Historical Statistics of Japan

Notes

Notes on the Use of the Historical Statistics of Japan: New Edition

"These introductory notes are taken from the paper edition."

I Introduction

The New Edition of the "Historical Statistics of Japan" is an extended version of the Original Edition, which was published in 1986. The revision involved not only simple updating but also substantial review of the contents, and a number of new series have been included in the New Edition.
The product is composed of publications and CD-ROMs. The publications contain major statistical series from various fields, and the CD-ROMs contain all the series and the whole contents of the Original Edition.

1 Statistical series

Statistical series are selected in accordance with the following policy:

(1) A series in the Original Edition is extended to date, if recent figures are available. If the compilation of the concerned statistics is suspended, the series is excluded from the New Edition. If an old series is suspended but a comparable series is available for the period after suspension, both series are included.

(2) The structure of statistics has been thoroughly reviewed and many new series are included. At the same time, the composition of chapters is reformed.

(3) Such series that reflect recent socio-economic conditions are included, even though the covered time span is short.

2 Composition of the New Edition

The New Edition is composed of publications and attached CD-ROMs.

(1) Publications
As many series as possible are included on the basis of the following criteria.

1) With some exceptions, statistics for prefectures are excluded.

2) A large table is compressed by reducing the number of items.

3) A reference table is not included.

4) Duplication among tables is avoided.

5) If most figures for the Meiji Era are not available lacking for a series, the time span is reduced.

There are 5 volumes of publications, and the composition of each volume is as follows:

1) Preface

2) Message from the Director-General of the Statistics Bureau of japan

3) Explanatory notes

4) Table of contents of all the volumes

5) Table of contents for the respective volume and the attached CD-ROM

6) Key statistics (included in the Volume I only)

7) Introduction to each chapter

8) Key Statistics of each chapter

9) Statistical tables

10) Index (to the tables in the volume)

A comprehensive list of indices covering all the tables is prepared in a separate volume.

(2) CD-ROM (attached to each volume)

1) All the tables of the chapters in the respective volume

2) Descriptive part including explanatory notes and Introduction to chapters

3) Whole contents of the Original Edition

3 The New Edition and the Original Edition

The New Edition is an extension of the Original Edition, but some of the series in the Original Edition are not included in the New Edition. Furthermore, not all explanatory notes for the pre-war period are contained in the Original Edition only. As the Original Edition is also contained in the attached CD-ROM, users are advised to refer to the both editions whenever necessary.

II Basic policy for compilation and editing

Data are compiled under the following basic policy:
1  In principle, sources of data are limited to those published by the government, government agencies and government-affiliated institutions. Some of the important series, however, are obtained from the private sector.
2  In principle, data are presented exactly as in the original source, and only indispensable calculation, such as consolidation of items, conversion of units and computation for linking indexes, is made.
3  Primary data sources published by responsible agencies are used. However, in case the primary data source is not available, the secondary one such as statistical yearbooks is used.
4  In case revised figures have been published, they are adopted wherever possible.
5  Yearly data for calendar years or fiscal years, annual average date, and date as of a certain date are presented principally. Monthly data are included only when they are especially significant.

III Table of Contents

The table of contents is prepared in such a way that it may be commonly used for the publication and the CD-ROM. Therefore, the "table of contents" in the publication includes statistical tables which are contained in the CD-ROM only. Distinction between tables contained both in the publication and the CD-ROM and those contained in the CD-ROM only is shown as follows:

1) If a table number is in [ ], the table is contained in the CD-ROM only. If a part of a table name is in [ ], the part of the table is contained in the CD-ROM only.

2) If * is attached to the page number of a table, there is some difference between the publication and the CD-ROM. The difference is described in the top margin of the respective table.

Example
Climate
1-14    Duration of Sunshine, [Weather Days] - By Observing Stations (1890--2003) ······ 52 *
1-15    Precipitation, [Wind Speed, Snow Depth] - By Observing Stations (1873--2003) ······ 54 *
1-16    Average Temperature of a Year [Temperature, Relative Humidity etc.]- By Observing Stations(1873--2003)　······ 56 *
[1-17] Phenomena in Cold Seasons (1951--2003) ······ CD

IV Figures presented

1 For Okinawa

In principle, statistical surveys after the World War II cover the territory under the Japanese jurisdiction only. Therefore, data for Japan form 1945 through 1972 do not include those for Okinawa unless otherwise stated. In various statistics by prefecture, cells for Okinawa are filled with "-- ."
For statistics in the Chapter 1 "Land and Climate," however, Japan includes Okinawa.
With regard to the Population Census, the Government of Ryukyu Islands also conducted censuses every 5 years. Those data are consolidated with those for the mainland Japan. Therefore, the Japanese total includes Okinawa for the statistics derived from the Population Census.

2 Unit

Units of figures are those used in the original date sources principle.

3 Conversion of units

As the measuring system was changed from the shaku-kan system to the metric system, wherever applicable, units of measurement are converted to those of today. Footnotes are inserted as appropriate in such cases.

4 Total and breakdowns

The total dose not necessarily agree with the sum of the broken-down items. One reason is rounding, and the other is omission of "not reported."

V Statistical tables

1 Numbering of tables

(1) The table number is composed of three parts, namely, chapter number, main number and branch number. Both the chapter number and the main number start with 1 in numerical order and a branch number starts with "a" in alphabetical order.

(2) In the following cases, branch numbers are attached to the same main number.

a) Change in the classification.

b) Actual figures and derived figures.

c) Indexes based on different base years.

2 Indication of the period covered

The beginning year and the ending year are indicated in ( ) following the title.

3 Indication of the unit

In principle, the unit is placed in the top margin of the table. If units are different among items, they are shown in the boxhead of the respective items. A change in the unit during the period is indicated with a broken line "……."

4 Names of items

Names of items are based on the original sources. If the name is changed during the period, the latest name is presented and the former ones are shown in the footnote.

5 English description

If space is not enough for an English description, it is shown in the footnote.

6 Indication of years

In principle, years of both the Japanese era and the Christian era are shown in the stub of the table.

7 Reference table

Reference tables are presented in Chapter 14. These tables are not necessarily clearly defined or described from a statistical point of view.

VI Footnotes

1 Notes applicable to the whole table are shown as (1),(2), ...

2 Notes applicable to specific items/years are shown as 1) , 2), ...

3 Notes applicable to specific cells are shown as a), b), ...

4 "Source" shows the name of the authority concerned. If the name of an organization is changed, only the latest name is shown.

5 Footnotes for "Source" and numbers with ( ) are shown only in the first page for the table, and not in the succeeding pages, whereas, footnotes for 1), 2), ... and a), b) ... are shown in the pages concerned.

VII Symbols in statistical tables and indication of discontinuity

1 Symbols in statistical tables

-- : Null, or not applicable.

…

: Not available.
0 : Figure below unit
x : Figure withheld for confidentiality
# : Indicates "of which" with regard to the major heading to the left (Illustration 1).
* : Indicates that, only the total figure is presented, and that figures for items are not available (Illustration 2).

Illustration 1

Illustration 2

2 Indication of discontinuity

Where discontinuity exists between years, a broken line "……" is drawn to attract attention. In addition, the reason is presented in the footnote.