General Information on Japan
Space Shuttle image of Japan from the Shikoku island
and Kansai area at the bottom looking north-north-east. |
Sakura and Shinkansen, Mount Fuji and Maiko Geisha, Sumo and Sushi, Tofu and Tsunamis, this is a land of contrasts, where high-tech futuristic gadgets go hand in hand with traditions and values that are centuries old. "Nihon" - literally the Land of the Raising Sun, moved from feudalism to capitalism - and to an advanced form of capitalism - in little more than a hundred years, albeit a unique Japanese model. It is now the second largest economy - set to dominate the next century, despite disturbing trends in a slowdown of the economy.
Presenting a brief country profile on Japan ...
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Basic Facts
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Capital | Tokyo
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Area | 377,800 square kilometers
145,869 square miles
arable land = 13%
permanent crops = 1%
meadows and pastures = 1%
forest and woodland = 67%
other = 18%
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Major cities (1995, in millions)
Tokyo
Osaka
Yokohama
Nagoya
Kyoto
Kobe
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26.6
10.6
3.3
3.2
1.7
1.5
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Population (1995) | 125.1 million
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Population growth rate (1990-1995) | 0.3 percent
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Population density | 331 persons per square kilometer
857.3 persons per square mile
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Urbanization (1995)
Percentage Urban
Percentage Rural
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77.6 percent
22.4 percent
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Life expectancy (1995)
Female
Male
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83 years
76 years
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Language | Japanese
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Religions | Observe both Shinto and Buddhism
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Japanese Economy
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Gross Domestic product (GDP) | US$ 4.19 trillion (1993)
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GDP per capita | US$ 26,983 (1991)
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Gross domestic product (1991, in percent)
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Agriculture = 2 %
Industry = 30 %
Construction = 9 %
Services = 59 %
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National product
Natl. product real growth rate
Natl. product per capita
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Unemployment rate
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GDP purchasing power parity -
US$ 2.52 trillion (Est 1994)
0.6 % (1994)
US$ 20,200 (1994)
0.7% (1994)
2.9 % (1994)
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Major trade goods and partners
Exports
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Goods: manufactured good (especially machinery, motor vehicles, consumer electronics), chemicals, scientific instruments, photographic equipment, metals and metal products.
Partners: Southeast Asia, United States, western Europe, China.
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Imports
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Goods: Manufactured goods, fossil fuels, food stuffs, and raw materials
Partners: Southeast Asia, United States, western Europe, China.
Agriculture Accounts for only 2 percent of the GDP (1991); highly subsidized and protected sector, with crop yields among the highest in the world; principal crops - rice, sugar, barley, taro, vegetables, tea, fruits; fish, animal products. Self-sufficiency to 50 %, shortages of wheat, maize and soybeans.
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- For a more thorough exploration on Japan:
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- Get a pulse on Japan today: Japanese Media
Comments, suggestions, contributions and recommendations are welcome for this section.
Please send them to the email listed below.
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