Abstract
Data published in reports of a Scientific Research Group sponsored by the Government and those collected by the author were analysed in terms of geographical, social and environmental differences, and the following result was obtained.
1. Stature of the Japanese race is the highest in urban communities followed by fisliing villages and low in inland rural communities, especially in mountainous places. Inhabitants of small towns and fishing villages are of about the same stature. 2
. As grand averages the author presents
160, 43cm for men
149.13cm for women
of the Japanese race to date (1950-1952). These figuresare slightly greater than those of Javanese and smaller than those of most Asian races: Chinese, Koreans, Mongolians, Burmese, Siamese, Nepal and Indian people.
3. Major factors causing the difference between urban and inland rural inhabitants are to be sought in environmental and livelihood conditions rather than selective effect of urbanization.
4. Inhabitants of Tsushima (Tusima) Island in ICorean Channel are exceptionally tall (male, 161.91 and female, 149.83), perhaps mostly due to racial genetic factors related to its geographical location.
