THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[March 1, 1920. 



The Rubber Trade in Japan. 



/)'v Our Regular Correspondent. 



TRADE ASSOCIATIONS in Kobe and Osaka, Japan, seem to be 

 geographically destined to prosper in commerce and in- 

 dustry, and since the World War, the Japanese rubber 

 industry has made remarkable development, particularly in 

 Osaka and Kobe. Osaka is the commercial and industrial center 

 of the southwest half of Japan, including Korea, Formosa and 

 southern Manchuria. Tokio is commercially the center of the 

 northeast half of Japan. These cities are the largest markets 

 and the distributing points for all commodities in their respective 

 sections of ihe Empire, while Osaka is at present the chief 

 trading place with Chosen and China, all Oriental countries and 

 the South Sea Islands. Kobe, situated near Osaka, is the largest 

 open port in the western half of Japan, and the biggest trading 

 port of the Empire. 



Thus important commercially and industrially as Osaka and 

 Kobe are, they are juniors to Tokio in the history of the 



iciii RuBBEK Co., Limited. 



Japanese rubber industry. The amount of crude rubber imports 

 at Osaka had been very small until 1912 as compared with that 

 of Yokohama. 



The rubber manufacturing industry of Osaka began with the 

 making of hot-water bags by the cold cure method in 1887. Ten 

 years later, Mr. Sailer, a British Indian, came to Japan and 

 manufactured some rubber articles by the hot cure method, but 

 it gave no animation to the rubber industry. The Chino- Jap- 

 anese war and the Russo-Japanese war, however, stimulated the 

 rubber industry in Tokio somewhat, and these influences also 

 extended to Osaka and Kobe. Several rubber factories were 

 established in these cities, with the view of manufacturing me- 

 chanical goods, rubber balls, bicycle tires, hot-water bags, etc., 

 but they were still in an experimental state. 



Owing to the revision of the customs tariff in 1911, the Dunlop 

 Rubber Co. (Far East), Limited, and the Ingram Rubber Co., 

 which had been importing tires and medical instruments, estab- 

 lished factories for the purpose of making these goods. Most 

 manufacturers of medical instruments subsequently removed to 

 Tokio, while tire makers still remained there and have made 

 good progress. 



During the World War, Japan had to meet home demands 

 with home-made articles owing to the decrease of imports. The 

 scarcity of rubber manufactures in China and the South Sea 

 created a demand for articles of Japanese manufacture, espe- 

 cially tires. Consequently Kobe and Osaka have prospered more 

 and more. For instance, the total amount of imports to Japan 

 during the seven months from January through July, 1918, 

 amounted to $3,507,000, of which $2,431,000 were Kobe imports. 



Osaka and Kobe exceed Yokohama in quantities of both imports 

 ?nd exports of rubber manufactures. 



The objects and officers of the Osaka-Kobe Rubber Industry 

 Association and of the Osaka Rubber Association, whose or- 

 ganization was noted in The India Rubber World, June 1, 1919, 

 are as follows: 



OBJECTS OF OSAKA-KOBE RUBBER ASSOCIATION. 



(a) To protect credits and transactions of the members; 



(b) To patronize trade-marks and inventions of its members; 



(c) To conduct investigations and make proposals: 



(d) To arrange arbitrations; 



(e) To advocate rewards and encouragement for faithful em- 



ployes ; 



(f) To exercise control over employes. 



OFFICERS. 

 Chief manager, K. Yoshii, of the Kakuichi Rubber Co., Lim- 

 ited; standing manager and accountant, E. Kato, of the Settsu 

 Rubber Co., Limited. 



OBJECTS OF OSAKA HUBBEH ASSOCIATION. 



(a) To dun for payment; 



(b) To suspend transactions with customers who refuse pay- 



ment; 



(c) To determine measures for those who infringe contracts 



with the members, also losses resulting from such in- 

 fringement ; 



(d) To report on or to propose investigations ordered by the 



government ; 



(e) To encourage and control employes. 



OFFICERS. 



President, R. Nakamura ; vice-president and accountant, S. 

 Tsuji; managers, Iguchi, Limited, S. lida, Nisshin & Co., Oishi 

 Rubber Shop, Osawa & Co., S. Yoshikawa, T. Tanaka, Nakajima 

 & Co., S. Muneda, Y". Miyakawa, Moriya & Co. 



In April, 1919. both the Osaka Rubber Association and the 

 Osaka-Kobe Rubber Industry Association held regular general 

 meetings. No less than 70 members were present at the meet- 

 ing of the former association at which addresses were made by 

 the chief of Commerce and Industry Section, the deputy of the 

 governor, the mayor of Osaka, the head of the Osaka Com- 

 mercial Museum, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, 

 the president of the Dunlop Rubber Co. (Far East), Limited, 

 the president of the Tokio Rubber Association, and the president 

 of Miyasaki & Co., of Tokio. 



The following are the reports and matters decided at the 

 meeting of the Osaka-Kobe Rubber Industry Association : 



(a) The business report. 



(b) Rubber manufacturers, especially tire manufacturers, 



should mvestigate concerning the total number of tires 

 used in Osaka and Kobe and the western half of Japan. 



(c) This association to write for the members when applica- 



tions concerning commerce and industry (trade-marks, 

 designs for practical use, patents, sanction for exports, 

 various reports, etc.). are required. When trouble takes 

 place in respect to these applications or reports, the 

 association to be responsible. 



(d) Purchase and sale of disposed goods and the introduction 



for newly invented or other novel articles, and new or 

 old stock machines given special prices. 



(e) Rewards, encouragement and guidance for workmen shall 



be entrusted to the officers. 



(f) The financial report for last year, and consent for the 



estimate of 1919. 



