THE JAPANESE NATION— A TYPICAL PRODUCT OF 

 ENVIRONMENT. 1 



By Gardiner G. Hubbard. 



Of all countries of the earth, none have made such wonderful and 

 rapid progress in form of government and in the development of indus- 

 tries and commerce, and such great changes in its conditions of envi- 

 ronment as Japan. This country, which twenty-rive years ago was 

 almost unknown, has come forward to take its place not only as the 

 foremost of oriental powers, but in the sisterhood of nations. While 

 we marvel at this wonderful change, a glance at her geographic posi- 

 tion, her internal and industrial resources, a brief study of her past 

 history, and of the character, manners, and customs of her people will 

 help us to understand her present, and perhaps to foretell something 

 of her future. Both the old and the recent development show Japan 

 to be a typical product of environment. 



In the geographic position of Japan and Great Britain there is a 

 striking resemblance ; both consist of a group of islands with exten- 

 sive seacoasts, indented with numerous excellent harbors, and bathed 

 by equatorial currents; their insular position protecting them from 

 invasion by land, and offering every opportunity for commercial inter- 

 course. Almost within sight of each lies a> continent densely popu- 

 lated, affording a market for productions and manufactures; both are 

 rich in mines of coal and iron ore. The mines of Great Britain built 

 up and then stimulated her manufactures, and these developed com- 

 merce and banking facilities, and made England the first manufactur- 

 ing, commercial, and financial power of the world. The mines of Japan 

 are developing her manufactures and her commerce, and she must 

 become the first commercial power of the Orient. 



The Empire of Japan is composed of four large and three thous&ml 

 small islands, forming an arc of a large circle, extending from the north- 

 east, within a few miles of Kamchatka, southwest about 2,000 miles, 

 and with Formosa, nearly 3,000 miles, from an arctic climate to one of 

 perpetual spring and everlasting summer. 



1 Saturday lecture in Assembly Hall of the United States National Museum, May 

 9, 1896. 



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