How the structure of agriculture in japan has changed. The current state of Japanese agriculture. What have we learned
12.10.2019
Briefly about the Agriculture of Japan. Intensive Agriculture japan
In the late 50s and early 60s of the 20th century, the country's production potential, which had been based on light industry since the pre-war years, was reoriented to heavy industry. In addition, a course was taken towards the preferential development of knowledge-intensive industries with some containment of energy-intensive and metal-intensive industries. In the 70s of the 20th century, electronics, precision and complex instrumentation, optics, the production of cameras, medicines, scientific and laboratory equipment began to develop at a faster pace.
The basis of Japan's energy industry is imported oil (75% of the fuel and energy balance). There are over 1,000 power plants in Japan. The government program provides for a significant increase in this number. The power industry is based on large thermal power plants located near large cities. But about 600 hydroelectric power plants also play a certain role.
Atomic energy is acquiring an increasing role. There are 39 power units operating in the country, about 12 more are at the completion stage. In nuclear energy the main role is played by the monopolies - "Mitsui", "Mitsubishi", "Sumitomo". Supply uranium raw materials are mainly produced from Of Africa.
Ferrous metallurgy in Japan is one of the highest priority industries. The leader of metallurgy is Nippon Seitetsu Corporation, which unites more than 500 companies. Ferrous metallurgy focuses on imported raw materials. Iron ore comes from India, Australia,South Africa, Chile. Coking coal – USA, Australia, Of Canada.
In recent decades, due to the development of the latest industries in Japan, the demand for non-ferrous and rare metals has increased.
Most of the copper smelters are located near mines in the northern part of Honshu Island and on the island Shikoku (poor ores, to transport they are unprofitable). Polymetallic ores, together with sulfur and copper pyrites are found on almost all major islands in Japan. Nevertheless, lead has to be imported from Australia, Canada and Mexico like aluminum.
Interestingly, the rare elements needed in electronics and precision instrument making - cadmium, selenium, tellurium, rhenium, indium, thallium, germanium - are obtained by recycling waste from the production of copper and polymetals, as well as by-product coke production.
Mechanical engineering Japan is one of the most developed in the world. Major major mechanical engineering centers are located in the main industrial regions of the country (Tokyo - Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka - Kobe). Several types of mechanical engineering originated in the northwest of Kyushu, especially in the city of Nagasaki (shipbuilding).
In general, the development of the Japanese economy after World War II is spoken of as a "Japanese miracle". The mechanism of such a miracle can be considered in more detail on the example Japanese automotive industry
40. Structure and geography of agriculture in Japan
By its structure, Japanese rural economy should be classified as diversified. It is based on agriculture, mainly the cultivation of rice and other grain crops, industrial crops and tea. Gardening, horticulture, sericulture and animal husbandry play a significant role. IN Japan to agriculture also include forestry, fishing and sea fishing.
The cultivated area of the country is 5.4 million hectares, and the sown area exceeds it due to the fact that in a number of regions they harvest 2-3 crops per year.
More than half of the sown area is occupied by cereals, about 25% by vegetables, the rest is occupied by forage grasses, industrial crops and mulberry trees.
The dominant position in agriculture is occupied by rice. At the same time, there is a decrease in harvests of wheat and barley (low profitability and competition with imported ones).
Vegetable growing mainly develops in the suburbs. As a rule, all year round in greenhouse soil. Sugar beet is cultivated in Hokkaido, sugar cane in the south. Tea, citrus fruits, apples, pears, plums, peaches, persimmons (endemic to Japan), grapes, chestnuts, watermelons, melons, pineapples in greenhouses are also grown. In the southwest of Honshu, large areas are devoted to strawberries.
Animal husbandry began to develop actively only after World War II.
The herd of cattle reaches 5 million heads (half are dairy cows). Pig breeding is developing in the southern regions (about 7 million heads). The center of animal husbandry is the north of the country - the island of Hokkaido, where special farms and cooperatives are being created.
Feature Japanese animal husbandry is that it is based on imported feed (a lot of corn is imported). Own production provides no more than 1/3 of feed.
Lesnaya the country's area is about 25 million hectares. Historically, more than half of the forests are privately owned (including bamboo plantations). Basically, forest owners are small peasants with up to 1 hectare. the woods.
Among the large forest owners are members of the imperial family, monasteries, temples that own the highest quality forests.
Fishing is characterized by the dominance of large monopoly companies. The main objects of fishing are herring, cod, salmon, flounder, tuna, halibut, shark, saury, sardine, etc.
Seaweed and shellfish are also mined. The fishing fleet of Japan numbers several hundred thousand vessels (mostly small ones). About 1/3 of the catch comes from the waters in the Hokkaido area. An important fishing area is the northeastern coast of Honshu.
Aquaculture is widespread: artificial fish farming in lagoons, mountain lakes and rice fields, and pearl mussel farming.
Japan's economy is by far the most developed economy in the world. In terms of industrial production and GDP, this state ranks third among the countries of the world, yielding positions only to the United States and China. Japan has highly developed high technologies (robotics and electronics), automobile and shipbuilding.
A bit of history: stages of development of the Japanese economy
After World War II, the government of the state carried out structural changes in organizations in various spheres of the economy. Experts note that the cooperation of the government with industrialists, the use of high technologies, work ethic, low defense costs have significantly helped Japan to become an industrialized country.
The main stages of the development of the Japanese economy:
The first period - 1940-1960. - characterized by a revision of the state policy in relation to science and technology, as well as in the organization of training for highly qualified workers.
Second period 1970-1980 - a time of extremely high economic growth. During this period, significant changes are noted in the structure of the national income. The mining and manufacturing industries, as well as construction, account for a significant percentage of the national income. At the same time, the share of national income from agriculture and fisheries has significantly decreased from 23% to 2%.
Third period 1990 - 2000 - the time of Japan's transformation into the leading country in the world in terms of economic indicators.
Features of the development of Japanese industry
Special attention is paid to the development of science and education. The state R&D program (development of a national system of research and development work) contributes to the development of its own technical achievements and a complete rejection of imports. On the territory of the country, special scientific centers were created, which began to engage in developments in the field of physics. solid, space robots, nuclear energy, the latest structural materials, plasma physics and other issues.
There are three particularly large industrial areas in Japan:
- Tyuke or Nagoya Industrial Region;
- Kei-Hin or Tokyo-Yokagama Industrial Area;
- Khan-Sin or Osako-Kob industrial area.
In addition, in Japan, industry is developing well in areas such as:
- North Kyushu;
- Kanto;
- Tokay or East Marine Industrial Region;
- Kasima;
- Tokyo-Tibsky industrial area.
Major industries in Japan
Automotive
Automotive products are one of the country's main export items. There are three large areas in Japan that are engaged in the production of automobiles. They are located in Aichi, Shizuoka and Kanagawa prefectures. The following are considered the leading automobile companies in the world: Mazda (a plant in Hiroshima), Toyota and Nissan (a plant in Yokohama), Honda (a plant in the capital of Tokyo), Mitsubishi and Suzuki (plant in Hamamatsu).
This industry began to develop rapidly since the 1970s. Japan exported large volumes of automotive products to the United States. But after the conflict in 1974 between the two countries, Japan imposed restrictions on the export of cars from the country. Therefore, the entrepreneurs of this state began to transfer their production to the United States. In 1989, experts mark the greatest peak in the production of automotive products. About 13 million vehicles were produced this year. Of this amount, 6 million. Japan exported abroad.
Shipbuilding
There are three major shipbuilding areas in Japan:
- Pacific coast;
- Northern shores of Kyushu island;
- The coast of the Inland Sea of Japan.
The world's leading shipbuilding companies are Universal (Kawasaki), Kawasaki (Kobe), Mitsubissi (Nagasaki), Sasebo (Sasebo).
Thanks to the improvement of technology, the above-mentioned state after the Second World War was the absolute leader in this industry. At the beginning of 1970, the country produced ships, the carrying capacity of which was more than 16 thousand tons.
But in the following years. Japan began to compete with the PRC. This struggle in the shipbuilding market is being waged between these countries to this day.
Electrical engineering
The world's leading companies that carry out the production of any kind of electrical engineering are the following:
- Kenwood Corporation;
- Kenon;
- Konica;
- Sony;
- Toshiba;
- Supra;
- Nikon;
- Panasonic;
- Olympus;
- Roland;
- Pioneer;
- Sharpe;
- Sega.
Agricultural development in Japan
13% of the territory of the above-mentioned state is occupied by lands. Rice fields account for more than half of them. Since the lands are predominantly small, they are very often cultivated without the use of specialized large equipment. Sometimes the land is located near the terraces and on the slopes of the mountains, as Japan lacks flat land.
Since the end of the 20th century, there has been a tendency for the reduction of flooded fields in the state. There are two reasons for this:
- rapid urbanization of the country;
- the transition of the Japanese to the Western way of life (an increase in the consumption of wheat, milk and meat, and a decrease in rice).
The entire population of the state that is engaged in agriculture, according to the law, is called farmers. The latter are divided into those who grow products for their own needs, and those who grow products for sale. Accordingly, there are simple farmers and merchant farmers. The latter must have arable land of 30 acres or more.
Trader farmers are also divided into three main groups:
- professionals (that is, those who are engaged in agricultural work from 60 days a year, their age must be at least 65 years old) 4
- semi-professionals (same requirements);
- amateurs (persons over 65).
Main branches of agriculture in Japan
Rice growing
About half of all arable land in the state is devoted to the above culture. Japanese rice cultivation reached its apogee after 1960. The Japanese economic miracle contributed to the fact that the income of the population increased significantly. This has led to an increase in demand for rice.
Since 1970, farmers have begun phasing out cultivated areas due to excessive rice surpluses. A crop rotation system was introduced in flooded fields. But already in 1997 in Japan there was an unexpected shortage of rice due to the reduction of land.
Experts note that already in early XIX century, about 23% of the gross agricultural output of the state accounted for income from rice cultivation.
Fishing
This branch of agriculture is traditional for Japan. Experts estimate that, on average, one Japanese eats about 168 kg of fish per year.
The North and South Western Pacific is a major fishing area. The catch is based on the following fish: tuna (8%), mackerel (14%), saury (5%), salmon (5%), horse mackerel (4%).
It should be noted that Japan is the largest importer of fish and seafood in the world (occupies about 20% of all world imports). The fact is that Japanese fishermen have the right to fish exclusively in the territorial waters of the country (within a radius of 370 km in the Pacific Ocean).
Resources and energy in Japan
The main energy resource of the aforementioned state is oil. The share of "black gold" in the country's energy balance is about 50%.
The main petroleum products that are produced at Japanese refineries:
- petrol;
- diesel fuel;
- kerosene;
- naphtha;
- fuel oil.
But still, the country has to import 97% of this resource from countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iran, Qatar. However, the Japanese government is trying to use alternative energy sources, such as bioethanol.
It should be noted that the state fully meets its needs for minerals and building materials. Also in Japan there are minor deposits of gold. It belongs to the highest quality in the world and is mined in Kagoshima Prefecture near the city of Isa (Hishikari mine).
A feature of the Japanese economy is that the country has practically no energy resources. In 1979, after the oil crises, the Japanese government set a course for the development of its own nuclear power. Some of the enterprises were transferred to natural gas.
The latter is supplied to the territory of the above state in liquefied form from countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Experts note that Japan is the sixth country in the world in terms of the total consumption of this natural resource. 96% of his country must be imported from outside.
Also, the state is poor in metals. 100% of all copper, aluminum, iron ore is imported from abroad. According to 2004 data, the largest suppliers of iron ore to Japan were India (8%), Australia (62%) and Brazil (21%), aluminum - Indonesia (37%) and Australia (45%), copper - Chile (21%) , Australia (10%), Indonesia (21%).
Features of Japanese trade
The main distinguishing characteristic of the trade relations of the above-mentioned country is that the country completely purchases raw materials and exports already manufactured goods. This trade belongs to the type of value added trade.
Before World War II, the state imported raw materials for its textile industry and exported textile products. After World War II, Japan completely reoriented its economy. From abroad, it mainly imports fuel, and exports - mechanical engineering products, high-precision equipment, cars, electronics.
Experts note that, since 1980, the state has an exceptionally positive trade balance: imports are significantly inferior to the country's exports.
Japan's main imports:
- oil;
- liquefied gas;
- simple microcircuits;
- textile goods;
- Fish and seafood;
- computers.
Japan's main export commodities:
- complex microcircuits;
- cars;
- production chemical industry;
- steel;
- products of the engineering industry.
The main trading partners of the above state are the USA, China, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, Australia.
Experts note that according to 2010 data, the country's external turnover amounted to about 1.401 trillion US dollars.
Most of the import and export of goods is carried out through the ports of Japan. The largest commercial ports of this state are:
- Kansai Airport;
- Port of Kobe;
- Narita Airport;
- Nagoya port;
- Yokohama Port;
- Tokyo port.
Japanese economic model: description
To understand the basics of the economic development model of the above country, you should pay attention to the following important factors:
- the role of the state in economic relations;
- organization of private entrepreneurship;
- labor Relations.
Features of the structure of private entrepreneurship
The social structure of Japan is characterized by the dualism of modern industry. Small and medium-sized enterprises occupy a major place in the manufacturing industry. At the same time, some small firms do not observe a pronounced downward trend. It was against the background of the mass of small enterprises that significant concentrations of capital in the branches of heavy industry developed rapidly. This led to the formation of gigantic associations.
Features of the economic system of Japan:
- vertical integration of firms and their grouping (large companies merge with small and medium-sized firms);
- the presence of a three-layer structure - the market - a group of enterprises (keiretsu) - the enterprise itself (the legislation prohibited the absorption of small enterprises. Basically the latter are subordinate to large companies. This limits the process of centralization of capital and provides for the unanimous consent of directors of subordinate enterprises).
The largest keiretsu (financial groups) in Japan are the following:
- Mitsubishi;
- Mitsui;
- Sumitomo;
- Sanwa;
- Daniti Kange.
They are mainly operated by universal trading and industrial companies, large banking institutions.
Financial capital groupings have the right of mutual ownership of the securities of the participating companies (but only a small block of shares). For example, life insurance companies can own no more than 10% of the securities of other firms, and financial institutions can own no more than 5%. Companies cannot own their own shares. The result is the transfer of control over companies from individuals to legal entities.
Labor Relations
To achieve high rates of economic growth, it is important to create a unique personnel management system. The Japanese have done it very successfully!
The management of the state of the rising sun is based on the identification of the employee with the whole corporation. In Japan, it is absolutely not customary to change jobs frequently. Japanese workers are extremely loyal to their superiors and the organization where they work.
In the Land of the Rising Sun, the so-called "lifetime employee recruitment" system is welcomed. The latter remains faithful to only one organization throughout his working life. With such a system in place, over time for the employee, the work collective becomes a second family, and work becomes a home. The employee ceases to distinguish between his own goals and the goals of the corporation itself.
It should be noted that Japan has a rather long working day - about 58 hours a week. Labor remuneration system:
- basic;
- overtime;
- premium.
The female labor force occupies a special position in labor relations. Basically, the fairer sex is used as hourly workers and day laborers. A woman's salary is several times lower than that of a man. Interestingly, female day laborers pass in government statistics as ordinary housewives. Therefore, they therefore cannot lose their jobs - that is, they are not included in the number of unemployed. Because of this, the state has such a low unemployment rate.
Role of the state
In solving common problems in the land of the rising sun, the unity of the state apparatus and large companies is noted. The country is actively using the planning system:
- nationwide;
- target;
- regionally;
- in-house;
- industry.
National plans are mainly aimed at regulating the operation of private firms and companies. Their main tasks are mainly embodied in the content of intrafirm plans, which are directive in nature.
There are five main groups of national plans:
- economic and social development plan;
- sectoral plans;
- land development and use plan;
- regional planning;
- targeted nationwide programs.
Role of higher officials is extremely high. Their instructions are mandatory for firms.
Agriculture also develops under the conditions of government regulation and fairly broad support. Lease relations and hired labor did not become widespread here. Only 7% of farms have more than 2 hectares of land. About 70% of farms successfully operate outside the industry. They are in the service sector and in industry. The state allowed them to work on the farm only on weekends.
It should be noted that the country is a monopoly buyer of all agricultural products. The owners of the latter sell it at prices higher than world prices.
The Japanese economic model is called very specific. After all, it perfectly combines not only economic and political methods, but also psychological methods. Some experts call the above model the philosophy of economic management. The consistency and absolute competitiveness of this method of functioning of the economy is evidenced by the amazing economic achievements of the country of the rising sun.
Japan's economy today
At the end of the 20th century, foreign exchange reserves were rapidly growing in the state. The Japanese government introduced a special system of measures to liberalize the export of the country's capital abroad. Today it is the most powerful international lender and banking center. Its share in international loans has grown significantly (from 5% in 1980 to 25% in 1990). The main form of foreign economic activity is just the export of capital.
Experts note that most of the Japanese capital is successfully working in the United States, Western Europe, Asian countries, Latin America.
In the second half of 2008, the economy of the Land of the Rising Sun went into recession. The volume of sales, for example, of cars in November of this year fell by more than 27%.
The country has the lowest unemployment rate in the world. According to 2011 data, its rate was about 4%.
There was no inflation in 2010. According to data for 2011, the inflation rate rose to 2%.
Since 2014, experts say, the Japanese economy has successfully emerged from the recession. GDP growth, according to government data, is 2.2% on an annualized basis.
To summarize a little, we can say that the Japanese economy is mainly focused on the export of goods. Recently, the Land of the Rising Sun has become the main supplier of high-precision technology, electronics and automobiles to the myrrh market. The products of the above sectors of the economy are of extremely high quality, very fast change of models and constant improvement. This makes it quite popular and in demand among consumers.
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Although the national economy is primarily based on industry, agriculture occupies an important place in it, providing the country with most of the food it consumes. Mainly due to limited land resources and post-war agrarian reform, smallholders dominate the countryside. The average farm size is less than 1.1 ha. The importance of agricultural production as a potential place of work declined sharply after the Second World War.
Japan is one of the largest agricultural importing countries in the world. With only 15% of the country's total land area suitable for agriculture and a population of 130 million, Japan is highly dependent on agricultural and food exports. The country imports large volumes of soybeans, wheat, corn, meat and meat products, other food products, vegetables and fruits. It fully satisfies its own needs only for seafood, some of which it exports.
On average, one farm accounts for 1.47 hectares or 14.700 m2. Japanese farms are comparatively small, but Japanese farmers work hard to make the most of their limited acreage, and therefore the land is cultivated very efficiently.
Japanese farmers use tractors, pickup trucks, electric cultivators, rice planters and harvesters to help them increase their productivity. Using intensive farming methods, fertilization, sophisticated machinery and elaborate technology, farmers are able to produce half of all fruits and vegetables consumed in Japan, while still allocating a portion of the farm area to livestock. So Japan's agriculture provides a significant portion of the food consumed.
Modern technologies have made possible new farming methods. Part of the crop in Japan is grown hydroponically, that is, without soil - just in water. The use of genetic engineering makes it possible to obtain richer and safer crops for human health.
Japanese farmers grow a variety of crops, as well as livestock and poultry. These are grains - rice and wheat; vegetables - potatoes, radish and cabbage; fruits - tangerines, oranges, melons and pears; livestock products - beef, poultry, pork, milk and eggs.
Most of the arable land is covered with forest - about 68%. So, forestry is an important part of the Japanese economy. Japan - island country and must use her Natural resources: 41% of its forests are new plantations.
For centuries, logging has been an important business activity in Japan. Starting from the VIII century, wooden palaces and temples were built in Kyoto and other cities. 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 Japan imports 76.4% of wood.
Rice is grown throughout Japan, with the exception of the north of Hokkaido, mainly on irrigated lands. Rice yield reaches 50 centners per hectare. The gross harvest of rice reaches 10 million tons. In addition to rice, wheat, barley, and corn are grown from grain crops, but in small quantities. Vegetable growing, especially suburban, has become widespread in Japan. Of industrial crops, tea, tobacco, sugar beets are widespread, and sugar cane is in the south.
Livestock raising is underdeveloped because the Japanese consume little meat and dairy products. Recently, the structure of the Japanese diet has been changing, which leads to an increase in demand for livestock products. Livestock raising is actively developing. Meat production is about 4 million tons, and milk - 8 million tons. A characteristic feature of animal husbandry in Japan is the lack of its own forage base. A significant part of the feed is imported. Own production provides no more than 1/3 of livestock feed needs. Agriculture in Japan provides food for the country only 3/4.
Japan is firmly in the first place in the world for seafood production. This became possible due to the balanced management of oceanic, marine and coastal fisheries, intensive fish farming in fresh waters.
Oceanic and marine fishing in Japan is kept at the level of 8 million tons. Coastal fishing yields 2 million tons of fish annually. More than 200 thousand tons more. annually obtained from fish farming in inland waters.
Seafood is the main product that meets the protein needs of the population, although they specific gravity in nutrition decreased due to an increase in the proportion of meat. Japanese imports of fish and seafood to last years ranges from 2.0 to 2.4 million tons. The main part of imports is made up of valuable, high-tasting fish breeds.
Inhabitants of coastal villages are engaged in coastal fishing; distant - large monopolies with a technically advanced fishing fleet. The northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean is the main area of the world fishing, fish and seafood are caught here by Japan, China, Russia, the Republic of Korea, and some other countries.
Agriculture in Japan By its structure, Japanese agriculture should be classified as diversified. It is based on agriculture, mainly the cultivation of rice and other grain crops, industrial crops and tea. Gardening, horticulture, sericulture and animal husbandry play a significant role. In Japan, agriculture also includes forestry, fishing, and marine fishing. The cultivated area of the country is 5.4 million hectares, and the sown area exceeds it due to the fact that in a number of regions they harvest 2-3 crops per year. More than half of the sown area is occupied by cereals, about 25% by vegetables, the rest is occupied by forage grasses, industrial crops and mulberry trees. The dominant position in agriculture is occupied by rice. At the same time, there is a decrease in harvests of wheat and barley (low profitability and competition with imported ones). Vegetable growing mainly develops in the suburbs. As a rule, all year round in greenhouse soil. Sugar beet is cultivated in Hokkaido, sugar cane in the south. Tea, citrus fruits, apples, pears, plums, peaches, persimmons (endemic to Japan), grapes, chestnuts, watermelons, melons, pineapples in greenhouses are also grown. In the southwest of Honshu, large areas are devoted to strawberries. Animal husbandry began to develop actively only after World War II. The herd of cattle reaches 5 million heads (half are dairy cows). Pig breeding is developing in the southern regions (about 7 million heads). The center of animal husbandry is the north of the country - the island of Hokkaido, where special farms and cooperatives are being created. A feature of Japanese animal husbandry is that it is based on imported feed (a lot of corn is imported). Own production provides no more than 1/3 of feed. The forest area of the country is about 25 million hectares. Historically, more than half of the forests are privately owned (including bamboo plantations). Basically, forest owners are small peasants with up to 1 hectare. the woods. Among the major forest owners are members of the imperial family, monasteries, temples, which own the highest quality forests. Fishing is characterized by the dominance of large monopoly companies. The main objects of fishing are herring, cod, salmon, flounder, tuna, halibut, shark, saury, sardine, etc. Seaweed and shellfish are also mined. The fishing fleet of Japan numbers several hundred thousand vessels (mostly small ones). About 1/3 of the catch comes from the waters in the Hokkaido area. An important fishing area is the northeastern coast of Honshu. Aquaculture is widespread: artificial fish farming in lagoons, mountain lakes and rice fields, and pearl mussel farming.
Industry.
In recent decades, Japan has emerged as one of the leading economic powers, the second largest national economic power in the world. Japan's population is approximately 2.3% of the global population, but accounts for about 16% of the gross world product (GWP) at current exchange rates and 7.7% at the purchasing power of the yen. Its economic potential is equal to 61% of the American, but in terms of production per capita, it exceeds the American level. Japan accounts for 70% of the total product of East Asia, and its gross domestic product (GDP), calculated on the basis of current exchange rates, is four times the GDP of China. She has achieved high technical excellence, especially in certain areas of advanced technology. Japan's current position in the world economy is the result of its economic development in the second half of the last century. In 1938, it accounted for only 3% of the VMF.
Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemical and food industry... Although Japan is the largest importer of raw materials for most of these industries, nevertheless, in terms of the output of many industries, the country often ranks 1-2 in the world. Moreover, the industry is concentrated mainly within the Pacific industrial belt (13% of the country's territory produces almost 80% of industrial products).
I. Metallurgy has undergone major changes in recent years. Instead of many obsolete factories, powerful factories were built, equipped with the latest technology. Not having enough of its raw material base, Japan is guided by the import of iron ore and coking coal. Malaysia and Canada were and still are major suppliers of iron ore. The main suppliers of coal are the USA, Australia; to a lesser extent - India and Canada. Japan ranks second in the world in the production of refined copper, after the United States. Deposits of polymetallic ores form the basis for the development of zinc and lead production.
II. The energy industry in Japan focuses mainly on imported raw materials (mainly oil and oil products). Oil imports amount to more than 200 million tons (own production of 0.5 million tons in 1997). The share of coal in consumption is decreasing, the share of natural gas in consumption is growing (imported in a reduced form). The role of hydropower and nuclear energy is growing. Japan has a powerful electric power industry. Over 60% of the capacity is accounted for by thermal power plants (the largest by 4 million kW). A nuclear power plant has been under construction since the mid-60s. Currently, over 20 nuclear power plants operate on imported raw materials (more than 40 power units). They provide about 30% of the electricity. The country has built the most powerful nuclear power plants in the world (including Fukushima - 10 power units).
III. Japan's shipbuilding industry is very diverse: the world's largest supertankers and other ships are leaving the shipyards of Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe, Nagasaki and many other shipbuilding centers. Shipbuilding specializes in the construction of large-capacity tankers and bulk carriers. The total tonnage of ships built in Japan is 40% of the world tonnage. In shipbuilding, the country firmly ranks first in the world (2nd place - the Republic of Korea) Shipbuilding and ship repair facilities are located throughout the country. The main centers are located in the largest ports (Yokohama, Nagasaki).
IV. The production of non-ferrous metals is material and energy intensive. They are classified as “environmentally dirty” industries, therefore, a significant reorganization of the industry has been carried out. In the last decade alone, the smelting of non-ferrous metals has decreased by 20 times. Converting factories are located in almost all large industrial centers.
V. Mechanical engineering in Japan includes many industries (shipbuilding, automotive, general mechanical engineering, instrument making, radio electronics, aerospace). There are a number of large factories in heavy machine building, machine tool building, and equipment for the light and food industries. But the main industries were electronics, radio, and transport engineering.
1) For the production of cars (13 million units per year) in recent years, Japan also ranks first in the world (industry products account for 20% of Japanese exports). The most important centers of the industry are Toyota (Nagasaki region), Yokohama, Hiroshima.
2) The main enterprises of general mechanical engineering are located within the Pacific industrial belt: in the Tokyo region - complex machine tool construction, industrial robots; in Osaka - metal-consuming equipment (near the centers of ferrous metallurgy); in the Nagoya region - machine-tool building, production of equipment for other industries.
3) Enterprises of the radio-electronic and electrical engineering industries are guided by centers with a skilled workforce, with a well-developed transport system, with a developed scientific and technical base. In the early 1990s, Japan accounted for over 60% of the production of industrial robots, ½ of CNC machines and pure ceramic products, and 60 to 90% of the production of certain types of microprocessors in the world. Japan maintains a leading position in the production of consumer electronics and electronic equipment. The country's share in the world production of color televisions (including production at foreign enterprises of Japanese companies is more than 60%, video recorders - 90%, etc.). The products of science-intensive industries account for about 15% of the total industrial production in Japan. And in general, about 40% for mechanical engineering products.
Table 3.1
12 largest conglomerates (industrial and financial groups) in Japan (1999 data)
| The number of corporations included in the 500 world | Annual Sales (USD Billion) | Assets (USD billion) | Employed (thousand) | Shta6-apartment | ||
| 1 | Mitsubishi | 7 | 105,1 | 124,6 | 272.2 | Tokyo |
| 2 | "Toyota" | 2 | 84,0 | 77,6 | 116,2 | Nagoya |
| 3 | "Matsushita" | 2 | 66,0 | 84,3 | 280,0 | Osaka |
| 4 | "Hitachi" | 2 | 65,1 | 81,3 | 341,0 | Tokyo |
| 5 | "Nippon Steel" | 5 | 59.1 | 78,2 | 99,8 | Tokyo |
| 6 | "Nissin" | 3 | 57,0 | 67,9 | 155,1 | Tokyo |
| 7 | Fuji | 4 | 52,9 | 62,1 | 226,3 | Tokyo |
| 8 | "Sumntomo" | 6 | 43.8 | 56,0 | 120,5 | Osaka |
| 9 | "Toshiba" | 1 | 37,5 | 49,3 | 173,0 | Tokyo |
| 10 | "Dan Ichi" | 6 | 33,4 | 39,3 | 104,3 | Tokyo |
| 11 | Honda | 1 | 33,4 | 26,4 | 90,9 | Tokyo |
| 12 | "Sony" | 1 | 31.5 | 39,7 | 126,0 | Tokyo |
4) Enterprises of the oil refining and chemical industries gravitate towards the main centers of the Pacific industrial belt - in the Tokyo agglomeration of the Alan industrial belt. In the Tokyo metropolitan area (Kawasaki, Chiba, Yokohama), in the Osaka and Nagoya regions, enterprises use imported raw materials. In terms of the development of the chemical industry, Japan occupies one of the first places in the world.
5) The pulp and paper industry is also developed in Japan.
6) Retains not a little the importance of the light and food industries. However, competition from developing countries is growing in many types of labor-intensive light industry production (due to the cheapness of labor in other countries).
Vi. Another important traditional branch of Japanese industry is fishing. In terms of fish catch, Japan is one of the first places in the world. There are more than 3 thousand fishing ports in the country. The rich and diverse fauna of the coastal seas contributed to the development of not only fishing, but also the mari culture. Fish and seafood occupy a very large place in the Japanese diet. The pearl industry is also developed.
A very important feature of the Japanese industry is its extremely strong involvement in international economic relations.
Agriculture.
Agriculture in Japan employs about 3% of the economically active population, and its share in the country's GNP is about 2%. Japanese agriculture is characterized by a high level of labor and land productivity, crop yields and animal productivity.
Agricultural production has a pronounced food orientation
Crop production provides the bulk of production (about 70%), but its share is declining. The country is forced to import fodder and industrial crops from abroad. Pasture lands make up only 1.6% of the total area. But even these areas are out of agricultural turnover as imports of cheap meat and dairy products increase. New intensive branches of animal husbandry are developing. Arable land accounts for 13% of the country's territory. However, in some regions of Japan, it is possible to get 2-3 harvests per year, so the sown area is larger than the cultivated area. Despite the fact that arable land occupies a small share in land fund, and their per capita value is very small (in comparison with the USA it is 24 times less, compared with France - 9 times), Japan provides its food needs mainly due to its own production (about 70%). The demand for rice, vegetables, poultry, pork, and fruits is practically satisfied. However, the country is forced to import sugar, corn, cotton, wool.
Small-scale farming is characteristic of Japan's agriculture. Most of the farms are small-scale. The largest farms are engaged in animal husbandry. In addition to individual farms, there are also firms and production cooperatives. These are significant agricultural units.
The coastal lowlands of all the islands, including the Pacific industrial belt, are large agricultural areas where rice, vegetables, tea, tobacco are grown, and livestock breeding is also intensively developing. On all the great plains and in natural areas large agglomerations are located poultry and pig farms, vegetable gardens.
Transport
Transport. In the post-war period, road transport quickly moved to the first place in terms of freight and passenger traffic in Japan (52 and 60%, respectively). The rest is mostly accounted for by sea cabotage, the share of which is gradually decreasing. The importance of railway transport is declining even faster, especially after its privatization in the mid-1980s. The volumes of air transportation are also growing, but their share is still small. Japan has the second largest merchant marine tonnage in the world (almost 87 million bbl. Tons in 1999), but 73% of this tonnage is operated under FOCs. The size of the car park is 43 million cars and 22 million trucks and buses (1998, second in the world). Since the mid-90s, the main direction of the development of the technical base of transport has been the qualitative improvement of the transport infrastructure. In Japan, a dense network of highways has been created, the main element of which has become high-speed highways, connecting all cities with a population of more than 500 thousand people. A system of railway lines has been built with an average train speed of more than 200 km / h. There are several dozen large seaports in the country (the largest is Chiba), a number of airports capable of receiving large liners.In the 80s, all four main Japanese islands were connected by continuous transport routes (through a system of tunnels and bridges). The vastly increased volumes and tension of transport in Japan, especially in the area of the country's main transport axis, passing through the Pacific industrial belt, required an increase in the reliability and safety of the communications system. Its improvement is achieved through the widespread introduction of electronic computing and information technology both in transport management systems and in the vehicles themselves.
Foreign economic relations
Japan is one of the world's largest trading powers. The economy is highly dependent on imports of fuel and industrial raw materials. But the structure of imports is changing significantly: the share of raw materials is decreasing and the share of finished products is increasing. The share of finished products from NIS Asia is especially growing (including color TVs, video tapes, VCRs, spare parts). The country also imports some types of the latest machinery and equipment from economically developed countries.
In the export of finished industrial products (by value), 64% is accounted for by machinery and equipment. Japan's international specialization in the world market is the trade in products of high-tech high-tech industries, such as the production of ultra-large-scale integrated circuits and microprocessors, CNC machines and industrial robots.
The volume of Japan's foreign trade is constantly growing (760 billion dollars, 1997 - the third place after the United States and Germany). The main trade partners of Japan are economically developed countries, primarily the USA (30% of exports, 25% of imports), Germany, Australia, Canada. The Republic of Korea and China are major partners.
The volume of trade with the countries of South-East Asia (29% of external turnover) and Europe is increasing. The largest oil suppliers to Japan are the countries of the Persian Gulf.
An important area of Japan's foreign economic activity is export of capital... In terms of foreign investment, the country has become one of the leaders along with the United States and Great Britain. Moreover, the share of capital investment in the country's development is growing. Japan invests its capital in trade, banking, loans and other services (about 50%), in manufacturing and extractive industries different countries the world. Sharp foreign economic contradictions between Japan and the United States and the countries of Western Europe lead to a struggle for sources of raw materials, sales markets and areas for capital investment. The scale of overseas entrepreneurship by Japanese firms is expanding. Moreover, along with the transfer of environmentally hazardous, energy- and material-intensive industries abroad (through the construction of enterprises in developing countries), there is also a transfer to these countries of some machine-building industries - those whose development in Japan is becoming less respectable (transferred to where the costs are lower labor force).
Japanese firms are especially active in NIS Asia - in the Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Singapore. The enterprises of the textile, food, clothing, metallurgical, chemical industries, electronic and precision engineering, created there with the participation of Japanese capital, are becoming serious competitors of Japanese firms (especially small and medium-sized ones) in the world and even in the domestic market of Japan.
All of Japan's largest industrial companies are transnational corporations, some of the largest in the world. In the list of the 500 most large TNCs very high positions in the world are occupied by: Toyota motor, Honda motor - in the automotive industry; Hitachi, Sony, NEC - in electronics; Toshiba, Fujitsu, Canon - in the production of computer equipment, etc.
One of the most important factors in Japan's economic development is its wide participation in international technology trade. The export of technologies is dominated by licenses in the field of electrical and transport engineering, chemistry, and construction. FROM geographic point In terms of Japanese technology exports in the 1980s, developing countries predominated. The exchange of licenses for technological processes in the field of electrical engineering, chemical industry, etc.
Internal differences
The peculiar natural-geographical and historical conditions of development led to the formation of a complex territorial structure of Japan, to the emergence of significant differences between its regions. Morphologically heterogeneous parts are sharply distinguished on the territory of Japan. This is a developed Pacific industrial belt, located on the largest lowlands of Honshu and Northern Kyushu, and peripheral, relatively poorly developed areas occupying the western coast and northeast of Honshu, Hokkaido and southern Japan - Shikoku, southern Kyushu and Ryukyu Islands.
The prevailing grid in Japan economic regions basically reflects these imbalances (Fig. 111.76), The most common concept is the allocation of ten economic regions - Kanto, Kinki, Tokai, Kyushu, Chugoku, Hokuriku. Tohoku, Hokkaido, Shikoku and Okinawa. The first four traditionally belong to areas of a high level of development, the next three - to medium, the rest - to underdeveloped areas. The allocation of areas is carried out along the borders of the main administrative units of Japan - prefectures (there are 47 prefectures in total, including the governorate of Hokkaido).
Kanto - a leading economic region, occupying the country's largest lowlands, where less than 10% of Japan's territory is home to more than 30% of its population and produces more than 35% of national income. The socio-economic appearance of the district is primarily determined by the presence in it of the capital of Tokyo and the largest urban agglomeration of Keihin formed around it, in which powerful production, management, research, and cultural potential is concentrated. Almost all sectors of the economy are developed in Kanto, but it is distinguished by a high concentration of mechanical engineering, especially science-intensive (radio-electronic, instrument-making, aerospace), as well as industries oriented to the large market of the capital region (printing, light). Agriculture of the region, occupying an insignificant place in the structure of its economy, provides Kanto with a leading position in Japan in food production. It is specialized mainly in suburban forms. Kanto is of great importance as the focus of the entire transport system of Japan, where major highways converge connecting the capital with coastal and inland regions.
The second most important economic region of Japan is Kinki, which combines the features of the historical and cultural core of “old” Japan and a large industrial region. It contains enterprises of both traditional (textile, woodworking, shipbuilding) and the newest industries (radio-electronic, modern chemistry, etc.). Against the background of other developed regions, Kinki is distinguished by an increased share of metal-intensive general mechanical engineering, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. The most important role in the region is played by the second economic and cultural center of the country after Tokyo - Osaka, around which a powerful urban agglomeration Hanshin has developed. The agglomeration includes several more notable industrial cities - Kobe, Amagasaki, Himeji, Sakai. The city of Kyoto is unique, the only Japanese city-"millionaire" located outside the sea coast. The former residence of the Japanese emperors for a long time, the political, cultural and religious center of the country, it attracts a large number of tourists and pilgrims. The industry of Kyoto is distinguished by a diverse structure with a predominance of non-material-intensive industries using skilled labor (traditional light, woodworking, modern electronic, precision engineering).
The Tokai region, located on the Pacific coast between Kanto and Kinki, ranks third in terms of economic importance. The branches of industrial specialization of the region include transport engineering, petrochemistry, textile and pulp and paper. The industrial zone is located around Ise Bay, on the coast of which the center of the district - Nagoya and other industrial cities are located. Tokay remained a predominantly agricultural region for a long time; textile and woodworking enterprises were widespread among industrial enterprises. In the pre-war years, military factories, mainly aviation, were built in Nagoya and some other cities, on the basis of which transport engineering developed after the war. Among the cities of the region, there are several centers of national importance, highly specialized in certain types of industrial production - Yokkaichi (oil refining and petrochemicals), Toyota (automotive). Tokaj maintains its importance as an important agricultural area, excelling in the production of some specific crops, in particular tea and citrus fruits.
Kyushu is notable for the uneven development of the northern and southern parts of the region. Northern Kyushu is the oldest Japanese industrial region, where ferrous metallurgy, heavy industrial engineering, as well as some other "basic" industries - oil refining and cement production - still prevail in the production structure. A large shipbuilding center is Nagasaki with Japan's largest shipbuilding plant. At the same time, Northern Kyushu remains an important agricultural region (in particular, the second most important rice-growing region in the country). In the south, which is still characterized by a certain isolation and traditionalism, the economy is based on agriculture, local industry, recreational functions... In order to modernize the structure of the Kyushu economy, the regional programs of recent years are aimed at the development of the most advanced industries (radio electronics, biotechnology, fine chemistry) in several actively created technopolises. Functions of the administrative center of the district are concentrated in its largest city - Fukuoka.
The Chugoku region occupies the southwestern part of Honshu and is divided by a ridge in the direction from northeast to southwest into two areas that have the historical names Sanyo and Sanyin. The more developed has always been the southern one, Sanyo, which occupies the coast of the Inland Sea. Thanks to its favorable economic and geographical position, many industrial enterprises were built there after the Second World War. Currently, Chugoku is distinguished by the country's highest share of production of material and energy-intensive industries - ferrous metallurgy, oil refining, chemical industry, as well as developed general, ship and automobile industries. A characteristic feature is the absence of a clearly defined center in the region, as well as a certain specialization of large industrial centers: in Hiroshima, mechanical engineering is predominantly developed, in Kurashiki - oil refining and chemistry, in Fukuyama - ferrous metallurgy. In the south of Chugoku (in Ube, Tokuyama, etc.), one of the most powerful complexes of the chemical industry in Japan was formed. Sanyo region is an important tourism region. San'in, facing the Sea of Japan, still remains relatively isolated, sparsely populated and less developed.
Hokuriku takes central part the west coast of Honshu and some of the inland mountainous regions of this island. Unfavorable natural conditions(swampy coastal lowlands, the lack of convenient bays for port construction, etc.) led to a much less intensive development of the area in comparison with the eastern part of Honshu. The share of industry in the structure of the economy of Hokuriku is noticeably lower than the national average, the most developed are general and electrical engineering, metalworking, traditional woodworking and textile industries. A number of nuclear power plants have been built in the south of the region, transmitting energy to the Kinki region, in the mountains - cascades of hydroelectric power plants, which also transmit energy to the central regions of the country. Hokuriku is known for an important rice-producing area (Echigo Plain), as well as for the most significant oil and gas fields in Japan. The most important city in the region is Niigata.
The Tohoku region, which occupies northeastern Honshu, is distinguished in the national division of labor by agriculture, fishing, logging, mining, and a relatively underdeveloped industry, aimed mainly at processing local resources. The population of the area is relatively small and largely concentrated in the interior regions. Tohoku is seen as an important area for Japan's future development, its main city Sendai is already one of the fastest growing large cities in the country.
Hokkaido, officially incorporated into Japan only in 1868, is the only region in the country that was developed in a planned way, based on organized colonization. The structure of the economy resembles Tohoku with even more sharply distinguished forestry and agriculture, fishing, woodworking, pulp and paper and mining industries. The main city of the district, Sapporo, devoid of the largest industrial enterprises, but performing important administrative functions, is developing intensively.
Shikoku is a mountainous, sparsely populated area. In economic terms, the northern part of the island is more developed, where enterprises of basic industries are located in several industrial cities. However, in general, the industrial appearance of the region is formed by the food, pulp and paper and textile industries. Subtropical agriculture and mountain animal husbandry are developed. The most important cities are the prefectural centers Matsuyama and Takamatsu.
Okinawa - the prefecture, located on the Ryukyu Islands, is only provisionally classified as a district. It became part of Japan again in 1972 after the US occupation, but at present 12% of its territory is under American military bases. Infrastructure facilities for servicing the bases, as well as tropical agriculture, have been developed.
Other entries
Japan is in many ways a unique country, and in almost all branches of human activity the Japanese way of development differs from any other. Japan is no exception. Despite the fact that in Japan they do not contribute to the development of this type of activity, agriculture and cattle breeding have always been quite developed here. At the moment, the share of agriculture in is 2%, which looks more than good against the general background of an industrialized country, especially considering that neighboring Asian countries are quite capable of providing Japan with cheap agricultural products. However, this amount is clearly not enough, and Japan is one of the largest food importers in the world.
How Japan's agriculture develops depends primarily on geographic conditions and historical features... on islands of volcanic origin, and the share of arable and grazing land is very small. The area of land used for agricultural needs is no more than 15 percent of the total area of the state. The main type of farms are small farms, where everything is privately owned. Traditional components Japanese food are rice and seafood, so the majority of agricultural producers are engaged in the cultivation of rice - over 80% of production is allocated to it. Livestock raising is underdeveloped due to the fact that the Japanese get most of their protein food from seafood, therefore pasture lands occupy an insignificant part of the total area. Despite the fact that recently the growth in consumption of livestock products has been growing, the number of farms engaged in this type of activity is decreasing, since it is much more profitable to buy these products from neighbors, for example, in China. In addition, animal feed has to be imported from abroad, and this also affects its profitability.
So, the agriculture of Japan is mainly here it has its own characteristics: for example, rice is often much more expensive for farmers than it is then sold - this is due to the fact that they actively and often unreasonably use ultra-modern technology and Information Technology in agriculture (Japan ranks first in the use of high technologies in this industry), which inevitably affects the cost of the final product. Nevertheless, such farms do not go bankrupt and get the opportunity to develop further, taking into account the experience gained, since since the post-war period, agriculture in Japan, especially rice cultivation, has received comprehensive support from the state, and thanks to this, the demand for this product is fully covered by domestic production. ...
It is also worth noting that the agriculture of Japan is not only the traditional cultivation of grain and vegetable crops and animal husbandry: silk production is a rather significant area, for which a considerable part of the farmland is allocated for the cultivation of mulberry trees. This direction is very profitable because Japanese silk is highly valued all over the world.
Another unusual direction in the agriculture of this country is pearl cultivation. Traditionally, many naturally grown pearls have been mined off the coast of Japan, and recently, more and more farms specializing in their cultivation have been opened. This one brings a lot of profit, and therefore it is becoming more and more popular.
Thus, the main distinctive features Japan's agriculture possesses a small size of land, a high degree of implementation of high technologies, due to which almost all professions in agriculture require a high degree of training, comprehensive support of farming from the state, traditional activities and often low efficiency of small farms.
Japan is an archipelago country located in the center of the Asia-Pacific region, stretching over four large islands Honshu, Hokaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. In addition to them, the territory of the state also includes about 4 thousand small islands, which stretch for three and a half thousand kilometers from the north-east to the south-west. The shores form bays and a large number of bays. All the seas and oceans that wash the archipelago play a huge role for Japan, as they are the main sources of its resources.
Population
In terms of population, the Land of the Rising Sun is in the top ten of the world. The Japanese boast the world's longest life expectancy (76 years for men and 82 for women).
The national composition is characterized by relative homogeneity. The Japanese make up nearly ninety-nine percent of all the country's inhabitants. Among the other peoples living in Japan, there are a lot of Koreans, as well as Chinese. The overwhelming majority are Shinto or Buddhist. The most densely populated are the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Nearly eighty percent of Japanese people live in large cities, eleven of which are millionaire cities.
Industry of Japan
(On conveyor assembly, robots have practically replaced humans)
Japanese industry is almost entirely dependent on imported resources. Recently, the country has been forced to reduce the growth of energy-intensive and metal-intensive production, which depends on imported raw materials, focusing on the science-intensive industry. Nevertheless, in Japan, both ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, automobile and shipbuilding, construction industry, energy, chemical and petrochemical, food and pulp and paper industries are well developed.
And, of course, Japan is one of the few countries where industrial robots are trying to replace people on conveyor assembly almost everywhere.
(Industrial plant in Japan)
The largest metallurgical centers, almost entirely working on imported raw materials, are factories located in Osaka, Tokyo and Fujiyama. The scale of primary smelting of non-ferrous metals in Japan is gradually decreasing, but most of the factories located in the largest industrial centers are still functioning today.
The light and food industries play an important role. The power industry mainly uses imported raw materials. The predominant components in the Japanese resource base are oil and natural gas, while the share of coal is decreasing, the role of hydro and nuclear power is growing. In the energy sector, sixty percent of its capacity comes from thermal power plants, and twenty-eight percent comes from nuclear energy. Hydroelectric power plants are located in cascade on mountain rivers.
(Robots are assembling at the car factory)
Mechanical engineering is well developed in Japan. The leading sub-sectors are electrical engineering and electronics, the radio industry is very well developed, and the transport engineering industry is growing rapidly. The country is the leader in the volume of construction of tankers and bulk carriers. The main shipyards are located in ports - Yokohama, Nagasaki, Kobe. Japan is also a stable leader in the field automotive construction... Thirteen million cars leave the conveyors of Japanese factories annually.
(The city of Tokyo is partially powered by solar panels)
In recent years, the country has begun to actively implement the so-called “ Solar Light", Which consists in the development of non-traditional energy sources. Japan also ranks first among economically developed countries in terms of the share of spending on the development of science and biotechnology.
Agriculture of Japan
(Unusual drawings in rice fields in Japan)
Agriculture provides about two percent of the country's gross national product and remains one of the most important branches of its economy. Six and a half percent of the population works in this area. Most of Japanese agricultural production is concentrated in food products. Japan is seventy percent self-sufficient for its own food needs. Thirteen percent of the territory is allocated for agriculture. The leading role belongs to plant growing, in particular the cultivation of rice and vegetable crops; horticulture is widespread. Livestock farming is also developing at an intensive pace. So, in Japan, cattle, poultry are bred, pig breeding is developed.
(Fishing boat at the port of the Sea of Japan)
The extremely favorable location determines the abundance of fish and seafood dishes in the diet of every Japanese. Fishing is carried out in almost all areas of the World Ocean. Japan has an extensive fishing fleet of more than four hundred thousand vessels. In addition, the country owns over three thousand fishing ports.
It should be classified as a diversified type. It is based on agriculture, mainly the cultivation of rice and other grain crops, industrial crops and tea. Gardening, horticulture, sericulture and animal husbandry play a significant role. This also includes forestry, fishing and marine fishing.
The cultivated area of the country is 5.4 million hectares, and the sown area exceeds it due to the fact that in a number of regions they harvest 2-3 crops per year.
More than half of the sown area is occupied by cereals, about 25% by vegetables, the rest is occupied by forage grasses, industrial crops and mulberry trees.
The dominant position in is occupied by rice. At the same time, there is a decrease in harvests of wheat and barley (low profitability and competition with imported ones).
Vegetable growing mainly develops in the suburbs. As a rule, all year round in greenhouse soil.
Sugar beet is cultivated in Hokkaido, sugar cane in the south. Tea, citrus fruits, apples, pears, plums, peaches, persimmons (endemic to Japan), grapes, chestnuts, watermelons, melons, pineapples in greenhouses are also grown. In the southwest of Honshu, large areas are devoted to strawberries.
Animal husbandry began to develop actively only after World War II.
The herd of cattle reaches 5 million heads (half are dairy cows). Pig breeding is developing in the southern regions (about 7 million heads). The center is the north of the country - the island of Hokkaido, where special farms and cooperatives are created.
Fishing is characterized by the dominance of large monopoly companies. The main objects of fishing are herring, cod, salmon, flounder, tuna, halibut, shark, saury, sardine, etc.
Seaweed and shellfish are also mined. The fishing fleet of Japan numbers several hundred thousand vessels (mostly small ones). About 1/3 of the catch comes from the waters in the Hokkaido area. An important fishing area is the northeastern coast of Honshu.
Aquaculture is widespread: artificial fish farming in lagoons, mountain and rice fields, and pearl mussel farming.
Agriculture remains an important industry in the Japanese economy, although its share in GNP is declining (to 2.0% in 1999). The country's agriculture employs 4.1 million people (6.6% of all employed). Small-scale peasant land use predominates. Despite the agrarian reform, a dwarf type of peasant farms prevails in the country (sometimes the plot has less than 0.5 hectares). Even small patches of land often do not represent one whole, but are divided into smaller ones and scattered in different places. Under these conditions, it is only possible to carry out small-scale mechanization. More powerful mechanization is found on large farms.
The cultivated area of the country is 5.3 million hectares (14.8% of the land area), and the sown area exceeds it due to the fact that in a number of regions two crops are harvested, and in the south even three crops per year. Japan meets 70% of its food needs through its own production, including fully satisfies the demand for rice. In 1999, the rice harvest was about 13 million tons.
More than half of the sown area is occupied by cereals, a little more than 25% by vegetables, the rest of the area is allocated to forage grasses, industrial crops and mulberry trees.
The dominant position in agriculture is occupied by rice. The yield of this crop is on average 45 c / ha in irrigated fields, and for some varieties reaches 50–55 c / ha. The maintenance of rice yields at a high level is due to a number of reasons: an increase in the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, an improvement in water supply (especially as a result of the widespread use of electric motors for irrigation), and effective breeding. The developed seed varieties are distinguished by good yields and resistance to adverse weather conditions and diseases.
At the same time, there is a decrease in the harvest of such grain crops as wheat, barley, which is caused by the low profitability of their cultivation and competition from imported grain.
Vegetable growing is of great importance, which has become a very profitable industry for suburban farms. Vegetables on suburban farms are usually grown year-round in well-fertilized and protected ground (the beds are covered with films).
Yields of sugar beet in Hokkaido and sugar cane in the south are increasing. The plantings of tea are increasing. The harvest of tea leaves in Japan now exceeds 100 thousand tons per year. Citrus fruits, apples, pears, plums, peaches, persimmons, grapes, chestnuts, walnuts, watermelons, melons are grown; pineapples are cultivated in greenhouses. Strawberries are grown on Honshu, under which large areas are occupied.
Animal husbandry, formerly one of the underdeveloped sectors of the economy, began to develop actively after the Second World War. This was due to an increase in domestic demand for meat and dairy products, which previously had a very limited distribution. In the 90s. XX century the herd of cattle reached 5.5 million heads, of which almost half were dairy cows. Pig breeding has developed in the southern regions of the country. Poultry farming occupies an important place in suburban farms. Livestock in Japan is characterized by high productivity. In terms of meat production, Japan ranked 14th in the world in 1999 (3.251 million tons).
The center of animal husbandry is the north of the country - the island of Hokkaido, where special farms and cooperative farms have been created. Almost 1/4 of all dairy herd in Japan is concentrated in Hokkaido.
A peculiarity of Japanese animal husbandry is that it is based on imported feed, especially a lot of imported corn. Local forage grasses are considered unproductive, and their collection is small. Own production covers no more than 1/3 of livestock feed needs.
Fishing plays an important role in providing the population with food. Before World War II, the Japanese practically did not eat meat, so that the only source of animal protein was fish, and carbohydrates - rice. And today, in terms of fish consumption per capita (60–70 kg per year, compared with 17–18 kg for the world on average), Japan is still ahead of all other countries, although fish and meat are now consumed in the same quantities. Seafood provides 40% of the animal protein in the Japanese diet. In 1999, the fish catch in Japan amounted to about 8 million tons (4th place in the world). The fishing fleet of Japan numbers tens of thousands of vessels, and the number of fishing ports is hundreds and even thousands.
Since the arc of the Japanese Islands stretches from north to south for almost 3.5 thousand km, the structure of catches in different parts of the coast differs quite strongly. In the warm waters of the Kuroshio Current, tuna, mackerel, sardines are caught; in the waters of the cold current Oyashio on the northern flank - mainly herring, mackerel, cod.
The coastal area also serves as a major mariculture area. Oysters, shrimps, lobsters, and Kamchatka crab are bred here. Underwater plantations have also become widespread, on which algae are grown, which are then collected with hooks and hooks. Seaweed is used for food and to obtain iodine.
The southern coast of Honshu is also famous for its pearl fishing. Every year, 500 million pearl shells are mined here, and an ethnic group called the Ama has long specialized in fishing.
In the early 80s. of the last century, 77% of the total fish catch in Japan fell on its 200-mile zone, 14% - on free sea areas and 9% - on free economic zones of other countries (Russia, USA, New Zealand, etc.). However, during this period, fish catches within 200-mile zones of other countries declined markedly. In the 90s of the twentieth century. Japan gradually turned from being the largest exporter of fish and seafood into an importer. Australia has become one of the most important suppliers of such products to Japan.
The increase in imports is largely due to an increase in domestic demand with a simultaneous depletion of national resources. This is all the more forcing Japan to pay increased attention to fish farming. In the 90s. 32 species of fish, 15 species of crustaceans, 21 species of molluscs were artificially raised here. The cultivation of red sea bream, Japanese flounder, and blue crab has grown many times over. Research conducted in Japan on the cultivation of sea tuna has confirmed the possibility of raising this purely marine fish in various cages. In Japan, large-scale experiments have been undertaken to restore the salmon stock. Already in the mid-1980s, about 30 million salmon were grown in Japan - one for every four inhabitants of the country, and the total catch of artificially bred salmon exceeded 100 thousand tons.
Japan generally holds the first place in the world in terms of aquaculture technology, which originated here in the 8th century AD. e. The most diverse types of aquaculture are developed here, artificial spawning grounds and fish "pastures" have been created. A program to create artificial reefs has been implemented, thanks to which the catch in coastal waters has already doubled. The state program for the development of aquaculture also provides for the creation in the near future of about 200 fish factories and the allocation of different kinds mariculture is about 30 million hectares of coastal water areas, which is thirty times the area of water areas used today.
