to the average foreigner, who naturally does not know that in the Japanese phonetic system tʃi and tsu take the places of ti and tu, both systems are extremely difficult and confusing, whereas the Old Romanization has been proved by decades of use to be both simple and practical.
Another misunderstanding on the part of many Japanese is occasioned by the names of the rival systems. The Old Romanization has been cursed by bearing the name of a foreigner, while Nipponsiki and Kokutei have names which naturally appeal to Japanese pride. But the usual assumption that the first is foreign made and the others Japanese made is false, and, even were it true, it should not influence the judgment of Japanese scholars, especially when the use of Kokutei or Nipponsiki unquestionably militates against the primary function of any Japanese Romanization system, which is to act as a tool in spreading information about Japan among foreigners.
One very natural solution of the conflict between the two types of Romanization might be to adopt a compromise system. Kokutei itself in certain regards is such a compromise. However, when the systems are based on different principles and have different objectives, there can be no satisfactory compromise. In fact, compromise, as in the case of Kokutei, is worse than either extreme. Rōmaji must be either a phonetic transcription or else a phonemic orthography but not a combination of the two.
Some may argue that the action of the Japanese cabinet has already decided the question, but this is a serious misinterpretation of the facts. Only last February the Minister of Education admitted that a final decision had not been reached.[1] Moreover, many if not
- ↑ In proof of this assertion, I offer the following statements, made in the Japanese diet on February 9, 1939 (as reported in The Japan Times Weekly, Feb. 16, 1939).
“Mr. Kasai: … For 55 years … Romaji has been used in Japan and abroad without any difficulties.
“But unfortunately, in recent years, Dr. Tanakadate has been trying his best to propagate a new system called ‘Romazi’ and has been doing his utmost to force it upon our people. It is indeed a crime that such an inadequate and inferior system should be forced upon our people and foreigners, when the existing system of Romaji has been used with satisfaction for over a half century. … I sincerely hope that the Minister of Education will use his discretion to put a stop on (sic) the use of this incomplete and imperfect ‘Romazi.’
