Japan
Nihon-koku/
a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy
Japan as the 2015 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 163 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 an economic power. In March 2011, Japan's strongest-ever earthquake, and an accompanying tsunami, devastated the northeast part of Honshu island, killed thousands, and damaged several nuclear power plants.
The catastrophe hobbled the country's economy and its energy infrastructure, and tested its ability to deal with humanitarian disasters. Prime Minister Shinzo ABE was reelected to office in December 2012, and has since embarked on ambitious economic and security reforms to improve Japan’s economy and bolster the country’s international standing.
Geography
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
20 fieldsLocation
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Natural resources
negligible mineral resources, fish note: with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil
Land use
- agricultural land:
- 12.5%;
- arable land 11.7%;
- permanent crops 0.8%;
- permanent pasture 0%
- forest:
- 68.5%
- other:
- 19% (2011 est.)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 90.04 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%)
- per capita:
- 714.3 cu m/yr (2007)
Natural hazards
- 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
Environment - current issues
- 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;
- following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan now seeks to make itself nuclear free by the 2030s
Environment - international agreements
- 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
People and Society
31 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2015 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2015 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2004)
Religions
Shintoism 79.2%, Buddhism 66.8%, Christianity 1.5%, other 7.1% note: total adherents exceeds 100% because many people practice both Shintoism and Buddhism (2012 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.07 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.1 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.77 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.94 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Government
A parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy; Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989); Prime Minister Shinzo ABE (since 26 December 2012)
21 fieldsHouse of Councillors, 242 seats, elected 21 July 2013one dot, one seat
House of Representatives, 475 seats, elected 14 December 2014seats by party
Country name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Japan
- local long form:
- Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku
- local short form:
- Nihon/Nippon
Capital
- name:
- Tokyo
- geographic coordinates:
- 35 41 N, 139 45 E
- time difference:
- UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
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
Independence
- 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)
Constitution
previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947 (2013)
Legal system
- 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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- 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 appointed by the prime minister
- elections/appointments:
- the monarchy is hereditary; the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister
Legislative branch
- description:
- bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats; 146 members directly elected by majority vote and 96 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (475 seats; 295 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 180 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve maximum 4-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 2 years)
- elections:
- House of Councillors - last held on 21 July 2013 (next to be held in July 2016);
- House of Representatives - last held on 14 December 2014 (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
- House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - LDP 61.26%, DPJ 15.37%, JIP 8.63%, New Komeito 7.37%, JCP 4.42%, PFG .42%, SDP .42%, PLP .42%, independents 1.68%;
- seats by party - LDP 291, DPJ 73, JIP 41, New Komeito 35, JCP 21, PFG 2, SDP 2, PLP 2, independents 8
note: the 2013 amended electoral law - effective for the December 2016 election - reduced to 475 the number of seats in the House of Representatives
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in constitutional issues
- 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)
Political parties and leaders
- Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Banri KAIEDA]
- Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII]
- Japan Innovation Party or JIP [Kenji EDA]
- Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Shinzo ABE]
- New Komeito or NK [Natsuo YAMAGUCHI]
- Party for Future Generations or PFG [Shintaro ISHIHARA]
- People's Life Party or PLP [Ichiro OZAWA]
- Social Democratic Party or SDP [Tadatomo YOSHIDA]
International organization participation
ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, CPLP (associate), EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
- 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:
- Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver (CO), Detroit (MI), Honolulu (HI), Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City (OK), Orlando (FL), Philadelphia (PA), Phoenix (AZ), Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle, Saipan (Puerto Rico), Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US
- 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
National anthem
- name:
- "Kimigayo" (The Emperor"s Reign)
- lyrics/music:
- unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI
note: adopted 1999; 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
Economy
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 an advanced economy.
41 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2013 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
Economy - overview
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 an 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. Scarce in many natural resources, Japan has long been dependent on imported raw materials. Since the complete shutdown of Japan’s nuclear reactors after the earthquake and tsunami disaster in 2011, Japan's industrial sector has become even more dependent than it was previously on imported fossil 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 impressive - 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 aftereffects 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 four times since 2008.
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 of that year disrupted manufacturing. The economy has largely recovered in the four years since the disaster, although reconstruction in the affected Tohoku region has lagged, in part due to a shortage of labor in the construction sector.
Japan enjoyed a sharp uptick in growth in 2013 on the basis of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “Three Arrows” economic revitalization agenda - dubbed “Abenomics” - of monetary easing, “flexible” fiscal policy, and structural reform. Abe’s government has replaced the preceding administration’s plan to phase out nuclear power with a new policy of seeking to restart nuclear power plants that meet strict new safety standards, and emphasizing nuclear energy’s importance as a base-load electricity source.
Japan joined the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations in 2013, a pact that would open Japan's economy to increased foreign competition and create new export opportunities for Japanese businesses. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis that adjusts for price differences, Japan in 2014 stood as the fourth-largest economy in the world after first-place China, which surpassed Japan in 2001, and third-place India, which edged out Japan in 2012.
While seeking to stimulate and reform the economy, the government must also devise a strategy for reining in Japan's huge government debt, which amounts to more than 230% of GDP. To help raise government revenue, Japan adopted legislation in 2012 to gradually raise the consumption tax rate to 10% by 2015, beginning with a hike from 5% to 8% implemented in April 2014.
That increase had a contractionary effect on GDP, however, so PM Abe in late 2014 decided to postpone the final phase of the increase until April 2017 to give the economy more time to recover. Led by the Bank of Japan’s aggressive monetary easing, Japan is making progress in ending deflation, but demographics - low birthrate and an aging, shrinking population - pose major long-term challenges for the economy.
Gross national saving
22.4% of GDP (2014 est.) · 21.8% of GDP (2013 est.) · 21.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 56
Agriculture - products
vegetables, rice, fish, poultry, fruit, dairy products, pork, beef, flowers, potatoes/taros/yams, sugar cane, tea, legumes, wheat and barley
Industries
among world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
Distribution of family income - Gini index
37.9 (2011) · 24.9 (1993) country comparison to the world: 75
Central bank discount rate
0.3% (31 December 2014) · 0.3% (31 December 2013) country comparison to the world: 145
Commercial bank prime lending rate
1.48% (31 December 2014 est.) · 1.48% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
Stock of narrow money
$5.403 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) · $5.817 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 3
Stock of broad money
$8.073 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) · $8.035 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 4
Stock of domestic credit
$11.88 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) · $11.92 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 4
Current account balance
$45.42 billion (2014 est.) · $33.63 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
Exports - commodities
- motor vehicles 14.9%;
- iron and steel products 5.4%;
- semiconductors 5%;
- auto parts 4.8%;
- power generating machinery 3.5%;
- plastic materials 3.3% (2014 est.)
Imports - commodities
- petroleum 16.1%;
- liquid natural gas 9.1%;
- clothing 3.8%;
- semiconductors 3.3%;
- coal 2.4%;
- audio and visual apparatus 1.4% (2014 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.267 trillion (2013 est.) · $1.268 trillion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 2
Debt - external
$5.18 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) · $4.026 trillion (31 December 2012) country comparison to the world: 6
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$205.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $185.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 28
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$1.284 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) · $1.117 trillion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 7
Exchange rates
yen (JPY) per US dollar - 105.8 (2014 est.) · 97.6 (2013 est.) · 79.79 (2012 est.) · 79.81 (2011 est.) · 87.78 (2010 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 287.3 million kW(2012 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
1.276 billion Mt (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
Communications
8 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2014 est.)
Telephone system
- 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)
Broadcast media
- 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)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 215 (plus 370 repeaters), FM 89 (plus 485 repeaters), shortwave 21 (2001)
Television broadcast stations
211; note - in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services (1999)
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 684 ships by type
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 27,155 km
- standard gauge:
- 4,343 km 1.435-m gauge (4,343 km electrified)
- dual gauge:
- 132 km 1.435-1.067-m gauge (132 km electrified)
- narrow gauge:
- 96 km 1.372-m gauge (96 km electrified);
- 22,536 km 1.067-m gauge (13,253 km electrified);
- 48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 11
Roadways
- total:
- 1,217,128 km
- paved:
- 988,536 km (includes 7,803 km of expressways)
- unpaved:
- 228,592 km (2013)
country comparison to the world: 6
Ports and terminals
- 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)
- LNG terminal(s) (import):
- Chita, Fukwoke, Futtsu, Hachinone, Hakodate, Hatsukaichi, Higashi Ohgishima, Higashi Niigata, Himeiji, Joetsu, Kagoshima, Kawagoe, Kita Kyushu, Mizushima, Nagasaki, Naoetsu, Negishi, Ohgishima, Oita, Sakai, Sakaide, Senboku, Shimizu, Shin Minato, Sodegaura, Tobata, Yanai, Yokkaichi; Okinawa - Nakagusuku
Military
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)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
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)
Military service age and obligation
- 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)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 27,301,443
- females age 16-49:
- 26,307,003 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - international
- 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;
- the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Japan.” The World Factbook 2015. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/japan/2015.