Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-10
japanese Expand
Textile Output
By Frederic J. HGSkin.

manufacturers and gives clear indica-
ton of what other competitive forces
Japan may be able to put into opera
ton to the detriment of trade Of the
United States and other countries.
Japan has moved forward progressively
in many directions during the past two
decades, but that country's advancement
in the cotton textile industry is out
standing. Japan row ranks third among
cotton-manufacturing countries in the
number of spindles, second in the guam
tity of cotton consumed and first in the
quantity of cloth exported. And 1t
should be remembered that with all this,
Japan is not a cotton-growing country.
This priced place in the world textile
industry has been gained by Japan in
approximately rs years, for the industry
was barely beginning before the turn Of
the century. Although the first cotton
mill in Japan was established in 1866,
very little progress was made until after
the beginning of the present century,
and then to only limited degree. The
greatest progress has been made since
1918, and during this period Japan has
not only managed to assimilate but in
many respects to improve upon the in
dustrial and commercial technique Of
other countries.
In Japan's meteoric rise in the cotton
textile industry it has superseded Eng
land as the largest exporter of cotton
goods by carrying its ever-increasing
number of patterns and sharply COMPETE
tive prices into almost every country in
the world. Japan has brought about this
expansion in its textile trade by selling
not alone to countries with high stand
ards of living. but gains have been the
greatest where the standards of living
are low.
When the rise of the textile industry
in Japan started it held much hope for
the American farmer, and after several
years that hope was translated into
reality. For example, prior to that time
the United States exported annually
only 100000 bales of cotton to Japan,
but by 1918 the number had climbed to
100000. The increase was gradual until
1888 when this country's cotton exports
to Japan amounted to 2,057 900 bales,
which represented 26 per cent of the
exportable amount of the American
cotton crop.
However, by the close of 1888, cotton
exports to Japan began to decline, and
in 1884 shipments amounted to only
1876 900 bales. BY 1889 this had dropped
to a low of ISL, 493 bales. This change
came about principally for the reason
that Japan had been able to find many
substitutes for cotton and to increase its
purchases of cotton from other countries,
notably India, where the staple is grown
much more cheaply than in the United
States. Japan has also been producing
considerable cotton in China in areas
where a cooperative arrangement was
worked out sever years ago with the
Chinese government.
significant feature of the expansion
of the japanese textile industry is that
it has not been stimulated, as in earlier
periods, by external causes. To very
large extent, the rapid expansion was
brought about by efforts of the industry
itself through the adoption of variety
of naturalization measures, improve
ment of technique and organization OF
the industry. Only one END was in view
"a maximum reduction in the cost OF
production. That such an end was
achieved is evidenced by the fact that
productivity of workers has increased in
five years by II per cent in the cotton
spinning industry and by 1873 per cent in
the cotton-weaving industry. Labor cost
per unit during the time has decreased
by so per cent and SIS per cent, respec-
lively.
The japanese textile industry Is not
carried on by independent manufactur-
erS, as is most often the case in the
United States, but by chain composed
of only few investors which links all
the buying of raw materials to the man
ufacturing and distribution Of the fin
ished product. This creates a virtual
monopoly in production, prices and
profits.
The textile mills of Japan produce a
wide variety of materials, covering more
than IS different types and thousands
of patterns. One of the most popular,
and that which has increased over all
other types, is cotton rayon, so well made
by japanese weaving skill that often only
experts can detect it from silk.
Japanese expansion of the cotton tex
tile industry has brought great prosperity
to promoters. During the last three
decades there have been several times,
according to financial records, when divi-
dends were as high as so per cent, and
with few exceptions they have not fallen
below 10 per cent. The healthy condition
of the industry is shown by the fact that
the surplus of operating companies
amounts to approximately 50 per cent Of
the paid-up capital.
There is broad reason for these large
profits. Of the approximately 10000
textile workers in Japan, about 80 per
cent are girls from the over-crowded
agricultural regions, and their average
working day is approximately 10 hours.
The abundant supply Of labor and lack
of labor legislation determine the wage
scale. In terms of American money,
wages range from 81 to AZ cents per
day. Contrary to the general rule in
most other countries, cheap labor in
Japan's textile industry and high eff
cheney go hand in hand. With prac-
y H.