Book Reviews: The National Atlas of Japan.

Summary

This review of The National Atlas of Japan (Japan Map Center, 1977) evaluates the ambitious official atlas compiled by the Geographical Survey Institute from 1969. It examines the volume's structure, cartographic quality, and usefulness. The atlas contains more than 300 maps covering physical features, climate, population, industry, transport, trade, finance, social conditions, education, culture, and regions; it strikingly reveals the dominance of Tokyo and Kinki in contemporary Japan. The reviewer praises the superb color printing and high English standard but notes significant drawbacks: lack of systematic statistics, inevitable obsolescence of data based mainly on early 1970s sources, and the use of kunrei romanization. Concluding that the work is valuable for economists, social scientists, and general readers, he nevertheless questions whether such a costly, oversized volume best serves its purpose.