/. Geographical Sketch of Japan. 



By 



Naomasa Yamasaki, D. Sc, 



Professor of Geography, Tokyo Imperial Uniyertiity 



I. General Remarks. 



i. Position and Area: — • The Japanese Empire consists of a 

 long chain of festoon islands along the Pacific coast of the Asiatic 

 continent and the large peninsula of Chosen, or Korea, projecting 

 southward from the same continent. The chain of islands is divided 

 into three arcs, each of which with the continent embraces a sea, viz., 

 the Seas of Okhotsk, of Japan, and of China. The central or main 

 arc constitutes the principal part of the Empire, and consists of four 

 large islands, namely, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and the main island 

 of Hokkaido, or Ezo of Europeans ; while the other two arcs 

 consist of chains of small islands, Chishima, or the Kuriles in the 

 north and Eyukyu, or Luchoo in the south. 



The large island of Taiwan, or Formosa, and the southern half 

 of the island of Karafuto, or Saklialin, also belong to this country. 

 Besides these islands and j^eninsula, there is a small territory in the 



