Tokyo cia factbook

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. In Japan occupied Manchuria, and in it launched a full-scale invasion of China. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold actual decision-making power. Following three decades of unprecedented growth, Japan's economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the s, but the country remains an economic power.

In March , Japan's strongest-ever earthquake, and an accompanying tsunami, devastated the northeast part of Honshu island, killed thousands, and damaged several nuclear power plants. Prime Minister Shinzo ABE was reelected to office in December , and has since embarked on ambitious economic and security reforms to improve Japan's economy and bolster the country's international standing.

Japanese Two notable characteristics of the post-World War II economy were the close interlocking structures of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, known as keiretsu, and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force.

Both features have significantly eroded under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic demographic change. Measured on a purchasing power parity basis that adjusts for price differences, Japan in stood as the fourth-largest economy in the world after first-place China, which surpassed Japan in , and third-place India, which edged out Japan in Growth slowed markedly in the s, averaging just 1.

Modest economic growth continued after , but the economy has fallen into recession four times since To help raise government revenue, Japan adopted legislation in to gradually raise the consumption tax rate. However, the first such increase, in April , led to a sharp contraction, so Prime Minister ABE has twice postponed the next increase, which is now scheduled for October Structural reforms to unlock productivity are seen as central to strengthening the economy in the long-run.

Scarce in critical natural resources, Japan has long been dependent on imported energy and raw materials. In August , Japan successfully restarted one nuclear reactor at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima prefecture, and several other reactors around the country have since resumed operations; however, opposition from local governments has delayed several more restarts that remain pending.

Japan became the first country to ratify the TPP in December , but the United States signaled its withdrawal from the agreement in January Japan also reached agreement with the European Union on an Economic Partnership Agreement in July , and is likely seek to ratify both agreements in the Diet this year. Skip to main content Go to CIA. Explore All Countries Japan. Page last updated: October 19, Photos of Japan View 53 Photos.

Country Flag View Details. Arrow Right Icon. Country Map View Larger. Travel Facts. Locator Map View Larger. Introduction Background In , after decades of civil warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate a military-led, dynastic government ushered in a long period of relative political stability and isolation from foreign influence.

Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Definitions and Notes. Geographic coordinates 36 00 N, 00 E. Map references Asia. Area total: , sq km land: , sq km water: 13, sq km note: includes Bonin Islands Ogasawara-gunto , Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands Nansei-shoto , and Volcano Islands Kazan-retto country comparison to the world: Area - comparative slightly smaller than California.

Area comparison map Enlarge. Land boundaries total: 0 km. Coastline 29, km. Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and the Korea and Tsushima Straits contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: nm. Climate varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north. Terrain mostly rugged and mountainous. Elevation highest point: Mount Fuji 3, m lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m mean elevation: m.

Natural resources negligible mineral resources, fish, note, with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil.

Land use agricultural land: Irrigated land 24, sq km Population distribution all primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one-third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain Kanto Plain. Natural hazards many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1, seismic occurrences mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes every year; tsunamis; typhoons volcanism: both Unzen 1, m and Sakura-jima 1, m , which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu; see note 2 under "Geography - note".

People and Society Population ,, July est. Introduction Japan Background:. While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

After its devastating defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become the second most powerful economy in the world and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives.

The economy experienced a major slowdown in the s following three decades of unprecedented growth. Geographic coordinates:. Environment - current issues:. Environment - international agreements:. Population growth rate:. Infant mortality rate:. Life expectancy at birth:. Total fertility rate:. Administrative divisions:. Supreme Court chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by the cabinet.

Political parties and leaders:. Political pressure groups and leaders:. International organization participation:. Diplomatic representation in the US:. Diplomatic representation from the US:. One notable characteristic of the economy is the working together of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely-knit groups called keiretsu.

A second basic feature has been the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. The Diet consists of a House of Representatives, containing seats, elected by popular vote every four years or when dissolved and a House of Councillors of seats, whose popularly-elected members serve six-year terms.

There is universal suffrage for adults over 20 years of age,[6] with a secret ballot for all elective offices. The Prime Minister of Japan is the head of government.

The position is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office. The Prime Minister is the head of the Cabinet the literal translation of his Japanese title is "Prime Minister of the Cabinet" and appoints and dismisses the Ministers of State, a majority of whom must be Diet members.

Yasuo Fukuda currently serves as the Prime Minister of Japan. Historically influenced by Chinese law, the Japanese legal system developed independently during the Edo period through texts such as Kujikata Osadamegaki. However, since the late nineteenth century, the judicial system has been largely based on the civil law of Europe, notably France and Germany.

For example, in , the Japanese government established a civil code based on the German model. The current constitution requires that the Emperor promulgates legislation passed by the Diet, without specifically giving him the power to oppose the passing of the legislation.

The fusion of traditional woodblock printing and Western art led to the creation of manga, a typically Japanese comic book format that is now popular within and outside Japan. Japanese-made video game consoles have prospered since the s. Japanese music is eclectic, having borrowed instruments, scales and styles from neighboring cultures. Many instruments, such as the koto, were introduced in the ninth and tenth centuries. The accompanied recitative of the Noh drama dates from the fourteenth century and the popular folk music, with the guitar-like shamisen, from the sixteenth.

Post-war Japan has been heavily influenced by American and European modern music, which has led to the evolution of popular band music called J-pop. A November survey by the Cultural Affairs Agency found that more Japanese had sung karaoke that year than had participated in traditional cultural pursuits such as flower arranging or tea ceremony.

The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter is considered the oldest Japanese narrative. Yomihon, for example, became popular and reveals this profound change in the readership and authorship. The World Factbook Privacy Policy. Introduction In , a Tokugawa shogunate military dictatorship ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For more than two centuries this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture.

Following the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in , Japan opened its ports and began to intensively modernize and industrialize.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. In Japan occupied Manchuria, and in it launched a full-scale invasion of China. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians - with heavy input from bureaucrats and business executives - wield actual decisionmaking power.

The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the s following three decades of unprecedented growth, but Japan still remains a major economic power, both in Asia and globally. People Population: ,, July est. Age structure: years: Median age: total: Population growth rate: Birth rate: 8. Death rate: 8. Sex ratio: at birth: 1. Infant mortality rate: total: 2. Life expectancy at birth: total population: