Directory_and_Chronicle_1922 — Page 540

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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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