AlAY 1, 1917.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



481 



THE SITUATION IN JAPAN. 



By a Sl'ccial Correspondent. 



THE demand for rubber goods in Japan and Far East locali- 

 ties supplied by Japan is increasing rapidly. Such repre- 

 sentative men as Chugo Moriya, a large dealer in general rubber 

 goods, and Yoshio Kavvashima, manager of the Oriental Rubber 

 Cloth Co., agree that the demand in 1915 was fully double that 

 in 1914. This was particularly true of electrical goods, jar rings, 

 packing, air-cushions and raincoats. The latter were more of 

 cotton costing about $7.50 and less of silk than formerly, due 

 perhaps to economies on account of the war. Exports to China 

 and the South Sea islands showed a big increase. 



RESTRICTIONS ON RUBBER EXPORTS. 



Crude rubber and manufactured rubber goods imported from 

 England and her colonies or elsewhere may not be exported from 

 Japan except upon agreement with the British authorities. How- 

 ever, German agents in China, desiring to export such materials 

 to neutral countries, found it convenient to ship them to our 

 ports and place them in a bonded warehouse .until a sailing to 

 the desired port occurred. On January 27, however, a ruling of 

 the Department of Agriculture and Commerce brought such goods 

 into the prohibited list and presumably stopped this traffic. Un- 

 less the principle dictating the change be rigidly enforced, how- 

 ever, to prevent transfers in the offing or even on the pier but 

 outside bonded warehouses, the efficacy of the new ruling is 

 doubtful. 



Although the Russian Government has purchased large quan- 

 tities of rubber tires of Japanese manufacturers, the larger busi- 

 ness in rubber toys and druggists' sundries has been lost through 

 the Russian prohibition of all imports of luxury during the war. 



RUBBER TOYS. 



Japan has long been a great producer of toys, and it is not 

 surprising that some of our rubber manufacturers should seek 

 an outlet for their goods through similar channels. In the manu- 

 facture and sale of colored toy balloons Sadakichi Okuda, of 

 Asakusa, takes the lead under the firm name of Sawadaya. Much 

 of his product is sold abroad, the exports for March alone total- 

 ing 34,000 balloons valued at over $7,500. In Tokyo his wares 

 are sold by street venders, toward whom he has shown great 

 benevolence. As he is said to be worth $1,000,000, it has been 

 possible for him to supply balloons to these poor men on extended 

 credit which has enabled many of them to make a substantial 

 start in mercantile life. 



One of our leading manufacturers of rubber toys has recently 

 placed on the market a novel globe bouncing ball with the vari- 

 ous countries molded upon its surface. This, it is thought, will 

 be pleasing as a plaything and instructive in geography as well. 



J.\PAXESE PLANTATIONS IN MALAYA. 

 A noticeably better feeling is being manifested toward the Jap- 

 anese in Malaya than hitherto. Those who first settled there, un- 

 fortunately, uneducated and without means, were held in con- 

 tempt by both natives and white men, and it is not surprising 

 that a like antipathy was felt toward the better classes of their 

 countrymen who followed later. Government officials were re- 

 garded with suspicion, but when it was realized that legitimate 

 business and not territorial ambition was the Japanese aim, and 

 when our enterprise and progressiveness were observed, a friend- 

 ly feeling began to develop which will make it possible for Jap- 

 anese and British planters to cooperate for the good of the in- 

 dustry. 



Since Mr. Akuzawa bought 300 acres on the Malay Peninsula 

 in Johore in 1905, at a cost of $100,000, Japanese planting interests 

 have grown until now the invested capital aggregates $7,000,000. 

 Of the leased area, amounting to 110,000 acres, 50.000 acres are 

 now planted and the 1916 production of rubber reached 2,230,000 



pounds. The planted area is constantly increasing and will soon 

 become 60,000 to 70,000 acres. Several plantations located on the 

 west side of the Nafu River, about 80 miles from Singapore, are 

 just reaching the tapping age. About 400 Japanese and 5,000 

 Chinese coolies are employed in this region. 



An association of Japanese planters has been organized with 

 a governing committee of 40 members representing each estate. 

 Aside from activities directed toward expansion and general 

 development, particular attention is being devoted to sanitary 

 conditions and a well-equipped hospital on every estate. Co- 

 operation, wherever possible, with British, Dutch and Chinese 

 interests is one of the chief aims. 



Our advantages as a people in rubber planting seem to out- 

 weigh our disadvantages. Of the former may be mentioned our 

 ready adaptability to agricultural organization; the low cost of 

 administration ; our dependence upon rice as a principal food, 

 which grows well, in the East Indies ; the fact that we endure 

 the tropical climate with ease, and that our Chinese and other 

 laborers, being of similar race, trust us, despite slight differences 

 in religion, manners and customs, so that superintendents and 

 laborers work harmoniously together. 



Our disadvantages lie in high interest charges on capital ; the 

 desire for quick successes and a tendency to be satisfied with 

 small earnings ; the absence of well-organized experimental and 

 research work looking toward improved methods and product, 

 and the lack of business combination and cooperative effort. Thus 

 there is still much opportunity for constructive work for the 

 common good of the industry. 



RUBBER COMPANIES PROSPEROU.S. 



Toyojino Miyake, of the Nippon Rubber Co., reports a greatly 

 increased business during 1915 in belts, balls and particularly 

 automobile tires from the factory which was enlarged in Sep- 

 tember, 1915. The gross proceeds were over $146,500 and the 

 profits $28,750, which were somewhat affected by the rising cost 

 of raw materials. Medium quality tires of 26- and 28-inch size 

 were in great demand. Balls were chiefly exported to China and 

 Argentina. Some dolls were made, but only to special order. 



The Settsu Rubber Co. earned profits of $5,181 for the past 

 year. 



The profits of the Chiyada Rubber Co., of Tokyo, were $11,347. 



For the last six months of last year the Takasago Rubber Co. 

 reported profits of $2,538. 



TRADE NOTES. 



On the 43,200 square feet of land recently purchased, the 

 Kakuichi Rubber Co. is now erecting an extension to its former 

 factory which will cover 25,200 square feet. Machinery and gen- 

 eral equipment will be modern in every respect. 



The Teikoku Rubber Co. has been reorganized as a joint stock 

 company with a capital stock of $75,000 and will erect a new 

 factory. 



The Miyagawa Rubber Store has opened a foreign trade de- 

 partment at 34 Nichome, Yamatedon, Kobe, which will continue 

 the export business of the firm and also engage in the importa- 

 tion of crude rubber, chemicals and other raw materials. 



The Alenken Rubber Factory has purchased 14,400 feet of land 

 adjoining its present site for immediate extension of the plant. 



The building of the Kanae Packing Manufacturing Co. is 

 nearly ready for occupancy at 601 Kitsu, Jomammamura, a sub- 

 urb of Osaka. Tlie output will consist of asbestos material, 

 packing and rubber goods. Of the $250,000 capital stock, $62,500 

 has been paid in. 



One of the leading spirits in the development of the Japanese 

 rubber industry is Kenjiro Tsuji, managing director of the Chi- 

 yoda Rubber Co., who is bending his energies not only to his 

 own firm's welfare, but to the rubber interests of the whole coun- 

 try as well. 



The rubber industry of Osaka now comprises 58 factories em- 



