Shanghai, Apr. 20.
The Shanghai Japanese community north of the Soochow Creek, were fen fete yesterday to mark the 37th birthday of Emperor Hirohito, The all-day celebrations were carried out under two slogans:
"Back spiritual and material mobillzation", and "Japanese at home and abroad must ¢0-operate closely".
As the clock struck eight yesterday nvorning, Japanese residents and men uniform throughout Honglew made a deep bow in the direction of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
Shortly afterwards, special ceremonies were staged in Japanese Schools, military barracks and the Meeting at Hongkew Park Most of Hongkew's Japanese resldents gathered at the Hongkew Park at 1030 o'clock in the morning to listen to an address by the Japanese Consul-General Mr. Shinrokuro Hidaka.
The meeting was closed with three "banzai" for the Emperor, with Mr. Masuraburo Amano, head of the local Japanese community, leading—the After lunch, Hongkew's inhabitants lined the streets to watch the parade of 180 members of the Japanese army and navy bands from the park to the Japanese Schools on Range Road.
Starting from the park at 220] o'clock, the combined bands marched down North Szechuen, Chapoo, Boone} and Woosung Roa Beginning at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the bands presented a concert} atthe school, Meanwhile, in th park hundreds' of sports enthusiasts found delight in exhibitions _of Japanese fencing, sumo wrestling and "The Japanese Consul-General was! at home to members of the consular body and" other foreign residents yesterday at 128 Seymour Road be-jéween noon and 1 pin. There was a very large attendance. Warships. in harbour flew the Japanese flag inj honour of the occasion, Shanghai, May 1.
At a farewell dinner given in his honour last night, Mr. Norman LI, Sparke, master of the Shanghai Paper Hunt Club for exactly a decade, promised to return to Shanghai after his Home leave, He sails for England with Mrs, Sparke tomorrow and the almost innumerable band of friends he has gathered during his thirty-odd years" of residence in Shanghai will re-echo the wish ex: pressed last night—that he will And {t easy to keep his promise to return otter a few months' stay at Home, Mr. Sparke came out to China in 1008" og atsatant manager of the Shanghai Land Investment Coy, Lid now retiring' ae 8 dressier of that company. Frei 1900 to 1008.
Was a member of the volunteer Fire Brimade, and' in' the same year that he clued the hthcho-loonge he also Joined the Shanghai Volunteer Corps, Femaining memo unti ie, He 1917 to 1010." mee ved during' the Great War from
4 1007 and 1000 he was a member or the Shenghai Interport Cricket From 1020" to 1922; he was on, the Shanghai afunicipal Counelty Land Asseasment Committee. "He. waa. founder of the China: Pony "Insure ance Syndicate Lid, and for a. num: Ber of years was honorary scertaty of the Shanghat Land Valuers and Sporting Activities addition to all these endeavours, however, Mr. Sparke also. took extremely important part_ inthe sporting and athletic life of Shanghai, He was a member of all the local sporting clubs, president of the "Pony Club," "Shanghai Branch, and vice-resident of the Shanghai Cricket Club, He was a member, a very keen member, of the Shanghai Paper Hunt Club for more years back than most copie care to remember. From 1920 to 1928, he was a steward of that club and since then has filled in a characteristically capable man the important seat of Master.
Despite all this, the list of his sporting and social activities would of be complete without adding that he 1s a member of the Shanghai Club, Shanghai Race Club and Country Club and, in England, of the Thatehed House Club and the Royal Temple Yacht Club, He also. holds honorary degree from the Fellow Surveyors' Institution, S.M.P. Presentation
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.