136 JAPAN - MISCELIvANEOUS 



But we must remember that the price of commodities in Japan is 

 from two to five times less than their ordinary price on the European 

 and American markets. That would suffice, at least to some degree, to 

 make up for the small earmings of the artisans. There is, however, 

 another point to be considered, that the excess of the earnings over 

 the expenditure, which is highest in France (26.5 %), is only 3.6 % in 

 Japan. And we must give attention to this point, since, if a margin of more 

 than 20 % gives a possibility for saving, a surplus of 3 %, on the contrary, 

 is equivalent to almost certain loss. 



In order to estabhsh a scientifically accurate comparison between the 

 situation of the Japanese artisans and that of those of other countries, the 

 only standard we can adopt is that provided by the excess of the receipts 

 over the expenditure, for if we even desire to compare the prices of commod- 

 ities in Japan and other countries, we must consider not only the absol- 

 ute prices, but also the proportion of importance the commodities have 

 for domestic economy, which differs substantially in Japan and in the 

 Western countries. A study of such a character would evidently be too com- 

 plex and exceed the limits of a simple article. In any case, what we can 

 affirm is that the kind of life led by the Japanese artisan is undoubtedly 

 inferior to that of the artisans of other countries. 



The Tokio Department of Agriculture and Commerce has recently 

 made a careful enquiry into the existing economic conditions of the Japanese 

 artisans. We shall utilise the results of this enquiry to give our readers 

 some information on the matter. 



We stunmarise here the results of the enquiry in relation to the condi- 

 tions of 1,627 artisans of the environs of Tokio. (The percentages are for 

 the month of May, 1912). 



Amount of Wages Honse Rent Food (Rice) 



Yen % % 



General 

 ExtJenditure 



13-900 157 456 28.7 



20.057 I8.I 38.9 43.0 



21.591 20.5 37.6 41.9 



24.161 18,8 39.5 41.7 



24.461 18.6 35.3 46.1 



26.730 19.4 331 47-5 



29.469 19-4 341 45 5 



34657 171 28.5 - 54.4 



38.771 20.6 28.2 51.2 



41308 18.0 33.r 48.9 



46.500 25.2 27.3 47.5 



50.000 20.4 20.4 59.2 



