Motor Age, March 16, 1917 and Impressions of Japan
Vancouver, B. C., March 16–Hi Sibley, special correspondent for MOTOR AGE, sailed yesterday on the steamer Empress of Asia for Japan, where he will study motoring and motor trade conditions in the islands. Mr. Sibley’s special articles on motor vehicles on the European battle fronts and with Pershing’s punitive column in pursuit of Villa in Mexico, as special correspondent for MOTOR AGE, has made his work known to readers of this publication.
The Nipponese Empire is one country that far exceeds the most fanciful expectations of the tourist, according to the first word received from Hi Sibley, MOTOR AGE’s special representative, who is now in Japan studying motor conditions and who will write a series of articles to appear from time to time during the coming summer.
Mr Sibley’s writing is known to MOTOR AGE readers, since he has for the last two years had many articles on military affairs in Europe, where he was a member of the American Ambulance Corps, and later, on the border, where he was with the expeditionary force sent out to capture Villa.
Impressions of Japan
Quoting from Mr. Sibley’s first letter: “The motor car is just beginning to get a toe-hold in Japan; competition of the jinrikisha, the popular means of transportation, is pretty stiff, for the latter is built for and adapted to the narrow and winding streets. A motor car going at a moderate Michigan avenue or Sheridan road pace would leave a wake of squashed babies, kayoodling purps and crippled old ladies, to say nothing of a few wrecked houses at sharp corners of the cramped and pedestrian-congested streets. Every inch of town and country is picturesque and everything is planned on the scale and daintiness of a toy community.”