Excerpt from The Japanese Nation, Its Land, Its People, and Its Life: With Special Consideration to Its Relations With the United States

Government. I accepted the honour with sincere pleasure and yet with trepidation. Is it necessary to explain why the appointment gave me pleasure? Reasons which will naturally suggest themselves to everyone - an enjoyable trip, meeting with con genial people, renewing Old acquaintance, taking my wife to her native home, the honour of being the first exchange professor from my country - all had their due share in my willingness to come. But there was a particular reason which made the proposal singularly attractive to me. Allow me to relate a personal incident.

Nearly thirty years ago, when applying for admission to the University in Tokyo as a student, I selected English Literature for my minor course, in addition to my major study Of Economics. The Dean Of the Department Of Literature questioned me as to my motive for combining these two apparently unrelated branches Of learning. I wish, sir, to be a bridge across the Pacific, I replied. On being pressed for further explanation, I threw aside the metaphor and told him of my desire to be a means of transmitting the ideas of the West to the East, and of the East to the West. Though it was a fancy Of youth, it was a wish that had been slowly forming during my collegiate days, and though the days Of youth have long since gone by, the fancy has remained, waxing stronger with the progress of years.

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