Page:A handbook of modern Japan (IA handbookofmodern01clem).pdf/274

According to a Japanese authority, "the first book published [in Japan] on foreign subjects" was by the famous scholar Arai Hakuseki [1657-1725] under the title "Seiyō Kibun" (Notes of the Western Ocean). Early in the eighteenth century a few scholars were officially commissioned to study Dutch; and many others secretly engaged in the same pursuit. It was almost entirely through the Dutch that, during the period of seclusion, the Japanese obtained their knowledge of Western countries and peoples, of history and science, especially of medical science.^[1] Several Dutch scholars also studied Japan.

But since the opening of Japan new ideas have gradually come to prevail; and especially since the Restoration of 1868, education, like all other institutions of Japan, has had the methodical and progressive spirit of Western civilization infused into it. Foreigners, especially Americans, were called in to remodel the whole system and to instruct in the new education. Thus in the various provinces the system of education was graded and made harmonious for the entire empire. Kindergartens have been established in many localities, and are especially valuable, because most mothers are incompetent to give satisfactory home instruction. Six is the age at which a child may enter the "elementary school" for a course of eight years; next comes the "middle school" for five years; then the "higher school" for two or three years, and, finally, the Imperial Universities at Tōkyō