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intellectual, moral or social, is so hard to be understood by foreign people—not only by the American people but also by those of other nations. I think the only cause is that our own language is too hard to be learned by foreigners. Many reports of all kinds—from our government or from any of our institutions; many valuable scientific data—political, educational, sociological, written in the Japanese language, are almost entirely neglected by foreigners simply because the Japanese language is too hard for foreigners to learn.

There are many things in Japan which ought to be understood by foreign people. For instance, in my special line of study, bacteriology, Japanese investigators have contributed several great discoveries (as in pathogenic bacteria and parasites and in treatments of some diseases, which I believe are of great importance for human welfare). These are very little known by foreign people. Furthermore, some American people are not familiar, it seems to me, with the system of public education in Japan; some of them seem not to be familiar with the system and program of our social workers in Japan, of which Mr. Tago, Director of the Bureau of Social Welfare in the Home Department of the Japanese government, spoke on Thursday.

I believe that I can say truthfully that practically all of the socalled "movements" which the chairman of the Children's Division, Mr. Thruston, enumerated last Friday evening in the general session, have been already considered and discussed keenly in our country. Since 1908 our government has been conducting every year a special course for social workers, with lectures for their education in social betterment. Our government tries also to secure all available reports and information regarding those problems from all over the world, sending many specialists to every country in the world, and tries to make use of those data for improving social conditions, for promotion of happiness of human races.

We have made examinations covering a long period of years, concerning the health of our school children, not only in the public schools, but also in higher schools and even in universities, with uniform schedules for the entire country. As to the care of delinquent, dependent and defective children and child welfare in general, which you are discussing so keenly in the Conference, we are practicing principles under a definite program. We are also discussing the problems of the care of criminals, or men and women offenders, with just as great enthusiasm as you are.

As to sanitary conditions in Japan I wish to mention here just a few facts. We have a fairly safe water supply system in every large city; for instance, we have in many cities slow sand filtration plants large enough to provide the citizens of each city with perfectly pure water. We have many hygienic laboratories in every prefecture, properly equipped to make any microscopical examination and biological experiments. We have an adequate quarantine station in every harbor SOCIAL WORK IN JAPAN—TAKENOUCHI 41

which is connected directly or indirectly by water with many countries and islands. We have been for many years vaccinating our people, not only against smallpox, but also against typhoid and other diseases, of which Dr. Pierce spoke last Friday. We are also working effectively toward the control of venereal diseases and tuberculosis.

In other words, almost all programs and problems which you are discussing here in this Conference, except the Negro and immigration problems, have been discussed in Japan with the same enthusiasm and keenness. Most of the social problems are common to every nation, it seems to me. American social workers seem to be federating some social agencies and interests. I should like to ask, Why not internationalize social and philanthropic programs, for the sake of the human race, for the benefit of human beings throughout the world?

I believe you would be glad to hear of the real progress which our nation has made in improving sanitary and other social conditions in Japan since the door was opened by the American people, you remember, just sixty-five years ago. Really, we have made a little progress in every respect. Much of our progress in civilization is due to the inspiration of the American people. Every one of us can thoroughly appreciate it.

In this connection I should like to express my sincere desire to have you come to our country, not only in acknowledgement of the fact that the door of Japan was effectively opened by American people, but also to open some small doors, which, I believe, are still remaining entirely shut to the latest and best suggestions. You, ladies and gentlemen, are so energetic, materially and intellectually, that you have no trouble at all to come over to Japan, to open the remaining doors, to help us in human welfare work, to promote the moral and social standard of all human races, by making co-operation in so-called international social work.

You can go through Japan with your own language and can make

. any investigation in social conditions without any trouble at all, because educated Japanese people can understand at least one or two foreign languages. They understand and speak, if not perfectly, the English language.

Everything that one nation obtains by only reading or hearing should be compared with the exact results of actual observation and scientific investigation in other nations. Traveling is the laboratory work of sociologypractical as well as theoretical.

Come and observe the actual condition in Japan—in the Japan of today. We shall be very much pleased to welcome you, as international social workers, to our country. There is no danger—neither in the water nor in the airin the Pacific Ocean. Come right away, if you please, this month, this year, and help us by co-operation to promote human happiness by adequate programs of international sociology. There are some things more worth while in Japan for sociological investigation than the cherry blossoms.

I.

CHILDREN

DIVISION COMMITTEE—1917-18

Chairman Henry W. Thurston, School of Philanthropy, New York.

Vice Chairman Frank D. Loomis Children's Aid Society, Indianapolis

Secretary C. C. Carstens

Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Boston.

Grace Abbott Chicago

Ralph Barrows Birmingham

J. A. Brown Indianapolis

"Frederic P. Cabot Boston

A. Madorah Donahue Baltimore

Solomon Lowenstein, M. D New York

Lilburn G. Merrill, M. D Seattle

Rev. W. A. O'Donnell Philadelphia

L. O. Patterson Greenville, S. C.

Wilfred S. Reynolds Chicago

Rev. Michael J. Scanlan Boston

Carrie Weaver Smith, M. D

Gainesville, Tex.

Elsa Uelan Philadelphia

Florence van # Sickler St. Louis

Mrs. Benjamin West Memphis

C. V. Williams Columbus, O.

Helen T. Woolley, Ph.D Cincinnati

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