Japanese Memories | Page 9

of this celebrated family had been
given more than one name. They were not pampered, as are most
European princelings, with a string of endless names, for it is not
customary in Japan to call a child after any relation or friend.
In the Shimadzu family the word "Tada" was always placed at the
beginning of the eldest son's name. This prefix signifies "loyalty," and
is given to most of the sons of this princely house, on account of their

devoted loyalty to their Emperor. Another name is added to the prefix
to distinguish them individually from their ancestors or living relations.
The four youngest boys were given only temporary names which were
discarded on reaching years of discretion. The name of the second son,
"Tomijiro," signified "Tomi" "rich," and "jiro" "second one," thus
indicating the position he held in the family. Before I left this name was
dropped, and "Tadamitzu" substituted in place of it. In course of time
the third boy's name was also changed to "Tadahiro." As this family is
not Imperial, the title of Prince is borne only by the eldest son. The two
brothers next to him were created Barons, and the two youngest bore no
titles at all. The Prince is, however, closely connected with the Imperial
family, and I called him Prince when addressing him, but his brothers
and sisters always called him "eldest brother," as is customary in the
country.
Precedence of age is of vital importance in all Japanese families. The
great veneration in which the eldest son is held is quite astonishing, and
he never fails to receive the deepest respect and obedience from all the
other members. In our home, indeed, the little brothers soon created an
English form of address for their all-important senior, and when
speaking of him to me, and to his face, they called him " Big Brother,"
which name, as years went on, was gradually changed into the
abbreviated form of "B.B."
It was a surprise to me to learn the ages of the four little boys, for the
youngest did certainly not look more than four years old. I afterwards
learnt that the Japanese reckon age by a system different from our own;
years are counted by the solar years of the almanac, and should a child
be born on the last day of the year, he is said to be two years old the
next morning. This is a scheme which would hardly commend itself to
any women but the Japanese, to whom age is immaterial, as the colour
of her kimono, the mode of doing her hair, and the use and number of
her hair ornaments all indicate the age of a married woman. On this
point they differ greatly from European women, in whom there is
apparently a growing dislike of any style which will make them appear
middleaged or matronly.

When first I saw Prince Tadashige I was struck by the sad expression of
his countenance. He was exceedingly handsome, with large and
beautiful eyes, but there was a look of real care on his brow. His face
was oval, a type which, curiously enough, belongs almost exclusively
to the nobility, the lower classes being heavyjawed and round-faced.
Despite the Prince's youth, he had fully realized the solemnity of his
ancestral vow, and, in looking back, I am quite able to understand why
he fulfilled his duty so conscientiously in submitting to my education
for himself and his brothers. But it was not until later that I realized
what an awful contrast that ugly European house, with its bare walls
and closed windows, its garden with four walls, its rigid economy, must
have been to the dreamy fairy-land garden and house of priceless
treasures which he had given up.
He was tenderly interested in his small brothers, and almost paternal as
to their training, but to me he seemed at first, and until I understood
him better, unapproachable and quite impenetrable.
The second boy, Tomijiro, was so clever a child that I have never met
his equal. He was only put under my care for a short time, as the
Guardians thought it advisable to give him a different training from his
brothers. He needed entirely individual care. Junnosuke, often called
"Zun," was a very thin, delicate child, but remarkably wiry. He was full
of fun and spirits, with an extraordinary sense of humour, in spite of the
old stoical life of the past, in which all expressions of his feelings had
been forbidden.
Akinoshin, " Arkey," was of a more meditative and quieter nature; his
feelings, which he avoided showing, were deep. He was the strongest
built of the brothers, and of a plodding disposition. Yonosuke, or "
Tiny," as I nicknamed him in those far-off days, was quite an