Directory_and_Chronicle_1896 — Page 419

JAPAN

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carries 25 guns and three torpedo tubes. The first class steel cruiser Yoshino, built in England, is of 4,200 tons displacement, with engines of 5,500 horse power, and steams 224 knots.

POPULATION, TRADE, AND INDUSTRY.

The total area of Japan is estimated at 156,604 square miles, and the population, according to census returns taken in December, 1891, was 40,718,677, namely, 20,563,416 males and 20,155,261 females. The increase during the last ten years has slightly ex- ceeded one per cent. per annum. The empire is geographically divided into the four islands: Honshiu, the central and most important territory; Kiushiu,

Kiushiu, "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 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:

1889

Exports, Yen 70,060,706 Imports, 9 66,103,766

Total

1890 56,603,506

1891 79,527,272

1892 91,102,754

81,728,580

62,927,268 71,326,079

1893 89,712,864

1894 113,246,086

88,257,172 117,481,955

136,164,472 138,332,086 142,454,540 162,428,833 177,970,036 230,728,041 The export of Raw Silk increased from 2,110,315 catties in 1890 to 3,712,213 catties in 1893 and to 5,484,059 in 1895. There has been a very large increase in the export of Silk Piece Goods. The export of Tea varied little during the last three years and amounted to 37,543,587 catties in 1894. The export of Coal and Coal Dust in 1894 was 1,265,504 tons and 435,626 tons for ships' use, against 1,094,754 tons and 410,659 for ships' use in 1883, that having been an increase of 18 per cent. in quantity and of 6 per cent. in value over 1892, which was about the same in amount and value as for the two previous years. The export of Matches steadily increased till 1894 when it was checked by the war with China. It was 13,843,022 gross in 1894, against 13,541,287 in 1893, 9,242,035 in 1892, 8,029,932 in 1891, and 6,724,585 in 1890.

Of Imports, Raw Cotton increased from 52,141,752 catties in 1890 to 115,831,776 catties in 1893 and to 119,931,185 in 1894; showing 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. 24,308,491 catties of Cotton Yarn were imported in 1892, 19,405,152 in 1893 and 15,942,797 in 1894. There has been a continuous increase in the importation of Cotton Piece Goods, the values being yen 3,502,127 in 1891, yen 4,789,240 in 1892, yen 5,795,015 in 1893, and yen 7,069,694 in 1894. Woollen Goods were imported to the value of yen 5,481,938 in 1891, yen 6,988,164 in 1892, yen 8,304,240 in 1893, and yen 7,982,882 in 1894. Metals increased from yen 4,990,580 in 1892, to yen 8,792,024 in 1893 and tó yen 10,932,716 in 1894. The importation of Kerosine Oil rose from 32,689,275 gallons in 1892, to 49,763,392 in 1893, and to 55,643,719 gallons in 1894. Sugar imported showed an increase from 167,531,523 catties in 1891 to 196,912,263 in 1892, 214,855,484 in 1893, and 228,664,363 in 1894.

The trade of 1894 was divided between the Treaty Ports as under :--

Yokohama Kobe Nagasaki Osaka Hakodate Other Ports Totals Exports, Yen 73,015,678 29,438,113 3,558,711 764,367 668,473 5,800,744 113,246,086 Imports, 50,447,371 56,910,503 5,413,748 4,014,813 55,421 640,099 117,481,955

་་

Totals, 123,463,049 86,348,616 8,972,459 4,779,180 723,894 6,440,843 230,728,041 The following was the total value of commodities exported to and imported from Foreign Countries in 1894 :-

Exports

Imports

United States of America

Yen 43,323,557

10,982,558

Total 54,300,115

Great Britain..........

"

5,950,198

42,189,874

48,140,072

Continent of Europe

11

25,339,620

14,390,463

39,730,083

China

8,813,987

17,511,507

26,325,494

Hongkong

16,199,481

8,999,718

25,199,199

India, Australia and Canada

>>

6,997,911

11,140,606

18,138,517

Annam, Philippines and Siam

248,063

8,521,825

"}

8,769,888

Corea

Other Countries

Coal for Ships' use

2,365,112

2,183.313

"

4,548,425

"}

2,059,760

1,562,091

3.621,851

"}

1,948,397

1,948,397

Yen 113,246,086

117,481,955

230,728,041