<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Birthday of the Emperor, 23 December (1933)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 3 May 1947
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> modeled after European civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 20 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Tsutomu HATA (since 25 April 1994); Deputy Prime Minister (vacant)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; appointed by the prime minister
<item><hi format=bold>House of Councillors (Sangi-in):</hi> elections last held on 26 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1995); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(252 total) LDP 95, SDPJ 68, Shin Ryoku fu-Kai 37, CGP 24, JCP 11, other 17
<item><hi format=bold>House of Representatives (Shugi-in):</hi> elections last held on 18 July 1993 (next to be held by NA); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(511 total) LDP 206, SDPJ 74, Shinseito 62, CGP 52, JNP 37, DSP 19, JCP 15, Sakigake 15, others 19, independents 10, vacant 2
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Yohei KONO, president; Yoshiro MORI, secretary general; Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ), Tomiichi MURAYAMA; Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), Keigo OUCHI, chairman; Japan Communist Party (JCP), Tetsuzo FUWA, Presidium chairman; Komeito (Clean Government Party, CGP), Koshiro ISHIDA, chairman; Japan New Party (JNP), Morihiro HOSOKAWA, chairman; Shinseito (Japan Renewal Party, JRP), Tsutomu HATA, chairman; Ichiro OZAWA, secretary general; Sakigake (Harbinger), Masayoshi TAKEMURA, chairman; Mirai (Future Party), Michihiko KANO, chairman; The Liberal Party, Koji KAKIZAWA, chairman
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> Shin Ryoku fu-Kai is a new, upper house only, parliamentary alliance which includes the JRP, JNP, DSP, and a minor labor group
<item>• <hi format=ital>consulate(s) general:</hi> Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City (Missouri), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, and Seattle