Japan and Copper
In the 17th century when Japan was governed by the Tokugawa samurai clan, Japan was the largest exporter of copper.
The then largest copper refining plant in Japan, called Sumitomo Do-Fuki-Syo, was built in Osaka, 30-km southwest of Kyoto, in 1636. Hundreds of workers were engaged in the plant surrounded by canals. They produced copper wire bars for export to Southeast Asia via the port city Nagasaki. In the late 17th century, the production of Japanese copper became the largest in the world, thus having a strong influence on copper prices in Europe as Adam Smith wrote in Wealth of Nations. At the time Japan delivered 6,000 tons of copper bars one third of which was produced in the Sumitomo plant.
From this business, a big company syndicate called Sumitomo emerged. Accordingly, when the samurai regime collapsed and modernization and Westernization of Japan started under the imperial regime in the late 19th century, the Sumitomo plant came to be used by the super rich Sumitomo clan.
Japan also produced a great amount of silver and gold. Vatican missionaries who visited Japan around 1600 all reported active business of producing and trading silver and gold in Japan at the time. Even as symbolized by the Japanese sword, Japan also produced a great amount of iron, though, mainly in the form of iron sand.
So, Japan has been historically a nation of metal. If you know it, you might change your view on Japan. In addition, Japan has also produced a sufficient amount of coal which became one of driving factors of industrialization of Japan since the late 19th century.
Anyway, the miracle of Japan in the 20th century was based on various factors such as Japanese spiritualism, higher and expansive education of the public, and tradition of the world-class metal industry which can be traced back to the 17th century.
Indeed, it is not easy for any developing country to rise and grow as another Japan.
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Today, it was found that a nuclear power plant in South Korea lost all the power sources for running its facilities for about 20 minutes a month ago. The plant did not report the accident till today.
Without an M9.0 earthquake and a 15-meter high tsunami, a nuclear accident could occur. The world must check every nuclear power plant for real.
Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.