474
JAPAN
despatch vessel. An expansion scheme, extending from 1st April, 1896, to 31st March, 1906, was then adopted and orders were subsequently placed for ships in Great Britain, the United States, France, and Germany, as well as in the home yards. The war with Russia augmented Japan's naval strength considerably, and many fine ships have since been built.
POPULATION, TRADE, AND INDUSTRY
The total area of Japan, exclusive of Formosa and Chosen, is estimated at 163,042 square miles. The population of the Empire, according to the returns from the Census Board, in 1920 was 77,005,510, viz., 55,961,140 for Japan Proper; 17,284,207 for Korea; 3,654,398 for Formosa; and 105,765 for Saghalien. The most populous cities are Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Yokohama in the order named. There are, exclusive of Chinese, 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 first three islands are sub-divided into eight large areas, containing sixty-six provinces, and the latter (Yezo or Hokkaido) is divided into eleven provinces.
The total value of the foreign trade in recent years is shown below:-
1913
1915
1916
1917
·
1918 1919(8 mos.) E'ports, Yen 632,460,213 708,306,997 1,127,468,118 1,603,005,048 1,962,100,668 1,204,930,781 I'ports, 729,431,644 532,449,938 756,427,910 1,035,811,107 1,668,143,833 1,388,614,756
Total Yen 1,361,891,857 1,240,756,935 1,883,896,028 2,638,816,155 3,630,244,501 2,593,545,537
"2"
The total volume of foreign trade in 1918 broke all previous records both in exports and imports. During the Great War the arrival of European articles having almost ceased in the Far East, South Seas, and other markets, their place was taken by Japanese. Exports were further increased by the supply of war and other materials to the Allies. Imports, though affected by the war in some directions, also grew owing to the brisk demand for raw materials occasioned by the unusual prosperity of home industries. The growth of sea-borne trade in 1918, however, was due more to the advance in prices than to the increase-in quantities.
The following was the total value of the trade with foreign countries in 1918, the latest date for which detailed returns are available:-
Imports
Totals
United States of America
China....
British India
Exports Yen 530,129,393
626,025,530
1,156,154,923
""
359,150,814
281,707,333
640,858,147
""
202,522,289
268,185,185
470,707,474
Kwangtung Province.......
Great Britain
""
116,373,972
100,517,806
216,891,778
""
142,866,369
66,067,257
208,933,626
Continent of Europe.....
""
155,390,149
16,719,593
172,109,742
Australia and British America
,,
92,162,746
56,649,558
148,812,304
Dutch Indies
....
"}
71,676,931
48,837,198
120,514,129
Hawaii, Egypt and South Africa
54,540,391
""
38,696,931
93,237,322
British Straits Settlements.. French Indo-China
Hongkong
Philippines and Siam
Asiatic Russia Argentina and Brazil.. Other Countries.... Mexico, Peru and Chili Temporary Warehouse Unknown
""
42,208,858
29,323,644
71,532,502
10,030,960
55,407,802
65,438,762
63,699,799
833,766
64,533,565
....
""
29,577,653
23,169,415
52,747,068
40,034,435
""
4,366,624
44,401,059
39
25,674,032
8,768,398
34,442,430
18,939,146
,,
813,333
19,752,479
""
7,122,069
11,992,767
19,114,836
""
17,672,372
17,672,372
662
12,389,321
""
12,389,983
1,962,100,668
1,668,143,833
3,630,244,501