[101] But journalism is one of the most powerful influences for good, and some of the best brains of the country is represented in it.  Papers like the Jiji, Asahi, Nichi Nichi, and the Osaka papers run in conjunction with them have altogether a circulation approaching two millions.

[102] For statistics of forests, see Appendix XXXII.

[103] A severe shook occurs on an average about every six years.  The eminent seismologist, Professor Omori, told me that he does not expect an earthquake of a dangerous sort for a generation.

[104] The Oriental Economist, a Japanese publication, in the autumn of 1921 suggested the abandonment of all the extensions to the Empire on the score that they had not been a benefit to Japan, and that she was in no way dependent on them.  See also Appendix XXXIII.

[105] See Appendix XXXIV.

[106] What of the old story which I have heard from Uchimura and others of the Confucian missionary to certain head hunters of Formosa?  After many years of labour among them they promised to give up head hunting if they might take just one more head.  At last the good man yielded, and told them that a Chinaman in a red robe was coming towards the village the next day and his head might be taken.  On the morrow the men lay in wait for the stranger, sprang on him and cut off his head, only to find that it was the head of their beloved missionary.  Struck with remorse and realising the evil of head taking, the tribe gave up head hunting for ever.

CHAPTER XI

THE IDEA OF A GAP

Bold is the donkey driver, O Khedive, and bold is the Khedive who dares to say what he will believe, not knowing in any wise the mind of Allah, not knowing in any wise his own heart.

The “Japanese Carlyle” is getting grey.  It seemed well to seek out some young Japanese thinker and take his view of that “heathenism” concerning which Uchimura had delivered himself so unsparingly.  Let me speak of my first visit to my friend Yanagi.

As a youth Yanagi was a lonely student.  He took his own way to knowledge and religion.  The famed General Nogi had been given by the Emperor the direction of the Peers’ School, but even under such distinguished tutelage the stripling made his stand.  His reading led him to write for the school magazine an anti-militarist article.  The veteran, as I once learned from a friend of Yanagi, promptly paraded the school, boys and masters.  He spoke of disloyal, immoral, subversive ideas, and bade the youthful disturber of the peace attend him at his own house.  When Yanagi stood before Nogi and was asked what he had to say, he replied with the question, “Don’t you feel pain because of sending so many men to death before Port Arthur[107]?”