486
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:-
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920 E'ports, Yen 708,306,997 1,127,468,118 1,603,005,048 1,962,100,668 2,098,872,617 1,948,394,611 I'ports, 532,449,938 756,427,910 1,035,811,107 1,668,143,833 2,173,459,880 2,336,174,781
Total Yen 1,240,756,935 1,883,896,028 2,638,816,155 3,630,244,501 4,272,332,497 4,284,569,392
""
The total volume of foreign trade in 1920 broke all previous records, but exports declined. 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 1920, 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 1920, the latest date for which detailed returns are available:-
Totals
United States of America
Exports Yen 565,017,906
Imports
873,177,075
1,438,194,981
China....
""
410,270,499
218,088,988
628,359,487
British India
""
192,250,187
394,930,201
587,180,388
Great Britain
""
97,797,246
232,215,514 330,012,760
Kwangtung Province..
,,
113,685,671
196,863,194
310,548,865
Dutch Indies
12
107,225,428
68,628,794
175,854,222
Continent of Europe.
"}
95,608,938
72,626,720
168,235,658
Australia and British America
79,775,120
""
67,510,970
147,286,090
Hawaii, Egypt and South Africa
""
52,104,326
87,421,086
139,525,412
Hongkong
74,066,243
"}
2,231,586
76,297,829
Philippines and Siam
"}
38,577,124
19,649,926
58,227,050
British Straits Settlements..
""
35,730,275
17,137,422
52,867,697
Mexico, Peru and Chili
7,268,407
25,201,203
32,469,610
Argentina and Brazil...
23,686,504
3,927,521
27,614,025
Asiatic Russia
Other Countries
22,880,772
3,831,684
26,712,456
French Indo-China
3,444,853
20,618,843
24,063,696
29,004,161
17,688,806
""
46,692,967
Temporary Warehouse Unknown
""
11,999,577
11,999,577
951
""
2,425,671
2,426,622
1,948,394,613
2,336,174,781
4,284,569,392
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