JAPAN’S POPULATION

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 48, 26 February 1938, Page 12

JAPAN’S POPULATION

rj«HE POPULATION OF JAPAN proper, not counting her colonies, was 71,252,800 on October 1 of this year, the Bureau of Statistics recently announced. Of this number there were 35,709,700 men and 35,543,100 women, men outnumbering women by 166,000. There are now in Japan 145 cities with an aggregate population of 25,109,400. Thus 35.2 per cent, of the people live in cities.

Cities with a population of over 100,000 totalled thirty-nine. Tokio led the other cities with a population of 6,274,000. Osaka came next with 3,210,000, Nagoya was third, having 1180,000, Kyoto fourth with 1,130,000, Kobe had 960,000, and Yokohama 740,000.

CbtTipared vrith last year’s estimate Japan has increased its population by 994,600, thus keeping up its record of an average population increase of almost a million each year. Some circles here voice the opinion that such a population increase was a matter for congratulations for Japan on the theory that a vigorous progressive

nation usually increased its population, whereas races on the decline were apt to stabilise theirs. Japan, they say. must expand and needs ever more and more people for that purpose.

In this connection it is Interesting to note that the Manchuria Immigration Society, connected with the Overseas Ministry, announced its plan to send to Manchukuo within the next ten years 500,000 Japanese boys for the purpose of becoming farmers there and developing the country; 50,000 youths are to go next year. These boys, grammar school graduates and under conscription age, will be drawn from agrarian districts and will receive farming training at various camps in Manchukuo. They will also be taught by reservist officers how to defend themselves against the attacks of Chinese “bandits.”

The society seems greatly encouraged by the good records established by some hundred young Japanese who went there as immigrants several years ago, and is confident of the success of its new ten-year plan for immigration.