Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 461

JAPAN

409

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 13 battleships, 7 battle-cruisers, 9 first-class cruisers and 10 second-class cruisers, together with coast-defence ships, destroyers, torpedo-boats and submarines.

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 returns in 1917, was 56,550,348. The most populous prefectures are Tokyo with 2,143,266 inhabitants, Niigata with 2,066,115, and Hyogo with 2,015,291. 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 former three islands are sub-divided into eight large areas, con- taining 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:—

19

1912

1913

1914

1915

1916

1917

E'ports, Yen 526,981,842 632,460,213 591,101,461 708,306,9971,127,468,118 1,603,005,048 I'ports, 618,160,786 729,431,644 595,735,725 532,449,938 756,427,910 1,035,811,107

Total Yen 1,145,142,628 1,361,891,8571,186,837,186 1,240,756,935 1,883,896,028 2,638,816,155

The total volume of foreign trade in 1917 broke all previous records both in exports and imports, besides establishing a new record as regards a favourable balance of trade. Various causes brought about this result. There was a marked increase in exports to China where the non-arrival of imports from Europe and the rise in the exchange value of silver created a larger demand for Japanese goods. Then the extraordinary activity of the economic market in America and increased orders for foodstuffs from the Allies contributed to the prosperity of the export trade while interference with imports incidentally encouraged Home industries.

The following was the total value of the trade with foreign countries in 1917 :-

Exports

Imports

United States of America

Yen 478,536,845

359,705,062

Totals 838,241,907

China......

"

318,380,530

133,271,036

451,651,566

India, Australia and British America

144,745,786

259,432,914

"}

404,178,700

Great Britain

202,646,125

63,304,384

265,950,509

Continent of Europe........

132,520,029

18,847,226

27

151,367,255

Kwangtung Province....

"

65,724,838

53,180,199

118,905,037

Asiatic Russia

74,234,145

3,755,281

"}

77,989,426

Hongkong

**

57,241,924

1,803,803

59,045,727

Hawaii, Egypt and South Africa

26,736,152

30,017,577

56,753,729

Dutch Indies

"}

36,245,340

17,333,100

53,578,440

Unknown

British Straits Settlements.

Philippines and Siam

Temporary Ware House. Mexico, Peru and Chili French Indo-China Other Countries. Argentina and Brazil...

""

28,023,558

15,050,128

43,073,686

19,075,906

**

19,690,578

38,766,484

408,849

21,720,469

""

22,129,318

16,661,083

16,661,083

""

3,305,056

9,860,044

13,165,100

"

3,766,169

7,295,718

11,061,887

7,921,879

""

1,733,979

9,655,858

"

3,491,917

3,145,526

6,637,443

1,603,005,048

1,035,811,107

2,638,816,155