Latitude/Longitude: Tokyo, Japan--lat. 35.40; long. 139.45
Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north; frequent typhoons
Terrain: rugged and mountainous
Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish
Population: 125.9 million (78% urban, 22% rural)
Life expectancy: 82 (female); 76 (male)
Infant mortality: 5 per 1,000 births (world's lowest)
Literacy rate: 99% (female); 99% (male)
Ethnic divisions: Japanese 99.4%, other (mostly Korean) 0.6%
Principal language: Japanese
Principal religions: most Japanese observe both Shinto and Buddhist rites so the percentages add up to more than 100%--Shinto 95.8%, Buddhist 76.3%, Christian 1.4%, other 12%
Rank of affluence among U.N. members: 2/183
More than four-fifths of Japan is mountainous, its people concentrated into immense urban complexes along the coast. In terms of arable land per person it is the most densely populated nation on earth.
Intensely competitive, productive and resourceful, the Japanese have fashioned the world's second largest economy despite their almost complete lack of natural resources. The strength of the economy is in manufacturing, particularly the automotive, shipbuilding, and electronics industries. Agriculture is relatively insignificant due to the lack of arable land.
Following Japan's defeat in World War II a constitutional monarchy was created. The conservative Liberal Democrat government championed the interests of small farmers and large corporations, blocking food imports and promoting commercial exports. The system promoted growth and stability, albeit at the cost of corruption, pollution, and surprisingly low standards of living. But recently it has broken down. Recession and scandal have shaken the financial and political elite; at the same time, the Japanese people are demanding more of the fruits of prosperity.
The country today is an intriguing mix of East and West: sumo wrestling and baseball; tea ceremonies and fast food. The future seems likely to demand still more change from a culture that has already experienced enormous transformations.
