The paper presented distribution maps of climatic water balance components in the southwestern part of Japan. The water balance was evaluated by means of bookkeeping procedures based on the Thornthwaite's system (1948). According to the concept of Russell's climatic years (1934), potential evapotranspiration, water surplus, water deficit and number of dry months were annually evaluated and averaged for a period of sixteen years from 1967 to 1982. The distribution maps of the four components were made by using the mean annual values at 415 stations.
The maps show precise regional differences among plains and basins and provide basic data, for example, for the studies of vegetation and land use.