Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1130

 774

JAPAN

—

1892-93

1893-94

1894-95

1895-96 1896-97

Gold coins. Silver ,,. Nickel ,,. Copper,,.

Yen 1,351,267 12,141,928 500,000

Yen 1,364,612 13,177,375 726,000

Yen 1,583,088 28,539,445 350,000

Yen Yen 1,423,750 952,433 20,007,377 12,927,0^^4 51,500 650,000

Total

13,993,195

15,261,987

30,472,533

21,482,627

14,529,467

The total coinage issued from the mint from its foundation in 1870 up to March 31, 1897, exclusive of re-coinage, amounted to 284,782,821 yen.

The paper money in circulation consists of Treasury notes, Kokuritsu Ginko notes, or notes of the National banks, and Nippon Ginko (or Bank of Japan) notes, exchangeable for silver on presentation. The amount in circu- lation on 1st April, 1897, was 203,768,357 yen.

In 1895 the Nippon Ginko, or Bank of Japan, had a paid-up capital of 22,500,000 yen ; notes in circulation, 180,336,815 yen; loans, 328,525,696 yen : deposits, 540,665,431 yen. The Kokuritsu Ginko (133 head offices having 180 branches), paid-up capital, 48,951,100 yen ; notes in circidation, 20,728,708 yen ; loans, 518,363,525.yen ; deposits, 1,099,963,525 yen. The Shokin Ginko, or Specie Bank, paid-up capital, 4,500,000 yen; loans, 47,421,012 j'en ; deposits, 322,413,441 yen.

In 1895 there were 792 private banks (of which 6 banks also act as savings banks), with paid-up capital of 49,967,260 yen ; loans, 380,898,955 yen; deposits, 842,575,973 yen. In 1895-96 1,605,855 persons deposited 46,397,978 yen and withdrew 17,918,294 yen from the post-offices, which act as savings banks.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The standard of value (from October, 1897), is gold. The ratio to silver is 32^ to 1. The unit is the gold yen, "900 fine, weighing 0*83 grammes, and thus containing '75 grammes of pure gold. The coinage formerly was as follows : — The silver Fen, or Dollar, of 100 sens, of the nominal value of 4s. ; actual value about 35. Ad. Gold coins were 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1-yen pieces. The 5-yen gold piece weighing 8 '3 grammes, about '900 fine, contained 7 '5 grammes of fine gold.

Trade dollars are also coined weighing 27*2156 gi'ammes, '900 fine, and thus containing 24*4940 grammes of fine silver.

The 5-sen piece is also coined in nickel. Copper coins are 2, 1, half, and tenth-sen pieces, the last, called the rin, being the smallest coin used.

Paper currency of various denominations, corresponding to the coins, is in general use, and is now at par Avith silver.

Tlie Ki7i =160 momme

—

1"325 lb. avoirdupois.

,, Ktuan = ],000 ,,

z=

8-281 lbs. ,,

,, Shaku .....

=

•994 foot.

,, Siln .....

=

1,193 inches.

,, Ken = 6 shaku

=

5-965 feet.

„ Ch6 = 60 ken

z=

tV mile, 5 '4229 chains.

„ Hi = 36 chO

=.

2*44 miles.

,, Ri &{[. ....

=

5*9552 sq. miles.

,, Chd, land measure.

r=

2-45 acres.

,, Koku, liquid,. .

=:

39-7033 gallons.

,, dry ...

=

4 -9629 bushels.

,, To, liquid ....

=

3-9703 gallons.

M ,, dry ....

=

1 -9703 peck.