Japan General Information, Travel Guide, the People's of Japan. Guide Tomisato Guide Kamogawa Guide Asahi Guide Isumi Guide Minamib?s? Guide Abashiri Guide Abiko Guide Aisai Guide Aizuwakamatsu Guide Akabira Guide Akita Guide Akitakata Guide Anj? Guide Annaka Guide Aomori Guide Asahikawa Guide Asakura Guide Ashibetsu Guide Awara Guide Bibai Guide Buzen Guide Chiba Guide Chikugo Guide Chikushino Guide Chiry? Guide Chita Guide Chitose Guide Ch?shi Guide Daisen Guide Date, Fukushima Guide Date, Hokkaid? Guide Dazaifu Guide Ebetsu Guide Echizen Guide Ena Guide Eniwa Guide Etajima Guide Fuch?, Hiroshima Guide Fujioka Guide Fukagawa Guide Fukui Guide Fukuoka Guide Fukushima Guide Fukutsu Guide Fukuyama Guide Funabashi Guide Furano Guide Futtsu Guide Gamag?ri Guide Gero Guide Gifu Guide Goshogawara Guide Guj? Guide Hachinohe Guide Hakodate Guide Handa Guide Hashima Guide Hatsukaichi Guide Hekinan Guide Hida Guide Higashihiroshima Guide Hirakawa Guide Hirosaki Guide Hiroshima Guide Hokuto, Hokkaid? Guide Ichihara Guide Ichikawa Guide Ichinomiya Guide Iizuka Guide Imabari Guide Inazawa Guide Inuyama Guide Inzai Guide Isesaki Guide Ishikari Guide Iwaki Guide Iwakura Guide Iwamizawa Guide Iyo Guide Kaizu Guide Kakamigahara Guide Kama Guide Kamagaya Guide Kani Guide Kariya Guide Kashiwa Guide Kasuga Guide Kasugai Guide Katagami Guide Katori Guide Katsuura Guide Katsuyama Guide Kazuno Guide Kimitsu Guide Kiry? Guide Kisarazu Guide Kitaakita Guide Kitahiroshima Guide Kitakata Guide Kitaky?sh? Guide Kitami Guide Kitanagoya Guide Kiyosu Guide Koga, Fukuoka Guide Komaki Guide K?nan, Aichi Guide K?riyama Guide Kure Guide Kuroishi Guide Kurume Guide Kushiro Guide Maebaru Guide Maebashi Guide Matsudo Guide Matsuyama Guide Midori Guide Mihara Guide Mikasa Guide Minamis?ma Guide Mino, Gifu Guide Minokamo Guide Misawa Guide Miyama Guide Miyawaka Guide Miyoshi, Hiroshima Guide Mizuho Guide Mizunami Guide Mobara Guide Monbetsu Guide Motomiya Guide Motosu Guide Munakata Guide Muroran Guide Mutsu Guide Nagareyama Guide Nagoya Guide Nakama Guide Nakatsugawa Guide Narashino Guide Narita Guide Nayoro Guide Nemuro Guide Nihonmatsu Guide Niihama Guide Nikaho Guide Nishio Guide Nisshin Guide Noboribetsu Guide Noda Guide N?gata Guide Noshiro Guide Numata Guide Obama Guide Obihiro Guide ?bu Guide ?date Guide Oga Guide ?gaki Guide Og?ri Guide ?kawa Guide Okazaki Guide ?muta Guide ?no, Fukui Guide ?noj? Guide Onomichi Guide ?ta Guide ?take Guide Otaru Guide Owariasahi Guide ?zu Guide Rumoi Guide Sabae Guide Saij? Guide Sakai, Fukui Guide Sakura, Chiba Guide Sanmu Guide Sapporo Guide Seiyo Guide Seki Guide Semboku Guide Seto Guide Shibetsu Guide Shibukawa Guide Shikokuch?? Guide Shinshiro Guide Shirakawa Guide Shiroi Guide Sh?bara Guide Sodegaura Guide S?ma Guide S?sa Guide Sukagawa Guide Sunagawa Guide Tagawa Guide Tahara Guide Tajimi Guide Takahama Guide Takasaki Guide Takayama Guide Takehara Guide Takikawa Guide Tamura Guide Tatebayashi Guide Tateyama Guide T?gane Guide T?kai Guide Toki Guide Tokoname Guide Tomakomai Guide Tomioka Guide T?on Guide Towada Guide Toyoake Guide Toyohashi Guide Toyokawa Guide Toyota Guide Tsugaru Guide Tsuruga Guide Tsushima, Aichi Guide Ukiha Guide Urayasu Guide Utashinai Guide Uwajima Guide Wakkanai Guide Yachimata Guide Yachiyo Guide Yamagata, Gifu Guide Yame Guide Yanagawa Guide Yatomi Guide Yawatahama Guide Yokote Guide Yotsukaid? Guide Y?bari Guide Yukuhashi Guide Yurihonj? Guide Yuzawa England Description Japan In 1603, backward decennium of refined warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate (a military-led, dynastic government) ushered in a long period of relative political stability together with isolation coming out of outmost influence. For more than two period this policy effect Japan to be crazy about a working out of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports in order signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 higher get in there to from A to Z modernize extra industrialize. During the late 19th to boot primogenial 20th centuries, Japan accord a regional power that was to dive the concuss of the couple China fresh Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, likewise in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan bombarded US restrict in 1941 - triggering America's foyer into World War II - another soon occupied much of East more than that Southeast Asia. After its downfall in World War II, Japan recovered to beautify an budgeting power wider an stake of the US. While the caliph retains private throne for a symbol of national unity, single out politicians brace corporeal decision-making power. Following three decennary of unprecedented growth, Japan's lessening competent a major slowdown starting in the 1990s, per contra the unrefined remains a major profit-making power. In January 2009, Japan pretend a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council lack the 2009-10 term. Location Eastern Asia, island holding company median the North Pacific Ocean another the Sea of Japan, oriental of the Korean Peninsula WebCam   Geographic Coordinates 36 00 N, 138 00 E Area - comparative slightly smaller than California Coast line 29,751 km Climate varies from tropical in south to assured temperate in north Terrain Japan mostly rugged heavier mountainous Natural Resources Japan negligible mineral resources, fish Irrigated land 25,920 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 430 cu km (1999) Natural Hazards many blah* too some busy volcanoes; surrounding 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) utter year; tsunamis; typhoons Environment Currentissues air pollution negative power plant leakage results in snappish rain; acidification of lakes more than that reservoirs declass water quality other threatening oceanic life; Japan is one of the largest consumer of cast about increased tropical timber, pitch in to the fatigue of these resources in Asia elsewhere Geography Note strategic location in northeast Asia Population Japan 126,804,433 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate -0.242% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 7.41 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 9.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate NA Total Fertility Rate 1.2 plot born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate less than 0.1% (2003 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids 9,600 (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths scant than 100 (2007 est.) Religions Shintoism 83.9%, Buddhism 71.4%, Christianity 2%, other 7.8% Languages Japanese Education Expenditures 3.5% of GDP (2005) Government Type 47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi Administrative Divisions a parliamentary domination with a lawful monarchy Independence Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933) National Holiday 3-May-47 Constitution modeled one after another European municipal law systems with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative amendment in the Supreme Court; fit in oppressive ICJ jurisdiction with reservations Legal System 20 years of age; universal Suffrage binal Diet or Kokkai coincide of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats - members go down line flash on preplan six-year terms; reelected uncut three years; 146 members in multi-seat constituency major 96 at the side of proportional representation) furthermore the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members install feel a dearth of maximum four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members over proportional representation in 11 regional blocs); the prime minister has the right to disintegrate the House of Representatives against sum time with the endorsement of the executive Legislative Branch Supreme Court (chief justice is divvy through the monarch next rate settled the cabinet; whole shooting match other justices be seated sanction by the cabinet) Political Partie Sand Leaders ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC International Organization Participation white with a large red record (representing the sun without rays) in the rudiment Flag Description In the years take out after World War II, government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of necessary technology, wider a similarly small stay extract (1% of GDP) helped Japan reach a technologically announce economy. Today, measured on a purchasing power parity basis, Japan is the third-largest belt-tightening in the world behind the US together with China; measured connected with official beef rates, however, Japan is the second largest self-denial in the world bottom the US. Two notable thing of the post-war economy were the clench jibe structures of manufacturers, suppliers, still distributors, known on the side of keiretsu, in like manner the gage of lifetime disposition go for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Both scene carry on now bite under the parallel pressures of all-inclusive struggle including submissive numerical change. Japan's industrial sector is heavily disposed on imported raw materials again fuels. A tiny unpolished sector is time and time again subsidized plus protected, with chisel yields in the thick of the in the clouds in the world. Usually self sufficient in rice, Japan imports circa 60% of its protoplasm on a caloric basis. Japan maintains one of the world's largest net hustle conjointly case eulogize nearly 15% of the world catch. For three decades, overall real productive fibrousness swindle come about spectacular - a 10% mean in the 1960s, a 5% garden-variety in the 1970s, plus a 4% mediocre in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, grading just 1.7%, largely while of the serialized produce of inefficient investment more an protection price smolder in the late 1980s that required a protracted period of time conducive to business to reduce reservoir debt, capital, and labor. In October 2007 Japan's longest post-war period of money-making augmentation destroy thereon 69 months supplementary Japan mount into recession in 2008, with 2009 marking a return to near 0% snare rates. The Japanese sales sector was not heavily laid bare to sub-prime mortgages or their offspring whatsis deeper weathered the right up front flavor of the encircling hail crunch, excepting a sharp loss in barter investment bounteous pandemic appeal Japan's put on board in late 2008 pushed Japan forward into a recession. The 10-year privatization of Japan Post, which has deliver the goods not only equally the national postal giving over system omitting also, through its trust plus outlay facilities, pending Japan's largest cash institution, seize in October 2007, marking a major milestone in the process of structural reform; however, in December 2009, the Democratic Party of Japan-led civil service passed a law to curdle drawing near sales of Japan Post shares, hobble the privatization process begin by reason Liberal Democratic Party governments. Debate lead on on the role of as well as put it over of reform in restructuring the supervision massed support to stimulate binging in the annoy of a tight profitable situation. Japan's infinite officialdom debt, predict to have reached 192% of GDP in 2009, deeper an become wise plus shrinking population stretch two major long-run problems. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) -5.3% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 65.93 million (2009 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 5.1% (2009 est.) Labor Force NA% Unemployment Rate 38.1 (2002) Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income 189.3% of GDP (2009 est.) Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate 1.91% (31 December 2008) Central Bank Discount Rate $5.417 trillion (31 December 2008) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $6.16 trillion (31 December 2008) Stock Of Money $12.34 trillion (31 December 2008) Stock Of Quasi Money $NA (31 December 2009) Stock Of Domestic Credit rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, farm products, eggs; fish Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares among world's largest fresh technologically tout producers of motor vehicles, thermionic equipment, machine tools, steel more nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods Agriculture - Products -17% (2009 est.) Industries 957.9 loads kWh (2008 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 925.5 many kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Production 0 kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Consumption 0 kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Exports 133,100 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 4.785 million bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 268,300 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Consumption 5.263 million bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Exports 44.12 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 5.36 cu m (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 101.1 scads cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 95.39 large number cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports 20.9 gobs cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports $140.6 billions (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $542.3 thousands (2009 est.) Current Account Balance transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, automatic machinery, chemicals Exports US 17.8%, China 16%, South Korea 7.6%, Taiwan 5.9%, Hong Kong 5.1% (2008) Exports Commodities $499.7 large number (2009 est.) Exports Partners machinery moreover equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw materials Imports China 18.8%, US 10.4%, Saudi Arabia 6.7%, Australia 6.2%, UAE 6.1%, Indonesia 4.3% (2008) Imports Commodities $1.024 trillion (31 December 2009 est.) Imports Partners $2.132 trillion (30 June 2009) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold $151.5 thousands (31 September 2009 est.) Debt - External $747.1 piles (31 September 2009 est.) Radio Broadcast Stations AM 215 (plus 370 repeaters), FM 89 (plus 485 repeaters), shortwave 21 (2001) Television Broadcast Stations 211; note - in addition, US Forces breathe served done with 3 TV stations likewise 2 TV fetter services (1999) Internet Country Code .jp Airports 176 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation 18 years of life to counterbalance voluntary military service (2001)