Education and National Efficiency in Japan

Abstract

THE notice of my book “Dai Nippon, the Britain of the East,” which appeared in NATURE of December 1, directed attention to a nation from which much may be learnt at the present time, and it may interest your readers if I supplement your article by a few notes from my personal experience and observation. In the memorandum issued by Sir Norman Lockyer suggesting the formation of a British Science Guild, it is stated that the people of this country do not manifest that interest in and belief in the power of science which are noticeable among the peoples of the Continent or of America, and that, in spite of the efforts of many years, the scientific spirit essential to all true progress is still too rare, and, indeed, is often sadly lacking in some of those who are responsible for the proper conduct of many of the nation's activities. The British Science Guild has been proposed with the view of attempting to remedy this evil, and to bring home to all classes the necessity of applying scientific treatment to affairs of all kinds.