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Imperial Hotel, Tokyo. March 26th 1911. My dear Colonel - Your good letter of Feby 16th should have been answered earlier, but many unlooked for things happened and the days have been full since it came. I made a trip to Nara, Horiuji, Uji, and quickly thereafter came on here, where I am receiving much more attention than I deserve. Yesterday afternoon the leading collectors of this city, along with Marquis Inouye, Baron Takahashi, Viscount Kaneko, and others gave me a recep- tion and later a fine dinner. News of my trip to interior China reached Japan before my arrival, and the kind-hearted men who assembled yesterday at the informal reception, made the trip an excuse for complimenting me. However, the affair was very enjoyable to me and all present seemed to be happy. Many speeches were made, and I talked an hour on comparison between early Chinese and Japanese art, based on recent investigation made by myself in China and Japan. A most audac-ious performance on my part - think of an American with cheek enough to draw comparisons on Chinese and Japanese and before an audience made up almost entirely of Japanese experts. I told them that they having drawn us together, would have to suffer for their kind persistence. At a luncheon given me today at Mr. Masudas house, several of the company of yesterday, reassembled and began plans for an expedition from Tokio, to go over my route, which Mr Shigetaka Shiga, head of the Tokio Geog-raphical Society is much interested. Tomorrow I am to attend a "Fudo Kai" - an exhibition of art-representation of the deity Fudo, at the home of Mr Shuizo Tabata - which promises to be an interesting affair. Another similar exhibition for myself and two friends, is to be given by Mr Makoshi of this city on April 3rd/ On Thursday and Friday of this week, I am to visit my friends the Haras at their country place at Sannotani. Mr Hara has quit art work for a while, and jumped into politics, expecting to soon enter the House of Peers. Many changes are going on in Tokio, and the growth is really astonishing. They are planning to broaden many streets, are planning a fine boulevard, and hope eventually to beautifully to beautify what is now a very ugly city. Today it resembled but little the Tokio of eighteen years ago. On April 4th I sail homeward on the S.S.Siberia of the Pacific Mail, and hope to reach Detroit a few says prior to your return to Detroit and to see Anna and little Louise while they are enroute to Kingston. I am very well and having a fina time in Japan, much easier than in China. With all good messages to Mrs Hecker, yourself, Anna and little Louise - as always, Most sincerely yours, Charles L. Freer.
