MARKETS IN JAPAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 56, 7 March 1932, Page 5

MARKETS IN JAPAN.

OPPORTUNITY NOT SEEN? ATTCKXANDER'S VISIT. IMPRESSED BY PROGRESS. "I think I am correct in saying that never in the history of the world has any nation shown such wonderful progress in commerce, trade, education, and civilisation in so short a period," remarked Mr. W. Coath, of Epsom, who has recently returned from an extensive tour of the East. Mr. Coath was much impressed with the Japanese people, not merely with the rapidity of their progress but with the stability of their national life. From conversation with Japanese merchants, he things that there is a large potential market for New Zealand primary products in Japan. "Last year," he said, "Japan purchased from Australia 508,000 bales of wool, besides other products. The Orient requires all our primary products, but, ae Japanese merchants point out, trade should bo reciprocal. We have excellent opportunities to create new markets in tho East. It will pay this Dominion and Australia to maintain and solidify our friendship with Japan. Instead of looking on them as inferiors we should treat them as our equals, which they unquostionably are. Are we making tho most of our opportunities ? Here we are within a couple of weeks of Japan. Do our leading business men and the Government realise what this means to the Dominion?" Hot Springs and Volcanoes. Mr, Coath spent four weeks touring Japan, during which time lie visited not merely industrial centres but many places of tourist interest. "The rivers, lake*, the hot springs and volcanoes, all reminded me of New Zealand," he said. "There are thousands of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan. Of the many I visited those at Kyoto, Nara, Kaniakura, and Nikko impressed mo most of all, and the fine landscape gardens added materially to their beauty.

Visits to these temples gave an interesting ineight into the religious life of the Japanese, he said. Most of the shrines and temples were very ancient, dating back hundreds of centuries. It would take too long to go into details of some of the temples and their treasures, but the "Daibutsa" of the great Buddha of Kaniakura, was worth, a brief description. It was 50ft high. 98ft in circumference, its face wae Bft sin long, and its eyes were 4ft wide They were of pure gold. It was built in 1253. Most Modern Cities. "The important Japanese newspapers are published daily, and fast motor care distribute them over a large area of country. Tokyo and Yokohama were practically destroyed in 1023 by earthquake with a lose of 10,000 lives. Within eevon years those cities have been rebuilt. Such a noted recovery is unprecedented in eo short a poriod. In Tokyo there are 2,000,000 people. Electric trams run to every part of the city, and electric railways circle it round. The streets arc broad, and the building's, six to eight storeys high, are built to withstand earthquakes. In one street alone I counted 20 theatres and picture shows. "In consequence of the mountainous character of the country and the rainfall, there is ample power for generating electricity, and it is used all over the country. Even the smallest fishing village has its electric light. Tokyo is the most beautifully lit city I have seen in any part of the world. At night it is a wonderful eight—a veritable sea of light." From careful observation while in the country, Mr. Coath thought that the Dominion should cultivate close relationship and friendship with a kindly and industrious people.