ocr: Japan, Jap. Nihon or Nippon, country (1991 pop. - 124,017,137), 142,811 sq: mi (369,881 sqkm), occupying an archipelago off the coast ofE Asia. The capitalis TOKYO.Japan proper has four main islands; these are, from north to south, HOKKAIDO, HONSHU (the largesti 1sland, where the capital and major cities are located), SHIKOKU, and KYUSHU.. Many smaller 1slands lie inana arc between the SeaofJapan and the East China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu enclose the INLAND SEA. Mountains, including a number of volcanoes, cover two thirds ofJapan's surface; the most famous peaki ...
