1. TOPOGRAPHY OF JAPAN. Along the Pacific coast of the Asiatic continent lies the archipelago of Japan, stretching from the southwest to the northeast. It consists of three large arcs, with their convex side turned toward the ocean. The principal arc, which is situated in the middle, consists of four large islands, namely, the main island of Hokkaido (called Yezo by Europeans), Honshu (often erroneously called Nippon), Shikoku and Kyushu. At both ends of the principal arc begin the other two arcs, Chishima (Kurile) and Ryukyu (Luchu), which are long series of small islands. Be sides all these, two large islands have been recently added to this country, Taiwan (For mosa) in 1895 and the southern half of Kara futo (Sakhalin) in 1905. On the whole, the archipelago of Japan consists of six larger islands with the addition of many hundreds of smaller islands. The whole chain meridionally measures 29 degrees of latitude, extending be tween Vele Rete Rocks (21° 45' N.) and Alaid Island in the Kurile Group (50° 58 N.), while it longitudinally covers a comparatively narrow zone between Kwasho in the Hoko Group (119° 20' E.) and Shimushu Island in the Chishima Group (156° 32' E.). The area of the principal islands forming these arcs are as follows : By the addition of Korea (q.v.) the area of the empire was increased 32 per cent, with a grand total of 260,738 square miles.
Partially enclosed by the principal central arc lies the Sea of Japan. This mediterranean sea is a deep depression, whose maximum depth is near the northeast coast of the Korean Peninsula. The northern end of this sea is connected by the narrow passage of Mamiya Strait or the Gulf of Tartary, with the Sea of Okhotsk, a fairly deep depression partially enclosed by the Chishima arc. Passing through Tsushima Strait, another outlet of the Sea of Japan, we come to the China Sea, which is merely shallow water on a great continental shelf, along the edge of which runs the Ryukyu arc. The warm Japan Current or Kuroshiwo washes the southwestern coast of the archipelago, while the cold Chishima Current flows along the northeastern coast. Tsushima Current, a branch of •the former, enters the Sea of Japan and affords moisture and warmth to the northwestern coast of Honshu. Liman
Current, one of two smaller cold currents along Karafuto, flows southwest near the coast of the Asiatic continent.
Generally speaking, the archipelago is very mountainous and its topographic features are highly complicated. The crustal movements of the earth have generated large mountain sys tems, which are again separated into several ranges. Some of these ranges are nearly 10,000 feet in height and exhibit landscapes of Alpine character. Moreover, owing to these terrestrial disturbances, we find many volcanic chains, which are arranged mostly along but sometimes across the principal trend of the archipelago. Many of the lofty peaks in this country are the magnificent cones of volcanic origin. Plains could not develop to any great extent in such a land. They are found occasionally along sea coasts as well as along the banks of large rivers. Comparatively well-developed plains are found in delta districts, which are generally fertile and densely populated. Also in mountain districts we meet some basins, sometimes with lakes nestling in their centres. Rivers in Japan are naturally short and are mostly torrents, thus giving everywhere scenic beauty as well as water power for industrial purposes. The stony deltas of these torrents are frequently formed at the base of mountains on the coast. The coastal line is generally well developed, more so along the Pacific coast than along the coast of the Sea of Japan. Every island is indented with innumerable bays and inlets, surrounded by rocky bluffs and sandy beaches. Thousands of isles and rocks are scattered near the coast, especially in the famous Seto-uchi or Inland Sea, which stretches between the three large islands, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu and is connected by very narrow straits with the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. The high est development of a coastal line may be seen along the shore of Kyushu, which measures 5.0 miles in area to every mile of coast line, while Honshu measures 4.6, Shikoku 3.8, Ho kushu 2.3, and the lowest, Taiwan, 1.8. The -topography of each principal island in detail follows.