Essay --

From the 1800s to the 1930s, Japan and India were technologically similar in that both countries increased the use of machines to produce textiles for the cotton industries. They also had economical similarities because the factory workers were all being paid low wages. Despite the similarities, Japan and India socially differed in the dominance of gender among the workers, as well as where the factory workers came from. Japan and India both increased the use of machinery throughout the years. Document 1, 2, and 6 are evidence proving that both countries increase the usage of machines while producing textiles. The Production of Cotton Yarn and Cloth in India chart (Doc 1) shows that the amount of hand-spun yarn decreased, while the amount of machine-spun yarn increases. The amount of machine-made cloth had also increased significantly in 1914. The increase in machine-made and machine-spun textile shows that India is beginning to rely on machines more than hand power. Likewise, the Production of Cotton Yarn in Japan chart (Doc 2) shows that cotton yarn significantly increased from 5 million pounds in 1884 to 666 million pounds in 1914. The Japanese would have to increase the use of machines as well as the use of hand power to maintain the rising number of yarn produced. The increase of yarn is the result of the Japanese developing in the textile industry. Both charts from Document 1 and 2 display tha t Japan and India increased the usage of machines in making yarn. The Indian economist, Radhakamal Mukerjee, in 1916 (Doc 6) states that there has been a decrease in handwoven clothing as handloom weavers are abandoning their looms in India. The reduction of handwoven clothing is an outcome of the increase usage in textile machines. S... ...d-spun yarn. The journal entry of an Indian worker could be helpful, in that it provides a primary source of the life of a textile worker. Since there were entries on Japanese workers (Doc 3), it would only be beneficial to provide one for an Indian worker. This entry can show the differences in how the workers are being paid and treated. Being provided with this information can help further explain the differences between Japan and India’s workers. In conclusion, they both increased the use of machinery to produce the cotton and managed to pay the workers in low wages. However, in Japan, the majority of the workers seem to be women. In India, most of the workers are men. The laborers come from different places and social rankings, depending on the country. Overall, Japan and India have certain similarities as well as differences concerning the cotton industries.