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The beauty of Japanese designs has not passed unnoticed, Western artists having borrowed freely just as the Japanese have borrowed in other fields of endeavor. Western influence has made. some unfortunate changes in all kinds of designs. I had a good look at these processes as they were going on, under which the old was being undermined by the complete commercialization of potteries and silks, lacquers and wood carvings. The main street in the city of Kobe, along which I often passed, was a glittering scene. The small shops displayed the beautiful products of old Japan in order to tempt