THE JAPANESE EMPIRE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 289, 26 April 1911, Page 8

THE JAPANESE EMPIRE

Japan has something the same problem as the old woman who lived in the shoe. She is at her wit's end to find accommodation for her growing family. Count Okama calculates that Japan may have a population of 120,000,000 by 1980, and in 150 years may have as many inhabitants as China. Clearly the little archipelago cannot hold them all. Where shall they go T America will not have them, Korea will soon be filled up, they don't care to emigrate to Africa; in short, where they would go they cannot, and where they can go, they will not. In the Shin-koron, a' Tokio monthly, the Count presents the statistical side of the case thus: —"During the past halfcentury our population has increased by 20,000,000. At present the annual increase of our population is at the rate of 130 per 10,000 people. This rate is rather too low, considering the high rates at which the populations of other countries in the prime of their vigor and energy have increased. During the past century the population of Great Britain has doubled in every 40 years, that of the United States in every 20 yean, and that of Cermany in every 30 to 50 years; Our population ought to increase at least at that rate of 150 per 10,000 people every year. Even at this increased rate it would take 60 years for the Japanese population to double its present volume. Ab our population is at present estimated at 60,000,000, it will, should the rate of increase become u high as 160 per 10,000 an annum, retch the mark of 120,000,000 by 1900. In other words, our population will in 150 years from now become as large as the present population of China.