IN JAPAN

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1933, Page 2

IN JAPAN

MAN UFACTURERS BUSY

HUGE ORDERS FROM AMERICA

WELLINGTON, January 3

“I. spent, the whole of October in Japan,” said Mr O. W. S. Kohn, representative- of r; Christchurch firm who has just returned from a business visit to that country, in the course of an interview, “and to me it was one of the most interesting months I have even spent in my life. I found Japan, from the manufacturing point of view, to be phenomenally busy. The depression as we understand it scarcely exists at all; that is to say, it is not being felt to any marked extent. Japan is so busy at present that it is impossible to get delivery under five or six months, so that goods ordered in October are not likely to be delivered in New Zealand until March next, though in some instances factories are working twenty-four hours a day. At Osaka, Kobe, and Yokohama, it was simply amazing to see the never-ceas-ing cataract of goods for shipment abroad. DEPRECIATED YEN. “The chief reason for this great activity is the depreciation, of the yen. Normally the yen is worth 2s, but it is now only worth Is 8-i-d in England. That moans that tho importer hero or m England, America, or any outside country, lias the advantage of tho difference in the value. If it is that much in favour of England it is much more in favour of America, which is still on the gold dollar. That means that a colossal quantity of Japanese goods is being exported into America at the present time. While I was tljore- one firm received an American order for one million dozen pairs of sarid shoes. I was actually in a merchant's office one day and had placed a modest order for a hundred dozen of a certain line when a cable message arrived. After reading it the Japanese merchant said, ‘this will interest yon,’ and handed over the message which was from New York. It wag an order for 5000 dozen of the same goods that I was ordering for New Zealand.

STREAM OF GREAT ORDERS. “You will see from that,” said Mr Ivohn, “that the trade of New Zealand land and Australia is a matter of little moment to Japan at the present time. Great' orders are streaming in from all parts of the world, the largest from America, England, the Philippines, Java, and India.- The Japanese have established themselves firmly in the Indian market, and now I believe that the Chinese boycott is beginning to weaken for the simple reason that the Chinese ar© beginning to miss Japan* sse articles of everyday use. Just t< give you a slight- indication of what the trade of the lower East means, we landed 5000 cases of Japanese goods at Rabaul in New Britain on our way down.” Mr Kohn does not think that the East offers a great field, for New Zealand produce. He says the Japanese is not a meat eater by tradition, but is rather an eater of fish,, vegetables, and rice. The country itself produces little beef, but mutton, most of which came from Australia, was imported in a frozen condition. The chief obstacle irj the way of trade with Japan is the lack of direct communication.

EUROPEAN DRESS. “Japanese business men dress iu European fashion. Indeed, I suppose 50 per cent of the men in the cities dress in European clothes, but one business man told me that as soon as they reach home they undress and resume the traditional kimono. I found that the proportion of Japanese women to appear in European dress was small, but they a re unoubtedly increasing as high school and college girls all dress in the European fashion, and a large proportion of them will probably adhere to this style of dress when they leave school. In the country, however, the native costume still retains its hold.

BIG CITIES. “Modern Tokyo is a vex-y fine city, with stores equal to anything in the world, and is run on up-to-date lines in a most efficient manner. Tokyo' has a population of 5,000,000,, and Osaka 3,000,000. Against these large centres Kobe and Yokohama are small. Kobe is twenty miles from Osaka, and is connected by steam and electric trains, bicycles are enormously popular, and are used everywhere, often to carry big loads. They fit cycles with a large holder behind, and it is common to see a cyclist carrying a big packing case, nrreat blocks of ice, or a dozen snake jars—a load that would seem impossible even in Christchurch.”

MANCHURIA. Referring to Japan’s action over Manchuria, Mr Kolin said he had formed the opinion that Japan was having- very difficult time of it there. As she had enormous interests in that country, it was only natural that she should seek to protect them, so she had poured troops into the country, as without them the place was becoming the prey of bandits, who were most difficult to deal with, as one clay they were bandits and next would pose as coolies. “I felt,” s<>id Mr Kolin, “that it would be best for Japan to occupy this great country, as they will restore law and order, and proceed to develop the great resources of Manchuria which China has neglected to do.”