Textile Industry in Japan
Industrial development of Japan started with the development of cotton textile business. The first cotton textile factory opened here in 1862 on Kagoshima in southern Kyushu. After that, by 1880, many factories were opened in Osaka and its surrounding towns. By 1910, 140 cotton textile factories were opened in Japan and 160 crore square meters of cotton fabrics were produced in them.
In fact, Japan exported more cotton than any other country during the first half of the 1930s. By 1935, Japan had 285 cotton textile factories and produced 360 million square meters of cotton. In the absence of local cultivation of raw cotton, Japan had to turn to imports to meet its production demand. India was the major supplier of raw cotton to Japan from the 1900s to the 1930s, while the United States was the second largest supplier for much of that time.
Before World War II Japan was a major exporter of cotton fabrics, but the war devastated the industry. Before the Second World War, Japan had made so much progress in cotton textile production that it was ranked third among the world's cotton textile producing countries. After the outbreak of the Korean War, cotton spinning firms started expanding their facilities. By 1951, Japan had once again become The world's largest exporter of cotton textiles and would not give up its dominant position until 1967.
Today, imports of cotton fabrics account for more than 80 percent of the market. Other than this, Raw cotton imports have also fallen from about 4 million bales (480 pounds) in 1973 to 555,574 Bales in 2008, a decline of more than 85 percent.
The reasons for the rapid development of the cotton textile business in Japan were due to:
1. In Japan, there is moisture throughout the year in the eastern coastal regions, due to which the cotton textile industry developed in this part.
2. Due to the large population of Japan, enough cheap labor is available for this industry.
3. The supply of raw material or cotton of this industry is easily done from the field and by importing.
4. Hydropower has developed a lot in Japan, so this industry gets cheap electric power.
5. As mostly neighboring countries of Japan are undeveloped and developing, so there is a market facility in the countries of Southeast Asia for the ready-made cotton garments of Japan. Due to consumption of finished goods, Japan produces more cotton textiles. Although, Japan is facing a great competition from China as well as from Bangladesh in cotton textile industry.
6. The development of this business is greatly facilitated by the developed means of transportation of Japan.
7. The aid and good system of the government of Japan has also affected the development of this business.
8. Due to the use of new machines and technical knowledge, the best quality cotton clothes are prepared here.
9. New factories are easily opened in Japan due to adequate capital system.
Following are the sectors of cotton textile industry in Japan:
1. Kobe - Osaka Region- The center of this region is Osaka. Which is the largest cotton textile producing center of Japan. About 35% of the total cotton textile production of Japan is produced here. The cotton textile industry is so prominent in Osaka city that it is called Manchester of Japan. Another major industrial cotton textile center of the region is Kobe. In addition to these, Wakayama, Kishiwadi, Nara centers are located near Osaka and Amagasaki and Nishikawa near Kobe. This region has full facility to import cotton.
2. Tokyo - Yakohama Region- The main centers of this cotton textile industry are Tokyo and Yakohama. It has facilities for import export as Yakohama is the major port here. This also work as the port for Tokyo.
3. South-West Honshu Region - The main centers of this region are Okayama, Kare and Hiroshima etc.
4. Minobari Plain - The center of this region is Nagoya.
5 Other Areas - Other centers of cotton textile industry are Hamamatsu and Shizuoka etc.
In Japan, in 2007, 71,669 tonnes of cotton yarn and 3680 million square meters of cotton fabric were produced. Yarn from Japan is exported to Taiwan, India and South Korea and cotton textiles are exported to Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa etc.
Author: M Sabir
Our YouTube Channel: Junior Geographer
YouTube Channel Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF7QosQ6SWUj2qvLVDoYvHw
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