1901.] COMMERCIAL JAPA2^. . 2221 



from $9,441 in 1890 to $34,600 in 1894, and $376,008 in 1901. In 1890 the value of the canned beef ex];>orted from thig countr>- to Japan 

 was but $11,212; in 1901 the total was $140,048; while exports of pickled beef advanced from $0.38 in 1890 to $72,32-5 in 1901. Lt-ather 

 and manufactures of leather find a steady demand in Japan, owing to the fact that the number of cattle and other animals whose skins 

 are used for tanning is comparatively small, the total number of cattle in Japan, according to the last census, being but 1,433,.583, or 30.24 

 for each 1,000 inhabitants. 



THE COTTON TRADE AND INDUSTRY OF JAPAN. 



Exportations of cotton cloths to Japan have fallen by reason of the rapid increase in the manufacture of cotton cloth in that 

 country, the total for 1901 being but $37,891, against $141,204 in 1897. Meantime, however, exportations of raw cotton to Japan have 

 rapidly increased, being, as already indicated, $4,080,317 in 1901, against $85,211 in 1890. This is largely due to the increa.=e in the 

 manufacture of cotton goods in Japan, though American cotton has grown in popularity with the manufacturers there within the past 

 few years. Experience has shown them that cotton from the United States is more satisfactory for use in manufacturing than that which 

 Japan had been accustomed to obtain from India and China, the stajile in American cotton being longer, thus giving better result.«. As 

 a consequence, imports of American cotton now form a much larger percentage of the total importation into Japan than in earlier 

 years, although the raw cottons of China and India have largely the advantage, both in the matter of proximity and cheapness of labor 

 utilized in their production, japan also produces a considerable amount of cotton of her own, though it can scarcely be expected that 

 this will increase in a manner to at all keep pace with the growth of her cotton-manufacturing industry. The entire area of Japan is 

 but 161,245 square miles, or less than the State of California, while but about 12 per cent of its land is under cultivation, and but a com- 

 paratively small proportion cultivable, since mountain ranges and rocky islets and shores occupy a large proportion of its area. It must 

 be remembered that Japan, with her small cultivable area, has a population of 43,760,815, and must therefore devote most of her arable 

 land to the production of food stuffs, while her natural products of silk and tea are so much in demand the world over that they are not 

 likely to be displaced for cotton, which can be so readily brought from other and comparatively adjacent countries. Cotton manufactur- 

 ing in Japan has, however, grown very rapidly, the total number of spindles in 1899 being 2,074,475, against 5,456 in 1863. It is thus 

 apparent that Japan will continue to purchase from other parts of the world a large propoition of the raw cotton which her rap>idly 

 growing cotton mills will consume, and as the cotton from the United States has already made rapid headway against that from the 

 nearer countries of China and India, it is reasonable to assume that the market for American cotton will continue to grow, especially if 

 an isthmian canal gives opportunity for direct water shipments from the cotton-growing section of the United States to the ports of Japan 

 without breaking bulk. 



IRON AND STEEL. 



In iron and steel there seems no reason to doubt that the demand upon the United States will continue. The importations of 

 manufactures of iron and steel into Japan have grown very rapidly. It is apparent that the demand for manufactures of this class will 

 continue to increase with perhaps greater rapidity. The various manufacturing and mechanical industries are being encouraged by the 

 Government and by Japanese capitalists, as are also the construction of railroads, the building of ships, and other enterprises of this kind, 

 which will require great quantities of iron and steel and their manufactures. While considerable quantities of iron ore are known to 

 exist in various parts of Japan, it is not believed that they will prove sufficient to seriously interfere with or take the place of the 

 supplies now being furnished from other countries, especially since there are few places where iron and coal are found in conjunction. 

 In addition to this, it may be said that while the coal supply is now such as to have become quite an article of export, rivaling that of 

 Australia and other localities in that part of the world, it is believed that it will not be sufficient to meet the great demand upon it for 

 all classes of manufactures for any considerable term. Besides, the large capital required for the construction of establishments for the 

 manufacture of iron and steel, coupled with the extreme cheapness of production in the United States, through proximity of coal and 

 iron mines, also makes it improbable that the market in Japan for manufactures of this class will be seriously impaired by local 

 production and manufacture. 



One factor w^hich enters into this question of local manufactures in Japan, as a competitor with those of other countries which have 

 formerly held that market, is that of labor. Upon this subject all recent writers who discuss this feature of conditions in Japan agree 

 that rates of wages in that country have very much increased in the last few years and are likely to continue to increase, and that the 

 fears formerly expressed that a combination of modern manufacturing developments with the cheap labor of the Orient would result in 

 driving the manufacturers of other parts of the world out of the markets do not seem to have been justified by the exjieriment thus far, 

 A table showing rates of wages in the principal industries for a term of years will be found on another j^age. 



THE DEMAND FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 



In products of agriculture other than cotton and tobacco the demand of Japan is up to this time comparatively small. Importations 

 of rice in 1898 were heavy, but this was due to a short crop. As a rule Japan produces rice sufficient for her large populati(Mi. and as 

 this cereal is the most important food article with the masses the importations of food stuffs are, up to this time, comparatively light. 

 That there is a growing demand for meats, however, is shown by the figures already quoted, which indicate that the exports of meats 

 from the United States to Japan have increased at a reasonably rapid rate in the past few yeai-s. and with a growing demand for food 

 stuffs of this class and the extremely small number of animals which can be utilized for this purpose, the prospect for a market for 

 provisions, including meatij, butter, cheese, etc., seems fairly satisfactory. Of j^etroleum, as already indicated, the importations continue 

 heavy, though in this the oil fields of Eussia and Sumatra are proving active competitors of those of the United States, resulting both in 

 a reduction of price and something of a reduction in quantity exported. 



A STUDY OF JAPANESE IMPORTS. 



Those desiring to studj' the import trade of Japan in its broadest sense and to determine the class of articles for which a market ia 

 to be found in that country will find on another page a table showing the importations into that country in the order of their greatest 

 value in 1898, with a comparative statement showing the importations, article by article, beginning with 1892, the year the marked 

 growth of imports into Japan began. Cotton importations, as already indicated, have increased very rapidly, being 11,026,637 yen in 

 1892 and 51,500,002 yen in 1900. Sugar forms the next article of importation in relative value, being 26,606,528 yen in 1900, against 



No. 6 12 



