Directory_and_Chronicle_1926 — Page 513

JAPAN

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conditionally upon their loyalty to the Shogun; but their rank and power disappeared with the Shogunate. On the 7th July, 1884, however, His Majesty issued an Imperial Notification and Rescript rehabilitating the nobility, and admitting to its ranks the most distinguished civil and military officials who took part in the work of the Restoration. The old titles were abolished, and have been replaced by those of Prince (Ko), Marquis (Ko), Count (Haku), Viscount (Shi), and Baron (Dan).

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE

The budget for 1924-25 was as follows: Revenue: Ordinary, Yen 1,214,788,272; Ex- traordinary, Yen 194,265,814. Expenditure: Ordinary, Yen 1,028,156,564; Extraordinary, Yen 380,897,522. Ordinary expenditure included Ministry of War, Yen 179,452,000; Ministry of Navy, Yen 126,322,000; Foreign Ministry, Yen 16,557,000; Ministry of Education, Yen 71,967,000. Extraordinary expenditure: Ministry of War, Yen 13,661,000 Ministry of the Navy, Yen 112,268,000; Foreign Ministry, Yen 2,785,000; Ministry of Education, Yen 8,653,000.

POPULATION

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. According to the census taken on October 1st, 1925, the total population in Japan Proper was 59,736,704, show- ing an increase of 750,000 a year for the previous five years. The population of Formosa was 3,994,236; Saghalien 203,504. The most populous cities are Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Kobe, Yokohama and Nagasaki in the order named. 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 Hokkaido, the most northerly and least developed. The first three islands are sub-divided into eight large areas, containing 66 provinces, and the latter Hokkaido) is divided into 11 provinces.

There

Extension of the Japanese railway systems has proceeded uninterruptedly since the first line was laid in 1872. The mileage open to traffic in Japan proper (ex- cluding Chosen, Formosa and Saghalien), according to the latest returns, is

5,999 miles of State railway and 1,834 iniles of private railway. The Government in 1906 decided on the State ownership of all railways which are used for general traffic, the object being to improve the facilities for direct traffic over long distances, to accelerate transportation, and to cheapen the cost. The Government proposed to purchase the lines belonging to 32 private companies within a period extending from 1906 to 1911, but the House of Peers, when the Bills came before them, reduced the number of companies to be bought out to 17 and extended the period of purchase to 1915. The aggregate length of the lines it was decided to purchase was 2,812 miles. It was soon found advisable for various reasons to carry through the whole transaction in one year, and the sum of Yen 483,563,325 was paid during the two years 1907-8 and 1908-9. The capital of the State Railway system has risen since the latter year by 47 per cent. owing to expenditure on extensions and improvements, and now amounts to Yen 1,108,060,237. The percentage of profit on the capital during the four-year period ended on March 31st, 1914, averaged 6 per cent. average interest of 35,000,000 yen per annum has been paid, subsidies amounting to 5,000,000 yen

in six years have been given to the light railways, and the surplus has been invested in additions, improvements, and constructions to the amount of 172,000,000 yen in eight years to March 31st, 1917-a sum practically equal to half the capital outlay during the period. As a result of the war with Russia, the South Manchurian Railway was taken over by Japan. There are about 950 miles of electric tramway in Japan and 270 miles more under construction.

An

By treaties made with a number of foreign Governments the Japanese ports of Kanagawa (Yokohama), Nagasaki, Kobe, Hakodate, Niigata, and the cities of Tokyo (formerly called Yedo) and Osaka were thrown open to foreign commerce.

In 1894 new treaties were signed with the Powers by which extra-territoriality was abolished and the whole country opened to foreign trade and residence, the treaty to come into force in July, 1899. Actually, extra-territoriality ceased to exist on August 4th, 1899-