From: Michael Breier <Ajowan <at> AOL <dot> COM>
Date: 17 mar 2001
Subject: Re: Japanese Numerals

In a message dated 3/17/01 9:27:17 AM Eastern Standard Time,
sloan <at> ISHIPRESS <dot> COM writes:

<< I believe that this is the traditional Japanese method. >>

Thank You,

    I'm a bit confused.  Would not the two aforementioned number sets
necessarily be imports from the West?  By virtue of their names alone I would
think they are by definition non-Japanese in origin.  This makes me curious
as to what symbols were used for mathematics in Japan prior to their
adoption.  Forgive my ignorance on this matter but it seems as though the
Hindu-Arabic and Roman numerals must have been relatively recent immigrants
to Japan, historically speaking.  Could someone please enlighten me on this
subject?

-Mike