JAPAN: 0 Mekake

Premier Baron Guchi Tanaka is 63; and was, until last week, without an heir. The Baroness Tanaka is still childless, but last week a concubine attached to their household gave birth to a manchild, which Premier Tanaka hastened to recognize as his first and only legitimate son. Soon gladsome friends made the Tanaka mansion buzz with compliments, as they praised the Premier of Japan for taking a step so prudent and timely, in his 63rd year.

Occidentals asked, “What of the mother, and Baroness Tanaka?” Japanese replied that, even though an O Mekake, or “honorable concubine” may give birth to a child which is recognized as legitimate, she still continues in the status of an humble household servant. By ancient custom the child is removed from its mother’s care at birth, and she first sees it again 30 days later, when all the household servants assemble to pay their respects to the new “Little Master.”

By a sort of poetic justice Premier Tanaka is himself the son of a poor servant woman who had not even the rank of “honorable concubine” in the household of the onetime feudal lord, Mori. The servant’s child displayed such unmistakable quickness and power in mind and body that Lord Mori secured him an appointment to the Military School. Thence he ran through the ranks of officers until, in 1915, Lieutenant General Tanaka was Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

By this time his great abilities were so universally apparent that the late Emperor Yoshihito (1879-1927) issued a decree excepting him from the operation of the Japanese law which prudently debars army and navy men from entering politics.

Thus imperially favored, General Tanaka became three times War Minister between 1918 and 1923. Two years later he was chosen leader of the Seiyukai party, and amid the national financial crisis of last spring he became Premier (TIME, May 2).All his life Baron Tanaka has had the honorable reputation of being a good fellow. His powerful constitution seems to make only a favorable reaction to quantities of the finer alcoholic beverages; and he is considered one of the most gentlemanly frequenters of geisha houses in Japan.

On one such occasion Baron Tanaka realized during the night that he had inadvertently set the house on fire. Sobering instantly, be ordered the geisha girls out into the street, and personally organized and directed the men-servants in carrying out furniture and extinguishing the fire. When a bill for the damage he had wrought was presented, Baron Tanaka caused each item to be verified by shrewd appraisal, then paid the total swiftly in cash.