JAPAN
islands: Honshiu, the central and most important territory; Kiushiu, "nine provinces," the south-western island; Shikoku, "the four states,
"the four states," the southern island; and Yezo, the most northerly and least developed. The former three islands are sub-divided into eight large roads, containing sixty-six provinces, and the latter (Yezo or Hokkaido) is divided into eleven provinces. Administratively, as before mentioned, the Empire is divided into fu and ken, each ken containing more than one province.
The total value of the foreign trade for the last six years was :-
1887 Exports, Yen 52,407,681 Imports,,, 44,304,252
Total
19
1888 65,705,510
1889 70,060,706
65,455,234
66,103,766
1890 56,603,506 81,728,580
1891 79,527,272 62,927,268
1892
91,102,754
71,326,079
96,711,933 131,160,744 136,164,472 138,332,086 142,454,540 162,428,833 The export of Raw Silk increased from 2,110,315 catties in 1890 to 5,325,148 catties in 1891, and to 5,406,856 catties in 1892. There has been a large increase in the export of Silk Piece Goods. The export of Tea varied little during the last three years and amounted to 37,518,203 catties in 1892. The export of coal in 1892 was 648,422 tons and $98,954 tons for ships' use, being about the same in amount and value as for the two previous years. The export of Matches steadily increases. It was 9,242,035 gross in 1892 against 8,029,932 in 1891 and 6,724,585 in 1890.
Of Imports Raw Cotton increased from 52,141,752 catties in 1890 to 80,084,113 catties in 1891 and to 113,348,220 catties in 1892; shewing the rapid progress the country is making in supplying herself with the manufactured goods she requires; the erection of mills being of course greatly stimulated by the recent appreciation of gold, 31,908,302 catties of Cotton Yarn were imported in 1890, 17,337,600 in 1891, and 24,308,491 in 1892. There was a fair increase in the importation of Cotton Piece Goods, the values being yen 4,188,703 in 1890, yen 3,502,127 in 1891, and yen 4,789,240 in 1892. Woollen Goods were imported to the value of yen 8,237,145 in 1890, yen 5,481,938 in 1891, and yen 6,988,164 in 1892. Metals shew a decline from yen 6,729,559 in 1890 to yen 5,140,892 in 1891 and to yen 4,990,580 in 1892. The importation of Kerosine Oil also declined from 42,663,580 gallons in 1890 to 40,482,160 in 1891 and to 32,689,275 in 1892. Sugar imported shewed a slight increase from 173,673,167 catties in 1890 to 167,531,523 in 1891 and to 196,912,263 in 1892.
The trade of 1892 was divided between the Treaty ports as under :-
Yokohama Kobe Osaka Nagasaki Hakodate Other Ports Totals Exports, Yen 61,552,204 21,295,740 1,258,532 3,337,336 782,858 2,876,083 91,102,753 Imports, 31,328,904 30,698,177 5,547,370 2,931,765 12,101 807,763 71,326,080
"
99
Total,
92,881,108 51,993,917 6,805,902 6,269,101 794,959 3,683,846 162,428,833 The following was the total value of commodities exported to and imported from Foreign Countries in 1892:-
United States of America
Continent of Europe
Exports .Yen 38,674,971
Imports
Total
5,988,054
44,663,025
"
21,495,729
12,687,670
34,183,400
Great Britain....
Hongkong
China
"}
3,921,753
20,789,332
24,711,085
""
13,288,540
6,985,723
20,274,262
6,358,860
12,509,410
18,868,270
India and British Colonies
3,242,355
""
7,965,545
11,207,900
Corea
1,410,699
3,046,340
4,457,039
Other Countries and Ships' use
""
2,709,847
1,354,005
4,063,852
Yen 91,102,754
71,326,079 162,428,833
.Yen
""
326,641 4,571,984 2,187,507
341,567
**
Grain, Beverages and Provns.
The following table shows the total values of the principal classes of Goods exported
in 1892 :-
Books and Paper .........
Coal
Drugs, Medicines, Dyes, &c... Fans...
Screens...
...Yen 346,550 Silk, Floss Silk and Cocoons. 39,914,958 Skins, Hair, Shells, Horn, &c. Tea
19
294,063
7,525,316
19
9,154,356
""
Matches
""
2,202,041
Textile, Fabrics, Clothing, &c. ", Woodware
9,333,473
230,825
""
Mats...
""
Metals..
1,176,680 5,236,668
Sundries & Duty Free Goods. Foreign Produce and Manf.
5,427,501
"
698,019
**
Oil and Wax
""
Porcelain and Earthenware..",
654,194 1,480,411
Yen 91,102,754