"Devil Tycoon"

The curt, bristling National Hero whom Japanese crowds call adoringly "Our Devil Tycoon" and "Our Strong Shogun" returned last week to Tokyo in terrific triumph. He, Lieut.-General Shigeru Honjo, Conqueror of Manchuria, stopped en route at a mountain spa, and was literally mobbed by U. S. and British tourists who shoved, gasped and shrilled, "Please, General, please! Your autograph! Just one more--for me?"

Hero Honjo, indicating his delight by sucking air through his teeth, wrote autographs as fast as he could scribble, grinned, bobbed, bowed at each "Oh, thank you so much, General!" Next morning at least 100,000 citizens of Tokyo massed round the railway station at 7 a. m. when Conqueror Honjo's special train chuffed in. On the platform stood princes of the Royal House, six Cabinet Ministers and the Imperial Chamberlain who solemnly stepped forward to bestow on General Honjo the divine welcome of the "Son of Heaven," Emperor Hirohito.

Darting forward as soon as the Imperial Chamberlain stepped sedately back, excited War Minister Lieut.-General Sadao Araki wrung Conqueror Honjo's hand, then clasped him in a "half-hug," exceedingly rare among decorous Japanese.

While thousands of throats shrieked Banzai ("May you live 10,000 years") the entire party entered State limousines, drove directly to the Royal Palace through crowds of moderate size which sometimes failed to cheer.

But inside the great moat-and-wall which surround the 486-acre Royal Palace, all was ecstasy. The Son of Heaven personally received Conqueror Honjo, personally delivered to him an Imperial rescript of thanks and delicately hinted other gifts. These (later bestowed by the Imperial Chamberlain) included "a sum of money," an inscribed gold watch.

Next pale, white-powdered Empress Nagako (who has borne only daughters) received bronzed Conqueror Honjo in private audience, a rare honor for a man.* Their Majesties then jointly had the "Devil Tycoon"/- to lunch. Straight from their Royal Palace he drove to an ugly alley, so narrow that his limousine could not enter. Alighting amid frenzied cries of Banzai! he squeezed down the alley to his tiny, Spartan home.

Said the Conqueror of Manchuria simply: "The Manchurian incident was more important than the Russo-Japanese war."

"Our people should remember, however," added Hero Honjo before taking firm leave of reporters, "that the peaceful construction of Manchukuo will be more significant than our recent military operations."

*The Emperor has received only one woman in private audience, Miss Evangeline Booth, "inas-much as she is a Commander." /-Fit to make Courtiers shudder is this popular nickname, recalling the period (1192-1867) when Japan was ruled by a Shogun or Tycoon, the power of the Imperial House being then in eclipse.

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