474
JAPAN
POPULATION, TRADE, AND INDUSTRY
The total area of Japan, exclusive of Formosa and Chosen, is estimated at 163,042 square miles, and the population, according to the returns in 1916, was 55,965,292. The most populous prefectures are Tokyo with 2,143,266 inhabitants, Niigata with 2,066,115, and Hyogo with 2,015,291. There are, exclusive of Chinesc, about 5,000 foreigners residing in Japan, more than one-third of that number being British subjects. Japan is geographically divided into the four islands: Honshiu, the central and most important territory; Kiushui, "nine provinces," the south-western island Shikoku, "the four provinces," the southern island; and Yezo, the most northerly and least developed. The former three islands are sub-divided into eight large areas, con- taining sixty-six provinces, and the latter (Yezo or Hokkaido) is divided into eleven provinces.
The total value of the foreign trade for the last six years was:-
1911
1912
1913
E'ports, Yen 442,996,848 526,981,842 632,460,213 I'ports, 512,942,169 618,160,786 729,431,644
15
1916
1914
1915
591,101,461 708,306,997 1,127,468,118 595,735,725 532,449,938 756,427,910
Total Yen 955,939,017 1,145,142,628 1,361,891,857 1,186,837,186 1,240,756,935 1,883,896,028
The total volume of foreign trade in 1916 broke all previous records both in exports and imports, besides establishing a new record as regards a favourable balance of trade. Various causes brought about this result. There was a marked increase in exports to China where the non arrival of imports from Europe and the rise in the exchange value of silver created a larger demand for Japanese goods. Then the extraordinary activity of the economie market in America and increased orders for foodstuffs from the Allies contributed to the prosperity of the export trade while interference with imports incidentally encouraged Home industries.
The trade of 1916 was divided between the old Treaty Ports as under :-
Yokohama Kobe Nagasaki Osaka Moji Other Ports. Totals. Expts., Y.497,653,158|331,104,640 9,935,514[141,805,247|27,249,807,119,719,752 1,127,468,118 Impts., 209,737,683 374,099,070 14,102,345 81,980,705 30,830,043 45,678,064 756,427,910
Totals,
"""
"
707,390,841/705,203,710 24,037,859|223,785,952′58,078,850 165,397,816 1,583,896,028
The following was the total value of the trade with foreign countrics in 1916 :—
United States of America
Exports
Tota
Imports
Yen 340,244,817
204,078,950
544,323,767
India, Australia and British America
""
113,831,866
224,474,137
338,306,003
China...
Great Britain
Continent of Europe..
""
192,712,626
108,638,636
301,351,262
""
102,657,565
81,732,097
184,389,662
Asiatic Russia
""
113,791,164
26,710,002
140,501,166
117,693,478
Kwangtung Province...
""
1,774,216
119,467,694
Hongkong
""
37,059,910
33,953,897
71,013,807
Dutch Indies
""
34,980,507
1,015,293
35,995,800
British Straits Settlements.
27
17,418,537
14,228,028
31,646,565
Philippines and Siam
18,458,874
10,737,181
29,196,055
Hawaii, Egypt and South Africa
""
13,601,640
12,415,358
26,016,998
""
16,805,088
8,415,102
25,220,190
Mexico, Peru and Chili
""
2,010,312
Temporary Ware House..
6,588,481
8,598,793
French Indo-China
8,481,245
8,481,245
""
1,869,823
6,036,641
7,906,464
Other Countries..
Unknown
Argentine and Brazil..
""
2,302,883
4,502,467
6,805,350
""
626,678
2,545,196
3,171,874
"
1,402,350
100,983
1,503,333
1,127,468,118
756,427,910
1,883,896,028