whose name is entwined the modern business of Japan, especially the Sino-Japanese trade, is to-day, the centre of attraction because of his Uesire to celebrate his 88th birthday in gala style, and the reported determination of a band of youths to prevent him from so doing. The affair promises to lead to considerable excitement, even bloodshed and riots.
Baron Okura will be 88 years of age this month, He proposes to enicbrate is birthday by apendi YY. 1,600,000, Among the functions fre grand dramatic entertainments Which will cost Y. 300,000 and. which Mei Lan-fang, China's famous woman. impersonator, will take party and banquets for four consecutive "days to_over 6,000 of the Baron's friends and relatives the news made and of young Taikashe, the sell fame organization that broke up Shtarday night dance' at. the Imjetial oral and stil. prevent ball Foam dancing in Tokyo, fsaued a Claration tothe effect that auch a celebration. of a birthday has. not been indulged in even by the Ruler of the Land and that, in the pre-Sent social and ancial cireumtances of Japan, this waste of money is "high treoeon and a grave crime Part of the "veiled threat"—as the papers calls it—sent to. Baron Okura, reads: has been reported tha the ban-suet ae Sontamptating {eScegraue your" sh bea has which fee cannot but brand as utter: I ivoring the preten condi the Satan a Gownesh aal cost coa mat at a Junctate when the Imperial
Houriah your wes ith in this insensate PBboLboo oe aces follow" your the (Black Dragon Society) has pledged itself to help. Baron Okura in case of need. The Kokusui-kai boasts of having all its members trained and tested ju-mitsu men. In addition, a band of workers belonging to a' contractual agency, which Bsron Okura's interests head, has also volunteered to defy the these Dleman have told the Taikosha, in no uncertain language, that if the latter threatens to make a scene, they would not be permitted free play.
Baron Okara is a multi-million. aire. Cynical orities say that made his fortune during the time of the Russo-Japanese war, when he became official contractor for tinned meats to the Japanese Army and sent instead gravel and stone, for which reason he is still nick: named "the gravel baron." also stated that, during the Boxer troubles, Baron Okura managed to transfer to his private museum in Tokyo some of the finest bits of old Chinese art. This museum and practically all it contained was destroyed by the earthquake fires of September, 1923.
Baron Okura is the chief shareholder in the Imperial Theatre of Tokyo and in the Imperial Hotel, while he also has large interests i the Hanyeping coal mining company, said to be the biggest colliery in the Far East.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.