INTRODUCTION. . 27 
pertaining to each particular group of commodities and how much of the imports is 
consumed within the country itself. A notable article has appeared in the economic 
review “Keizai Yasshi’”’, in which it is declared that the future of Japan lies in the 
textile industry, beside which the chemical-, engineering- and other industries only 
offer insignificant prospects. This paper recommends the gradual abolition of all 
protective duties and of the taxes on trade, together with the gradua! transfer of the 
exports of cotton yarn and raw silk to exports of finished cotton and silk fabrics. 
The rice-crop, of which the result is of paramount importance for the whole 
economic life of Japan has, according to a report by the Ministry for Agriculture and 
Commerce, dated 4th February 1914, afforded a yield in Old Japan of 50229935 koku, 
equalling about 90,6 million hectolitres. The result of the crop was therefore almost 
the same as in the foregoing year, and only exceeded by very little the so-called 
average yield, which is estimated by Japanese statisticians from the yields of the pre- 
ceding 7 years, leaving out of account the most and least favourable years (in. the 
present case the years 1909 and 1905) and is given as 49910855 koku. 
As in previous years, the result of the crop has again fallen much below the 
official estimates, which were at first 52,8 and afterwards 51,3 million koku. These 
estimates are usually tinged with great optimism. 
The Japanese soap-industry, which is the most important of all so far as concerns 
the consumption of our manufactures, is able to look back upon a satisfactory year. 
When the disturbances in China had quieted down, large orders were again received 
from that. country, and in Manchuria also business revived. Recently Japan has also 
taken up the export of soap to the South Sea Islands, and the future development of 
this industry therefore warrants the highest hopes. 
The exports of toilet soap from Japan*) in 1913 amounted to § 750997, which is 
$ 533338 more than was exported in 1912. Laundry soap does not show a large 
volume, but the increase is noteworthy. Below are the figures: — 
Articles 1912 1913 
Toilet soap. . . § 217659 = § 750997 
BABAOGY, SOADH a a dep BOLO, cece LOOL 
Total § 222287 § 758804. 
The centres of the soap industry are Tokyo and Osaka, the annual output amounting 
to over § 2000000. 
The report of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce contains the following state- 
ment on the business-position in China: — 
During the year 1913 China was afflicted by a second revolution which broke out 
against the provisional President of the Republic Yuan Shi-kai, in the month of July. 
Yuan Shi-kai was successful in overthrowing the revolt within a comparatively short 
time, but only by using considerable force. Since then, having in the meantime been 
fully-elected President, he is busily engaged in strengthening his position. The disso- 
lution of the revolutionary party, the Kuo Ming Tang, decreed by him, and including 
the dismissal of all the members of Parliament, has proceeded up to the present 
without any fresh disturbance of the peace. More far-seeing circles in China appear 
to be gradually adopting the view that vigorous support of the actual President offers 
the only security for a return of ordered conditions, which the people are genuinely 
eager to see re-established. The country continues to suffer, and since the second 
Ly Daily Consular and Trade Reports 1914, No. 84. 
