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Japan
{{Otheruses|
Japan (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox_Country|
|native_name = 日本国
''Nihon-koku''
''Nippon-koku''
|conventional_long_name = Japan
|common_name = Japan
|image_flag = Flag of Japan.svg
|image_coat = Imperial Seal of Japan.svg
|image_map = LocationMapJapan.png
|national_motto = (none)
|national_anthem =
Kimi Ga Yo
|official_languages =
Japanese language Japanese
|capital =
Tokyo
|latd=35 |latm=41 |latNS=N |longd=139 |longm=46 |longEW=E |
|largest_city =
Tokyo*
|government_type =
Constitutional monarchy
|leader_titles =
Emperor of Japan EmperorPrime Minister of Japan Prime Minister
|leader_names =
AkihitoJunichiro Koizumi
|area_rank = 63
|area_magnitude = 1 E8
|area= 377,835
|areami²=145,883
|percent_water = 0.8%
|population_estimate = 127,417,244
|population_estimate_year = 2005
|population_estimate_rank = 10th
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density = 337
|population_densitymi² =873
|population_density_rank = 18th
|GDP_nominal_year= 2004
|GDP_nominal = 4.8 trillion
|GDP_nominal_rank = 2nd
|GDP_PPP_year= 2006
|GDP_PPP = $4.167 trillion
|GDP_PPP_rank = 3rd
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $32,640
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 12th
|sovereignty_type =
History of Japan Formation
|established_events =
Emperor JimmuMeiji RestorationJapanese Constitution Current constitutionTreaty of San Francisco
|established_dates =
660 BCJanuary 3,
1868May 3,
1947April 28,
1952
|HDI_year = 2003
|HDI = 0.943
|HDI_rank = 11th
|HDI_category =
high
|currency =
Japanese yen Yen (Â¥)
|currency_code = JPY
|country_code = JPN
|time_zone =
Japan Standard Time JST
|utc_offset = +9
|time_zone_DST = None
|utc_offset_DST =
|cctld =
.jp
|calling_code = 81
|footnotes = * Largest urban area.
Yokohama is the largest incorporated city.
}}
'''Japan''' (
Japanese language Japanese: 日本, '''Nihon''' or '''Nippon''') is an
island country located on the
Pacific Ocean, east of
China and
Korea, stretching from the
Sea of Okhotsk in the north to
Taiwan in the south. It is composed of over 3,000 islands, the largest of which are
Hokkaido HokkaidÅ?,
Honshu Honshū,
Shikoku, and
Kyushu Kyūshū. Most of Japan's islands are mountainous, and many are
volcano volcanic; the highest peak is
Mount Fuji.
Japan is the world's
List of countries by GDP (nominal) second-largest economy and one of the world's
G8 leading industrialized countries. It is a
unitary state unitary constitutional monarchy with an
Emperor of Japan emperor and an elected
Diet of Japan parliament, one of the oldest legislatures in Asia. Despite its rugged terrain, it is one of the most populous—and one of the most densely populated—countries in the world. Its capital,
Tokyo, is the largest metropolitan area in the world with over thirty million residents.
Historically, Japan adopted many
Chinese culture Chinese customs and institutions beginning in the 7th and 8th centuries. From the 12th century to the mid-1800s, Japan was a
feudalism feudal country led by clans of warriors. After the
Meiji Restoration of
1868, Japan adopted many European and American customs and institutions. Its culture today is a mixture of these influences along with traditional
Japanese culture.
Japan's name in
Chinese characters is often translated as "
Names of Japan Land of the Rising Sun", and comes from the country's location on the east coast of Asia. Its English name is derived from
Chinese language Chinese names for Japan.
History
{{main|History of Japan}}
Pre-history
{{History_of_Japan}}
Archaeology Archaeological research indicates that the earliest inhabitants of the
Japanese archipelago migrated over land bridges from
Northeast Asia about 30,000 years ago. Other evidence also suggests that some may have later come by sea from
Southeast Asia during a period of migration toward the
Pacific Ocean.
Image:MiddleJomonVessel.JPG Jomon.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|left|160px|A Middle [[Jomon vessel (3000 to 2000 BC).html" title="Meaning of left|160px|A Middle [[Jomon">thumb|left|160px|A Middle [[Jomon vessel (3000 to 2000 BC)">left|160px|A Middle [[Jomon">thumb|left|160px|A Middle [[Jomon vessel (3000 to 2000 BC)
The first signs of civilization appeared around
10th millennium BC 10,000 BC with the
Jomon culture, characterized by a
Mesolithic to
Neolithic semi-sedentary
hunter-gatherer lifestyle of pit dwelling and a rudimentary form of
agriculture.
Weaving was still unknown and clothes were often made of
bark. Around that time, however, the Jomon people started to make
clay vessels, decorated with patterns made by impressing the wet clay with braided or unbraided cord and sticks (Jomon means "patterns of plaited cord"). This led to the introduction of the earliest known type of
pottery in the world.
The start of the
Yayoi period around 300 BC marked the influx of new practices such as
rice farming,
shamanism, and
iron and
bronze-making brought by migrants from
Korea. These formed the basic elements of traditional Japanese culture, still seen today. As the population increased and society became more complex, they wove cloth, lived in permanent farming villages, constructed buildings of wood and stone, accumulated wealth through landownership and the storage of grain, and developed distinct social classes.
The ensuing
Kofun era, beginning around
250 AD 250, saw the establishment of strong military states centered around powerful clans. The
Yamato court, concentrated in the
Asuka region, suppressed the clans and acquired agricultural lands, increasing their power. Based upon the Chinese model, they developed a central administration and an imperial court system (the
Ritsuryo state) and society was organized into occupation groups: farmers, fishermen, weavers, potters, artisans, armorers, and ritual specialists.
Classical era
The Japanese did not start writing their own histories until the 5th and 6th centuries, when the
Chinese written language Chinese writing system,
Buddhism, advanced
pottery, ceremonial burial, and other aspects of culture were introduced by aristocrats, artisans, scholars, and monks from
Baekje, one of the
Three Kingdoms of Korea.
The beginning of Japanese historical writing culminated in the early 8th century with the massive chronicles,
Kojiki (The Record of Ancient Matters, 712) and
Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Japan, 720). Though Japan did not appear in written history until 57, when it is first mentioned in Chinese records as the nation of "
Wa (Japan) Wa" (in Chinese, "Wo"), or "dwarf state", these chronicles tell a much different and much more legendary history of Japan, deriving the people of Japan from the gods themselves.
According to traditional Japanese mythology, Japan was founded in the 7th century BC by the ancestral Emperor
Jinmu, a direct descendant of the Shinto deity
Amaterasu. It is claimed that he started a line of emperors that remains unbroken, to this day. However, historians believe the first emperor who actually existed was Emperor
Ojin, though the date of his reign is uncertain. Nonetheless, for most of Japan's history, real power has been in the hands of the court nobility, the
shoguns, the military, or, more recently, prime ministers.
Through the
Taika Reform Edicts of 645, Japanese intensified the adoption of Chinese cultural practices and reorganized the government in accordance with the Chinese administrative structure. This paved the way for the dominance of
Confucianism Confucian philosophy in Japan until the 19th century.
Image:TodaijiDaibutsu0224.jpg Buddha.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|160px|The Great [[Buddha at
Todaiji,
Nara, Nara Nara, originally cast in 752.html" title="Meaning of 160px|The Great [[Buddha">thumb|160px|The Great [[Buddha at
Todaiji,
Nara, Nara Nara, originally cast in 752">160px|The Great [[Buddha">thumb|160px|The Great [[Buddha at
Todaiji,
Nara, Nara Nara, originally cast in 752
The
Nara period of the 8th century marked the first strong Japanese state, centered around an imperial court, in the city of Heijo-kyo (now
Nara, Nara Nara). The imperial court later moved briefly to
Nagaoka, and later Heian-kyo (now
Kyoto), starting a "golden age" of classical Japanese culture called the
Heian Period Heian period which lasted for nearly four centuries and was characterized by the regency regime of the
Fujiwara clan.
Medieval era
Japan's
medieval era was characterized by the emergence of a ruling class of
warriors, the
samurai. In the year 1185, general
Minamoto no Yoritomo established a base of power in
Kamakura, Kanagawa Kamakura. After Yoritomo's death, another warrior clan, the
Hojo clan Hojo, came to rule as regents for the
shoguns. The shogunate managed to repel
Mongols Mongol invasions from
Mongol invasions of Korea Mongol-occupied Korea in 1274 and 1281, with assistance from a storm that the Japanese interpreted as divine intervention, and named
Kamikaze (typhoon) kamikaze (Divine Wind). The
Kamakura shogunate lasted another fifty years. Its successor, the
Ashikaga shogunate, was much weaker, and Japan soon fell into warring factions. The "Warring States" or
Sengoku period ensued.
Image:NanbanGroup.JPG Portuguese people thumb|160px|left|A group of [[Portuguese people|Portuguese Nanban foreigners, 17th century.html" title="Meaning of Portuguese.html" title="Meaning of thumb|160px|left|A group of [[Portuguese people|Portuguese">thumb|160px|left|A group of [[Portuguese people|Portuguese
Nanban foreigners, 17th century">Portuguese.html" title="Meaning of thumb|160px|left|A group of [[Portuguese people|Portuguese">thumb|160px|left|A group of [[Portuguese people|Portuguese
Nanban foreigners, 17th century
During the 16th century, traders and
missionary missionaries from
Portugal reached Japan for the first time, initiating the ''
Nanban trade period Nanban'' ("southern barbarian") period of active commercial and cultural exchange between Japan and the West (and even China). During the last quarter of this century,
Oda Nobunaga,
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and
Tokugawa Ieyasu established increasingly strong control over the warring states of Japan. Toyotomi reunified the country, and following this the Tokugawa shogunate pursued a policy of isolation. This period of isolation lasted for two and a half centuries, a time of tenuous political unity known as the
Edo period, considered to be the height of Japan's medieval culture.
Modern era
In 1854,
Matthew Perry (naval officer) Commodore Matthew Perry of the
United States Navy forced the opening of Japan to the West with the
Convention of Kanagawa. The
Boshin War of 1867 to 1868 led to the resignation of the shogunate, and the
Meiji Restoration established a government centered around the emperor.
Japan adopted numerous Western institutions during the
Meiji period, including a modern government, legal system, and military. These reforms helped transform the
Empire of Japan into a world power, defeating
China in the
First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) and
Russia in the
Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). By 1910, Japan controlled
Korea,
Taiwan, and the southern half of
Sakhalin.
Image:Japanese_Empire2.png thumb|240px|The Empire of Japan encompassed most of East and Southeast Asia at its height, in 1942
The early 20th century saw a brief period of "
Taisho democracy" overshadowed by the rise of
Japanese expansionism.
World War I enabled Japan, which fought on the side of the victorious
Allies, to expand its influence in
Asia, and its territorial holdings in the Pacific. In 1936, however, Japan signed the
Anti-Comintern Pact, joining with Germany and Italy to form the
Axis alliance. During this period, Japan invaded China, occupying
Manchuria in 1931, and continued its expansion into
China proper in 1937, starting the
Second Sino-Japanese War, which lasted until the end of
World War II. In 1941, after US
Franklin D. Roosevelt President Franklin D. Roosevelt demanded that Japan withdraw its forces from China, Japan
Attack on Pearl Harbor attacked the United States naval base in Pearl Harbor as well as
United Kingdom British and
Netherlands Dutch colonies in
Southeast Asia, bringing the
United States into the war.
After a long campaign in the
Pacific Ocean, Japan lost its initial territorial gains, and American forces moved close enough to begin
strategic bombing of
Tokyo,
Osaka, and other major cities, as well as the
atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings of
Hiroshima and
Nagasaki. The Japanese eventually agreed to an unconditional surrender to the Allies on
August 15,
1945 (
V-J Day). The
International Military Tribunal for the Far East Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal was convened on
May 31946 to prosecute
Japanese war crimes, including atrocities like the
Nanking Massacre. Emperor
Hirohito, however, was given immunity and retained his title.
The war cost millions of lives in Japan and other countries, especially in
East Asia, and left much of the country's industries and infrastructure destroyed. Official
Occupied Japan American occupation lasted until 1952, although
United States Forces Japan U.S. forces still retain important bases in Japan, especially in
Okinawa. In 1947, Japan adopted a new
pacifism pacifist Constitution of Japan constitution, seeking international cooperation and emphasizing human rights and democratic practices.
After the occupation, under a program of aggressive industrial development and U.S. assistance, Japan achieved spectacular growth to become one of the largest economies in the world. Despite a major
stock market crash in 1990, from which the country is recovering gradually, Japan remains a global economic power today and is now bidding for a permanent seat on the
United Nations Security Council.
Government and politics
{{main|Government of Japan}}
In academic studies, Japan is generally considered a
constitutional monarchy, based largely upon the British system with strong influences from European continental
civil law countries such as Germany and France. For example, Japanese government established Civil Code, Minpo,refering to French Civil Code in 1896. With post-World War II modifications, the code remains in effect in present-day Japan.[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9043364?hook=6804]
The Parliament
Image:The Diet.jpg thumb|right|The Parliament sits in joint session.
The
Constitution of Japan states that the nation's "highest organ of state power" is its bicameral
parliament, the
Diet of Japan National Diet. The Diet consists of a
House of Representatives of Japan House of Representatives (Lower House or ''Shūgi-in'') containing 480 seats, elected by popular vote every four years or when dissolved, and a
House of Councillors (Upper House or ''Sangi-in'') of 242 seats, whose popularly-elected members serve six-year terms. There is universal adult (over 20 years old)
suffrage, with a
secret ballot for all elective offices.
The
Cabinet of Japan Cabinet is composed of a
Prime Minister of Japan Prime Minister and ministers of state, and is responsible to the Diet. The Prime Minister must be a member of the Diet, and is designated by his colleagues. The Prime Minister has the power to appoint and remove ministers, a majority of whom must be Diet members. The
Liberal conservatism liberal conservative Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has been in power since 1955, except for a short-lived
coalition government formed from its opposition parties in 1993; the largest opposition party is the liberal-socialist
Democratic Party of Japan.
The Imperial Household
Image:JapanTokyoNijubashi.jpg Kokyo thumb|The [[Kokyo|Imperial Palace in Tokyo is the primary residence of the emperor.html" title="Meaning of Imperial Palace.html" title="Meaning of thumb|The [[Kokyo|Imperial Palace">thumb|The [[Kokyo|Imperial Palace in Tokyo is the primary residence of the emperor">Imperial Palace.html" title="Meaning of thumb|The [[Kokyo|Imperial Palace">thumb|The [[Kokyo|Imperial Palace in Tokyo is the primary residence of the emperor
The
Imperial Household of Japan is headed by the Emperor of Japan. The Constitution of Japan defines the emperor to be "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people". He performs ceremonial duties and holds no real power; not even emergency
reserve powers. Sovereignty is vested in the
Japanese people by the constitution. Though his official status is disputed, on diplomatic occasions the emperor tends to behave (with widespread public support, it should be noted) as though he were a
head of state. As of 2006 Japan is the only country in the world which is headed by an
emperor.
Foreign relations
{{main|Foreign relations of Japan}}
Japan is a member state of the
United Nations and a non-permanent member of the
United Nations Security Council Security Council; it is currently one of the "
G4 nations" seeking permanent membership.
Japan's current constitution prohibits the use of military forces to wage war against other countries. However, the government maintains "
Japan Self-Defense Forces Self-Defense Forces" which include air, land and sea components.
Deployment of Japanese troops to Iraq Japan's deployment of non-combat troops to Iraq marked the first overseas use of its military since
World War II.
As an economic power, Japan is a member of the
G8 and
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC, and has developed relations with
ASEAN as a member of "ASEAN plus three" and the
East Asia Summit. It is a major donor in
international aid and development efforts, donating 0.19% of its
Gross National Income in 2004. [http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/40/3/35389786.pdf]
Japan currently has territorial disputes with
Russia over the
Kuril Island conflict Kuril Islands, with
South Korea over the
Liancourt Rocks, with
People's Republic of China China and
Taiwan over the
Senkaku Islands, and with China over the
Okinotori islands. These disputes are in part about the control of marine and natural resources, such as possible reserves of
crude oil and
natural gas.
In recent years, Japan has been heavily criticized by the PRC and South Korea for perceived
whitewashing of
Japanese war crimes through
Japanese history textbooks controversy history textbooks and official visits to
Yasukuni Shrine. Japan also has an ongoing dispute with
North Korea over its
North Korean abductions of Japanese abduction of Japanese citizens and
North Korea and weapons of mass destruction nuclear weapons program.
Geography
Image:Ja-map.svg thumb|right|Map of Japan
{{main|Geography of Japan}}
Japan, a country of
islands, extends along the eastern or
Pacific Ocean Pacific coast of
Asia. The main islands, running from north to south, are
Hokkaido,
Honshū Honshu (or the mainland),
Shikoku, and
Kyushu.
Naha, Okinawa Naha in the
Ryukyu Islands Ryukyu archipelago is over 600 kilometres (375
mile mi) to the southwest of Kyushu. In addition, about 3,000 smaller islands may be counted in the full extent of the
archipelago.
Japan is the 18th
list of countries by population density most densely populated country in the world. About 73% of the country is
mountainous, and unsuitable for agricultural, industrial, or residential use, due to the generally steep elevations, climate, and risk of landslides caused by earthquakes, soft ground, and heavy rain. This has resulted in an extremely high population density in the habitable zones that are mainly located in coastal areas.
Its location on the
Pacific Ring of Fire, at the juncture of three tectonic plates, gives Japan frequent low-intensity earth tremors and occasional volcanic activity. Destructive
earthquakes, often resulting in
tsunamis, occur several times each century. The most recent major quakes include the
2004 Chuetsu Earthquake and the
Great Hanshin earthquake Great Hanshin Earthquake of
1995.
Onsen Hot springs are numerous, and have been developed as resorts.
The climate of Japan is predominantly
temperate but varies greatly from north to south. Japan's geographical features divide it into six principal climatic zones:
*
Hokkaido: The northernmost zone has a temperate climate with long, cold winters and cool summers.
precipitation (meteorology) Precipitation is not heavy, but the islands usually develop deep snow banks in the winter.
*
Sea of Japan: On Honshu's west coast, the northwest wind in the wintertime brings heavy snowfall. In the summer, the region is cooler than the Pacific area, though it sometimes experiences extremely hot temperatures, due to the
Föhn wind phenomenon.
*
Chuo-kochi Central Highlands: A typical inland climate, with large temperature differences between summer and winter, and between day and night. Precipitation is light.
*
Inland Sea Seto Inland Sea: The mountains of the
Chugoku region Chugoku and
Shikoku regions shelter the region from the seasonal winds, bringing mild weather throughout the year.
*Pacific Ocean: The east coast experiences cold winters with little snowfall and hot, humid summers due to the southeast seasonal wind.
*
Ryukyu Islands Southwest Islands: The Ryukyu Islands have a subtropical climate, with warm winters and hot summers. Precipitation is very heavy, especially during the rainy season.
Tropical cyclone Typhoons are common.
The main
Monsoon rainy season begins in early May in Okinawa, and the stationary rain front responsible for this gradually works its way north until it dissipates in northern Japan before reaching Hokkaido in late July. In most of Honshu, the rainy season begins before the middle of June and lasts about six weeks. In late summer and early
autumn,
typhoons often bring heavy rain.
Japan is home to nine forest
Ecoregions of Japan ecoregions which reflect the climate and geography of the islands. They range from
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests subtropical moist broadleaf forests in the Ryukyu and Bonin islands, to
temperate broadleaf and mixed forests in the mild climate regions of the main islands, to
temperate coniferous forests in the cold, winter portions of the northern islands.
Subdivisions
Japan is divided into 47
Prefectures of Japan prefectures, which are commonly grouped into
Regions of Japan regions.
Honshu, by far the largest and most populated island, is typically divided into five (or more) regions. The other major islands constitute one region each. From north to south, the regions are:
{| class=wikitable
! Region
! Prefectures
|-
!
Hokkaido HokkaidÅ?
|
Hokkaido HokkaidÅ?
|-
!
Tohoku region TÅ?hoku
|
Akita Prefecture Akita,
Aomori Prefecture Aomori,
Fukushima Prefecture Fukushima,
Iwate Prefecture Iwate,
Miyagi Prefecture Miyagi,
Yamagata Prefecture Yamagata
|-
!
Kanto region KantÅ?
|
Chiba Prefecture Chiba,
Gunma Prefecture Gunma,
Ibaraki Prefecture Ibaraki,
Kanagawa Prefecture Kanagawa,
Saitama Prefecture Saitama,
Tochigi Prefecture Tochigi,
Tokyo TÅ?kyÅ?
|-
!
Chubu region Chubu
|
Aichi Prefecture Aichi,
Fukui Prefecture Fukui,
Gifu Prefecture Gifu,
Ishikawa Prefecture Ishikawa,
Nagano Prefecture Nagano,
Niigata Prefecture Niigata,
Shizuoka Prefecture Shizuoka,
Toyama Prefecture Toyama,
Yamanashi Prefecture Yamanashi
|-
!
Kinki region Kinki
|
Hyogo Prefecture HyÅ?go,
Kyoto Prefecture KyÅ?to,
Mie Prefecture Mie,
Nara Prefecture Nara,
Osaka Prefecture ÅŒsaka,
Shiga Prefecture Shiga,
Wakayama Prefecture Wakayama
|-
!
Chugoku region Chūgoku
|
Hiroshima Prefecture Hiroshima,
Okayama Prefecture Okayama,
Shimane Prefecture Shimane,
Tottori Prefecture Tottori,
Yamaguchi Prefecture Yamaguchi
|-
!
Shikoku
|
Ehime Prefecture Ehime,
Kagawa Prefecture Kagawa,
Kochi Prefecture KÅ?chi,
Tokushima Prefecture Tokushima
|-
!
Kyushu Kyūshū
|
Fukuoka Prefecture Fukuoka,
Kagoshima Prefecture Kagoshima,
Kumamoto Prefecture Kumamoto,
Miyazaki Prefecture Miyazaki,
Nagasaki Prefecture Nagasaki,
Oita Prefecture Oita,
Saga Prefecture Saga
|-
!
Okinawa
|
Okinawa Prefecture Okinawa
|}
The prefectures are further subdivided into
cities of Japan cities,
towns of Japan towns and
villages of Japan villages. Major cities are divided into
wards of Japan wards, and the central portion of Tokyo is divided into
23 special wards.
Economy
{{main|Economy of Japan}}
Japan is a major economic
global power. Government-industry cooperation, aid from the United States following World War II, a strong
work ethic, mastery of
High tech high technology, emphasis on
education, and a comparatively small
Defense budget of Japan defense allocation have helped Japan advance with extraordinary speed to become the second largest
economy in the world, after the
U.S. For three decades, overall real economic growth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s largely due to the after-effects of over-investment during the late 1980s and domestic policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the stock and real estate markets. Government efforts to revive economic growth have met with little success and were further hampered in 2000 to 2001 by the slowing of the US and
Asian Asia economies.
However, the economy saw signs of strong recovery in 2005. GDP growth for the year was 2.8%, with a fourth quarter expansion of 5.5%, surpassing the growth rate of the US and European Union during the same period. Unlike previous recovery trends, domestic consumption has been the dominant factor in leading the growth. Hence, the Japanese government predicts that recovery will continue in 2006. In March 2006 the core Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed a positive growth for the first time in 8 years.
Distinguishing characteristics of the Japanese economy include the cooperation of manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and banks in closely-knit groups called
keiretsu; the powerful enterprise unions and ''
shunto shuntÅ?''; cozy relations with government bureaucrats, and the guarantee of lifetime employment (''shushin koyo'') in big corporations and highly
labour union unionized blue-collar factories. Recently, Japanese companies have begun to abandon some of these norms in an attempt to increase profitability.
The current government of
Junichiro Koizumi has enacted or attempted to pass (sometimes with failure) major privatization and foreign-investment laws intended to help stimulate Japan's dormant economy. Although the effectiveness of these laws is still ambiguous, the economy has begun to respond, but Japan's aging population is expected to place further strain on growth in the near future.
Agricultural sector
{{main|Agriculture, forestry, and fishing in Japan}}
Japan uses a system of terrace farming to build in a small area due to lack of available land. Japanese agriculture has one of the world's highest levels of productivity per unit area. Japan's small
agriculture agricultural sector, however, is also highly subsidized and protected, with government regulations that favor small-scale cultivation instead of large-scale agriculture as practiced in North America. Imported
rice, the most protected crop, is subject to tariffs of 490% and restricted to a quota of only 3% of the total rice market. Although Japan is usually self-sufficient in rice (except for its use in making rice crackers and processed foods), the country must import about 50% of its requirements of other
Cereal grain and fodder crops, and relies on imports for most of its supply of
meat. Japan maintains one of the world's largest
fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch, prompting some claims that Japan's fishing is leading to depletion in fish stocks such as
tuna. Japan has also sparked controversy by supporting quasi-commercial
whaling in Japan whaling.
Industrial sector
Industry, one-fourth of Japan's
Gross Domestic Product GDP, depends heavily on imported raw materials and
fuels. Internationally, Japan is best known for its
automobile automotive,
optics,
Chemical compound chemical and
electronics industries, as the home of big manufacturers such as
Toyota,
Sharp,
Yamaha,
Honda,
Nissan,
Mitsubishi,
Mazda,
Sony,
Matsushita,
Toshiba,
Suzuki, and
Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi, as well as household names like
Nintendo and
Nikon Corporation. Japan also holds a large market share in high-technology industries such as
semiconductors, industrial chemicals, machine tools, and (in recent years)
Aerospace engineering aerospace.
Construction has long been one of Japan's largest industries, with the help of multi-billion-dollar government contracts in the civil sector.
Robot Robotics constitutes a key long-term economic strength.
Service sector
Japan's service sector accounts for about three-fourths of its total economic output.
Bank Banking,
insurance,
real estate,
Retailer retailing,
transportation in Japan transportation, and
telecommunications are all major industries. The
Junichiro Koizumi Koizumi government is attempting to privatize
Japan Post and Postal Services Agency Japan Post, one of the country's largest providers of savings and insurance services, by 2007.
{{seealso|List of Japanese companies}}
Society
Demographics
{{main|Demographics of Japan}}
Japanese society is
ethnically and
Linguistics linguistically homogeneous, with small populations of primarily
Ryukyuans (1.5 million), North and South
Koreans (1 million),
China Chinese and
Taiwanese (0.5 million),
Philippines Filipinos (0.5 million) and
Brazilians (250,000). Japan also has indigenous minority groups such as the
Ainu people Ainu,
Ryukyuans and ''
burakumin''. Japanese
citizenship is conferred
jus sanguinis, and monolingual Japanese-speaking minorities often reside in Japan for generations under permanent residency status without acquiring citizenship in their country of birth. About 99% of the population speaks
Japanese language Japanese as their first language.
Japan has the highest
life expectancy in the world (85.2 years for women and 78.3 years for men in 2002 [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm]). However, the Japanese population is rapidly aging, the effect of
Post-WW2 baby boom a postwar baby boom followed by a decrease in births in the latter part of the 20th century. By 2007, over 20% of the population will be over the age of 65. The changes in the demographic structure have created a number of social issues, particularly a potential decline in the workforce population and increases in the cost of social securities like the
pension public pension plan.
The population started declining in 2005, as the 1.067 million births were exceeded by the 1.077 million deaths. At current birth and death rates, the 2005 population of 128 million is expected to decline to 100 million in 2050, and to 64 million in 2100. Demographers and government planners are currently in a heated debate over how to cope with this problem. [http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/japan/socsec/ogawa.html]
Immigration and birth incentives are sometimes suggested as a possible solution to provide younger workers to support the nation's aging population. Immigration, however, is not publicly popular as recent increased
crime rates are often attributed to foreigners living in Japan.
Religion
Image:Toshodaiji-1.jpg Toshodaiji.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|right|The [[Toshodaiji Buddhist temple, part of a
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO World Heritage Site in
Nara, Nara Nara..html" title="Meaning of right|The [[Toshodaiji">thumb|right|The [[Toshodaiji Buddhist temple, part of a
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO World Heritage Site in
Nara, Nara Nara.">right|The [[Toshodaiji">thumb|right|The [[Toshodaiji Buddhist temple, part of a
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO World Heritage Site in
Nara, Nara Nara.
{{main articles|
Religion in Japan and
Japanese mythology}}
The Japanese people's concern towards religion is mostly related to
mythology,
traditions, and neighborhood activities rather than the source of morality or the guideline for one's life, for which sometimes
Confucianism, or even
Taoism, tends to serve as the basis for the moral code. When asked to identify their religion, most would profess to believe in either
Shintoism (54%) or
Buddhism (40%), for simple reasons like their family has belonged to some sect of Buddhism or to avoid contention with religious foreigners. Nonetheless, most of the people are not
atheists, and the tendency is often identified with
syncretism,
secularism, and even
irreligion. This results in a variety of practices such as parents and children celebrating
Shinto rituals, students praying before exams, couples holding a wedding at a
Christian church and funerals being held at
Buddhist temples. A minority profess to
Christianity (0.7%) and other religions (4.7%) like
shamanism,
Islam, and
Hinduism in Japan Hinduism. Also, since the mid-19th century, many religious sects called ''shinkoshukyo'', and later ''
shinshukyo'', emerged.
Education
{{main|Education in Japan}}
Compulsory education was introduced into Japan in 1872 as one result of the
Meiji Restoration. Since 1947, compulsory education consists of
elementary school and
middle school, which lasts for 9 years (from age 6 to age 15). Almost all children continue their education at a three-year senior
high school, and 96% of high school graduates attend a
university,
junior college, trade school, or other post-secondary institution.
Language
{{main|Japanese Language}}
The
Japanese language is an
Agglutinative language agglutinative language distinguished by a system of
Japanese honorifics honorifics reflecting the
Hierarchy hierarchical nature of Japanese society, with verb forms and particular vocabulary which indicate the relative status of speaker and listener. Linguists debate whether Japanese is an
Altaic languages Altaic language, a relative of the
Korean language or a
language isolate.
Japanese incorporates many foreign elements. The
Japanese writing system writing system uses
kanji (
Chinese characters) and two sets of
kana (
syllabary syllabaries based on simplified forms of Chinese characters). Although many words are of native origin, many others are borrowed or derived from Chinese. Japanese has also borrowed an extensive vocabulary from European languages, including English.
Japan's official language is Japanese and about 99% of the population speaks Japanese as their first language. Some people speak
Ainu language Ainu and
Ryukyuan. Most public and private schools require students to take both Japanese and
English courses.
Culture
Image:Japanese traditional dancer cropped.jpg thumb|A Japanese traditional dancer
{{main|Culture of Japan}}
Japanese culture has evolved greatly over the years, from the country's original
Jomon culture to its contemporary hybrid culture, which combines a number of influences from Asia, Europe, and America.
Historically, China and Korea have been the most influential starting with the development of the
Yayoi culture from around 300 BC and culminating with the introduction of rice farming, ceremonial burial, pottery, painting, writing, poetry, etiquette, the
Chinese written language Chinese writing system, and
Mahayana Buddhism by the 7th century AD. In the pre-modern era, Japan developed a distinct culture, in its
Japanese Art arts: (
ikebana,
origami,
ukiyo-e),
Japanese crafts crafts (
Japanese traditional dolls dolls,
Lacquer lacquerware,
Japanese pottery pottery), performances (
bunraku,
Japanese traditional dance dance,
kabuki,
noh,
rakugo), traditions (
List of Japanese games games,
onsen,
sento,
Japanese tea ceremony tea ceremony,
Japanese architecture architecture,
Japanese garden gardens,
Katana swords), and
Cuisine of Japan cuisine.
From the mid-19th century onward, Western influence prevailed, with American influence becoming especially predominant following the end of
World War II. This influence is apparent in Japan's contemporary popular culture, which combines Asian, European, and, 1950-onward, American influences. Both within the country and abroad, its people have achieved international acclaim in
fashion,
Cinema of Japan films,
Japanese literature literature,
Japanese television programs television,
Computer and video games video games, and
Music of Japan music. Also, the Japanese are the largest spenders of money on luxury goods in the world. Today, Japan is a major exporter of such culture, which has gained popularity around the world, particularly in the other countries of East Asia. Especially notable contributions of modern Japan to the rest of the world come from the technology sector, such as that of cell phones, camcorders, and
Digital audio player mp3 players. This category also includes some of the highest caliber
video games and
game consoles. The unique art and thematic styles present in
anime animation (anime) and
manga graphic novels (manga) have also presented a unique addition to the world's entertainment field. Japanese culture has attracted many devotees in Europe and North America as well.
Recently Japan defeated
Cuba in the first
World Baseball Classic to be recognized as the best baseball team in the world.
{{seealso|Japanese clothing|Etiquette of Japan|Japanese festivals|Japanese New Year|Japanese sports|Tourism in Japan|Japanese media|Japanese traditional dance}}
References
{{Portal}}
* S. N. Eisenstadt, ''Japanese Civilization: A Comparative View'',
University of Chicago 1995. (ISBN 0226195589)
* ''Japan a Profile of Nation'',
Kodansha International, 1999. (ISBN 4770023847)
Further reading
{{sisterlinks|Japan}}
* ''The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Japan'',
University of Cambridge Cambridge Univ. Press, 1993 (ISBN 0521403529)
* De Mente, ''The Japanese Have a Word For It'',
McGraw-Hill, 1997 (ISBN 0844283169)
* Henshall, ''A History of Japan'', Palgrave Macmillan, 2001 (ISBN 0312233701)
* Jansen, ''The Making of Modern Japan'', Belknap, 2000 (ISBN 0674003349)
* ''Japan At A Glance'', Kodansha, 1998 (ISBN 4770020805)
* Johnson, ''Japan: Who Governs?'', W.W. Norton, 1996 (ISBN 0393314502)
* ''Lonely Planet Japan'', Lonely Planet Publications, 2003 (ISBN 1740591623)
* Reischauer, ''Japan: The Story of a Nation'', McGraw-Hill, 1989 (ISBN 0075570742)
* Sugimoto et al., ''An Introduction to Japanese Society'', Cambridge Univ. Press, 2003 (ISBN 0521529255)
* Totman, ''A History of Modern Japan'', 2d ed., Blackwell, 2005 (ISBN 1405123591)
* Van Wolferen, ''The Enigma of Japanese Power'', Vintage, 1990 (ISBN 0679728023)
Miscellaneous topics
{| class=wikitable
! Topic
! Article
|-
!
History of Japan History
|
Japanese Paleolithic Paleolithic,
Jomon,
Yayoi,
Yamato period Yamato,
Nara period Nara,
Heian Period Heian,
Kamakura period Kamakura,
Muromachi period Muromachi,
Azuchi-Momoyama period Azuchi-Momoyama,
Edo period Edo,
Meiji period Meiji,
Taisho Period TaishÅ?,
ShÅ?wa Period ShÅ?wa,
Heisei
|-
!
Government of Japan Government &
Politics of Japan Politics
|
Emperor of Japan Emperor (
List of Emperors of Japan list),
Prime Minister of Japan Prime Minister (
List of Prime Ministers of Japan list),
Cabinet of Japan Cabinet,
Ministries of Japan Ministries,
Diet of Japan National Diet,
House of Councillors,
House of Representatives of Japan House of Representatives,
Judicial system of Japan Judicial system,
Elections in Japan Elections,
List of political parties in Japan Political parties,
Monetary and fiscal policy of Japan Fiscal policy,
Foreign policy of Japan Foreign policy,
Foreign relations of Japan Foreign relations,
Human rights in Japan Human rights,
Military of Japan
|-
!
Geography of Japan Geography
|
Environmental protection in Japan Environment,
Regions of Japan Regions,
Prefectures of Japan Prefectures,
Cities of Japan Cities,
Districts of Japan Districts,
Towns of Japan Towns,
Villages of Japan Villages,
Japanese addressing system Addresses,
List of islands of Japan Islands,
List of lakes in Japan Lakes,
Rivers of Japan Rivers
|-
!
Economy of Japan Economy
|
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing in Japan Agriculture, forestry, and fishing,
Manufacturing industries of Japan Manufacturing,
Labor market of Japan Labor,
Communications in Japan Communications,
Transportation in Japan Transportation,
Japanese yen Currency,
Bank of Japan
|-
! Society
|
Demographics of Japan Demographics,
Religion in Japan Religion,
Japanese mythology Mythology,
Education in Japan Education,
Japanese Language Language,
Culture of Japan Culture
|}
External links
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Official
-
Courts.go.jp - Official site of the Japanese Supreme Court
-
Kantei.go.jp - Official prime ministerial and cabinet site
-
Kunaicho.go.jp - Official site of the Imperial family.
-
Links to Ministries and other Organizations
-
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Detailed papers on Japan's foreign policy, education programs, culture and life.
-
Sangi-in.go.jp - Official site of the House of Councillors
-
Shugi-in.go.jp - Official site of the House of Representatives
-
Stat.go.jp - Statistics Bureau Home Page (English)
{{col-2}}
Media
-
NHK Online
-
Crisscross News Japan
-
Kyodo News
-
3Yen (News blog)
Other
-
CIA World Factbook - ''Japan''
-
Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding Japan
-
''electronic journal of contemporary japanese studies''
-
Guardian Unlimited - ''Special Report: Japan''
-
Library of Congress - ''Country Study: Japan'' data as of January 1994
*{{wikitravel}}
{{col-end}}
{{UN Security Council}}
{{G8}}
{{East Asia}}
Category:East Asian countries
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see
Japan
{| style="margin: 0 2em 0 2em; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; border:1px solid #8888aa; clear: both;"
| style="background:#ccccff; white-space: nowrap;" width="1%" | [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/wiki.phtml?title=Template:Japan&action=edit edit]
! style="background:#ccccff" align="center" | Prefectures of Japan Prefectures of Japan
| width="1%" | Image:Flag of Japan.svg 50px|Flag of Japan
|-
| align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" colspan="3" | Aichi Prefecture Aichi | Akita Prefecture Akita | Aomori Prefecture Aomori | Chiba Prefecture Chiba | Ehime Prefecture Ehime | Fukui Prefecture Fukui | Fukuoka Prefecture Fukuoka | Fukushima Prefecture Fukushima | Gifu Prefecture Gifu | Gunma Prefecture Gunma | Hiroshima Prefecture Hiroshima | Hokkaido Prefecture Hokkaido | Hyogo Prefecture Hyogo | Ibaraki Prefecture Ibaraki | Ishikawa Prefecture Ishikawa | Iwate Prefecture Iwate | Kagawa Prefecture Kagawa | Kagoshima Prefecture Kagoshima | Kanagawa Prefecture Kanagawa | Kochi Prefecture Kochi | Kumamoto Prefecture Kumamoto | Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto | Mie Prefecture Mie | Miyagi Prefecture Miyagi | Miyazaki Prefecture Miyazaki | Nagano Prefecture Nagano | Nagasaki Prefecture Nagasaki | Nara Prefecture Nara | Niigata Prefecture Niigata | Oita Prefecture Oita | Okayama Prefecture Okayama | Okinawa Prefecture Okinawa | Osaka Prefecture Osaka | Saga Prefecture Saga | Saitama Prefecture Saitama | Shiga Prefecture Shiga | Shimane Prefecture Shimane | Shizuoka Prefecture Shizuoka | Tochigi Prefecture Tochigi | Tokushima Prefecture Tokushima | Tokyo .html">Tottori Prefecture Tottori | Toyama Prefecture Toyama | Wakayama Prefecture Wakayama | Yamagata Prefecture Yamagata | Yamaguchi Prefecture Yamaguchi | Yamanashi Prefecture Yamanashi
|-
| align="center" colspan="3" | '''Regions of Japan'''
|-
| align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" colspan="3" | Hokkaido .html">Tohoku region Tohoku | KantÅ? region KantÅ? | Chubu region Chubu (Hokuriku region Hokuriku - Koshinetsu region Koshinetsu - Tokai region Tokai) | Kansai .html">Chugoku region Chugoku | Shikoku .html">Kyushu _Ryukyu
|-
| align="center" colspan="3" | '''City designated by government ordinance (Japan) Major Cities (Cities designated by government ordinance)'''
|-
| align="center" style="font-size:90%;" colspan="3" | 23 special wards 23 wards of Tokyo | Chiba, Chiba Chiba | Fukuoka, Fukuoka Fukuoka | Hiroshima .html">Kawasaki, Kanagawa Kawasaki | Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Kitakyushu | Kobe .html">Kyoto _Saitama, Saitama Nagoya, Aichi|Nagoya | Osaka .html" title="Meaning of Nagoya.html" title="Meaning of Nagoya, Aichi|Nagoya">Nagoya, Aichi|Nagoya | Osaka ">Saitama.html" title="Meaning of Saitama | Sakai, Osaka Sakai | Sapporo, Hokkaido Sapporo | Sendai, Miyagi Sendai | Shizuoka, Shizuoka Shizuoka | Yokohama
|}
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