Reviews: Atlas of Japan - Physical, economic and social

Summary

This review evaluates two major geographical works on Japan: the Atlas of Japan (1970) published by the International Society for Educational Information, with English labeling and trilingual explanatory text, and Martin Schwind's German-language Das Japanische Inselreich, Volume I (1967). The article notes that Japan's cultural diversity, population size, and economic dynamism make it a vital subject for geographical study, yet language barriers—particularly the use of Chinese characters—restrict foreign scholarship. The atlas contains 73 thematic maps covering geology, climate, vegetation, population, cities, agriculture, industry, and transportation, with impeccable printing and rich content, but lacks a topographical base map and place-name index; the author suggests a supplementary volume for enhanced utility. Schwind's work, based on four decades of intensive research, offers a deep analysis of Japan's natural landscape across six chapters, demonstrating the author's refined interpretation of cultural landscapes. Both works fill critical gaps in Western geographical knowledge of Japan, each with distinct strengths and limitations.