JAPAN, in the cast of Asia, is occupied by 'a Mongoloid race. Tho total area of the empire is 148,456 square miles, and population in 1883, the number of heads of families being 7,684,986. The total foreign residents in the same year was 6187. The population of the r capital, Tokio, in 1883 was 823,557, the next largest being OSaka, with 293,681 inhabitants. In 1884 the reigning monarch or Mikado was Mutsu Hito, born 22d September 1852, succeeded his father 1867. He is the 123d emperor in unbroken descent, the founder of the dynasty B.C.. 660 being Jimmu Tenno. It is an absolute monarchy, tempered by the Daijo-Kwan or Great Council, which is nearly as old as the monarchy itself, and whose members mainly form the heads of the executive departments which correspond in name and organization to the ministries of Europe. Then there is the Gen-roin or Senate, established in 1875, to deliberate on legislative matters, its decisions being subject to confirmation by the Cabinet Council, and sanction by the sovereign. The number of senators is at present 37. Further, there is the Sanji-in or Council of State, created in 1881. Its functions are to initiate and frame bills, and discuss matters transmitted by the executive departments, and also to hear and decide cases relating to administrative questions. Each of the 47 districts (three Fus and 44 Kens) has its governor ; while each district is subdivided into counties (Gun) and cities or boroughs (Ku), each with its chief (Cho), who manages local affairs.
Nipon, Kiu-siu, Jesso, and Sikoff, four large Japanese islands, together form a group not dissimilar in geographical configuration to Great Britain and Ireland. In the first island are situated Yedo and Miako.
The island of Nipon, popularly called Japan, is known to the Chinese as Yang-hu or Jih-pun kwo, and its name signifies land of the rising sun. Kin-sin or Ximo, the most southern of this group, in lat. 32° 44' N., and long. 52' 7" E., has the harbour of Nangasaki on its western side, is 150 miles north to south by 270 east to west. Sikoff is about 100 miles in length by 60 in breadth.
Sagalin Island is a little smaller in extent than Nipon, and was formerly divided between the Chinese and Japanese, the former holding the northern and the latter the southern half. Its
native population are the Kuriles, a very hairy, wild, and untutored race. The chief town in the island of Jesso is Matsmai ; the second is Hako dadi. Matsmai is an imperial city, built upon undulating ground, and the hills near are covered with oaks, firs, cedars, poplars, the yew, the ash, cypress, birch, aspen, and maple. Nipon or Mon or Niphon constitutes the main body and strength of the Japanese empire. Ha-da, a port in Nipon, is about 40 miles from Simoda, and is built on a plain, 80 miles from the metropolis ; it contains about 8000 people. The town is divided into wards separated by wooden gates. It contains nine Buddhist and one Sintu temple.
\In 1882 the exports valued at £7,447,155, and impoifir-4833,608. £6,400,000 were exported by foreigners, a of the imports £5,600,000 imported byforeigners. ' e staple articles of agricultural pro duction were as I • ws in 1881:—Rice,155,629,409 bushels ; wheat, 049,940 bushels ; beans, 10,795,717 bushels. • paper money in circula tion in 1883 was valued at . ,658,070 as compared with £22,685,558 in 1879. • total debt in 1883, according to official statement, as £67,073,237. The following is a statement of t • revenue and expenditure for the years ending J e 30, 1881 The • new army of Japan is modelled on the German system, compulsory service prevailint. In 1883 the active army was constituted Its follows : — Infantry, 44 regiments of 32,904 officers and men ; cavalry, one regiment of 482 men ; artillery, seven companies, 2687 men ; engineers, three companies, 1167 men ; commis sariat, 520 ;—total, 37,820. In the first division of the reserve are 42,606 officers and men ; in the second division, 16,080; the auxiliary forces, 6033 ; gendarmes, 1286 ; the total force in 1883 being 105,110. At the Military College and Military School are 1200 pupils. In the navy are 702 officers and 4511 seamen. The navy in 1883 consisted of eight large ships of war (five ironclads), with 122 guns, total tonnage about 15,000, and horse-power about the same ; leaving 18 miscellaneous vessels, with 103 guns, 10,340 tonnage, and 6730 horse-power.