W. Petrie Watson

Japan: Aspects & Destines W. Petrie Watson

Despite much testimony to the contrary, you do not require when in Japan to consult the history books to assure yourself that the country was held in fee simple fifty years ago by brothers of the famous barons who met our King John on Runnymede; or that in i860, and even 1870, it was possible that a head should roll into a Japanese ditch when a vile trafficker in merchandise tainted the hem of a military gentlemans robe with the breath of his wares. The Japanese Samurai was a wonder at swordsmanship. A few of the old British and other foreign residents of Yokohama at this day will tell you that his (upper-cut stroke, made in the process of drawing his blade from its sheath the very process itself, in fact was often the deadliest. They used to see it in the early days, thirty and forty years ago. Most writers of books on Japan suggest to you that these things are impossible, implying that a Feudal Era in Japan thirty years ago is a myth. They are those who stay a month or six weeks and write their book. Live in the country six months before writing your book, and you may begin to believe that a Feudal Era is possible, say one hundred years back.
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

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