JAPAN.
453
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 66 provinces, and the latter (Yezo or Hokkaido) is divided into 11 provinces.
The total value of the foreign trade in recent years is shown below:-
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
E'ports, Y. 1,127,468,118 1,603,005,048 1,962,100,668 2,098,872,617 1,948,394,611 1,252,837,715 'ports, Y. 756,427,910 1,035,811,107 1,668,143,833 2,173,459,880 2,336,174,781 1,614,154,832
Total Y, 1,883,896,028 2,638,816,155 3,630,244,501 4,272,332,497 4,284,569,392 2,866,992,547
The returns for 1921 show decreases of 36 per cent. in exports and 30 per cent. in imports, as compared with the previous year. A heavy excess of imports over exports is revealed. Japan's favourable position for engaging in foreign trade, gained during the war, has now been lost, and her foreign trade continues to be in an unsatisfactory condition, because manufacturers persist in the foolish policy of refusing to cut prices. It must be remembered that the domestic market has been enlarged during and since the war, but it is questionable how long this factor will enable manufacturers and others to continue their present policy, as war profits are gradually being ex- hausted. 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:-
United States of America
Exports
Yen 565,017,900
Imports
Totals 1,438,194,981
•
873,177,075
China....
""
British India
410,270,499 192,250,187
218,088,988
628,359,487
394,930,201
587,180,388
Great Britain
**
97,797,246
232,215,514
330,012,760
Kwantung Province
113,685,671
196,863,194
310,548,865
Dutch Indies
>"
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 Hawaii, Egypt and South Africa
""
79,775,120
67,510,970
147,286,090
99
52,104,326
87,421,086
139,525,412
Hongkong
Philippines and Siam
British Straits Settlements.. Mexico, Peru and Chili
Argentina and Brazil....
Asiatic Russia
French Indo-China
Temporary Warehouse Unknown
Other Countries.....
"
74,066,243
2,231,586
76,297,829
38,577,124
19,649,926
58,227,050
....
"}
35,730,275
17,137,422
52,867,697
**
7,268,407
25,201,203
32,469,610
23,686,504
3,927,521
27,614,025
**
22,880,772
3,831,684
26,712,456
>
3,444,853
20,618,843
24,063,696
>>
11,999,577
11,999,577
901
"
2,425,671
2,426,622
""
29,004,161
17,688,806
46,692,967
Yen 1,948,394,613
2,336,174,781
4,284,569,392