Section II 



(JEKERAL GEOGHAPHY 



1. DEFINITION AND POSITION OF JAPAN PROPER 



a. Japan Proper, as defined by SCAP Memoranda to Japanese 

 Government, 29 Jan and 23 March 46, (See Plate l) consists of four islands: 

 Hokkaido ("North Sea District"). Honshu ("Main Island"). Shikoku ("Four 

 Provinces"), and Kyushu ("Nine Provinces"), and the approximately 1.000 

 adjacent small islands. 



b. Islands and island groups included in Japan Proper: 



(1) Sado 



(2) Tsu Group 



(3) OkuBhiri 



(4) Izu Group, including Sofu-gan 



(5) Oki Group 



c. Islands and island groups excluded from Japan Propers 



(1) Utsuryo (Ullung) , Lianoburt Rocks (Take), and i^uelpart 

 (Saishu or Cheju) 



(2) Ryukyus Group south of latitude 30° N 



(3) Kuchino , south of Kyushu 



(4) Nanpo Group 



(5) Bonins (Ogasawara) Group 



(6) Volcano (Kazan or I wo) Group 



(7) Kurils (Chiehima) 



(8) Habomai (Hapomaze) Group (off NE Hokkaido) 



(9) Shikotan 



(10) All other outlying Pacific islands 



d. Japan is a mountainous island festoon off the coast of Asia. 



(1) Climatic consequence: Marine climate, monsoons, many 

 variations owing to difference In altitude 



e. The Latitudinal spread (30° to 45° 30' N) is comparable to 

 that from Florida to Maine (See Plate 1 Inaet). 



(1) Climatic consequences Subtropical in southern Khushu 

 to cold winters, mild summers in Hokkaido 



