Not long ego we devoted some space toa review of the Yamatodamashii" or Spirit of Japan, a new magazine published in Japanese and Enj inculcate and explain the teaching of Bushido. Different in design, but not, perhaps, less usefal in parpose, is " The Japan Magazin of which the firet copy has now reached us. Of the proprietors, editors and managers some are English, some Japanese, and oontributions in both Innguages have been pressed into service, Among the writers who have promised assistance Yount Okuma, Viscount Kaneko and Count Hayashi. The magazine is excellently produced and illustrated. Tt bears evidence of care and good management, In a short address to the reader" the editors point out that "Japan has long needed " represontative English written magazine faithfully to reflect her life, art and literature, and endeavour to give " trae picture of her industrial and commercial development... The material for a great monthly magazine is at hand, with abundance of original subjeote that have never been made known to reader the intriaiee of Cee 1 adopting Beal "senate ones tore have men (in Japan) patiently studying ud adopting it aa their second tongue and these scholars are now ready to break down the hindrances that have prevented their countrymen from portraying Japanese life in its various aspects," The purpose and manner of expression are admirable; nor can we be insensible to the delicate compliment pai Great Britain in the use of the Eng.|tongue, To one statement only might beet rely misrepresented," we take excep! that "Japan has
a6 "'n fantastic country shrouded with vague mystery." If fantasy and mys-tory appear in travellers' descriptions, ibod it is because they are there in Japan soft atmosphere, clouded hills and silent seas. They are part of the romance of Japan, to which ber people have certainly been sneceptible in the past, as witness the " Yamatodamashii." It is this poetic influence which the best minds in Japan are noxious to preserve concurrently with the new tendencies that are taking root; and the fect that it has impressed foreigners so strongly is aura no dis compliment to the land of the Rising Sun,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.