ABSTRACT
Japan is well provided with good harbours, that of Nagasaki in especial being one of the finest in the world. The Japanese islands are undoubtedly of volcanic origin, and many of the volcanoes in the country are still more or less active. The old mining regulations have recently been superseded by a new mining law. In accordance with this the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce is the official who permits, approves, cancels, or suspends the right of mining, whether permanently or on trial. Rice is the staple food of the people, and it is grown everywhere; indeed the yearly harvest of it affects the Japanese economy quite as much as, if not even more than, the wheat crop does that of Europe. The tourist brings money and spends it freely, and the country no doubt reaps the advantage thereof, but the effect on the Japanese brought into contact with the European under conditions is not, or often, beneficial.
