THE JAPAN ADVERTISER STYLEBOOK [wrapper title]

[Tokyo: The Japan Advertiser Press], 1926.. [2],54 leaves printed recto only, plus folding example page. Original printed orange wrappers. Wrappers lightly soiled. Internally clean with only minor foxing. Very good. THE JAPAN ADVERTISER, founded in 1897, was one of the leading English-language newspapers in Japan in the early 20th century. The paper reported on local events as well as U.S. and British news, eventually merging with its major competitor, THE JAPAN TIMES, which continues as Japan's longest- running English language newspaper and as a publisher of Japanese-language textbooks used worldwide. This is the paper's first printed style guide, considered particularly important as "In addition to the usual responsibilities of the press, THE JAPAN ADVERTISER has a triple obligation: the fair interpretation of the East to the West and the West to the East, and the maintenance of a high standard of grammatical excellence for the benefit of those who use the paper as a text book for the study of English."

Along with the expected rules on spelling, punctuation, and grammar following American style (and pursuant to the times, for example with particular rules on the use of Bolshevist and Bolsheviki), this guide presents a surprising amount of cultural and political information to its users. In the process of learning the proper style, writers for the ADVERTISER are apprised of Japan's geography, administration including annexed Korea and Manchuria, government and political landscape including descriptions of its labor parties and a complete list of the current royal family, major religions, and more. The compiler of this stylebook, Hugh J. Schuck, was an American World War I veteran and aide to Herbert Hoover before moving to Japan, later returning home to become cable editor of the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS.

Not in OCLC. A rare and fascinating look into news reporting for a foreign audience and the Japanese geopolitical situation as it was understood in 1926.