Directory_and_Chronicle_1916 — Page 632

JAPAN

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issued in Paris in 1913. Their issue-price was 98 francs per 100 francs; and they are to be redeemed at face-value in May, 1923. The following were the totals of outstanding loans at the end of 1914:-Internal Loan, Y. 991,531,578; Foreign Loan, Y. 1,485,550,664.

ARMY AND NAVY

Until the war with China, the Army consisted of six divisions and the Imperial Guards, with a peace footing strength of 70,000 in round numbers, and a war footing of 268,000, exclusive of the Gendarmerie and the Yezo Militia; but on the conclusion of shat war a large scheme of expansion was adopted, under which the number of divisions was raised to twelve, exclusive of the Guards. In 1904-5 Japan sent a million men into Manchuria, of whom more than 600,000 were combatants. After the Russo-Japanese War Imperial approval was given to the increase of the Army to 25 divisions. At present the Army consists of about 22 divisions. Every male Japanese is compelled to personal service from the age of 17 till the completion of his 40th year

At the conclusion of the war with China, Japan found herself in possession of a fighting fleet of forty-three serviceable vessels-independent of twenty-six torpedo- boats-their aggregate displacement being 78,774 tons. Of these, ten, with an aggregate displacement of 15,055 tons, had been captured from China, namely, an armour-clad turret-ship of 7,335 tons, two steel cruisers, six steel gunboats, and one wooden gunboat. Prior to the capture of the Chen-yuen, now called the Chin-yen, Japan did not possess a line-of-battle ship. Her fleet consisted entirely of compara tively small vessels. There were also on the stocks two steel cruisers and a steel 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. She possesses now a fine fleet of 10 battleships, 8 battle-cruisers, 9 first-class cruisers and 12 second-class cruisers, together with coast-defence ships, destroyers, torpedo-boats and submarines. Three large battleships are now in course of construction in the shipbuilding yards of 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 last census is 52,900,000. The most populous prefectures are Tokyo with 2,800,000 inhabitants, Osaka with 2,170,000, and Hyogo with 2,040,000. 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 pro- vinces," 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, containing 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:-

15

1909

1910

1911

1912

1913

1914

Exports, Yen 413,112,511 455,091,860 442,996,848 526,981,842 632,460,213 591,101,461 Imports,

394,198,843 463,482,735 512,942,169 618,160,786 729,431,644 595,735,725

Total Yen 807,311,354 918,574,595 955,939,017 1,145,142,628 1,361,891,857 1,186,837,186 The balance of trade for some years past has been against Japan, excepting in the years 1907 and 1909. In 1913 imports exceeded exports to the value of nearly ninety- seven million yen, and in 1914 by over four million yen. Nearly 30 per cent. of Japan's total foreign trade is with Great Britain and its Colonies and Dependencies.

The trade of 1914 was divided between the old Treaty Ports as under :-

Yokohama Kobe Nagasaki Osaka Moji Other Ports. Totals. Expts., Y.269,452,464|167,522,636| 4,216,394 74,342,708|19,965,938| 55,601,321 591,101,461 Impts.,,, 178,781,276 281,959,911 13,001,368 41,406,054 32,274,349 48,312,767 595,735,725

Totals,

443,233,740 449,482,547 17,217,762 115,748,762 52,240,287|103,914,088 1,186,837,186