Unit 17

1. Unit 17 How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials?

2. How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? What are the raw materials and fuels needed by the heavy industries in Japan? Raw materials and power required Coal, oil and natural gas are needed for the generation of power. Large quantities of coal, limestone, iron and other metallic ores are required for producing iron and steel. Copper, aluminum, zinc, lead and tin are the mineral ores widely used in heavy industries.

3. Coalfield Copper Oilfield Gasfield H.E.P. Iron ore km How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? Power and mineral resources of Japan

4. In the early 19th century Today Import of raw materials and power Export of products Export of products Industrial centre in the coalfield Iron and steel works Coalfield Port km Import of raw materials and power Railway Export of products How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? What are the raw materials and fuels needed by the heavy industries in Japan? Location of industries

5. The Port of Tokyo is well known in the world How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? What are the raw materials and fuels needed by the heavy industries in Japan? Location of industries Today the heavy industries of Japan depend very much on imported raw materials and fuels. Japan has a lot of good ports along the coast of southern Honshu.

6. Top 10 commodity of Imports (2000) How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? How do imported raw materials and fuels affect the development of Japan’s heavy industries? Big Foreign Trade Japan exports its manufactured products in exchange for raw materials and fuels with a large number of countries.

7. Top 10 commodity of Exports (2000) How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? How do imported raw materials and fuels affect the development of Japan’s heavy industries? Big Foreign Trade Japan has large trade surpluses as its exports are larger than its imports.

8. US¢per gallon Price fluctuation of heating oil How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? How do imported raw materials and fuels affect the development of Japan’s heavy industries? Price fluctuation The prices of imported materials may fluctuate and affect the production costs. The higher the prices of materials, the higher the production costs, which will affect Japan's competitiveness in the world market.

9. Coal Iron ore Coal Coal Iron ore Iron ore Iron ore Iron ore Oil Crude oil Coal Bauxite km How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? How do imported raw materials and fuels affect the development of Japan’s heavy industries? High transport costs Most of the supplies come from very far away sources. To transport coal and iron ore over such a long distance certainly increases the cost of production.

10. Country D Market Supply of materials Country A Competitor Export of products Japan Country B Competitor Country C Market, supplier and competitor km How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? How do imported raw materials and fuels affect the development of Japan’s heavy industries? Shortage of supply There is the possibility that the supply from a certain country may be greatly reduced or even cut off.

11. Nuclear power station How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? What is Japan’s solution to its shortage of raw materials and fuels? Develop Nuclear Power It accounts for 36% of the electricity supply of Japan and the government is planning to further develop nuclear power.

12. A coal plant in Japan How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? What is Japan’s solution to its shortage of raw materials and fuels? Develop Renewable Energy The government of Japan promotes greater use of local coal and a reduction in the dependence on imported oil.

13. How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? What is Japan’s solution to its shortage of raw materials and fuels? Develop Renewable Energy The government is planning to increase the proportion of its renewable energy. It is now investing heavily in research into improvements in using solar energy and geothermal power.

14. How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? What is Japan’s solution to its shortage of raw materials and fuels? Use Bigger Bulk Carriers They are used to reduce the cost of transport of raw materials and fuels.

15. How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? What is Japan’s solution to its shortage of raw materials and fuels? Diversify sources of suppliers Japan always seeks mining concessions and purchase agreements in many different parts of the world.

16. Kumamoto Techno Research Park How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? What is Japan’s solution to its shortage of raw materials and fuels? Shift to high-value added industries The government has also encouraged industries to shift towards less energy-intensive but high value-added industries.

17. How can Japan develop heavy industries with limited local fuel and raw materials? Terms to learn Power-oriented industries (動力導向工業) - industries that are located at or near the source of power supply for the easy reach of power. Material-oriented industries (原料導向工業) -industries that are located at or near the source of supply of raw materials for easy reach of raw materials.