In a Nutshell. Our word Japan comes from the Chinese zapagn which means to the east, or source of the sun. The Japanese call their country Nippon which means rising sun. Pos­sibly no nation in the world has gone through such extremes of expansion and contraction as has Japan in the past century but today she has an area of 142,266 square miles and a population of about 85 million. This makes her a bit smaller than Montana but one of the most populous countries of the world being surpassed only by China, India, the U.S.S.R. and our own country.

Tokyo, the capital, is now the world's largest city passing both New York and London with her 8,622,519 citizens—and she is still growing.

The Japanese Empire consists of four principal islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku and roughly a thousand smaller ones. Even were her land mass largely arable she would still be crowded with that population but actually Japan, and this comes as a surprise to many Westerners, can cultivate only 20% of her land area which makes her people so concentrated that there are few places on earth with a greater density of population.

Stretching as she does almost due north and south for a thousand miles, Japan can offer a wide range of climate. The northern island of Hokkaido can be quite cold but Kyushu and the islands still further south are mild and warm. In fact, the climatic difference is compared to Maine at one extreme and Georgia to the other. Scenically she has much to offer, her famed mountains such as Fujiyama are as spectacular as any in the world, her short rapid rivers, her forests of pine, her sandy beaches, her long stretches of rice paddies, her lovely lakes. All of these you have seen portrayed on Japanese prints. Japan can boast a beautiful land but by no means is it all delicate in its beauty as some Westerners seem to believe.

Children in Japanese schools are still taught that the Nipponese people are of divine origin and that the Empire was first founded in 660 B.C. by the Emperor Jimmu who was a direct descendant of the sun-goddess. Be that as it may, modern Japanese history begins with an American fleet sailing into Japanese waters in 1854 to force the backward feudalistic country to open its ports to foreign trade. Commodore Perry didn't have any idea what he was starting when that was accomplished.

The Japanese, militarily unable to resist, capitulated in humilia­tion but in no time at all decided that the only way to resist was to end feudalism and establish capitalism. So rapidly did they as­similate western ideas and industrial techniques that by 1894 they were strong enough to fight a war with China and take over For­mosa and the Pescadores Islands. And that was just the beginning. Russia at that time was considered a great world power, but in 1904 Japan took on the Czar's forces and trounced them, gaining a foothold in Manchuria. Korea was taken in 1910 and suddenly the western powers realized they had created a Frankenstein monster, who, far from being a market for their manufactured goods, was now competing with them. In less than sixty years from the time Perry's squadron of American ships had humbled Japan, the dynamic little country had become a world power.

We all know more recent history. The ruling class of Japan made its big bid in 1941—and failed. Occupation followed and some changes, surface changes in the governmental form. However, today Japan is once again one of the great powers of the world. Her textiles and other exports are flowing out of the country at a rate considerably greater than before the Second World War, and once again the mercantile nations of Europe and America are aghast at her competition.

Her merchant fleet, all but completely destroyed in the war, once again is to be seen in every port. I'll never forget standing on the bridge of a rusty Liberty ship, now floating the Dutch flag, and watching a Jap freighter overtake and pass us, new, fast, and smart. The Dutch captain muttered to me, "Who won the war, anyway? We can't begin to compete with their shipping rates."

During the war years we Americans were subject to the usual war propaganda which gave us to understand that Japanese prod­ucts were all shoddy and inferior and that the Japanese were capable only of copying the developments of the more intelligent nations (such as ourselves, of course). However, today there are probably few people who don't realize that when cameras such as the Nikkon and Canon begin edging out the best products of Germany such as Leica and Contax, they are the product not of a nation of copy-cats but an intelligent, capable, aggressive people. Rapid changes are taking place in Japan, she has rebuilt the damage of the war years, she is quietly but deliberately and ef­ficiently slipping out from under the thumb of American domina­tion and again setting her own path. She is a modern, progressive nation, warm with life and growth. It will be interesting to watch her developments in the next decade.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS. No visa is needed for a 72 hour layover, if you leave from the same port by which you entered. This time can be doubled if you have valid reason. You can also stay for a maximum period of six days if you apply to the immigra­tion authorities at the port of entry for permission to land, in transit, for sightseeing.

But in other cases a visa is necessary and there are several types of these. A transit visa is good for 15 days, a tourist visa for sixty days and if you wish to stay a longer period an entrance visa is required.

In applying for a visa at any Japanese consulate or embassy you must be able to produce your ticket or a receipt for it as well as your return ticket to the United States, or a guarantee from some air or shipping line that you have reservations with them to leave Japan. Or, if you are to be staying in Japan for a time, a letter from your bank confirming your financial position (or some other proof that you won't became a liability to the Japanese government).

In short, Japan is one of the more difficult countries to enter.

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TRANSPORTATION. Japan is a considerable distance from our own country whether you head either east or west, but she can be reached readily by either sea or air.

From the west coast by air both Pan American Airways and Canadian Pacific Airlines run to Tokyo. Prices at this writing are in the midst of changes but it is unlikely that they will differ much from the current $650 one way. Going from New York to Europe and then on to Tokyo by KLM or SABENA costs considerably more, however, if you're making a trip of it this can give you a look at a considerable portion of the world, since you are allowed with­out extra cost to stop off at any joint. Then, of course, there is the possibility of taking the Paris to Tokyo route over the North Pole with Air France.

By ship you can get to Japan either from New York or from our west coast. There is such a multitude of lines, both freighters and passenger liners that make the run, that we couldn't begin to list them all. Inquire of your nearest travel agency. With most of these lines rates start at about $350 San Francisco to Yokahoma, tourist class. This can be beaten somewhat. For instance, the Japanese NYK Line runs a passenger ship between Seattle and Yokahama at $425 cabin class and $300 third class with European food, or only $280 third class with Japanese food. Sometimes this ship runs from Vancouver, Canada and rates are lowered still further.

From New York direct to Japan prices are considerably higher. Once again there are quite a few lines, most of which go through the Panama Canal on their way to the Orient although some go eastward and through the Mediterranean or around Africa. Consult your travel agency. Minimum rates are about $500. The cheapest rate of which we know is with the De la Rama Lines which have at this writing a minimum rate of $470.

Once again, if you'd like to see a great deal on the way you might consider taking a student ship to Rotterdam from New York at a cost of $155. Here you would catch a Holland-East Asia Line passenger-cargo ship which takes nine weeks to get to Yoka­hama, stopping at Genoa, Italy; Port Said, Egypt; Aden, Arabia; Singapore; Hong Kong; Manila and possibly other ports on the way. Cost, $252 minimum.

Internally, Japan has her own airlines JAL (Japan Airlines Company) which connects all major cities on all the islands. We have never heard adverse criticism of JAL which operates with as much precision as does her train system. Considerable damage was inflicted on the Japanese railroad system during the war but all that that has been repaired and train service is again fast and dependable. First, second and third class are available and the usual sleeping accommodations, dining cars and observation cars.

Inter-island traffic, of course, is largely by ship and there are a considerable and dependable number of such lines with inter-island craft running in size from small ferries to ocean going ships which ply up and down the Sea of Japan.

Highways are quite adequate and bus service good. If you want to drive a car yourself you must present your International Driving License to the Traffic Bureau, Prefectural Government and they will automatically grant you a Japanese driving license.

THE JAPANESE. When I was a young boy the family lived for a time in Southern California and it was there that I formed my first opinions of the Japanese. We lived in El Monte, a few miles out of Los Angeles proper and quite a few of our neighbors were Japs making their livings on small farms. You couldn't have had better neighbors. They were quiet, courteous, thoughtful—and tolerant of we children, even though we did make a habit of raiding strawberry and melon patches. In school the half dozen or more Japanese children invariably took all the top honor roll positions and then when the bell rang went home and instead of playing worked for possibly six hours in the fields with their parents.

I was highly impressed by the California Japanese.

Nor will you find them basically different in Japan.

They are a polite, good natured, honest, hard working, intel­ligent, progressive, family loving, good food loving, and above all, cleanly people worthy of your respect.

Language will offer you few barriers if you sojourn or retire in Japan. English has become the international language of commerce and the Japanese teach it widely in their schools. It is probably more often studied than all the rest of the western languages put together.

Their way of life is, of course, considerably different from the American and European way. It must be remembered that within the memory of Japanese still alive this was a feudalistic country living under a social system that our own western countries have not known for centuries. However, many of the remnants of this old way, the cultural aspects, in particular are far from unpleasant. Such things as the Kabuki which is classical drama going back several hundred years and consists of dancing and singing as well as acting. Such things as the Bon orori folk dancing. Such things as the kimona dress and geta clogs. Such things as the tea cere­mony. Such things as the Bunraku puppet shows, the dainty formal gardens, the endless numbers of temples and shrines, the char­acteristic art forms found nowhere else on earth.

MONEY. One hundred sen make a yen, the symbol of which is Y. The currency is fairly strong. Officially there are 360 yen to the dollar but on the free market you can get 390 and sometimes a bit more.

When you enter the country you may bring in as many Ameri­can dollars as you wish. You are given a Currency Declaration Record Book and when you change dollars into yen at a bank, or any other authorized place, the transaction is listed. When you leave the country you must change any yen you have on hand back into dollars but the amount you change cannot be more than Y l8,000.

PRICES. There is one thing that must be understood in living abroad, whether it be Europe, Mexico, Africa—or Japan. If you are seeking to live economically, then you must learn to live the way the people of the country do. To live the way an American does, be it in New York or Rolla, Missouri, is out of the question abroad if you are on a budget.

Nowhere does this apply more than it does to the oriental coun­tries and the reason should be obvious. To export the American way of life half way around the world costs money. Their way of life is geared to their local economy and it is considerably easier and certainly cheaper for you to adapt to their way than to try and get them to adjust to yours.

You will meet people who will tell you that living in Japan is terribly expensive. And you will meet others who will tell you that you can live wonderfully well on a comparative pittance.

Both are right.

If you find it impossible to adjust to the Japanese way of life but insist on eating, dressing and entertaining yourself American fashion and living in an American type hotel or house, it will cost you plenty. But if you eat Japanese food, drink Japanese beverages, enjoy Japanese entertainment forms and live in a Japanese type house, you can do it on surprisingly little.

Always remember that the average Japanese working man does not make $40 a month. And while it is possibly true that the average American would starve to death on the average Jap's diet, he certainly would not do so on four to six times it.

Let's take an example of these western type versus Japanese type prices. Let's take the hotels in Tokyo. There are various European type ones. Among these are the Hotel Nikkatsu, Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, where rates start at Y3,200 for a single. That's about $9. But the Yashina Hotel, Nihombashi, Chuo-ku, also a European type establishment, starts its singles at Y 1,000, a bit over three dollars. However, there are many, many spotless, picturesque, attractive, small hotels and country inns in Japan where you can stay, with meals, for a dollar a day. These, of course, are Japanese establishments, not European type ones. At the door you are met by a girl who removes your shoes, you sleep on a sleeping mat, and bathe in a Japanese type tub. You eat Japanese type food (which is excellent).

I think the point is made. If you try to live American style in Japan, it will cost you a great deal. If you adapt to the Japanese way of life, it becomes an economical land.

CASE HISTORY No. 1. As I've mentioned elsewhere, when I first began to compile this book I wrote to friends in various parts of the world for "case histories" to illustrate the basic idea I was trying to put over. The idea being, of course, that the average American, if he wishes, can break out of the rat race which is the sad lot of the overwhelming majority nowadays, and with a minimum of drudgery, live a full life complete with adequate leisure.

The following tantalizing case history is exactly as I received it. I can give you no more information than this:

"There's a fellow here in Tokyo who has a "secretarial service." All his employees are female and he pays them $5 per day when they work, which is more than triple average wages even for their highly developed skills. He hires them out for $15 a day. Mostly, Japanese firms foot the bills and it is mostly they who seek out his services for buyers from other lands. These girls are selected for beauty, intelligence, ability to speak English and other important languages such as German and French. Their day is 24 hours and they are hired to be secretary, guide, interpreter and, incidentally, companions to the thousands of foreign traders who pour into Japan daily. This American has been in Tokyo since the war, first having arrived there with the American occupation troops. Now he is making a mint. The size of the operation is considerable and he says that he has over 100 girls in his employ in the Tokyo-Yokohama area alone."

I have used this particular case history more as an example of an American seeing an opening and filling it. I doubt whether the same deal could be swung elsewhere in Japan, although it's a pos­sibility in European countries. International business is fabulous in its size these days. Such a service as this, I would think, might well go over in Paris, London, Rome, Madrid and in the other business capitals of Europe.

CASE HISTORY No. 2. Sorry, I don't have this fellows's name. It's buried somewhere in my notes, but I simply can't find it. It's a good example of an American who had certain training who is finding a much better life abroad than he ever could at home—and working a good deal less.

He's a technical representative. Formerly a lab technician at the American Tokyo Army Hospital he married a Japanese nurse and now owns a Japanese house. He works about five or six days a month inspecting on behalf of several American importers who purchase from Japan surgical equipment, needles, syringes and that sort of thing. He checks specifications, finish, calibration and earns 1/2 of one percent of gross monetary amount involved. This gross runs from 2 million to five million annually. He owns a beautiful home in Kamakura, Japan, but comes back to the United States with his beautiful wife at least once a year.

Could you do this? Probably not, unless you had the same train­ing. Once again, I list this case history as one more of literally thousands of examples of an American using his American know-how abroad to guarantee him a much better way of life than he would otherwise have realized.

CASE HISTORY No. 3. This doesn't exactly come under the head of retirement but Jerry Adams has also broken out of the rut that the overwhelming majority of us find ourselves in. The story is short but very sweet.

Jerry works at the Shemya Air Base in the Northern Pacific and he works there under rather miserable conditions in the dead of winter. He's a bulldozer operator and since the climate at the Shemya base is so miserable and the base itself so far from "civil­ization" Jerry gets paid plenty. In fact, he makes $1000 a month and better during the four months of the year that he works at all.

This is enough in Japan to live mighty high on the hog. And for eight months of the year that is exactly what Jerry does. He returns to Japan where he has a Japanese wife, a Japanese house, and two American-Japanese children.

Could you do something like this?

Why not, if you are a construction worker? Not only in Japan, of course. There are such jobs in half the countries of the world. It's a matter of working like a dog for three or four months and living in absolute luxury for the rest of the year. Frankly, it's not my cup of tea—I object to even the three or four months of slavery—but perhaps you might look at it differently.

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