Menthol and camphor formerly were special essential oil products of Japan. After World War II, however, Japan has been deprived of Formosa, the biggest natural camphor producing area in the world. This, together with the appearance of synthetic camphor, reduced Japan's camphor production down to 1, 700 tons in 1963 from the prewar peak of 9, 000 tons (including Formosan camphor).
On the other hand, Japan's output of menthol declined to 300 tons (in 1963) from the peak of 700 tons, due to the advance of the Brazilian menthol on the world market, and the development of synthetic menthol.
Conditioned by climate, weather, and various other factors, Japan is obliged to rely upon imports largely for her essential oils requirements, Japan imported 1, 551 tons of essential oils, worth US9, 640, 000 in 1962, and 1981 tons, valued at US12, 640, 000 in 1963.
Meanwhile, earnest efforts have been, and are being devoted by the Japanese essential oil producers to derive aromatic from various varieties of plants, including Spearmint, Lavender, Geranium, Ho-sho, Vetiver, and Hamanasu (Rosy Rugosa, Thunb),
Output of these essential oils in 1963 is given in the following table:
Production of Essential Oils
Lavender Oil 4, 000
Geranium Oil 5, 000
Ho-sho Leaf Oil 15, 000
Vetiver Oill 2, 000
Technics have been developed to very high levels in Japan, for either growing aromatic plants or extraction of oils or construction of refining facilities, since it is especially necessary in this country to produce maximum possible quantity of essential oil in a limites farming area.
With a view to countering the intensifying efforts are being made to set up refineries in areas fit for growing different varieties of aromatic plants.
