Regent is said to have nearly decided to visit the South Sea islands in the spring or autumn of this year. The Prince has a great liking for the study of biology. Mr. R. Matsushita, Managing Director of the Maruzen Co., the largest foreign book store in Japan, was killed by a taxi-cab while waiting for a tram car. Mr. K. Murai, President of the Murai Bank and Director of the Murai Trading Co. and other companies, died of heart failure at the age of 63. He was once known as the Tobacco King before the nationalization of the tobacco business, and was a multi-millionaire.
1926.01.04 — Arrangements have been made to put in force the Railway Police Law, which was promulgated by an Imperial ordinance on December 29, 1923, during this spring, investing railway station masters and conductors with police power in stations and trains. At 8 p.m. the Nikko Hotel took fire, and the whole building was destroyed. 33 American tourists had put up at the hotel just before the outbreak of the fire, and they lost the bulk of their effects and souvenirs.
1926.01.08 — The New Year military review was held as usual at the Yoyogi parade ground before the Prince Regent.
1926.01.09 — The exhibition building of treasures at Kamakura is nearly completed, and Mr. R. Sei, the town chief of Kamakura, will be appointed its President it is reported. Treasures held in the various Buddhist temples and shrines in the town are to be shown.
1926.01.10 — The cities of Tokyo and London have arranged for exchanging and planting trees respectively through the medium of Mr. K. Inouye, the Chief of the Public Garden Section of the Tokyo Municipality, sent in 1925 to inspect the world's public gardens. The Tokyo Municipal authorities selected and sent to the Mayor of London on the 8th seedlings of the best species of the Yoshino cherry, plum and other trees and different seeds, in exchange for which seedlings and seeds have been forwarded from London to Japan. Mr. Inouye has been asked to get for the city of Paris seedlings of cherry trees, and a similar request has been received from Ohio, U.S.A. In this way, Japanese cherry trees are being transplanted in various parts of the world.
1926.01.11 — A hospital plane of the Japan Red Cross Hospital has been completed and has undergone successful trial runs. The plane has three suspended beds and light chairs for carrying patients with the greatest ease. Mrs. Kakei Atomi died at the age of 87. She was President Emeritus of the Atomi Girls' School, the oldest girls' high school in Japan, which has contributed much towards the development of feminine education in this country by producing thousands of graduates, including several princesses of the blood, including Princess Kan-in. Mrs. Atomi was a good artist and often painted in the Imperial presence and also in the presence of high foreign personages visiting Japan.
1926.01.13 — Princess Shigeko, the Imperial grandchild, who was born on December 6th, is enjoying good health.
1926.01.14 — Captain Abe and three other aviators of the Asahi planes who came back after a successful flight to Europe and arrived at Tokyo on the 10th amidst the enthusiastic welcome of the citizens and many aeroplanes were received in audience by the Prince Regent today.
1926 (8 entries)
1926.07.18 — Extraordinary mob riots broke out in Nagano city. About 2,000 people from Iwamurata, Nakano, Yashiro and other towns and villages invaded the prefectural capital, assaulted the residence of the governor, threw Governor Umeya from the second story balcony and kicked and beat him with geta, and similarly attacked the prefectural chief of police Mr. Takeshita and prominent members of the assembly. The cause was that the governor, with the consent of the assembly called in extraordinary session in June, had abolished three police stations and fourteen police sub-stations in as many towns and villages, which the affected communities strongly resented. The police of Nagano city were powerless to stop the riot.
1926.07.20 — A fresh outbreak occurred in the town of Nakano, where a mob of several hundred, shortly after midnight, attacked the police station and smashed up parts of the building and furniture, by way of protest against the arrests of those suspected of having taken part in the Nagano rioting. The central government ordered a strict investigation and drastic punishment of the leaders. Governor Umeya and his subordinates tendered their resignations. A number of local police chiefs in the prefecture also resigned in protest against the governor's policy of police curtailment. Karuizawa, the internationally known summer resort in Nagano prefecture, was one of the places that had its police station reduced to the status of an inferior sub-station, just as the resort was entering the height of the season.
1926.06 — Little rain fell during June when it was most needed for the rice crop, causing great distress among farmers in many parts of the country. Disputes over water led to disturbances in several prefectures. An old dispute about the control of a river dam in Yamagata prefecture led to a fight with stones, sticks and other weapons between several hundred farmers from opposing villages. Similar outbreaks occurred between villagers in Niigata prefecture and in Gumma prefecture. A mob of 2,500 farmers entered Kumamoto city and marched to the governor's official residence, demanding an investigation of the alleged unfair distribution of irrigation water. A riot over the removal of a school building broke out in Ehime prefecture in Shikoku, with a battle among the people of five villages.
1926.07 — Landowner's associations in the country districts have been increasing rapidly, from 225 at the end of 1918 to 534 at present. They have been organized partly to improve methods of agriculture, but more especially to counter the great spread of tenant's unions. There are two federations of these associations, with a plan to combine them into a national federation. Disputes between owners and their tenants have grown greatly in number and severity in recent years, over questions of rentals, land-holding, and related matters, constituting one of the most serious problems Japan faces today.
1926.07 — The bribery scandals over the proposed removal of the Matsushima licensed quarters in Osaka continue under investigation. Mr. Tokonami, president of the Seiyu-honto political party, was summoned to Osaka and underwent an examination of many hours in the Osaka courthouse. A few days later, Mrs. Tokonami was summoned for a similar purpose.
1926.07 — Miss Kinue Hitomi of Osaka, a member of the staff of the Osaka Mainichi, departed to take part in the Swedish sports carnival. Miss Hitomi holds the record of 11.626 meters in the hop, step and jump and has made notable achievements in other track sports. She travelled via Siberia.
1926.07 — The government has decided to withdraw old coins from circulation within a period of four years from August this year. There are at present 24 kinds of coins in circulation, and the total number of old coins in the hands of the people is estimated at 911,000,000. Uniform coinage of 50 sen silver, 10 and 5 sen nickel, and 1 and half-sen copper will be made standard.
1926.07 — Plans are under way for a great exhibition to be held in Osaka in 1929, in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the signing of peace after the world war. The exhibition is to be under the auspices jointly of the city and prefecture of Osaka, with expenditure calculated at 26,000,000 yen and covering an area of 400,000 tsubo.
1927 (294 entries)
1927.01.16 — With a view to making Japanese children's real feelings of international friendship widely known to the children of the world as a step in training them in the conception of internationalism, the Juvenile Department of the Japan League of Nations Association has decided on distributing throughout the world thousands of copies of a declaration written by themselves. The latter is to be selected from among those written competitively by school-children, by a boy and a girl from the three thousand primary schools of the country. The girl's letter will be despatched on March 3, the Dolls' Feast Day, and the boy's on May 5, the Boys' Festival Day.
1927.01.17
- H. I. H. Prince Chichibu, younger brother of the Emperor, arrived at Yokohama today on the Siberia-Maru. He left Japan for study abroad on May 24, 1925. On receipt of the report of his father's precarious condition, he hurried home.
- By the same steamer arrived three thousand dolls sent to Japanese school-children by the Children's Friendship Association organized by Dr. Gulick and others in America. More dolls will continue to arrive until May 3, the Fete of Peachblossoms or the Dolls' Feast. The Education Department has decided to hold a welcome meeting for the dolls.
1927.01.18 — The 52nd Session of the Diet re-opened today. Premier Wakatsuki and the Foreign Minister, Baron Shidehara, each delivered a speech concerning the Government policy. Mr. Kataoka, Finance Minister, made an address on the financial policy in the House of Representatives. The Government and Opposition Parties' relations became quite strained.
1927.01.19 — According to investigation by the Industrial Bank of Japan, the issue of public loans and debentures last year amounted to 1,231,577,000 yen, and those refunded reached 641,329,000 yen.
1927.01.20
- The Official Gazette announced the posthumous name of the deceased Emperor to be "Taisho Tenno." In the Imperial Court the ceremony of the formal report of the posthumous name was solemnly performed. The name of the Mausoleum, "Tama-no-Misasagi," was also made known today unofficially by the Household Department.
- As a result of the decision to introduce in the Diet a non-confidence bill against the Cabinet by the two Opposition parties, the Seiyukai and Seiyu Honto, the Government caused the Diet to be prorogued for three days.
- Prof. Keiichi Shimada of the Kiryu Higher Technological College has invented a method of making kerosene oil from rubber refuse. After having obtained a patent in Japan, he applied for it in England, France and United States.
1927.01.21
- At the Waichiaoapu, Peking, the Sino-Japanese Commercial Treaty Revision Conference was opened. Dr. Wellington Koo, representing China, delivered an opening address which was followed by a reply by Mr. Yoshizawa, the Japanese Minister.
- The Finance Department announces that the exports during the earlier part of January amounted to 54,143,000 yen and the imports to 75,065,000 yen, showing an excess of imports of 20,922,000 yen.
1927.01.23 — While the 52nd session of the Diet was prorogued Premier Wakatsuki invited the leaders of the Seiyu-kai and Seiyu Honto, the Opposition parties, to a conference. As a result, the motion of non-confidence in the Cabinet was withdrawn by the Opposition.
1927.01.24 — Early this morning the Tokyo people experienced the coldest winter day on record for many years. The thermometer dropped to 7.8 degrees below zero at 6 a.m., the lowest in the neighbourhood of Tokyo since the Central Meteorological Observatory's establishment. Soon it fell again to 8.6 degrees below zero, 0.4 degree lower than on January 9, 1918, the coldest day until today.
1927.01.25 — Mr. H. Fukuwara and his party of the Kanegafuchi Spinning Mills, Ltd., who had been despatched to Brazil for colonial investigation, returned to Yokohama. Their trip was a result of the Para State authorities of Brazil having offered to the spinning mill a new colony having an area of about 500,000 square cho in that country.
1927.01.26 — The Dai-Nippon Aquatic Sports League which had long contemplated holding a grand Pan-Pacific meeting of aquatic sports, inviting champions from America, Hawaii, Australia, the Philippines, etc., has decided to hold its first meeting at the end of August this year.
1927.01.29 — After seven years' absence from Japan H. I. H. Prince Higashi-Kuni returned home, arriving at Yokohama on board the President McKinley from France via America. Besides studying military science in France he devoted himself to other researches. The Prince was received by H. I. H. Prince Chichibu and other Princes of the Blood.
1927.01.31 — Japan welcomed Dr. Theodor Kalmann, Head Professor of the Aeronautic Department, Aachen University, who arrived at Yokohama. He is an atmospherologist, being an authority on the resistance of air-currents to airplanes. Dr. Kalmann has come to Japan for the purpose of helping install an aeroplane research institute and will stay for about half a year. Mr. Heijiro Sasaki, M.P., a prominent fishery magnate in Hokkaido, was appointed head adviser to the Japanese Delegation to the Russo-Japanese fishery negotiations and returned to Hokkaido to prepare for his departure for Moscow. The Japanese delegates to the 10th International Labour Conference at Geneva were nominated: Mr. R. Nagaoka, Director of the Social Bureau (Government); Mr. K. Inabata, President of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce (Capitalists); Mr. B. Suzuki, Leader of the Japan Labour Federation (Labourers).
1927.02.01 — The Finance Department published the Budget for the 2nd year of Showa (1927): total net revenue 3,684,428,000 yen; total net expenditure 3,601,369,000 yen, showing an increase of 315,036,000 yen in revenue and of 255,073,000 yen in expenditure compared with the preceding year.
1927.02.02 — The Government, considering it necessary to augment the import of foreign rice to about 4,070,000 koku, has decided to exempt the import duty from March 1 to October 31 this year, under Art. 2 of the Rice and Cereals Law.
1927.02.03 — The settled accounts apart from foreign trade for last year were: 811,000,000 yen receipts and 600,000,000 yen payments; the excess of receipts thus amounted to 211,000,000 yen. The total amount of Japan's export trade for January was 141,154,000 yen; imports 192,098,000 yen, showing an excess of imports of 50,944,000 yen.
1927.02.05 — In consideration of the condition in China, the Navy Department ordered the cruiser Tenryu and the destroyers Tokitsukaze, Amatsukaze, Hamakaze and Isokaze, all belonging to the 18th flotilla, with 300 marines on board, to the Sasebo Naval Station to await further orders.
1927.02.07 — The Funeral of the late Emperor Taisho was solemnly held. An Act of Amnesty was promulgated, also an Imperial Rescript announcing a donation of 1,500,000 yen, to be distributed among all the prefectures in Japan Proper, Chosen, Formosa, Karafuto, Kuantung Leased Territory and the South Sea Mandate Islands.
1927.02.08
- The Mausoleum Ceremonies for the late Emperor Taisho were performed with solemn rites. In accordance with the Imperial Mourning Act, Imperial Court affairs were suspended for two days.
- The latest investigation shows that the total number of labour controversies reached 1,155 last year, an increase of 343 over the preceding year, the greater part due to the general depression of business.
1927.02.09 — Nagano, Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui Prefectures in North Japan experienced the heaviest snowfall in several decades. In some districts snow fell over 25 feet deep, causing many deaths and other casualties, and great damage to property. Train service was suspended for several days on the Shinyetsu, Fuchoku and Hokuriku railway lines, where the snow was over 10 feet deep, burying trains in some instances.
1927.02.10 — The House of Representatives passed the Budget for 1927 and extraordinary accounts for the same year as introduced by the Government after a short debate, without amendment.
1927.02.11 — Mr. McVeagh, the United States Ambassador in Tokyo, announced the proposal of President Coolidge suggesting the convocation of a second Naval Disarmament Conference by Japan, Great Britain, the United States, France and Italy at Geneva.
1927.02.12 — President Coolidge's proposal was considered today at an extraordinary cabinet meeting.
1927.02.14 — The snow storm in North Japan, especially in Nagano and Niigata Prefectures, continues to rage, claiming scores of victims. In certain places the inhabitants are threatened with starvation on account of a shortage of food the result of the entire suspension of railway traffic. A great snowslide at one point destroyed twenty-one houses. A large number of people were buried alive, and when twenty-four of them were uncovered ten were found already dead.
1927.02.16 — M. Paul Claudel, French Ambassador at Tokyo, having been appointed to the United States, is leaving Japan Feb. 17. To-day he said farewell over the radio to his Japanese friends.
1927.02.17 — The Metropolitan Police report that in 1926, there were 80,998 deaths in Tokyo and its suburban districts, showing a decrease from 87,576 recorded for 1925. The list of diseases which proved fatal is headed by phthisis with 7,423 cases, besides which there were 3,030 other tuberculous cases. Next comes apoplexy with 6,216 cases. Pneumonia is very close to apoplexy with 6,201 cases.
1927.02.18 — At 3 p.m. the Japan-Russian treaty regarding petroleum mining concessions in North Saghalien was formally signed at Moscow.
1927.02.20 — The reply of the Japanese Government to the United States Government concerning the latter's proposal to convene the second international disarmament conference was made public at 5 p.m. in Tokyo by the Foreign Office. The note set forth Japan's willingness to partake in the proposed conference.
1927.02.21 — A telegram received by the Foreign Office from Japanese Ambassador Matsudaira at Washington reports that the American Government was highly satisfied with the Japanese reply regarding the proposed second international disarmament conference.
1927.02.22 — H. M. the Emperor entertained at dinner at the Akasaka Palace the Papal Legate who had attended the Imperial funeral as the representative of the Pope.
1927.02.23 — Mr. U. Noda, Vice-President of the Seiyu Kai Party, died at 4.48 a.m. at the age of 75. He was a self-made man, having risen from obscurity, and had held the cabinet portfolios of Communications, and Commerce and Industry.
1927.02.24
- During January, there passed through the national clearing houses 2,857,300 bills, valued at 6,527,388,993 yen.
- The Finance Department reports that at the end of January, 1927, the total specie held by Japan amounted to 1,346,000,000 yen, 11,000,000 yen less than the figure at the end of 1926.
1927.02.25 — Mr. Tai Ten-kyu, a prominent figure in the Chinese National Party, arrived in Tokyo. He came with the mission of seeking an understanding with the Japanese Government and people.
1927.02.26 — A milch-cow in Hachijo Island, Izu Province is reported to give daily 18.835 gallons of milk.
1927.02.27 — During 1926, there were in the districts under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police, Tokyo 16,282 traffic accidents which injured 9,781 persons and killed 234 persons, a daily average of 44 persons.
1927.02.28 — The Lower House of the Diet has been quiet since an understanding was reached between the leaders of the three biggest political parties. The Kensei Kai the government party has now entered into an agreement with the Seiyuhonto, one of the non-Government parties. This is believed to be the first step to provide for the political situation in the event of the present Ministry being obliged to resign.
1927.03.01
- For the last ten days of February, the foreign trade of Japan increased 8,686,000 yen in exports and decreased 9,788,000 yen in imports, as compared with the same period in 1926.
- Mr. Z. Nakamura, ex-Mayor of Tokyo, died. He was 61 years of age.
1927.03.02 — The Lower House unanimously passed a resolution of thanks to the British and Belgian Diets for their sympathy with the Japanese nation regarding the demise of the late Emperor.
1927.03.03
- In the Official Gazette, an Imperial rescript was promulgated, making November 3, anniversary of the birth of the Emperor Meiji, a national holiday in remembrance of the virtues of the great emperor and the glorious age of Meiji. The day will be known as the Meiji-setsu.
- The Imperial Navy announces the despatch of the warship Isuzu and Kawachi to Shanghai, with a landing party of 500 men, to protect Japanese residents.
- A welcome meeting for the dolls presented by American girls to Japanese girls was held in the Japan Youngmen's Hall outside the Meiji Shrine. Education Minister Okada, Foreign Minister Baron Shidehara, American Ambassador MacVeagh and other guests were deeply impressed.
1927.03.04 — H. M. the Empress is announced officially to be enceinte.
1927.03.05 — Baron Omori, Lord Steward to H. M. the Empress, died at the age of 72 on March 3.
1927.03.06
- Professor S. Honda of the Agricultural College of the Tokyo Imperial University, an authority on forestry, will retire soon, as he has reached the age-limit of 60.
- A class room of the Doshisha Girls' School in Kyoto caught fire, destroying the whole building of the General Department of the school. The damage is estimated at 120,000 yen.
- At 6.28 p.m., a severe earthquake occurred in Osaka, Kyoto and vicinity. The northern part of the Province of Tango was the centre.
- The earthquake was felt severely in Kobe. In the harbour, a tragedy occurred on the California, which was leaving the port that night with an American tourist party. Several persons were going up the gangway when the earthquake threw them off. One woman passenger was killed, and others were seriously injured.
1927.03.09 — The Bank of Japan made another reduction of its rates, making the daily discount rate of commercial bills 1.6 sen.
1927.03.10
- The Cabinet met to consider the American proposal for a 3-power disarmament conference. Foreign Minister Baron Shidehara expressed his view supporting the proposal. Navy Minister Admiral Takarabe desired more consideration of the question.
- Dr. K. Yamagiwa of the Imperial Tokyo University is said to have invented a method of curing cancer after long study. He will make public a report on his experiments at a national meeting of pathologists in April.
1927.03.11 — Another Cabinet conference was held on the question of the disarmament conference.
1927.03.13
- The Government submitted an additional general budget of 28,975,000 yen for the fiscal year 1927–1928 to the Diet, and when added to the previously presented main account, the total makes 1,759,000,000 yen, the most expensive Budget ever submitted to the Diet.
- The national bonds of Japan are officially reported to be 5,193,413,000 yen as on February 28, 1927, consisting of 3,615,550,000 yen issued in Japan and 1,477,861,000 yen floated in foreign lands.
1927.03.14 — Mr. Armour, Counsellor of the American Embassy, visited Foreign Minister Baron Shidehara at the Foreign Office and handed him a copy of the American Government's formal invitation to a 3-power disarmament conference.
1927.03.15 — Vice-Minister Kawasaki of the Home Department came back from a tour of inspection in the Province of Tango, the scene of the recent disastrous earthquake. He said the shock was more serious than that of the earthquake which visited Tokyo and vicinity in 1923.
1927.03.16 — The fine appearance of the dolls recently sent by American girls to their Japanese friends struck the educational authorities with such admiration that they have decided to introduce improvements in the design of Japanese toys and picture-books, and have telegraphically asked their officials studying in England, America, Germany and France to send specimens of toys and picture-books.
1927.03.17 — The crews of the Japanese warships Kasuga and Urakaze and the Japanese steamer Chefoo Maru, who saved the men of the City of Naples, a British steamer which met disaster off the coast of Izu in June, 1926, were presented with silver medals by the British King and souvenirs and prizes by the ship-owners and the insurance company concerned. The British Ambassador, Sir John Tilley, sent them to the recipients.
1927.03.18 — The Cabinet adopted a draft Imperial ordinance allowing an extension to August, 1928 of the period of existence of the so-called barracks in the earthquake zone of Tokyo, Yokohama and neighbouring towns and villages.
1927.03.19 — A representation was introduced in the Lower House of the Diet by members of the Seiyu-kai, censuring the Finance Minister, Mr. Kataoka, for his ignorance of responsibility as a State Minister for the present disturbances of the money market. It was rejected by 200 votes to 113.
1927.03.20 — The Finance Department reports that for the middle ten days of March, the foreign trade of Japan amounted to 41,102,000 yen in exports and to 62,616,000 yen in imports, showing a balance of 21,514,000 yen against Japan. As compared with the same period in 1926, exports lost 16,920,000 yen and imports 39,066,000 yen, the excess of imports over exports also showing a decrease of 22,146,000 yen. In the total since January 1, the balance of foreign trade against Japan shows a falling off of 46,199,000 yen from the same interval, 1926.
1927.03.21 — The Wakamiya-Maru of the Kamiya-Shimaya Steamship Co., laden with 4,000 tons of lumber, encountered dense fog and a heavy storm at sea, lost her course, and ran aground in the Sea of Kashima. Her crew of 37 men was rescued.
1927.03.22 — Following the suspension of payment of the Tokyo Watanabe Bank and its affiliated Akaji Savings Bank, the Nakai Bank closed its doors. The depositors became nervous and made runs on other banks, compelling the 84th, Nakazawa, Soda and Murai Banks to suspend payment. The Bank of Japan has been called upon for accommodation of funds, and its advances made to banks since March 15 reached 111,000,000 yen.
1927.03.23 — The Government Bill relating to the issue of bonds for compensation for losses on earthquake notes passed the House of Peers. Representatives of the Kensei-kai, the Seiyu-Honto and the Shinsei Club have filed a complaint with the Tokyo District Court against sixteen members of the Seiyu-kai, who did violence to certain Shinsei Club men in the Lower House on March 24.
1927.03.24 — Mr. I. Kiyose of the Shinsei Club, in a discussion of the Government accounts settled for the fiscal year 1925–1926 in the Lower House, criticised an extraordinary military expenditure defrayed in connection with the despatch of troops to Siberia. About ten members of the Seiyu-kai became excited, assaulted and injured Mr. S. Tazaki of the Shinsei Club, then attacked the speaker Mr. Kiyose on the platform and injured him. The President and Vice-President of the Lower House presented their resignations, holding themselves responsible for the occurrence which was unprecedented in the history of the Japanese Parliament.
1927.03.25 — A special despatch from Shanghai reports that on the morning of March 24, the Japanese Consulate at Nanking was looted by Southerners, who committed every sort of outrage.
1927.03.26 — The Imperial Government has decided to despatch a part of the First Standing Squadron to Tsingtau and eight destroyers to Shanghai to protect the Japanese residents in Shanghai, Nanking and vicinity.
1927.03.27 — About noon one of the Iwaki Collieries took fire and was soon ablaze. Being a holiday, no miners were in it, but about 200 mechanics, carpenters, etc. were at work repairing galleries. Of these about 100 could not escape and were burnt to death. While 150 men of the Fourth Company of the Training Regiment of the Chiba Infantry School were at work on the barrack ground, shells for use in manoeuvres exploded, killing one man and injuring 17 men.
1927.03.28 — The Finance Department reports that on February 28, the specie held amounted to 1,337,000,000 yen, 9,000,000 yen less than on January 31, due to money having been paid on account of some foreign bonds, principal and interest.
1927.03.29 — Lieutenant Araki, who was on duty protecting the Japanese residents at Nanking in the recent outrages by the Southerners, attempted suicide after sending the Japanese sufferers to the Japanese warships and himself coming back to Shanghai by the Tenryu, holding himself responsible for the event. He is seriously hurt but will probably be saved from death.
1927.03.30 — Japanese Consul-General Yada visited General Chiang Kai-shek and questioned him closely about the Nanking affair. In reply, the Chinese general declared that he will bear the whole responsibility for the affair. He at once started investigations.
1927.04.01 — The Cabinet considered measures to be taken in connection with the South China disturbances and decided to adhere to a peaceful policy towards China and to take every possible means for the protection of the Japanese residents, in concert with England and America.
1927.04.02 — It has been decided to appoint Viscount K. Ishii, the Japanese Ambassador in France, as the second chief of the Japanese delegation at the Naval Limitation Conference. For first chief, Governor-General Viscount Saito of Korea accepted the post.
1927.04.03 — A special despatch from Shanghai states that Chinese rioters rushed to the Japanese settlement in Hankow, shouting for its recovery. They destroyed Japanese houses and offices there and looted their property. They also shot at Japanese in the streets. A company of Japanese marines landed and guarded the settlement. All the Japanese residents were taken to the Japanese destroyer.
1927.04.04 — The Finance Department reports that for March, 1927, the foreign trade of Japan amounted to 153,957,000 yen for exports and to 229,343,000 yen for imports, the balance standing at 76,386,000 yen against Japan.
1927.04.05 — The Savings Bureau of the Communications Department reports that the outstanding amount of postal savings increased 19,000,000 yen since the middle of March as against a decrease of 3,500,000 to 10,000,000 yen in March in the past six or seven years. This phenomenon is believed to be an outcome of public apprehensions about private banks.
1927.04.06 — Prosecution was started against eleven Seiyu-kai members of the Lower House of the Diet for disorderly conduct.
1927.04.07 — The completion of the framework of the new Imperial Diet buildings was celebrated at 10 a.m. The ceremony was held with ancient rite before 2,000 persons present.
1927.04.09 — Dr. Shimojo is said to be engaged in research concerning the transplantation of human hair, and he hopes to succeed in transplanting hair from the head of one man to another.
1927.04.10 — In the first ten days of April, the foreign trade of Japan amounted to 53,365,000 yen in exports and to 87,061,000 yen in imports, the balance standing at 33,696,000 yen against Japan, the largest figure recorded for any single ten days since last January, due mainly to the growth of raw cotton imports which amounted to 34,793,000 yen.
1927.04.11 — The naval authorities have decided to hold grand manoeuvres in the middle of October under the personal supervision of the Emperor. The scene of battle will extend from Formosa in the south to Saghalien in the north.
1927.04.12 — The Finance Department reports that in the fiscal year 1926–1927, 55,833,000 yen worth of National Bonds were repaid, consisting of 37,711,000 yen of domestic bonds and 18,122,000 yen of foreign bonds.
1927.04.14 — In the trial of university and college students charged with radicalism the Chief Public Procurator demanded imprisonment for periods ranging one to three years under Art. 2 of the Law for the Maintenance of Peace.
1927.04.15 — The Bank of Taiwan having fallen into financial difficulties in consequence of large loans to Suzuki & Co., Kobe, the Government decided to relieve it through the Bank of Japan loaning it 200,000,000 yen by means of an urgent Imperial ordinance, subject to the approval of the Privy Council. The latter's committee rejected the scheme.
1927.04.16 — The Directors of the Bank of Japan decided not to advance money to the Bank of Taiwan on and after the 16th, expecting the proposed urgent Imperial ordinance for the relief of the latter bank to be rejected by the Privy Council.
1927.04.17 — At 2 p.m. the Privy Council met in the Imperial palace in the presence of the Emperor to make their final decision as to the Government proposal to relieve the Bank of Taiwan by issuing an urgent Imperial ordinance. After a warm debate, the proposal was rejected. In consequence, Premier Wakatsuki proceeded to the Akasaka Palace and presented his and his Cabinet's resignations. The Directors of the Bank of Japan met to consider means to meet the emergency in the financial world.
1927.04.18 — The Bank of Taiwan decided to close for three weeks all offices home and abroad, except in Formosa. This threw the financial world into a panic, compelling some more banks to suspend payment.
1927.04.19
- The Imperial command was given to Baron Tanaka, President of the Seiyu Party, to form the succeeding Cabinet.
- Since the beginning of the financial disturbances, the Bank of Japan advanced money up to date to the total of 870,000,000 yen to various banks in anticipation of runs.
1927.04.20
- Baron Tanaka proceeded to the Imperial palace and presented to the Throne the names of his Cabinet.
- Later, the ceremony of installation of the Premier and his Cabinet was held in the presence of the Emperor. At the same time, the Emperor granted the resignation of the Wakatsuki Cabinet.
1927.04.21
- The 15th Bank, one of the most important banks in Japan and a depository of the Imperial Household Department, announced suspension of payments for three weeks. The bank is popularly known as the Peers' Bank and has an immense amount of deposits by peers; its shares are their hereditary property. It has a capital of 100,000,000 yen, of which 49,750,000 yen is paid up, loans of 350,000,000 yen and deposits of 368,000,000 yen.
- A conflagration broke out in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, destroying wholly or partially 610 houses.
1927.04.22
- The Privy Council gave approval to the Government's proposal to enforce a moratorium throughout Japan by issuing an urgent Imperial ordinance, as a means to relieve the financial world from the existing panic.
- All banks throughout the country closed for two days, the 22nd and 23rd. Viscount Saito, Japanese Chief Delegate to the Three-Power Naval Disarmament Conference, and his party sailed from Kobe by the Awa-Maru of the N.Y.K.
1927.04.23 — The Kensei Party, the Seiyu-Honto and the Shinsei Club agreed to amalgamate.
1927.04.24 — In the Official Gazette, it was announced that two new notes, 50 yen and 200 yen, will be issued by the Bank of Japan under the Bank Issue Law, to facilitate note making at the present moment. These notes will be called in as soon as possible.
1927.04.25 — The money market was quiet in Tokyo and elsewhere on the general resumption of business by the banks after closing for the preceding two days, contrary to some public apprehension, although a few savings banks had somewhat unusual withdrawals of deposits.
1927.04.26 — Mayor Nishikubo of Tokyo recently laid the actual condition of the municipal administration before the Emperor. It has been arranged for a day when the citizens may write anything they wish to request or suggest to the Mayor in regard to the Municipal administration.
1927.04.27 — The Government having considered changes in the personnel of prefectural Governors, preliminary to the next general election which is expected before long, decided to release from office or transfer thirty Governors.
1927.04.28 — The Cabinet council adopted the Finance Department draft Law for Loss Indemnity to the Bank of Japan, which is to be presented to the extraordinary session of the Diet to be convened soon.
1927.04.29 — Today was the first celebration of the Emperor's birthday since he ascended the throne, but the court being in mourning, the usual ceremonies of congratulation, banquet and military review were not held, although rites were observed in the Imperial Sanctuary.
1927.04.30 — Mr. H. Motoda, advisor to the Seiyu-Honto, opposing the joining of his party with the Kensei Party, signified his intention to leave the party on the coalition assuming concrete form.
1927.05.01 — May Day was celebrated in Tokyo by 15,000 labourers. They assembled at Arimaga-hara and paraded through the city. The procession occupied two miles. At 4 p.m. they reached Uyeno Park, cheered and dispersed. The Metropolitan police watched them strictly. The demonstration was eventless and only 145 men were restrained.
1927.05.02 — A social meeting was held by members of the proposed coalition party at the Tokyo Kai-kwan. About 500 persons were present, including Mr. Wakatsuki, President of the Kensei Party, Mr. Tokonami, President of the Seiyu-Honto, and other members of the two parties and the Shinsei Club.
1927.05.03
- An extraordinary session of the Diet was convened to consider measures for dealing with the grave situation in the money market.
- The Finance Department reports an excess of imports over exports of 72,201,000 yen for April.
1927.05.04 — The ceremony of opening the extraordinary session of the Diet was held in the House of Peers. H. M. the Emperor, in the full dress of Generalissimo, personally read his message opening the Diet.
1927.05.05
- The Boys' Festival was celebrated with displays of doll soldiers in the houses and outside streamers of paper fish flying high above the roofs.
- In the Diet, the Government Financial Stabilization Bills were discussed and searching questions were put by the Opposition.
1927.05.06 — The new political party decided to submit to the Diet a resolution considering it unjust that the preceding Cabinet's request for an urgent Imperial ordinance for preventing further financial disturbances was opposed by the Privy Council, giving rise to the subsequent unprecedented financial agitation.
1927.05.07 — Mr. K. Nezu and some other prominent business men project a rapid transit electric railway between Tokyo and Osaka with a capital of 250,000,000 yen, connecting the two places in six hours.
1927.05.08 — The Government bills for financial relief passed the Diet with slight amendments.
1927.05.09
- In the Official Gazette, the Law for indemnity of losses to the Bank of Japan was promulgated as approved by the Diet, taking effect immediately.
- The extraordinary session of the Diet closed.
- The Bank of Taiwan re-opened business in Japan proper and abroad.
1927.05.10 — The cabinet decided on the appointment of Mr. Junnosuke Inouye to the Governorship of the Bank of Japan in place of Mr. Otohiko Ichiki.
1927.05.11 — According to statistics published by the Government Bureau of Monopolies, the proceeds from the sale of tobacco, cigars and cigarettes for the fiscal year 1926 amounted to 265,300,000 yen, an increase of 17,000,000 yen over the preceding year.
1927.05.13 — Following the moratorium, the financial condition of the country was quiet.
1927.05.14 — The newly organized political party decided on taking the name Rikken Minseito or Constitutional Democratic Party.
1927.05.15 — Tokyo experienced a severe hail-storm, as well as all the Kwanto or Eastern Japan.
1927.05.17 — A sweeping change in prefectural governorships notified today was unprecedented in the administrative history of Japan, about half of all the governors being changed, those placed on the reserved list numbering twenty-two.
1927.05.18 — An attempt at the completion of all the reconstruction undertakings of Tokyo in consequence of the great earthquake of 1923, which was scheduled for March, 1930, by 1929, will be made by Mr. Suzuki, the new Minister for Home Affairs.
1927.05.19 — The Statistical Bureau of the Cabinet published a report to the effect that the increase of the population in 1926 was 940,000.
1927.05.20 — According to the Department of Finance the general and special budget accounts for the fiscal year of 1927 are 3,714,724,000 yen revenue and 3,630,668,000 yen expenditure.
1927.05.21 — In order to investigate the readjustment of the existing tax system, including partial transfer of the income from the land-tax from the central government to the prefectural offices, the government decided to organize a Committee for the Investigation of the Readjustment of the Taxation System.
1927.05.22 — T. I. H. Prince and Princess Yi leave Japan for an extensive trip in Europe, incognito as Count and Countess Yi Kun, and made a formal farewell call on Their Majesties.
1927.05.23 — In accordance with the Act for Compensation of Loss from Earthquake Bills passed at the 52nd session of the Imperial Diet, the government decided upon a new Earthquake Bills Inquiry Committee. The Finance Minister takes the chairmanship.
1927.05.24 — Profoundly concerned at the situation in North China, which is threatening Japanese subjects, the government decided on steps for their protection by despatching a mixed brigade to Tsinan and its neighbourhood if necessary.
1927.05.25 — Premier Baron Tanaka who holds the portfolio of Foreign Affairs called an emergency conference at Kasumigaseki, summoning high officials of the Foreign Office, and discussed the question of the defence of Japanese interests in North China.
1927.05.26 — The Agricultural and Forestry Department announced their decision to immediately enforce transactions in raw silk by net weight notwithstanding petitions for putting it off.
1927.05.27 — Investigation of the damage caused by the recent hail-storm shows that the loss in the prefecture of Tokyo was some 1,500,000 yen. The Home Department is expected to accommodate the sufferers with more than 1,320,000 yen at low interest.
1927.05.28 — In view of the situation in Shantung the government decided upon despatching troops. Baron Tanaka went to the Akasaka Palace and obtained Imperial sanction for sending two thousand men from the Tenth Army Division of Himeji, from Dairen. The Foreign Office issued a statement in connection with the matter.
1927.05.29 — The Rikken Minseito finally decided on Mr. Yuko Hamaguchi, Home Minister in the last Kensekai Cabinet, for President. Mr. Hamaguchi was persuaded to accept the post.
1927.05.30 — With a view to making known the customs and habits of Japan in Italy, Premier Mussolini has recently made a request to Mr. Harukichi Shimoi, who resided long in Italy. Mr. Shimoi has started making films of Japanese life with the aid of the railway authorities.
1927.05.31 — Japan's foreign trade during the latter half of May is reported to be 68,040,000 yen exports and 63,178,000 imports, showing the unusual excess of exports to an amount of 4,862,000 yen.
1927.06.01 — The Rikken Minseito celebrated its inauguration at the Seiyo-ken Hotel, Ueno. The new party has a membership of 226, giving it a majority in the Diet.
1927.06.02 — The financial crisis having been passed thanks to the policy of Mr. Takahashi, Minister of Finance, he decided to withdraw from the Ministry. Mr. C. Mitsuchi, Minister of Education, was transferred to the portfolio of Finance, while Dr. Rentaro Midzuno becomes Minister of Education.
1927.06.03 — Mr. Tani and other officials of the Foreign Office returned from South China where they had been making an extensive tour of investigation. General Yamanashi, formerly Minister of War, was despatched to China to study present day conditions.
1927.06.04 — With reference to the problem of the fishery rights in Russian waters allotted to Japanese fishermen, Mr. Tanaka, the Japanese Ambassador to the U.S.S.R., has been in repeated negotiation with the Soviet authorities. All the Japanese propositions regarding the fishing leases have been consented to by the Russian Government.
1927.06.05 — The Sino-Japanese negotiation on the basis of the four proposals made by the Japanese Government in connection with the events at Hankow on April 3 have been brought to a conclusion, all the Japanese propositions being accepted by the Chinese Government which recognized its full responsibility for the affair.
1927.06.06 — A sweeping change has been made in the personnel of the chiefs of the police stations in Tokyo. Eleven were discharged; one was placed on the reserve list; four police inspectors were dismissed; and one police inspector was placed on the reserve list, numbering seventeen in all.
1927.06.07 — The Finance Ministry announces that Japan's China trade during the month of May was 39,806,000 yen exports and 20,249,000 yen imports showing an excess of exports of 19,557,000 yen.
1927.06.08 — Mr. Ikki, Minister of the Imperial Household, received the Throne's sanction of the date of the Coronation of the Emperor. The date of the Imperial Coronation and that of the Daijosai have been fixed unofficially for certain days between autumn and winter in the 3rd year of Showa (1928).
1927.06.09 — The appropriation for Tokyo reconstruction was found deficient to the extent of about 130,000,000 yen. It was decided that 78,000,000 yen should be saved by economizing, while the remaining 52,000,000 yen would be claimed from the coming session of the Imperial Diet.
1927.06.10 — Today is observed as "Accurate Time Day." Posters and small banners with slogans such as "accurate time" and "encourage punctuality" are put up in Tokyo. At noon sharp, some temples, factories, etc., sounded bells, whistles, etc.
1927.06.11 — For the purpose of setting aside national parks, the Home Department has completed a survey of places of natural beauty and decided unofficially on sixteen places: Kamikochi (Nagano), Nikko (Tochigi), Mt. Unzen (Nagasaki), Mt. Aso (Kumamoto), Mt. Fuji (Shizuoka and Yamanashi), Odai-gahara Plateau (Nara), Mt. Bandai (Fukushima), Akan Lake (Hokkaido), Mt. Kirishima (Miyazaki), Shodoshima Isle (Kagawa), Mt. Oyama (Tottori), Towada Lake (Akita), Mt. Tateyama (Toyama), Onuma Park (Hokkaido), Noboribetsu (Hokkaido), and Mt. Hakuba (Toyama, Nagano, and Niigata).
1927.06.12 — Mr. M. Kamiyama, Governor-General of Formosa, whose resignation has been rumoured in consequence of the recent ministerial change, has decided to remain at his post.
1927.06.14 — His Majesty the Emperor who sowed rice seeds with his own hands in the garden of the Akasaka Palace on the 9th ult., was again in the paddy-field today accompanied by many court chamberlains, and personally transplanted rice plants for half an hour. Her Majesty the Empress was an interested spectator.
1927.06.15 — Tenancy conflicts have greatly increased of late due to increasing activities of organized movements of tenant-farmers and the counter-activities of landlords' unions, particularly reaching their climax in the rice-planting season every year. The Home Minister has issued a communication to all prefectural governors instructing them to take drastic measures if necessary for the maintenance of order.
1927.06.16 — The Agriculture and Forestry Department having decided upon carrying into force the regulation pertaining to net weight transactions in raw silk on and after July 1, issued today regulations reorganizing the Raw Silk Conditioning Office.
1927.06.17 — The war situation in various parts of Shantung Province has undergone a striking change threatening public order. General Shirakawa, War Minister, sent telegraphic instructions to Major-General Goda, Commander of the 33rd Infantry Brigade at Tsingtao, that expedient measures should be taken in the event of danger to Japanese residents.
1927.06.18 — The Yokohama Municipal Council passed a resolution dividing the administrative quarters of Greater Yokohama into five wards: Naka, Isogo, Kanagawa, Tsurumi, and Hodogaya.
1927.06.19 — Over thirty Japanese civilian airmen who propose to carry out a trans-Pacific flight on a Japanese machine have organized a league to prepare for the flight.
1927.06.20
- The Tripartite Naval Conference among Great Britain, the United States and Japan opened at Geneva.
- Capt. Roald Amundsen who succeeded in reaching the North Pole by airship arrived in Japan today.
- Mr. McVeagh, the United States Ambassador to Japan, who has been home on furlough, came back to Japan today.
1927.06.21 — The Finance Ministry announces that Japan's foreign trade during the middle part of June amounted to 52,009,000 yen exports and 57,260,000 yen imports. The total of the import excess since January reaches 305,083,000 yen.
1927.06.22 — A wave-shaped Nautiloidea, more than ten inches long and over one kwamme in weight, was uncovered among sandy rocks about twenty feet above the sea-level on the beach of Mei-ga-hama in Western Japan. This is the fourth shell of this kind discovered in this country.
1927.06.24 — Continued lack of rain has caused much damage to the crops. The farmers are offering prayers for rain.
1927.06.26 — Mr. Jotaro Yamamoto, Chief Secretary of the Seiyukai, called upon Premier Baron Tanaka and reported that opinions were agreed in the party that Mr. Kamiyama, Governor-General of Formosa, and other heads of colonies should be replaced.
1927.06.27 — The China conference aiming at the reorganization of Japan's China policy, including the chief officials of the Foreign, War, Navy, and Finance Departments and the colonial governments concerned held its first sitting at the Foreign Minister's official residence in Kasumigaseki.
1927.06.28 — The officials of the Tokyo Exhibition for encouragement of national industries under the auspices of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce, postponed on account of the national mourning, met and decided to open the exhibition March next year.
1927.06.29 — His Majesty the Emperor commanded the governors of forty-six prefectures to lunch with him in the Homeiden Hall in the Imperial Palace. After lunch, His Majesty questioned each of them regarding the administrative condition in the prefectures.
1927.06.30 — The Department of Finance reports that Japan's foreign trade shows an excess of imports from January up to the end of June of 289,000,000 yen, a decrease of 112,000,000 yen compared with the equivalent period of last year.
1927.07.01 — M. Silvain Levi, Professor in the College de France of Paris and Director of the Maison Franco-Japonaise has started the compilation of a Buddhist encyclopaedia in English and French.
1927.07.02 — The Sino-Japanese Aerial Navigation Treaty which was drafted by the Department of Communications is approaching completion. It is expected that funds for establishing an air service between Japan and China will be requested in the budget of 1928.
1927.07.03 — H. I. H. Prince Takamatsu, brother of His Majesty the Emperor, has joined temporarily the Naval Aviation Corps at Kasumigaura as a student of the Naval Gunnery School.
1927.07.04
- The Tokyo District Court which has been examining the eleven Seiyukai members of the Diet charged with assault in the House of Representatives has finished its preliminary examination. One was acquitted while ten were found guilty and held for public trial.
- Rain fell in torrents this afternoon.
1927.07.05 — The sum of 700,000 yen will be asked in this year's budget by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry for the new establishment of a national poultry breeding station and for encouraging poultry-farming.
1927.07.06 — The Foreign Office published a statement that there was no other motive than the protection of Japanese residents in the recent despatch of troops to Tsinan in Shantung Province.
1927.07.07 — The organization and personnel of the Population and Food Problems Investigation Commission was made public. Premier Baron Tanaka takes the presidency, while Mr. Suzuki, Home Minister, and Mr. Yamamoto, Agriculture and Forestry Minister, were appointed vice-presidents.
1927.07.08 — In view of the situation in Shantung, the Japanese government has decided on despatching small forces from the Chiba Railway Regiment and the Nakano Telegraph Corps to Tsingtao, also the Eighth Infantry Brigade from Dairen.
1927.07.09 — Japan's foreign trade in the earlier part of July showed an excess of imports of 13,218,000 yen, principally caused by a decrease of over 10,000,000 yen in the export of raw silk and an increase of 14,000,000 yen in the import of cotton.
1927.08.11 — Vice-President Lieutenant-General Nagaoka of the Imperial Aviation Association tendered his resignation to open the way for the promotion of younger men. Since 1918, he has been holding the position contributing much towards development of the aviation world in Japan.
1927.08.12 — The Finance Department reports that the number of banks in Japan is about 1,500, of which many are suspending business owing to the financial depression. It is becoming a tendency to combine banks, and requests have been made to the Finance Department for assisting in arranging for their amalgamation.
1927.08.13 — The factory labourer hitherto has had no time to exercise the right of vote in elections. The Home Department has drafted a plan to remove this defect, to be notified shortly to the prefectural governors.
1927.08.15 — Gold and silver wares have hitherto been stamped in carats by their makers, but the system having been often taken advantage of by dishonest traders, the Government has granted an application by makers for official stamping. An official die will hereafter be stamped on gold and silver wares in Japan.
1927.08.16 — Mr. Y. Kataoka, President of the Shinkai Kogyo Company, has been engaged with his divers in salving at the request of the Russian Government 140,000,000 yen worth of gold specie, which sank sixty-three years ago in the Black Sea with a British warship in the Crimean War. A telegram says that the work is progressing very well and has every prospect of success.
1927.08.17 — The Fair Festival was held on Mount Fuji for about an hour from 8 p.m. The divine fires on the top of the rocks of Komaga-take on the summit of the mountain were seen at far distant places.
1927.08.18 — The Finance Department reports for the first seven months of 1927: Japan proper had 1,120,773,000 yen of exports and 1,411,819,000 yen of imports, the import balance being 291,046,000 yen. The total excess of imports over exports stands at 371,156,000 yen, a decrease of 138,425,000 yen from the same period, 1926.
1927.08.19 — Director S. Yoshida of the Shrine Bureau of the Home Department has been appointed government delegate at the International Copyright Conference to be held at Rome.
1927.08.20 — A Moscow despatch states that the Russian aviator, Shestakov, left the Moscow suburban aviation field for Japan.
1927.08.21 — In Tokyo a meeting was held in favour of having the lives of Sacco and Vanzetti, prisoners under death sentence, spared. It was strictly watched by the police. S. Ishikawa's and other anarchists' speeches were stopped. A protest to the American Embassy was read and passed. After the meeting closed, skirmishes took place between the audience and the police.
1927.08.22 — General S. Kikuchi, Inspector-General of Military Education, died at the age of 62 of cancer of the stomach. He was a self-made man having risen from a common soldier.
1927.08.24 — At about 11:20 p.m. the Jintsu, a warship of the Fifth Squadron, collided with No. 27 destroyer Warabi of the First Torpedo Flotilla, while engaged in night battle practice off the coast of Mihogaseki, with the result that the Warabi sank in about 15 minutes. At the same time, the Naka collided with the destroyer Ashi, cutting off its after part. The losses of the two destroyers were 117 officers and men.
1927.08.25 — On July 31, the national clearing banks' accounts were 5,157,554,000 yen deposits and 5,120,406,000 yen loans, decreasing from June 167,492,000 yen for deposits and 91,114,000 yen for loans.
1927.08.26 — As it will be 30 years since the Tokyo municipality adopted the self-government system on October 2, 1898, the municipal authorities have decided to issue a Municipal paper, a long standing question.
1927.08.27 — The Department of Agriculture and Forestry reports that the rice crop in Japan on August 15 was better than the normal crop. If 5 per cent over the normal crop, the actual yield will be about 60,000,000 koku, and if the weather is favourable, 62,000,000 or 63,000,000 koku may be obtained.
1927.08.28 — Kochi Prefecture had unusually heavy rains and in the northern part of Kagawa District 25 houses were swept away, 35 persons killed, many persons wounded, and 954 houses were flooded. In Nagasaki Prefecture, many persons were killed.
1927.08.30 — Premier Baron Tanaka obtained Imperial assent for the evacuation of the Japanese troops in China, which had been made unnecessary for protecting the Japanese residents there by the restoration of order. The military authorities ordered the troops in Shantung to evacuate and the Foreign Department instructed the Japanese Minister at Peking to notify the Peking Government.
1927.08.31 — The committee for effecting the maintenance of the market price of silk-yarn organized by the Central Silk Association succeeded in persuading the authorities to introduce a compensation act in the next session of the Diet and agreed upon founding a third Imperial Silk-yarn Manufacturing Company.
1927.09.01 — In memory of the great earthquake of 1923, various services were held throughout the city of Tokyo. The Soviet airplane arrived safely at the Tachikawa Military Aerodrome. Both Mr. Chestakov, the pilot, and Mr. Fufaiev, the mechanic, were enthusiastically welcomed by the Soviet Charge d'Affaires and many prominent Japanese.
1927.09.02 — The leading tea merchants of Shizuoka Prefecture have concluded a contract with the Soviet Government for exporting their product to Russia. They are ready to ship about 800,000 kin of green tea to the value of about 700,000 yen.
1927.09.03 — The United States Government which has concluded treaties with other powers for enforcing its Prohibition Law is reported to be negotiating a similar treaty with Japan.
1927.09.04 — The Czecho-Slovak aeroplane left Osaka and safely arrived at Tokorozawa. Both Lieut.-Col. Skala, the pilot, and Corporal Taufer, the mechanic, received a warm welcome.
1927.09.05 — The Education Department decided on the abolition of the regulation in effect since 1913 that primary school buildings should not be used for religious and political purposes, issuing a notification that under unavoidable circumstances primary school buildings might be used for holding meetings regardless of their nature.
1927.09.06 — The grand naval manoeuvres this year will take place on the Pacific Ocean from off the Tsugaru Strait in the north to the Southwestern Archipelagos in the south, between October 11 and 30.
1927.09.07 — In view of the anti-Japanese movement increasing in Mukden, Premier Baron Tanaka instructed Mr. Yoshizawa, the Japanese Minister at Peking, to open direct negotiations with Chang Tso-lin. Mr. Yoshizawa paid an official visit to the Chinese Generalissimo and protested against the movement.
1927.09.08 — The Meiji-Setsu or the Emperor Meiji Birthday anniversary, newly added to the Japanese national holidays, is to be observed for the first time this year on November 3.
1927.09.09 — In response to the protest by Mr. Yoshizawa against the anti-Japanese movement in Mukden, Yang Yu-ting, Chief Aide-de-Camp to Chang Tso-lin, called upon the Japanese Minister and expressed regret, promising to stamp out the agitation.
1927.09.10 — Her Majesty the Empress gave birth to a princess early this morning. Both mother and daughter are in good health.
1927.09.11 — The "Pride of Detroit," the round-the-world airplane, alighted at the Omura Naval aerodrome in Nagasaki Prefecture. The Russian flying machine visiting Japan left the Tachikawa military aerodrome for Osaka on its way home.
1927.09.12 — The Czecho-Slovakian aeroplane which had been visiting Japan departed from Tokorozawa for home.
1927.09.13 — Hotaku-gun district in Kumamoto Prefecture was attacked by the raging waves of Ariake Bay stirred up by a violent typhoon. Tidal waves more than 15 shaku in height ravaged almost the whole district. Over 400 people were drowned and more than 2,300 houses were washed away or smashed.
1927.09.14 — The typhoon which was raging in Western Kyushu reached Tokyo district, submerging more than 17,000 houses in the city, while in Yokohama a violent hurricane caused numerous casualties.
1927.09.15 — The navigators of the round-the-world aeroplane "Pride of Detroit" which landed at Kasumigaura on the 14th were forced to give up the trans-Pacific flight, considered the most difficult voyage in its programme. The machine was to be conveyed to America by steamer from Yokohama.
1927.09.16 — The Imperial Household Department announced that the princess born to Their Majesties on the 10th was christened Sachiko and would be known as Hisa-no-miya.
1927.09.17 — The German aviator, Koenneck, departed from the Cologne Aerodrome for Japan.
1927.09.18 — On the night of his meeting with his elder brother, Mr. Iichiro Tokutomi, proprietor and editor of the Kokumin, after a fifteen years' estrangement, Mr. Kenjiro Tokutomi, a noted contemporary man of letters widely known by his nom-de-plume Roka, passed away at the Ikao Hot-spring resort.
1927.09.19 — Mr. Umeshiro Suzuki, a leading business man, states he has succeeded in inventing a process of making paper from the residue of sugar-cane. He is contemplating founding a paper-mill to develop the newly invented method.
1927.09.20 — In compliance with H. M. the Emperor's desire, the Justice Department has decided to mitigate the punishment of aged convicts. The first experiment is being carried out by the Hamamatsu branch of the Shizuoka Prison.
1927.09.21 — The first general election of the prefectural assemblies since the enforcement of the universal suffrage took place, watched by the people with keen attention as a skirmish preceding the forthcoming general election for the Diet.
1927.09.22 — According to an investigation by the Education Department, out of youths of conscription age numbering 514,364, 54,092 did not undergo compulsory education.
1927.09.23 — Following the achievement of its aborigine pacification policy, the Formosan Government-General has decided on carrying out the exploration of Honroku and Dainansha District in the jurisdiction of Taito Prefecture, hitherto recognized as dangerous zones.
1927.09.24 — Today being the Feast of the Autumnal Equinox, a fete was conducted in the Sacred Hall of the Imperial Ancestral Shrine at the Palace.
1927.09.25 — The special service vessel of the Japanese Navy, Koshu (2,270 tons), which has been on duty near Yalut island in the South Seas for surveying purposes stranded today near Dongrat, owing to the high seas. Commander Kita sent a wireless to the Yokosuka Admiralty asking for help.
1927.09.26 — The previous two days being consecutive holidays, over 1,017,600 passengers passed through Tokyo Station on the first day and 1,306,300 on the second day, bringing in to the Railway Ministry incomes of 260,000 yen and 232,000 yen respectively.
1927.09.27 — Viscount Saito, Governor-General of Korea, who represented Japan at the Geneva Naval Limitation Conference, arrived at Tokyo Station with his suite after five months' absence from home. He was welcomed by Premier Baron Tanaka, Fleet Admirals Togo and Inoue, the British and American Embassy staffs and many dignitaries.
1927.09.28 — The special service vessel Koshu which had run aground near Yalut Island got off the rocks on the evening of the preceding day.
1927.09.29 — Gen. Chiang Kai-shek, ex-Commander-in-Chief of the Nationalist Army of China, arrived at Nagasaki and registered at the Kyushu Hotel, Unzen.
1927.09.30 — Dr. Harvey Gay, exponent of Japan-American friendship of California, arrived at Yokohama on his first visit to Japan after twenty years.
1927.10.01 — The unveiling ceremony of the monument marking the landing of Townsend Harris, the first American Consul-General to Japan, on August 6, 1856, erected within the precincts of the Gyokusenji Temple at Kakizaki, Shimoda, Izu Province, took place. Viscount Shibusawa, Mr. McVeagh, American Ambassador to Japan, Prince Tokugawa and other notable persons participated.
1927.10.02 — The Agricultural and Forestry Department estimates the crop of rice for this year at 61,492,850 koku or an increase by 5,910,218 koku (16 per cent) as compared with last year's crop.
1927.10.03
- Mr. Thomas W. Lamont, of J. P. Morgan & Company, arrived in Japan with four other business men at the invitation of Mr. Kengo Mori, Mr. Junnosuke Inoue, Governor of the Bank of Japan, and other financial magnates.
- Admiral Okada, Minister of the Navy, invited to a banquet the officers of the Spanish cruiser Blas de Lezo which entered Yokohama on Oct. 1.
1927.10.04 — Rear-Admiral Steck, Commander-in-Chief of the French Far-Eastern Squadron, paid a formal visit to Minister Okada of the Navy and Admiral Suzuki, Chief of the Naval Staff. The Throne honoured Messrs. J. P. Morgan, Thomas W. Lamont and others of J. P. Morgan and Company and Kuhn Loeb & Co. with decorations in recognition of their good offices in connection with the post-earthquake finance of Japan. Mr. J. P. Morgan received the First Order of the Sacred Treasure and Mr. Lamont the Second Order of the Rising Sun with Double Rays.
1927.10.05 — H. I. H. Prince Chichibu, younger brother of His Majesty the Emperor, removed to his new Omotemachi Palace.
1927.10.06 — The Jules Michelet, flag-ship of the French Far-Eastern Squadron, arrived in Yokohama.
1927.10.07 — Mr. Kumejiro Tagi, prominent fertilizer manufacturer and member of the House of Peers, offered 100,000 yen as a prize for the first trans-Pacific aviator and mechanic of Japan. M. Nikolai Conrad, Professor in the Leningrad Oriental Language School, arrived in Japan for study of Japanese literature. Admiral Takarabe, Chairman of the Investigation Commission of the Mihogaseki naval disaster, issued a statement declaring that neither incompetence nor negligence of duty on the part of the destroyer Warabi or the cruiser Jintsu was responsible for the disaster.
1927.10.08
- The Bank of Japan announced a reduction of rates of interest by one rin, the fourth reduction since April, 1925.
- Mr. Ogawa, Minister of Railways, said the Government would hurry the completion of nine Seiyukai railway lines in Hokkaido while postponing work on six lines projected by the former cabinet.
- The result of the election for the Prefectural Assemblies:
- Seiyukai 656, Minseito 540, Neutral 112, Proletariat 26, Jitsugyo-Doshikai 6, Kakushin Club 8, Total 1,348.
1927.10.09 — Viscount Goto has decided to put off his tour to Russia pending the complete recovery of his health. 117 sculptures were selected from among 198 for display at the Imperial Art Gallery.
1927.10.10 — Viscount Kikujiro Ishii, Japanese Ambassador to France, arrived in Kobe with his family after four years' absence from home. He is expected to retire from the diplomatic field in which he has served for thirty-eight years.
1927.10.11 — The grand naval manoeuvres formally opened in Ariake and Tokuyama Bays. The Red and the Blue fleets are respectively commanded by Admirals E. Yamamoto and K. Kato. The Natural Resources Bureau completed a draft plan entering into every possible detail about the administration of resources. Mr. Kihachiro Okura, retired baron and multi-millionaire, left Tokyo for Korea for the unveiling ceremony of his own monument at the Seoul Commercial School, which he founded.
1927.10.12
- Mt. Asama in Shinano Province began to rumble violently and emit smoke, with falling of ashes continuing until noon, caused by an earthquake along the Sagami Valley.
- Mr. Manuel Quezon, President of the Philippine Senate, accompanied by Senator Sergio Osmena and others, arrived in Tokyo on the way to Washington for a conference with President Coolidge.
1927.10.13 — Mehandra Pratup arrived at Yokohama on his way to Shanghai to attend the Pan-Asiatic Conference. General K. Kusunose, formerly War Minister, died at the age of 71. Mr. K. Minoura, ex-Minister of Commerce and Industry, and three others tried in connection with the notorious Matsushima brothel quarter scandal were acquitted.
1927.10.14 — The total volume of imports and exports of Japan and her territories from January to September reached 3,390,055,000 yen; imports 1,845,879,000 yen and exports 1,544,176,000 yen, the former exceeding the latter by 301,703,000 yen.
1927.10.15 — While engaging in aerial manoeuvres at Kagamigahara at the height of 850 meters, two military planes collided causing the immediate death of Sub-Lieut. Hattori and the fatal injury of Sergeant Takahara.
1927.10.16 — In the naval manoeuvres off Ariake Bay a seaplane piloted by 1st class seaman Ishii fell into the sea. The whereabouts of the sailor and his companion, First Lieut. Tsuye, are unknown.
1927.10.17 — Mr. Vincent Richards, the American professional tennis champion, arrived in Japan with Mr. Harada, the well known Japanese champion. Mr. Richards has been invited by the Tokyo Nichi-Nichi.
1927.10.19 — Mr. Lamont and his party who had been staying in Japan left Yokohama for home.
1927.10.20 — His Majesty the Emperor left Tokyo Station for Western Japan to supervise the grand naval manoeuvres. On his arrival at Yokosuka, he boarded the battleship Mutsu. Mr. Chiang Kai-shek went to Atami for a short stay.
1927.10.21
- M. Zdarikov, President of the Far Eastern National Economic Conference of the Soviet Government, heading an inspection party of seventeen Russian economic experts, arrived in the capital.
- The succession ceremony of the new Abbot Kosho Otani of the West Honganji Temple was performed.
1927.10.22 — Mr. Fusanosuke Kuhara, asked by the Japanese Government to go to Russia and Germany on an economic mission, left Tokyo.
1927.10.23
- Mr. Chiang Kai-shek came to the capital and is staying at the residence of Mr. Mitsuru Toyama.
- The naval airship N-3 participating in the naval manoeuvres with Lieut. Fujiyoshi and six others on board was destroyed about 50 miles off Izu Peninsula as a result of the explosion of the envelope. The crew had a narrow escape except one who was seriously hurt while trying to alight on the cliff of Kotsujima Island.
1927.10.24
- The grand naval manoeuvres ended.
- H. I. H. Princess Toshiko Fushimi, wife of the late Marshal Prince Fushimi, died at the age of seventy.
1927.10.25 — His Majesty the Emperor returned to the capital after supervising the naval manoeuvres in Western Japan, arriving at Tokyo Station at 4:40 p.m. He was welcomed by all the princes of the blood and many dignitaries.
1927.10.26 — The budget for next year is estimated at 1,760,000,000 yen.
1927.10.27 — Responding to an invitation by the Scientific Institute of Japan, Dr. August Sommel, Professor of Physics in Gottingen University, arrived in Japan.
1927.10.28
- The Fourth Athletic Meeting of the Meiji Shrine opened.
- M. Ivan Bachiwitch, Professor in the Far Eastern University, M. Victor Abranowitch and other Russian scientists arrived to investigate the educational system and conditions in Japan.
1927.10.29 — It is officially announced that the Coronation Ceremony will be held on November, 1928.
1927.10.30 — For the first time since his accession His Majesty reviewed the fighting craft of the Japanese Navy in Tokyo Bay; 170 warships, 80 aeroplanes and over 30,000 men took part.
1927.10.31 — From the viewpoint of national defence and the bitter experience of the 1923 earthquake, the Japan Army has decided to disperse the military arsenals throughout the country. The old arsenal in Tokyo has been divided among Oji, Atsuta in Aichi Prefecture and Phyongyang in Korea, with others to be installed in Kokura in Fukuoka Prefecture and in Hiroshima Prefecture.
1927.11.01 — The Privy Council approved the establishment of the Meiji Festival as a national holiday on the same basis as the existing three great national holidays. Four airmen have been selected as the first Japanese fliers to try to cross the Pacific: Mr. Yukichi Goto (Superintendent), Mr. Teruo Fujimoto and Mr. Nobutake Kaieda (First Pilots), and Mr. Uichi Suwa (Reserve Pilot).
1927.11.02 — Ex-Abbot Koen Otani of the East Honganji Temple has been adjudged bankrupt by the Kyoto District Court.
1927.11.03
- The first Meiji Festival holiday was observed since its official establishment as a grand national commemoration day. At the Imperial Court solemn services were held. His Majesty worshipped in the Hall of the late Emperor Taisho.
- The Meiji Shrine Athletic Games closed with H. I. H. Prince Chichibu present.
1927.11.04 — It was officially announced that the 54th session of the Diet would be convoked on December 24 with the opening ceremony on December 26.
1927.11.05 — The solemn reception ceremony for the image of Sakya, a gift of the King of Siam to the Nissenji Temple, Nagoya, was held at the Zojoji Temple, Shiba Park, Tokyo.
1927.11.06 — Chief Abbot Koyei Umetani of the Myohoin Temple, Kyoto, has accepted the offer to be the 244th chief priest of the Tendai Sect.
1927.11.07 — Anti-Communist bodies chose this day, the 10th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, for demonstrating against the Communists. They distributed hand-bills and posters throughout Tokyo, and some attacked the headquarters of the Labour-Peasant Party. Viscount Goto has decided to leave Tokyo on the 19th or 20th for his visit to the Soviet capital.
1927.11.08 — Mr. Chiang Kai-shek, ex-Commander of the Chinese Nationalist Army, left Kobe for home.
1927.11.09
- The question as to whether the Government would carry out the transfer of land taxes to local governments in 1929 or postpone it until 1930 was debated at Cabinet meeting but no decision was reached.
- M. Vassiliu, the new Rumanian Minister to Japan, was received in audience by the Emperor.
1927.11.10 — Fifty-eight dolls representing all the prefectures of Japan and her colonies were sent to American girls in return for American dolls, leaving Yokohama by the Tenyo-maru, headed by the largest, named Miss Hideko Yamato, representing Japan. Over 2,000 school-girls went to the wharf to see them off.
1927.11.11 — According to an announcement published by the Agriculture and Forestry Department, the estimated crop of rice at the end of October this year was 60,810,180 koku, showing a decrease by 682,670 koku as compared with the first estimate on September 20. However, in comparison with the crop last year, it exceeded it by 5,227,548 koku, namely 9.4 per cent.
1927.11.12 — A gas explosion took place at the Mitsubishi coal-pit in Sorachigun, Ishikari Province, Hokkaido, causing scores of casualties. M. Vassiliu, the new Roumanian Minister to Tokyo, made a formal call on Premier Tanaka at the latter's official residence.
1927.11.13 — His Majesty the Emperor left Tokyo for Nagoya to supervise the extraordinary grand military maneuvers in Mikawa and Owari Provinces. According to a report made by the Finance Department today, Japan's foreign trade from January up to October this year, including Japan Proper, Korea and Formosa, was 1,723,800,000 yen in export and 1,992,396,000 yen in import; the import exceeding the export by 208,596,000 yen.
1927.11.14 — Mr. Henry Eicheim, the veteran American violinist, with his wife arrived at Yokohama this morning. Mr. Shikai Kitamura, the well-known veteran sculptor, died today. He was fifty-seven years old.
1927.11.15 — Admiral K. Murakami, formerly Minister of the Navy, passed away at his villa at Dzushi.
1927.11.17 — Detailed regulations for the enforcement of the Banking Law which is to be in force from January 1 next year were promulgated.
1927.11.18 — Mr. Tang Sheng-chi, one of the leading figures of the Chinese Nationalists, who encountered a political set-back at Wuhan, fled to Japan with seven of his staff-officers and arrived at Kagoshima this morning.
1927.11.19 — M. Dovgarevsky, Soviet Ambassador to Japan, who was transferred to Paris, started on his way home with his wife and children, leaving Tokyo Station this morning.
1927.11.20 — Messrs. Y. Goto, U. Suwa, T. Fujumoto and N. Kaieda, selected as airmen for the trans-Pacific flight, were ordered today to practice at the Kasumigaura Naval Flying Corps from the 29th.
1927.11.21 — The Labour and Peasant Party set about organizing a coalition with the Social Popular Party, the Japan Peasant Party and other proletarian parties for the purpose of forming a unified political front in the coming campaign.
1927.11.22 — Today the suspension by the authorities of the publication of the incident of a direct appeal to the Emperor was lifted. On the 19th, while His Majesty was receiving the troops on the Nagoya Parade Grounds at the conclusion of the grand military maneuvers, Taisaku Kitahara, second class private belonging to the 68th Infantry Regiment, broke from the line and attempted to make a direct appeal to His Majesty. He was immediately arrested. The purport of the appeal was a protest against discriminatory treatment of soldiers of the so-called shin-heimin class in the Army. His Majesty the Emperor who had completed his supervision of the military maneuvers returned to the capital today.
1927.11.23 — M. Zimbalist, the noted violinist, who arrived at Moji this morning, was at first refused entry on account of lack of the regulation amount of cash.
1927.11.24 — The launching ceremony of first class destroyer/No. 4,31,700 tons displacement, constructed at the Uraga Dockyard, took place today.
1927.11.26 — Taisaku Kitahara, 2nd class private, who had attempted a direct appeal to His Majesty the Emperor in Nagoya during the military review, was found guilty of infringement of the Petition Law and sentenced to one year imprisonment by the Military Court of the Third Army Division.
1927.11.27 — The unveiling ceremony of a monument to Dutch-Japanese friendly relationship on Tanegashima Island, know as the first place in Japan where gunnery was introduced, by the Dutch, was held today.
1927.11.29 — Prince Iwao Matsukata, formerly President of the closed Fifteenth Bank, in order to help to reestablish the bank announced his decision to surrender all his private fortune toward the readjustment. To the Imperial Household Department he has made the request to be divested of his title.
1927.11.30 — Mr. Yoshizawa, Japanese Minister to China, made a protest in a private letter to Mr. Yang Wu-ting, High Commissioner of Marshal Chang Tso-lin's Government at Peking, against the latter's expression of anti-Japanese feeling in criticizing the raising of loans in America for the South Manchuria Railway Company, on the occasion of an interview given to American and British journalists at Peking.
1927.12.01 — The Showa Bank, founded for the rescue of the several banks which had been compelled to close on account of the financial panic since this spring, was opened to business this morning.
1927.12.02 — As the Ueno-Asakusa line of the underground railway, the first in this country, has been completed, a trial run was made today. It was successful. The line will be opened to traffic on the 25th.
1927.12.03 — With a view to giving relief to labourers threatened with unemployment this winter, the Home Department has decided that Tokyo and five other large cities shall carry out public works for that purpose and to pay half the amount of their wages from the National Treasury.
1927.12.05 — Viscount Goto left Tokyo today on a visit to Russia.
1927.12.06 — Some 6,000,000 American lobsters from the Gulf of Mexico, were imported into Japan and delivered at the Tsukiji fish-market, Tokyo today. It is the first such importation.
1927.12.07 — Admiral Viscount Saito whose resignation from the post of Governor-General of Chosen has been rumoured for some time, called on Premier Baron Tanaka this afternoon, to whom he tendered his formal resignation.
1927.12.08 — The Tokyo Municipal Assembly in which the two opposing parties have been in conflict in connection with the question of confidence in Mr. Nishikubo, Mayor of Tokyo, passed a non-confidence resolution at today's sitting by a majority of only 8 votes. Prior to this, many of the Tokyo citizens had felt indignation against the majority in the Assembly, whose agitation against the mayor, they thought, was simply due to factional strife and without any rational basis. Their dissatisfaction culminated today in a mass meeting at Shiba Park. A resolution in favour of Mr. Nishikubow as passed and handed to the mayor, who maintained that the passing of the non-confidence resolution by the Assembly had no justifiable reason and he considered it as an act trespassing on the executive rights. Mr. Nishikubo presented his view to the Home Minister, expressing his desire for the dissolution of the Municipal Assembly.
1927.12.09 — The dissolution of the Tokyo Municipal Assembly having been refused by the Home Department, Mayor Nishikubo decided upon his resignation, with the three deputy-mayors. The Finance Department has drawn up the Coronation Budget. The amount totals 16,780,000 Yen.
1927.12.10 — The successor to Admiral Viscount Saito as Governor-General of Chosen is General Yamanashi. The installation ceremony for the governor-general was held today at the Akasaka Detached Palace.
1927.12.12 — The Tokyo Municipal Assembly, for the acceptance of Mayor Nishikubo and the three Deputy-Mayors' resignation, met this evening and the resignation waa approved by a vote of 48 against 25.
1927.12.13 — Mr. Kozan Kawakami, a Buddhist monk in Kyoto Prefecture, who has devoted himself wholly for thirty years since twenty.four years of age to the work of compiling an index to the Daizodyo Scripture, has finished it. Today under the auspices of the Federated Buddhists' Association, a meeting in his honour was held in Tokyo with brilliant success.
1927.12.14 — According to investigations made by the Finance Ministry, the national loans of Japan amounted to Yen 5,268,166,000 at the end of November, 1927, including Yen 3,807,933,000 domestic loans and Yen 1,460,233,000 foreign loans.
1927.12.15 — The coronation program as published by the Coronation Commission will be as follows:- Nov. 6, 1928: His Majesty the Emperor goes to Kyoto where the coronation will take place. Nov. 10: The coronation takes place. Nov. 26: His Majesty returns to Tokyo. Dec. 4: A grand naval review will be held off Tokyo Bay.
1927.12.16 — With reference to the case of misconduct in the 52nd session of the Diet, which has been under public trial since October 12, the following sentences were passed: Out of the ten accused parliamentarians, one was acquitted; six were fined; one was sentenced to imprisonment (with suspension of enforcement); the remaining two to imprisonment with hard labour (also with suspension of enforcement).
1927.12.17 — Count H. Kodama, Govenor of the Kuantung Leased Territory, has resigned, being succeeded by Mr. Kenjiro Kinoshita, known as a leader in the Government Party. Gen. Yamanashi, Govenor-General of Chosen, left Tokyo this morning for his new post.
1927.12.19 — About three hundred Koreans belonging to the Soai-kai, a body for maintaining Korean interests in Tokyo, who were indignant at the oppression of their compatriots by the Chinese authorities in Manchuria, have drafted a lengthy statement and declaration urging the Chinese Government's careful reflection on the question, and handed it this morning to Mr. Wang Yung-pao, the Chinese Minister to Tokyo. Prince Iwao Matsukata who requested the Household Department to divest him of his title, holding himself responsible of the bankruptcy of the Fifteenth Bank, of which he was president, had his request accepted today.
1927.12.20 — According to a Navy Department communiqué, the Japanese Navy is prepared to despatch the man-of-war Nagara from Saseho with about 200 marines aboad to Shantung for the purpose: of protecting the lives and properties of the Japanese residents in Tsingtao District in the event of any sudden change in the situation so as to necessitate such an emergency measure.
1927.12.21 — The year's volume of Japanese raw silk exported up to the middle of December reached 393,527 piculs. By the middle of December the export had exceeded by 31,471 piculs the total for last year, showing an increase by 26,872 piculs as compared with the total of 366,650 piculs in 1925, the highest figure in record. However, in view of the decline in the price of raw silk, there was a decrease of Yen 190,000,000 this year in comparison with 1925, in value. Cardinal Champon, the new Catholic Bishop of Japan, arrived in Tokyo amidst an enthusiastic welcome.
1927.12.23 — Following the change of the Governor-General, Mr. K. Yuasa, Chief Civil Administrator of Chosen, was relieved of his post. The installation of his successor, Mr. Shiro Ikegami, ex-Mayor of Osaka, took place at the Akasaka Detached Palace this morning. The construction of the Tama Mausoleum of the late Emperor Taisho was completed, and an official report ceremony was solemnly conducted this morning at the Mausoleum.
1927.12.24 — The 54th Session of the Imperial Diet was formally convoked today.
1927.12.25 — It is today one year since the demise of the Emperor Taisho. At the Imperial Palace as well as the newly completed Tama Mausoleum solemn services were held in presence of the reigning Emperor and Empress.
1927.12.26 — The opening ceremonny of the 54th Session of the Imperial Diet took place 10:20 a.m. today at the House of Peers. His Majesty the Emperor arrived at the House of Peers at 11 a.m. After giving an Imperial rescript to the diet His Majesty returned to the Palace. Captain Keiji Midzuki, Commander of the warship Jintsu, which collided with the destroyer Warabi while engaging in the grand naval maneuvers off Mihonoseki on August 24, causing many casualties, committed suicide at his home this morning at 3 on the outskirts of Tokyo, holding himself responsible for the accident. He had been under trial by the Naval Court.
1927.12.27 — The ceremony of transferring the Spirit of the late Emperor Taisho, the last of the Imperial Funeral Sarvices, was performed today.
1927.12.28 — The Metropolitan Police Board has mobilized the whole police force of Tokyo from this night up to the dawn of New Year's Day, placing on duty 12,000 men of all the seventy-three police stations, so as to guard against year end crime.
1927.12.30 — The official organization of the coronation commission personnel was published today.
1927.12.31 — Mr. F. Kuhara, who had been specially aommissioned by the Government to Russia and Germany for economic investigations, returned to Japan arriving at Shimonoseki today.
1928.01.01 — This being the New Year Day immediately following the expiration of the national mouring, an atmosphere of happiness was apparent throughout the country. The Imperial new year services were performed in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.
1928.01.03 — Tokyo citizens, who were surprised by an earthquake shock on the afternoon of the first day of the year were startled by another shock this afternoon.
1928.01.04 — The ceremony of opening the Court, one of the usual annual services at the Imperial Court, was conducted this morning. Tho first meeting of the Cabinet were held.
1928.01.05 — The first New Year Imperial Banquet in the new reign of Showa was given today at the Homeiden Hall in the Imperial Palace. A cordial Imperial rescript was given to the Princes and Princesses of the Blood, foreign envoys accredited to the Imperial Court, all the cabinet ministers and many other high dignitaries. Premier Baron Tanaka representing the people of the country replied to the Imperial rescript, while Dr. Solf, the German Ambassador to Tokyo, Doyen of the Corps Diplomatique, represented the foreign envoys in responding to the Imperial words.
1928.01.06 — One of Tokyo's annual function, the New Year's Parade of the metropolitan fire-brigades, was performed today on the grounds in front of the Imperial Palace, and 3,300 city firemen and 84 motor fire engines participated in the review. The spectators at the scene reached 120,000.
1928.01.07 — The Municipal Assembly of Tokyo, has chosen to succeed Mr. Nishikubo as mayor, Mr. Otohiko Ichiki formerly Governor of the Bank of Japan and Minister of Finance. The new mayor is fifty-six years old and well known in the financial and political worlds. M. Shvagrovsky, the Czecho-Slovakian Minister, left Japan today on the expiration of his tenure of office.
1928.01.08 — The New Year Military Review, on the first occassion in the new era of Showa, was held this morning on tho Yoyogi Parade Ground. His Majesty the Emperor, on his white charger Fubuki, viewed 15,000 officers and men.
1928.01.09 — The Finance Ministry announces that the foreign trade of Japan Proper during the last year 1927 was Yen 1,992,086,000 exports and Yen 2,177,325,000 imports thus showing an excess of imports reaching Yen 185,239,000.
1928 (298 entries)
1928.01.11 — Brigadier-General Ainsworth of the International Headquarters of the Salvation Army in England arrived in Japan today as General Booth's representative.
1928.01.12 — The Grand Spring Wrestling Contast a national sport of Japan, eleven days from today at the Ryogoku bagen for Wrestling Amphitheatre, Tokyo.
1928.01.13 — According to investigations made by the Financial Department, the total amount of deposits in all the banks throughout the country during November last year reached Yen 11,550,576,000, which was an increase of Yen 13,659,- 000 as compared with the preceding month. It is reported also that the total amount of loans made by all the banks during the same period was Yen 12,155,- 423,000, being a decrease of Yen 20,- 126,000 in comparison with October, the same year.
1928.01.14 — H.I.H. Prince Yamashina Hagimaro who is studing aviation at the Kasumigaura Naval Flying Corps went to the balloon squad of the corps this morning and made his first trial flight for about twenty minutes on a machine piloted by a naval officer.
1928.01.16 — Mr. John Russell Kennedy, a veteran journalist widely known in Japan and a benefactor of journalism in this country, died at his residence in Tokyo, this morning. He was sixty- seven years of age.
1928.01.17 — The executive committee of the associated Chambers of Commerce of Japan today passed a resolution recommending Mr. K. Fujita, Chairman of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce, as delegate representing Japanese capitalists at the forthcoming International Labour Conference this year, at Geneva.
1928.01.18 — The engagement of Miss Setsu-ko, niece of Rear-Admiral Viscount Yasuo Matsudaira, to H.I.H. Prince Chichibu, brother of His Majesty the Emperor, was officially sanctioned today and formally announced by the Household Department. It has been unofficially decided that the wedding ceremony shall take place in September this year. Her father is Mr. T. Matsudaira, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States.
1928.01.20 — Although regulations binding owners of mines and factories to give relief to their employes becoming sick or injured in the course of the execution of their duties already are in force, their application has not so far been extended to other employers. The Home Department has decided to introduce a bill holding employers in general responsible for such relief, in the coming session of the Diet. The Cabinet has given consent to this proposal.
1928.01.21
- The Diet reopened after adjournment. The atmosphere was strained and dissolution was universally anticipated. At one o'clock in the afternoon when Mr. Mitsuchi, Minister of Finance, came to the conclusion of his speech on the Government's financial policy, following Baron Tanaka, Premier, in the Lower House, an Imperial Rescript ordering the dissolution of the House was read prior to a non-confidence bill being introduced by the Opposition. In the meanwhile, the Upper House was ordered suspeneded. This was the last session of the Imperial Diet under the system of limited franchise, and the first general election under universal suffrage in Japan is to be held.
- The new Soviet Ambassador to Japan arrived at Tokyo Station today.
1928.01.22 — The Japan Tennis Association today decided to send Japanese players to the American Zone for this year's Davis Cup Contest.
1928.01.23 — It was officially announced today that the general election of members of the House of Representatives would take place on February 20.
1928.01.24 — It was wired from Moscow that the intricate problem of fisheries pending between Soviet Russia and Japan for over two years was at last solved, the Russo-Japanese Fishery Treaty being formally signed at Moscow by Mr. Tanaka, the Japanese Ambassador to Soviet, M. Chicherin, Commissar for Foreign Affairs, and M. Karakhan, Vice- Commissar, at 8:30 on the preceding night.
1928.01.25 — According to a report by the Department of Finance, the total amount of convertible notes issued by the end of 1927 reached Yen 1,679,206,570.
1928.01.26 — The Japanese Government has decided on exchanging envoys with Canada, and has so intimated to the British Government.
1928.01.27 — The Department of Agriculture and Forestry announces that despite the increase in the production of cocoons during 1927 by 5.1 per cent as compared with the preceding year, the decline in their market price caused the total income from them to be reduced 25 per cent; viz. by more than 160,000,000 yen.
1928.01.28 — The election campaign for the Lower House is becoming active. The Minseito, the Opposition Party, has decided to organize an "election purifying commission" and send its memebers throughout the country in order to watch the Government's way of controlling the election. Mr. Hara, Minister for Justice, has decided to send the Supreme Court procurators and secretaries all over the country, in order to guard the independence of judicial power, maintain its dignity and carry out fair dealing, so that universal suffrage may be efficiently carried into effect. These judicial officers will be sent to all prefectures at the rate of one to three prefectures. They will stand aloof from the struggles of the campaign and supervise it in a fair manner.
1928.01.30 — Today being the Emperor Komei's anniversary, His Majesty the Emperor attended the memorial ceremony in the Imperial Palace.
1928.01.31 — Count G. Della Torre di Lavagna, the Italian Ambassador to Japan, is leaving this country in April or May this year, and Baron Pompeio Alloissi has been appointed his successor.
1928.02.01 — M. Alexander Trojanovsky, the new Russian Ambassador to Japan, accompanied by eight officials, proceeded to the Akasaka Detached Palace and was received in audience by His Majesty the Emperor, to whom he presented his credentials.
1928.02.02
- The anti-fire water system at the Horyuji Temple, in Yamato Province, one of the national treasures, which has been going on since 1922 at the expense of Yen 95,000, has been completed, and a trial made today was a complete success.
- The labour dispute at the Nada Soy factory in Chiba Prefecture which has been unsolved for about half a year has reached a climax. The strikers have spent about 200,000 yen since the outbreak of the trouble and their union has been strengthened. However, the employers' attitude was so stubborn that they were at last compelled to withdraw the eight conditions they had proposed and began to nogotiate with the employers for unconditionally returning to work. The strikers numbered more than 1,300, and their loss in wages amounted to over 420,000 yen.
1928.02.03 — To the application made by the Kobe Exchange for opening an exchange for raw silk, the Commerce and Industry Department replied that the matter would be taken into consideration provided that the application were inade in accordance with the terms specified by the Department. Prior to this, the Yokohama Exchange which considered the question as very grave having much to do with the destiny of the raw silk market in Yokohama is strongly opposing the Kobe proposition. However, informal sanction has been given by the Commerce and Industry Department.
1928.02.04 — Mr. M. Itagaki, grandson of the late Count Itagaki, the founder of the Jiyuto or Liberal Party, the forerunner of the Seiyukai Party, declared he would join the Minseito Party, opposing the the Seiyukai, on the ground that the latter has lost the true spirit of the old jiyuto-to which it ought to have succeeded, thus necessitating him to join the Minseito so that he might uphold his deceased grandfather's doctrines. This statement was followed by speeches throughout the country in aid of the Minseito, which caused a great sensation.
1928.02.05 — Today the rite of selecting the sacred paddy-fields for growing rice to be offered on the occasion of the Corona- tion, one of the mystic ceremonies, was performed at the Imperial Palace. These fields are two, Yuki and Suki. The Yuki field is to be in Shiga Prefecture and the Suki field in Fukuoka Prefecture.
1928.02.06 — Prof. George Comstock, Pre- sident of the American Astronomical As- sociation, with his wife, arrived at Yoko- hama this morning.
1928.02.07
- The Naruto, a vessel belonging to the Yokosuka Admiralty, while on her way to Saseho with fuel, stranded in the Shimonoseki Strait today. The Hayatomo, sister vessel of the Naruto, also grounded on the 3rd inst. at the same place.
- Viscount Goto who has been on a trip in Russia for two months, returned home today.
- A heavy snow storm has ravaged several districts in Hokkaido, continuing until today. Many fishing boats were wrecked and sixteen fishermen were drowned.
1928.02.10 — There is an epidemic of scarlet fever, and according to statistics made by the Infectious Diseases Preven- tion Section of the Metropolitan Police Board, there have been 214 cases in the city of Tokyo and 142 in the suburbs, of which 22 have died, since the beginning of this year. There were 143 cases in the city and 74 cases in the suburbs, of which 6 lost their lives, last year, in the same perced.
1928.02.11 — The Kigen-setsu, the Anniversary of the Accession of the first Emperor, Jimmu Tenno, was solemnly celebrated at the Imperial Palace this morning. The third celebration of Kenkoku-sai, the National Foundation Fête, was held this morning in spite of a snow storm at six places in Tokyo: Kudan, the Outer Grounds of the Meiji Shrine, Shiba, Ueno, Asakusa and Fukagawa Parks. Over fifty thousand citizens participated. After the ceremony was over, they marched to the front of the Imperial Palace where they worshipped and shouted Banzai.
1928.02.13 — Candidates for election to the Diet, today, the final day of registration, totalled 969. The candidates include 343 of the Seiyukai or Goverment Party, 345 of the Kenseikai or Opposition Party, 31 of the Jitsugyo-Doshikai, 16 of the Kakushinto Party, 40 of the Labour and Peasantry Party, 19 of the Social Popular Party, 14 of the Japan Labour and Peasantry Party, 10 of the Japan Peasantry Party, 2 local proletarians, and 145 independents.
1928.02.14 — The Imperial Military Academy has had on an average only thirty Chinese applicants for admission each year, but this year they number 483, those sent by Gen. Chiang Kai-shek heading the list with 173, while the rest were recommended by Field-Marshal Chang Tso-lin, Generals Wu Chi-ming, Chang Shuch-liang, son of Chang Tso-lin, Chen Chi-ming, and Tang Sheng-chi.
1928.02.15 — An extension of the building of the Tokyo Prefectural Fine Art Gallery has been decided on. A twostoried annex covering a building area of 800 tsubo is to be erected at a cost estimated at Yen 400,000.
1928.02.16
- The Labour and Peasantry Party today filed a suit against Mr. Suzuki, Minister for Home Affairs, with the Tokyo District Court, charging interference with its election compaign, the chief secretary of the party alleging 80 instances up to Feb. 15.
- An American steamer (7,355 tons) sank at 9:40 a.m. yesterday about 100 miles south-east of Cape Nojima, Chiba Prefecture, while bound for Yokohama from America with a cargo of petroleum. The captain and 15 of the crew were drowned. Twenty-one other seamen were discovered and rescued at 11 a.m. to-day, drifting while grasping floating wood, by the small Japanese fishing boat Matsusen-maru (21 tons) owned by Denjiro Sugiyama of the town of Odawara.
1928.02.18 — The Labour-Peasantry Party today presented a complaint to the Tokyo District Court against Premier Baron Tanaka, Minister Mitsuchi of Finance, and Minister Ogawa of Railways, alleging interference with the election campaign.
1928.02.20
- The first general election under universal suffrage was held today. All the voting booths throughout the country were opened at 7 a.m. About
- 13,000,000 voters exercised their right by 6 p.m.
1928.02.23 — The result of the general election became known today as follows: Seiyukai 218; Minseito 217; JitsugyoDoshikai 4; Kakushinto 3; Social Popular Party 4; Japan Labour-Peasantry Party 1; Labour-Peasantry Party 2: Independents and others 2; 466 total.
1928.02.24 — Big forest fires broke out today in Kagawa and Tokushima Prefectures in the former of which a fine forest covering more than 1,000 square cho was devastated, while in the latter a forest area of over 1,500 square cho was reduced to ashes. In Tokushima Prefecture the fire destroyed some fifty houses.
1928.02.25 — One of the trial flights to prepare for the trans-Pacific flight was started this morning. At 8 a.m. Mr. Kaieda, one of the participants left Omura in West Japan on a machine, as pilot, with two passengers. He made a 600 mile flight in 5 hours and 55 minutes, and safely arrived at the Kasumigaura naval aerodrome in Chiba, north east of Tokyo.
1928.02.26 — The Election Reform Commission organized by politicians belonging to the Opposition with a view to watching the Government's attitude in the election campaign held a meeting in Tokyo today, when reports were made on what had been observed in various districts. They alleged: (1) In the election the Government's control of the campaign was inclined to be partial; that is, the authorities were generous to their supporters while too strict with the Opposition and the proletarians. (2) In certain prefectures the Government restricted public speeches unlawfully.
1928.02.27 — Election campaign offences have been numerous. According to what has so far been published by the Criminal Affairs Bureau in the Ministry of Justice, two candidates in Tokyo, two in Osaka and one in Morioka Prefecture, have been prosecuted, charged with infringement of the Election Law, up to Feb. 25. Throughout the country 1,227 persons have been indicted.
1928.02.28 — The Cabinet today informally decided that the extraordinary session of the Imperial Diet shall be convoked on April 20 for two weeks.
1928.02.29 — A trial flight preparing for the trans-Pacific flight, the second Kasumigaura-Omura non-stop flight covering 600 miles which was started today ended in a fatal accident. The machine was piloted by Mr. Suwa, with Mr. Goto and First Lieutenant Okamura of the Navy as passengers. Both Suwa and Goto were to participate in the Pacific flight. The airplane left Omura in Kyushu at 8.05 a.m. direct for Kasumigaura. When in the air above Furudera-mura, Fujitsu-gun, Saga Prefecture, about twenty minutes later, it came into collision with a tree while descending in order to avoid the clouds. The machine immediately capsized and fell to the ground. It was burnt following the explosion of the gasoline tank, killing Mr. Goto, while Mr. Suwa and Lieutenant Okamoto were seriously hurt. Mr. Goto was one of the foremost airmen in civilian flying circles in Japan. He held a First Class Flying diploma.
1928.03.01
- An Imperial Rescript ordering the convocation of the Diet was promulgated.
- It was announced by the Imperial Household Department that H. I. H. Princess Hisa-no-miya, the infant second daughter of Their Majesties, was taken ill.
1928.03.02 — As the naval airplane carrier Akagi has been completed, it was decided that on April 1 a new flying squadron would be organized and join the Combined Fleet. Hitherto no flying squadron has been included in the fleet organization as an independent unit as in England and America.
1928.03.05 — According to an announcement of the Household Departinent, H. I. H. Princess Hisa-no-miya's disease was diagnosed as septicaemia.
1928.03.06
- Today is the 26th anniversary of the birthday of Her Majesty the Empress, but as Princess Hisa-no-miya is in a serious condition, Her Majesty refrains from formally celebrating the occasion.
- Three cases of small-pox broke out in the city of Tokyo.
1928.03.07 — At the general meeting of the Dai-Nippon Hotel Association held yesterday and today at the Tokyo Station Hotel, they unanimously passed a resolution for hospitably welcoming tourists from the United States and giving them more facilities and comforts.
1928.03.08 — The Imperial Household Department announced that H.I.H. Hisano-miya passed away this morning. She was born on September 10 last year.
1928.03.09 — The total amount of Japan's specie deposited abroad was reduced by some 10,000,000 yen during the past two months, reaching about 170,000,000 yen at the end of last year. This decrease is principally due to the payment of interest on foreign loans.
1928.03.10 — Mr. Seijiro Tanaka, exDirector of the South Manchuria Railway Company, who accompanied Viscount Goto on his recent visit to Russia, has decided to visit Moscow again, leaving the capital in a few days. It is said that the principal object of his second visit is to enter into negotiations with the Soviet authorities for an economic convention between the two Powers.
1928.03.11 — Around Cape Inubo in the Sea of Kajima there was a furious tempest, in which several vessels were wrecked, especially off Choshi where the Koryo-mura (5,227 tons) broke into two and immediately sank, though all the crew safely landed. The Utagami-mura No. 23 (2,428 tons) belonging to the Hokkaido Colliery Company which went to the rescue of the Koryu-maru met the same fate. The Banyei-maru No. 6 (1,887 tons) owned by the same company which went to the rescue of the two ill-fated vessels had her rudder broken off Cape Inubo, and was adrift for many hours. The Etorou Maru (3,022 tons) of the Kobe Mercantile Steamship Company was wrecked off the cape, while the Muroran-maru No. 1 belonging to the Kuribayashi Steamship Company of Hokkaido drifted about until she was at last saved. On receipt of these reports, the Yokosuka Admiralty despatched a destroyer and a mine-dredger to the rescue. In the meantime the Kasumigaura Naval Flying Cops sent hydroplanes. It was later reported that the Benyei-maru No. 6 made a narrow escape.
1928.03.12 — The Etorou-maru, was able to make her escape, though the whereabouts of both the Muroran-maru and the Utagami-maru are unknown. In spite of the custom hitherto of the Department of Railways purchasing the smaller part of rails and accessories from the Yawata Government Iron Foundry and importing the greater part from abroad, the Department has decided to buy all the rails used by it from the Yawata Foundry from this year, because the Iron Foundry has succeeded in manufacturing one hundred pound rails. An order for about 6,000,000 tons of such rails has been sent to the Yawata Ironworks for the first fiscal half-year of 1928.
1928.03.13 — Six days have elapsed since the passing away of the infant Princess Hisa-no-Miya. Today services were solemnly conducted at the Imperial Household Cemetery at Toshimagaoka, Koishikawa, Tokyo. As it was concluded that both the Muroran-maru and the Utagami-maru were lost in the storm off Cape Inubo search for them was abandoned.
1928.03.14 — The Government, which has been making careful investigation for more than a month selecting the Yuki Suki paddy-fields in which are to be planted the new rice to be dedicated to the Imperial Ancestors on the occasion of the Daijo Festival (the ceremony of the first offering of rice by the Emperor to the Gods after his accession) in the Coronation this fall has decided upon a farm at Mikami-muro, Nosu-gun, Shiga Prefecture as the Sacred Yuki Field and one at Wakiyama-mura, Hayara-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture as the Sacred Suki Field.
1928.03.15 — A fireworks factory at Mikawashima in the suburbs of Tokyo exploded today, many houses in the neighbourhood were wrecked or damaged. Two men were killed and four were fatally wounded while scores were slightly wounded.
1928.03.16 — The Tokyo Nichi Nichi is preparing exhibits to be displayed at the the International Journalistic Exposition in Germany, this summer. The paper will contribute 10,000 yen towards the Köln University fund for establishing a Japan Laboratory and opening a chair for the study of things Japanese.
1928.03.17 — Mr. Yung Yu-hung, special envoy to Japan from the Nationalist Government of China, arrived at Tokyo today.
1928.03.19 — In memory of her deceased daughter Princess Hisa-no-Miya, Her Majesty the Empress donated 50,000 yen to the Keifeku-kai, an Imperial bounty foundation, as a fund for the protection of children.
1928.03.20 — While the Imperial cortège was passing the Marunouchi Building this morning on Their Majesties' way to Tokyo Station, a young man, dashed out and attempted to make a direct appeal to the Emperor. He was immediately captured by the police and gendarmes. On examination it was found that he was a deputy leader of the Noda Soy strikers and he attempted to make a direct complaint to the Emperor as a final step for the solution of the dispute.
1928.03.21 — Owing to the violent gale many fires broke out in Tokyo. Particularly, in Wada-Horiuchi-machi on the outskirts of Tokyo several hundred houses were burnt.
1928.03.22 — As he has recently found his health greatly impaired by overwork, Dr. Y. Kozai, President of the Tokyo Imperial University, has retired and Dr. Kiheiji Onodzuka, Professor in the Faculty of Law, succeeds him temporarily.
1928.03.23 — Small-pox in the city of Tokyo is increasing, twenty-two cases having occurred.
1928.03.24 — The Tokyo Coronation Commemoration Exhibition for Encouraging National Industries was opened this morning in Ueno Park in the presence of H.I.H. Prince Kanin, Honorary President.
1928.03.25 — The public was admitted to the Tokyo Coronation Exposition from 1 p.m. yesterday. The visitors reached over 18,000 five o'clock in the evening.
1928.03.26 — Premier Baron Tanaka in his capacity of Foreign Minister invited leading business men in Tokyo and Osaka to his official residence and discussed the problem of cotton cultivation in Brazil and of establishing a corporation there for the purpose.
1928.03.27 — The small-pox cases in Tokyo reached thirty-two by yesterday.
1928.03.28 — The Association of Imperial Princes is issuing a periodical, and the junior princes are editing it. It is named "Magaki no Kiku."
1928.03.29 — Bishop Hisanosuké Hayasaka, the first Japanese who was annointed a Roman Catholic bishop by the Pope, returned to Japan today. This afternoon Uzaemon Ichimura, one of the foremost figures in Japan's kabuki theatre, accompanied by his wife, left Yokohama for the United States and Europe.
1928.03.30 — It was informally decided that Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress will hold the customary cherry blossom garden party at the Shinjuku Imperial Garden on April 16. The function has been abandoned in recent years on account of the poor health and death of the late Emperor.
1928.03.31 — Two renowned French aviators, M. Le Brix and Costes arrived at Yokohama today as did also Col. Goebel, the American bird-man who won the first prize in the Dole Flight from San Francisco to Honolulu.
1928.04.01 — The fifth memorial service for H.I.H. Prince Kitashirakawa, who was killed in an automobile accident in France in 1923, was conducted today at the Kitashirakawa mansion in Tokyo.
1928.04.02 — The Department of Finance states that on March 31, the end of the fiscal year 1927, the national loan totalled Yen 5,360,000,000 as compared with Yen 5,171,000,000 at the end of the previous fiscal year.
1928.04.03 — Today being the anniversary of the Emperor Jimmu, founder of the Empire, late Emperor Taisho was opened to the public.
1928.04.04 — Foreign trade statistics for the quarter ending March 31 show exports to have amounted to Yen 474,298,000 and imports Yen 611,630,000. The excess of imports, Yen 137,332,000, is Yen 48,663,000 less than in the same period last year, exports having increased by Yen 44,029,000, though imports also increased by Yen 4,634,000.
1928.04.05 — It is announced that Mr. Tsuneo Matsudaira, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, and his daughter, Miss Setsu-ko, bride-elect of H. I. H. Prince Chichibu, will return to Japan on June 22. The airplane intended for the Japanese trans-Pacific flight has been named Sakura, or Cherry.
1928.04.06 — The east-bound competitor, Mr. Araki, in a round-the-world race organized by the Jiji Shimpo newspaper, left Tokyo this morning. The westbound contestant, Mr. Matsui is expected to start on April 11.
1928.04.08 — The well-known French aviators, Costes and Le Brix, left Tachikawa airdrome, near Tokyo, today, on their flight to France via Hanoi and India. Today being Sunday and fine spring weather, tremendous crowds left Tokyo for country disiricts, to enjoy flowerviewing and other outdoor pleasures.
1928.04.09 — In recognition of his contribution in promoting the friendly relations between Poland and Japan, H. M. the Emperor today conferred, through the Foreign Office, the Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun with Paulownia, on the famous Polish statesman, Marshal Pilsudski. T. I. H. Prince and Princess Yi returned to Tokyo today after an extended world tour. The Russian ambassador entertained at a banquet the famous Japanese actor, Sadanji Ichikawa, and members of his party, who are leaving for a tour of Russia.
1928.04.10 — The ban on publication having been lifted, it was today publishde that on March 15 the police arrested over 1,000 alleged communists, in Tokyo and elsewhere, including 34 prefectures throughout Japan, claiming that a communist plot on a wide scale had been in formation. At the same time a large number of documents, etc., were seized. It is alleged that the plot was more farreaching and better organized than the similar affair of 1923. The cabinet to day decided to order the dissolution of the Labor-Peasant Party, with 25,000 members, the All Japan Proletarian Youth's Union, with 4,000 members, and the Japan Labour Union Council with 15,000members, on the ground that they were closely connected with the plot, and thus endangered the social order of the nation.
1928.04.11 — With reference to the communist plot recently disclosed and published in the vernacular press, Baron Tanaka, Premier, issued today a statement calling for careful consideration by the public from the viewpoint of upholding the national polity. The Liberal Lawyers' Association brought action against Dr. Suzuki, Home Minister, charging illegal dissolution of the alleged communist bodies, the Labour-Peasant Party, the All-Japan Proletarian Youth's Confederation, and the Japan Labour Union Council.
1928.04.12 — As Major Jean de Hermitte, the French aviator, who has long served the Akenogahara Military Aviation School as instructor and greatly contributed to the development of Japan's æronautic skill, is leaving for home on the expiration of his term His Majesty the Emperor made a gift to him in recognition of his valuable services. The Imperial Aviation Association also conferred on him a prize medal; the presentation ceremony was performed today.
1928.04.13 — The Manchurian and Mongolian riding party consisting of two Japanese, one Chinese and one Mongolian arrived at Tokyo early this morning, finishing its scheduled three-thousand-mile trip from Mandjuli to Tokyo. The party was enthusiastically welcomed.
1928.04.14 — The Jugo Ginko, the so-called Peers' Bank, which has been closed to business since last spring, has effected a readjustment and will open by the 25th inst.
1928.04.15 — The last Sunday in this cherry season, huge cherry-viewing crowds visited Ueno Park, Asukayama Hill, Arakawa Embankment, the Tama Mausoleum of the late Emperor Taisho, Koganei, Narita, Mt. Tsukuba, Sanrizuka and other noted places.
1928.04.16 — Among passengers who arrived this morning aboard the N.Y.K. steamer Shunyo-maru were H. R. H. Prince Rabibong, nephew of the reigning King of Siam, and Captain Robert Dollar, owner of the Dollar Line, on his thirty-seventh trip.
1928.04.17
- The first Imperial Cherry-viewing Party of the present reign was held today at the Shinjuku Imperial Garden, in the presence of Their Majesties. Nearly all the Princes and Princesses of the Blood, the foreign ambassadors and ministers as well as their wives and daughters, Fleet Admiral Count Togo, Premier Baron Tanaka, Viscount Makino, Keeper of the Privy Seal and some six thousand others were present.
- According to investigations made by the Secretariat of the Lower House, the members of the House are classified as follows in accordance with their parties: Seiyukai (Government) 219 Minseito (Opposition) 218 Meiseikai (Independent) 6 Kakushinto 3 Jitsugyo-Doshi-kai 3 Proletarians 8 Neutral 8 Vacant 1
1928.04.18
- In view of the menacing situation in Tsingtao, Shantung Province, the Japanese Government has decided upon despatching warships to the seat of war for the purpose of protecting the lives and properties of the Japanese residents in that district. The Second Squadron stationed at Port Arthur was ordered to hurry to Tsingtao, while the Keyaki of the Ninth Destroyer Flottila went on April 17 and the destroyer Tsubaki of the same flotilla on April 18. The flagship Kuma of the Squadron also went. The destroyer Kotaka belonging to the Second Squadron which was on her way from Dairen to Chmulpo was ordered to hurry to Tsingtao.
- A large fire broke out in the city of Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture, Northeastern Japan. One-fifth of the city was destroyed, 1,200 houses being reduced to ashes.
1928.04.19
- As the situation in Shantung is getting worse, the Japanese Government has decided to send the Sixth Army Division of Kumamoto, the Chiba Railway Battalion, and the Nakano Telegraphic Corps to the neighbourhood of Tsingtao for the protection of the Japanese residents and interests rights.
- The dispute between the employers of the Noda Soy Brewery Company in Chiba Prefecture and their workers which has been going on since September 16 last year, for eight months, culminating in a direct complaint to His Majesty the Emperor by one of the strikers has at last been compromised on the following conditions. (1) 342 workers out of 1,046 return to their work. (
- 2) The Company to pay Yen 380,000 as compensation for discharge and Yen 70,000 for wages during the dispute and expenses while on strike.
1928.04.20
- The 55th session of the Imperial Diet was convoked today.
- In connection with the despatch of Japanese troops to the war zone in Shantung, the Japanese Government published today a statement in effect that the present step was forced to be taken for the protection of the Japanese residents in Shantung Province, and not from any unfriendly feeling towards China and her people nor for intervening in the military actions either by the Northern or Southern forces.
1928.04.21
- The 55th session of the Imperial Diet was formally constituted today.
- A detachment from the Chiba Railway Regiment left Tokyo Station this morning for Shantung.
1928.04.22
- The Sixth Army Division under the command of Lieut.-General Fukuda, 1,355 men in all, left Kumamoto today. A part of the Nakano Telegraphic Corps also started from Tokyo to Tsinan.
- Mr. Kihachiro Okura, multi-milionaire, who made a great fortune after starting as a poor boy, passed away this afternoon at the age of ninety-two.
1928.04.23
- The opening ceremony of the 55th session of the Imperial Diet, the first sitting since the enforcement of manhood-suffrage was held this morning at 11 at the Upper House in the presence of His Majesty the Emperor.
- A method of transportation of Japanese ayu fish (Plecoglossus altivelis) to the United States which has long been a pending question has at length been found. Therefore it has been decided to export 10,000 from Lake Biwa to Seattle on the 26th inst. by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This is the first trial exportation of Japanese ayu to America.
- H. I. H. Prince Takamatsu, a midshipman and second younger brother of His Majesty the Emperor, left Yokosuka Admiralty on board the cruiser Yakumo this morning for Australian waters.
1928.04.24
- A big land-slide occurred today in Niigata Prafecture, resulting in the sinking of paddy-fields over an area of 4 square cho, farms covering and area of 1 square cho, and forest 6 tan in area.
- Examination of the cases of infringement of the universal suffrage law in the general election, according to statistics published by the Ministry for Justice, shows that 8,873 men were prosecuted, including 4,370 men of the Seiyukai or the Government party, 2,853 men of the Minseito or the Opposition, and 1,650 others.
- In the rush hour this morning at Tabata Station, five cars of an electric train were derailed, causing injury to over fifty passengers.
1928.04.25
- This morning brought a cold wave, and in some districts there was frost and thin ice. Much damage to crops occurred.
- Mr. Kenichi Fujita, Chairman of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who represents the Japanese capitalists at the forthcoming International Labour Conference at Geneva left Tokyo Station this morning in company with his daughter who is to act as his interpreter in Europe.
1928.04.26
- Mr. Phya Chamnong Dithaker, Siamese Minister in Tokyo, who has been transferred to Rome in the same capacity, left Tokyo this morning. He has been in Japan for eighteen years as Minister. He was given a beautiful flowervase by the Emperor of Japan.
- Mr. D. H. Buchanan, formerly Professor in Keio University, was authorized by the Ministry of Education to assume the title of doctor of political economy for his thesis presented to Keio University.
- Sir Charles Eliot, former British Ambassador to Japan, who has been studying Buddhism in Nara, sails today from Kobe for home. He will return to Japan after a year's sojourn in Europe.
1928.04.27 — The twenty-five Chinese students at the Tokyo Military Academy, belonging to the Nationalist Party, who have been busying themselves in movements against Japan's despatch of forces to Shantung have been expelled from the institute for disturbing school discipline.
1928.04.28 — In the Lower House a Bill impeaching the Home Minister was introduced by the four opposing parties, Minseito, Kakushinto, Meiseikai, and Proletarians. The veteran politician, Mr. Yukio Ozaki, of the Kakushinto, spoke supporting it. Then an Imperial Rescript ordering a suspension of the sitting for three days was read.
1928.04.29 — Today the 27th birthday anniversary of H. M. the Emperor was celebrated at the Imperial Court. After the ceremony a banquet was given in the Homeiden Hall in the Imperial Palace to foreign representatives as well as Japanese dignitaries. A military review was held at the Yoyogi Parade Ground. At night a banquet was given by Premier Baron Tanaka, Foreign Minister ad interim, at the Kasumigaseki Detached Palace.
1928.05.01
- The Lower House was suspended for another three days.
- In the Ninth May Day labor celebrations, 33 labour bodies including over 15,000 workmen assembled at Shiba Park, and marched along the streets of Tokyo, flying red flags and singing the Labour song
1928.05.02 — According to statistics published by the Tokyo Municipality, the municipal tax and revenues other than taxes in arrears in Tokyo amount to more than yen 8,358,000.
1928.05.03
- On receiving an official communiqué from Tsinan to the effect that as a result of the Southern troops' looting of the Japanese stores in that city the Japanese detachment was compelled to fight them, the Government decided to despatch more troops in order to protect the Japanese residents.
- Mr. Wakun Ishibashi, member of the Imperial Art Academy and also of the Royal Academy of England, a renowned portrait-painter, died. He was in the course of finishing the fresco of the Emperor Meiji Memorial Hall. His widow is an English lady.
1928.05.04
- As a result of the resignation of the Home Minister Dr. Suzuki, the portfolio of Home Affairs has been assumed by Premier Baron Tanaka pro tem.
- A passenger-plane ordered by the Government Aviation Bureau, while on trial flight this morning, crashed with Mr. Kanichiro Kato, 1st-class aviator, and seven apprentice, passengers, in Gumma Prefecture, and all eight men were burnt to death.
- According to official communiqués published by the War Office, collisions between the Japanese troops and China's Southern Army still continue in the commercial quarters of the city of Tsinan.
- It is reported from Tientsin that in consequence of the outbreak at Tsinan the exchange rate of taels suddenly fell by two taels: that is, 68 taels for 100 yen.
1928.05.05
- The first communiqué from Lieut.-General Fukuda, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Expeditionary Army in Tsinan, reached the War Office today. According to it, it is obvious that the Southern Army's looting of the Japanese shops was carefully planned, parties being organized for the purpose backed by large forces. A considerable number of Japanese civilians are reported massacred by them in a most cruel manner. Fighting has taken place in the zones defended by the infantry under the command of Major-General Koizumi from the Tientsin Emergency Corps and the 47th infantry regiment.
- According to what has been published by the headquarters of the Sixth Army Division of Kumamoto, casualties of the Japanese forces despatched to Tsinan from that Division are 12 killed and 35 wounded.
- The tension was relieved in the Lower House following the resignation of Dr. Suzuki, Home Minister Almost all supplementary estimates were passed.
1928.05.06
- In connection with the Tsinan outrage, the Cabinet has decided: (1) One division to be despatched as early as possible. (
- 2) With a view to controlling disorderly Chinese soldiers not only in Shantung but in some other districts in China, a fourth expedition is to be prepared for.
1928.05.07
- The closing ceremony of the 55th session of the Imperial Diet took place today in the Upper House.
- Government published a statement that "this mobilization is only for the purpose of protecting the Japanese residents in the disturbed region in China and as soon as it is found unnecessary to keep them in Shantung they will be withdrawn at once."
1928.05.08
- At a council held at the War Minister's official residence today, it was agreed that Tsinan should be occupied for the time being by Japanese forces pending a proper solution of the Tsinan atrocity question and as a protective measure; that the 3rd Army Division at Nagoya be despatched and stationed for some time to hold control of the Kiaochow-Tsinan Railway; and that decisive measures be taken to defend the Japanese residents in South China, particularly in various districts along the Yangtsze Valley, in the event of any anti-Japanese agitation breaking out.
- As the Southern Army, which evacuated the commercial quarters of Tsinan in conformity with the convention started a fresh attack on the Japanese troops, shouting "Down with all Japanese,” Lieut.-General Fukuda, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Expeditionary Army, took decisive action.
- Gen. Viola, a Fascisti leader and aide of Premier Mussolini who was instructed by the latter to bring Italian art masterpieces to Japan to exhibit them, arrived in Tokyo today with 250 pictures. General Viola will hold an Italian Art Exhibition in the Mitsukoshi Gallery for eight days from today.
1928.05.09 — The Third Army Division at Nagoya was mobilized today. The Tsinan Castle was besieged by the Japanese expeditionary troops, and after several hours' fighting some 4,000. men under the command of General Fang Tsin-wu were disarmed by Koizumi's force.
1928.05.10 — Mr. T. Araki, the eastbound competitor in the round-the-world race promoted by the Jiji Shimpo, who started from Tokyo on April 6, arrived this morning at Tokyo Station at 6:25 by train. Thirty-three days, sixteen hours, thirty-three minutes and twenty seconds were taken by him in circling the world, said to be a world's record for public means of transport.
1928.05.11 — After a fierce bombardment of the Tsinan Citadel by the Japanese Army, at 2 a. m. it was captured by them, and the Rising Sun flag was hoisted.
1928.05.12
- In view of the distress of the Japanese residents in Tsinan, the commander of the Japanese 6th Army Division provided 2,000 of them with food for five days.
- It is reported that national life insurance policies of the Department of Communications at the end of last year reached 11,678,384, the total amount insured being Yen 1,488,103,549.60. It shows, as compared with the preceding year, an increase of 1,627,257 policies and Yen 199,340,737.10 insured.
1928.05.13 — According to investigations made by the police attached to the Japanese Consulate-General at Tsinan, 114 Japanese houses were looted, the larger part of which were deprived even of floorplanks, there remaining almost nothing. The damages amount to over Yen 600,000, while fourteen persons were cruelly killed and more than twenty are missing. As for the casualties of the Japanese Army, forty-six were killed and one hundred and ninety-five wounded.
1928.05.14
- Prof. William Montague of Columbia University sent by the Carnegie Peace Endowment arrived at Tokyo in company with his seventy-one year old mother.
- The estimated crop of rice for this year on May 1 amounts to 3,349,991 koku, excluding the crop in Okinawa Prefecture, whence reports have not so far come. In comparison with the equivalent period in the preceding year, which showed 29,925,485 kuko, there is an increase of 11.4% viz., 3,424,506 koku.
1928.05.15 — Her Majesty the Empress, deeply concerned about the Tsinan affair sent a gracious message to the War Office that she will provide the wounded soldiers with bandages personally prepared by her.
1928.05.16 — A touring party consisting of 52 Formosan aborigine men and women, guided by officials of the Aborigine Admistration Section of the Formosan Government-General, arrived at Moji this morning.
1928.05.17 — Premier Baron Tanaka, Foreign Minister ad interim, transmitted a statement regarding the maintenance of Japan's rights and interests in China and of the security of the life and property of the Japanese residents, in accordance with the settled policy of the Government, to Gen. Chiang Kai-shek, Commander of the Nationalist Army, and Generalissimo Chang Tso-lin, leader of the Northern Forces, through Consul-General Yada at Shanghai and Minister Yoshizawa to Peking. Simultaneously he invited to the Foreign Office the United States, British, French, and Italian Ambassadors to Japan, to whom he explained the purport of the above statement, for their information.
1928.05.19 — The fiftieth birthday of two foremost poets of Japan, Sadashiro Irako and Yau Yokosé, whs celebrated today in Tokyo.
1928.05.20 — The inauguration ceremony of the 10 kilowatt Broadcasting Station at Shingo, of the Tokyo Radio Broadcasting station, was held today.
1928.05.21 — At 1:30 a.m. the Tokyo citizens were startled by a strong earthquake. Household articles were thrown down, and minor damage was caused here and there. People were much alarmed, and many ran out into the streets. According to a report of the Tokyo Central Meteorological Observatory, the maximum amplitude was 18 millimetres, the length of shock some 9 minutes, and the seismic centre was off the mouth of the Yedo River, about 15 kilometres southeast of the city of Tokyo.
1928.05.21 — The No. 1 aeroplane built in connection with the proposed trans-Pacific flight, had a trial flight today. Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, world renowned Japanese bacteriologist, who was sent to West Africa by the Rockefeller Institute for yellow fever research, is reported to have succumbed to that disease as a result of having been infected during the course of his researches.
1928.05.22 — Baron Keishiro Matsui, the retiring Japanese Ambassador to the Court of St. James', accompanied by the Baroness and their daughter, arrived at Tokyo this morning.
1928.05.23
- The reorganization of the Tanaka Cabinet has at length been carried out. This afternoon at the Akasaka Detached Palace in the presence of His Majesty the installation ceremony of two new ministers was held. Mr. K. Mochizuki, hitherto Minister of Communications, becomes head of the Home Department, and his old portfolio is succeeded to by Mr. F. Kuhara, M.P. and wellknown millionaire.
- The Statistical Bureau of the Cabinet published statistics estimating that at the end of 1924 the national wealth of Japan totalled Yen 102,300,000,000 that is, Yen 1,730 per capita.
1928.05.25
- In connection with the recent reorganization of the Tanaka Ministry, Dr. R. Mizuno, Minister of Education, holding himself responsible for certain complications, surrendered his office. He is succeeded by Mr. K. Shoda, once Minister of Finance.
- Mr. Ryukichi Matsui, the west-bound participant in the round-the-world trip promoted by the Tokyo newspaper Jiji Shimpo, returned to Tokyo today. He took 43 days, 13 hours, 54 minutes, and 48 seconds, going by public modes of conveyance.
1928.05.26 — Imperial sanction was given to the donation of condolence finds from the Household Treasury to the bereaved families of the soldiers killed in Shantung.
1928.05.27
- Today being Navy Day for Japan, commemorating the decisive victory of the Battle of the Japan Sea, in the presence of His Majesty the Emperor a celebration was held at the Suikosha Naval Club at Tsukiji, Tokyo.
- Under the auspices of the Educational Section of the Tokyo Municipality a children's movie day was held today. For two hours from 9 a.m. twenty-nine movie halls were opened for school boys and girls to enjoy many interesting pictures regarding education.
1928.05.28
- An Animal Protection Week was started today.
- The Japanese Government presented a detailed declaration to the council of the League of Nations in reply to China's complaint regarding the Tsinan affair.
1928.05.29 — According to investigations made by the Agricultural and Forestry Ministry, rice spoiled or leaking from bags due to imperfect packing annually reaches over 3,000,000 koku, and the Government is contemplating thoroughgoing remedial measures. It has been decided to found a national rice laboratory, the budget for which is to be introduced in the next session of the Diet.
1928.05.30
- While in aerial maneuvers practising sudden turns, two aeroplanes, piloted by Lieut. J. Sasai and Sub-lieut. H. Ozawa respectively, of the Kagamigahara 1st Flying Corps collided and crashed, causing the immediate death of both pilots.
- The Ministry of Finance announces that the specie held by it amounted to Yen 1,246,000,000 at the end of February.
1928.05.31 — It is announced that the military maneuvers this fall will take place in Iwaté Prefecture from October 4 to 9.
1928.06.01 — Owing to imperfect coupling, a mixed train on the Sanin line was detailed between Iwami-Masuda and Yokota Stations, and four passengers were killed, and six seriously and ten slightly hurt.
1928.06.02 — A liquor prohibition treaty has been signed by Secretary of State Kellogg ad Mr. Matsudaira, Japanese Ambassador to the United States.
1928.06.03 — Eleven swimming champions to represent Japan in the forthcoming Olympiad at Amsterdam were selected today.
1928.06.04 — In view of the recent rapid increase of traffic accidents in Tokyo, owing to the increase of motor cars, the Metropolitan Police Board has decided to keep a record of the fingerprints of those holding driving licenses.
1928.06.05 — The Commerce and Industry Ministry estimates Yen 220,000 for establishing an overseas industrial investigation institute in the next fiscal year. Twelve officials, including four industrial attachés, four industrial deputy-attachés and four industrial elève-attachés are to be stationed at Berlin, New York, Shanghai, and Batavia.
1928.06.06 — A joint conference of the Foreign, War, and Navy Offices and the Military General Staff was held this morning for deliberating on steps to be taken for the replenishment of guard forces along the Peking-Tientsin line. It was decided that as an emergency measure part of the Nagoya Army Division now at Tsingtao shall be transferred to the vicinity of Peking and Mukden for the protection of the life and property of the Japanese residents there.
1928.06.07
- M. Z. Okencki, new Polish Minister to Japan, arrived at Shimonoseki this morning.
- Generalissimo Chang Tso-lin, having been wounded on his train in an explosion at Mukden, the Cabinet today decided to despatch a special envoy to express its sympathy.
1928.06.08 — When Premier Baron Tanaka was approaching the reception room in Ueno Station at 9:30 a.m., after arriving by motor car, and being escorted by many policemen and members of the Seiyukai, on his way to Utsunomiya to attend a meeting of the Shimotsuké Branch of the Seiyukai Party, he was suddenly attacked by a consumptive looking man with a dagger in his hand. The Premier had a narrow escape, owing to the quick action of the police, who captured the miscreant.
1928.06.09 — According to the Ministry of Finance, the value of the May import trade exceeded that of exports by Yen 220,789,000.
1928.06.10 — As a result of the election of 85 members, in 24 districts, for the Tokyo prefectural assembly, the anti-government parties have captured a majority of the seats.
1928.06.11 — Mr. Shoda, Education Minister, gave a farewell dinner in honour of the Japanese sport champions who are to participate in the Ninth Olympic Games to be held in Amsterdam.
1928.06.12 — Mr. Junnosuke Inoue has resigned the Governorship of the Bank of Japan. He is succeeded by Mr. Kyuchô Hijikata, Vice-Governor.
1928.06.13 — M. Z. Okencki, new Polish Minister to Japan, who arrived at Tokyo on June 8, was received in audience today by His Majesty the Emperor, to whom he presented his credentials.
1928.06.14 — Mr. McVeagh, United States Ambassador to Japan, who is leaving for home on furlough, paid a farewell visit, at the Foreign Office, to Baron Tanaka, Foreign Minister.
1928.06.15 — The elder Umegatani, Tôtaro Koé by real name, regarded as the Father of Wrestling, the Japanese national athletic sport is dead at the age of eighty-five.
1928.06.16
- In succession to Mr. M. Kamiyama, who has recently been relieved of his office on request, Mr. Takeji Kawamura, formerly President of the South Manchuria Railway Company, has been appointed Governor of Formosa. The installation ceremony took place today in the presence of His Majesty the Emperor.
- For the first time in Japan the Chinese national flag of the White Sun in the Blue Sky was hoisted at the Chinese Legation in Tokyo.
1928.06.17 — The Marine Products Experimental Station of Shizuoka Prefecture which has lately devised the discovery of schools of fish by hydroplane has been presented by the Ministry of Communication with a machine.
1928.06.18
- The new barracks of the Azabu 3rd Infantry Regiment having been completed, the opening ceremony was held today. The building is thoroughly up-to-date in its equipment and a model of its kind.
- The Japanese swimming champions taking part in the Ninth Olympic Meeting at Amsterdam left Tokyo tonight. They were enthusiastically sent off.
1928.06.19 — According to what is published by the Trust Association of Japan, the assets of all the trust corporations throughout the country totalled Yen 1,098,000,000 at the end of May of the current year, which shows an increase of Yen 350,000,000 as compared with the corresponding period of last year.
1928.06.20 — M. Phya Subarn Sompapi, new Siamese Minister to Tokyo, arrived at the capital today.
1928.06.21
- Mr. McVeagh, American Ambassador to Japan, left for home with his wife and son on furlough.
- The Nationalist Government of the Chinese Republic has telegraphed to the Japanese Foreign Office that Mr. Wang Tah-ting has been formally appointed its envoy ad interim to Japan.
1928.06.22
- Miss Setsuko Matsudaira, who is engaged to H. I. H. Prince Chichibu, returned home today after three years' absence in company with her father, Mr. Tsuneo Matsudaira, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, her mother, younger sister Masa-ko, and younger brother Jiro. She arrived at Tokyo Station at 11:30 a.m. Despite pouring rain from early morning, the station was crowded with people, who welcomed her with enthusiasm.
- While several hydroplanes of the Omura Flying Corps in Nagasaki Prefecture were in maneuvers above the town of Omura, machines piloted by Sub-Lieut. Kurioka and Sub-Lieut. Taira, at the height of 500 meters, collided and crashed, killing the two officers.
1928.06.23 — Dr. of Literature Takami Mozumé, patron of the study of classics in Japan and authority on Japanese ancient literature, passed away today. Among his many works, an index to the Gunsho, in the Kobunsho Series, is most famous for its exhaustiveness.
1928.06.24 — The first-period rehabilitation work on the Russian Cathedral in Kanda, Tokyo, has been completed. The solemn ceremony of erecting the golden cross on the dome was conducted today by Archibishop Sergii.
1928.06.25
- The United States Chargé d'Affaires called on Mr. Debuchi, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and requested a formal reply to the second proposition made by the United States in connection with the Anti-War Treaty.
- The Finance Ministry announces that according to its investigations the total sum of the Japanese national debts reaches Yen 5,674,770,000, which comes to Yen 93 per capita.
1928.06.26 — Dr. Mineichiro Adachi, Japanese Ambassador to France, Mr. Matsuzo Nagai, Japanese Ambassador to Belgium, and Baron Yoshiro Fujimura, member of the Upper House, will be Japanese delegates at the ninth assembly of the League of Nations at Geneva.
1928.06.27 — The plenary meeting of the Privy Council for discussing the question of asking the Throne for an emergency Imperial Ordinance for the revision of the National Peace Preservation Law was held today. The debate lasted from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. but no conclusion was reached, and after a hot discussion the meeting was adjourned.
1928.06.28 — At the plenary meeting of the Privy Council continued from yesterday, the request for an emergency Imperial Ordinance, as desired by the Government, was approved by a majority.
1928.06.29 — The Imperial sanction being obtained for an emergency ordinance for the partial revision of the National Peace Preservation Law, the Government has promulgated the ordinance in an extra issue of the Official Gazette.
1928.06.30 — According to investigations made by the Finance Ministry, the total amount of exports in the first half year of 1928 reached Yen 941,800,000, while that of imports was Yen 1,172,768,000, which shows an excess of imports over exports by Yen 230,968,000. In comparison with the corresponding period of the preceding year imports decreased by Yen 59,000,000.
1928.07.01
- From today the Tokyo Rice Retailers' Guild adopts selling by the metric system of measure.
- Mr. T. Kawamura, new Governor-General of Formosa, left Tokyo for his post today.
1928.07.02 — A silver model of the Matterhorn, famous peak of the Swiss Alps, which is to be presented by the Swiss residents in Japan to H. I. H. Prince Chichibu in congratulation of his coming wedding, arrived from Switzerland today.
1928.07.03 — This morning a tram car collided with another at Omagari in Keishikawa Ward, Tokyo, causing two deaths and thirty-three wounded.
1928.07.04
- The change to the status of subject of T. I. H. Prince Fujimaro and Prince Hagimaro Yamashina, upon their own request, was approved by the Imperial Family and formally recognised at today's meeting of the Privy Council.
- Baron Aloisi, new Italian Ambassador to Japan, with his wife arrived at Tokyo today.
1928.07.05 — An aerial raid and defence maneuvers, the first experiment of the kind in this country, took place today in Osaka. At night the citizens were drilled in putting out all lights.
1928.07.06
- After flying at night above Yokosuka, No.-F I hydroplane belonging to the Yokosuka Naval Flying Corps was wrecked on alighting on the water and of the crew four were killed, one seriously injured and two rescued.
- Dr. Walter Williams, Dean of the School of Journalism in Missouri University, arrived in Japan today with his wife.
1928.07.07
- At today's meeting of the General Executive Committee of the Imperial Aviation Association, the "Sakura," newly built aeroplane for the trans-Pacific flight, was declared unfit for the flight.
- The Festival of the Star Vega, an annual function in Japan, anciently celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, was observed today.
1928.07.08 — An emergency amendment of the regulations controlling staple exports, which has been long a pending question, was published in today's Official Gazette.
1928.07.09
- As a result of researches made by Dr. Okochi's Laboratory at the Chemical and Physical Laboratory, a practical process of taking magnesium from magnesite ores in veins in the neighbourhood of Tahsichiao in South Manchuria has been invented.
- Miss Mahon, a well-known American educationist of Seattle, where she has had charge of over two thousand American born Japanese children during eighteen years, by whom she is affectionately esteemed, arrived at Tokyo today.
1928.07.10
- His Majesty has sanctioned recalling the troops despatched to Shantung belonging to the Nagoya Third Army Division.
- Mr. R. O. Matheson, Tokyo correspondent of the Chicago Tribune, and other leading papers, died at Karuizawa. He was fifty-five years old, and very popular in Japan's journalistic circles.
1928.07.11 — The Imperial Family Council, at its first meeting since His Majesty the Emperor ascended the Throne, sanctioned H.I.H. Prince Fujimaro Yamashina and H.I.H. Prince Hagimaro Yamashina changing their status to that of subjects. The former will became Marquis Tsukuba, and the latter Count Kashima.
1928.07.12
- Messrs. Myers and Collier, the American round-the-world record-breakers, with their airplane City of New York, left Yokohama today by the Empress of Russia for Vancouver.
- Sadanji Ichikawa, one of Japan's foremost actors, left today for Russia, where he and his followers will present the "Kabuki" drama of Japan's theatrical art.
1928.07.13 — Admiral Yoshikawa, with a fleet of 15 airplanes, flew from the Yokosuka naval station, of which he is commander, to the naval aerodrome on the Kasumigaura lagoon.
1928.07.14 — Eleven persons were killed or injured in an electrical storm in several prefectures adjacent to Tokyo.
1928.07.16 — According to official statistics, rice stocks on July 1 amounted to 23,550,000 koku, 2,801,000 koku more than at the same date last year.
1928.07.16 — The government has decided to extend from August 31 to December 31 of this year, the regulation restricting the import of rice.
1928.07.19 — The government issued a formal statement of its position respecting the Tsinan affair, in China, and the return home of Japanese troops in Shantung. The Chinese minister, visiting the Foreign Office, communicated the Nationalist government's desire to have a provisional treaty take the place of the present Japan-China commercial treaty, until a new treaty can be negotiated. The Foreign Office, however, rejected this proposal, declaring that the treaty hitherto in force is valid for ten years more.
1928.07.20 — The government formally communicated its adherence to the Kellogg-Briand anti-war treaty, to the American chargé d'affaires.
1928.07.21 — The Chinese Nationalist government has delivered to the Japanese minister in China, Mr. Yoshizawa, a note declaring the Japan-China commercial and navigation treaty to be void.
1928.07.22
- Marking an extraordinary cool, rainy spell, the average temperature today was slightly over 19 degs. C., whereas the annual average at this time is 27 degs. C. This is the coolest summer season since that of 1907.
- A new proletarian political party, called Musan-Taishu-to, was inaugurated today.
1928.07.23
- The various parties in the House of Peers have decided to form a China policy committee, to support the government in a correct attitude toward China.
- Fire destroyed 400 houses in the town of Piuka, Hokkaido.
1928.07.24 — Mr. Yoshida, minister to Sweden, becomes Vice-Foreign Minister, in succession to Mr. Debuchi, new ambassador to the United States. Viscount Mushakoji, minister to Rumania, will be transferred to Stockholm, while Mr. Tsuneo Matsudaira, hitherto ambassador at Washington, becomes ambassador to Great Britain.
1928.07.25 — Mr. Tao, representing General Chang Hsueh-liang, of Mukden, and Mr. Wang, representative of the Chinese Nationalist government, have arrived in Tokyo to confer with the foreign office.
1928.07.26 — H.I.H. Prince Chichibu has agreed to be honorary president of the International Industrial Conference to be held in Tokyo next year.
1928.07.28
- Baron Hayashi, formerly ambassador to Great Britain, left Tokyo today to attend the funeral of the late Generalissimo Chang Tso-lin, at Mukden, and also, it is reported, charged with an important diplomatic mission.
- The Kawabiraki, or annual "opening" of the Sumida River in Tokyo, with its attendant fireworks display, was held today on an unusually large scale.
1928.07.30 — The unexpectedly early conclusion of a new commercial treaty between the United States and the Chinese Nationalist government is attracting keen attention at the Foreign Office today.
1928.07.31 — It has been ascertained that in Tokyo prefecture there are 12,500 persons over 80 years of age, of whom seven are over 100 years, and they will be accorded, by the Imperial Household, cups in commemoration of the Imperial Enthronement this year.
1928.08.01
- The Japanese minister to China, Mr. Yoshizawa, informed the Nationalist government of Japan's rejection of the Chinese contention that the commercial treaty between the two countries has become void.
- Mr. Tokonami, one of the leaders of the Minseito, the principal opposition party in the Imperial Diet, suddenly seceded from the party, giving as his main reason his objection to the Minseito's China policy, and at the same time intimating his intention to form a separate party. The Minseito is a new party, a merger of the former Kenseikai and Seiyu-Honto parties, under the presidency of Mr. Yuko Hamaguchi, leader of the Kenseikai, while Mr. Tokonami was president of the Seiyu-Honto.
1928.08.02 — Floods, the worst recorded since 1912, the result of the recent heavy rains, unusual at this season, have caused much damage in eastern Japan.
1928.08.04 — Former Seiyu-Honto adherents of Mr. Tokonami are holding meetings to decide whether they should follow the latter in his bolt from the Minseito party.
1928.08.05
- A remarkable memorial service was held today at the village of Oshima, on the coast of Wakayama prefecture, near Osaka, in memory of the victims of the Turkish warship Ertoghroul, which was wrecked in that vicinity many years ago. The service was attended by the Turkish chargé d'affaires, Fuad Bey, the Mayor of Osaka, the governors of Osaka and Wakayama prefectures, and members of the Japan-Turkish Society.
- The Home Office is putting the final touches to the present ministry's elaborate plan for a fundamental reorganization of prefectural, city, town and village administration, involving considerable decentralization of power, for presentation to the next session of the Diet.
1928.08.06
- Mons. Giardini, Papal Nuncio in Tokyo for seven years, left Tokyo for Rome today.
- Mr Yuko Hamaguchi, president of the Minseito, opposition party, has rejected Premier Baron Tanaka's proposal that he join the advisory council that the government plans to form of prominent men, for consultation regarding affairs in China, and national thought.
1928.08.07
- Honors for distinguished service, during the recent conflict in Shantung, have been announced for over 50 officers and men of the Japanese army who were killed or injured there.
- It is announced that Japan will be represented at the signing of the anti-war treaty at Paris by Count Uchida, who held the post of foreign minister for many years, and is at present a member of the Privy Council.
1928.08.08 — It is announced that Mr. Nagaoka, ambassador to Germany, will also hold the post of minister to Latvia.
1928.08.09
- The Ministry of Education has proposed to the Bureau of Decorations to create a new medal, to be called "Bunko-sho," to be conferred on persons who have distinguished themselves in art and literature. Honors of a similar nature are planned for merit in education, journalism, and religion.
- Count Uchida left for Paris to sign the anti-war treaty on behalf of Japan.
1928.08.10 — The Tokyo waterworks bureau has formulated a plan for the adequate supply of water for the population of the Greater Tokyo of the future, estimated at 7,000,000.
1928.08.11 — In connection with the imperial gift of wooden cups and entertainment money to men and women throughout the country above eighty years of age at the time of the Coronation, the Home Affairs Department has received the following reports dated July 31 from all the prefectural governors, except from Wakayama Prefecture, who were instructed to make investigations regarding them:- Over one hundred years... 253 persons From ninety to one hundred years ........19,569 " From eight to one hundred years.............301,069 " They total 410,891
1928.08.12
- Lieut. - Gen. Minami, Vice-Chief of the General Staff, who was travelling in Shantung Province on an important mission, returned home today.
- The heavy rains which had continued for a fortnight ceased today.
1928.08.13
- The draft of the seamen's insurance bill which the Home Office will introduce in the forthcoming session of the Imperial Diet has been completed.
- M. de Billy, French Ambassador to Japan, called on Mr. Yoshida, new Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, this morning and informed him regarding the Franco-Chinese convention regarding the Nanking Affair.
1928.08.14 — Baron Tanaka, Premier and Foreign Minister had interviews with the British, American, French and Russian envoys to Japan, to interchange views regarding the China problem, and to inform them of the Japanese Government's position.
1928.08.15 — The American charge d'affaires in Tokyo advised the Japanese Foreign Office that toward the end of this month about fifteen warships of the United States fleet will call at Yokohama, Kobe, Tsuruga and Hakodate separately.
1928.08.16
- Baron Gonsuke Hayashi, who went to Manchuria on a special mission and to attend Chang Tso-lin's funeral, returned to Tokyo today.
- Mr. Wang Yung-pao, Chinese Minister to Japan, called upon Mr. H. Arita, Director of the Asiatic Affairs Bureau of the Foreign Office, this morning, to hand him a copy of the second note of the Chinese Nationalist Government in connection with the Sino-Japanese commercial treaty, which was transmitted to Mr. Okamoto, Japanese Consul at Nanking.
1928.08.17 — Baron Tanaka, Premier and Foreign Minister called in three veteran statesmen, Viscounts Kiyoura, Goto and Kaneko, for a conference with them with reference to the recent problems arising in China.
1928.08.18
- Baron Tanaka had a conversation today with Baron Alliosi, Italian Ambassador to Japan, relative to the Chinese Nationalist Government's proposed abrogation of the Sino-Japanese commercial navigation treaty and other important Chinese questions.
- According to investigations made by the Social Affairs Bureau of the Home Affairs Department, labour disputes which occurred this year, from January to June, numbered 371 cases in all prefectures. It is said 39,217 persons participated in those troubles. Labour disturbances which have shown a tendency to increase since 1919-20, a turning point in national thought in this country, showed a decrease last year for the first time, numbering 562 cases with 47,002 participants during the former half of 1927. The former half of this year saw a still further decrease, the cases being reduced by some 30 per cent., viz. 191.
1928.08.20
- In answer to the summons of the Foreign Office, Mr. Shichitaro Yada, Japanese Consul-Genetal at Shanghai, arrived at Tokyo today.
- Thirty-eight members of the American Shriners' Lodge who are making a tour of the Orient, from San Francisco, arrived at Yokohama today.
1928.08.21 — A graft scandal in connection with the removal of the Tokyo fish-market and the extension of a suburban tramway has involved many members of the Tokyo Municipal Assembly. Among those examined by the procurators are two members of the House of Representatives. They are charged with accepting bribes.
1928.08.22
- Bishop U. Ottama, a prominent figure in the independence movement in India and one of the influential leaders in the National congress of that country, who has been studying Buddhism in Nara since his arrival at Kobe from Burma on July 29, came to Tokyo today and went to the home of Mr. Bose, one of his friends.
- Fire in Teshio, Hokkaido destroyed eight hundred out of the one thousand houses of the town.
1928.08.23 — One hundred and seventy-nine preachers and adherents of the Tenri Kenkyujo, a religious body formed on Shintoist lines, with headquarters at Iwaki village in Nara Prefecture, have been arrested, charged with lèse majesté.
1928.08.24 — Baron Gonsuké Hayashi, a veteran diplomat on the waiting list, formerly ambassador in London, has decided to retire from the diplomatic service.
1928.08.25 — Mr. Kenichi Fujita, President of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who represented Japanese capitalists at the last international Labour Conference at Geneva, returned home today.
1928.08.26 — According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, despite the anticipation of a bad crop of rice this year owing to the unseasonable weather, the condition of the crop as a whole on Aug. 15, was declared to be "normal." Aug. 27. All this summer fine days were very few, and according to an announcement made today by the Central Meteorological Observatory of Tokyo, only 15 days were fine between June 11 and Aug. 27, while 6 days were cloudy, rain falling on all the others.
1928.08.28
- Dr. Solf, German Ambassador to Tokyo, just returned from an extensive trip in Formosa, called on Baron Tanaka, to confer with him in regard to the Japan-German Customs Tariff Treaty now in course of negotiation between the two Governments.
- The second note regarding the Sino-Japanese Commercial and Navigation Treaty, was handed to Mr. Yoshizawa, Japanese Minister at Peking, by the Nationalist Government, was published today.
1928.08.29 — The following days will be national holidays on the occasion of the Imperial Enthronement this fall:- Nov. 10, Coronation Day; Nov. 14, Daijo-sai Day on which the Emperor offers rice to the Ancestral Gods for the first time since his accession to the Throne; Nov. 16 Grand Gala Day. Out of the forty Communists in Western Japan who were prosecuted following the third nation-wide arrests in March last and who have since been under preliminary examination at the Fukuoka District Court, thirty-five have been charged with infringing the Public Peace Preservation Law and will undergo public trial in the same court, the remaining five being set free on account of lack of evidence.
1928.08.30 — The number of members of the newly formed political party, the Shinto Club, under the leadership of Mr. T. Tokonami, who recently deserted the Minseito, of which he was an important member, has reached twenty-five, the number which entitles a political body to the right of negotiation in the Diet.
1928.08.31 — On the invitation of Keio University, the baseball team of Illinois University arrived at Tokyo today.
1928.09.01
- This being the fifth anniversary of the disastrous earthquake and fire of 1923, solemn memorial services were conducted with Shintoist and Buddhist rituals on the old site of the Military Clothing Department in Honjo, Tokyo, where over 30,000 lives were lost in the calamity.
- At 11:58, the moment at which the catastrophe overtook the capital and its vicinity, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, at the Nasu Detached Palace, offered silent prayers for the victims.
1928.09.02 — The marriage of Miss Setsu-ko Matsudaira to Prince Chichibu, which was sanctioned by the Imperial Court on January 18, is announced by the Imperial Household Department to be held at the sanctuary at the Imperial Palace on September 28, which will be preceded by the ceremony of exchanging betrothal presents on September 16 and the formal notification of the date of the wedding to the Grand Shrines of Isé on September 20.
1928.09.03 — A number of the Japanese athletes who took part in the Ninth Olympic Games at Amsterdam returned home today.
1928.09.04 — The membership of the Economic Commission instituted by the Tanaka Cabinet was selected today at a Cabinet Meeting.
1928.09.05 — The Tokyo Municipality which has been carrying on the dredging of the River Sumida and canal cutting since 1922 as a preliminary undertaking for the harbour of Greater Tokyo, has decided to begin the harbour work itself, which has been pending for several years. The undertaking which will take ten years' work, will be started next year. The expenditure for the first period is estimated at Yen 27,900,000.
1928.09.06
- In connection with the Coronation ceremony this fall those employed by the War, Navy, Railways, Commerce and Industry, and Finance Departments will observe the three national holidays The question has arisen if they will be paid wages for those three days, which has now been decided on the affirmative.
- From a legal viewpoint, the Government is not bound to pay wages but it is said that only for the reason of the workers' spontaneous expression of congratulation to the Imperial House, they will be fully paid.
1928.09.07 — A movement has been started by influential persons, official and private, for restoring, in commemoration of the Imperial Enthronement, the public Museum at Ueno belonging to the Imperial Household, which will be transformed into a museum of old Oriental fine art. The first meeting of the promoters was held today. Prince Tokugawa was nominated President and Marquis Hosokawa and Viscount Shibusawa, Vice-Presidents, while Premier Baron Tanaka and Mr. Hamaguchi, Leader of the Minseito, are to be advisers.
1928.09.08 — In view of the existence of questionable insurance companies, the Commerce and Industry Department will prepare a revision of the Insurance Law now in force, which is found to have some defects.
1928.09.09 — Some members of the Minseito Party who have been discontented with its policies have formed a new body called the "Constitutional Politics Innovation Society." They have been expelled from the Minseito which is suffering from grave internal dissensions.
1928.09.10 — On December 12 this year a grand municipal celebration of the Imperial Enthronement will be held in Tokyo.
1928.09.11 — A reconnaissance plane piloted by Lieut. Shichiro Nishimura of the Kagamigahara 2nd Flying Regiment, with probation officer Masayoshi Shinoda on board, crashed and both officers were killed.
1928.09.12 — A floral zone was discovered on the sea bottom in Ishishiro County in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan. The zone which contains a tabu forest will be preserved as a national natural monument.
1928.09.13 — The pro-Japanese Brazilian Professor Juliano Moleira, of Rio de Janeiro University, arrived at Yokohama with his wife.
1928.09.14 — Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress who had been spending the summer at the Nasu Detached Villa returned to Tokyo today, with Princess Teru.
1928.09.16 — To show consideration to those advanced in age on the occasion of the Coronation, the Imperial Court will grant sake cups and entertainment money to men and women above eighty years of age. The announcement has been transmitted by the Imperial Household Department to the Home Office and the Governors of all the colonies. The kinds of cups and the amounts of entertainment money are as below:- To those over 80 years: One cinnabarvarnished wooden cup with 50 sen entertainment money. To those over 90 years: One cinnabarvarnished wooden cup with 1 yen entertainment money. To those over 100 years: One set of three cinnabar-varnished wooden cups with 1.50 yen entertainment money.
1928.09.17 — Dr. Larnett, Professor of Doshisha University, Kyoto, who is returning to America for his wife's health was today given the 3rd order of the Sacred Treasure in recognition of his contribution to Japan's education. Mr. Sun Ho, the eldest son of the late Dr. Sun Yat-sen of China and now Chief of the Reconstruction Department of the Central Executive Committee of the Canton Government, who has been staying in the United States, arrived at Yokohama on his way home.
1928.09.18 — In regard to the wording, "in the name of the peoples" of the Anti-war Pact recently signed by the Japanese Government at Paris, declared to be inconsistent with the supreme authority of the Emperor, the Minseito, the Opposition political party, has published a protest. The Japanese swimming champions who participated in the International Olympic Games at Amsterdam returned home.
1928.09.19 — The style of the Imperial equipage on the occasion of the Coronation was announced today.
1928.09.20 — The Himeji Castle in the City of Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, has been specified by the Home Affairs Department as a national monument.
1928.09.21 — The Odawara Penitentiary has purchased the superannuated warship "Musashi." It will be anchored in Uraga Harbour and utilized for the detention of juvenile prisoners who will be engaged in taking care of fishing implements and ship's fittings, oceanological observation, studies of currents and weather, navigation and marine mechanics, so that a maritime spirit may be fostered among them. This undertaking is the first of its kind in this country. Mr. Ting Kung-pu, one of the foremost scholars in China and ex-tutor to the former Emperor of the Ching Dynasty, is visting Japan.
1928.09.22 — The column presented to the City of Aidzu by Premier Mussolini, the Italian Dictator, in memory of the tragic end of the Byakko band of young lads during the Restoration period Campaign, by whose deed he was deeply moved, will soon arrive in Japan. The column is an old granite pillar excavated from the ruins of Rome. It is said to be over 2,000 years old, 8.35 meters in height and 25 tons in weight. The pedestal is 2.50 meters high, 2 meters square, and on one side is inscribed: "This ancient pillar is given to the City of Aidzu in memory of the courageous deed of the young Byakko band by the people of Rome who love heroic spirit." On the top of the column is a bronze eagle with outstretched wings, the symbol of Rome.
1928.09.24 — The American Chargé d'Affaires to Japan announced today that an artistically bound album of views of Washington from President and Mrs. Coolidge and a handsome desk clock from Secretary of State Kellogg and Mrs. Kellogg will be presented to Miss Setsu-ko Matsudaira, on the occasion of her wedding to H. I. H. Prince Chichibu. Lieut.-General Fukuda, Commander of the 6th Division of Kumamoto, which went to Shantung as an expeditionary force and returned recently, arrived at Tokyo Station early this morning with his staff. A carriage sent by the Imperial Household Department took him to the Chiyoda Palace, where he was granted audience by His Majesty the Emperor to whom he made a report in detail. The Corps Diplomatique gave a farewell lunch at the German Embassy in honour of Mr. K. Debuchi, newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to Washington who is leaving soon for his new post. Dr. Solf, German Ambassador, Doyen of the Corps, presented the envoy with a souvenir on behalf of the corps.
1928.09.25 — A set of lacquer inlaid bookshelves and alcove ornaments, a present to Their Majesties the Emperor Taisho and his consort from all the functionaries, civil and military, in token of congratulation upon the celebration of the 25th anniversary of their wedding in May, 1925, which has been in course of preparation by more than a hundred contemporary artizans of prominence, at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, has been completed, and will be presented to the Imperial Household before the Coronation Ceremonies.
1928.09.27 — Among the aged persons to be honoured with an Imperial gift in commemoration of the Enthronement is Uhei Takama a man living in Hiroshima, western Japnn, who is one hundred and thirteen years old.
1928.09.28 — Today H. I. H. Prince Chichibu and Miss Setsu-ko Matsudaira were married. Mr. K. Debuchi, new Japanese Ambassador to the United States, left for his post, with his wife and children by the liner Shunyo Maru.
1928.09.29 — To attend the grand military maneuvers to be held in north-eastern Japan, Gen. Chang Shun, Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese Nationalist Army, arrived at Tokyo this morning. French athletic champions under the leadership of Dr. Minelle, arrived to participate in All-Japan Athletic Sports in Tokyo and Osaka.
1928.09.30 — Tokyo the semi-centennial anniversary of the foundation of the Tokyo Stock Exchange was celebrated. Prof. Petzold a German scholar and follower of the Tendai Sect, has been appointed prelate of that sect at a solemn ceremony at the Kaneiji Temple in Ueno Park.
1928.10.01 — The jury system went into effect today. His Majesty the Emperor visited the Supreme Court in Tokyo in commemoration of the event. The thirtieth anniversary of the inauguration of the Municipal Administration of Tokyo also was celebrated today. The eighty-eighth birthday of Viscount Shibusawa, grand old man of Japan's business and industrial world, was celebrated today at the Imperial Theatre. After the ceremony a magnificent banquet was held at the Tokyo Kaikan, attended by Premier Baron Tanaka and some 1,200 other guests.
1928.10.02 — According to a report published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the rice crop this year is forecast at 61,296,260 koku which shows a decrease by 809,406 koku or 1.3 per cent., compared with the previous year, but an increase of 3,292,906 koku, or 5.7 per cent., compared with the average year,
1928.10.03 — H. I. H. Prince Takamatsu, second younger brother of His Majesty, who has been absent on an ocean training voyage for half a year, as a sub-lieutenant, returned to the Yokosuka Admiralty. He immediately came to the Takanawa Palace, Tokyo.
1928.10.04 — His Majesty the Emperor left Tokyo for the north-eastern districts to command the grand military maneuvers there with Iwate Prefecture as the centre. Gen. Chang Shun, Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese Republic, who had come to Japan to attend the military maneuvers, hurriedly started for home today, on receipt of a telegram from the Nationalist Goverment.
1928.10.05 — The Government has agreed to the request for Yen 4,000,000 for the War Office and Yen 2,300,000 for the Navy Department, to increase the wages of the rank and file. By this a private will be paid Yen 1.50 more per month than at present.
1928.10.06 — The flag-ship Trenton of the light cruiser squadron of the American Eastern Fleet and two other American warships arrived at Yokohama.
1928.10.07 — The new Czecho-Slovakian Minister to Tokyo, arrived at Shimonoseki with his wife and daughters on his way to his post. The French athletic champions lost by a small margin at the meeting in the Meiji Shrine stadium, the score being 77½ against 77½ marks.
1928.10.18 — The grand military maneuvers ended today. Mr. McVeagh, the United States Ambassador, and Sir John Tilley, the British Ambassador, returned today by the Empress of Asia. Signor Enrico San Martino, Italian Special Envoy, arrived in Tokyo with a gift of King Emmanuel to the Emperor of Japan in congratulation of his coming Enthronement. The next budget which has been formulated by the Finance Department totals Yen 1,710,000,000, which includes 110,000,000 for new undertakings.
1928.10.09 — The post of Chilian Minister to Japan which has been vacant for some time has now been filled by the former Minister to the Netherlands. Geological experts estimate that a fossilized lobster lately excavated in Iwate Prefecture is 4,000,000 years old, while a fossil plant also discovered may be over 5,000,000 years of age. A kitten born in a certain household in Tokyo has four ears, and the little animal is attracting much attention among curiosity-seekers.
1928.10.10 — The Finance Ministry reports that the nationl loans of this country totalled Yen 5,766,170,000 at the end of September this year, Yen 4,312,942,000 being domestic loans and the remaining Yen 1,453,227,000, foreign loans.
1928.10.11 — His Majesty the Emperor who left Tokyo on Oct. 4 for Iwate Prefecture to supervise the grand military maneuvers held there for the following three days left the city of Morioka on Oct. 10, and after stopping in Sendai for the night, today returned to the Imperial Palace after eight days' absence.
1928.10.12 — The first conference of the Tokyo Municipality met today in connection with the notorious scandal case of many members of the Municipal Assembly who have been arrested and taken to prison charged with graft. They discussed the question, "Whether the Tokyo Municipal Assembly should be dissolved or not," and the majority of them upheld the affirmative.
1928.10.13 — The international swimming contest under the auspices of the Tokyo Asashi Shimbun was opened today.
1928.10.14 — Investigations made by the prefectural governors into the number of people entitled to participate in the celebration dinner on the day of the Grand Banquets at Kyoto has resulted in deciding on 385, 621 in all.
1928.10.15 — Dr. Clifford Clamp, director of the Perkins Astronomical Observatory in Ohio, U. S. A., arrived today a Tokyo.
1928.10.16 — The 9th Tei-ten or Imperial Fine Art Exhibition was opene today.
1928.10.17 — The Kanname-sai or Harvest Festival for offering the year's new rice and vegetables to the Imperial ancestral spirits was solemnly conducted today before the Kashiko-dokoro, or Imperial Sanctuary, in the Tokyo Imperial Palace.
1928.10.18 — The Japan-visiting aeroplane, "Europa," piloted by Baron von Huenefeldt of Germany, which left Shanghai on the night of Oct. 17 and passed over the city of Osaka at 8:15 a.m. today, made its appearance at 1:30 p.m. above Tsukishima, Kyobashi Ward, in Tokyo. While, however, it was making its way to Tachikawa, it took a wrong course on account of the dense fog and was forced to land near the river Tamagawa. Baron von Huenefeldt and two companions were quite safe. This night fire broke out at Ryotsumachi, Sado Island, in Niigata Prefecture, destroying 800 houses.
1928.10.19 — The first meeting of Mr. S. Yata, Japanese Consul-General at Shanghai, and Mr. C. T. Wang, Foreign Minister of the Nationalist Government of China, a curtain-raiser to formal negotiations between Japan and China, was held today at the latter's official residence in Nanking. Baron von Huenefeldt, the German airman visiting Japan, this morning called at the Ministry of Communications, War and Navy Offices, and on General Prince Kuni, Honorary President of the Imperial Aviation Association. At noon he was invited to lunch by Mr. Kuhara, Minister of Communications.
1928.10.20 — M. Emile Travelsinis, the newly-appointed Swiss Minister to Japan, who had been hurrying to his new post so that he might be in time to attend the Enthronement Ceremony, arrived at Tokyo today. M. Louis Brangain, Professor of Botany in Paris University, recently nominated director of la Maison Franco-Japonaise, also arrived at Tokyo. According to investigation made by the Statistical Bureau of the Cabinet for 1925, the income of all the Japanese people aggregated more than Yen 13,300,000, viz, Yen 224 per capita.
1928.10.21 — Word received from Nanking reports that the third meeting between Mr. Yata, Japanese Consul-General at Shanghai, and Mr. C. T. Wang, Chinese Foreign Minister, in connection with Sino-Japanese formal negotiations was wholly occupied with the Tsinan Affair, being concluded in an almost head-on collision as had been anticipated. The negotiations, therefore, are said to be at a standstill.
1928.10.22 — With a view to giving relief to labourers unemployed this winter, the Tokyo Municipal Office has decided on an extraordinary out-of-employment relief undertaking. The Labour Exchange of the city, accordingly, had the names of those labourers within the city registered, and their number reached 19,175. The Municipal authorities are seriously concerned about how to effectively rescue such a large number. Both the Tokyo and Osaka Clearing Houses passed a resolution that the ban on the export of gold should be immediately lifted, and made a proposal to that effect to the Ministry of Finance.
1928.10.23 — Today the autumn festival of the Yasukuni Shrine, one of the important Tokyo annual functions, was performed, and His Majesty the Emperor despatched an Imperial messenger to the Shrine.
1928.10.24 — No accord has so far been reached with respect to the Tsinan Affair in the Sino-Japanese negotiations now going on in Nanking between ConsulGeneral Yata, and Minister Wang for Foreign Affairs of China, and it was decided to stop the negotiations for the time being.
1928.10.25 — The final meeting between the Japanese and Chinese representatives came to a conclusion today. Mr. Yata and Minister Wang published a simultaneous statement, in effect that they had reached an accord of views in the main. It has been decided that the grand naval review in celebration of the Enthronement Ceremony will take place off Yokohama harbour on December 4. The military review will be held on December 2. Fire reduced more than 700 houses to ashes at Wakkanai, Kitami Province, Hokkaido. Count Uchida who went to Paris in August to represent Japan at the signature of the War Outlaw Pact and then visited the United States returned home today. Han Hsi-chang, a foremost Chinese actor, arrived at Tokyo.
1928.10.27 — To Yen 1,732,900,000, appropriated by the Finance Ministry for the budget for next year has been added some Yen 10,000,000, a net increase revived by the Cabinet for the budget, thus reaching Yen 1,742,900,000 total. The new Chilian Minister accredited to the Japanese court, arrived to Tokyo today. Master Wu Tsing-yuen, noted Chinese juvenile chess champion, also came to this country.
1928.10.28 — Marquis N. Okuma, whose political activities have long been rumoured, expressedly stated that he was ready to enter upon political life at a meeting of former and present members of the Diet, who are graduates of Waseda University, held today.
1928.10.29 — Mr. H. Arita, Director of the Asiatic Affairs Bureau in the Foreign Office, invested with an important mission in connection with the solution of the Tsinan question, left Tokyo today and hurried to Shanghai.
1928.10.30 — The twenty-five foreign Ambassadors and Ministers, who are to attend the Enthronement Ceremony representing the rulers and presidents of the twenty-six countries on friendly terms with Japan (Austria is represented by the Swedish Minister), were received in audience by His Majesty the Emperor in the Phoenix Hall in the Imperial Palace this morning. The Chilian Minister who arrived at his new post three days ago will go to the Imperial Palace very soon and present his credentials to His Majesty. He is to attend the Grand Ceremony of Enthronement as special envoy for Chile. On the occasion of the above audience decorations were conferred upon the foreign representatives as follow:— Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun with Paulonia:—to Sir John Tilley, British Ambassador. Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun:—to Messrs. Wang Yung-pao, Chinese Minister; Pedro S. Cabaiello, Spanish Ambassador; José V. Scafino, Mexican Ambassador; Manuel E. Bonnemaison, Peruvian Ambassador; E. C. Bapst, Netherlands Minister; Johann W. Michelet, Norwegian Minister; José da Costa Carneillo, Portuguese Minister. Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun (newly ranked as holder of first order): —to Messrs. A. D. Prienne Feitoza, Brazilian Ambassador; Robert de Billy, French Ambassador; Pompeio Alloisi, Italian Ambassador. Grand Cordon of the Sacred Treasure (newly ranked as holder of first order): to Messrs. Henrik de Kaufmann, Danish Minister; Z. Okentsky, Polish Minister; Aurel J. Vassiliu, Rumanian Minister; Karl Halla, Czecho-Slovakian Minister. Second Order of the Sacred Treasure (newly ranked as holder of second order): —to Dr. Gustaf J. Ramstedt, Finnish Minister. Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun:—to Dr. Mario Louis de L. Lianos. To the other envoys not included in the above list were granted beautiful gifts instead of decorations, as follows:— Gold-lacquered toilet-case with the Imperial Crest:—to Dr. Wilhelm Solf, German Ambassador. Cloisonné flower-vase:—to M. Bassompierre, Belgian Ambassador; Fuad Bey, Turkish Chargé d'Affaires. Gold-lacquered toilet-case with the Imperial crest:—to Mrs. MacVeagh, wife of the American Ambassador; Messrs. Trojanovsky, Soviet Ambassador; and E. Roeff, Swedish Minister.
1928.10.21 — The subject for the New Year Poetry Party next year, one of the annual functions of the Imperial Court, selected by the Imperial Household is announced today to be “Morning at a Farmhouse.”
1928.11.01 — An Imperial Rescript issued today announced that the date of the convocation of the 56th session of the Imperial Diet has been fixed for December 24.
1928.11.02 — Mr. Ty Cobb well-known American baseball champion, and his party who were jointly invited by the University teams of Keio, Meiji and Waseda arrived at Tokyo today.
1928.11.03 — Today, the birthday of the late Emperor Meiji, which was established as one of the National Holidays as Meiji Setsu, which is to be observed in order to recall the great virtues of that sovereign as well as the achievements of his reign, was celebrated today, officially for the first time. At the Imperial Court solemn rituals were conducted, and foreign envoys accredited to this country and civil and military high functionaries were invited to lunch in the Homeiden Hall of the Imperial Palace.
1928.11.04 — At the intercollegiate baseball contest for this autumn among the six universities Keio University gained the victory, with possession of the Prince Regent Cup.
1928.11.06 — To perform the most important ceremony of his reign, the Enthronement at Kyoto, His Majesty the Emperor with Her Majesty the Empress H. I. H. Prince Kanin, Commissioner of the Grand Ceremony, T. I. H. Prince and Princess Chichibu, and H. I. H. Prince Fushimi, Premier Baron Tanaka and other members of the suite, being preceded by a palanquin carrying the Imperial Sanctuary, left Tokyo Station by Imperial train at 8 o'clock this morning. He arrived at Nagoya Station at 3:30 p.m., and proceeded to the Detached Palace in that city, where he spent that night.
1928.11.07 — Similar to the previous day, being preceded in the procession by the Imperial Sanctuary palanquin, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress left Nagoya Station at 11 this morning. Kyoto was reached at 2 p.m. and Their Majesties proceeded to the Palace.
1928.11.08 — The foreign envoys to attend the Grand Ceremony representing twentysix countries, with their wives, left Tokyo Station this morning by special train reserved for them, for Kyoto.
1928.11.09 — The Grand Ceremony of Enthronement taking place tomorrow, a festive atmosphere enveloped the country, there being profuse decorations of towers, arches, flags, lanterns, and bunting.
1928.11.10 — The day for the arrival of which all the people of Japan were waiting with impatience, the day of the Enthronement Ceremony, at last came. In the forenoon the ritual before the Imperial Sanctuary was held, and in the afternoon the Shishinden ceremony was performed. At three o'clock when, leading the nation, Premier Tanaka shouted three Banzais in the presence of His Majesty at the Shishinden, the 80,000,000 subjects of the sovereign were in harmony in echoing the cry, in celebration of this most happy event.
1928.12.11 — Guided by officials of the Social Bureau of the Tokyo Municipal Office, M. Albert Thomas, Director of the International Labour Bureau of Geneva, visited the Tokyo slums to acquaint himself with the life of the poor.
1928.12.12 — A grand banquet in celebra- tion of the Imperial Enthronement was given by Baron Tanaka, Prime Minister, at his new official residence. Over 3,000 persons attended.
1928.12.13 — Under the auspices of the Tokyo Municipality a celebration was held at Ueno Park in commemoration of the Imperial Ascension of the Throne. Their Majesties the Emperor and Em- press honoured the meeting with their presence, the former reading an Imperial Rescript.
1928.12.14 — It is announced that Dr. Wilhelm Solf, German Ambassador, who is soon leaving for home, will be suc- ceeded by Baron Albert de Bossompierre, Belgian Ambassador, as Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps. In honour of M. Albert Thomas, Di- rector of the International Labour Bureau, Premier Baron Tanaka gave a dinner at the Foreign Minister's official residence.
1928.12.15 — In the outer palace grounds His Majesty the Emperor reviewed groups of students, young men's associa- tions and ex-service men, numbering more than 80,000, representing Tokyo, Kana- gawa, Yamanashi, Chiba and Saitama Prefectures. H. E. the Siamese Minister was re- ceived in audience this morning by His Majesty the Emperor, to whom he pre- sented a gift of an alcove ornament, a silver elephant elaborately carved, in celebration of the Imperial Enthronement. In honour of Dr. Solf, German Am- bassador, Premier Baron Tanaka held a farewell dinner at the Foreign Minister's official residence.
1928.12.16 — Dr. Solf, German Ambas- sador, and M. Feitosa, Brazilian Ambas- sador, both of whom are leaving for home, were invited by His Majesty the Emperor to a farewell lunch. Premier Baron Tanaka attended the dinner.
1928.12.17 — The Brazilian Ambassador to Japan and his wife in company with Dr. Moleira, a pro-Japanese Brazilian scholar, and his wife, left Tokyo for home.
1928.12.18 — Dr. Solf, German Ambas- sador, with his family, left Tokyo for home. The farewell scene at the station was a dramatic one. Premier Baron Tanaka in the capacity of Minister for Foreign Affairs gave a grand banquet at the Kasumigaseki Im- perial Detached Palace.
1928.12.19 — M. Albert Thomas, Di- rector of the International Labour Bureau, went to Saitama Prefecture to view the peasants' life there.
1928.12.20 — The Government made an informal announcement of the budget for 1929 at the Prime Minister's official re- sidence to the negotiating delegates of the House of Peers in the forenoon and to those of the House of Representatives in the afternoon. A meeting for amalgamating the Japan Labour and Peasantry Party, the Prole- tarian Party and other five neutral bodies was held today. The newly organized party is to be named Japan Taishu (Grand Mass) Party, and Dr. Iwasaburo Kono is to be chief of the Central Executive Committee.
1928.12.21 — The Home Minister has ordered the Tokyo Municipal Assembly dissolved. The reason is that out of 88 members, 25 are in custody charged with misconduct in office, while six seats are vacant, and the Assembly must be con- sidered as lacking the citizens' confi- dence.
1928.12.22 — The Labour and Peasantry Party which has been preparing to re- organize since it was ordered by the Government to dissolve simultaneously with the unearthing last spring of the communist plot, in which it was alleged to be involved, plans its formal reorga- nization under the name of Labourers and Farmers' Party. M. Albert Thomas, Director of the International Labour Bureau, left today for Kyoto. After sightseeing in the old capital he will go to Osaka on Dec. 24 and inspect various factories.
1928.12.24 — The 56th session of the Imperial Diet was formally convened. When the Labour and Peasantry Party opened its reorganization preparatory meeting, the Home Minister ordered it to be dissolved under Article 8 of the peace preservation police law.
1928.12.25 — The second anniversary of the demise of the Emperor Taisho was solemnly observed at the Imperial Court. Mr. T. Tokonami, leader of the Shinto Club, who has been making a tour in China, returned to Tokyo this evening.
1928.12.26 — The opening ceremony of the 56th ordinary session of the Imperial Diet was held in the Upper House by His Majesty the Emperor.
1928.12.27 — Some 400 officials connected with the Enthronement Commission were decorated in recognition of their services.
1928.12.28 — Mr. T. Tokonami, leader of the Shinto Club, had an interview with Premier Baron Tanaka. The meeting is regarded as having an important influence on the future political situation. Mr. T. Matsudaira, new Ambassador to the Court of St. James, left Tokyo for his post.
1928.12.29 — H. I. H. Col. Prince Higashikuni, accompanied by Major Yasuda, aide-de-camp, made a visit in- cognito to the slums in Honjo and Fuka- gawa Wards in Tokyo, to acquaint him- self with the lives of the poor classes at the year end. He is the first Prince of the Blood to visit these quarters and it created a sensation there.
1928.12.30 — Dr. Ernst Arthur Vorezsch, the new German Ambassador to Japan, with his wife, son, and daughter arrived at Tokyo this morning.
1928.12.31 — The New Year's mail handled at the post offices in the nine prefectures in the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Bureau of Post Office Superinten- dence totalled 79,418,111, an increase by 25.7 per cent. compared with the preceding year.
1929.01.01 — 1929.—This is the first New Year Day since the Emperor's formal enthronement. His Majesty is 29 years
1929 (85 entries)
1929.02.11 — The Kigensetsu or National Foundation Festival for the first time since the reigning Emperor's accession to the Throne was formally conducted at the Imperial Court this morning. The 4th Kenkoku-sai (Nation's Establishment Fête) was performed, over 100,000 citizens of Tokyo assembling in front of the Imperial Palace and shouting three banzais.
1929.02.12 — H.R.H. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, who is going to visit Japan to present to H.M. the Emperor the Order of the Garter will leave London on March 26, arriving at Hongkong on April 24. At that port he will board a British man-of-war and is scheduled to arrive at Yokohoma early on the morning of May 2. During his three weeks sojourn in Japan H.I.H. Prince Chichibu, his intimate friend, will accompany the visitor, who is to see the sights at Nikko, Nara and Kyoto.
1929.02.13 — As the first experiment in this country the Government has decided upon 'National Mobilization' maneuvers in Central Japan with Osaka as the centre toward the latter part of June this year under auspices of the National Resources Board.
1929.02.14 — The Tokyo Municipal Council held a meeting this morning to decide the number of the members of the Municipal Assembly after its recent dissolution and the agreement was reached that it be 84.
1929.02.15 — The All-Japan Agricultural Society passed a motion calling for drastic measures for raising the price of rice, for the reason that farmers can hardly live if it continues to be so low as 29 yen per koku.
1929.02.17 — Mr. T. Tokonami, leader of the Shinto Club, published a statement in effect that he is absolutely opposed to the bill for transferring taxes from the Central Government to local authorities.
1929.02.18 — Tokyo and its vicinity today had rain after a dry period of 54 days.
1929.02.19 — The election which was going on for the successor to Dr. Torasaburo Araki, President of the Kyoto Imperial University, ended in assigning the post to Prof. Shinzo Shinjo, Dean of the Science Faculty of the University. Dr. Shinjo is a noted physicist.
1929.02.20 — It has been decided that the election of the members of the Tokyo Municipal Assembly will take place on March 16.
1929.02.21 — The Taxation Readjustment Bill for the transfer of the land tax and business profit tax passed the House of Representatives today, by 232 votes against 217.
1929.02.22 — The House of Peers discussed today the resolution censuring Premier Baron Tanaka for his action in connection with the Imperial message regarding the resignation of Dr. Mizuno, Minister of Education. After a hot debate it was passed by 172 votes against 149.
1929.02.23 — According to an announcement made by the Ministry of Finance, the increase of the national assets in 1927 amounted to 246,162,973 yen.
1929.02.24 — A large conflagration took place at Kisenuma Town in Miyaki Prefecture, destroying 1,400 houses. In view of the marked increase of foreign tourists' parties visiting this country these few years, the Department of Railways, for the purpose of encouraging further visits, has decided to send to the Japanese consulates in the United States, France, and Germany a movie film "Sakura Saku Nippon" or "Cherry Blossom Japan," consisting of two reels, 2,000 feet in length.
1929.02.26 — In view of the scarcity of water in Tokyo resulting from the consecutive fine weather for more than two months the citizens are being urged to economize in its use.
1929.02.27 — At the invitation of Keio University Dr. A. M. Pearce, Head Professor of Zoology in Duke University, of the United States, has arrived, as an exchange professor of the Rockefeller Foundation. Seven sisters of charity, headed by Rosa Crus of Spain arrived at Tokyo this morning. The re-erection of the Nambanji Temple which was destroyed under the Tokugawa Shogunate's administration over 400 years ago is said to be the object of their visit.
1929.02.28 — A slight shower fell today after 54 days' dry weather. Up to nine at night it had rained only 0.3 milligrams per tsubo.
1929.03.01 — Baron de Bassompierre, Belgian Ambassador, left Tokyo this morning for home on furlough Mr. Seishichi Iwasaki, a prominent flour-mill owner, departed from Tokyo for Geneva to represent the Japanese capitalists at the forthcoming International Labour Conference.
1929.03.02 — Countess Loschi, a noted woman suffragette of Italy, came to Japan today.
1929.03.03 — Today it is Momo-no-Sekku or Doll's Festival Day for girls. People enjoyed the fête, decorating their sitting rooms with dolls and taking Shirozaké (white wine). Nine years have elapsed today since His Majesty the Emperor started on his trip to Europe, an unprecedented event in the history of Japan's Imperial Household. His Majesty invited to a tea party H.I.H. Marshal Prince Kanin, who headed his suite, and some 90 others, to celebrate the occasion.
1929.03.04 — As Mr. Herbert Hoover was formally inaugurated as President of the United States today His Majesty the Emperor sent a telegram of congratulation to the White House. Mr. Stimson, new Secretary of State, and his wife and party arrived at Tokyo, and, in company with his wife, younger sister, and aide-de-camp, were entertained at dinner by Baron Tanaka, Premier and Foreign Minister.
1929.03.05 — The operatives of the Yokohama Municipal Electric Bureau went on strike, resulting in the wholesale suspension of the tramway traffic throughout the city. Mr. Senji Yamamoto, proletarian member of the Lower House, from the defunct Ronoto Party, was stabbed to death by a reactionary at his hotel in Kanda, Tokyo.
1929.03.06 — The plenary meeting of the House of Representatives passed a resolution of condolence for the late Mr. Yamamoto.
1929.03.07 — A motion of censure against Mr. F. Kuhara, Minister of Communications, was introduced in the Lower House today by the Minseito, but it was rejected.
1929.03.08 — A welcome dinner in honour of Dr. Vorezsch, the new German Ambassador to Tokyo, was given at the Industrial Club, Tokyo, this evening under the auspices of the Japan-German Association.
1929.03.09 — A bill for reviving the small constituency system was introduced in the House of Representatives today, by pro-Government parties. The Minseito and other opposition parties strongly opposed it, taking every means to delay proceedings on the bill, but in vain. In consequence the House was thrown into a turmoil, and was compelled to adjourn three times.
1929.03.10 — Army Day, today, is the 25th anniversary of the brilliant victory of the Japanese forces at Mukden during the Russo-Japanese War. His Majesty the Emperor visited the Kaiko-sha Military Club at Kudan.
1929.03.11 — Program of the visit of H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester who will present to His Majesty the Emperor the Order of the Garter was informally announced today by the Board of Ceremonies of the Imperial Household Department.
1929.03.12 — Holding himself responsible for being unable to control the Lower House during discussion of the small electral district system, Mr. Hajime Motoda, Speaker of the House, tendered to Premier Baron Tanaka his resignation.
1929.03.13 — The bill for the small electoral district system after continuous disturbances, was at length submitted to a committee of the House of Representatives today. M. Joseph Avenol, Deputy Chief of the Secretariat, League of Nations, arrived at Tokyo.
1929.03.14 — Election of the successor to Mr. Motoda, Speaker of the Lower House, resulted in the choice of Mr. Mosuke Kawahara of the Seiyukai Party. On account of violent wind, many conflagrations occurred. The most serious was that at Ishioka, Ibaraki Prefecture, where more than 1,200 houses were destroyed, followed by a fire in Yokohama reducing to ashes over 70 houses, one at Omori in the outskirts of Tokyo, destroying more than 50 houses, thus one in Fukagawa Ward, Tokyo, where 20 odd houses were burnt, and on Oshima Island, Izu Prefecture, 46 houses were burnt.
1929.03.15 — The election of members of the Tokyo Municipal Assembly taking place tomorrow, the electoral campaign has reached its climax, meetings numbering more than 360 throughout Tokyo.
1929.03.16 — Election held of the members of the Tokyo Municipal Assembly.
1929.03.17 — The election of the Tokyo Municipal Assembly resulted in the Minseito gaining 38 seats, 19 for the Seiyukai, and the Proletarian Party 6 seats, 19 neutrals, and two Kakushin Club men.
1929.03.18 — M. Joseph Avenol, Deputy Chief of the Secretariat, League of Nations, attended a lecture meeting under the auspices of the Japan League of Nations Association.
1929.03.19 — The blue ribbon medal was conferred today on Miss Clara A. Camsbels, of the Soshin Girls' High School, Yokohama, who has devoted over forty years to efforts in educational and religious undertakings in this country. Messrs. Dorset and Morse, technologists of the Agricultural Department of the United States, reached Japan today for the purpose of investigating the manufacture of persimmons dried on skewers and soy brewing, industries peculiar to this country.
1929.03.20 — The plenary meeting of the House of Representatives in a debate on the small electoral district system was thrown into such confusion that four recesses were necessary. Upon resumption of the debate after the fourth adjournment, there was still greater turmoil, and the Seiyukai Party and Shinto Club lodged complaints against Minseito members with the Public Procurator of the Tokyo District Court, charging them with assault and interruption of official duties,
1929.03.21 — A compromise was reached between the Government and Opposition parties in connection with the small electoral district system bill.
1929.03.22 — The Lower House passed the bill for small electoral districts. Fleet-Admiral Viscount Yoshika Inouye, a veteran of the Satsuma Clan, passed away at the age of eighty-five.
1929.03.23 — Dr. Katsusaburo Yamagiwa, Emeritus Professor of the Tokyo Imperial University, who has long devoted himself to cancer research has been awarded recognition by the Cancer Research Laboratory in Muenchen, Germany. The award was remitted to Dr. Vorezsch, German Ambassador, and presented to the German Embassy today. Mr. Teiichi Sugita, noted veteran politician since the days of the Jiyuto (Liberal Party), precursor of the Seiyukai, passed away at the age of 79.
1929.03.24 — A boy was born to T.I. H. Prince and Princess Higashikuni. The Sino-Japanese negotiations concerning the Tsinan incident have at last been concluded, and the settlement was provisionally signed by the Japanese and Chinese delegates at Nanking.
1929.03.25 — On hearing of the death of Marshal Foch, His Majesty the Emperor of Japan sent a personal telegram of condolence to his family. His Majesty commanded that on the occasion of the Marshal's funeral, Dr. Adachi, Japanese Ambassador to France, attend as Imperial Messenger and present wreath. The 56th session of the Imperial Diet ended today.
1929.03.26 — The 56th session of the Imperial Diet was formally closed at the House of Peers in the presence of His Majesty. Dr. Rabindranath Tagore, prominent Indian poet and philosopher, arrived at Tokyo.
1929.03.27 — Mr. Gengetsu Yazawa, leading artist of the Japanese school, member of the display committee of the forthcoming Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition is Paris, left Tokyo this morning for France.
1929.03.28 — The settlement of the Tsinan affair was formally signed this morning by Mr. K. Yoshizawa, Japanese Minister, and Dr. C. T. Wang, Foreign Secretary of the nationalist Government, at Nanking. General Suzuki, Chief of the General Staff, proceeded to the Imperial Palace this afternoon and asked His Majesty for the Imperial sanction for issuing a formal command in regard to the evacuation of the Japanese forces in Shantung. The sanction was immediately obtained. Dr. Rabindranath Tagore, and M. Avenol, Vice-Chief of the Secretariat of the League of Nations, left Tokyo today. Prof. Disberg, the renowned German inventor of aspirin, arrived at Tokyo today.
1929.03.29 — The Imperial Household Department today announced that Her Majesty the Empress is enceinte.
1929.03.31 — The first son of H.I.H.. Prince Asaakira Kuni, heir of H.I.H.., the late Prince Kuniyoshi Kuni,.. was christened today, as Prince Kuniaki.
1929.04.01 — The Aerial Transportation Co. started today conveyance of mail.
1929.04.02 — The various provisions regarding the organization of the Colonial Department, which were submitted to the Throne for sanction on April 1, were referred to the Privy Council for deliberation.
1929.04.04 — Mr. Shiro Ikegami, Civil Administrator of the Government General of Chosen, highly reputed for his ability in colonial administration, died today.
1929.04.05 — Word was received from Moscow that an understanding has been reached between Japan and Russia with reference to Japanese fishery in Russian waters. Prof. Rader, Oriental scholar, has arrived from France, to be Head of the Maison Franco-Japonaise. He is to aid in the completion of a great Buddhist dictionary, of which compilation is now going on.
1929.04.06 — H. I. H. Colonel Prince Higashikuni listened to lectures in connection with various social problems, by officials of the Tokyo Prefectural and Municipal Boards of Social Affairs. Prof. Shinkichi Uesugi, eminent scholar of constitutional law, died today. He long taught constitutional law at the Tokyo Imperial University.
1929.04.07 — The new Turkish Ambassador to Japan, with his wife, arrived at Yokohama today.
1929.04.08 — The steward of H.I.H. Prince Takamatsu, brother of the Emperor, called at the residence of Prince Yoshimitsu Tokugawa, to ask for the hand of Prince Tokugawa's elder sister Miss Kiku-ko, on behalf of the Prince. Mr. Komakichi Matsuoka, Japanese Labour representative at the International Labour Conference at Geneva, left Tokyo today..
1929.04.09 — Dr. John R. Mott, Chairman of the International Y.M.C.A., visiting this country, proceeded to the Imperial Palace this morning where His Majesty received him in audience. Dr. Mott was accompanied by Mr. Neville, American Charge d'Affaires.
1929.04.10 — Preliminary negotiations regarding the exchange of documents in connection with the Nanking and Hankow incidents took place today between Secretary Horiuchi, Mr. Kamimura Consul at Shanghai, and Secretary-Interpreter Arino, on the Japanese side, and Mr. Chow Lung-kuang, of China, in Nanking.
1929.04.11
- A mine on a mine-layer, with students of the Naval Torpedo School aboard, exploded near the Third Fort in Tokyo Bay, resulting in seven being killed and some 30 others being more or less seriously injured.
- Prof. William Barr, formerly of Columbia University, an authority on railway and civil engineering, arrived at Kobe with Mrs. Barr on a round-the-world trip by the Dollar Liner President Wilson. He was welcomed by many Japanese railway officials who are indebted to him for his valuable services in the development of Japanese railways in earlier days.
- Early this morning in a head-on collision at Yamakita Station on the Tokaido Line over 30 persons were injured.
- The enshrinement of the spirit of Tokugawa Yoshimuné, the eighth Tokugawa Shogun, with that of the first Shogun Ieyasu, at the Toshogu Shrine, Ueno Park, Tokyo, was conducted this morning.
1929.04.12
- The Imperial Household Department announced the Imperial sanction of the betrothal of H.I. H. Prince Takamatsu and Miss Kiku-ko Tokugawa, daughter of the late Prince Yoshihisa Tokugawa.
- Mr. Fultman, the new Swedish Minister to Japan, proceeded to the Imperial Palace and was received in audience in the Phoenix Hall by His Majesty the Emperor to whom he presented his credentials together with the letter of recall for the former Minister.
1929.04.13 — Count Shimpei Goto, who had been suddenly attacked by cerebral hemorrhage while on a train near Maibara Station on his way to Okayama where he was to make a lecture, died at the hospital of the Kyoto Prefectural Medical University at 5:30 a.m this morning. He was 73 years of age. His Majesty the Emperor, on hearing of his critical condition, raised his Court rank to the senior second grade. He was a holder of the Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flower.
1929.04.14 — This being the first Sunday of the month with cherries in full bloom and with fine weather after a succession of many gloomy days, hundreds of thousands of Tokyo people went out to suburban districts, holiday making.
1929.04.15 — At the Tokyo Municipal Office the heads of the various departments and sections assembled to confer about how to welcome H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester.
1929.04.16
- Djavid Bey, the newly appointed Turkish Ambassador to Tokyo, was received in audience this morning by His Majesty the Emperor in the Phoenix Hall of the Imperial Palace. His credentials, as well as the letter of recall of the former Ambassador, were presented to His Majesty.
- The Sino-Japanese Conventions regarding the Hankow and Nanking incidents were provisionally signed by the representatives of both countries, at Shanghai.
1929.04.17
- The death of Mr. Jukichi Inoué, a recognized authority on the English language, and noted for his English dictionaries, who passed away on April 7, was formally announced today. He was 68 years old.
- The celebrated German meteorologist, Dr. Schott of Hamburg University, who has been studying biology and currents in the South Atlantic continuously for five years, arrived in Japan today.
1929.04.18
- His Majesty the Emperor held a cherry-viewing party, one of the annual functions, at the Imperial Garden at Shinjuku. The Ambassadors and Ministers and their families and staffs, Premier Baron Tanaka, and some 7,000 others attended.
- Premier Baron Tanaka, Foreign Minister, entertained at dinner at his official residence in Kasumigaseki Sir John Tilley, British Ambassador and the embassy staff, and members of the reception committee for H.R.H the Duke of Gloucester. After dinner they consulted on preparations for the welcome of the Royal guest.
1929.04.19
- The Higashi-Honganji Temple, Kyoto, has expelled Mr. Koen Otani, former Chief Abbot, from holy orders. This being an unprecedented event in the history of that noted temple, it has created a great sensation not only among its adherents, but also in all other Buddhist organizations in the country.
- Lieutenant Ukyo Ito, attached to the 68th Infantry Regiment, among the Japanese forces stationed at Tsinan, was shot to death by plain-clothed Chinese soldiers. On the lower Yangtze River, near Shasi, the Nisshin Kisen Kaisha river steamer Mai-Liang Maru was suddenly fired on by men under the command of General Tao Chin. Chief Engineer Ono, Chief Warrant Officer Toyoda and a Chinese sailor on board were killed, while four others were more or less badly wounded.
1929.04.20 — Mr. Zenjiro Horikiri, Director of the Tokyo Reconstruction Board, gave formal consent to became Mayor of Tokyo.
1929.04.21 — A high gale of wind swept over Tokyo, causing considerable damage.
1929.04.22 — The Swedish Minister to Japan, representing Austrian interests in this country, proceeded this morning to the Imperial Palace and presented to His Majesty the Emperor the highest decoration of Austria.
1929.04.23
- His Majesty the Emperor, appreciating the untiring efforts of the Yokohama people who have been successful in reconstructing their city, which was devastated by the 1923 earthquake, visited the city today.
- An extraordinary session of the Tokyo Municipal Assembly was held today and formally elected Mr. Z. Horikiri by an overwhelming majority.
1929.04.24 — His Majesty has decided to send one of his naval aides-de-camp to visit the officers and men of the First and Second Squadrons and of the Port Arthur Naval Radio Station.
1929.04.25
- Mr. Z. Horikiri, the new Mayor of Tokyo, made his first appearance at the Municipal Office since his assumption of the mayoralty.
- Honours for distinguished service at the time of the Tsinan incident, to Major Namba and 31 other victims were announced today.
1929.04.26
- It was the principal day of the extraordinary spring festival of the Yasukuni Shrine, dedicated to the souls of fallen soldiers and sailors, today. His Majesty the Emperor proceeded to the Shrine at which he worshipped.
- Mr. Isoo Abé, M.P. and leader of the Socialist Peoples' Party, with Mrs. Abe, left Yokohama for America, to visit various socialistic institutions.
1929.04.27 — Dr. Edna Leonard, a well-known pro-Japanese American missionary, arrived in Japan today.
1929.04.28 — Protocols in reference to the revision of the existing Sino-Japanese Treaty were exchanged this morning at the official residence of the Japanese Consul-General in Shanghai by Mr. K. Horiuchi, Japanese 1st Secretary of Legation in Peiping, and Mr. Chou Lung-kang, Director of the Asiatic Affairs Bureau of the Nanking Government.
1929.04.29 — The first anniversary of His Majesty's birthday since his formal Enthronement was celebrated today. A solemn ceremony was performed at the Three Sanctuaries of the Imperial Palace and His Majesty reviewed troops at the Yoyogi parade ground. At noon the State Ministers and many dignitaries, Japanese and foreign, attended luncheon in the Homeiden Hall of the palace.
1929.04.30 — The Cabinet today decided to appropriate Yen 55,000 out of the Government's second reserve found as expenditure for the reception of H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester.
1929.05.01
- The noon-gun, which has been fired from the ancient Hommaru in the Imperial Palace grounds every day for the last sixty years, since the Cabinet passed an ordinance authorizing it, on September 4, 1871, was replaced by sirens today, installed at Marunouchi, Shiba, Honjo and Koishikawa.
- The tenth May Day was observed by over 30 labour bodies in Tokyo, some 15,000 men and women participating in a parade from Shiba Park to Tsukijima.
1929.05.02 — H. R. H. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, arrived with his suite at Yokohama at 9:30 this morning, on the mission to confer the Order of the Garter on His Majesty the Emperor of Japan on behalf of King George V. of England. He reached Tokyo Station at 10:33, where he was received by His Majesty, and they shook hands for the first time since nine years ago. At 10:40 the Royal guest, accompanied by H.I.H. Prince Chichibu and Baron Hayashi, head of the reception Committee, drove to the Kasumigaseki Palace, his residence while a State guest, in an open carriage, along streets lined by troops and thousands of citizens with British and Japanese flags in hand. In the evening he was entertained by Prince Chichibu at dinner at his palace in Omote-cho.
1929.05.03
- This morning the solemn ceremony of the investiture of His Majesty with the Order of the Garter by the British Royal Envoy was performed in the main hall of the Imperial Chiyoda palace. Upon returning to the Kasumigaseki Palace, H. R. H. Prince Henry wired to His Majesty King George V, his father, that his important mission had been fulfilled.
- To thank him, His Majesty the Emperor made a formal call on the Royal visitor at the Kasumigaseki Palace, and invested him with the Neck Pendant of the Order of the Chrysanthemum, the highest order of the Imperial Japanese House. In the afternoon H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester visited the Princes of the Blood. At night he attended a grand banquet given in his honour by His Majesty the Emperor in the Homeiden Hall of the Imperial Palace.
1929.05.04
- This morning the Royal visitor visited the Tokyo Imperial University and transmitted to President Onozuka the Shakespeare gold medal from the Japan Society of London. Later he attended a luncheon given by the Navy Minister at the Naval Club, a garden party at the Shinjuku Imperial Garden held under the auspices of the Japan-British Society, and a banquet at the British Embassy.
- Chang Tsung-Chang, a Chinese reactionary general arrived at Moji this morning from Dairen aboard the Osaka Shosen Kaisha steamer Hongkong-Maru, to seek refuge in this country. He was received by General Wu Kuang-shin, one of his associates, and went to Beppu hot springs.
1929.05.05
- H. R. H. the Duke of Gloucester worshipped at St. Andrew's Church, Azabu, Tokyo, this morning; at noon attended a luncheon given in his honour by the Cambridge and Oxford old boys in Tokyo at the Tokyo Club; at 2:30 p.m. presented to the Tokyo Boy Scouts the flag of the Australian Boy Scouts, at the Kasumigaseki Palace; at 3 p.m. worshipped at the Yasukuni Shrine and Meiji Shrine; at 4:30 p.m. was present at the Rugby football game between the Tokyo Associated Students' team and that of the crew of the British cruiser Suffolk; at night attended a banquet at Baron Mitsui's mansion held in his honour by that millionaire and much enjoyed the subsequent No-dance entertainment.
- Fencing and judo tournaments in the presence of His Majesty the Emperor, a rare event, held in commemoration of the Imperial Enthronement, took place in a newly erected hall in the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Contests were held preliminarily on the previous day among 166 men chosen from throughout the country. The final victors of the tournaments were S. Mochida, fencing instructor of the Government-General of Chosen, and T. Kurihara, judo, as specified champions, and E. Yokoyama, a student of the Fukushima Commercial School, (fencing) and H. Kihara of the Government Steel Works, Yawata, (judo) as prefectural champions.
- Tsinan Castle was handed over by the Japanese garrison to the Chinese authorities today.
1929.05.06
- The Duke of Gloucester went to the Narashino Cavalry School in Chiba Prefecture today; was present at a luncheon given by the Minister of War at the school; and at night attended a banquet at the British Embassy.
- The Foreign Office today gave publicity to the official documents exchanged between the Japanese and Chinese authorities regarding the Nanking and Hankow incidents.
1929.05.07
- In connection with the forthcoming visit of His Majesty the Emperor to Kansai districts, the Department of the Imperial Household announced today that His Majesty would leave Tokyo on May 20 and return to the capital on May 31 after making a tour of Osaka, Hyogo and Wakayama Prefectures and Hachijo-jima and Oshima Islands.
- The Duke of Gloucester paid homage this morning at the Tama Mausoleum of the late Emperor Taisho. At noon he attended a luncheon at the mansion of Prince Tokugawa, given by the Prince in his honour, followed by old-fashioned Japanese wrestling contests. In the afternoon he was present at a garden party held in his honour at the British Embassy by the British residents, and at night attended a banquet given in his honor by Baron Tanaka, Premier and Foreign Minister.
1929.05.08
- The Duke played golf at the Komazawa links, gave a luncheon at the Kasumigaseki Palace, in honor of T. I.H. Princes and Princess Chichibu, other Prince and Princesses and of the Blood, and the reception committee and other dignitaries, and at night attended a ball at the British Embassy.
- Mr. K. Yoshizawa, Japanese Minister to China, returned to Tokyo today.
1929.05.09 — The Duke of Gloucester proceeded to the Imperial palace this morning to bid farewell to the Emperor and Empress on the termination of the period of his visit of State, and at noon was entertained at luncheon by His Majesty. In the afternoon the Emperor returned his call. His Royal Highness was present at a banquet given by H.I.H. Princess Higashi-Fushimi, and then attended the Kabukiza Theatre to see the Japanese dramas as presented there.
1929.05.10
- The Duke of Gloucester left Tokyo for Nikko.
- A party of twelves American journalists, under the auspices of the Carnegie Peace Foundation, arrived at Yokohama this morning. An enthusiastic welcome, both official and private, has been planned for them.
- Dr. Rabindranath Tagore, the noted Indian poet, arrived here from the United States.