Atlas of Japan: Physical, Economic and Social
Japan · International Society for Educational Information · 1970
Related Reviews & Articles
Reviews: Atlas of Japan
Ogrissek, R. · 1974
This paper reviews the "Atlas of Japan," a medium-sized national atlas characterized by map scales of 1:4 million, 1:6 million, and 1:9 million. The physical geography section includes relief maps with six elevation steps, submarine relief with an eight-step blue scale (though sometimes lacking clarity), volcanism maps covering sea areas, river discharge diagrams, and a natural landscape classification at 1:4 million. Oceanographic maps for February and August present water temperatures and current directions, while geological, climatic, snow, frost, and vegetation maps complete the physical overview. The population segment features a 1960 density map using pseudo-isolines, population change (1960–65), and urban settlement size groups, though circle symbol congestion in urban agglomerations impairs readability. Economic structure maps distinguish agricultural and industrial dominance at the community level, followed by detailed treatments of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Land use at 1:4 million is visually compelling; however, the 1:40 million scale for rice, mulberry, fruit, and tea cultivation maps is criticized as overly small. Industrial maps cover mining, manufacturing, electricity, and steel, but proportional circle symbols overlap excessively in dense areas, undermining cartographic purpose. Foreign trade, transport infrastructure, and a brief cultural section (mass media, universities, museums, national parks) round out the content. A triangular symbol map of income structure by sector is included, though its interpretative value is debatable. The atlas’s printing quality is excellent, reflecting advanced Japanese polygraphic technology. Overall, the atlas provides comprehensive geographic and economic information, albeit with occasional design flaws in symbol selection and scale choices that reduce clarity in some thematic maps.
Reviews: Atlas of Japan - Physical, economic and social
Tietze, Wolf · 1971
This review essay evaluates three recent geographical and planning publications. The first part discusses a thematic atlas of Japan (1970) by R. Isida, published by the International Society for Educational Information, and Martin Schwind’s “Das Japanische Inselreich,” Vol. I (1967). It highlights the persistent language barrier that limits foreign geographical research on Japan, and praises the atlas for providing English, French, and Spanish explanatory texts alongside 73 detailed thematic maps covering physical, economic, and social features, thus offering a much-needed reliable cartographic reference for Western readers. The second part reviews a Danish National Planning Committee Secretariat publication (1970) on land use planning status and future perspectives. It outlines Denmark’s rapid post-1945 transformation from a rural to an industrialized, urbanized society, the resulting challenges such as agricultural decline, industrial growth, urbanization, vacation home expansion, traffic congestion, and environmental pollution, and the difficulties of integrating national, regional, and local plans amidst financial and political constraints. The third part examines Leo Deuel’s “Flights into Yesterday” (1969), a history of aerial archaeology, tracing its technological development over a century and methodological roots of fifty years, while highlighting the pioneering individuals who used aerial observation in the Middle East during World War I and beyond to reveal archaeological landscapes. Collectively, the reviews underscore the importance of accurate spatial information, integrated planning, and innovative methods in understanding and managing dynamic cultural and physical environments.
Book Review and Introduction: Atlas of Japan
Unknown · 1970
This review assesses the *Atlas of Japan — Physical, Economical and Social* (1970), compiled by the International Society for Educational Information with a grant from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The atlas was designed to present an accurate picture of Japan to an international readership. It contains 73 map plates at scales ranging from 1:4,000,000 to 1:10,000,000, accompanied by 64 pages of explanatory notes in English, French, and Spanish. The maps cover physical geography (16 plates), urban and population topics (11), agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land use (19), mining and manufacturing (17), trade (2), transportation (3), culture and education (2), and single plates on income, national parks, and Japan and its surroundings. The editor-in-chief was Ryujiro Ishida, with contributions from numerous specialists and data sourced from government agencies. The review praises the atlas's orthodox and straightforward editorial style, careful selection and treatment of source materials, and superior reproduction quality compared to earlier commercial atlases. A particularly notable strength is the extensive multilingual commentary that not only explains individual maps but also provides detailed historical context, explicitly clarifying Japan's official stance on territorial issues such as the Northern Territories — an approach that contrasts favorably with the ambiguous treatment by other publishers. While the overall balance of map themes and scales is deemed appropriate for the aim of presenting Japan's reality fairly, minor shortcomings are noted: some plates (e.g., Manufacturing Plants, Road Traffic) are overly detailed for their scales, while others (e.g., Fishing Grounds) appear too coarse. In conclusion, the review affirms that in the absence of a national atlas, this volume successfully serves as a quasi-national atlas for overseas audiences, making a valuable contribution to global understanding of Japan.
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