2232 COMMEECIAL JAPAi^. [December, 



again in 1853 sent their squadrons and messengers. Their actions were haughty, the oflBcers and crews showed verj' disgraceful manners, 

 stealing cattle and food, and firing houses, as thev did in China recently. The people feared subjugation by an alliance with these 

 forei'-iiers, and the Government, the people, and the country as a whole, were busy in preparing to fight against them, and they guarded 

 all their ports. Prices of food and weapons of war went very high, while other goods were driven off from the market, the stock and 

 rice exchange was closed, and the country lost its internal commerce. In 18-54 the United States sent General Perry m-ging the opening 

 of friendly intercourse. These Americans were, unlike the others, very kind and friendly, so people respected them and treated them 

 very nicely. Thereupon in September, the Government ceased its conservative policy, and awoke from along dream of two hundred 

 years. This policy had restricted foreign trade by narrow legislation, and was inclined to look upon the foreign merchant as an enemy, 

 and to forbid the (ixportof money and to prohibit the import of manufactured commodities. While European countries v.ere improving 

 bv the invention of labor-saving machines and utilities "in everything, Japan lagged behind. Now, people began to pay attention to 

 navigation, and light-houses were erected and gave great benefit to commerce. In 1853 tea was for the first time sent abroad, to Europe 

 and the United States by samples, then exported on an order from England. The exportation of tea increased year after year, and 

 became one of the most important articles of export of the country. Lead was used for the first time for printing in 1854. Then books, 

 uew.'ipapers, and pictures were printed and gave great help to the public. 



In July, 185S, the Govenimont concluded a temporary treaty with the United States — then with Russia, England, France, and 

 Holland— to open five ports, one in the south, two at the middle ])art lacing on the Pacific Ocean, one facing the Japan Sc-a, i\nd one in 

 the north, of which the ports of Nagasaki, Yokohama, and Ilakoclate opened in October, 1865, and Kobe, in May, 1863. Then amend- 

 ment and addition were made in the treaty, and it was concluded with other countries. Thereby the commerce of the country waa 

 rapidly increased and developed, and raw f^ilk and other articles were exported to Europe and America. At this time the mercantile 

 doctrine bcizan to prevail in the country. The attention of the people was turned to foreign communication; European science and arts 

 be.L-an to be diffused. In July, 1861, Holland made a present of a man-of-war to Japan and advised a naval system, which advice the 

 country followeil two years later and employed Holland professors and officers to teach in the navy, ilany large vessels v.-ere built and 

 the (icAernment owned 44 and the lords ow"ned 94 ve.ssels at the close of the feudal system. But there were still many high ofuciatsand 

 peojile who believed a shoil-sighted policy would be better for the country, and in 1863 the English legation was attacked by mobs and 

 two officials were killed. Trouble between the people of Japan and the people of European countries liappened oftentimes. 



The first embassy to foreign countries was sent to the United States in January, 1860, and then to other countries. In 1864 the 

 Government built a dock, ironfactory, and shipyard, spending $2,400,000. This was the first time that many laborers were employed 

 in a large factory using labor-saving machines. The dock remains one of the best in the Orient. Industries, manufactures, and every- 

 thi:ig were improved. In 1864 an embassy was sent to France, which was shown many things of European civilization, and brought 

 home new knowledge of tlunr manner.-^ and customs, science and arts, which gave great satisfaction to the people. 



As a natural result of the opening of porta and of free trade, European civilization came into the countr>' and gained many admirers 

 of mathematics, the new calendar, the use of guns, and photography; and later on people began to read and to translate books and to 

 study medicine, physiology, electricity, printing, etc. 



ilining during this period was very active and prosperous. Copper was produced in all parts of the country, 200,000 pounds every 

 year, even as early as 1700. Gold was produced much in 1711, but the ratio of gold to silver varied from 1 to 4 to 1 to 12, while European 

 countries varied from 1 to 14.83 to 1 to 16.17 during 1687-1874. Then, of course, Gresham's law acted most vigorously, and exportation 

 of gold took place: 



1644-1738, gold was exported more than 300,000 pounds; 1709-1858, 917,000,000; 1858-1872, $14,000,000. 



Note. — Aggregate amount of export of gold in three liundred and thirty years, between 1532-1872 was $642,000,000, and if accurate 

 calculation was made until the pre.>^ent day there must have been over $1,000,000,000 worth of gold taken out of the country, while 

 its j)rodu(tion was in two hundred and seventv-six years, between 1592-1865, 1,230,348 ounces, or $62,000,000; total coinage issued 

 284,782,821 yen during 1870-1897. 



Thus, silver coin alone was left in circulation. A French atlas of 1700 figured out that "Japan was the most fertile and gold 

 producing country in the world." Coal was said to have been mined and known as a " burning stone," and used for fuel, but it was not 

 generally used till after the American vessels visited the country. Since 1854 the Government has encouraged the produc'aon of this 

 most useful fuel. With the introduction of dynamite in 1861 mining made a gj'eat advancement, by using it for breaking rocks and 

 stones. 



B. 1868 TO PRESENT TIME. 



In 1868 occurred the greatest event in the history of Japan. The lords magnanimously surrendered their principalities to the 

 Eini)eror, and tluir voluntary ai^tion was accepted, and the administrative power returned to the Emperor, having been in the hands of 

 rulers for about seven hundred years. Then the feudal system was completely abolished. All kinds of monopolies and business privileges 

 whirl) the lords held ceased to exist. This revolution was the victory of European civilization over conservative feudali--m, and the 

 adiiiirers of tiie Western civilization gained the majority in the (iovernment. They ssnt messengers and scholars to those countries for the 

 pur|i(i!-e of observing and examining their social, politiciil, and industrial systems, with a view to transplanting to their own country 

 whatever seemed most applicabU'. The first thing done was to issue full credit paper money, as a natural result of the soarcitv of coin; 

 this helped the credit of the Government. The germs of many new things were introduced and civilization began to shine all through 

 ttH> country. Cotton H])inning machines were imported from France, and astonished thousands who were spinning with small insignificant 

 machines worked by hands. 



The Imperial Court removed from Kioto to Tokyo, for His Majesty's permanent residence. Then Tokyo became the commercial 

 renter of the country, while ().-;aka took long strides in industrial development.'^. Here was located the Government mint in 1S6S; brush, 

 naper jiajjkin, cotton spinning, and s(!V(>ral other manufacturing enterprises, and a brewery conducted on a large scale; and Os;\ka has 

 lu'conie a mamifacturing city of grwit importance. It has ample transportation facilities either by river, canal, sea, or railro:xd, which 

 have done great work in developing the city. 



In 18()9 light-liou.ses of foreign styles were built and greatly helped navigation. Next year the Government adopted the German 

 army system and comjmlsory recruiting took jilace. Horse carriages an<l coolie carriages began to run on the streets, giving quick and 

 easy street jiasHagc. In 1S71 the Atnerican monetary decimal system was adopted. On account of the growth of wealth and population, 

 rcMdting from active trad(> and transportation facilities, round gold coin had to be minted for convenience of circulation. Tiiis cola 

 being th(« late-it iniprovenu'tit for foreign exchange, the yen was made standard or unit: its fineness and weight were fixed. The 

 )'osf-onic(< and the trlcgraph olTue were esta'olislied. The people atlmired these new establishments and new things, and a craze for 

 civili/.ation arose. The lirst jiroposal to compile a conunercial code was made in 1S70. Tiio Government issue<l a law that po<>ple should 

 not wear swords, which it had been the custom to do from time immemorial. My late father once petitioned the tJoverinnent, years 

 ago, to do away with this custoin, but his re(]ne.-:t wa.^ rejected and he wjis lauglicd at. liy tUis law the disputacious character of the 

 l>eople was softened to friendship. In 1872 a l.true i)rinting jn-ess for newspapers was introduced and the people began to learn of the 

 woi!<rs enterprist's; this wa'^ a great benelit and help to the progress of the country in civilization. 



The American mitional-hank system wa^ introducivl, but with no success, because note.>^ were i.«sued only on 60 i>er cent of the 

 capital, with (tovenuiunt bonds for security. In 187(> this act was amendod and the bank note was made a legal temlcr for all i>ayment3, 

 except for the payment of custom duty and interest on (iovernment bonds. It w:vs convertible into Government money, and an issue 

 of 80 per cent of the capital was allowed to b(> issued. Under this favorable condition 1.53 banks were onrani.Tcd during i87ti-lS79, with 

 a cap'tal of 48,81(),100 yen. The first steam-railroad construction was completed in Febniari", 1872, between Tokyo and Yokohama, 

 idiont \S miles, and began its operation in Septendier in the Siune year, under the Government control. This was a sudden break of the 

 people's dream of ages, and their admiration of foreign civilization became gn^ater and greater, although day laborers fcan^l to lose 

 their work, as other countries had done, with the invention of labor-.^aving nuichines. Ga.-^light now put away tiie dark, dim light of 

 crud(> kero.-^i'ne and seed oil, and the terrible fires caused by the upsetting of lamps decreased. The European calendar began to be used 



