Misplaced Pages

Japan: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 17:18, 27 November 2006 view sourceWTGDMan1986 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers3,392 edits →Diet: Revert vandalism. Can't even think of anything creative in an edit summary to use to signify removal of a vandalistic edit this time.← Previous edit Revision as of 20:36, 27 November 2006 view source 12.178.243.202 (talk) ←Replaced page with ' Japan is a country where the people Worship Godzilla and study on their children.'Next edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox Country or territory
|native_name = 日本(国)<br/>''Nippon''&nbsp;/&nbsp;''Nihon'' (koku)
|conventional_long_name = Japan
|common_name = Japan
|image_flag = Flag of Japan.svg
|image_coat = Imperial Seal of Japan.svg
|symbol_type = Imperial Seal
|image_map = LocationMapJapan.png
|national_anthem = '']''&nbsp;&nbsp;(君が代)<br/>''Imperial Reign''
|official_languages = ]
|capital = ]
|latd=35 |latm=41 |latNS=N |longd=139 |longm=46 |longEW=E
|largest_settlement_type = Most&nbsp;populous conurbation
|largest_city = ]<sup>1</sup>
|government_type = ]
|leader_title1 = ]
|leader_title2 = ]
|leader_name1 = ]
|leader_name2 = ] ]
|area_rank = 62nd
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|area = 377,873
|areami² = 145,883 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
|percent_water = 0.8%
|population_estimate = 128,085,000
|population_estimate_year = 2005
|population_estimate_rank = 10th
|population_census = 127,333,002
|population_census_year = 2004
|population_density = 337
|population_densitymi² = 873 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
|population_density_rank = 20th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2006
|GDP_PPP = $4.167 ]
|GDP_PPP_rank = 3rd
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $32,640
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 12th
|GDP_nominal = $4,571 ]
|GDP_nominal_rank = 2nd
|GDP_nominal_year = 2005
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $35,757
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 14th
|sovereignty_type = ]
|established_event1 = ]
|established_event2 = ]
|established_event3 = ]
|established_event4 = ]
|established_date1 = ], 660&nbsp;]<sup>2</sup>
|established_date2 = ], ]
|established_date3 = ], ]
|established_date4 = ], ]
|HDI_year = 2006
|HDI = 0.949
|HDI_rank = 7th
|HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font>
|currency = ] (¥)
|currency_code = JPY
|country_code = JPN
|time_zone = ]
|utc_offset = +9
|time_zone_DST = none
|utc_offset_DST =
|cctld = ]
|calling_code = 81
|ISO_3166-1_alpha2 = JP
|ISO_3166-1_alpha3 = JPN
|ISO_3166-1_numeric = 392
|sport_code = JPN
|vehicle_code = J
|footnotes = <sup>1</sup> ] is the largest incorporated city.<br/><sup>2</sup> Japan was founded on this date by the legendary ], first emperor of Japan; it is seen as largely symbolic.
}}
{{otheruses1|the country in East Asia}}
<!-- Misplaced Pages:Lead section says that "The lead should briefly summarize the most important points covered in an article in such a way that it could stand on its own as a concise version of the article. It is even more important here than for the rest of the article that the text be accessible ... ."-->
{{nihongo|'''Japan'''|] 日本/日本国|''Nihon'' or ''Nippon'',<ref>The westernized pronunciation is believed to have arisen from that of a south Chinese dialect, in which it is pronounced /jāk-bəng/{{fact}}</ref> officially ''Nihon-koku'' or ''Nippon-koku''}} is an ] in ]. Located in the ], it lies to the east of ], ], and ], stretching from the ] in the north to the ] in the south. The ] that make up ] literally mean "the sun's origin", thus Japan is also sometimes known as the self-identified "''The Land of the Rising Sun''", a name that comes from the country's eastward position relative to mainland ]. Its ] and largest city is ].


Japan is a country where the people Worship ] and study on their children.
At 377,872&nbsp;]s (145,898&nbsp;]), Japan is the sixty-second ]. It encompasses over 3,000 ], the largest of which are ], ], ] and ]. Most of Japan's islands are ], and many are ], including the highest peak, ]. It has the world's ], with nearly 128&nbsp;million people. The ], with over 30 million residents, is the ] in the world.

] research indicates that people were living on the islands of Japan as early as the ] period. The first written mention of Japan begins with brief appearances in ] texts from the 1st century ]. Japanese history has been marked by alternating periods of long isolation and radical influence from the outside world. Its culture today is a mixture of outside influences and internal developments. Since it adopted its ] on ], ], Japan has maintained a ] ] with an ] and an elected parliament, the ], which is one of the oldest legislative bodies in ].

Japan is an economic ] with the world's ] (by nominal ]), world's largest international creditor and is the sixth largest ]er and ]er and is a member of the ], ], ], and ].

==History==
<!--Please try to keep this section as general as possible. Specific information should be added to a more specific article. This section stresses the most important facts, and leaves analysis of cause and effect to the daughter articles. -->
{{main|History of Japan}}

===Jomon and Yayoi eras===
] vessel (3000 to 2000 BC)]]
The first signs of civilization appeared around ] with the ] culture, characterized by a ] to ] semi-sedentary ] lifestyle of pit dwelling and a rudimentary form of ].<ref>Many believe that the ], an indigenous people found mostly on the northern island of ], are descended from the Jomon and thus represent descendants of the first inhabitants of Japan.</ref> The Jomon people made decorated clay vessels, often with plaited patterns. Some of the oldest surviving examples of ] in the world may be found in Japan.<ref>Pottery in Japan:
*"The earliest known pottery comes from Japan, and is dated to about 10,500 BC. China and Indo-China follow shortly afterwards" ("Past Worlds" The Times Atlas of Archeology. p. 100, 1995).
*"That end of the Ice Age was accompanied by the first of the two most decisive changes in Japanese history: the invention of pottery. In the usual experience of archaeologists, inventions flow from mainlands to islands, and small peripheral societies aren't supposed to contribute revolutionary advances to the rest of the world. It therefore astonished archaeologists to discover that the world's oldest known pottery was made in Japan 12,700 years ago." Jared Diamond, .
*"Japan, however, was the seat of the earliest known development of ceramics" ("The History and Geography of Human Genes", p249, ] ISBN 0-691-08750-4.
*Alternatively, the ]'s Timeline of Art History notes "Carbon-14 testing of the earliest known shards has yielded a production date of about 10,500 B.C., but because this date falls outside the known chronology of pottery development elsewhere in the world, such an early date is not generally accepted". .
</ref>

The ], starting around 300 BC, marked the influx of new practices such as ] farming and ] and ]-making brought by migrants from continental ].<ref>"," ''Encyclopædia Britannica''; Jared Diamond, ", " ''Discover'' 19:6 (June 1998); , Michael F. Hammer, 2005{{PDFlink}}. </ref> Japan first appears in written history in 57 AD, in China's ], as "the people of ], formed from more than one hundred tribes." In the 3rd century, according to China's ], the most powerful kingdom in Japan was called ], and was ruled by the legendary ].

===Classical era===
] at ], ], originally cast in 752]]
The ], from the 3rd century to the 7th century, saw the establishment of a dominant polity centered in the ] area whence arose the ] lineage.

The kingdom of ] introduced ] to Japan, and it was promoted by the Japanese ruling class. (Japan provided Baekje with military support.<Ref>See '']'', volumes 19, Story of Kinmei. "'']''; {{cite book | editor = Delmer M. Brown (ed.) | year = 1993 | title = The Cambridge History of Japan | publisher = Cambridge University Press | pages = 140-149|url = http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0521223520&id=x5mwgfPXK1kC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&vq=buddhism&dq=Paekche+hostage+japan&sig=dwsfsmf80GCVdVXe90a5s9Tkq34}}; George Sansom, ''A History of Japan to 1334'', Stanford University Press, 1958. p. 47. ISBN 0804705232</Ref>) ] devoted his efforts to the spread of ] and ] in Japan. He is credited with bringing relative peace to Japan through the proclamation of the ].

Starting with the ] of 645, the Yamato court intensified the adoption of Chinese cultural practices and reorganized the government and the penal code based on the Chinese administrative structure of the time.<ref>This is in reference to the ]</ref> This paved the way for the dominance of ] philosophy in Japan till the 19th century. This period also saw the first use of the word {{nihongo|''Nihon''|日本}} as a name for the emerging state.

The ] of the 8th century marked the first emergence of a strong Japanese state, centered around an imperial court in the city of ]. The imperial court then moved briefly to ], and then to Heian-kyō (now ]).

Historical writing in Japan culminated in the early 8th century with the epic chronicles, the '']'' and the '']''. These two chronicles give a legendary account of Japan's beginnings. According to them Japan was founded in 660 BC by ], a descendant of the ] deity ] (the Sun Goddess). Emperor Jimmu is said to be the ancestor of the ] that remains unbroken to this day. Historians, however, believe the first emperor who actually existed was ], though the date of his reign is uncertain.{{citeneeded}}

In the ], from 794 to 1185, a distinctly indigenous culture emerged, noted for its ], especially ] and ]. In the early 11th century, ] wrote the world's oldest surviving novel, '']''. The ]'s regency dominated politics during this period.

===Medieval era===
], Japan's first official ambassador to the Americas and Europe, in 1615.]]
Japan's ] era was characterized by the emergence of a ruling class of warriors, the ]. In 1185, following the defeat of the rival ], ] was appointed ] and established a base of power in ]. After Yoritomo's death, another warrior clan, the ], came to rule as regents for the shoguns. The ] managed to repel ] in 1274 and 1281, with assistance from a storm that the Japanese interpreted as a ], or Divine Wind. The Kamakura shogunate lasted another fifty years and was eventually overthrown by ] in 1333. The succeeding ] failed to manage the feudal warlords — the ] — and a civil war erupted. The ] (1467 to 1477) is generally regarded as the onset of the "Warring States" or ].

During the 16th century, traders and ] from ] reached Japan for the first time, initiating the '']'' ("southern barbarian") period of active commercial and cultural exchange between Japan and the West. ] conquered numerous other ''daimyo'' by using European technology and ], and had almost unified the nation when he was assassinated in the "]" in 1582. ] succeeded Nobunaga and united the nation in 1590. Hideyoshi ], but was thwarted by ]n and ] Chinese forces. Following several defeats and Hideyoshi's death, Japanese troops were withdrawn in 1597.

===Edo era===
]s (1634), which were used for trade throughout Asia.]]
After Hideyoshi's death, ] utilized his position as the regent of Hideyoshi's son ] as well as the conflicts among loyalists of the ], to gain the support of warlords from across Japan. When open war broke out, he defeated rival clans in the ] in 1600. Ieyasu was appointed ] in 1603 and established the ] at ] (modern ]).

After defeating Toyotomi clan, at the ] in 1614 and 1615, the Tokugawas became rulers of Japan, setting up a centralized feudal system with the Tokugawa shogunate at the head of the ]. After Ieyasu, the ] enacted a variety of measures to control the ], among them the '']'' policy of enforced rotation between fiefs and attendance in Edo. In 1639, the shogunate began the isolationist '']'' ("closed country") policy that spanned the two and a half centuries of tenuous political unity known as the ]. This is often considered to be the height of Japan's medieval culture. The study of Western sciences, known as '']'', continued during this period through contacts with the ] enclave at ] in ]. The Edo period also gave rise to '']''. Literally translated, this means "Japanese studies," though it more correctly is represented by the study of native Japan by the Japanese themselves.<ref>http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GLOSSARY/KOKUGAKU.HTM</ref> ] is a ] who advocated '']''. His thought had a strong influence on ] and ].

===Modern Japan===
] clan, during the ] period, circa 1867. <small>Photograph by ].</small>]]
On ], ], Commodore ] and the "]" of the ] forced the opening of Japan to the West with the ]. The ] of 1867-1868 led to the resignation of the shogunate, and the ] established a government centered around the emperor. Japan adopted numerous Western institutions, including a modern government, legal system and military. Japan introduced a ] modeled after the ], with ] as first Prime Minister in 1882.

The ] reforms helped transform the ] into a ] and embarked on a number of military conflicts to increase access to natural resources with victories in the ] (1894-1895) and the ] (1904-1905). That was the first time that an Asian country had defeated a European imperial power. By 1910, Japan controlled ] and the southern half of ]. Next year, the ] Japan had signed with western powers were cancelled.

The early 20th century saw a brief period of "]" overshadowed by the rise of ] and ]. ] 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 1920 Japan joined the ] and became a member of its security council. Japan continued its expansionist policy by occupying ] in 1931. The ensuing criticism from the League prompted its withdrawal in 1933. In 1936, Japan signed the ] with ], later joining the ] alliance in 1941.

Japan subsequently attacked the rest of China, starting the ] (1937-1945), as well as many countries and islands in ] and the ]. As a result of Japan's actions, an oil embargo and other actions were put in place by the western nations, such as the ], the ] and the ]. On December 7, 1941, Japan ] in ] and declared war on the ], the ] and the ]. This brought the USA into the war, with ] subsequently declaring war on the United States four days later.

]ing of ].]]
], Japan's forces in the occupied lands under its control were destroyed or neutralized. As American forces advanced toward Japan, it was able to employ its bomber forces more effectively against the Japanese. ] of cities like ] and ] commenced, which directly resulted in the ]s of ] and ]. These attacks killed several hundred thousand Japanese, and brought about an early end to the war.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,165148,00.html |title=Nagasaki's Mayor Slams U.S. for Nuke Arsenal |accessdate=2006-06-17}}</ref><ref>
Possibly the most extensive review and analysis of the various death toll estimates is in:
{{cite book |author=Richard B. Frank |title=Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire |publisher=Penguin Publishing |year=2001 |id=ISBN 0-679-41424-X}}</ref>
After the atomic bombings, Imperial Japan agreed to an ].<ref>http://library.educationworld.net/txt15/surrend1.html</ref> The ] was signed on ], ] (]). The ] (on ]]) was convened to prosecute Japanese leaders for ] as well as war crimes such as the ]. Other war crimes were treated in the local tribunals held in the Asia-Pacific region. Emperor ] received immunity from prosecution and retained his position as emperor.

The war cost Japan millions of lives and left much of the country's industry and infrastructure destroyed. In 1947, Japan adopted a new ] ], seeking international cooperation and emphasizing human rights and democratic practices. Official ] lasted until 1952 and Japan was granted membership of the ] in 1956. After the American occupation, under a program of aggressive industrial development and with US assistance, Japan achieved ] to become the second largest economy in the world, with a growth rate averaging 10% for four decades. This ended in the 1990s, when Japan suffered a major recession from which it has since been slowly recovering.

{{seealso|Heisei era|Empire of Japan|Military History of Japan}}

==Government and politics==
].]]
{{morepolitics|country=Japan}}<!--Please add new information into relevant articles of the series-->
In academic studies, Japan is generally considered a ], based largely upon the British system with strong influences from European continental ] countries such as Germany and France. For example, in 1896 the Japanese government established ''Minpō'', the ], on the French model. With post-World War II modifications, the code remains in effect in present-day Japan.<ref>, ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved 14 May 2006.</ref>

===The Emperor and the Imperial Family===
{{main|Emperor of Japan|Imperial House of Japan}}
The ] (天皇 tennō, literally "heavenly sovereign") is defined by the Constitution as "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people" and is the head of the ] and ]. He is a ceremonial figurehead in a constitutional monarchy and does not wield even emergency ]s. Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister, and other elected members of the ]. Sovereignty is vested in the ] by the constitution. Although his official status is disputed, on diplomatic occasions the emperor effectively acts as the ]. ] is the current emperor and the only reigning emperor in the world.

===Diet===
] sits in joint session]]
{{main|Diet of Japan}}
The ] popcorn that the nation's "highest organ of state power" is its bicameral ], the ] (''Kokkai''). The Diet consists of a ] (Lower House or ''Shūgi-in'') containing 480 seats, elected by popular vote every 4 years or when dissolved, and a ] (Upper House or ''Sangi'in'') of 242 seats, whose popularly-elected members serve six-year terms. There is universal adult (over 20 years old) ], with a ] for all elective offices.
The ] ] (LDP) has been in power since 1955, except for a short-lived ] formed from its opposition parties in 1993; the largest opposition party is the liberal-socialist ].

===Prime Minister===
] Prime Minister, ].]]
{{main|Prime Minister of Japan}}
] is the ] of Japan, although the literal translation of the title is "Prime Minister of the Cabinet". The Prime Minister is appointed by the ] after being designated by the ] from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the ] to remain in office. The Prime Minister is the head of the ] and appoints and dismisses the Ministers of State, a majority of whom must be Diet members. The current Prime Minister of Japan, since September 2006, is ]. Although the Prime Minister of Japan is theoretically very powerful, his position is attenuated by the factional nature of Japanese politics and the tendency towards coalition government.

===Judiciary===
{{main|Japanese law|Judicial system of Japan}}
Japanese law was historically heavily influenced by ] and developed independently during the ] through texts such as '']'', but has been largely based on the ] of ] since the late 19th century. Statutory law originates in Japan's legislature, the National Diet of Japan, with the rubber-stamp approval of the Emperor. Under the current constitution, the Emperor may not veto or otherwise refuse to approve a law passed by the Diet. Japan's court system is divided into four basic tiers, 438 Summary Courts, one District Court in each prefecture, nine High Courts and the ]. There is also one Family Court tied to each District Court. The main body of Japanese statutory law is a collection called the Six Codes (六法 roppō).

===Foreign relations===
] with ] ]. Japan is a close ally of the US in the Pacific area.]]
{{main|Foreign relations of Japan}}
Japan maintains close economic and military relations with its key ally the ]; therefore the ] serves as the cornerstone of its ]. For example Japan contributed non-combatant troops to the ] with the United States and others. Japan is a member state of the ] and currently serving as a non-permanent ] member. It is also one of the "]" seeking permanent membership in the Security Council.

Japan is a member of the ], the ], the "] plus three", and a participant in the ]. It is also the world's second-largest donor of ], donating 0.19% of its ] in 2004.<ref>, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 11 April 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2006. {{PDFlink}}</ref> As member of the G8 Japan maintains cordial relations with most countries as a key trading partner.

Japan has ] with its neighbors concerning the control of certain outlying islands. These disputes are in part about the control of marine and natural resources, such as possible reserves of ] and ]. Japan also has an ongoing dispute with ] over its ] and its ] and missile programs. Japan has cooperated with the US to build a missile defense system after the North Korean 2006 missile tests.

===Military===
] training vessel JDS Kashima stand in ranks.]]
{{main articles|Japan Self-Defense Forces|Japan Defense Agency}}
Japan's military is restricted by ] of the ] of 1946, which states that "Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes." Thus, Japan's current constitution prohibits the use of military force to wage war against other countries.

Japan's military is governed by the ] (JDA) and primarily consists of the ], the ], and the ]. The military budget of Japan is less than one percent of its ], though it is estimated to be the fourth largest in the world at $44.3 billion per year, as of 2005. The forces have been recently used in ] operations and the ] marked the first overseas use of its military since ].

==Administrative Divisions==
]]]
{{main|Prefectures of Japan|Cities of Japan|Towns of Japan|Villages of Japan}}
Japan has forty-seven ]. Each has an elected governor and legislature, and an administrative bureaucracy. While there exist eight commonly defined ], the prefecture is the largest administrative subdivision. The ] is further divided into ], which have the same powers as cities.

Japan nation is currently undergoing administrative ] many of the cities, towns, and villages with each other. This process will reduce the number of sub-prefecture administrative regions, and is expected to cut administrative costs.<ref>http://siteresources.worldbank.org/WBI/Resources/wbi37175.pdf Mabuchi, Masaru, "Municipal Amalgamation in Japan," World Bank, 2001.</ref>

==Geography and climate==
]
{{main|Geography of Japan}}
Japan is a country of islands which extends along the ] coast of Asia. The main islands, running from north to south, are ], ] (the main island), ] and ]. The ], in south-west Japan, lies in a chain between the ] and Kyushū. In addition, about 3,000 smaller islands may be counted in the full extent of the Japanese ]. Japan also claims the southern ] (controlled by ]), which are located to the north-east of Hokkaidō.

Japan is the thirtieth ] in the world. About 70% to 80% of the country is forested, mountainous,<ref>http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761566679/Japan.html "Japan," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2006
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2006 Macrohard Corporation. All Rights Reserved.</ref><ref>http://www.worldinfozone.com/country.php?country=Japan "Japan Information", © 1997 - 2006 World InfoZone Ltd</ref> 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 ], at the juncture of three tectonic plates, gives Japan frequent low-intensity tremors and occasional volcanic activity. Destructive ]s, often resulting in ]s, occur several times each century. The most recent major quakes are the ] and the ] of 1995. ] are numerous, and have been developed as resorts.

The climate of Japan is predominantly ] but varies greatly from north to south. Japan's geographical features divide it into six principal climatic zones:
* ]: The northernmost zone has a temperate climate with long, cold winters and cool summers. ] is not heavy, but the islands usually develop deep snow banks in the winter.
* ]: On Honshū'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 ] phenomenon.
* ]: A typical inland climate, with large temperature differences between summer and winter, and between day and night. Precipitation is light.
* ]: The mountains of the ] and ] regions shelter the region from the seasonal winds, bringing mild weather throughout the year.
] with ] and the ] high-speed train in the background]]
* ]: The east coast experiences cold winters with little snowfall and hot, humid summers due to the southeast seasonal wind.
* ]: The Ryūkyū Islands have a subtropical climate, with warm winters and hot summers. Precipitation is very heavy, especially during the rainy season. ] are common.

The main ] 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 Hokkaidō in late July. In most of Honshū, the rainy season begins before the middle of June and lasts about six weeks. In late summer and early autumn, ]s often bring heavy rain.

Japan is home to nine forest ] which reflect the climate and geography of the islands. They range from ] in the Ryūkyū and Bonin islands, to ] in the mild climate regions of the main islands, to ] in the cold, winter portions of the northern islands.

==Economy==
] is the nation's ]. Shown here is its Tokyo headquarters.]]
{{main|Economy of Japan|Japan's Post War Economic Miracle}}
Japan is the ] economy in the world in terms of ] placed behind United States and third after the ] and ] if ] is used. It is the largest Asian economy by nominal GDP, the second largest after China using purchasing power parity. It's also the world's largest international creditor .

Close ]-] cooperation, a strong ], mastery of ], and a comparatively small ] have helped Japan advance with extraordinary speed to become the second largest economy in the world. From the 1960s to the 1980s, overall real economic growth ]: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s.<ref>http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-7176.html</ref> ] is the second largest in the world with market capitalization of more than $4 trillion.]]Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s largely due to the after-effects of ] 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 global economy.<ref>https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ja.html "Japan Economy", CIA World Factbook</ref>

However, the economy saw signs of strong recovery in 2005. GDP growth for the year was 2.8%, with an annualized fourth quarter expansion of 5.5%, surpassing the growth rates of the US and ] during the same period.<ref>http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/HC02Dh01.html</ref> 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.

Distinguishing characteristics of the Japanese economy include the cooperation of manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and banks in closely-knit groups called ] (examples include ], ], ], ], ] and ]); the powerful enterprise unions and '']''; cosy relations with government bureaucrats, and the guarantee of ] (''shushin koyo'') in big corporations and highly ] ] factories. Recently, Japanese companies have begun to abandon some of these norms in an attempt to increase profitability.

The country has very limited ] to sustain economic development, since most of the islands are volcanic and mountainous. As a result it is dependent on other nations for most of its raw materials.

===Industrial sector===
<!--Contents of "Industrial sector" were moved to the ] article. Please add new information there.-->
{{main|Manufacturing industries of Japan|Japanese consumer electronics industry|Japanese automobile industry}}
Japan's industrial strength is among the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of ]s, ], ]s, ] and nonferrous ]s, ]s, ], ]s, and ]s, and is home to some of the largest and most well-known ]s and commercial ]s in ] and ] (see also ]) .

Japan holds large and commanding world market share in industries such as ], ], industrial chemicals, machine tools, ] and in recent years ] along with the ]. ] has long been one of Japan's largest industries, with the help of multi-billion dollar government contracts in the civil sector.

===Financial services sector===
{{main|Japanese financial sector}}
Japanese financial sector is one of the largest in the world, and it is home to some of the largest ] companies, ]s and ]s. The large ]s (business groups), the multinational companies such as ], ], ], ] own billion and trillion ] operating ]s, ]s and/or financial services such as ], ], ], ], ], etc. (see also ]). For instance Japan is home to the world's largest ] company the ] that has an ] of around $1.7 ]. It's also home to the second largest ] in the world, the ]. The ] of Japan is the ]. The government ministry of finance is the ] who operates the ] who overseas and regulates as necessary the finance of Japan. Its main ]es are the ] and ].

===Service sector===
Japan's service sector accounts for about three-quarters of its total economic output. ], ], ], ]ing, ], and ]s are all major industries. One of the largest for instance is ].

===Science and technology===
] ] running.]]
Japan is a leading nation in the fields of ], ] products, ] and ]. Some of its more important technological contributions include ], ], ], ], ], ]s, ] and ]s. For instance Japan leads the world in ], having produced ], ], and ], and possesses more than half (402,200 of 742,500) of the world's industrial robots used for manufacturing.

Japan also made headway into ] research and ]. It founded the ] (JAXA) in ], ] and is involved in many missions and projects, as well as a possible independent ] to the ]{{cn}}, having, from 2005, shifted some of its focus away from ] efforts. It is also a major contributor to the ] project, the most significant contribution being the ] that will complete installation in 2007.

===Agriculture and fishing===
{{main|Agriculture, forestry, and fishing in Japan}}
Because only 29% of Japan's land is suitable for cultivation, a system of terrace farming is used to build in small areas. This results in one of the world's highest levels of crop yields per unit area. However, Japan's small ] sector is also highly subsidized and protected. Japan must import about 50%<ref>"http://www.skillclear.co.uk/japan/default.asp"</ref> of its requirements of ] and fodder crops other than rice, and relies on imports for most of its supply of ].

In fishing, Japan is ranked second in the world behind ] in tonnage of fish caught. Japan maintains one of the world's largest ] fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch.<ref>"https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ja.html#Econ"</ref>

===Infrastructure and transportation===
] at Tokyo Station.]]
{{main|Transportation in Japan}}
Japan is unique in that its ] runs at different ] in different parts of the country &mdash; 50 ] in Tokyo and elsewhere east of the ], 60&nbsp;Hz in Osaka and other parts west. The division was due to different technology imports for the initial plant construction; the eastern region imported ] technology (German) and the western region imported ] technology (US). The household power line voltage is constant 100&nbsp;] throughout the nation.

Japan has 1,177,278&nbsp;] of paved roadways, 173 ]s, and 23,577&nbsp;] of ]s as of 2004. Transportation is highly developed. Air transport is mostly operated by ] (ANA) and ] (JAL). Railways are operated by ] among others. There is extensive international flights from many cities and countries to and from Japan.

===International trade===
Export and import is an essential part of the Japanese economy. Its main export partners are the ] 22.7%, ] 13.1%, ] 7.8%, ] 7.4%,] 6.3% and ] 4.3%.
Japan's main exports are transport equipment, ], ], electrical machinery and ]s.

As a nation that relies heavily on ], Japan also imports a wide variety of goods. Its main import partners are ] 20.7%, ] 14%, ] 4.9%, ] 4.3%, ] 4.1%, ] 4.1%, ] 4% (as of 2004). Japan's main imports are machinery and equipment, ], ]s (in particular ]), ], ]s and raw materials for its industries.

{{seealso|Energy production in Japan}}

==Demographics==
{{main|Demographics of Japan}}
===Population===
] crossing is one of the largest pedestrian crossings and shopping areas.]]
Japan's population is estimated at around 127,463,611. For the most part, Japanese society is ] and culturally homogeneous with only small populations of foreign workers, ] and others. Japan has indigenous minority groups such as the ] and ], and social minority groups like the '']''.

Japan has one of the highest ] in the world, at 81.25 years of age as of 2006.<ref>"https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html"</ref> However, the Japanese population is rapidly aging, the effect of ] followed by a decrease in births in the latter part of the 20th century. In 2004, about 19.5% of the population was over the age of 65.<ref>"http://www.stat.go.jp/English/data/handbook/c02cont.htm"</ref> 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 security benefits such as the ].
If its birth and death rates remain at the current levels, Japan's population has passed its peak and its population will continue to decline. It is expected to drop to 100 million by 2050, and to 64 million by 2100.<ref>"http://www.stat.go.jp/English/data/handbook/c02cont.htm"</ref> Demographers and government planners are currently in a heated debate over how to cope with this problem.<ref>"", The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 7 March 1997. Retrieved 14 May 2006.</ref> ] and birth incentives are sometimes suggested as a solution to provide younger workers to support the nation's aging population. Immigration, however, is not popular as recent increased ] rates are often attributed to foreigners living in Japan both by the National Police Agency and in popular Japanese media. But despite public views on foreigners, the Japanese in general do not mind foreigners in their country, and this is pointed out when comparing the increasingly common inter-marriage between Japanese and foreigners, but opinions on "rebellious" foreigners are still strong. Ethnic issues are improving, so there is a narrow but strong chance that if more foreigners enter Japan, and decide to marry another foreigner or Japanese resident, this may increase the chance of the population growing again. It is also noted that many Japanese youth are increasingly preferring not to ] or have families as adults.<ref>"", The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 7 March 1997. Retrieved 14 May 2006.</ref>

{{seealso|Ethnic issues in Japan}}

===Largest cities===
{{main|List of Japanese cities by population}}
]]]
]]]
]]]
Japan has dozens of ], which play an important role in Japan culture, heritage, and economy. Those in the list of the ten most populous below are all prefecture capitals and ] except those indicated:

{| class="wikitable"
! No. !! City !! Prefecture !! Population
|-
| 1 || ''']'''<sup>a</sup>&nbsp;&nbsp; || ] || 8,390,967
|-
| 2 || ''']''' || ]&nbsp;&nbsp; || 3,579,133
|-
| 3 || ''']''' || ] || 2,640,097
|-
| 4 || ''']''' || ] || 2,214,958
|-
| 5 || ''']''' || ] || 1,882,424
|-
| 6 || ''']''' || ] || 1,525,389
|-
| 7 || ''']''' || ] || 1,474,764
|-
| 8 || ''']''' || ] || 1,400,621
|-
| 9 || ''']'''<sup>b</sup> || ] || 1,317,862
|-
| 10 || ''']''' || ]|| 1,185,030
|}
{{small|<sup>a</sup> 23 municipalities. Also capital of Japan.<br/><sup>b</sup> Government Ordinance City only.}}

===Language===
{{main|Japanese language}}
Japan does not legally recognize an ]; however, ] is the ''de facto'' official language. Japanese courts are the sole location that define language use: Judicial Code Article 74 states "Japanese will be used in courts".

About 99% of the population speaks Japanese as their first language. The ], also part of the ] to which Japanese belongs, are spoken in ], but few children learn these languages. ], the language of the indigenous minority in northern Japan, is moribund, with only a few elderly ] remaining in ]. Most public and private schools require students to take courses in both Japanese and English.

The ] is an ] distinguished by a system of ] reflecting the ] nature of Japanese society, with verb forms and particular vocabulary which indicate the relative status of speaker and listener. There is no consensus on what, if any, linguistic relationship Japanese has with other languages, but scholars continue to ] the issue.

Japanese incorporates many foreign elements. Japanese has borrowed or derived large amounts of vocabulary from ]. When non-Chinese foreign words are written in Japanese, they are usually done so in a separate alphabet called ]. Since the end of World War II, Japanese has also extensively borrowed from ]. The ] uses ] (]s) and two sets of ] (] based on simplified forms of Chinese characters), as well as the ] and ].

===Religion===
] at ].]]
{{main|Religion in Japan}}
84% of Japanese people profess to believe both ] (the indigenous religion of Japan) and ].<ref></ref> Buddhism, ] and ] from China have significantly influenced Japanese beliefs and mythology. Religion in Japan tends to be ] in nature, and this results in a variety of practices such as parents and children celebrating ] rituals, students praying before exams, couples holding a wedding at a ] ] and funerals being held at ] temples. A minority (0.7%) profess to ] and other religions (4.7%) like ], ], and ]. Since the mid-19th century, numerous religious sects ('']'') have emerged.
{{seealso|Japanese mythology}}

===Education===
{{main|Education in Japan}}
Compulsory education was introduced into Japan in 1872 as a result of the ]. Since 1947, compulsory education consists of ] and ], which lasts for 9 years (from age 6 to age 15). Almost all children continue their education at a three-year senior ], and, according to basic statics of ], 67.5% of high school graduates attend a ], ], trade school, or other post-secondary institution in ]. Japan's education is very competitive especially at the college level and it has prestigious and large universities such as ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].

===Health===
{{main article|Health care in Japan}}
In Japan, healthcare services are provided by national and local governments. Payment for personal medical services is offered through a universal health care insurance system that provides relative equality of access, with fees set by a government committee. People without insurance through employers can participate in a national health insurance program administered by local governments. Since 1973, all elderly persons have been covered by government-sponsored insurance. Patients are free to select physicians or facilities of their choice.

==Culture==

{{main|Culture of Japan}}
{{sync|Culture of Japan}}
]
Japanese ] has evolved greatly over the years, from the country's original ] culture to its contemporary hybrid culture, which combines influences from ], ], and ].
Traditional ]s include ] (], ], ], ], ], ]), performances (], ], ], ], ]), traditions (], ], ], ], ], ]), and ].

Post-war Japan has been heavily influenced by American and European culture which has led to the evolution of popular band music (called ]). The fusion of traditional ] and Western art led to the creation of ], a typically Japanese ] format that is now popular in and even outside Japan. Manga-influenced ] for television and film is called ]. ] have prospered since the 1980s. The mascot of ], "]", is the most popular.
===Cuisine===
] (inn).]]
{{main|Japanese cuisine}}
A basic, traditional Japanese meal consists of white ] with accompanying ] pickles as appetizers; a bowl of ]; a couple of selected or combined ], ], ], and ] dishes known as ''okazu''; and ]. In a traditional Japanese breakfast, for example, the ''okazu'' may be a grilled fish. Culturally, people start and finish meals with phrases of gratitude as '']'' and ''gochisōsama'', respectively. Foods, beverages, and condiments from Japan, such as ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] are recognized worldwide.

===Music===
{{main|Music of Japan}}
Japanese music is eclectic, having borrowed instruments, scales and styles from neighboring cultures. Many instruments, such as the ], were introduced in the ninth and tenth centuries. The accompanied ] of the ] drama dates from the fourteenth century and the popular folk music, with the guitarlike ], from the 16th.<ref>The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia 1983 edition ]:0-380-63396-5 © Columbia University Press</ref>

], introduced in the late nineteenth century, now forms an integral part of the culture, as evident from the profusion of ] artists. Modern Japanese music uses western instruments, scales and style.

===Literature===
{{main|Japanese literature}}
The earliest works include two history books the '']'' and the '']'', and a poetry book '']'' in the eighth century, all written in Chinese characters.
In the early days of the ], the system of transcription known as ''kana'' (] and ]) was created as phonograms. '']'' is considered the oldest Japanese narrative.<ref> (Michigan State University)</ref> An account of Heian court life is given by '']'', written by ] while '']'' by ] is sometimes called the world's first novel.

During the ], literature became not so much the field of the samurai aristocracy as that of the ], the ordinary people. ], for example, became popular and reveals this profound change in the readership and authorship.

The Meiji era saw the decline of traditional literary forms, during which Japanese literature integrated western influences. ] and ] were the first "modern" novelists of Japan, followed by ], ], ], ], and more recently, ]. Japan has two ] authors — ] (1968) and ] (1994).

===Sports and recreation===
], a traditional Japanese sport.]]
{{main|Sport in Japan}}
Beginning in the twelfth century, Japan developed traditional ] known as ], which were popular among the warrior class. These include ], ] and ]. ] is sometimes considered Japan's ] and is one of its most popular.

After the ], many western sports were introduced and began to spread through the education system. These sports were initially stressed as a form of mental discipline, but Japanese have now come to enjoy them as recreational activities.

] is the most popular ] in Japan - the ] was established in 1937. One of Japan's most famous baseball players in ] is ], who won a ]. Concerning ], the ] was established in 1992. Japan was a venue of the ] from 1981 to 2004, and Japan co-hosted the ] with ]. ] is popular in Japan, as is ], the ] sports car series and ] formula racing.

Each year, Japan observes the second Monday in October as ]. The date, originally October 10, commemorates the opening day of the ] in Tokyo. Other major sporting events that Japan has hosted include the ] in ] and the ] in ].

==See also==
{{portal}}
{{Japan topics}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{columns
|width=400px
|col1 =
; Official
* - Official ] and cabinet site
* - Official site of the ].
* - Detailed papers on Japan's foreign policy, education programs, culture and life.
* - Official site of the House of Representatives
*

; Media
*
*
*
*

|col2 =
; Tourism
*
* {{wikitravel}}

; Other
*
*
*
}}

==Further reading==
* Barry, ''Dave Barry Does Japan'', Ballantine, 1993 (ISBN 0449908100)
* ''The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Japan'', Cambridge University 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)
* Klar, ''My Mother is a Tractor'', Trafford Publishing, 2005 (ISBN 1412048974)
* ''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 University 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)


{{Regions and administrative divisions of Japan}}
{{Countries and territories of East Asia}}
{{Countries bordering the Sea of Japan and/or the Yellow Sea}}
{{G8}}
{{Monarchies}}


<!--Categories-->
]
]
]
]
]

<!--Interwiki-->
{{Link FA|vi}}
{{Link FA|ar}}
{{Link FA|fr}}
{{Link FA|no}}

<!--Other languages-->
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

]
]
]

Revision as of 20:36, 27 November 2006

Japan is a country where the people Worship Godzilla and study on their children.

Japan: Difference between revisions Add topic