1901.] 



COMMERCIAL JAPAN. 



2261 



and all sorts of labor would be more productive and would command more real wealth. Owing to natural advantage of situation and 

 to facilities for obtaining abundant supplies of raw materials, both at home and from abroad, the policy of manufacturing Ls by far 

 the most advantageous to the country. Moreover, rice is not the general food of Europe and the United States, and their supplies of rice 

 in Europe come from Calcutta, 45,700 tons; Siam, 37,401 tons, and French Indo-China, Burma, 716,000 tons; .Saigon, 100,019 tons in 

 1890, which countries have an advantage over Japan in the cost of transportation and in quick delivery. The only place for export is to 

 China, but there are immense rice fields in China, producing immeasurable crops and jjromising to export all their surplus when the 

 present trouble is over. British India, French India, and Java are also great rice-producing countries, and the United States would come 

 to produce it if other countries demanded it by an increase of consumption which would warrant an increa.se of pro^luction. Still more, 

 the agriculture of the country is unlike that of the United States, where large amounts of capital are invested and the most improved 

 machines are used and the fields arc cultivated by many laborers, by whi^;h the division of labor is utilized as in factories. In Japan 

 agriculture is conducted on a very small scale, most of the farmers cultivating by themselves, getting just enough products to support 

 their families. Again, the country has a supply of natural water power in the mountains and rivers which can' be easily conveye<l in 

 the form of electricity to accessible points for use in manufactui'ing, affording opportunity for the skillful and energetic workmen u-ing 

 the latest machinery. In every point of view the profits of manufacturing are steadier than the cultivation of rice, which largely depends 

 on rain and wind. Then, is not manufacturing preferable and most suitable for the permanent development of the country's economy? 

 Let us observe the relative importance. 



I. The silk industry will naturally come first. The difference of food for the silk worm, land, and climate produces different kinds 

 of cocoons. Mr. Fukazawa, one of the most experienced authorities, states: 



"(a) From the leaves of ftither very young or very old trees: Lands distant from the ocean, having a dry hot climate with few fogs, 

 when a chlorate fertilizer is used will produce easily good, elastic, bright cocoons, but in small quantities. 



"(6) From the leaves of young trees on newly cultivated land: Lands near the ocean, having a moist, cold climate with heavy fogs, 

 where a carbonate fertilizer is used, will produce hardy, fat cocoons, in good quantity, but not good quality. 



"It is impossible to get perfect cocoons. The manufacturer ought to select that kind most suitable for his own business." Japan 

 as a whole, in its climate and location, is suitable for the production of the latter kind, although it produces different kinds in summer 

 and spring. Thus Japan has its peculiarity in the cheaper qualities, which the United States and European continents are not able to 

 produce, and the consumption of silk in the world has a tendency toward cheaper quality; that is, the people of the United States and 

 Europe are beginning to use silk dresses for general wear, and the use of goods of high quality has begim to decrease. The only competing 

 countries are France, Italy, Switzerland, and China, but Japan's cheapness of production defies all competition, so in" France the 

 manufacturers can not continue their work unless the Government gives enormous subsidies or bounties, amounting to $2,000,000 a year, 

 or $100 per 100 pounds. This cheapness was not due to competition, but to the depreciation of prices, which was caused by our Japanese 

 merchants selling silk goods without a knowledge of the quotations of gold and silver. When gold appreciated the nominal price in silver 

 was larger in our market, while the New York price remained the same, and in fact our merchants sold goods under value. Thus, the price 

 of silk was lowered, while the consumers of silk are increasing year by year. This is in contrast to the law of demand and supply. 

 Nevertheless, this is the actual condition; yet it is not too late to cure this evil by better management among silk dealers. 



II. Heretofore raw silk was exported and thought to be the most stable manufactured commodity. Silk clothing or spun silk was 

 exported to the amount of only several thousand dollars in 1887, but in 1899 the exjiort was — 



24 per cent of the total silk export of 86,116,098 yen in 1899. This comes next to spun cotton, and is about three times as large as 

 the export of tea, 7,099,625 yen. This would be the most important export article in a few years if proper improvement were made, 

 because the country has plenty of raw materials near at hand. It has skillful laborers, and also the people have an intelligent idea of 

 design. In fact, all the conditions are advantageous to this industry, it having no large competing fields in Europe and America. 



III. The future of cotton yarn, matches, straw braid, matting, the porcelain and pottery industries looks most promiiing, as is 

 evident from the increasing amount of yearly production and the growth of exports. 



ARTICLES. 



Cotton yarn.. 



Matches 



Straw braids . 

 Floor mats... 



Pottery 



Paper 



Green tea 



1887 



Yen. 



941,577 

 a50. 450 

 36,29t; 



1,311,901 

 226, 742 



5,761,176 



1895 



Yen. 



1,843,637 

 193, 776 

 656,123 



1,287,026 

 418, 549 



5, 526, 051 



1S98 



Yen. 

 1,034,479 

 4,672,811 

 1,387,643 

 3,461,370 

 1,955,060 



964,690 



1899 



Yen. 



521,438 

 890, 666 

 770, 178 

 717,489 

 181, 336 

 357,626 

 699,625 



The demand for cotton yarn, matches, and pottery will be greater when peace with China is declared, since these industries are 

 supplied to that country with raw materials most advantageously. Recently the exportation of porcelain and earthenwares to all parts 

 of the world, especially to the United States and China, has increased, not only those of original styles, but of ^.11 kinds. Imitated styles 

 for parlor ornaments can be seen in almost every house in the United States. The merchants are trying to produce lighter colors', which 

 would be appreciated, ))e-ing much cheaper than American and European made, although its frailty would lessen its general use. If it 

 could be made lighter in color and more substantial it would be more profitable to the merchants as well as to the consumers. The 

 number of paper factories will be very large, because there is future promise for their growth. 



IV. Besides industries for export, there are many important industries which would meet domestic demands; such as brushes, 

 soap, woolen goods, clocks and watches, and Avould dimini-h imports, especially in woolen goods. In 1S97 the import of wool was 



other Oriental countries. 



It would be too tedious to enumerate the various other branches of industry. 



However, the future of manufacturing is assured, though it is still in its infancy, as can be seen in the small ilemand for coal in the 

 country and the retrogression of lacciuer ware manufacturing, which goods were once exported to Europe and America to the amount of 

 more than a million yen. But the heat on the voyage melted the glue in the ware, and when use*.! with hot water the whole thing was 

 spoiled, and now the export is only to Oriental countries. This subject is not one for pen and ink discussion, but for practical improve- 

 No. 6 17 



