Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-04-13
FEY Associated Pr.ssl

4 10y AAsoC3Noo EIeeSl
TOXIC, Japan. - Favored by the
European war, which has opened up
/! new markets in foreign lands for Jap
anese goods, Japan's external trade
has nearly. doubled in value the fig
ure before the war. ~.
The trade balance for 1916 recorded
an excess Of 35O, 000, 900 yen in the
amount Of exports over imports. Such
enormous excess has been realized IN
the foreign trade OF japan since the
country was opened to international
trade. The war mas offered an oppor-
tunity for Japanese to develop or ex-
plot new markets in European Russia,
South Africa, Australia the South
Sea Islands, South America, China,
Europe and North America, where
unusually large quantities of japanese
goods were exported.
New Trade Sources Open
AS a by-prcGuct OF the war, the
opening Of the new steamer route via
the Cape of Good Hope has started
direct trade between Japan aud South
Africa and has brought about sudden
Increase In the volume OF japanese
exports: Minoru Okla, director of the
bureau of commerce and industry OF
the department Of agriculture and
commerce, points Out that the Euro
pean war has Offered q fine chance
for Japanese to go overseas and seek
: their fortunes in foreign lands as a
basis Tor future economic development
ct the country abroad. He remarks
that OF 20 million population, only
6O0, COO Japanese are resident abroad.
OF this number, he says, only q very
small percentage represents what he
calls the average Japanese, the major
ity consisting OF labor classes or
women. Such a situation, he thinks, |
by no means argues well for the future
development of Japanese abroad. The !
latest estimate gives the population |
of the country including its dependen-
cies at 77,000,9 900. The population is !
increasing by about 100000 a year. |
This large population Is. scattered over
comparatively marrow space, of 81
$4,000 square miles, the density Of
population per one square mile being
357. With the exception Of Britain, |
Belgium, the Netherlands and a few
other countries, Mr.. cka points out |
that no country meets Japan in the |
density population. Such conditions
makes Japan, which still does not
evolve from her status as an agricui. I
tural nation, to seek an outlet abroad
for hereeyerincreasing population. For |
the furtherance of the, purpose he |
thinks II Is necessary to fincrease the |
shipping interests, to develop markets |
for Japanese goods in, foreign lands
and to Encourage the development off
domestic manufacturing industry.
Commerce Must Follow Flag
!, He declares that the rising genera.
ton of, the country must open their
eyes to the situation and the pressing
need Of the time, and volunteer them |
selves for the commercial campaign |
in the foreign market. He concludes:
Let the commerce OF the, Japanese
empire follow .he sun flags which are
now sighted in almost every nook, and
corner Of the Orient and the Southern
seas and are gradually moving else
where In the world" 49,.
One part of the world wnere Japa,
nese commerce has made its most re-
markable strides forward is the. West. 1
ern Hemisphere. The enormous pros
perity OF the United States has Great
ed demand in the country for lux.
uries from Japan, and the article
which forms the bulwark Of the for.
eign export trade to this country, raw
silk and habutae, has exceeded the
100, 100000 yen mark this year. To,
the other countries of the Western
have Increased greetly, and the prog
ress made by the Japanese merchants
In the countries Of the South Ameri-
cas- Pacific slopes and also with Brazil