Page last updated on February 2, 2014
In 1603, 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. For more than two centuries this policy enabled Japan to enjoy a flowering of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports after signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 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. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and an ally of the US. 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 1990s, but the country remains a major economic power. In March 2011, Japan's strongest-ever earthquake, and an accompanying tsunami, devastated the northeast part of Honshu island, killing thousands and damaging several nuclear power plants. The catastrophe hobbled the country's economy and its energy infrastructure, and tested its ability to deal with humanitarian disasters.
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
total: 377,915 sq km
country comparison to the world: 62
land: 364,485 sq km
water: 13,430 sq km
note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
slightly smaller than California
territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
mostly rugged and mountainous
lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m
negligible mineral resources, fish
note: with virtually no energy natural resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil
arable land: 11.26%
permanent crops: 0.81%
other: 87.93% (2011)
total: 90.04 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%)
per capita: 714.3 cu m/yr (2007)
many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoons
volcanism: both Unzen (elev. 1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (elev. 1,117 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
air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
strategic location in northeast Asia
noun: Japanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Japanese
Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6%
note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil (2004)
Shintoism 83.9%, Buddhism 71.4%, Christianity 2%, other 7.8%
note: total adherents exceeds 100% because many people belong to both Shintoism and Buddhism (2005)
127,253,075 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
0-14 years: 13.4% (male 8,808,568/female 8,204,514)
15-24 years: 9.7% (male 6,394,809/female 5,958,408)
25-54 years: 38.3% (male 24,149,308/female 24,588,409)
55-64 years: 13.8% (male 8,785,719/female 8,786,968)
65 years and over: 24.8% (male 13,656,792/female 17,919,580) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 61.6 %
youth dependency ratio: 21.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 40.5 %
potential support ratio: 2.5 (2013)
total: 45.8 years
male: 44.4 years
female: 47.2 years (2013 est.)
-0.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
8.23 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
9.27 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
urban population: 91.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.57% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
TOKYO (capital) 36.507 million; Osaka-Kobe 11.325 million; Nagoya 3.257 million; Fukuoka-Kitakyushu 2.809 million; Sapporo 2.673 million (2009)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
5 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 177
total: 2.17 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 223
male: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 1.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 84.19 years
country comparison to the world: 3
male: 80.85 years
female: 87.71 years (2013 est.)
1.39 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
54.3%
note: percent of women aged 20-49 (2005)
9.3% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 38
2.14 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
13.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)
less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
8,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 157
3.8% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 121
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2002)
total: 15 years
male: 16 years
female: 15 years (2010)
total: 7.9%
country comparison to the world: 123
male: 8.7%
female: 7.1% (2012)
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Japan
local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku
local short form: Nihon/Nippon
a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy
name: Tokyo
geographic coordinates: 35 41 N, 139 45 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)
Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)
previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947 (2013)
civil law system based on German model; system also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
20 years of age; universal
chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Shinzo ABE (since 26 December 2012); Deputy Prime Minister Taro ASO (since 26 December 2012)
cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the prime minister
elections: Diet, the bicameral legislature, designates the prime minister; constitution requires that the prime minister commands parliamentary majority; following legislative elections, the leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister; the monarchy is hereditary
bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected for fixed six-year terms; 146 members in multi-seat constituencies and 96 by proportional representation) half elected every three years; and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected for maximum four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs); the prime minister has the right to dissolve the House of Representatives at any time with the concurrence of the cabinet
elections: House of Councillors - last held on 21 July 2013 (next to be held in July 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 16 December 2012 (next to be held by 15 December 2016)
election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPD 115, DPJ 59, New Komeito 20, Your Party 18, JCP 11, JRP 9, SDP 3, others 4, independents 3
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice designated by the Cabinet and appointed by the monarch; associate justices appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the monarch; all justices are reviewed in a popular referendum at the first general election of the House of Representatives following each judge's appointment and every 10 years afterward
subordinate courts: 8 High Courts (Koto-saiban-sho), each with a Family Court (Katei-saiban-sho); 50 District Courts (Chiho saibansho), with 203 additional branches; 438 Summary Courts (Kani saibansho)
Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Banri KAIEDA]
other: business groups; trade unions
ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenichiro SASAE (since 19 November 2012)
chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New York, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle
consulate(s): Anchorage (AK), Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
chief of mission: Ambassador Caroline Bouvier KENNEDY (since 19 November 2013)
embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
mailing address: Unit 9800, Box 300, APO AP 96303-0300
telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000
FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862
consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center
red sun disc; chrysanthemum
name: "Kimigayo" (The Emperor"s Reign)
lyrics/music: unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI
note: adopted 1999; in use as unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier; there is some opposition to the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor
In the years following World War II, government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan develop a technologically advanced economy. Two notable characteristics of the post-war 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 are now eroding under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic demographic change. Japan's industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. A small agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. While self-sufficient in rice production, Japan imports about 60% of its food on a caloric basis. 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, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the after effects of inefficient investment and an asset price bubble in the late 1980s that required a protracted period of time for firms to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. Modest economic growth continued after 2000, but the economy has fallen into recession three times since 2008. A sharp downturn in business investment and global demand for Japan's exports in late 2008 pushed Japan into recession. Government stimulus spending helped the economy recover in late 2009 and 2010, but the economy contracted again in 2011 as the massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami in March disrupted manufacturing. The economy has largely recovered in the two years since the disaster, but reconstruction in the Tohoku region has been uneven. Newly-elected Prime Minister Shinzo ABE has declared the economy his government's top priority; he has pledged to reconsider his predecessor's plan to permanently close nuclear power plants and is pursuing an economic revitalization agenda of fiscal stimulus and regulatory reform and has said he will press the Bank of Japan to loosen monetary policy. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis that adjusts for price differences, Japan in 2012 stood as the fourth-largest economy in the world after second-place China, which surpassed Japan in 2001, and third-place India, which edged out Japan in 2012. The new government will continue a longstanding debate on restructuring the economy and reining in Japan's huge government debt, which exceeds 200% of GDP. Persistent deflation, reliance on exports to drive growth, and an aging and shrinking population are other major long-term challenges for the economy.
$4.576 trillion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$5.88 trillion (2012 est.)
2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$35,900 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
21.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
household consumption: 60.9%
government consumption: 20.5%
investment in fixed capital: 21.2%
investment in inventories: -0.6%
exports of goods and services: 14.7%
imports of goods and services: -16.6%
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 26.1%
services: 72.8% (2012 est.)
rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; fish
among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
65.55 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 26.2%
services: 69.8% (2010 est.)
4.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 27.5% (2008)
37.6 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 76
revenues: $1.988 trillion
expenditures: $2.578 trillion (2012 est.)
33.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
-10% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
219.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
0% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
0.1% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 140
1.48% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
$6.176 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$13.12 trillion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$13.72 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
$4.011 trillion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 3
$60.8 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$776.6 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
motor vehicles 13.6%; semiconductors 6.2%; iron and steel products 5.5%; auto parts 4.6%; plastic materials 3.5%; power generating machinery 3.5%
China 18.1%, US 17.8%, South Korea 7.7%, Thailand 5.5%, Hong Kong 5.1% (2012)
$830.1 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
petroleum 15.5%; liquid natural gas 5.7%; clothing 3.9%; semiconductors 3.5%; coal 3.5%; audio and visual apparatus 2.7% (2011 est.)
China 21.3%, US 8.8%, Australia 6.4%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%, UAE 5%, South Korea 4.6%, Qatar 4% (2012)
$1.268 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$3.024 trillion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 6
$222.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$1.054 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
yen (JPY) per US dollar -
936.2 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
859.7 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
287 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
63.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
17.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
7.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
2.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
135,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
3.472 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
44.12 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 79
3.862 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
4.464 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
349,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
1.311 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
3.273 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
112.6 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
122.2 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 77
1.181 billion Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
64.273 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 3
138.363 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 7
general assessment: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind
international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 2 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2012)
a mixture of public and commercial broadcast TV and radio stations; 6 national terrestrial TV networks including 1 public broadcaster; the large number of radio and TV stations available provide a wide range of choices; satellite and cable services provide access to international channels (2012)
64.453 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 2
99.182 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 3
175 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 33
total: 142
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 25 (2013)
total: 33
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m:
gas 4,456 km; oil 174 km; oil/gas/water 104 km (2013)
total: 27,182 km
country comparison to the world: 11
standard gauge: 4,251 km 1.435-m gauge (4,251 km electrified)
dual gauge: 486 km 1.435-1.067-m gauge (486 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.372-m gauge (96 km electrified); 22,301 km 1.067-m gauge (15,222 km electrified); 48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified) (2009)
total: 1,210,251 km
country comparison to the world: 6
paved: 973,234 km (includes 7,803 km of expressways)
unpaved: 237,017 km (2010)
1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 45
total: 684
country comparison to the world: 16
by type: bulk carrier 168, cargo 34, carrier 3, chemical tanker 29, container 2, liquefied gas 58, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 117, petroleum tanker 152, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 52, vehicle carrier 54
registered in other countries: 3,122 (Bahamas 88, Bermuda 2, Burma 1, Cambodia 1, Cayman Islands 23, China 2, Cyprus 16, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 79, Indonesia 8, Isle of Man 19, Liberia 110, Luxembourg 3, Malaysia 2, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 59, Mongolia 2, Netherlands 1, Panama 2372, Philippines 77, Portugal 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Sierra Leone 4, Singapore 164, South Korea 14, Tanzania 1, UK 5, Vanuatu 39, unknown 7) (2010)
major seaport(s): Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Tomakomai, Yokohama
container port(s) (TEUs): Kobe (2,725,304), Nagoya (2,471,821), Osaka (2,172,797), Tokyo (4,416,119), Yokohama (2,992,517)
Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD): Ground Self-Defense Force (Rikujou Jieitai, GSDF); Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jieitai, MSDF); Air Self-Defense Force (Koukuu Jieitai, ASDF) (2011)
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; mandatory retirement at age 53 for senior enlisted personnel and at 62 years for senior service officers (2012)
males age 16-49: 27,301,443
females age 16-49: 26,307,003 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 22,390,431
females age 16-49: 21,540,322 (2010 est.)
male: 623,365
female: 591,253 (2010 est.)
0.99% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 309
the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting
