Reviews: Atlas of Japan

Summary

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.