Economy of Japan

1. Natural resources of Japan

Japan - a country located on the islands in the western Pacific Ocean. In Japan approximately 372.2 thousand. Km2, make it the island of the Japanese archipelago; the largest of them - Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku - now connected by bridges and tunnels. The length of coastline is 29.8 thousand. Km. Heavily indented coast and form many bays and coves. Washed by the Japan Sea and ocean are of great importance to her as a source of biological products, mineral and energy resources.

75% of the territory of Japan is covered by mountains up to 3 km or more above sea level, plains occupy only a fifth. In the lowland areas of Japan are located the largest city and main industrial areas of the country; home to most of the population.

Japanese Islands - an area of high seismic activity. Marked annually about fifteen hundred earthquakes of varying strength.

The climate of Japan is generally quite favorable in terms of agriculture and human settlements. The climatic conditions of different regions is markedly different from each other. In general, in Japan there is almost no raw materials, with the exception of water, and more than three-quarters of the earth uninhabitable and agriculture. Therefore, the Japanese are very cherish what they have.

Japan is poor in natural resources. Binding to external sources of raw materials and finished goods markets has become a major cause of the country's active foreign policy.

More than 2/3 of the territory of Japan is covered with forests, shrubs; significant proportion of forests, more than 1/3 - artificial plantations. Conifers account for 50% of the total timber reserves and 37% of the total forest area. All in the flora of Japan, there are about 300 species of herbs and over 700 species of trees and shrubs.

Rivers of Japan are numerous, but small. The largest of them - SINAC river (367 km). Most of the rivers - a turbulent mountain streams, sources of hydropower and irrigation water. Navigable rivers unsuitable. Lakes in Japan two types: deep and shallow mountain, located on the coastal lowlands. The abundance of rivers, lakes, groundwater, which are generously awarded Japan, has a beneficial effect on the development of agriculture and industry.

2. Industry of Japan

In Japan the energy balance of the share of coal - 17%, oil and natural gas - 67%, hydro and nuclear power - 16%. Total energy consumption (4.2 tons of fuel equivalent per capita) is approximately the same as in Western Europe. In the structure of energy consumption has increased the share of industry, especially metallurgy and chemistry; low - the share of transport and the domestic sector. Electricity production reached 900 billion kilowatt * h / year. Before the Second World War in this area is dominated by small hydropower plants are scattered across the country, and Japan had already stood high level of rural electrification.

In the 50s began to build large hydropower, but the birthright was transferred to the thermal power plant, which now accounts for 2/3 of the electricity produced.

This powerful plants running on oil or gas. Placed close to the consumer, ie, on the Pacific coast in the Kanto, Tokai and Kinki. To develop nuclear energy, Japan is second only to the United States and France. In the 90s she began to enrich uranium. NPP is in all areas, but most of them on the Pacific coast in Fukushima Prefecture (Tokyo grid) and the Sea of Japan in Fukui Prefecture (Kansayska grid). Both ranges can be seen as a unique example of the concentration of nuclear power to meet the needs of the huge industrial zones.

Manufacturing industry. This sector is crucial in material production in Japan. For example, welding wire. He is the latest equipment and technology. Its special feature is the coexistence of large and small enterprises. 1/3 of the country's industrial staff working in enterprises employing less than 30, including 12% - in enterprises employing less than 10 people. In terms of industrial production, Japan is second only to the US, and the density of its placement per 1 sq km. territory or per capita ranks first.

Almost half of manufactures provide engineering, metal and steel industry. Smelted more than 100 million tons of steel. The country occupies a leading position in terms of car-and shipbuilding. For the year produced 8,000,000 cars and 4,000,000 trucks, half exported. The country's share in world shipbuilding remains at 2/5. Japan holds a special place in electronic engineering. Its factories produce electronics for industrial use, robotics, semiconductors, computers, color TV and video, etc .. Japan is known for its precision instruments - optics, photo and movie cameras, watches.

Cars, ships, electronics, appliances and steel - the main exports of Japan. Their quality meets the highest international standards. Other branches of engineering are more focused on the domestic market and almost completely satisfy its needs in the industrial and power equipment, electrical engineering, agricultural and construction machinery, equipment for the tertiary sector.

Japan stands developed chemical and petrochemical, woodworking and pulp and paper industry. As a manufacturer of plastics, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, paper and cardboard, it is second only to the United States. The country has one of the best printing bases.

In the 30th and early postwar years, the main branch of the manufacturing industry in Japan has been textiles, especially cotton and silk. Cotton imported, raw silk was his and partly imported. Fabrics were exported to the colonies and underdeveloped countries.

As a manufacturer and exporter of textile Japan among the top five countries in the world. Now the textile industry has lost its dominant role, its share decreased from 27% (in 1937) to 2.5%. The food industry is well developed in Japan is still relatively less than in the United States and Western Europe.

Like Germany and Italy, Japan does not have a developed aviation and aerospace industry, and its military production rather moderate. Japanese traditional goods are raw silk, silk products, porcelain, ceramics, paints, dolls and toys.

The structure of industrial production in Japan, as in other developed countries, is changing. Japan is difficult to compete with the "Asian tigers" and some cities in China and South-West Asia, where labor is much cheaper. Recent changes related to the decline in the share of basic energy- and labor-intensive industries. However, in the Japanese industry is constantly increasing share of the latest high-tech industries, especially electronics, software, information technology, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

In Japan, there are no agricultural areas. And at the same time, the country has a high spatial concentration of industrial production. Modern geography manufacturing industry in Japan historically evolved since the end of the XIX century. When Osaka and Nagoya have become centers of global significance cotton textile industry. Pacific Coast was the best place to place and heavy industry. There was a labor force, there were markets, and fuel and raw materials from other countries still need to take from somewhere. Thus arose the "industrial belt" that stretches from Tokyo to Nagasaki. The main components of steel Kanto, Tokai (near Nagoya), stakes, Setouchi (coast of the Inland Sea of Japan) and North Kyushu. economy japan robotics

The largest share of production comes from the Kanto, Tokai and Kinki, ie on the Tokaido megalopolis. Here, 21% of the territory (78 thousand sq. Km.) Is concentrated 69% of industrial production in the country. By its parameters (cost of production per 1 sq km. Square and per capita) is the largest industrial education in the world.

Kanto, Tokai and Kinki have virtually the same conditions, and hence the same industrial structure. They all lie on the Pacific coast of Japan and subtropical they have the same preferences for imports of raw materials and energy, all of them are huge domestic markets and clusters of labor. As a consequence, their industrial structure similar. In each case, it includes all the basic industry, mechanical engineering and consumer industries. Within each of the three areas on the coast, mainly in the alluvial lands, placed power, refineries and petrochemical plants, steel mills and shipyards. For internal zones of cities characterized by small enterprises of light and food industries, printing, and especially electronics. Furthermore, closer to the mountains, located new large machine-building enterprises that do not require a lot of raw materials.

An interesting practice for the Japanese phenomenon was the creation in the 50s and 60s with the direct participation of the state huge port and industrial complexes. An example is the Kashima on the Pacific coast, 100 km from Tokyo. Annual production parameters of this giant are: cargo turnover - 80 million tons, capacity of TPP - 4.4 million kW, refining capacity - 40 million tons of crude steel production - 10-15 million tons. Construction was carried out in a clean place, mainly in the artificial land."Industrial zone" is not the same. Fell coal and metallurgical complex of northern Kyushu and, conversely, increased production on the shores of the Inland Sea near Setouchi. In the 70s and 80s in the placement of the Japanese industry began to show new trends. Nuclear power companies, and especially electronics, non-import, but are interested in cheap land and working hands, began to be located outside of the traditional "industrial belts." This trend is evident in the rapid industrial development of the southern Tohoku, Hokuriku, Tosa and southern Kyushu.

3. Agriculture

Japan - one of the largest countries-importers of agricultural products in the world, because in Japan is grown only 13.3% of the available land. On average, one farm has to 1.47 hectares or 14.700 m2. Japanese farms are relatively small, but the Japanese farmers are working hard to make the most of their limited space, so the land is cultivated very efficiently.

Japanese farmers use tractors, pickups, power tillers, planting rice machines and appliances that help them increase their productivity. Using intensive farming methods, fertilizers, sophisticated technique and thoroughly proven technology, farmers are able to produce half of all fruits and vegetables consumed in Japan, and thus part of the farming areas still allotted to the keeping of livestock. So agriculture Japan provides a significant portion of food consumed.

Modern technology has made possible new ways of farming. Part of the crop is grown in Japan by hydroponics, t. E. Without soil - just in the water. The use of genetic engineering allows to get richer and safer for human health crops.

Japanese farmers grow different crops as well as livestock and poultry. This grain - rice and wheat; vegetables - potatoes, cabbage and radish; fruits - tangerines, oranges, melons and pears; livestock products - beef, poultry, pork, milk and eggs.

Most of the non-arable land is covered with forest-about 68%. So, forestry is an important part of the Japanese economy. Japan - an island country and should carefully use its natural resources: 41% of its forests - new plantations.

In Japanese forests because of the diversity of climate are widely represented many kinds of trees. The most common cedar, cypress, pine, horse chestnut, beech and camphor.

Many centuries of logging were important type of business in Japan. Starting from the VIII century, Kyoto and other cities to build wooden palaces and temples. But today, the demand for wood is so great, not only for construction, but also for the production of paper, furniture and other consumer goods that 76.4% of Japan imports wood.

4. External position

Japan's major trading partners are the United States, the People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea, Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Australia.

In the early 21st century, the main products of Japanese imports were crude oil, liquefied natural gas, textiles, simple circuits, computers, fish and seafood.

The main export goods were cars, complex chips, steel, chemical products and engineering industries.

Japan's exports in 2011: Of the major export items recorded the largest increase for the position of "precious metals and stones" (47%), "aircraft" (31%), the "fuel" (25%), "tools and utensils" (20% ), "rubber and rubber products" (17%), "articles from ferrous metals" (16%). Reducing the cost of export volumes observed on articles "paper and cardboard" (7%), "aluminum" (4%), "electrical equipment, television and radio equipment" (1.5%), virtually unchanged export "courts ".

Imports of Japan in 2011: The largest increase in imports noted among the following important items: "tobacco and tobacco products" (53%), "copper" (46%), "inorganic chemical products" (44%), "Rubber and rubber products" (41 %), "grain" (39%), the "fuel" (38%), "black metal" (34%), "other chemical products" (30%). A significant reduction in imports was observed only in the position of "aircraft" (14%), here it is fixed for the fourth year in a row.

References

1. http://www.finekon.ru/prirod%20resursy.php

2. http://www.reportal.ru/polza/promyshlennost_yaponii.htm

3. http://livingston.ru/advert02/livingston35/p_livingston35_selskoehoziajstvo_a.html

4. http://www.vlant-consult.ru/information/board/208/

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