Language: Japanese
Currency: Yen (JPY)
Calling Code: 81
Japan, known in its own language as Nihon or Nippon (日本), is an
archipelago nation in East Asia consisting of over 14,000 islands,
with the four main ones—Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and
Shikoku—forming the heart of the country. Its isolated island
geography has fostered a remarkably distinct and layered culture,
while centuries of interaction with neighboring civilizations,
especially ancient China and Korea, have left deep imprints on its
art, philosophy, writing system, and religious traditions.
Despite a long and often turbulent history marked by feudal warfare
and samurai codes, Japanese society has consistently prized inner
harmony (wa), tranquility, and a profound reverence for nature.
These values are embodied in practices like Zen meditation, the tea
ceremony (chanoyu), seasonal flower viewing (hanami), and the
meticulous design of traditional gardens. In modern times, these
principles have become even more vital: Japan is one of the world’s
most densely populated countries (with over 123 million people
packed into a relatively small land area), and its legendary work
ethic—symbolized by long office hours and the “salaryman”
culture—creates fast-paced, high-pressure urban environments,
particularly in megacities like Tokyo and Osaka.
Japanese cuisine
is celebrated globally for its emphasis on freshness, seasonality,
and aesthetic presentation, from delicate sushi and sashimi to
comforting ramen, hearty kaiseki multi-course meals, and street
favorites like takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Yet its most authentic and
refined expressions can only be fully experienced within Japan,
where ingredients are at their peak and centuries-old techniques are
preserved. Meanwhile, Japan’s vibrant pop culture—especially anime,
manga, video games, and J-pop—has captivated audiences worldwide,
significantly boosting tourism as fans flock to sites like
Akihabara, Kyoto’s temples, or Studio Ghibli museums.
Economically, Japan underwent one of history’s most dramatic
transformations. After opening to the West in the mid-19th century
during the Meiji Restoration, it rapidly industrialized and
modernized. By the late 20th century, it had become a global
economic powerhouse, pioneering advancements in high technology,
automotive manufacturing (Toyota, Honda), electronics (Sony,
Panasonic), and robotics. Today, it remains one of the world’s
wealthiest nations, with cutting-edge infrastructure including the
iconic Shinkansen bullet trains, efficient public transportation,
and futuristic cityscapes.
Japan is a country of striking
contrasts: ancient wooden temples and shrines stand beside gleaming
skyscrapers; cherry blossoms bloom in spring against neon-lit
streets; and centuries-old rituals coexist with high-speed
modernity. While Japanese people are often perceived as reserved or
polite to a fault, with varying levels of English proficiency
outside major tourist areas, they are renowned for their genuine
warmth and hospitality toward visitors. Many will go to
extraordinary lengths—offering directions, gifts, or assistance—to
ensure guests feel welcome. This same spirit shines in customer
service, which is world-famous for its meticulous attention to
detail, politeness, and willingness to exceed expectations, whether
in a convenience store (konbini), a luxury department store, or a
traditional ryokan inn.
In short, Japan offers an unforgettable
blend of deep-rooted tradition, innovative futurism, natural beauty,
and human kindness that continues to enchant travelers and cultural
enthusiasts from around the globe.
Hokkaido
Japan’s northernmost and largest prefecture, made up of
the Central, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Circuits. This vast,
sparsely populated island is a true winter wonderland known for its
heavy snowfall, dramatic landscapes, and indigenous Ainu heritage.
Highlights include the vibrant Sapporo Snow Festival, endless fields of
lavender and other flowers in summer, world-class powder skiing, and
fresh seafood like hairy crab and salmon.
Tohoku
Comprising
Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Miyagi, Yamagata, and Fukushima on the
northeastern part of Honshu. This largely rural and mountainous region
is celebrated for its pristine nature, abundant hot springs (onsen),
excellent skiing, and superb seafood. It is also home to scenic spots
like Matsushima Bay—one of Japan’s Three Most Scenic Views—and is
gradually rebuilding and showcasing resilience after the 2011 earthquake
and tsunami.
Kanto
Includes Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama,
Chiba, Tokyo, and Kanagawa. This densely populated coastal plain on
Honshu serves as Japan’s economic and political heart, anchored by the
massive Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area. It features everything from
bustling urban centers and high-tech industries to nearby natural
escapes, including views of majestic Mount Fuji on clear days.
Chubu
Encompassing Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi,
Nagano, Shizuoka, Aichi, and Gifu. Located in the mountainous heart of
Honshu, this region is dominated by the rugged Japan Alps, offering
outstanding hiking, skiing, and scenic beauty. It is also an industrial
powerhouse, home to Nagoya (Japan’s fourth-largest city), the Toyota
headquarters, and the iconic peak of Mount Fuji.
Kansai (also
known as Kinki)
Made up of Shiga, Mie, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Wakayama,
and Hyogo. This culturally rich western part of Honshu was the political
and cultural center of Japan for many centuries. It boasts ancient
temples and shrines in Kyoto and Nara, the lively food and entertainment
scene of Osaka, the elegant port city of Kobe, and beautiful Lake Biwa.
The region perfectly blends deep history with modern vibrancy.
Chugoku
Consisting of Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, and
Yamaguchi in southwestern Honshu. A quieter, more rural region known for
its dramatic coastlines, traditional gardens, and important historical
sites. It includes the Peace Memorial Park and Museum in Hiroshima, the
scenic Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, and Okayama’s famous Korakuen
Garden, one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens.
Shikoku
The
smallest of Japan’s four main islands, comprising Kagawa, Ehime,
Tokushima, and Kochi. This compact, mountainous island is famous for the
88 Temple Pilgrimage route—a sacred Buddhist journey that attracts
walkers from around the world. It also offers thrilling white-water
rafting on the Yoshino River, dramatic gorges, and laid-back rural
charm.
Kyushu
The southernmost of the four main islands,
including Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, and
Kagoshima. Often considered the birthplace of Japanese civilization,
Kyushu features active volcanoes (such as Mount Aso), abundant hot
springs, and a more relaxed, subtropical atmosphere. Major cities
include Fukuoka and Kitakyushu, while highlights range from historic
Nagasaki to the dramatic sand dunes and coastal scenery of Miyazaki.
Okinawa
Japan’s southernmost prefecture, a chain of subtropical
islands including Okinawa Island, the Daito, Miyako, and Yaeyama groups.
Formerly the independent Ryukyu Kingdom until its annexation in 1879,
Okinawa has a distinctly different culture, language, architecture, and
cuisine. It is renowned for its stunning turquoise waters, coral reefs,
world-class beaches, unique music and dance traditions, and longevity of
its residents. The islands also carry significant World War II history,
particularly around the Battle of Okinawa.
Tokyo – Japan’s bustling capital and the
world’s most populous metropolitan area. A hyper-modern megacity
blending towering skyscrapers, cutting-edge technology, vibrant pop
culture, and ancient traditions. Home to the Imperial Palace, Shibuya
Crossing, and an unmatched public transportation network, Tokyo is the
political, economic, and cultural heart of the nation.
Yokohama – Japan’s second-largest city and a
major international port located within the greater Tokyo metropolitan
area. Known for its waterfront Minato Mirai district, historic foreign
settlement, and cosmopolitan atmosphere, Yokohama serves as a vital
commercial gateway and a popular day-trip destination from Tokyo.
Osaka – The vibrant business and entertainment
hub of the Kansai region. Famous for its bold food culture (“eat until
you drop”), energetic residents, and landmarks like Osaka Castle,
Universal Studios Japan, and the bustling Dotonbori district. Osaka is a
commercial powerhouse with a more laid-back, friendly vibe than Tokyo.
Nagoya – A major industrial and manufacturing
center in the Chubu (central) region. Often called the “Detroit of
Japan,” it is home to Toyota’s headquarters and world-class aerospace
and ceramics industries. Visitors enjoy Nagoya Castle, the SCMaglev and
Railway Park, and its strategic location between Tokyo and Osaka.
Kobe – An elegant port city in the Kansai region,
nestled between mountains and the sea. Renowned for its international
flavor, Kobe beef, scenic harbor, and the stylish Kitano-cho district
with historic Western-style houses. It recovered impressively from the
1995 earthquake and remains a gateway for international trade.
Kyoto – Japan’s former imperial capital for over
a thousand years and the undisputed cultural heart of the country.
Packed with thousands of temples, shrines, and traditional gardens
(including the iconic Golden Pavilion and Fushimi Inari’s torii gates),
Kyoto offers a deep dive into classical Japanese arts, tea ceremonies,
geisha culture, and seasonal beauty.
Fukuoka
– The largest city on the southern island of Kyushu and a dynamic
gateway to Asia. Known for its friendly people, Hakata ramen, canal-side
nightlife, and ancient temples. Its proximity to Korea and China makes
it a key hub for international business and travel.
Hiroshima – A modern port city in western
Honshu that symbolizes peace. Rebuilt after being devastated by the
world’s first atomic bomb in August 1945, it now features the moving
Peace Memorial Park and Museum, alongside beautiful Miyajima Island with
its famous “floating” torii gate.
Nagasaki
– A historic port city on Kyushu that played a pivotal role in Japan’s
opening to the West. Site of the second atomic bombing in 1945, it also
preserves a rich heritage of Dutch, Portuguese, and Chinese influences,
along with Glover Garden and its scenic harbor.
Nara – Japan’s first permanent capital
(established in 710) and one of the country’s oldest cities. Best known
for the massive bronze Great Buddha (Daibutsu) inside Todaiji Temple and
the famous Nara Park where hundreds of sacred deer roam freely among
ancient temples and pagodas.
Sapporo – The
largest city in Hokkaido and a relatively young, planned metropolis.
World-famous for its annual Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival) with gigantic
snow sculptures, excellent beer, fresh seafood, and world-class skiing
in the surrounding mountains. It hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics.
Sendai – The largest city in the Tōhoku
(northeast) region, affectionately called the “City of Trees” for its
many green boulevards and parks. Known for its beautiful summer Tanabata
festival, zunda sweets, and as a gateway to the scenic mountains and hot
springs of northern Honshu.
Shimonoseki
– Located at the southwestern tip of Honshu, this strategic port city
faces Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait. It is famous for fugu
(pufferfish) cuisine, the dramatic battle history of the straits, and as
a transportation hub connecting the main islands.
Kanazawa – A graceful castle town in the
Hokuriku region that escaped major wartime destruction. Renowned for its
beautifully preserved samurai and geisha districts (Nagamachi and
Higashi Chaya), the exquisite Kenrokuen Garden (one of Japan’s Three
Great Gardens), and its rich traditions in gold leaf craftsmanship,
lacquerware, and Kaga cuisine.
Aokigahara Haunted Forest
(Suicide Forest / Sea of Trees)
Nestled at the northwestern base of
Mount Fuji, Aokigahara is a dense, eerily quiet woodland often called
Japan’s most haunted forest. Local legends claim it is inhabited by
yūrei (restless ghosts), demons, and other malevolent supernatural
entities. The forest’s thick canopy blocks out much of the sunlight,
creating a haunting atmosphere that has long been associated with
mystery and tragedy. It is also known as Jukai (“Sea of Trees”) due to
its vast, uniform expanse of volcanic rock and twisted vegetation.
Akan
National Park
Located in eastern Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost
main island, Akan National Park spans approximately 904.81 square
kilometers (349 square miles) of pristine wilderness. Established in
1934, it is famous for its three caldera lakes—Lake Akan, Lake Kussharo,
and Lake Mashu—dramatic volcanic landscapes, active volcanoes such as
Mount Meakan, and ancient Ainu cultural heritage sites. The park is
especially renowned for its marimo (aquatic moss balls) in Lake Akan and
stunning autumn foliage.
Himeji
Castle (White Heron Castle)
Himeji Castle, also known as
Shirasagi-jō or White Heron Castle, is a magnificent medieval fortress
located in the city of Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture. With its elegant white
walls and multiple tiers resembling a bird taking flight, it is one of
Japan’s most beautiful and best-preserved castles. Built in the 14th
century and expanded in the early 17th century, it survived wars,
earthquakes, and fires. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
in 1993 and remains a prime example of Japanese castle architecture.
Ise Shrine (Ise Jingū)
Situated in the city of Ise, Mie Prefecture, Ise Grand Shrine is one of
Japan’s most sacred Shinto sites. It is primarily dedicated to
Amaterasu-ōmikami, the sun goddess and legendary ancestor of the
Japanese imperial family. The shrine complex consists of two main
shrines (Naikū and Gekū) surrounded by ancient cedar forests. Rebuilt
every 20 years in a ritual called Shikinen Sengū to symbolize renewal,
Ise Jingū attracts millions of pilgrims and visitors each year.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kiyomizu Temple (“Pure Water Temple”) is a
historic Buddhist complex perched on a steep hillside in eastern Kyoto.
Founded in the late 8th century (778 AD) during the early Heian period,
it belongs to the Hossō sect of Japanese Buddhism. The temple is famous
for its massive wooden stage that juts out over the valley, offering
breathtaking panoramic views—especially stunning during cherry blossom
season in spring and maple-leaf season in autumn. The name comes from
the pure waterfall that flows within the grounds.
Matsumoto Castle
(Crow Castle)
Matsumoto Castle, affectionately known as Karasu-jō or
Crow Castle due to its striking black exterior, is one of Japan’s most
iconic and best-preserved historic castles. Located in the city of
Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, it was originally constructed in the 16th
century. Its striking five-tiered main keep (tenshu) rises dramatically
against the backdrop of the Japanese Alps, and the castle is
particularly photogenic when surrounded by cherry blossoms or reflected
in its surrounding moat.
Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji (Fuji-san) is Japan’s highest mountain and most iconic
natural landmark—a perfectly symmetrical active volcano standing 3,776
meters (12,389 feet) tall. Revered for centuries as a sacred site, it
has inspired countless artists, poets, and pilgrims. Its snow-capped
peak is instantly recognizable worldwide and appears on everything from
ukiyo-e woodblock prints to modern currency. It is a UNESCO World
Cultural Site and a popular (though challenging) hiking destination
during the official climbing season from July to early September.
Nara
Nara, located in Nara Prefecture, is
home to a magnificent collection of ancient temples, shrines, and ruins
recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. As Japan’s first
permanent capital (710–784 AD), it preserves some of the country’s
oldest and most important Buddhist structures, including Tōdai-ji with
its massive Great Buddha (Daibutsu), Kasuga Taisha Shrine with its
thousands of lanterns, and the expansive Nara Park where sacred deer
roam freely among the historic buildings.
Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle was
built in 1583 by the powerful warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi during Japan’s
turbulent period of unification. Rising above the city of Osaka, this
imposing fortress played a central role in the late 16th and early 17th
centuries. Though destroyed and rebuilt multiple times (the current
structure dates mainly from 1931), it remains a symbol of Japan’s feudal
era. The castle’s striking golden accents, massive stone walls, and
beautiful surrounding park make it one of the country’s most visited
landmarks, especially during the cherry blossom festival.
From the Meiji Restoration until the end of World War II, Japan's
full name was Dai Nippon Teikoku (大日本帝國), meaning the Great Empire of
Japan. Now the official name of the country is "Nihon koku" or "Nippon
koku" (日本国). The Japanese themselves call the country "Nippon" listen
(inf.) or "Nihon" listen (inf.), both are written with kanji (日本). The
former is often used as an official one, such as on yen, postage stamps,
and in the names of many sporting events. "Nihon" is commonly used in
everyday life. The Japanese call themselves Nihonjin (日本人) and their
language Nihongo (日本語).
Nihon literally means "the place where
the sun rises" and the name is often translated as "Land of the Rising
Sun". This is how the Chinese called Japan in the correspondence of the
emperor of Japan with the Chinese Sui dynasty, since Japan is located to
the east of China. Initially, the hieroglyphs 日本 were the nickname of
the country, they appeared at the end of the 7th century and were read
as Hinomoto; Nihon and Nippon readings have been used since the Nara
period. Prior to that, the country was called "Yamato" (大和) or in
Chinese - Wa (倭), Wagoku (倭国), also the Japanese used
self-names-euphemisms "Great country of eight islands" (大八嶋国,
ooyashimaguni), "Country in the reed plains "(葦原中国, ashihara no
nakatsukuni), "Land of abundant reed plains, young rice sprouts"
(葦原千五百秋瑞穂国, ashihara no chiyoaki no mizuho no kuni).
The first signs of settlement of the Japanese archipelago appeared
around 40 millennium BC. e. with the beginning of the Japanese
Paleolithic, which lasted until the 12th millennium BC. The population
of ancient Japan was engaged in hunting and gathering, made the first
stone tools of rough processing. There are no ceramic products in this
period, so the period is also called the period of pre-ceramic culture.
From 12000 B.C. the Jomon period begins, which, according to the
archaeological periodization of the history of Western countries,
corresponds to the Mesolithic and Neolithic. The peculiarities of this
period were the formation of the Japanese archipelago and the beginning
of the use of ceramic products by its inhabitants.
In the Yayoi
period, which began around 500 BC, irrigated rice cultivation, the
potter's wheel and loom, metal processing (copper, bronze and iron) and
the construction of protective settlements appeared on the Japanese
archipelago. These innovations were brought to Japan by immigrants from
China and Korea.
The Japanese are first mentioned in one of the
Chinese historical chronicles - Hanshu. The land of Wa, as the Chinese
called the Japanese archipelago, is described in more detail in the
Chinese "History of the Three Kingdoms" (part "The Legend of the Wa
People"). According to her, the most powerful principality in the third
century was the principality of Yamatai, which was ruled by the ruler
Himiko.
In 250, the Yayoi gave way to the Kofun period, during
which the culture of the mounds spread, and the Japanese state of the
same name appeared in the Yamato region.
Kofun smoothly
transitioned in 538 to the Asuka period. Its features were the spread of
Buddhism, which came to Japan from the Korean state of Baekje (with
which during this period Japan actively developed trade, cultural and
political ties, military alliances were concluded against other Korean
states), the development of a centralized state of the Chinese model,
the creation of the first code of laws " ritsuryo” and the flourishing
of Japanese culture under the influence of mainland philosophical and
cultural ideas.
In the eighth century Nara period, a strong
centralized Japanese state emerged, centered in the imperial capital of
Heijo-kyo in present-day Nara. In addition to the accelerated
Sinification of Japanese society, this period is characterized by the
creation of the first historical chronicles and the flourishing of
culture. In 712, the Kojiki was completed, and in 720, the Nihon shoki
was completed.
In 784 Emperor Kanmu moved the capital from Nara
to Nagaoka-kyo, but already in 794 it was moved to Heian-kyo (modern
Kyoto). Thus began the Heian period, during which the Japanese national
culture appeared and flourished. The invention of the syllabary - kana -
made it possible to write in Japanese instead of Chinese. The kana
poetic anthology Kokinwakashu was the first of the imperial anthologies
to set the patterns that tanka poetry followed well into the 19th
century. Such monuments of Heian prose as "The Tale of Genji" or "Notes
at the Pillow" are still revered by many, both in Japan itself and
outside it, as the pinnacles of Japanese literature.
Japanese
feudalism is characterized by the emergence of a ruling warrior class,
the "samurai agency". In 1192, Minamoto no Yoritomo, who had defeated
the rival Taira clan in 1185, was appointed shogun, marking the
beginning of the Kamakura period. With his death in 1199, actual power
passed to the Hojo family, the regents of his son. The Kamakura
shogunate successfully repelled Mongol invasions in 1274 and 1281,
strengthening the Bakufu's position. Zen became the official religion of
the shogunate. After the victory over the Mongols, the Japanese warriors
began internecine wars, which quickly led to the decline of the Kamakura
regime. In 1318, Emperor Go-Daigo ascended the throne and by 1333, with
the support of the commander-in-chief, Bakufu Ashikaga Takauji, he was
able to regain power, but already in 1336, who did not share power with
the son of Emperor Ashikaga Takauji, he placed Emperor Komyo on the
throne in Kyoto, and in In 1338 he received the title of shogun from
him. In Japan, there were two emperors and two shoguns, who fought
fiercely until 1392. The Ashikaga shogunate was unable to control the
large daimyo feudal lords, so a civil war broke out in 1467, which
became the beginning of a long period of troubled times - the Sengoku
period.
In 1543, Portuguese navigators, and later Jesuit
missionaries and Dutch traders, reached the coast of Japan, marking the
beginning of commercial and cultural interaction between Japan and the
West.
With the help of European technology and firearms, Oda
Nobunaga defeated most of the other daimyo and almost managed to unify
the country, but was killed in 1582. He was succeeded by Toyotomi
Hideyoshi, who completed the unification of the country in 1590.
Hideyoshi captured Korea twice, but after a series of defeats inflicted
on the Japanese by Korean and Chinese troops and his death, the Japanese
troops retreated from Korea in 1598.
After Hideyoshi's death, Tokugawa Ieyasu used his position as regent
under Toyotomi Hideyoshi to gain political influence and military
support. At the Battle of Sekigahara, he defeated a number of opponents
and in 1603 was appointed shogun. Ieyasu founded the Tokugawa shogunate
and moved the capital to Edo (modern Tokyo). In 1639, the shogunate
began a foreign policy of self-isolation in Japan, which lasted two and
a half centuries, later called the Edo period. Nevertheless, the study
of the corpus of European scientific knowledge - rangaku - continued,
mainly through the Dutch trading post on the man-made island of Dejima
in the harbor of Nagasaki.
In the same period, the national
cultural movement kokugaku appeared, the study of Japan by the Japanese
themselves.
In 1854, American Commodore Matthew Perry, who had
arrived on the Black Ships a year earlier, forced Japan to end its
isolationist policy. With these events, Japan enters the era of
modernization.
The isolation policy was also interrupted on
August 12, 1853 by the expedition of Admiral E. V. Putyatin, who arrived
a month after M. K. Perry and offered technologies and gifts from the
government of the Russian Empire. On February 7, 1855, the first treaty
of trade and friendship between Japan and Russia was signed. The Shimoda
treatise gave the right to trade in the ports of Shimoda, Hakodate,
Nagasaki, a Russian consul was appointed, and boundaries and spheres of
influence of states were designated.
During the Bakumatsu period,
Japan signed several unequal treaties with Western powers, which led it
to an economic and political crisis. In 1868, the Boshin Civil War
began, which resulted in the abolition of the shogunate in 1869 and the
creation of a centralized state under the rule of the emperor - the
Meiji Restoration. Taking Western political, judicial and military
systems as a basis, the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan created the Privy
Council, prepared the Meiji Constitution for adoption and assembled the
Parliament. The Meiji Restoration turned the Empire of Japan into an
industrialized world power. After victory in the Sino-Japanese
(1894-1895) and Russo-Japanese (1904-1905) wars, Japan secured dominance
in the Japanese and Yellow Seas and annexed Korea, Taiwan and Karafuto.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the short democratic period of
Taishō gave way to the rise of militarism and expansionism. Japan took
part in the First World War on the side of the Entente, expanding its
political influence and territory. In 1931, continuing its policy of
expansionism, Japan occupied Manchuria and created the puppet state of
Manchukuo. After Lytton's report in 1933, the League of Nations
condemned her actions and Japan defiantly left the League. Japan signed
the Anti-Comintern Pact with Nazi Germany in 1936 and joined the Axis in
1941. At the same time, Japan signed the Neutrality Pact between the
USSR and Japan, pledging to respect the territorial integrity and
inviolability of the Mongolian People's Republic and Manchukuo.
In 1937, Japan invaded other parts of China, starting the Second
Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), after which the United States imposed an
oil embargo on Japan. On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor
and declared war on the United States and Great Britain. This leads to
US involvement in World War II. The Empire of Japan conquered Hong Kong,
the Philippines, and Mallacca, but in 1942 a defeat in the Coral Sea
robbed it of its advantage at sea. After the atomic bombings of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945 by US aircraft, and also
after the USSR joined the hostilities against Japan, Japan signed the
Act of Unconditional Surrender on September 2, 1945.
In 1947,
Japan adopted a new pacifist constitution that emphasized liberal
democracy. The Allied occupation of Japan ended with the adoption of the
San Francisco Peace Treaty, which came into force in 1952, and in 1956
Japan joined the UN. Later, Japan achieved a record economic growth that
lasted four decades and averaged 10% annually.
Prolonged growth
created an overly optimistic attitude of investors towards the Japanese
economy in the late 1980s, which led to the emergence of economic
bubbles in the stock market and the real estate market. In 1991,
economic growth gave way to a crisis, from which the country managed to
get out only in 2000.
Japan is a constitutional monarchy. According to the Constitution, which entered into force on May 3, 1947, the Emperor of Japan is “a symbol of the state and the unity of the people”, he makes all state appointments and decisions on the proposal of the Cabinet of Ministers, which is responsible for them. At diplomatic meetings, he plays the role of head of state. Naruhito has been the Emperor of Japan since 2019 and is succeeded by Prince Fumihito.
The highest body
of state power and the only legislative body in Japan is the Parliament.
It consists of two chambers: the House of Councilors, which is the upper
house, and the lower house of Representatives. The upper house - the
House of Councilors, consisting of 242 members, is elected for a period
of six years; half of the members of the chamber are re-elected every
three years (at the end of the deputy mandate). The chairman of the
chamber holds his post for 6 years (elected by the councillors). The
lower house - the House of Representatives, consisting of 480 deputies,
is elected for a term of four years (new elections may be announced
earlier in case of its early dissolution). According to the
constitution, the parliament has full legislative power and has the
exclusive right to manage finances. Japan has universal suffrage for all
citizens over the age of 20. Elections to both chambers are held by
secret ballot.
There are two main parties in Japan. In 2009, the
social-liberal Democratic Party of Japan gained a majority in
parliament, replacing the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, which
had ruled for 54 years. In 2012, the Liberal Democratic Party, following
the results of early parliamentary elections, regained the majority of
seats in parliament.
The government, the supreme body of executive power, is headed by the Prime Minister of Japan. One of its members is appointed to this position by the Emperor on the proposal of Parliament. The Prime Minister is the head of the Cabinet of Ministers, who forms the composition of the government. Since October 4, 2021, this position has been held by Fumio Kishida. The Prime Minister appoints the Ministers of State and has the right to remove them from office. The majority of Cabinet members must be chosen from among the members of Parliament.
The Japanese judicial system consists of four levels: the Supreme Court, Appellate Court, Main Court, and Disciplinary Court. The Supreme Court, like constitutional courts in other countries, has the power to strike down legal norms on the grounds that they are unconstitutional. The members of the supreme court are appointed by the emperor on the proposal of the government, while the rest of the judges are appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers on the proposal of the Supreme Court. The courts of appeal are the higher courts, the courts of first instance are the district courts, and the lowest level of the judicial system is the disciplinary courts. Bodies of prosecutorial supervision - the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, supreme prosecutor's offices, district prosecutor's offices, district prosecutor's offices.
Historically influenced by Chinese law, Japan's legal system developed independently during the Edo period through the creation of works such as the Kujikata Osadamegaki. But since the end of the 19th century, the judicial system of Japan was mainly based on Romano-Germanic law, in particular, on the legal systems of France and Germany. For example, in 1896 the Japanese government created a civil code based on the German model. Statutory law is formed by the legislature of Japan - the Parliament. The main part of statutory law is a collection called "Six Codes". Under the current constitution, a new law comes into force only after its promulgation by the emperor.
The ninth article of the Japanese Constitution
forbids the country to have its own army and participate in wars. The
modern armed forces of Japan are called self-defense forces and their
military activities, not directly related to the defense of the country,
are severely limited. Since 2007, they have been managed by the Japanese
Ministry of Defense. In the event of a state-level emergency, the Prime
Minister is authorized to dispose of the various branches of the Japan
Self-Defense Force, subject to the consent of Parliament. In extreme
conditions, such permission can be obtained ex post. The Self-Defense
Forces consist of land, sea and air forces. The Japan Self-Defense
Forces are recruited on a voluntary basis.
As of 2013, 247,450
people served in the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Of these, 151,350 people
are in the ground forces, 45,500 people in the naval self-defense
forces. The air force consisted of 47,100 men. Since 1992, the
self-defense forces have been taking part in peacekeeping operations,
including in Iraq in 2004. From 2016 until the end of May 2017, the
Japanese contingent was part of the UN peacekeeping contingent in South
Sudan.
Defense spending in 2017 was $44.64 billion (5.13 trillion
yen), and already in 2019, spending amounted to $48.1 billion, which
allows Japan to rank eighth in the world in terms of defense budget.
In accordance with Art. 9 of the constitution, Japan cannot have its own armed forces, but only "self-defense forces", the organization, composition and functions of which are determined by the "Self-Defense Forces Law" of 1954. The Supreme Commander is the Prime Minister, who is granted the right in cases of aggravation of the military-political situation declare a state of emergency in the country, put the “self-defense forces” on high alert, give orders to start defensive hostilities. However, after that, according to the law, the prime minister is obliged to submit the orders given to him for approval by the parliament. He exercises general leadership of the "self-defense forces" through the Minister of Defense (until 2007 - the head of the National Defense Directorate (UNO), responsible for the construction of the armed forces, their combat readiness. The Minister of Defense is a civilian and is appointed from among the deputies of parliament. Under the Prime Minister the National Security Council functions - an advisory body to develop recommendations on the main directions of military construction. The self-defense forces serve on a contract basis (the principle of recruitment is on a voluntary basis). Additionally, Japan has a system for maintaining a permanent reserve, that is, serving under a special contract, which provides for the retraining of persons who previously served in the armed forces.The number of permanent reserve is about 50 thousand people.As a reserve of the Navy, the forces of the Department of Marine Protection, in peacetime subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and engaged in sentinel service, can be used and in torrential zones and territorial waters to ensure navigation, help ships in distress, and fight crime at sea. These forces number about 12 thousand people.
Japan maintains close economic and military relations with the United
States. Their basis is the agreement on cooperation and security between
the United States and Japan. Japan has been a member of the UN since
1956, and is also a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (in
total, as of 2010, it was a member of the Security Council for 19
years). In addition, she is part of the G4 group with the goal of
becoming a permanent member of the Security Council. As a member of the
G-7, G-10, APEC, ASEAN+3 and East Asia Summits, Japan actively
participates in international relations and improves ties with important
partners around the world. In March 2007, she signed a joint declaration
on security cooperation with Australia, and in October 2008 with India.
A feature of Japan's foreign policy is its desire to lead the world,
primarily through the UN and in the humanitarian sphere, allocating
considerable funds for these purposes. For example, in 2013, Japan's
share of UN funding was 10.83% (more than France and the UK combined).
However, Japan's share of UN funding has declined markedly since the
early 2000s, while China's share has increased. In 2004, Japan provided
19.47% of the UN's funding. Another instrument of Japanese influence in
the world is its active participation in the provision of Official
Development Assistance. In 1989, Japan overtook the United States in
terms of international economic assistance provided to other countries
and remained its main donor in the world for the next 10 years. In 2001,
the volume of international aid provided by Japan declined sharply, and
the USA came to the first place in the list of donor countries. The
provision of Japanese aid has the following features: most of it goes to
Asian countries, and its provision to African countries since the early
1990s has been linked to democratization and respect for human rights.
For example, Sudan was cut off from all Japanese aid (except
humanitarian) from 1993 to 2003. Official Development Assistance and
concessional loans are administered by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency and the Bank of Japan for International Cooperation.
Since 1965, the Japan Volunteers Organization has been operating, whose
volunteers worked at the beginning of the 2010s in 70 countries around
the world.
Japan is involved in territorial disputes with several
neighboring states. According to the official Japanese position, the
southern Kuril Islands, which are de facto part of Russia, are part of
Japanese territory. This contradiction between the countries is an
obstacle to the signing of a peace treaty between Russia and Japan (de
jure, this peace treaty has not been signed since the Second World War).
Japan also disputes ownership of the Liancourt Islands controlled by
South Korea. China and Taiwan dispute ownership of the Senkaku Islands,
which are under Japanese control.
Japan is located on a large stratovolcano archipelago, located off
the Pacific coast of Asia and part of the Pacific volcanic ring of fire.
According to the geographic coordinate system, Japan lies 36° north of
the equator and 138° east of the Greenwich meridian. The country is
located northeast of China and Taiwan (separated from them by the East
China Sea) and due east of Korea (separated by the Sea of Japan).
North of Japan is the Far East, a geographic region of Russia.
The largest islands of the archipelago (from north to south): Hokkaido,
Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. The country also includes 6,848 smaller
islands, including Okinawa, some of which are inhabited and some are
not. Japan occupies about 377.9 thousand km² (2006), of which 364.4
thousand km² is land, and 13.5 thousand km² is water space. Without
disputed territories, the country's area is estimated at 372.8 thousand
km². Japan is larger than Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand and the UK, it
is 1.7 times the size of Korea and 10 times the size of Taiwan.
The total length of the coastline is 19,240 km (2008), the largest
peninsulas are Kii and Oshima. The southern Ryukyu Islands are bordered
by coral reefs.
There are 108 active volcanoes in Japan. During
the XX, several new ones appeared, including the Showa Shinzan volcanic
dome and the Myojin crater.
The country's northernmost point is Bentenjima Island, northwest of Cape Soya (45°31′ N); the southernmost point is Okinotori Atoll (20°25′ N). The westernmost point is Cape Irizaki on Yonaguni Island (122°56′E), the easternmost point is Minamitori Island (153°59′E). The highest point is Mount Fuji (3776 m).
Japan is covered with highlands
and low and medium-altitude mountains, they make up over 75% of the
country's territory. The lowlands are located in separate areas along
the coasts of the country. The largest lowland is Kanto, covering about
17,000 km².
The main ranges of Hokkaido are a continuation of the
chains of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. They stretch from north to
south and from northeast to southwest. The highest point of the island
is Mount Asahi (2290 m), located in the area of their intersection.
In the northern part of the island of Honshu there are three
longitudinal chains of medium-altitude mountains, separated by valleys
and basins. The axial position is occupied by the Ou ridge, to the east
of it are the Kitakami and Abukuma ridges, and to the west - the Dewa
and Echigo ridges; the central and western ranges are topped by
volcanoes. In the middle part of the island, a fault zone called Fossa
Magna (about 250 km long) crosses the island, above which a number of
volcanoes rise, including the highest in Japan - Fujiyama (3776 m). In
the central part of Honshu, the Japanese Alps are located - the Hida,
Kiso and Akaishi ridges, the peaks of which are covered with snow for
most of the year. In the southwest, within the tectonic depression,
there is the Kinki plain and Lake Biwa. Two strips of mountains - the
northern (inner), stretching along the axis of the western part of
Honshu, and the southern (outer) - on the Kii Peninsula, the islands of
Shikoku and Kyushu, are separated by this tectonic depression, on the
western extension of which the Inland Sea of Japan is located.
The highest altitude of the island of Shikoku is Mount Ishizuchi (1981
m), the islands of Kyushu are the volcano Kuju (1788 m). The Ryukyu
Islands are dominated by plateaus and low mountains.
Japan has few minerals. Sulfur is central to the Japanese mining industry (3.4 million tons of sulfur was mined in 2010, 6th in the world). Japan also ranks 2nd in the world in iodine production (9500 tons in 2015) and 1st in iodine reserves (5 million tons). In addition, Japan produces small amounts of oil (136.8 thousand barrels per day in 2015, 43rd place), natural gas (4.7 billion m3 in 2014, 21st place), gold (7.2 tons in 2012, 38th place), silver (3.58 tons in 2012, 48th place). According to 1976 data, coal reserves amounted to 8630 million tons; iron ore - 228 million tons; sulfur - 67.6 million tons; manganese ore - 5.4 million tons; lead-zinc ore - 4.7 million tons; oil - 3.8 million tons; copper ore - 2.0 million tons; chromites - 1.0 million tons.
Japan is covered with a dense network of short full-flowing rivers, mostly mountainous. Among them, the largest are Shinano, Tone, Kitakami and Ishikari. On the rivers of the Sea of Japan basin, a winter-spring flood is noted, on the rivers of the Pacific Ocean basin - a summer one; floods occur periodically, especially as a result of the passage of typhoons. The waters of many rivers are used for irrigation. The lakes are numerous and diverse in origin: Lake Biwa, the largest in Japan (area 670 km²), is located in a tectonic depression, there are also volcanic (Inawashiro, Towada, Kutchiaro) and lagoonal (Kasumigaura, Saroma) lakes.
Japan belongs to a temperature zone with four distinct seasons, but
its climate ranges from low temperatures in the north to subtropical
temperatures in the south. The climate also depends on the seasonal
winds blowing from the continent in winter and in the opposite direction
in summer.
Japan can be roughly divided into six climatic zones:
Hokkaido belongs to the zone of low temperatures, it is characterized by
long frosty winters and cool summers.
In the Sea of Japan, the
northeast seasonal wind brings heavy snowfalls in winter. Summers are
less warm than in the Pacific Ocean, but extreme high temperatures are
sometimes observed due to the foehn phenomenon.
The climate of the
Central Highlands is a typical island climate with a large variation in
temperature in winter and summer, night and day.
In the Inland Sea
zone, the climate is temperate due to the fact that the mountains in the
Chugoku and Shikoku regions block the seasonal winds.
The Pacific
area experiences cold winters with occasional snowfall, and generally
hot and humid summers during southeasterly seasonal winds.
The
southwestern islands are a zone with a subtropical climate. Winter is
warm, summer is hot. The level of precipitation is very high, which is
reflected in the existence of the rainy season and the occurrence of
typhoons.
The Japanese islands are part of the
Pacific volcanic ring of fire. 10% of the world's volcanic activity in
the early 1990s was recorded in Japan. Up to 1,500 earthquakes every
year with a magnitude of 4 to 6 are not unusual. Small earthquakes occur
daily in different parts of the country, causing buildings to shake.
Japan has experienced several major earthquakes:
On September 1,
1923, the great Kanto earthquake (magnitude 8.3) occurred, the most
affected cities of Tokyo and Yokohama killed hundreds of thousands (542
thousand people are still missing, 143 thousand people are dead), about
a million were left homeless in as a result of the resulting fires.
On January 17, 1995, the Kobe earthquake (magnitude 7.3) killed 6,434
people.
On March 11, 2011, one of the largest magnitude 9 earthquakes
in Japanese history struck off the northeast coast. The earthquake
triggered a devastating tsunami. Miyagi Prefecture and the city of
Sendai suffered the most, where the height of the wave crest reached 10
m. Between 200 and 300 bodies of the dead were found on the coast of the
city of Sendai.
From March 11 to March 25, 2011, a wave of
earthquakes with magnitudes from 1 to 9 occurred in Japan. According to
eyewitnesses, in many cities it was shaking almost constantly. All these
earthquakes caused several powerful waves that hit Japan, ranging in
height from 3 to a record 10 meters. The Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant
was hit by waves, as a result of which an accident occurred on it, which
became the most serious radiation accident since the accident at the
Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
These events are called the
biggest crisis in Japan since the Second World War.
Due to
frequent earthquakes, Japan has become a world leader in the study and
prediction of earthquakes. Discoveries in modern technologies make it
possible to build skyscrapers even in seismically active zones.
Another natural hazard is typhoons (台風 taifu:) that come to Japan from
the Pacific Ocean.
Forests cover over 66% of the country. The flora of Japan has more
than 700 species of trees and shrubs and about 3,000 species of herbs.
Hokkaido is dominated by coniferous forests of spruce and fir, with
thick undergrowth of bamboo. With height, the forest is gradually
replaced by thickets of dwarf pine and birch forests, herbaceous-shrub
formations and shrub wastelands. In the north of the island, the upper
limit of coniferous forests is 500 m, in the southern regions they are
replaced by deciduous broad-leaved forests. In the southwest of
Hokkaido, broad-leaved forests rise from the coast to a height of 500 m.
Deciduous broad-leaved forests are also common on Honshu, growing
oak, beech, maple, chestnut, ash, linden, etc. They rise to a height of
1800 m, and coniferous forests end at an altitude of 1800-2000 m. The
lower parts of the slopes of the Honshu mountains south of 38° north
latitude and the mountain slopes on the islands of Shikoku and Kyushu up
to a height of 800 m are covered with evergreen subtropical forests
(with the presence of evergreen oak, magnolias, camphor trees,
cryptomeria, Japanese cypress, etc.) with rich undergrowth and an
abundance of lianas. In the extreme south of Kyushu and the Ryukyu
Islands, monsoon forests are common up to a height of 300 m, in which
palms, ficuses, tree ferns, bamboo, and orchids are found.
Due to the island isolation of Japan, the animal world is somewhat
depleted compared to the mainland (and the forms are crushed), but many
endemic and relic species have survived in the country. Its fauna
includes 270 species of mammals, about 800 species of birds and 110
species of reptiles. Over 600 species of fish and more than 1,000
species of mollusks live in the seas surrounding the country. Due to the
mountainous relief, species adapted to life in mountain forests mainly
predominate.
The animal world of Japan is also peculiar in its
own way, there are: Japanese macaques, Japanese cranes, Chinese praying
mantises and others.
On the island of Hokkaido there are brown
bear, sable, ermine, weasel. In addition, wolves, foxes, the Asian
badger, raccoon dogs, otters and hares live there and on the island of
Honshu. South of the Sangar Strait live white-breasted bears, Japanese
macaques, antelopes, gigantic salamanders. Tropical fauna lives south of
the Togara Strait in Japan.
Of the birds, there are woodpecker,
thrush, titmouse, swallow, starling, black grouse, cranes, stork, hawk,
eagle, owls, there are many sea birds off the coast. A typical
sinanthropus is a large-billed crow. Also from corvids there are magpie,
blue magpie, jay, kuksha, black crow, nutcracker. Freshwater fish -
carp, catfish, eel, lamprey; artificially bred eels and salmon,
including trout. Commercial fish of coastal waters are Pacific herring,
ivasi, tuna, cod, flounder. There are also crabs, shrimps, oysters.
The soils of Japan are poorly suitable for agriculture without their preliminary processing. In the north of the country, podzolic and meadow-marsh soils are common, in the southern part of the temperate zone - brown forest soils, in the subtropics and tropics - yellow and red soils. In the mountains, the soils are predominantly gravelly, often with inclusions of volcanic ash; on the plains, there are cultivated alluvial soils.
The ecological history of Japan and
the current politics of the country reflect the balance between economic
development and environmental protection. During the period of rapid
economic growth after the Second World War, attention to environmental
policy from the government and industrial corporations decreases. As an
inevitable consequence of this - the strongest environmental pollution
in the 1950s and 1960s. With growing concern about this, the government
passed environmental legislation in 1970 and the Environmental
Protection Agency was established in 1971. The 1973 oil crisis also
encouraged the efficient use of energy due to Japan's lack of natural
resources. Current priority environmental issues include urban air
pollution (nitrogen oxides, toxic substances), waste management, water
eutrophication, nature conservation, climate change, and international
cooperation to preserve the environment.
Modern Japan is one of
the world leaders in the development of new environmentally friendly
technologies. Honda and Toyota hybrid vehicles have high fuel efficiency
and low emissions. This is due to advanced technology in hybrid systems,
biofuels, the use of lighter material and better engineering.
Japan is also considering issues related to climate change and global
warming. As a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, Japan has made
commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other climate
change-related warning measures. In fulfilling its commitments under the
Kyoto Protocol, Japan is preparing to greatly reduce its greenhouse gas
emissions.
Japan ranked 20th in the Environmental Sustainability
Index in 2018.
On March 11, 2011, as a result of the strongest
earthquake in the history of observations in the country, a radiation
leak occurred at the Fukushima I nuclear power plant in Fukushima
Prefecture. The amount of radioactive substances released into the
environment was approximately 10% of the emissions from the Chernobyl
accident.
Japan is divided into 47 administrative divisions of the highest
level, the so-called. prefectures. Each prefecture is governed by a
prefect (in the case of Hokkaido, a governor) and has its own
legislative and administrative apparatuses. For convenience, prefectures
are often grouped into regions that are not administrative divisions.
In turn, the prefectures are divided into smaller administrative
divisions: the 14 districts of Hokkaido, special cities determined by
government decrees, and counties. Special cities, determined by
government decrees, include cities with a population of more than
500,000 people.
In addition to prefectures and counties, there
are administrative units at the municipal level in the country, which
enjoy wide autonomy. These are central cities, special cities, ordinary
cities, special areas of Tokyo, as well as towns and villages.
As of September 1, 2019, 125,938,348 people live in Japan. The
country's population has been declining as a result of natural decline
since 2004. According to 2007 data, 89.07% of Japanese live in cities.
Japanese society is linguistically and culturally homogeneous with few
foreign workers. National minorities include the Ryukyuans, Ainu,
Koreans, Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese Brazilians and Japanese Peruvians.
In 2010, there were about 1.65 million foreigners in Japan. The country
is visited by an increasing number of tourists: in 2017, 28.7 million
people came to Japan, mainly from Asia (24.5 million) and Europe (1.5
million). About 98% of the population are actually Japanese; the largest
groups of indigenous minorities are the Ryukyus (about one and a half
million people), the Ainu, and also social minorities - the Burakums.
Japan has one of the highest life expectancies, at 83.98 years in
2016, and one of the lowest infant mortality rates. Japanese society is
rapidly aging, with an explosion in the birth rate following the end of
World War II followed by a decline in the birth rate at the end of the
20th century. In 2005, about 20.1% of the population was over 65 years
of age.
These changes in demographic structure have created a
number of social problems, in particular a potential decline in the
labor force and an increase in the cost of social benefits such as
pensions. Many young Japanese choose not to marry or start a family. The
Japanese population is expected to drop to 95 million by 2050.
Demographers and the government are engaged in heated discussions about
how to deal with this problem. As a solution to demographic problems,
encouragement of the birth rate is proposed.
The vast majority of Japanese people practice Shintoism (79.2%) and
Buddhism (66.8%). Chinese Confucianism, Zen Buddhism and Amidism have
also influenced Japanese beliefs and traditions.
Christians are a
religious minority, only 2% of the population. Among the associations of
Christian churches operating on a pan-Japanese scale, the largest is the
Catholic Central Council. The total number of Japanese Protestants is
estimated at 910,000. The largest Protestant denomination is the
Pentecostals (257 thousand). There are also Jehovah's Witnesses
(217,000) and Mormons (127,000) in Japan. The Japanese Orthodox Church
has about 30,000 members.
In the middle of the 19th century, the
Tenrikyo religious sect appeared in Japan, and at the end of the 20th
century, Aum Shinrikyo. At the beginning of the 20th century, a Muslim
community arose in Japan, uniting about 0.09% of the population,
according to the US government.
The country is characterized by
religious syncretism, when believers profess several religions at once.
This leads to a mixture of different religious practices. So, adults and
children celebrate Shinto holidays, schoolchildren pray before exams,
the Japanese can arrange wedding ceremonies in a Christian church, and
funerals in a Buddhist temple.
The vast majority of the country's inhabitants speak Japanese. The closest related languages to Japanese are the Ryukyuan languages, more distant genetic links remain unclear. Japanese has an original script that combines ideography and syllabic phonography. According to the grammatical structure - agglutinative with a predominantly synthetic expression of grammatical meanings. A feature of the language is a developed system of honorifics, reflecting the hierarchical nature of Japanese society. According to the Shinse Kokugojiten Dictionary of the Japanese Language, words of Chinese origin make up about 49.1% of the total vocabulary, Japanese proper words make up 33.8%, and other loanwords 8.8%. Japanese writing consists of three main parts - kanji (hieroglyphs borrowed from China), and two syllabaries - katakana and hiragana (kana), created in Japan on the basis of kanji. Each of these types of writing has found its traditional place in modern writing. Latin and Arabic numerals are also used. In most private and public schools, students learn Japanese and English.
The Ainu language is spoken mainly in Hokkaido, is the original language of the Ainu, although at present the vast majority of the Ainu speak Japanese. The Ainu language belongs to the disadvantaged languages, it is known only to the aging inhabitants of Hokkaido.
The Ryukyu languages are spoken in the Ryukyu Islands. In Japan, they are generally considered dialects of Japanese, which they actually are from a functional point of view. The majority of Ryukyuan speakers are elderly people.
At the end of the 2009 fiscal year, Japan ranked second in the world
(after the United States) in terms of nominal GDP, which is more than 5
trillion US dollars, however, according to experts, in August 2010, the
Chinese economy overtook the Japanese economy in this indicator[105];
and third in purchasing power parity (after the US and China). Banking,
insurance, real estate, transportation, retail, telecommunications and
construction play a significant role in the country's economy. Japan has
a large manufacturing capacity and is home to some of the largest
manufacturers of motor vehicles, electronics, machine tools, steel,
ships, chemicals, textiles and foodstuffs. The service sector accounts
for three-quarters of the gross domestic product.
As of 2007,
Japan ranked 19th in terms of GDP to hours worked. According to the Big
Mac Index, Japanese workers earn the highest hourly wages in the world.
Japan has a low unemployment rate (2.4% as of September 2019). The
largest companies include Toyota, Nintendo, NTT DoCoMo, Canon, Honda,
Takeda Pharmaceutical, Sony, Nippon Steel, Tepco, Mitsubishi and 711. In
addition, it houses several major banks and the Tokyo Stock Exchange,
which is ranked second in the world in terms of market capitalization.
In 2006, 326 Japanese companies were included in Forbes 2000, accounting
for 16.3% of the list.
In 2009, Japan ranked 13th in the Ease of
Doing Business Index and 19th in the Economic Freedom Index (fifth among
thirty Asian countries). Capitalism in Japan has many features, for
example, keiretsu play a prominent role in the country's economy.
Lifetime employment of an employee in the same company is also common.
Japanese companies are known for such methods of company management as
"Toyota principles". Recently, Japan has somewhat departed from these
norms.
In 2014, Japan's main export partners were the United States (20.2%), China (17.5%), South Korea (7.1%), Hong Kong (5.6%), Thailand (4.5%), and for imports in 2015 - China (24.8%), USA (10.5%), Australia (5.4%) and South Korea (4.1%). Japan exports motor vehicles, electronics and chemicals. Machinery and equipment, fossil fuels, food (especially beef), chemicals, textiles and industrial raw materials are imported into the country. Junichiro Koizumi's government introduced a series of reforms to encourage market competition, and foreign investment increased as a result.
Until 2011, nuclear energy provided more than a third of the country's energy needs. After the accident at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant in March 2011, under public pressure, the Japanese government announced plans to completely phase out nuclear energy (after the transfer of power to the government of Shinzo Abe, it was decided to restart part of the nuclear power plant and maintain the share of nuclear energy up to 20% in the total energy balance ). Nuclear energy consumption in Japan decreased in 2013 by 19.5% compared to the level of 2012 (and more than 20 times since 2010) and amounted to 3.3 million tons of oil equivalent. At the beginning of 2014, 90% of the country's energy balance is provided by imported fuel, in 2013 it accounted for a third of Japan's total imports. Interestingly, in Japan, the electrical system historically has two industrial AC frequencies - in the western part of the country it is 60 Hz, and in the eastern part it is 50 Hz, and four frequency converters operate between them.
The state's concern for the development of the tourism business is
manifested in the legal support of promising undertakings in this
industry. An example is the laws on the development of resort areas, on
national parks, on improving the equipment of international tourist
hotels, on the work of a guide-interpreter, on the development of
tourism through traditional festivals and events, on hot springs, and
many others.
Today, the Land of the Rising Sun has first-class,
in the language of experts, "tourist resources": nature reserves and
historical monuments, zoos and botanical gardens, museums and
entertainment complexes. And acquaintance with these sights turns into a
comfortable occupation thanks to the developed hotel industry, modern
transport system and service that meets international standards.
Tourists to visit Japan must have a Japanese visa in their passport.
Tourism in Japan is organized by specialized travel agencies and
firms, of which there are more than five thousand. Depending on the time
of the year, travel agencies will choose the most beautiful place for
you at this time of the year and make exciting tours.
Japan has invested heavily in road construction. The main means of
transportation is motor vehicles, using about 1.2 million km. paved
roads. In Japan, driving is on the left. A single network of high-speed
toll roads connects the major cities of the country. Vehicle owner taxes
and fuel taxes are used to encourage fuel-efficient technology.
Dozens of railway companies compete in national and regional markets,
such as the 7 companies of Japan Railways, Kintetsu, Seibu Railway and
Keio Corporation. About 250 Shinkansen high-speed trains connect the
main cities of the country. Japanese machinists are known for their
punctuality.
There are 173 airports in Japan. Flying is a popular
mode of transportation. The largest national airport, Tokyo
International Airport, is the second busiest airport in Asia. The major
international airports include Narita, Kansai and Chubu, while the
largest port is Nagoya Port.
Main articles:
Internet in Japan and Cellular communications in Japan
Japan has a
well-developed high-tech system of national and international
communications. The telephone code of the country is +81, the Internet
domain is .jp. The state regulation of communications is carried out by
the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan.
In
2013, the number of contracts for mobile communications was 136.04
million, for the use of a fixed telephone - 28.47 million, and 31.27
million IP telephony numbers were registered. In 2014, mobile services
were provided by the three largest national operators: NTT docomo (63.57
million subscribers), KDDI (41.02 million) and Softbank Mobile (36.48
million). As of 2013, 86.2% of the population used the Internet.
Japan is one of the leading countries in the field of
scientific research, such as high technology, biomedicine and robotics.
The national R&D budget is US$130 billion and nearly 700,000 scientists
are involved in research. Japan ranks third in terms of funds spent on
science. It leads the way in basic science, with 23 Nobel laureates in
physics, chemistry, or medicine among the Japanese (see Japanese Nobel
Laureates), three Fields Prize winners, and a Gauss Prize winner. Japan
ranks first in the production and use of robots. Thus, more than half
(402,200 out of 742,500) of all manufactured industrial robots are used
in the country. In this country, such robots as QRIO, ASIMO and AIBO
were invented.
Japan has a developed space program and ranks 4th
in terms of space activities. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
(JAXA) is engaged in space, planetary, aviation research, and also
designs rockets and satellites. The Agency has the ability to launch
artificial Earth satellites, automatic interplanetary stations, and
participates in the International Space Station program. In 2010, JAXA
launched the PLANET-C spacecraft to study Venus, in October 2018,
together with ESA, it plans to launch the BepiColombo spacecraft to
study Mercury, and by 2030, to build a base on the Moon. On September
14, 2007, the second artificial lunar satellite, called Kaguya, was
launched from the Tanegashima Space Center using an H-IIA launch
vehicle. This is the largest lunar exploration mission since the Apollo
program. He worked in lunar orbit for a year and 8 months.
The
asteroid (727) Nipponiya, discovered in 1912, is named after Japan.
In Japan, from the end of the 1st millennium AD there is a developed
literature (for example, the text of the Japanese anthem dates back to
the 9th-10th centuries). Monuments of painting and architecture from the
beginning of the 2nd millennium BC have been preserved to this day.
Chinese culture had a great influence on Japanese culture during its
formation, and after the Meiji Restoration, Western European culture. In
the 20th century, Japanese anime and manga gained worldwide recognition.
In Japanese culture, black is a symbol of nobility, age and
experience, in contrast to white, which symbolizes apprenticeship,
youth. The black color symbolizes the highest rank in many martial arts
(black belt).
chronology
Starting from January 1, 1873, the
European system of chronology was adopted in Japan, but along with it,
the traditional Japanese chronology system according to the mottos of
the reign of emperors, borrowed from China, was preserved. Each emperor,
assuming the throne, approves the motto (nengo) under which his reign
will pass. The beginning of the motto of the board is considered the
first year of a new historical period. The first motto of the government
- Taika ("Great Changes") - was adopted in 645, but this system was
fully established starting from 701. The current period - Reiva
("Beautiful Harmony") - is valid from May 1, 2019. In 1979, Parliament
passed a law requiring the use of nengō in official documents.
In terms of the total circulation of daily newspapers (72.7 million
copies), Japan ranks first in the world; in terms of circulation per
capita (592 copies per 1,000 people), it is second, second only to
Norway. The largest national newspapers are Asahi (12.4 million),
Yomiuri (14.4 million), Mainichi (5.6 million), and Nikkei (4.7
million). ). They also have publications in English: Asahi Evening News
- Asahi Evening News (38.8 thousand copies), Daily Yomiuri - The Daily
Yomiuri (52.8 thousand copies), Nikkei Weekly - Nikkei Weekly (34.4
thousand copies), the Japan Times newspaper is also published in English
(The Japan Times - 80 thousand copies). In addition, dozens of local
(regional and prefectural) newspapers are published in Japan.
The
top six Japanese broadcasters are:
NHK is the Japanese Broadcasting
Corporation, the largest television company in Japan and one of the
largest in the world. For overseas audiences, NHK operates the NHK World
service, consisting of NHK World TV, NHK World Premium TV channels and
shortwave and Internet radio broadcasting (in 22 languages, including
Russian) - NHK World Radio Japan.
Nippon Television
Tokyo
Broadcasting System Holdings is the parent company for TBS TV and TBS
Radio & Communications. Owns 28 JNN news networks and 34 JRN radio
networks.
TV Tokyo
fuji television
TV Asahi
Sumo is considered the national sport in Japan and is the third most
popular professional sport. Some martial arts such as judo, kendo and
karate also attract large crowds. After the Meiji Restoration, many
Western sports appeared and spread through the education system in
Japan.
Baseball is the most popular professional sport. The
Japanese Professional Baseball League was founded in 1936. Among the
famous Japanese baseball players, Ichiro Suzuki can be noted, who twice
won the World Baseball Classic as part of the Japanese national team.
After the founding of the J-League in 1992, football also began to
gain popularity. In modern Japan, it is the second most popular sport.
The Japanese football team is one of the most successful Asian teams,
having won the Asian Football Cup three times. From 1981 to 2004, the
finals of the Intercontinental Cup were held exclusively in Japan. In
2002, Japan and South Korea hosted the World Cup, where Japan reached
the 1/8 finals, and Korea secured 4th place, losing to Turkey in the
match for 3rd place 2:3. Other popular sports are golf, boxing, motor
sports and wrestling.
Japan hosted the 1964 Summer Olympics, as
well as the 1998 and 1972 Winter Olympics.
In Japan, there are 16 public holidays called shukujitsu (Jap. 祝日 -
"holiday"). These days are officially days off, their list is
established by the law on public holidays. Four holidays that follow
almost one after another (Showa Day, Constitution Day, Greenery Day and
Children's Day) are collectively referred to as the "golden week". The
Japanese government also introduced a system of happy Mondays, according
to which, in the 2000s, four holidays - Coming of Age Day, Sea Day,
Honor the Elders' Day and Physical Education Day - were moved from fixed
calendar dates to Mondays (thus giving three days off in a row ).
In addition to public holidays, there are unofficial holidays in
Japan called matsuri (Jap. 祭). Each locality has its own traditional
matsuri, but some of them are celebrated throughout the country -
tanabata, hinamatsuri, setsubun, shichi-go-san and others. Another
well-known holiday event is the cherry blossoms. Borrowed holidays are
also celebrated, which have become a tradition in Japan relatively
recently (for example, Valentine's Day).
Primary, secondary and higher education was introduced to Japan in
1872 as a result of the Meiji Restoration. Since 1947, compulsory
education in Japan has consisted of elementary school and high school,
which lasts for nine years (ages 6 to 15). Almost all children continue
their education at a three-year high school, and according to the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, about
75.9% of high school graduates go on to study at universities, colleges,
vocational schools or other institutions. Education in Japan is very
competitive, in particular for admission to higher education
institutions. The best universities in Japan are Tokyo and Kyoto
universities.
Of the foreign languages in Japanese schools,
English is most often studied. The history of teaching Russian as a
foreign language in Japan is about 150 years old. The total number of
Russian-speakers in the country is unknown, but several thousand native
speakers graduate every year.
Medical services in Japan are provided by state and local
governments. Payment for personal medical services is made through the
universal health insurance system, which provides relative equality of
access, fees set by a government committee. Uninsured people can
participate in the national health insurance program administered by the
local government through their employer. Since 1973, government-funded
insurance has been extended to all older people. Patients have the right
to choose their doctor as well as the facilities. Expenses incurred in
connection with medical care (treatment), life insurance and pension
insurance are taxed with significant benefits.
The Shinzo Abe
government plans to amend the country's constitution on April 1, 2019,
according to which any physical punishment of children by parents
(including foster parents), educators, teachers and other social workers
will be considered a crime. The reason for legislative changes was the
murder of a 10-year-old girl as a result of domestic violence in the
absence of the help of the police and social protection authorities.
For a long time, Japanese statistics did not take into account the homeless (nojuku seikatsusha, that is, those without a roof over their heads), but in the mid-1990s this problem became noticeable and local authorities took up it. In 2002, the law on the homeless (jiritsu sien ho) was passed, which provides for the placement of the homeless in hostels or shelters (where they are provided with food, bed and basic necessities, but not cash), and provides opportunities for them to acquire a profession. S. B. Markarian writes about 25,000 homeless people, noting that this figure has hardly changed since 2003. Most of the homeless are men aged 55-56 who have never been married and have a low level of education.
Sport has been documented in Japan as early as the Asuka period (7th
century), when an embassy from Korea at the court of Empress Kōgyoku was
entertained by a sumō fight. The Bushi, the emerging warrior class at
the end of the Heian period (11th century), also practiced sports in
preparation for battle, primarily swordplay (kenjutsu), horseback riding
(bajutsu), archery (kyūjutsu), and swimming. In the Edo period, a
peaceful period, the samurai-turned-administrators refined these
techniques into a martial art (bujutsu), which also acquired a spiritual
component through the influence of Zen Buddhism.
The Meiji
Restoration (second half of the 19th century) also brought Western
sports to Japan, including athletic sports and team sports such as
baseball, the most popular sport today. At the beginning of the 20th
century, today's martial arts and martial arts, including judo, aikidō
and kendō, were developed from the classic bujutsu arts. Karate
developed in Okinawa Prefecture.
Today, a wide variety of sports
are played in Japan, primarily in clubs at schools and universities. The
island location has made windsurfing and diving very popular. Golf is
considered a sport for salarymen. However, only those who earn really
well can afford membership in a golf club. All over Japan there are
highly fenced areas where you can practice teeing off. Hokkaido and
Nagano Prefecture are centers of winter sports.
But rugby and
football are also enjoying increasing popularity in Japan. Some of the
highest paid players in the world play in the Top League, the highest
division of Japanese rugby, and Japan's national rugby team regularly
represents the country at the Rugby World Cup, which Japan hosted in
2019. The J1 League, the top division in Japanese football, is
considered one of the most important football leagues in the world and
Japan's national football team also regularly takes part in the Football
World Cup, of which Japan co-hosted in 2002. Many Japanese footballers
such as Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura, Naohiro Takahara, Shinji
Okazaki, Makoto Hasebe, Keisuke Honda, Yūto Nagatomo, Shinji Kagawa,
Atsuto Uchida, Maya Yoshida, Hiroki Sakai, Gōtoku Sakai, Yūya Ōsako and
Genki Haraguchi have already been able to qualify in the top leagues of
European football (especially in the German Bundesliga).
The
Summer Olympics were scheduled to take place in Japan in 2020, but were
postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Special Olympics
Nippon was founded in 1980 and has participated in Special Olympics
World Games several times.
There are sixteen public holidays (Japanese: 祝日, shukujitsu) per year
in Japan, which are set out in the State Law on People's Holidays
(国民の祝日に関する法律, kokumin no shukujitsu ni kansuru hōritsu) of July 20,
1948. As in Germany, some of these holidays are movable holidays (移動祝日,
idō shukujitsu), but most holidays are tied to a fixed date.
If a
holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is a day off
(振(り)替(え)休日, furikae kyūjitsu, German "postponed holiday"). Every single
day that falls between two public holidays is also a day off (国民の休日,
kokumin no kyūjitsu, German “citizens’ day of rest”).
In addition
to public holidays, there are also a large number of regional
commemoration and festival days in Japan. Before public holidays were
regulated by Japanese law, a distinction was made between shukujitsu
(祝日), a general holiday, and saijitsu (祭日), the church (religious)
holiday or regional customs (祭り, Matsuri).
There are many festivals (matsuri) 祭 in Japan that are celebrated
annually. There are no specific festival days for all of Japan. Times
vary from area to area and even within a specific area. However,
festival days tend to focus on traditional holidays such as Setsubun or
Obon. Festivals are often ceremonial, with food stalls, entertainment
and carnival games to keep people entertained. It is usually sponsored
by a local shrine or temple, although they may be secular.
Notable festivals often feature processions, which may include elaborate
floats. Preparation for these processions is usually done at the
district level or machi 祭. Before that, the local kami may be ritually
installed in Mikoshi and paraded through the streets, such as Gion in
Kyoto and Hadaka in Okayama.