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"contributors_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon?action=history",
"license": "CC BY-SA 3.0",
"retrieved_at": "2025-12-21T08:00:00.971789Z",
"source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon",
"title": "Nippon"
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"canonicalUrl": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan",
"content": {
"characterCount": 117992,
"headings": [
{
"id": "Etymology",
"level": 2,
"text": "Etymology"
},
{
"id": "Prehistoric_to_classical_history",
"level": 3,
"text": "Prehistoric to classical history"
},
{
"id": "Feudal_era",
"level": 3,
"text": "Feudal era"
},
{
"id": "Modern_era",
"level": 3,
"text": "Modern era"
},
{
"id": "Geography",
"level": 2,
"text": "Geography"
},
{
"id": "Climate",
"level": 3,
"text": "Climate"
},
{
"id": "Biodiversity",
"level": 3,
"text": "Biodiversity"
},
{
"id": "Environment",
"level": 3,
"text": "Environment"
},
{
"id": "Government_and_politics",
"level": 2,
"text": "Government and politics"
},
{
"id": "Administrative_divisions",
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"text": "Administrative divisions"
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{
"id": "Foreign_relations",
"level": 3,
"text": "Foreign relations"
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"text": "Military"
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"text": "Human rights"
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{
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"text": "Economy"
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"text": "Agriculture and fishery"
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"text": "Industry and services"
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"id": "Science_and_technology",
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"text": "Transportation"
},
{
"id": "Energy",
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"text": "Energy"
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{
"id": "Demographics",
"level": 2,
"text": "Demographics"
},
{
"id": "Languages",
"level": 3,
"text": "Languages"
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{
"id": "Religion",
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"text": "Religion"
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"id": "Education",
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"text": "Education"
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{
"id": "Health",
"level": 3,
"text": "Health"
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{
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"text": "Culture"
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{
"id": "Art_and_architecture",
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"text": "Art and architecture"
},
{
"id": "Literature_and_philosophy",
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"text": "Literature and philosophy"
},
{
"id": "Performing_arts",
"level": 3,
"text": "Performing arts"
},
{
"id": "Holidays",
"level": 3,
"text": "Holidays"
},
{
"id": "Cuisine",
"level": 3,
"text": "Cuisine"
},
{
"id": "Sports",
"level": 3,
"text": "Sports"
},
{
"id": "References",
"level": 2,
"text": "References"
}
],
"language": "en",
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"sections": [
{
"content": "Island country in East Asia\n\n\n\n| Japan日本国(Japanese)Nihon-kokuorNippon-koku |\n| --- |\n| FlagImperial crest |\n| Anthem:君が代(\"Kimigayo\")\"His Majesty's Reign\" |\n| State seal:大日本國璽(Dai Nihon Kokuji)\"National Seal of Greater Japan\" |\n| Location of JapanTerritory claimed but not controlled |\n| Capitaland largest city | Tokyo35°41′N139°46′E / 35.683°N 139.767°E /35.683; 139.767 |\n| National language | Japanese |\n| Regional languages | Ainu(recognized)Ryukyuan languagesHachijō |\n| Demonym | Japanese |\n| Government | Unitaryparliamentary constitutional monarchy |\n| |\n| •Emperor | Naruhito |\n| •Prime Minister | Sanae Takaichi |\n| |\n| Legislature | National Diet |\n| •Upper house | House of Councillors |\n| •Lower house | House of Representatives |\n| Formation |\n| |\n| •Meiji Constitution | November 29, 1890 |\n| •Current constitution | May 3, 1947 |\n| |\n| Area |\n| • Total | 377,975 km2(145,937 sq mi)(62nd) |\n| • Water (%) | 1.4 |\n| Population |\n| • June 1, 2025 estimate | 123,360,000(11th) |\n| • 2020 census | 126,146,099 |\n| • Density | 330/km2(854.7/sq mi) (39th) |\n| GDP(PPP) | 2025 estimate |\n| • Total | $6.758 trillion(5th) |\n| • Per capita | $54,815(39th) |\n| GDP(nominal) | 2025 estimate |\n| • Total | $4.230 trillion(4th) |\n| • Per capita | $34,713(36th) |\n| Gini(2020) | 32.3medium inequality |\n| HDI(2023) | 0.925very high(23rd) |\n| Currency | Japanese yen(¥) |\n| Time zone | UTC+09:00(JST) |\n| Calling code | +81 |\n| ISO 3166 code | JP |\n| Internet TLD | .jp |\n\n\n\n**Japan** is an [island country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_country \"Island country\") in [East Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asia \"East Asia\"). Located in the [Pacific Ocean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ocean \"Pacific Ocean\") off the northeast coast of the [Asian mainland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia \"Asia\"), it is bordered to the west by the [Sea of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Japan \"Sea of Japan\") and extends from the [Sea of Okhotsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Okhotsk \"Sea of Okhotsk\") in the north to the [East China Sea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_China_Sea \"East China Sea\") in the south. The [Japanese archipelago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_archipelago \"Japanese archipelago\") consists of four major islands alongside [14,121 smaller islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Japan \"List of islands of Japan\"). Japan is divided into [47 administrative prefectures](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefectures_of_Japan \"Prefectures of Japan\") and [eight traditional regions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_regions_of_Japan \"List of regions of Japan\"), and around 75% of [its terrain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Japan \"Geography of Japan\") is mountainous and heavily forested, concentrating [its agriculture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Japan \"Agriculture in Japan\") and [highly urbanized](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbanization_by_country \"Urbanization by country\") population along its eastern [coastal plains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_plain \"Coastal plain\"). With a population of over 123 million as of 2025, it is the world's [11th most populous country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population \"List of countries and dependencies by population\"). [Tokyo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo \"Tokyo\") is [the country's capital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_of_Japan \"Capital of Japan\") and [largest city](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Japan \"List of cities in Japan\").\n\nThe first known habitation of the [archipelago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archipelago \"Archipelago\") dates to the [Upper Paleolithic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithic \"Upper Paleolithic\"), with the beginning of the [Japanese Paleolithic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Paleolithic \"Japanese Paleolithic\") dating to c. 36,000 BC. Between the 4th and 6th centuries, its kingdoms were united under [an emperor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_of_Japan \"Emperor of Japan\") in [Nara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara_(city) \"Nara (city)\") and later in [Heian-kyō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian-ky%C5%8D \"Heian-kyō\"). From the 12th century, actual power was held by military aristocrats known as *[shōgun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dgun \"Shōgun\")* and feudal lords called *[daimyō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daimy%C5%8D \"Daimyō\")*, enforced by warrior nobility named *[samurai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai \"Samurai\")*. After rule by the [Kamakura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura_period \"Kamakura period\") and [Ashikaga shogunates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muromachi_period \"Muromachi period\") and [a century of warring states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sengoku_period \"Sengoku period\"), Japan was unified in 1600 by the [Tokugawa shogunate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_shogunate \"Tokugawa shogunate\"), which implemented [an isolationist foreign policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakoku \"Sakoku\"). In 1853, [an American fleet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Expedition \"Perry Expedition\") forced Japan to [open trade to the West](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakumatsu \"Bakumatsu\"), which led to the [end of the shogunate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boshin_War \"Boshin War\") and the [restoration of imperial power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Restoration \"Meiji Restoration\") in 1868.\n\nThe [Meiji period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_period \"Meiji period\") saw Japan pursue rapid [industrialization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrialization \"Industrialization\"), [modernization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernization \"Modernization\"), [militarism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_militarism \"Japanese militarism\"), and [overseas colonization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_colonial_empire \"Japanese colonial empire\"). The country [annexed Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_under_Japanese_rule \"Korea under Japanese rule\") in 1910, [invaded China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sino-Japanese_War \"Second Sino-Japanese War\") in 1937, and [attacked the U.S.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor \"Attack on Pearl Harbor\") and [European colonial powers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_colonial_powers \"European colonial powers\") in 1941, thus [entering World War II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_during_World_War_II \"Japan during World War II\") as an [Axis power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_power \"Axis power\"). After being defeated in the [Pacific War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_War \"Pacific War\") and suffering the U.S. [atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki \"Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki\"), Japan [surrendered in 1945](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_of_Japan \"Surrender of Japan\") and [came under Allied occupation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Japan \"Occupation of Japan\"). It underwent [rapid economic growth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_economic_miracle \"Japanese economic miracle\") in the following decades and became one of the first [major non-NATO allies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_non-NATO_allies \"Major non-NATO allies\") of the U.S. Since the collapse of the [Japanese asset price bubble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_asset_price_bubble \"Japanese asset price bubble\") in the early 1990s, it has experienced a prolonged period of [economic stagnation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_stagnation \"Economic stagnation\") referred to as the [Lost Decades](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Decades \"Lost Decades\").\n\nJapan is a [constitutional monarchy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy \"Constitutional monarchy\") with a [bicameral legislature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicameralism \"Bicameralism\") known as the [National Diet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Diet \"National Diet\"). Widely considered a [great power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_power \"Great power\") and the only Asian member of the [G7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G7 \"G7\"), it maintains [one of the world's strongest militaries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Self-Defense_Forces \"Japan Self-Defense Forces\") but has [constitutionally renounced its right to declare war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_Japanese_Constitution \"Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution\"). A [developed country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_country \"Developed country\") with one of the world's [largest economies by nominal GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal) \"List of countries by GDP (nominal)\"), it is a global leader in the [automotive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_industry_in_Japan \"Automotive industry in Japan\"), [electronics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronics_industry_in_Japan \"Electronics industry in Japan\"), and [robotics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_robotics \"Japanese robotics\") industries, in addition to making significant [contributions to science and technology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_Japan \"Science and technology in Japan\"). It has one of the world's [highest life expectancies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy \"List of countries by life expectancy\"), but is undergoing [a population decline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aging_of_Japan \"Aging of Japan\"). The [culture of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Japan \"Culture of Japan\") is well known around the world, particularly [its popular culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_popular_culture \"Japanese popular culture\") as expressed in [animation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime \"Anime\"), [art](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_art \"Japanese art\"), [comics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga \"Manga\"), [cuisine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cuisine \"Japanese cuisine\"), [fashion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_clothing \"Japanese clothing\"), [films](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cinema \"Japanese cinema\"), [music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Japan \"Music of Japan\"), [television](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_in_Japan \"Television in Japan\"), and [video games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_games_in_Japan \"Video games in Japan\").",
"id": null,
"level": 2,
"sections": [],
"title": "Introduction"
},
{
"content": "The name for Japan in [Japanese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_language \"Japanese language\") is written using the [kanji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji \"Kanji\") 日本 and is pronounced *Nihon* or *Nippon*. Before 日本 was adopted in the early 8th century, the country was known in China as *[Wa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wa_(name_of_Japan) \"Wa (name of Japan)\")* (倭, changed in Japan around 757 to 和) and in Japan by the [endonym](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endonym \"Endonym\") *Yamato*. *Nippon*, the original [Sino-Japanese reading](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Japanese_reading \"Sino-Japanese reading\") of the characters, is favored for official uses, including on [Japanese banknotes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_banknotes \"Japanese banknotes\") and postage stamps. *Nihon* is typically used in everyday speech and reflects shifts in [Japanese phonology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_phonology \"Japanese phonology\") during the [Edo period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_period \"Edo period\"). The characters 日本 mean \"sun origin\", which is the source of the popular Western [epithet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epithet \"Epithet\") \"Land of the Rising Sun\".\n\nThe name \"Japan\" is based on [Min](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Min_Chinese \"Min Chinese\") or [Wu Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Chinese \"Wu Chinese\") pronunciations of 日本 and was introduced to European languages through early trade. In the 13th century, [Marco Polo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Polo \"Marco Polo\") recorded the [Early Mandarin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Mandarin \"Early Mandarin\") Chinese pronunciation of the characters 日本國 as *Cipangu*. The old [Malay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malay_language \"Malay language\") name for Japan, *Japang* or *Japun*, was borrowed from a southern coastal Chinese dialect and encountered by [Portuguese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Empire \"Portuguese Empire\") traders in [Southeast Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia \"Southeast Asia\"), who brought the word to Europe in the early 16th century. The first version of the name in English appears in a book published in 1577, which spelled the name as *Giapan* in a translation of a 1565 Portuguese letter.",
"id": "Etymology",
"level": 2,
"sections": [
{
"content": "[Legendary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend \"Legend\") [Emperor Jimmu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu \"Emperor Jimmu\") (神武天皇, *Jinmu-tennō*)\n\nModern humans arrived in Japan around 38,000 years ago (~36,000 BC), marking the beginning of the [Japanese Paleolithic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Paleolithic \"Japanese Paleolithic\"). Around 14,500 BC (the start of the [Jōmon period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Dmon_period \"Jōmon period\")), a [Mesolithic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesolithic \"Mesolithic\") to [Neolithic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic \"Neolithic\") semi-sedentary [hunter-gatherer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter-gatherer \"Hunter-gatherer\") culture characterized by [pit dwelling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_dwelling \"Pit dwelling\") and rudimentary agriculture emerged. [Clay vessels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Dmon_pottery \"Jōmon pottery\") from the period are among the oldest surviving examples of pottery. The [Japonic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japonic \"Japonic\")-speaking [Yayoi people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayoi_people \"Yayoi people\") later entered the archipelago from the Korean Peninsula, intermingling with the [Jōmon people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Dmon_people \"Jōmon people\"). The [Yayoi period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayoi_period \"Yayoi period\") saw the introduction of innovative practices including [wet-rice farming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddy_field \"Paddy field\"), a new [style of pottery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayoi_pottery \"Yayoi pottery\"), and metallurgy from China and Korea. According to legend, [Emperor Jimmu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu \"Emperor Jimmu\") (descendant of [Amaterasu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu \"Amaterasu\")) founded a kingdom in central Japan in 660 BC, beginning [a continuous imperial line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_House_of_Japan \"Imperial House of Japan\").\n\nJapan first appears in written history in the Chinese *[Book of Han](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Han \"Book of Han\")*, completed in 111 AD, where it is described as having a hundred small kingdoms. A century later, the *[Book of Wei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Wei \"Book of Wei\")* records that the kingdom of [Yamatai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamatai \"Yamatai\") (which may refer to [Yamato](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato_Kingship \"Yamato Kingship\")) unified most of these kingdoms. [Buddhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism \"Buddhism\") was introduced to Japan from [Baekje](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baekje \"Baekje\") (a Korean kingdom) in 552, but the development of [Japanese Buddhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Buddhism \"Japanese Buddhism\") was primarily influenced by China. Despite early resistance, Buddhism was promoted by the ruling class, including figures like [Prince Shōtoku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Sh%C5%8Dtoku \"Prince Shōtoku\"), and gained widespread acceptance beginning in the [Asuka period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asuka_period \"Asuka period\") (592–710).\n\nIn 645, the government led by [Prince Naka no Ōe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Naka_no_%C5%8Ce \"Prince Naka no Ōe\") and [Fujiwara no Kamatari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiwara_no_Kamatari \"Fujiwara no Kamatari\") devised and implemented the far-reaching [Taika Reforms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taika_Reform \"Taika Reform\"). The Reform began with land reform, based on Confucian ideas and [philosophies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_philosophy \"Chinese philosophy\") from [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China \"China\"). It nationalized all land in Japan, to be [distributed equally](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-field_system \"Equal-field system\") among cultivators, and ordered the compilation of a household registry as the basis for a new system of taxation. The true aim of the reforms was to bring about greater centralization and to enhance the power of the imperial court, which was also based on the governmental structure of China. Envoys and students were dispatched to China to learn about Chinese writing, politics, art, and religion.\n\nThe [Jinshin War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinshin_War \"Jinshin War\") of 672, a bloody conflict between [Prince Ōama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_%C5%8Cama \"Prince Ōama\") and his nephew [Prince Ōtomo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_%C5%8Ctomo \"Prince Ōtomo\"), became a major catalyst for further administrative reforms. These reforms culminated with the promulgation of the [Taihō Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taih%C5%8D_Code \"Taihō Code\"), which consolidated existing statutes and established the structure of the central and subordinate local governments. These legal reforms created the *[ritsuryō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritsury%C5%8D \"Ritsuryō\")* state, a system of Chinese-style centralized government that remained in place for half a millennium.\n\nThe [Nara period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara_period \"Nara period\") (710–784) marked the emergence of a Japanese state centered on the Imperial Court in [Heijō-kyō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heij%C5%8D_Palace \"Heijō Palace\") (modern [Nara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara,_Nara \"Nara, Nara\")). The period is characterized by the appearance of a nascent [literary culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_literature \"Japanese literature\") with the completion of the *[Kojiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki \"Kojiki\")* (712) and *[Nihon Shoki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Shoki \"Nihon Shoki\")* (720), as well as the development of Buddhist-inspired artwork and [architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_Monuments_of_Ancient_Nara \"Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara\"). A [smallpox epidemic in 735–737](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/735%E2%80%93737_Japanese_smallpox_epidemic \"735–737 Japanese smallpox epidemic\") is believed to have killed as much as one-third of Japan's population. In 784, [Emperor Kanmu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Kanmu \"Emperor Kanmu\") moved the capital, settling on [Heian-kyō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian-ky%C5%8D \"Heian-kyō\") (modern-day [Kyoto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto \"Kyoto\")) in 794. This marked the beginning of the [Heian period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian_period \"Heian period\") (794–1185), during which a distinctly indigenous Japanese culture emerged. [Murasaki Shikibu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murasaki_Shikibu \"Murasaki Shikibu\")'s *[The Tale of Genji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_Genji \"The Tale of Genji\")* and the lyrics of Japan's national anthem *\"[Kimigayo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimigayo \"Kimigayo\")\"* were written during this time.",
"id": "Prehistoric_to_classical_history",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Prehistoric to classical history"
},
{
"content": "Japanese [samurai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai \"Samurai\") boarding a Mongol vessel during the [Mongol invasions of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_invasions_of_Japan \"Mongol invasions of Japan\"), depicted in the *[Mōko Shūrai Ekotoba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C5%8Dko_Sh%C5%ABrai_Ekotoba \"Mōko Shūrai Ekotoba\")*, 1293\n\nThree unifiers of Japan. Left to right: [Oda Nobunaga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oda_Nobunaga \"Oda Nobunaga\"), [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi \"Toyotomi Hideyoshi\") and [Tokugawa Ieyasu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Ieyasu \"Tokugawa Ieyasu\").\n\nJapan's feudal era was characterized by the emergence and dominance of a ruling class of warriors, the [samurai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai \"Samurai\"). In 1185, following the defeat of the [Taira clan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taira_clan \"Taira clan\") by the [Minamoto clan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamoto_clan \"Minamoto clan\") in the [Genpei War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genpei_War \"Genpei War\"), samurai [Minamoto no Yoritomo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamoto_no_Yoritomo \"Minamoto no Yoritomo\") established a [military government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_government \"Military government\") at [Kamakura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura \"Kamakura\"). After Yoritomo's death, the [Hōjō clan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C5%8Dj%C5%8D_clan \"Hōjō clan\") came to power as regents for the *shōgun*. The [Zen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen \"Zen\") school of Buddhism was introduced from China in the [Kamakura period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura_period \"Kamakura period\") (1185–1333) and became popular among the samurai class.\n\nThe [Kamakura shogunate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura_shogunate \"Kamakura shogunate\") repelled [Mongol invasions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_invasions_of_Japan \"Mongol invasions of Japan\") in 1274 and 1281 but was eventually [overthrown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenmu_Restoration \"Kenmu Restoration\") by [Emperor Go-Daigo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Go-Daigo \"Emperor Go-Daigo\"). Go-Daigo was defeated by [Ashikaga Takauji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashikaga_Takauji \"Ashikaga Takauji\") in 1336, beginning the [Muromachi period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muromachi_period \"Muromachi period\") (1336–1573). The succeeding [Ashikaga shogunate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashikaga_shogunate \"Ashikaga shogunate\") failed to control the feudal warlords (*daimyō*) and [a civil war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cnin_War \"Ōnin War\") began in 1467, opening the century-long [Sengoku period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sengoku_period \"Sengoku period\") (\"Warring States\").\n\nDuring the 16th century, Portuguese traders and [Jesuit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesuit \"Jesuit\") missionaries reached Japan for the first time, initiating direct commercial and cultural exchange between Japan and the West (see [Nanban trade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanban_trade \"Nanban trade\") and [Nanban art](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanban_art \"Nanban art\")). [Oda Nobunaga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oda_Nobunaga \"Oda Nobunaga\") used European technology and firearms to conquer many other *daimyō*; his consolidation of power began what was known as the [Azuchi–Momoyama period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azuchi%E2%80%93Momoyama_period \"Azuchi–Momoyama period\"). After [the death of Nobunaga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honn%C5%8D-ji_Incident \"Honnō-ji Incident\") in 1582, his successor, [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi \"Toyotomi Hideyoshi\"), unified the nation in the early 1590s and launched [two unsuccessful invasions of Korea in 1592 and 1597](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasions_of_Korea_(1592%E2%80%9398) \"Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98)\").\n\n[Tokugawa Ieyasu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Ieyasu \"Tokugawa Ieyasu\") served as regent for Hideyoshi's son [Toyotomi Hideyori](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyori \"Toyotomi Hideyori\") within the [Council of Five Elders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Five_Elders \"Council of Five Elders\") and used his position to gain political and military support. When open war broke out, Ieyasu defeated rival clans in the [Battle of Sekigahara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sekigahara \"Battle of Sekigahara\") in 1600. He was appointed *shōgun* by [Emperor Go-Yōzei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Go-Y%C5%8Dzei \"Emperor Go-Yōzei\") in 1603 and established the [Tokugawa shogunate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_shogunate \"Tokugawa shogunate\") at [Edo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo \"Edo\") (modern Tokyo). The shogunate enacted measures including *[buke shohatto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buke_shohatto \"Buke shohatto\")*, as a code of conduct to control the autonomous *daimyō*, and in 1639 the isolationist *[sakoku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakoku \"Sakoku\")* (\"closed country\") policy that spanned the two and a half centuries of tenuous political unity known as the [Edo period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_period \"Edo period\") (1603–1868). Modern Japan's economic growth began in this period, resulting in roads ([Kaidō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaid%C5%8D \"Kaidō\")) and water transportation routes, as well as financial instruments such as [futures contracts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futures_contract \"Futures contract\"), banking and insurance of the [Osaka rice brokers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osaka_rice_brokers \"Osaka rice brokers\"). The study of Western sciences (*[rangaku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangaku \"Rangaku\")*) continued through contact with the Dutch enclave in [Nagasaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasaki \"Nagasaki\"). The Edo period gave rise to *[kokugaku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokugaku \"Kokugaku\")* (\"national studies\"), the study of Japan by the Japanese.",
"id": "Feudal_era",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Feudal era"
},
{
"content": "[Emperor Meiji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Meiji \"Emperor Meiji\") (明治天皇, *Meiji-tennō*); 1852–1912\n\nThe [Empire of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Japan \"Empire of Japan\") and its influence, 1942\n\nThe [United States Navy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy \"United States Navy\") sent Commodore [Matthew C. Perry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_C._Perry \"Matthew C. Perry\") to force the opening of Japan to the outside world. Arriving at [Uraga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uraga,_Kanagawa \"Uraga, Kanagawa\") with four \"[Black Ships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Ships \"Black Ships\")\" in July 1853, the [Perry Expedition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Expedition \"Perry Expedition\") resulted in the March 1854 [Convention of Kanagawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_of_Kanagawa \"Convention of Kanagawa\"). Subsequent similar treaties with other Western countries brought economic and political crises. The resignation of the *shōgun* led to the [Boshin War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boshin_War \"Boshin War\") and the establishment of a [centralized state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolition_of_the_han_system \"Abolition of the han system\") nominally unified under the emperor (the [Meiji Restoration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Restoration \"Meiji Restoration\")). Adopting Western political, judicial, and military institutions, the [Cabinet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Japan \"Cabinet of Japan\") organized the [Privy Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privy_Council_(Japan) \"Privy Council (Japan)\"), introduced the [Meiji Constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Constitution \"Meiji Constitution\") (November 29, 1890), and assembled the [Imperial Diet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Diet \"National Diet\").\n\nDuring the [Meiji period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_period \"Meiji period\") (1868–1912), the [Empire of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Japan \"Empire of Japan\") emerged as the most developed state in [Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia \"Asia\") and as an industrialized world power that pursued military conflict to expand its sphere of influence. After victories in the [First Sino-Japanese War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Sino-Japanese_War \"First Sino-Japanese War\") (1894–1895) and the [Russo-Japanese War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Japanese_War \"Russo-Japanese War\") (1904–1905), Japan gained control of Taiwan, Korea and the southern half of [Sakhalin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakhalin \"Sakhalin\"), and annexed Korea in 1910. The Japanese population doubled from 35 million in 1873 to 70 million by 1935, with a significant shift to urbanization.\n\nThe early 20th century saw a period of [Taishō democracy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taish%C5%8D_period \"Taishō period\") (1912–1926) overshadowed by increasing [expansionism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expansionism \"Expansionism\") and [militarization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_militarism \"Japanese militarism\"). [World War I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_during_World_War_I \"Japan during World War I\") allowed Japan, which joined the side of the victorious [Allies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_I \"Allies of World War I\"), to capture [German possessions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_colonial_empire \"German colonial empire\") in the [Pacific](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific \"Pacific\") and China in (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles \"Treaty of Versailles\"). The 1920s saw a political shift towards [statism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statism_in_Sh%C5%8Dwa_Japan \"Statism in Shōwa Japan\"), a period of lawlessness following the 1923 [Great Tokyo Earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Tokyo_Earthquake \"Great Tokyo Earthquake\"), the passing of [laws against political dissent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Preservation_Law \"Peace Preservation Law\"), and a series of [attempted coups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_15_Incident \"May 15 Incident\").\n\nThis process accelerated in the 1930s, spawning several radical nationalist groups that shared a hostility to liberal democracy and a dedication to expansion in Asia. In 1931, Japan [invaded China and occupied Manchuria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_Manchuria \"Japanese invasion of Manchuria\"), which led to the establishment of [puppet state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppet_state \"Puppet state\") of [Manchukuo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchukuo \"Manchukuo\") in 1932; following [international condemnation of the occupation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lytton_Report \"Lytton Report\"), it resigned from the [League of Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nations \"League of Nations\") in 1933. In 1936, Japan signed the [Anti-Comintern Pact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Comintern_Pact \"Anti-Comintern Pact\") with [Nazi Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany \"Nazi Germany\"); the 1940 [Tripartite Pact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripartite_Pact \"Tripartite Pact\") made it one of the [Axis powers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_powers \"Axis powers\").\n\nOn September 2, 1945, Japan [surrendered to the Allies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_of_Japan \"Surrender of Japan\").\n\nThe Empire of Japan invaded other parts of China in 1937, precipitating the [Second Sino-Japanese War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sino-Japanese_War \"Second Sino-Japanese War\") (1937–1945). In 1940, the Empire [invaded French Indochina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_French_Indochina \"Japanese invasion of French Indochina\"), after which the United States placed an oil embargo on Japan. On December 7–8, 1941, Japanese forces carried out surprise [attacks on Pearl Harbor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attacks_on_Pearl_Harbor \"Attacks on Pearl Harbor\"), as well as on British forces in [Malaya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Malaya \"Battle of Malaya\"), [Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Singapore_(1941) \"Bombing of Singapore (1941)\"), and [Hong Kong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hong_Kong \"Battle of Hong Kong\"), among others, beginning [World War II in the Pacific](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_in_the_Pacific \"World War II in the Pacific\"). Throughout areas occupied by Japan during the war, [numerous abuses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes \"Japanese war crimes\") were committed against local inhabitants. Many women were forced into [sexual slavery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_women \"Comfort women\").\n\nAfter [Allied](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_II \"Allies of World War II\") victories during the next four years, which culminated in the [Soviet invasion of Manchuria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_invasion_of_Manchuria \"Soviet invasion of Manchuria\") and the [atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki \"Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki\") in 1945, Japan agreed to [an unconditional surrender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_of_Japan \"Surrender of Japan\"). The war cost Japan millions of lives and many of its [conquered territories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_conquests_of_the_Empire_of_Japan \"Territorial conquests of the Empire of Japan\"), including *[de jure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_jure \"De jure\")* parts of Japan such as [Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_under_Japanese_rule \"Korea under Japanese rule\"), [Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_under_Japanese_rule \"Taiwan under Japanese rule\"), [Karafuto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karafuto \"Karafuto\"), and the [Kurils](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurils \"Kurils\"). The Allies, led by the United States, repatriated millions of [Japanese settlers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_diaspora \"Japanese diaspora\") from their former colonies and military camps throughout Asia, largely eliminating the [Empire of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Japan \"Empire of Japan\") and its influence over the territories it conquered. The Allies convened the [International Military Tribunal for the Far East](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Military_Tribunal_for_the_Far_East \"International Military Tribunal for the Far East\") to prosecute Japanese leaders except [the Emperor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito \"Hirohito\") for [Japanese war crimes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes \"Japanese war crimes\").\n\nIn 1947, Japan adopted [a new constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Japan \"Constitution of Japan\") emphasizing liberal democratic practices. The [Allied occupation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Japan \"Occupation of Japan\") ended with the [Treaty of San Francisco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_San_Francisco \"Treaty of San Francisco\") in 1952, and Japan was granted membership in the [United Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations \"United Nations\") in 1956. [A period of record growth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_economic_miracle \"Japanese economic miracle\") propelled Japan to become the world's [second-largest economy at that time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_largest_historical_GDP \"List of countries by largest historical GDP\"); this ended in the mid-1990s after the popping of [an asset price bubble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_asset_price_bubble \"Japanese asset price bubble\"), beginning the \"[Lost Decade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Decade_(Japan) \"Lost Decade (Japan)\")\" characterized by economic stagnation and low inflation. In 2011, Japan suffered one of the largest earthquakes in its recorded history—the [Tōhoku earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake \"Tōhoku earthquake\")—triggering the [Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Daiichi_nuclear_disaster \"Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster\"). On May 1, 2019, after the historic [abdication of Emperor Akihito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdication_of_Emperor_Akihito \"Abdication of Emperor Akihito\"), his son [Naruhito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naruhito \"Naruhito\") became Emperor, beginning the *[Reiwa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiwa \"Reiwa\")* era (2019-).",
"id": "Modern_era",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Modern era"
}
],
"title": "Etymology"
},
{
"content": "A topographic map of Japan\n\nJapan comprises [14,125 islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Japan \"List of islands of Japan\") extending along the Pacific coast of Asia. It stretches over 3000 km (1900 mi) northeast–southwest from the [Sea of Okhotsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Okhotsk \"Sea of Okhotsk\") to the [East China Sea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_China_Sea \"East China Sea\"). The country's five main islands, from north to south, are [Hokkaido](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokkaido \"Hokkaido\"), [Honshu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honshu \"Honshu\"), [Shikoku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikoku \"Shikoku\"), [Kyushu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyushu \"Kyushu\") and [Okinawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa_Island \"Okinawa Island\"). The [Ryukyu Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryukyu_Islands \"Ryukyu Islands\"), which include Okinawa, are a chain to the south of Kyushu. The [Nanpō Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanp%C5%8D_Islands \"Nanpō Islands\") are south and east of the main islands of Japan. Together they are often known as the [Japanese archipelago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_archipelago \"Japanese archipelago\"). As of 2019[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), Japan's territory is 377,975.24 km2 (145,937.06 sq mi). Japan has the [sixth-longest coastline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_length_of_coastline \"List of countries by length of coastline\") in the world at 29,751 km (18,486 mi). Because of its far-flung outlying islands, [Japan's exclusive economic zone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_economic_zone_of_Japan \"Exclusive economic zone of Japan\") is the [eighth-largest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_length_of_exclusive_economic_zones \"List of countries by length of exclusive economic zones\") in the world, covering 4,470,000 km2 (1,730,000 sq mi).\n\nThe Japanese archipelago is 67% [forests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forestry_in_Japan \"Forestry in Japan\") and 14% [agricultural](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Japan \"Agriculture in Japan\"). The primarily rugged and mountainous terrain is restricted for habitation. Thus the habitable zones, mainly in the coastal areas, have very high population densities: Japan is the [40th most densely populated country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population_density \"List of countries by population density\") even without considering that local concentration. Honshu has the highest population density at 450 persons/km2 (1200/sq mi) as of 2010[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), while Hokkaido has the lowest density of 64.5 persons/km2 as of 2016[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). As of 2014[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), approximately 0.5% of Japan's total area is [reclaimed land](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reclaimed_land \"Reclaimed land\") (*umetatechi*). [Lake Biwa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Biwa \"Lake Biwa\") is an [ancient lake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_lake \"Ancient lake\") and the country's largest freshwater lake.\n\nJapan is substantially prone to [earthquakes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquakes_in_Japan \"Earthquakes in Japan\"), [tsunami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsunami \"Tsunami\") and [volcanic eruptions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_eruptions \"Volcanic eruptions\") because of its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire. It has the [17th highest natural disaster risk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_natural_disaster_risk \"List of countries by natural disaster risk\") as measured in the 2016 World Risk Index. Japan has 111 active volcanoes. Destructive earthquakes, often resulting in tsunami, occur several times each century; the [1923 Tokyo earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Tokyo_earthquake \"1923 Tokyo earthquake\") killed over 140,000 people. More recent major quakes are the 1995 [Great Hanshin earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Hanshin_earthquake \"Great Hanshin earthquake\") and the [2011 Tōhoku earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami \"2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami\"), which triggered a large tsunami.",
"id": "Geography",
"level": 2,
"sections": [
{
"content": "[Mount Fuji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Fuji \"Mount Fuji\") and [Shinkansen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen \"Shinkansen\")\n\nThe climate of Japan is predominantly temperate but varies greatly from north to south. The northernmost region, Hokkaido, has a [humid continental climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humid_continental_climate \"Humid continental climate\") with long, cold winters and very warm to cool summers. [Precipitation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitation \"Precipitation\") is not heavy, but the islands usually develop deep snowbanks in the winter.\n\nIn the [Sea of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Japan \"Sea of Japan\") region on Honshu's west coast, northwest winter winds bring heavy snowfall during winter. In the summer, the region sometimes experiences extremely hot temperatures because of the [Foehn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foehn \"Foehn\"). The [Central Highland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Highland_(Japan) \"Central Highland (Japan)\") has a typical inland humid continental climate, with large temperature differences between summer and winter. The mountains of the [Chūgoku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%ABgoku \"Chūgoku\") and Shikoku regions shelter the [Seto Inland Sea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seto_Inland_Sea \"Seto Inland Sea\") from seasonal winds, bringing mild weather year-round.\n\nThe Pacific coast features a [humid subtropical](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humid_subtropical \"Humid subtropical\") climate that experiences milder winters with occasional snowfall and hot, humid summers because of the southeast seasonal wind. The Ryukyu and Nanpō Islands have a [subtropical climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtropical_climate \"Subtropical climate\"), with warm winters and hot summers. Precipitation is very heavy, especially during the rainy season. The main [rainy season](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asian_rainy_season \"East Asian rainy season\") begins in early May in Okinawa, and the rain front gradually moves north. In late summer and early autumn, [typhoons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon \"Typhoon\") often bring heavy rain. According to the Environment Ministry, heavy rainfall and increasing temperatures have caused problems in the agricultural industry and elsewhere. The highest temperature ever measured in Japan, 41.8 °C (107.2 °F), was recorded on August 5, 2025.",
"id": "Climate",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Climate"
},
{
"content": "Japan has nine forest [ecoregions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecoregions_in_Japan \"Ecoregions in Japan\") which reflect the climate and geography of the islands. They range from [subtropical moist broadleaf forests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtropical_moist_broadleaf_forests \"Subtropical moist broadleaf forests\") in the Ryūkyū and [Bonin Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonin_Islands \"Bonin Islands\"), to [temperate broadleaf and mixed forests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_broadleaf_and_mixed_forests \"Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests\") in the mild climate regions of the main islands, to [temperate coniferous forests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_coniferous_forest \"Temperate coniferous forest\") in the cold, winter portions of the northern islands. Japan has over 90,000 species of wildlife as of 2019[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), including the [brown bear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_bear \"Brown bear\"), the [Japanese macaque](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_macaque \"Japanese macaque\"), the [Japanese raccoon dog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_raccoon_dog \"Japanese raccoon dog\"), the [small Japanese field mouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Japanese_field_mouse \"Small Japanese field mouse\"), and the [Japanese giant salamander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_giant_salamander \"Japanese giant salamander\"). There are 53 [Ramsar wetland sites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsar_sites_in_Japan \"Ramsar sites in Japan\") in Japan. [Five sites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Sites_in_Japan \"World Heritage Sites in Japan\") have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for their outstanding natural value.",
"id": "Biodiversity",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Biodiversity"
},
{
"content": "Autumn [maple leaves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_tree \"Maple tree\") (*[momiji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momiji \"Momiji\")*) at [Kongōbu-ji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong%C5%8Dbu-ji \"Kongōbu-ji\") on [Mount Kōya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_K%C5%8Dya \"Mount Kōya\"), a [UNESCO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO \"UNESCO\") [World Heritage Site](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site \"World Heritage Site\")\n\nIn the period of rapid economic growth after World War II, environmental policies were downplayed by the government and industrial corporations; as a result, [environmental pollution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Big_Pollution_Diseases_of_Japan \"Four Big Pollution Diseases of Japan\") was widespread in the 1950s and 1960s. Responding to rising concerns, the government introduced environmental protection laws in 1970. The [oil crisis in 1973](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_oil_crisis \"1973 oil crisis\") also encouraged the efficient use of energy because of Japan's lack of natural resources.\n\nJapan ranks 20th in the 2018 [Environmental Performance Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_Performance_Index \"Environmental Performance Index\"), which measures a country's commitment to environmental sustainability. Japan is the world's [fifth-largest emitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions \"List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions\") of [carbon dioxide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide \"Carbon dioxide\"). As the host and signatory of the 1997 [Kyoto Protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol \"Kyoto Protocol\"), Japan is under treaty obligation to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions and to take other steps to curb climate change. In 2020, the government of Japan announced a target of [carbon-neutrality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-neutral \"Carbon-neutral\") by 2050. Environmental issues include urban air pollution ([NOx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOx \"NOx\"), suspended [particulate matter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particulate_matter \"Particulate matter\"), and [toxics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxics \"Toxics\")), [waste management](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_management \"Waste management\"), water [eutrophication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication \"Eutrophication\"), [nature conservation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_conservation \"Nature conservation\"), [climate change](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_in_Japan \"Climate change in Japan\"), chemical management and international co-operation for conservation.",
"id": "Environment",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Environment"
}
],
"title": "Geography"
},
{
"content": "Japan is a [unitary state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state \"Unitary state\") and [constitutional monarchy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy \"Constitutional monarchy\") in which the power of the [emperor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_of_Japan \"Emperor of Japan\") (*Tennō*) is limited to a [ceremonial role](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_head_of_state \"Ceremonial head of state\"). Executive power is instead wielded by the [prime minister](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Japan \"Prime Minister of Japan\") and the [Cabinet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Japan \"Cabinet of Japan\"), whose sovereignty is vested in the Japanese people. [Naruhito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naruhito \"Naruhito\") is the Emperor of Japan, having succeeded his father [Akihito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihito \"Akihito\") upon his accession to the [Chrysanthemum Throne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysanthemum_Throne \"Chrysanthemum Throne\") in 2019.\n\nThe [National Diet Building](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Diet_Building \"National Diet Building\")\n\nJapan's legislative organ is the [National Diet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Diet \"National Diet\"), a [bicameral](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicameral \"Bicameral\") [parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament \"Parliament\"). It consists of a lower [House of Representatives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Representatives_(Japan) \"House of Representatives (Japan)\") with 465 seats, elected by popular vote every four years or when dissolved, and an upper [House of Councillors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Councillors \"House of Councillors\") with 248 seats, whose popularly-elected members serve six-year terms. There is [universal suffrage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_suffrage \"Universal suffrage\") for adults over 18 years of age, with a [secret ballot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_ballot \"Secret ballot\") for all elected offices. The prime minister as the [head of government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_government \"Head of government\") has the power to appoint and dismiss [Ministers of State](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministers_of_State \"Ministers of State\"), and is [appointed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Investiture \"Imperial Investiture\") by the emperor after being designated from among the members of the Diet. [Sanae Takaichi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanae_Takaichi \"Sanae Takaichi\") is Japan's prime minister; she took office after winning the [2025 Liberal Democratic Party leadership election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Liberal_Democratic_Party_(Japan)_presidential_election \"2025 Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) presidential election\") and securing a [confidence and supply](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confidence_and_supply \"Confidence and supply\") agreement with [Ishin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Innovation_Party \"Japan Innovation Party\").\n\nHistorically influenced by [Chinese law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_law \"Chinese law\"), the Japanese legal system developed independently during the Edo period through texts such as *[Kujikata Osadamegaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kujikata_Osadamegaki \"Kujikata Osadamegaki\")*. Since the late 19th century, [the judicial system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_system_of_Japan \"Judicial system of Japan\") has been largely based on the [civil law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_law_(legal_system) \"Civil law (legal system)\") of Europe, notably Germany. In 1896, Japan established a [civil code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_code \"Civil code\") based on the German [Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%BCrgerliches_Gesetzbuch \"Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch\"), which remains in effect with post–World War II modifications. The [Constitution of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Japan \"Constitution of Japan\"), adopted in 1947, is the oldest unamended constitution in the world. Statutory law originates in the legislature, and the constitution requires that the emperor promulgate legislation passed by the Diet without giving him the power to oppose legislation. The main body of Japanese statutory law is called the [Six Codes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Codes \"Six Codes\"). Japan's court system is divided into four basic tiers: the [Supreme Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Japan \"Supreme Court of Japan\") and three levels of lower courts.",
"id": "Government_and_politics",
"level": 2,
"sections": [
{
"content": "Japan is divided into 47 prefectures, each overseen by an elected [governor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_(Japan) \"Governor (Japan)\") and legislature. In the following table, the prefectures are grouped by [region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_regions_of_Japan \"List of regions of Japan\"):\n\n\n\n| Prefectures of Japan with colored regions | Hokkaido1.Hokkaido | Tōhoku2.Aomori3.Iwate4.Miyagi5.Akita6.Yamagata7.Fukushima | Kantō8.Ibaraki9.Tochigi10.Gunma11.Saitama12.Chiba13.Tokyo14.Kanagawa | Chūbu15.Niigata16.Toyama17.Ishikawa18.Fukui19.Yamanashi20.Nagano21.Gifu22.Shizuoka23.Aichi |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Kansai24.Mie25.Shiga26.Kyoto27.Osaka28.Hyōgo29.Nara30.Wakayama | Chūgoku31.Tottori32.Shimane33.Okayama34.Hiroshima35.Yamaguchi | Shikoku36.Tokushima37.Kagawa38.Ehime39.Kōchi | Kyūshū40.Fukuoka41.Saga42.Nagasaki43.Kumamoto44.Ōita45.Miyazaki46.Kagoshima47.Okinawa |\n\n",
"id": "Administrative_divisions",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Administrative divisions"
},
{
"content": "Japan is a member of both the [G7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G7 \"G7\") and the [G20](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G20 \"G20\").\n\nA member state of the United Nations since 1956, Japan is one of the [G4 countries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G4_nations \"G4 nations\") seeking reform of the [Security Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_Council \"Security Council\"). Japan is a member of the [G7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G7 \"G7\"), [APEC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APEC \"APEC\"), and \"[ASEAN Plus Three](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASEAN_Free_Trade_Area#ASEAN_Plus_Three \"ASEAN Free Trade Area\")\", and is a participant in the [East Asia Summit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asia_Summit \"East Asia Summit\"). It is the world's [fifth-largest donor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_development_aid_sovereign_state_donors \"List of development aid sovereign state donors\") of [official development assistance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Development_Assistance_(Japan) \"Official Development Assistance (Japan)\"), donating US$9.2 billion in 2014. In 2024, Japan had the [fourth-largest diplomatic network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_diplomatic_missions \"List of countries by number of diplomatic missions\") in the world. Japan is widely considered to be a [great power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_power \"Great power\") due to its [economic power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_power \"Economic power\") and political, cultural, and military influence.\n\nJapan has close economic and military [relations with the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan%E2%80%93United_States_relations \"Japan–United States relations\"), with which it maintains [a security alliance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Mutual_Cooperation_and_Security_between_the_United_States_and_Japan \"Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan\"). The United States is a major market for Japanese exports and a major source of Japanese imports, and is committed to defending the country, with military bases in Japan. In 2016, Japan announced the Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision, which frames its regional policies. Japan is also a member of the [Quadrilateral Security Dialogue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrilateral_Security_Dialogue \"Quadrilateral Security Dialogue\") (\"the Quad\"), a multilateral security dialogue reformed in 2017 aiming to limit Chinese influence in the [Indo-Pacific](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pacific \"Indo-Pacific\") region, along with the United States, Australia, and India.\n\nJapan is engaged in several territorial disputes with its neighbors. It contests Russia's control of the [Southern Kuril Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuril_Islands_dispute \"Kuril Islands dispute\"), which were occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945. South Korea's control of the [Liancourt Rocks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liancourt_Rocks \"Liancourt Rocks\") is acknowledged but not accepted as they are claimed by Japan. Japan has strained relations with China over the [Senkaku Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senkaku_Islands \"Senkaku Islands\") and the status of [Okinotorishima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinotorishima \"Okinotorishima\").",
"id": "Foreign_relations",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Foreign relations"
},
{
"content": "[JMSDF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Maritime_Self-Defense_Force \"Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force\") [*Kongō*-class destroyer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong%C5%8D-class_destroyer \"Kongō-class destroyer\")\n\nJapan is the third highest-ranked Asian country in the 2024 [Global Peace Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Peace_Index \"Global Peace Index\"). It spent 1.4% of its total GDP on [its defence budget](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_Japan \"Military budget of Japan\") and maintained the [tenth-largest military budget](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures \"List of countries by military expenditures\") in the world in 2024. The country's military, the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), is restricted by [Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_Japanese_Constitution \"Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution\"), which renounces Japan's right to declare war or use military force in international disputes. The military is governed by the [Ministry of Defense](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Defense_(Japan) \"Ministry of Defense (Japan)\"), and primarily consists of the [Japan Ground Self-Defense Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Ground_Self-Defense_Force \"Japan Ground Self-Defense Force\"), the [Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Maritime_Self-Defense_Force \"Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force\"), and the [Japan Air Self-Defense Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Air_Self-Defense_Force \"Japan Air Self-Defense Force\"). The [deployment of troops to Iraq](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Iraq_Reconstruction_and_Support_Group \"Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group\") and Afghanistan marked the first overseas use of Japan's military since World War II.\n\nThe [Government of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Japan \"Government of Japan\") has been making changes to its security policy which include the establishment of the [National Security Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Council_(Japan) \"National Security Council (Japan)\"), the adoption of the National Security Strategy, and the development of the National Defense Program Guidelines. In 2015, the Japanese parliament passed the [Legislation for Peace and Security](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislation_for_Peace_and_Security \"Legislation for Peace and Security\"), allowing the JSDF to participate in foreign conflicts in an \"existential crisis situation\". In December 2022, Prime Minister [Fumio Kishida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumio_Kishida \"Fumio Kishida\") instructed the government to increase spending by 65% until 2027. Recent tensions, particularly with North Korea and China, have reignited the debate over the status of the JSDF and its relation to Japanese society.",
"id": "Military",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Military"
},
{
"content": "The headquarters of the [Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Metropolitan_Police_Department \"Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department\")\n\nDomestic security in Japan is provided mainly by the [prefectural police departments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefectural_police_department \"Prefectural police department\"), under the oversight of the [National Police Agency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Police_Agency_(Japan) \"National Police Agency (Japan)\"). As the central coordinating body for the Prefectural Police Departments, the National Police Agency is administered by the [National Public Safety Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Public_Safety_Commission_(Japan) \"National Public Safety Commission (Japan)\"). The [Special Assault Team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Assault_Team \"Special Assault Team\") comprises national-level [counter-terrorism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-terrorism \"Counter-terrorism\") tactical units that cooperate with territorial-level [Anti-Firearms Squads and Counter-NBC Terrorism Squads](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_Police_Unit#Specialist_squads \"Riot Police Unit\"). The [Japan Coast Guard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Coast_Guard \"Japan Coast Guard\") guards territorial waters surrounding Japan and uses surveillance and control countermeasures against smuggling, marine [environmental crime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_crime \"Environmental crime\"), poaching, piracy, spy ships, unauthorized foreign fishing vessels, and illegal immigration.\n\nThe [Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_and_Sword_Possession_Control_Law \"Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law\") strictly regulates the civilian ownership of guns, swords, and other weaponry. According to the [United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Office_on_Drugs_and_Crime \"United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime\"), among the member states of the UN that report statistics as of 2018[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), the incidence rates of violent crimes such as murder, abduction, sexual violence, and robbery are very low in Japan.",
"id": "Law_enforcement",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Law enforcement"
},
{
"content": "Japanese society traditionally places a strong emphasis on [collective harmony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wa_(Japanese_culture) \"Wa (Japanese culture)\") and [conformity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collectivism \"Collectivism\"), which has led to the suppression of [individual rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual_rights \"Individual rights\"). [Japan's constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Japan \"Constitution of Japan\") prohibits racial and religious discrimination, and the country is a signatory to numerous international human rights treaties. However, it lacks any laws against discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity and does not have a national human rights institution.\n\nJapan has faced criticism for [its gender inequality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_inequality_in_Japan \"Gender inequality in Japan\"), [not allowing same-sex marriages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Japan \"Same-sex marriage in Japan\"), use of [racial profiling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_profiling \"Racial profiling\") by police, and [allowing capital punishment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Japan \"Capital punishment in Japan\"). Other human rights issues include the treatment of marginalized groups, such as [ethnic minorities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_Japan \"Racism in Japan\"), [refugees and asylum seekers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Japan#Refugees_and_asylum_seekers \"Immigration to Japan\").",
"id": "Human_rights",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Human rights"
}
],
"title": "Government and politics"
},
{
"content": "Skyscrapers in [Nakanoshima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakanoshima \"Nakanoshima\"), [Osaka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osaka \"Osaka\"); a major [financial center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_center \"Financial center\") in Japan\n\nJapan has the world's [fifth-largest economy by nominal GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal) \"List of countries by GDP (nominal)\"), after that of the United States, China, Germany and India; and the [fifth-largest by PPP-adjusted GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP) \"List of countries by GDP (PPP)\"). As of 2023[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), [Japan's labor force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_market_of_Japan \"Labor market of Japan\") is the world's [tenth-largest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_labour_force \"List of countries by labour force\"), consisting of over 69.2 million workers. As of 2024[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), Japan has a [low unemployment rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_unemployment_rate \"List of countries by unemployment rate\") of around 2.6%. [Its poverty rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Japan \"Poverty in Japan\") is the second highest among the G7 countries, and exceeds 15.7% of the population. Japan has the highest ratio of public debt to GDP among advanced economies, with [a national debt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_of_Japan \"National debt of Japan\") estimated at 248% relative to GDP as of 2022[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). The [Japanese yen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_yen \"Japanese yen\") is the world's third-largest [reserve currency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_currency \"Reserve currency\") after the US dollar and the euro.\n\nIn 2024, Japan was the world's [eight-largest exporter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_exports \"List of countries by exports\") and [sixth-largest importer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_imports \"List of countries by imports\"). Its exports amounted to 21.9% of its total GDP in 2023. In 2024, [Japan's main export markets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_largest_trading_partners_of_Japan \"List of the largest trading partners of Japan\") were China (22.2%, including Hong Kong) and the United States (20.6%). [Its main exports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_exports_of_Japan \"List of exports of Japan\") are motor vehicles, iron and steel products, semiconductors, and auto parts. Japan's main import markets in 2024 were China (22.3%), the United States (10.5%), and Australia (7.1%). Japan's main imports are machinery and equipment, fossil fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, and raw materials.\n\nThe Japanese variant of capitalism has many distinct features: [keiretsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keiretsu \"Keiretsu\") enterprises are influential, and [lifetime employment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifetime_employment \"Lifetime employment\") and seniority-based career advancement are common in the [Japanese work environment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_work_environment \"Japanese work environment\"). Japan has a large [cooperative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperative \"Cooperative\") sector, with three of the world's ten largest cooperatives, including the largest [consumer cooperative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_cooperative \"Consumer cooperative\") and the largest [agricultural cooperative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_cooperative \"Agricultural cooperative\") as of 2018[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). It [ranks highly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_rankings_of_Japan#Economy \"International rankings of Japan\") for [competitiveness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_(companies) \"Competition (companies)\") and [economic freedom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_freedom \"Economic freedom\"). The country attracted 36.9 million international tourists in 2024, and was [ranked eleventh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tourism_rankings \"World Tourism rankings\") in the world in 2019 for [inbound tourism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inbound_tourism_(Japan) \"Inbound tourism (Japan)\"). The 2024 *[Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travel_and_Tourism_Competitiveness_Report \"Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report\")* ranked Japan third in the world out of 117 countries. Its international tourism receipts in 2019 amounted to $46.1 billion.",
"id": "Economy",
"level": 2,
"sections": [
{
"content": "A [rice paddy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_paddy \"Rice paddy\") in [Aizu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aizu \"Aizu\"), [Fukushima Prefecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Prefecture \"Fukushima Prefecture\")\n\nThe Japanese agricultural sector accounts for about 1.2% of the country's total GDP as of 2018[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). Only 11.2% of Japan's land is suitable for cultivation. Because of this lack of arable land, a system of [terraces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrace_(earthworks) \"Terrace (earthworks)\") is used to farm in small areas. This results in one of the world's highest levels of crop yields per unit area, with an agricultural self-sufficiency rate of about 50% as of 2018[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). Japan's small agricultural sector is highly subsidized and [protected](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_Protectionism_in_Japan \"Agricultural Protectionism in Japan\"). There has been a growing concern about farming as farmers are aging with a difficult time finding successors.\n\nJapan ranked seventh in the world in [tonnage of fish caught](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_industry_by_country \"Fishing industry by country\") and captured 3,167,610 metric tons of fish in 2016, down from an annual average of 4,000,000 tons over the previous decade. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch, prompting critiques that Japan's fishing is leading to depletion in fish stocks such as [tuna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuna \"Tuna\"). Japan has sparked controversy by supporting commercial [whaling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaling_in_Japan \"Whaling in Japan\").",
"id": "Agriculture_and_fishery",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Agriculture and fishery"
},
{
"content": "The [Nissan GT-R](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_GT-R \"Nissan GT-R\"), a [sports car](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_car \"Sports car\") manufactured by [Nissan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan \"Nissan\"). Japan is the [third-largest producer of motor vehicles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_motor_vehicle_production \"List of countries by motor vehicle production\") in the world.\n\nJapan has a large industrial capacity and is home to some of the \"largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, [machine tools](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_tool \"Machine tool\"), steel and nonferrous metals, ships, [chemical substances](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_substance \"Chemical substance\"), textiles, and [processed foods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processed_foods \"Processed foods\")\". Japan's industrial sector makes up approximately 27.5% of its GDP. The country's manufacturing output is the [fourth highest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_manufacturing_output \"List of countries by manufacturing output\") in the world as of 2023[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit).\n\nJapan is in the top three globally for both automobile production and export, and is home to [Toyota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota \"Toyota\"), the world's [largest automobile company by production](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_manufacturers_by_motor_vehicle_production \"List of manufacturers by motor vehicle production\"). The Japanese shipbuilding industry faces increasing competition from its East Asian neighbors, South Korea and China; a 2020 government initiative identified this sector as a target for increasing exports.\n\nOnce considered the strongest in the world, the [Japanese consumer electronics industry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_consumer_electronics_industry \"Japanese consumer electronics industry\") is in a state of decline as regional competition arises in neighboring East Asian countries such as South Korea and China. However, [Japan's video game sector](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_games_in_Japan \"Video games in Japan\") remains a major industry; in 2014, Japan's consumer video game market grossed $9.6 billion, with $5.8 billion coming from mobile gaming. By 2015, Japan had become the world's [fourth-largest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_games_markets_by_country \"List of video games markets by country\") [PC game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_game \"PC game\") market by revenue, behind [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_games_in_China \"Video games in China\"), the [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_games_in_the_United_States \"Video games in the United States\"), and [South Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_games_in_South_Korea \"Video games in South Korea\").\n\nJapan's service sector accounts for about 69.8% of its total economic output as of 2023[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). [Banking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banking_in_Japan \"Banking in Japan\"), retail, [transportation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Japan \"Transportation in Japan\"), and [telecommunications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Japan \"Telecommunications in Japan\") are all major industries, with companies such as Toyota, [Honda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda \"Honda\"), [Yamaha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_Motor_Company \"Yamaha Motor Company\"), [Mitsubishi UFJ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_UFJ \"Mitsubishi UFJ\"), [NTT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon_Telegraph_and_Telephone \"Nippon Telegraph and Telephone\"), [Aeon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeon_(company) \"Aeon (company)\"), [SoftBank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SoftBank \"SoftBank\"), [Hitachi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi \"Hitachi\"), [Mitsui](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsui \"Mitsui\") and [Itochu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itochu \"Itochu\") listed as among the largest in the world.",
"id": "Industry_and_services",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Industry and services"
},
{
"content": "The [Japanese Experiment Module](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Experiment_Module \"Japanese Experiment Module\") (Kibō) at the [International Space Station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station \"International Space Station\")\n\nRelative to gross domestic product, Japan's [research and development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_and_development \"Research and development\") budget is the [sixth or seventh highest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_by_research_and_development_spending \"List of sovereign states by research and development spending\") in the world, with 907,400 researchers sharing a 22-trillion-yen research and development budget as of 2023[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). Japan has the second highest number of researchers in science and technology per capita in the world with 14 per 1000 employees. The country has produced twenty-two [Nobel laureates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize \"Nobel Prize\") in either physics, chemistry or medicine, and three [Fields medalists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fields_Medal \"Fields Medal\").\n\nJapan is a leading [robotics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_robotics \"Japanese robotics\") producer, supplying 38% of the world's 2024 total, down from 55% in 2017.\n\nThe [Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Aerospace_Exploration_Agency \"Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency\") is Japan's national [space agency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_agency \"Space agency\"); it conducts space, planetary, and aviation research, and leads development of rockets and satellites. It is a participant in the [International Space Station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station \"International Space Station\"): the [Japanese Experiment Module](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Experiment_Module \"Japanese Experiment Module\") (Kibō) was added to the station during [Space Shuttle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle \"Space Shuttle\") assembly flights in 2008. The [space probe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_probe \"Space probe\") *[Akatsuki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akatsuki_(spacecraft) \"Akatsuki (spacecraft)\")* was launched in 2010 and achieved orbit around Venus in 2015. Japan's plans in [space exploration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_exploration \"Space exploration\") include building a [Moon base](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_the_Moon \"Colonization of the Moon\") and landing astronauts by 2030. In 2007, it launched lunar explorer [SELENE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SELENE \"SELENE\") (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) from [Tanegashima Space Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanegashima_Space_Center \"Tanegashima Space Center\"). The largest lunar mission since the [Apollo program](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_program \"Apollo program\"), its purpose was to gather data on the [Moon's origin and evolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon#Formation \"Moon\"). The explorer entered a lunar orbit on October 4, 2007, and was deliberately crashed into the Moon on June 11, 2009.",
"id": "Science_and_technology",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Science and technology"
},
{
"content": "[Japan Airlines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Airlines \"Japan Airlines\"), the [flag carrier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_carrier \"Flag carrier\") of Japan\n\nJapan has invested heavily in transportation infrastructure since the 1990s. The country has approximately 1,200,000 kilometers (750,000 miles) of roads made up of 1,000,000 kilometers (620,000 miles) of city, town and village roads, 130,000 kilometers (81,000 miles) of prefectural roads, 54,736 kilometers (34,011 miles) of general national highways and 7641 kilometers (4748 miles) of [national expressways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressways_of_Japan \"Expressways of Japan\") as of 2017[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit).\n\nSince privatization in 1987, [dozens of Japanese railway companies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_railway_companies_in_Japan \"List of railway companies in Japan\") compete in regional and local passenger transportation markets; major companies include seven [JR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Railways_Group \"Japan Railways Group\") enterprises, [Kintetsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintetsu_Railway \"Kintetsu Railway\"), [Seibu Railway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seibu_Railway \"Seibu Railway\") and [Keio Corporation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keio_Corporation \"Keio Corporation\"). The high-speed [Shinkansen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen \"Shinkansen\") (bullet trains) that connect major cities are known for their safety and punctuality.\n\nThere are [280 airports in Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_Japan \"List of airports in Japan\") as of 2025[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). The largest domestic airport, [Haneda Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haneda_Airport \"Haneda Airport\") in Tokyo, was Asia's [second-busiest airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_busiest_airports_by_passenger_traffic \"List of busiest airports by passenger traffic\") in 2019. The Keihin and Hanshin superport hubs are among the largest in the world, at 7.98 and 5.22 million [TEU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-foot_equivalent_unit \"Twenty-foot equivalent unit\") respectively as of 2017[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit).",
"id": "Transportation",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Transportation"
},
{
"content": "Part of the [Seto Hill Windfarm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seto_Windhill \"Seto Windhill\")\n\nAs of 2019[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), 37.1% of energy in Japan is produced from petroleum, 25.1% from coal, 22.4% from [natural gas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gas \"Natural gas\"), 3.5% from [hydropower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydropower \"Hydropower\") and 2.8% from [nuclear power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_Japan \"Nuclear power in Japan\"), among other sources. Nuclear power was down from 11.2% in 2010. By May 2012 all of [the country's nuclear power plants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nuclear_power_plants_in_Japan \"List of nuclear power plants in Japan\") had been taken offline because of ongoing public opposition following the [Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Daiichi_nuclear_disaster \"Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster\") in March 2011, though government officials continued to try to sway public opinion in favor of returning at least some to service. The [Sendai Nuclear Power Plant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sendai_Nuclear_Power_Plant \"Sendai Nuclear Power Plant\") restarted in 2015, and since then several other nuclear power plants have been restarted. Japan lacks significant domestic reserves and has a heavy dependence on [imported energy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_oil_imports \"List of countries by oil imports\"). The country has therefore aimed to diversify its sources and maintain high levels of energy efficiency.",
"id": "Energy",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Energy"
}
],
"title": "Economy"
},
{
"content": "View of Tokyo from the top of the [Tokyo Skytree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Skytree \"Tokyo Skytree\"). The [Greater Tokyo Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Tokyo_Area \"Greater Tokyo Area\") is ranked as the [most populous metropolitan area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_areas_by_population \"List of metropolitan areas by population\") in the world.\n\nJapan has a population of over 123 million, of whom nearly 120 million are Japanese nationals (2024 estimates). A small population of foreign residents makes up the remainder. Japan is the world's [fastest aging country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aging_of_Japan \"Aging of Japan\") and has the highest proportion of [elderly citizens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elderly_people_in_Japan \"Elderly people in Japan\") of any country, comprising [one-third of its total population](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_age_structure \"List of countries by age structure\"); this is the result of a [post–World War II baby boom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post%E2%80%93World_War_II_baby_boom \"Post–World War II baby boom\"), which was followed by an increase in life expectancy and a decrease in [birth rates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_rate \"Birth rate\").\n\nJapan has a [total fertility rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_fertility_rate \"Total fertility rate\") of 1.2, which is below the [replacement rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-replacement_fertility \"Sub-replacement fertility\") of 2.1, and is among the world's [lowest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_total_fertility_rate \"List of countries by total fertility rate\"): it has a [median age](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_age \"Median age\") of 48.4, the [highest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_median_age \"List of countries by median age\") in the world. As of 2025[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), over 29.3% of the population is over 65, or more than one in four out of the Japanese population. As a growing number of younger Japanese are not marrying or remaining childless, Japan's population is expected to drop to around 88 million by 2065.\n\nThe changes in demographic structure have created several social issues, particularly a decline in the workforce population and an increase in the cost of social security benefits. The Government of Japan projects that there will be almost one elderly person for each person of working age by 2060. [Immigration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Japan \"Immigration to Japan\") and birth incentives are sometimes suggested as a solution to provide younger workers to support the nation's aging population. On April 1, 2019, Japan's revised immigration law was enacted, protecting the rights of foreign workers to help reduce labor shortages in certain sectors.\n\nIn 2023, 92% of the Japanese population lived in cities. The capital city, Tokyo, has a population of 13.9 million (2022). It is part of the [Greater Tokyo Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Tokyo_Area \"Greater Tokyo Area\"), the [biggest metropolitan area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_areas_by_population \"List of metropolitan areas by population\") in the world with 37.4 million people (2024). Japan is an ethnically and culturally [homogeneous society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_ranked_by_ethnic_and_cultural_diversity_level \"List of countries ranked by ethnic and cultural diversity level\"), with the [Japanese people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_people \"Japanese people\") forming 97.4% of the country's population. Minority ethnic groups in the country include the indigenous [Ainu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainu_people \"Ainu people\") and [Ryukyuan people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryukyuan_people \"Ryukyuan people\"). [Zainichi Koreans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zainichi_Koreans \"Zainichi Koreans\"), [Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_people_in_Japan \"Chinese people in Japan\"), [Filipinos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipinos_in_Japan \"Filipinos in Japan\"), Brazilians mostly [of Japanese descent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Brazilian \"Japanese Brazilian\"), and Peruvians mostly [of Japanese descent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Peruvian \"Japanese Peruvian\") are also among Japan's small minority groups. *[Burakumin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burakumin \"Burakumin\")* make up a social minority group.\n\n\n\n| vteLargest cities or towns in Japan2015 Census |\n| --- |\n| Rank | Name | Prefecture | Pop. | Rank | Name | Prefecture | Pop. |\n| 1 | Tokyo | Tokyo | 9,272,740 | 11 | Hiroshima | Hiroshima | 1,194,034 |\n| 2 | Yokohama | Kanagawa | 3,724,844 | 12 | Sendai | Miyagi | 1,082,159 |\n| 3 | Osaka | Osaka | 2,691,185 | 13 | Chiba | Chiba | 971,882 |\n| 4 | Nagoya | Aichi | 2,295,638 | 14 | Kitakyushu | Fukuoka | 961,286 |\n| 5 | Sapporo | Hokkaido | 1,952,356 | 15 | Sakai | Osaka | 839,310 |\n| 6 | Fukuoka | Fukuoka | 1,538,681 | 16 | Niigata | Niigata | 810,157 |\n| 7 | Kobe | Hyōgo | 1,537,273 | 17 | Hamamatsu | Shizuoka | 797,980 |\n| 8 | Kawasaki | Kanagawa | 1,475,213 | 18 | Kumamoto | Kumamoto | 740,822 |\n| 9 | Kyoto | Kyoto | 1,475,183 | 19 | Sagamihara | Kanagawa | 720,780 |\n| 10 | Saitama | Saitama | 1,263,979 | 20 | Okayama | Okayama | 719,474 |\n\n",
"id": "Demographics",
"level": 2,
"sections": [
{
"content": "*[Kanji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji \"Kanji\")* and *[hiragana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiragana \"Hiragana\")* signs\n\nThe [Japanese language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_language \"Japanese language\") is Japan's *de facto* national language and the primary written and spoken language of most people in the country. [Japanese writing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_writing \"Japanese writing\") uses [kanji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji \"Kanji\") ([Chinese characters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_character \"Chinese character\")) and two sets of [kana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kana \"Kana\") ([syllabaries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllabaries \"Syllabaries\") based on [cursive script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursive_script_(East_Asia) \"Cursive script (East Asia)\") and [radicals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_(Chinese_characters) \"Radical (Chinese characters)\") used by kanji), as well as the [Latin alphabet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_alphabet \"Latin alphabet\") and [Arabic numerals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_numerals \"Arabic numerals\"). English has taken a major role in Japan as a business and international [link language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_language \"Link language\"), and is a compulsory subject at the junior and senior high school levels. [Japanese Sign Language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Sign_Language \"Japanese Sign Language\") is the primary [sign language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_language \"Sign language\") used in Japan and has gained some official recognition, but its usage has been historically hindered by discriminatory policies and a lack of educational support.\n\nBesides Japanese, the [Ryukyuan languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryukyuan_languages \"Ryukyuan languages\") ([Amami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amami_%C5%8Cshima_language \"Amami Ōshima language\"), [Kunigami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunigami_language \"Kunigami language\"), [Okinawan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawan_language \"Okinawan language\"), [Miyako](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyakoan_language \"Miyakoan language\"), [Yaeyama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaeyama_language \"Yaeyama language\"), [Yonaguni](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonaguni_language \"Yonaguni language\")), part of the [Japonic language family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japonic_language_family \"Japonic language family\"), are spoken in the Ryukyu Islands chain. Few children learn these languages, but local governments have sought to increase awareness of the traditional languages. The [Ainu language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainu_language \"Ainu language\"), which is a [language isolate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_isolate \"Language isolate\"), is [moribund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moribund_language \"Moribund language\"), with only a few native speakers remaining as of 2014[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). Additionally, a number of other languages are taught and used by ethnic minorities, immigrant communities, and a growing number of foreign-language students, such as [Korean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_language \"Korean language\") (including a distinct [Zainichi Korean dialect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zainichi_Korean_language \"Zainichi Korean language\")), [Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language \"Chinese language\") and [Portuguese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_language \"Portuguese language\").",
"id": "Languages",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Languages"
},
{
"content": "The [torii](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii \"Torii\") of [Itsukushima Shinto Shrine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itsukushima_Shinto_Shrine \"Itsukushima Shinto Shrine\") near [Hiroshima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshima \"Hiroshima\")\n\nJapan's constitution guarantees full religious freedom. Upper estimates suggest that 84–96% of the Japanese population subscribe to [Shinto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto \"Shinto\") as its indigenous religion. However, these estimates are based on people [affiliated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danka_system \"Danka system\") with a temple, rather than the number of true believers. Many Japanese people practice both Shinto and [Buddhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Japan \"Buddhism in Japan\"); they can identify with both religions or describe themselves as non-religious or spiritual. The level of participation in religious ceremonies as a cultural tradition remains high, especially during [festivals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_festivals \"Japanese festivals\") and occasions such as the [first shrine visit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatsum%C5%8Dde \"Hatsumōde\") of the [New Year](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_New_Year \"Japanese New Year\"). [Taoism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism_in_Japan \"Taoism in Japan\") and [Confucianism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucianism_in_Japan \"Confucianism in Japan\") from China have also influenced Japanese beliefs and customs.\n\nIn 2018, 1% to 1.5% of the population were [Christians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Japan \"Christianity in Japan\"). Throughout the latest century, Western customs originally related to Christianity, including [Western style weddings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_in_Japan \"Marriage in Japan\"), [Valentine's Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day \"Valentine's Day\") and [Christmas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas \"Christmas\"), have become popular as secular customs among many Japanese.\n\nAbout 90% of those practicing [Islam in Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Japan \"Islam in Japan\") are foreign-born migrants as of 2016[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). In 2018, there were an estimated 105 [mosques](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosque \"Mosque\") and 200,000 Muslims in Japan, 43,000 of which were Japanese nationals. Other minority religions include [Hinduism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_in_Japan \"Hinduism in Japan\"), [Judaism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism_in_Japan \"Judaism in Japan\"), and [Baháʼí Faith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%CA%BC%C3%AD_Faith_in_Japan \"Baháʼí Faith in Japan\"), as well as the [animist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animist \"Animist\") beliefs of the Ainu.",
"id": "Religion",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Religion"
},
{
"content": "Students celebrating after the announcement of the results of the [entrance examinations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_education_in_Japan#University_entrance \"Higher education in Japan\") to the [University of Tokyo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Tokyo \"University of Tokyo\")\n\nSince the 1947 [Fundamental Law of Education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_Law_of_Education \"Fundamental Law of Education\"), compulsory education in Japan comprises [elementary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary_schools_in_Japan \"Elementary schools in Japan\") and [junior high school](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_education_in_Japan#Junior_high_school \"Secondary education in Japan\"), which together last for nine years. Almost all children continue their education at a three-year [senior high school](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_education_in_Japan \"Secondary education in Japan\"). The top-ranking university in Japan is the [University of Tokyo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Tokyo \"University of Tokyo\"). Starting in April 2016, various schools began the academic year with elementary school and junior high school integrated into one nine-year compulsory schooling program. [MEXT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEXT \"MEXT\") plans for this approach to be adopted nationwide.\n\nThe [Programme for International Student Assessment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programme_for_International_Student_Assessment \"Programme for International Student Assessment\") (PISA) coordinated by the OECD ranks the knowledge and skills of Japanese 15-year-olds as the third best in the world. Japan is one of the top-performing [OECD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OECD \"OECD\") countries in reading literacy, math, and sciences with the average student scoring 520 and has one of the world's highest-educated labor forces among OECD countries. It spent 7.4% of its total GDP on education in 2021.\n\nIn 2023, Japan ranked third for the percentage of 25- to 64-year-olds that have attained tertiary education, at 56%. Approximately 65.5% of Japanese aged 25 to 34 have some form of tertiary education qualification, with bachelor's degrees being held by 34.8% of Japanese aged 25 to 64, the second most in the OECD after [South Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_South_Korea \"Education in South Korea\"). Japanese women are more highly educated than the men: 59% of women possess a university degree, compared to 52% of men.",
"id": "Education",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Education"
},
{
"content": "[University of Tokyo Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Tokyo_Hospital \"University of Tokyo Hospital\")\n\nHealth care in Japan is provided by national and local governments. Payment for personal medical services is offered through a universal health insurance system that provides relative equality of access, with fees set by a government committee. People without insurance through employers can participate in a national health insurance program administered by local governments. Since 1973, all elderly persons have been covered by government-sponsored insurance.\n\nJapan spent 11.42% of its total GDP on healthcare in 2022. In 2020, the overall life expectancy in Japan at birth was 85 years (82 years for men and 88 years for women), the [highest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy \"List of countries by life expectancy\") in the world; while it had a very low [infant mortality rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_mortality_rate \"Infant mortality rate\") (2 per 1,000 [live births](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_birth_(human) \"Live birth (human)\")). Since 1981, the principal cause of death in Japan is [cancer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer \"Cancer\"), which accounted for 27% of the total deaths in 2018—followed by [cardiovascular diseases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiovascular_disease \"Cardiovascular disease\"), which led to 15% of the deaths. Japan has one of the world's [highest suicide rates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_Japan \"Suicide in Japan\"), which is considered a major social issue. Another significant public health issue is [smoking among Japanese men](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_in_Japan \"Smoking in Japan\"). Japan has the lowest rate of heart disease in the OECD, and the lowest level of [dementia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia \"Dementia\") among developed countries.",
"id": "Health",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Health"
}
],
"title": "Demographics"
},
{
"content": "Contemporary Japanese culture combines influences from Asia, Europe, and North America. Traditional Japanese arts include [crafts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_handicrafts \"Japanese handicrafts\") such as [ceramics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_pottery_and_porcelain \"Japanese pottery and porcelain\"), [textiles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimono \"Kimono\"), [lacquerware](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_lacquerware \"Japanese lacquerware\"), [swords](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_sword \"Japanese sword\"), and [dolls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_traditional_dolls \"Japanese traditional dolls\"); performances of [bunraku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunraku \"Bunraku\"), [kabuki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki \"Kabuki\"), [noh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noh \"Noh\"), [dance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_traditional_dance \"Japanese traditional dance\"), and [rakugo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakugo \"Rakugo\"); and other practices, the [tea ceremony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony \"Japanese tea ceremony\"), [ikebana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikebana \"Ikebana\"), [martial arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_martial_arts \"Japanese martial arts\"), [calligraphy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_calligraphy \"Japanese calligraphy\"), [origami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origami \"Origami\"), [onsen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onsen \"Onsen\"), [Geisha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geisha \"Geisha\"), and [games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_games \"List of Japanese games\"). Japan has a developed system for the protection and promotion of both tangible and intangible [Cultural Properties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Properties_of_Japan \"Cultural Properties of Japan\") and [National Treasures](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Treasures_of_Japan \"National Treasures of Japan\"). [Twenty-two sites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Heritage_Sites_in_Japan \"List of World Heritage Sites in Japan\") have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, eighteen of which are of cultural significance. Japan is considered a [cultural superpower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_superpower \"Cultural superpower\").",
"id": "Culture",
"level": 2,
"sections": [
{
"content": "[Ritsurin Garden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritsurin_Garden \"Ritsurin Garden\"), one of the most famous strolling gardens in Japan\n\nThe history of Japanese painting exhibits synthesis and competition between native Japanese esthetics and imported ideas. The interaction between Japanese and European art has been significant: for example [ukiyo-e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo-e \"Ukiyo-e\") prints, which began to be exported in the 19th century in the movement known as [Japonism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japonism \"Japonism\"), had a significant influence on the development of modern art in the West, most notably on [post-Impressionism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-Impressionism \"Post-Impressionism\").\n\nJapanese architecture is a combination of local and other influences. It has traditionally been typified by wooden or mud plaster structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs. [Traditional housing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minka \"Minka\") and many [temple buildings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Buddhist_architecture \"Japanese Buddhist architecture\") see the use of [tatami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatami \"Tatami\") mats and [sliding doors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dji \"Shōji\") that break down the distinction between rooms and indoor and outdoor space. Since the 19th century, Japan has incorporated much of Western [modern architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_architecture \"Modern architecture\") into construction and design. It was not until after World War II that Japanese architects made an impression on the international scene, firstly with the work of architects like [Kenzō Tange](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenz%C5%8D_Tange \"Kenzō Tange\") and then with movements like [Metabolism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolist_Movement \"Metabolist Movement\").",
"id": "Art_and_architecture",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Art and architecture"
},
{
"content": "12th-century [illustrated handscroll](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genji_Monogatari_Emaki \"Genji Monogatari Emaki\") of *[The Tale of Genji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_Genji \"The Tale of Genji\")*, a [National Treasure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Treasures_of_Japan \"National Treasures of Japan\")\n\nThe earliest works of Japanese literature include the *[Kojiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki \"Kojiki\")* and *[Nihon Shoki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Shoki \"Nihon Shoki\")* chronicles and the *[Man'yōshū](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27y%C5%8Dsh%C5%AB \"Man'yōshū\")* [poetry anthology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_poetry_anthologies \"List of Japanese poetry anthologies\"), all from the 8th century and written in Chinese characters. In the early Heian period, the system of [phonograms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonogram_(linguistics) \"Phonogram (linguistics)\") known as *kana* ([hiragana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiragana \"Hiragana\") and [katakana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katakana \"Katakana\")) was developed. *[The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_the_Bamboo_Cutter \"The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter\")* is considered the oldest extant Japanese narrative. An account of court life is given in *[The Pillow Book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pillow_Book \"The Pillow Book\")* by [Sei Shōnagon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sei_Sh%C5%8Dnagon \"Sei Shōnagon\"), while *[The Tale of Genji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_Genji \"The Tale of Genji\")* by [Murasaki Shikibu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murasaki_Shikibu \"Murasaki Shikibu\") is often described as the world's first novel.\n\nDuring the Edo period, the [chōnin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%8Dnin \"Chōnin\") (\"townspeople\") overtook the samurai aristocracy as producers and consumers of literature. The popularity of the works of [Saikaku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saikaku \"Saikaku\"), for example, reveals this change in readership and authorship, while [Bashō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bash%C5%8D \"Bashō\") revivified the poetic tradition of the [Kokinshū](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokinsh%C5%AB \"Kokinshū\") with his [haikai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haikai \"Haikai\") ([haiku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku \"Haiku\")) and wrote the poetic travelogue *[Oku no Hosomichi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oku_no_Hosomichi \"Oku no Hosomichi\")*. The Meiji era saw the decline of traditional literary forms as Japanese literature integrated Western influences. [Natsume Sōseki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natsume_S%C5%8Dseki \"Natsume Sōseki\") and [Mori Ōgai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mori_%C5%8Cgai \"Mori Ōgai\") were significant novelists in the early 20th century, followed by [Ryūnosuke Akutagawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ry%C5%ABnosuke_Akutagawa \"Ryūnosuke Akutagawa\"), [Jun'ichirō Tanizaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jun%27ichir%C5%8D_Tanizaki \"Jun'ichirō Tanizaki\"), [Kafū Nagai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaf%C5%AB_Nagai \"Kafū Nagai\") and, more recently, [Haruki Murakami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haruki_Murakami \"Haruki Murakami\") and [Kenji Nakagami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji_Nakagami \"Kenji Nakagami\"). Japan has two [Nobel Prize-winning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize_in_Literature \"Nobel Prize in Literature\") authors – [Yasunari Kawabata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasunari_Kawabata \"Yasunari Kawabata\") (1968) and [Kenzaburō Ōe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenzabur%C5%8D_%C5%8Ce \"Kenzaburō Ōe\") (1994).\n\nJapanese philosophy has historically been a [fusion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_fusion \"Information fusion\") of both foreign, particularly [Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_philosophy \"Chinese philosophy\") and [Western](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_philosophy \"Western philosophy\"), and uniquely Japanese elements. In its literary forms, Japanese philosophy began about fourteen centuries ago. Confucian ideals remain evident in the [Japanese concept of society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_society \"Japanese society\") and the self, and in the organization of the government and the structure of society. Buddhism has profoundly impacted Japanese psychology, metaphysics, and esthetics.",
"id": "Literature_and_philosophy",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Literature and philosophy"
},
{
"content": "*[Noh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noh \"Noh\")* performance at a Shinto shrine\n\nJapanese music is eclectic and diverse. Many [instruments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Japanese_musical_instruments \"Traditional Japanese musical instruments\"), such as the [koto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koto_(instrument) \"Koto (instrument)\"), were introduced in the 9th and 10th centuries. The popular [folk music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Japan#Folk_music \"Music of Japan\"), with the guitar-like [shamisen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamisen \"Shamisen\"), dates from the 16th century. Western classical music, introduced in the late 19th century, forms an integral part of Japanese culture. [Kumi-daiko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumi-daiko \"Kumi-daiko\") (ensemble drumming) was developed in post-war Japan and became very popular in North America. Popular music in post-war Japan has been heavily influenced by American and European trends, which has led to the evolution of [J-pop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-pop \"J-pop\"). [Karaoke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaoke \"Karaoke\") is a significant cultural activity.\n\nThe four traditional theaters from Japan are *[noh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noh \"Noh\")*, *[kyōgen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%8Dgen \"Kyōgen\")*, *[kabuki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki \"Kabuki\")*, and *[bunraku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunraku \"Bunraku\")*. Noh is one of the oldest continuous theater traditions in the world.\n\nThe Japanese media franchise *[Pokemon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokemon \"Pokemon\")* is the [highest grossing media franchise](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_media_franchises \"List of highest-grossing media franchises\") of all time.\n\nAccording to the 2015 NHK survey on television viewing in Japan, 79% of Japanese watch television daily. [Japanese television dramas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_television_drama \"Japanese television drama\") are viewed both within Japan and internationally. Many Japanese [media franchises](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_franchise \"Media franchise\") have gained considerable global popularity and are among the world's [highest-grossing media franchises](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highest-grossing_media_franchises \"Highest-grossing media franchises\"). [Japanese newspapers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_newspapers \"Japanese newspapers\") are among the most circulated in the world as of 2016[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit).\n\nJapan has one of the oldest and largest film industries globally. [Ishirō Honda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishir%C5%8D_Honda \"Ishirō Honda\")'s *[Godzilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla_(1954_film) \"Godzilla (1954 film)\")* became an international icon of Japan and spawned an entire subgenre of *[kaiju](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiju \"Kaiju\")* films, as well as the longest-running film franchise in history. Japanese comics, known as [manga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga \"Manga\"), developed in the mid-20th century and have become popular [worldwide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga_outside_Japan \"Manga outside Japan\"). A large number of [manga series](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_manga \"List of best-selling manga\") have become some of the [best-selling comics series](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_comic_series \"List of best-selling comic series\") of all time, rivalling the [American comics industry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_comic_book \"American comic book\"). Japanese animated films and television series, known as [anime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime \"Anime\"), were largely influenced by Japanese manga and have become highly popular globally.",
"id": "Performing_arts",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Performing arts"
},
{
"content": "Young women celebrate [Coming of Age Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_of_Age_Day \"Coming of Age Day\") (成人の日, *Seijin no Hi*) in [Harajuku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harajuku \"Harajuku\"), [Tokyo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo \"Tokyo\").\n\nOfficially, Japan has 16 national, government-recognized holidays. Public holidays in Japan are regulated by the Public Holiday Law (国民の祝日に関する法律, *Kokumin no Shukujitsu ni Kansuru Hōritsu*) of 1948. Beginning in 2000, Japan implemented the [Happy Monday System](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Monday_System \"Happy Monday System\"), which moved a number of national holidays to Monday in order to obtain a long weekend. The national holidays in Japan are [New Year's Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_New_Year \"Japanese New Year\") on January 1, [Coming of Age Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_of_Age_Day \"Coming of Age Day\") on the second Monday of January, [National Foundation Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Foundation_Day_(Japan) \"National Foundation Day (Japan)\") on February 11, [The Emperor's Birthday](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor%27s_Birthday \"The Emperor's Birthday\") on February 23, [Vernal Equinox Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernal_Equinox_Day \"Vernal Equinox Day\") on March 20 or 21, [Shōwa Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dwa_Day \"Shōwa Day\") on April 29, [Constitution Memorial Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Memorial_Day \"Constitution Memorial Day\") on May 3, [Greenery Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenery_Day \"Greenery Day\") on May 4, [Children's Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Day_(Japan) \"Children's Day (Japan)\") on May 5, [Marine Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Day \"Marine Day\") on the third Monday of July, [Mountain Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Day \"Mountain Day\") on August 11, [Respect for the Aged Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respect_for_the_Aged_Day \"Respect for the Aged Day\") on the third Monday of September, [Autumnal Equinox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_equinox \"September equinox\") on September 23 or 24, [Health and Sports Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_and_Sports_Day \"Health and Sports Day\") on the second Monday of October, [Culture Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_Day \"Culture Day\") on November 3, and [Labor Thanksgiving Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Thanksgiving_Day \"Labor Thanksgiving Day\") on November 23.",
"id": "Holidays",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Holidays"
},
{
"content": "A plate of *[nigiri-zushi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi \"Sushi\")*\n\nJapanese cuisine offers a vast array of [regional specialties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_regional_cuisine \"Japanese regional cuisine\") that use traditional recipes and local ingredients. Seafood and [Japanese rice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_rice \"Japanese rice\") or [noodles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_noodles \"Japanese noodles\") are traditional staples. [Japanese curry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_curry \"Japanese curry\"), since its introduction to Japan from [British India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Raj \"British Raj\"), is so widely consumed that it can be termed a [national dish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_dish \"National dish\"), alongside [ramen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramen \"Ramen\") and [sushi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi \"Sushi\"). Traditional Japanese sweets are known as *wagashi*. Ingredients such as [red bean paste](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_bean_paste \"Red bean paste\") and [mochi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochi \"Mochi\") are used. More modern-day tastes include [green tea ice cream](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea_ice_cream \"Green tea ice cream\").\n\nPopular Japanese beverages include [sake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sake \"Sake\"), a brewed rice beverage that typically contains 14–17% alcohol and is made by multiple fermentation of rice. Beer has been brewed in Japan since the late 17th century. [Green tea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea \"Green tea\") is produced in Japan and prepared in forms such as [matcha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matcha \"Matcha\"), used in the [Japanese tea ceremony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony \"Japanese tea ceremony\").",
"id": "Cuisine",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Cuisine"
},
{
"content": "[Sumo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumo \"Sumo\") wrestlers form around the referee during the ring-entering ceremony.\n\nTraditionally, [sumo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumo \"Sumo\") is considered Japan's national sport. Japanese martial arts such as [judo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo \"Judo\") and [kendo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendo \"Kendo\") are taught as part of the compulsory junior high school curriculum. [Karate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate \"Karate\"), which originated in the Ryukyu Kingdom, is popular across the world and has been [included in the Olympic Games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate_at_the_Summer_Olympics \"Karate at the Summer Olympics\"). [Baseball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_in_Japan \"Baseball in Japan\") is the most popular sport in the country. Japan's top professional league, [Nippon Professional Baseball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon_Professional_Baseball \"Nippon Professional Baseball\") (NPB), was established in 1936. Since the establishment of the [Japan Professional Football League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Professional_Football_League \"Japan Professional Football League\") (J.League) in 1992, association football gained a wide following. The country co-hosted the [2002 FIFA World Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_FIFA_World_Cup \"2002 FIFA World Cup\") with South Korea. Japan has one of the most successful football teams in Asia, winning the [Asian Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Cup \"Asian Cup\") four times, and the [FIFA Women's World Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_FIFA_Women%27s_World_Cup \"2011 FIFA Women's World Cup\") in 2011. Golf is also popular in Japan.\n\nIn [motorsport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorsport \"Motorsport\"), Japanese automotive manufacturers have been successful in multiple different categories, with titles and victories in series such as [Formula One](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One \"Formula One\"), [MotoGP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing \"Grand Prix motorcycle racing\"), and the [World Rally Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Rally_Championship \"World Rally Championship\"). Drivers from Japan have victories at the [Indianapolis 500](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_500 \"Indianapolis 500\") and the [24 Hours of Le Mans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Hours_of_Le_Mans \"24 Hours of Le Mans\") as well as podium finishes in Formula One, in addition to success in domestic championships. [Super GT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_GT \"Super GT\") is the most popular national racing series in Japan, while [Super Formula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Formula \"Super Formula\") is the top-level domestic open-wheel series. The country hosts major races such as the [Japanese Grand Prix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Grand_Prix \"Japanese Grand Prix\").\n\nJapan hosted the Summer Olympics in [Tokyo in 1964](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Summer_Olympics \"1964 Summer Olympics\") and the Winter Olympics in [Sapporo in 1972](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_Winter_Olympics \"1972 Winter Olympics\") and [Nagano in 1998](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_Winter_Olympics \"1998 Winter Olympics\"). The country hosted the official [2006 Basketball World Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Basketball_World_Championship \"2006 Basketball World Championship\") and co-hosted the [2023 Basketball World Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Basketball_World_Championship \"2023 Basketball World Championship\"). Tokyo hosted the [2020 Summer Olympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Summer_Olympics \"2020 Summer Olympics\") in 2021, making Tokyo the first Asian city to host the Olympics twice. The country gained the hosting rights for the official [Women's Volleyball World Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Volleyball_World_Championship \"Women's Volleyball World Championship\") on five occasions, more than any other country. Japan is the most successful Asian [Rugby Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Union \"Rugby Union\") country and hosted the 2019 IRB [Rugby World Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_World_Cup \"Rugby World Cup\").\n\n* [Japan portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Japan \"Portal:Japan\")",
"id": "Sports",
"level": 3,
"sections": [],
"title": "Sports"
}
],
"title": "Culture"
},
{
"content": "**Government**\n\n**General information**\n\n* [Japan](https://web.archive.org/web/20090421051351/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/japan.htm) from *[UCB](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Colorado_Boulder \"University of Colorado Boulder\") Libraries GovPubs* (archived April 21, 2009)\n* [Japan](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-14918801) from [BBC News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_News \"BBC News\")\n* [Japan](https://www.oecd.org/japan/) from the [OECD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OECD \"OECD\")\n* Geographic data related to [Japan](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/382313) at [OpenStreetMap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenStreetMap \"OpenStreetMap\")\n\n[36°N 138°E / 36°N 138°E / 36; 138](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Japan¶ms=36_N_138_E_type:country_region:JP)",
"id": "References",
"level": 2,
"sections": [],
"title": "References"
}
],
"summary": "Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asian mainland, it is bordered to the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south. The Japanese archipelago consists of four major islands alongside 14,121 smaller islands. Japan is divided into 47 administrative prefectures and eight traditional regions, and around 75% of its terrain is mountainous and heavily forested, concentrating its agriculture and highly urbanized population along its eastern coastal plains. With a population of over 123 million as of 2025, it is the world's 11th most populous country. Tokyo is the country's capital and largest city.\nThe first known habitation of the archipelago dates to the Upper Paleolithic, with the beginning of the Japanese Paleolithic dating to c. 36,000 BC. Between the 4th and 6th centuries, its kingdoms were united under an emperor in Nara and later in Heian-kyō. From the 12th century, actual power was held by military aristocrats known as shōgun and feudal lords called daimyō, enforced by warrior nobility named samurai. After rule by the Kamakura and Ashikaga shogunates and a century of warring states, Japan was unified in 1600 by the Tokugawa shogunate, which implemented an isolationist foreign policy. In 1853, an American fleet forced Japan to open trade to the West, which led to the end of the shogunate and the restoration of imperial power in 1868. \nThe Meiji period saw Japan pursue rapid industrialization, modernization, militarism, and overseas colonization. The country annexed Korea in 1910, invaded China in 1937, and attacked the U.S. and European colonial powers in 1941, thus entering World War II as an Axis power. After being defeated in the Pacific War and suffering the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered in 1945 and came under Allied occupation. It underwent rapid economic growth in the following decades and became one of the first major non-NATO allies of the U.S. Since the collapse of the Japanese asset price bubble in the early 1990s, it has experienced a prolonged period of economic stagnation referred to as the Lost Decades.\nJapan is a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral legislature known as the National Diet. Widely considered a great power and the only Asian member of the G7, it maintains one of the world's strongest militaries but has constitutionally renounced its right to declare war. A developed country with one of the world's largest economies by nominal GDP, it is a global leader in the automotive, electronics, and robotics industries, in addition to making significant contributions to science and technology. It has one of the world's highest life expectancies, but is undergoing a population decline. The culture of Japan is well known around the world, particularly its popular culture as expressed in animation, art, comics, cuisine, fashion, films, music, television, and video games.",
"text": "Island country in East Asia\n\n\n\n| Japan日本国(Japanese)Nihon-kokuorNippon-koku |\n| --- |\n| FlagImperial crest |\n| Anthem:君が代(\"Kimigayo\")\"His Majesty's Reign\" |\n| State seal:大日本國璽(Dai Nihon Kokuji)\"National Seal of Greater Japan\" |\n| Location of JapanTerritory claimed but not controlled |\n| Capitaland largest city | Tokyo35°41′N139°46′E / 35.683°N 139.767°E /35.683; 139.767 |\n| National language | Japanese |\n| Regional languages | Ainu(recognized)Ryukyuan languagesHachijō |\n| Demonym | Japanese |\n| Government | Unitaryparliamentary constitutional monarchy |\n| |\n| •Emperor | Naruhito |\n| •Prime Minister | Sanae Takaichi |\n| |\n| Legislature | National Diet |\n| •Upper house | House of Councillors |\n| •Lower house | House of Representatives |\n| Formation |\n| |\n| •Meiji Constitution | November 29, 1890 |\n| •Current constitution | May 3, 1947 |\n| |\n| Area |\n| • Total | 377,975 km2(145,937 sq mi)(62nd) |\n| • Water (%) | 1.4 |\n| Population |\n| • June 1, 2025 estimate | 123,360,000(11th) |\n| • 2020 census | 126,146,099 |\n| • Density | 330/km2(854.7/sq mi) (39th) |\n| GDP(PPP) | 2025 estimate |\n| • Total | $6.758 trillion(5th) |\n| • Per capita | $54,815(39th) |\n| GDP(nominal) | 2025 estimate |\n| • Total | $4.230 trillion(4th) |\n| • Per capita | $34,713(36th) |\n| Gini(2020) | 32.3medium inequality |\n| HDI(2023) | 0.925very high(23rd) |\n| Currency | Japanese yen(¥) |\n| Time zone | UTC+09:00(JST) |\n| Calling code | +81 |\n| ISO 3166 code | JP |\n| Internet TLD | .jp |\n\n\n\n**Japan** is an [island country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_country \"Island country\") in [East Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asia \"East Asia\"). Located in the [Pacific Ocean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ocean \"Pacific Ocean\") off the northeast coast of the [Asian mainland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia \"Asia\"), it is bordered to the west by the [Sea of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Japan \"Sea of Japan\") and extends from the [Sea of Okhotsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Okhotsk \"Sea of Okhotsk\") in the north to the [East China Sea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_China_Sea \"East China Sea\") in the south. The [Japanese archipelago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_archipelago \"Japanese archipelago\") consists of four major islands alongside [14,121 smaller islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Japan \"List of islands of Japan\"). Japan is divided into [47 administrative prefectures](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefectures_of_Japan \"Prefectures of Japan\") and [eight traditional regions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_regions_of_Japan \"List of regions of Japan\"), and around 75% of [its terrain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Japan \"Geography of Japan\") is mountainous and heavily forested, concentrating [its agriculture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Japan \"Agriculture in Japan\") and [highly urbanized](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbanization_by_country \"Urbanization by country\") population along its eastern [coastal plains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_plain \"Coastal plain\"). With a population of over 123 million as of 2025, it is the world's [11th most populous country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population \"List of countries and dependencies by population\"). [Tokyo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo \"Tokyo\") is [the country's capital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_of_Japan \"Capital of Japan\") and [largest city](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Japan \"List of cities in Japan\").\n\nThe first known habitation of the [archipelago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archipelago \"Archipelago\") dates to the [Upper Paleolithic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithic \"Upper Paleolithic\"), with the beginning of the [Japanese Paleolithic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Paleolithic \"Japanese Paleolithic\") dating to c. 36,000 BC. Between the 4th and 6th centuries, its kingdoms were united under [an emperor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_of_Japan \"Emperor of Japan\") in [Nara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara_(city) \"Nara (city)\") and later in [Heian-kyō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian-ky%C5%8D \"Heian-kyō\"). From the 12th century, actual power was held by military aristocrats known as *[shōgun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dgun \"Shōgun\")* and feudal lords called *[daimyō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daimy%C5%8D \"Daimyō\")*, enforced by warrior nobility named *[samurai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai \"Samurai\")*. After rule by the [Kamakura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura_period \"Kamakura period\") and [Ashikaga shogunates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muromachi_period \"Muromachi period\") and [a century of warring states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sengoku_period \"Sengoku period\"), Japan was unified in 1600 by the [Tokugawa shogunate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_shogunate \"Tokugawa shogunate\"), which implemented [an isolationist foreign policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakoku \"Sakoku\"). In 1853, [an American fleet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Expedition \"Perry Expedition\") forced Japan to [open trade to the West](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakumatsu \"Bakumatsu\"), which led to the [end of the shogunate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boshin_War \"Boshin War\") and the [restoration of imperial power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Restoration \"Meiji Restoration\") in 1868.\n\nThe [Meiji period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_period \"Meiji period\") saw Japan pursue rapid [industrialization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrialization \"Industrialization\"), [modernization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernization \"Modernization\"), [militarism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_militarism \"Japanese militarism\"), and [overseas colonization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_colonial_empire \"Japanese colonial empire\"). The country [annexed Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_under_Japanese_rule \"Korea under Japanese rule\") in 1910, [invaded China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sino-Japanese_War \"Second Sino-Japanese War\") in 1937, and [attacked the U.S.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor \"Attack on Pearl Harbor\") and [European colonial powers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_colonial_powers \"European colonial powers\") in 1941, thus [entering World War II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_during_World_War_II \"Japan during World War II\") as an [Axis power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_power \"Axis power\"). After being defeated in the [Pacific War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_War \"Pacific War\") and suffering the U.S. [atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki \"Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki\"), Japan [surrendered in 1945](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_of_Japan \"Surrender of Japan\") and [came under Allied occupation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Japan \"Occupation of Japan\"). It underwent [rapid economic growth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_economic_miracle \"Japanese economic miracle\") in the following decades and became one of the first [major non-NATO allies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_non-NATO_allies \"Major non-NATO allies\") of the U.S. Since the collapse of the [Japanese asset price bubble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_asset_price_bubble \"Japanese asset price bubble\") in the early 1990s, it has experienced a prolonged period of [economic stagnation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_stagnation \"Economic stagnation\") referred to as the [Lost Decades](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Decades \"Lost Decades\").\n\nJapan is a [constitutional monarchy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy \"Constitutional monarchy\") with a [bicameral legislature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicameralism \"Bicameralism\") known as the [National Diet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Diet \"National Diet\"). Widely considered a [great power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_power \"Great power\") and the only Asian member of the [G7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G7 \"G7\"), it maintains [one of the world's strongest militaries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Self-Defense_Forces \"Japan Self-Defense Forces\") but has [constitutionally renounced its right to declare war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_Japanese_Constitution \"Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution\"). A [developed country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_country \"Developed country\") with one of the world's [largest economies by nominal GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal) \"List of countries by GDP (nominal)\"), it is a global leader in the [automotive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_industry_in_Japan \"Automotive industry in Japan\"), [electronics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronics_industry_in_Japan \"Electronics industry in Japan\"), and [robotics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_robotics \"Japanese robotics\") industries, in addition to making significant [contributions to science and technology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_Japan \"Science and technology in Japan\"). It has one of the world's [highest life expectancies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy \"List of countries by life expectancy\"), but is undergoing [a population decline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aging_of_Japan \"Aging of Japan\"). The [culture of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Japan \"Culture of Japan\") is well known around the world, particularly [its popular culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_popular_culture \"Japanese popular culture\") as expressed in [animation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime \"Anime\"), [art](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_art \"Japanese art\"), [comics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga \"Manga\"), [cuisine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cuisine \"Japanese cuisine\"), [fashion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_clothing \"Japanese clothing\"), [films](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cinema \"Japanese cinema\"), [music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Japan \"Music of Japan\"), [television](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_in_Japan \"Television in Japan\"), and [video games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_games_in_Japan \"Video games in Japan\").\n\nThe name for Japan in [Japanese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_language \"Japanese language\") is written using the [kanji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji \"Kanji\") 日本 and is pronounced *Nihon* or *Nippon*. Before 日本 was adopted in the early 8th century, the country was known in China as *[Wa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wa_(name_of_Japan) \"Wa (name of Japan)\")* (倭, changed in Japan around 757 to 和) and in Japan by the [endonym](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endonym \"Endonym\") *Yamato*. *Nippon*, the original [Sino-Japanese reading](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Japanese_reading \"Sino-Japanese reading\") of the characters, is favored for official uses, including on [Japanese banknotes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_banknotes \"Japanese banknotes\") and postage stamps. *Nihon* is typically used in everyday speech and reflects shifts in [Japanese phonology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_phonology \"Japanese phonology\") during the [Edo period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_period \"Edo period\"). The characters 日本 mean \"sun origin\", which is the source of the popular Western [epithet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epithet \"Epithet\") \"Land of the Rising Sun\".\n\nThe name \"Japan\" is based on [Min](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Min_Chinese \"Min Chinese\") or [Wu Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Chinese \"Wu Chinese\") pronunciations of 日本 and was introduced to European languages through early trade. In the 13th century, [Marco Polo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Polo \"Marco Polo\") recorded the [Early Mandarin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Mandarin \"Early Mandarin\") Chinese pronunciation of the characters 日本國 as *Cipangu*. The old [Malay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malay_language \"Malay language\") name for Japan, *Japang* or *Japun*, was borrowed from a southern coastal Chinese dialect and encountered by [Portuguese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Empire \"Portuguese Empire\") traders in [Southeast Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia \"Southeast Asia\"), who brought the word to Europe in the early 16th century. The first version of the name in English appears in a book published in 1577, which spelled the name as *Giapan* in a translation of a 1565 Portuguese letter.\n\n[Legendary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend \"Legend\") [Emperor Jimmu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu \"Emperor Jimmu\") (神武天皇, *Jinmu-tennō*)\n\nModern humans arrived in Japan around 38,000 years ago (~36,000 BC), marking the beginning of the [Japanese Paleolithic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Paleolithic \"Japanese Paleolithic\"). Around 14,500 BC (the start of the [Jōmon period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Dmon_period \"Jōmon period\")), a [Mesolithic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesolithic \"Mesolithic\") to [Neolithic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic \"Neolithic\") semi-sedentary [hunter-gatherer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter-gatherer \"Hunter-gatherer\") culture characterized by [pit dwelling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_dwelling \"Pit dwelling\") and rudimentary agriculture emerged. [Clay vessels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Dmon_pottery \"Jōmon pottery\") from the period are among the oldest surviving examples of pottery. The [Japonic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japonic \"Japonic\")-speaking [Yayoi people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayoi_people \"Yayoi people\") later entered the archipelago from the Korean Peninsula, intermingling with the [Jōmon people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Dmon_people \"Jōmon people\"). The [Yayoi period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayoi_period \"Yayoi period\") saw the introduction of innovative practices including [wet-rice farming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddy_field \"Paddy field\"), a new [style of pottery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayoi_pottery \"Yayoi pottery\"), and metallurgy from China and Korea. According to legend, [Emperor Jimmu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu \"Emperor Jimmu\") (descendant of [Amaterasu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu \"Amaterasu\")) founded a kingdom in central Japan in 660 BC, beginning [a continuous imperial line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_House_of_Japan \"Imperial House of Japan\").\n\nJapan first appears in written history in the Chinese *[Book of Han](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Han \"Book of Han\")*, completed in 111 AD, where it is described as having a hundred small kingdoms. A century later, the *[Book of Wei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Wei \"Book of Wei\")* records that the kingdom of [Yamatai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamatai \"Yamatai\") (which may refer to [Yamato](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato_Kingship \"Yamato Kingship\")) unified most of these kingdoms. [Buddhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism \"Buddhism\") was introduced to Japan from [Baekje](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baekje \"Baekje\") (a Korean kingdom) in 552, but the development of [Japanese Buddhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Buddhism \"Japanese Buddhism\") was primarily influenced by China. Despite early resistance, Buddhism was promoted by the ruling class, including figures like [Prince Shōtoku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Sh%C5%8Dtoku \"Prince Shōtoku\"), and gained widespread acceptance beginning in the [Asuka period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asuka_period \"Asuka period\") (592–710).\n\nIn 645, the government led by [Prince Naka no Ōe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Naka_no_%C5%8Ce \"Prince Naka no Ōe\") and [Fujiwara no Kamatari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiwara_no_Kamatari \"Fujiwara no Kamatari\") devised and implemented the far-reaching [Taika Reforms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taika_Reform \"Taika Reform\"). The Reform began with land reform, based on Confucian ideas and [philosophies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_philosophy \"Chinese philosophy\") from [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China \"China\"). It nationalized all land in Japan, to be [distributed equally](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-field_system \"Equal-field system\") among cultivators, and ordered the compilation of a household registry as the basis for a new system of taxation. The true aim of the reforms was to bring about greater centralization and to enhance the power of the imperial court, which was also based on the governmental structure of China. Envoys and students were dispatched to China to learn about Chinese writing, politics, art, and religion.\n\nThe [Jinshin War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinshin_War \"Jinshin War\") of 672, a bloody conflict between [Prince Ōama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_%C5%8Cama \"Prince Ōama\") and his nephew [Prince Ōtomo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_%C5%8Ctomo \"Prince Ōtomo\"), became a major catalyst for further administrative reforms. These reforms culminated with the promulgation of the [Taihō Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taih%C5%8D_Code \"Taihō Code\"), which consolidated existing statutes and established the structure of the central and subordinate local governments. These legal reforms created the *[ritsuryō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritsury%C5%8D \"Ritsuryō\")* state, a system of Chinese-style centralized government that remained in place for half a millennium.\n\nThe [Nara period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara_period \"Nara period\") (710–784) marked the emergence of a Japanese state centered on the Imperial Court in [Heijō-kyō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heij%C5%8D_Palace \"Heijō Palace\") (modern [Nara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara,_Nara \"Nara, Nara\")). The period is characterized by the appearance of a nascent [literary culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_literature \"Japanese literature\") with the completion of the *[Kojiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki \"Kojiki\")* (712) and *[Nihon Shoki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Shoki \"Nihon Shoki\")* (720), as well as the development of Buddhist-inspired artwork and [architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_Monuments_of_Ancient_Nara \"Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara\"). A [smallpox epidemic in 735–737](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/735%E2%80%93737_Japanese_smallpox_epidemic \"735–737 Japanese smallpox epidemic\") is believed to have killed as much as one-third of Japan's population. In 784, [Emperor Kanmu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Kanmu \"Emperor Kanmu\") moved the capital, settling on [Heian-kyō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian-ky%C5%8D \"Heian-kyō\") (modern-day [Kyoto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto \"Kyoto\")) in 794. This marked the beginning of the [Heian period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian_period \"Heian period\") (794–1185), during which a distinctly indigenous Japanese culture emerged. [Murasaki Shikibu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murasaki_Shikibu \"Murasaki Shikibu\")'s *[The Tale of Genji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_Genji \"The Tale of Genji\")* and the lyrics of Japan's national anthem *\"[Kimigayo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimigayo \"Kimigayo\")\"* were written during this time.\n\nJapanese [samurai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai \"Samurai\") boarding a Mongol vessel during the [Mongol invasions of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_invasions_of_Japan \"Mongol invasions of Japan\"), depicted in the *[Mōko Shūrai Ekotoba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C5%8Dko_Sh%C5%ABrai_Ekotoba \"Mōko Shūrai Ekotoba\")*, 1293\n\nThree unifiers of Japan. Left to right: [Oda Nobunaga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oda_Nobunaga \"Oda Nobunaga\"), [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi \"Toyotomi Hideyoshi\") and [Tokugawa Ieyasu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Ieyasu \"Tokugawa Ieyasu\").\n\nJapan's feudal era was characterized by the emergence and dominance of a ruling class of warriors, the [samurai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai \"Samurai\"). In 1185, following the defeat of the [Taira clan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taira_clan \"Taira clan\") by the [Minamoto clan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamoto_clan \"Minamoto clan\") in the [Genpei War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genpei_War \"Genpei War\"), samurai [Minamoto no Yoritomo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamoto_no_Yoritomo \"Minamoto no Yoritomo\") established a [military government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_government \"Military government\") at [Kamakura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura \"Kamakura\"). After Yoritomo's death, the [Hōjō clan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C5%8Dj%C5%8D_clan \"Hōjō clan\") came to power as regents for the *shōgun*. The [Zen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen \"Zen\") school of Buddhism was introduced from China in the [Kamakura period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura_period \"Kamakura period\") (1185–1333) and became popular among the samurai class.\n\nThe [Kamakura shogunate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura_shogunate \"Kamakura shogunate\") repelled [Mongol invasions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_invasions_of_Japan \"Mongol invasions of Japan\") in 1274 and 1281 but was eventually [overthrown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenmu_Restoration \"Kenmu Restoration\") by [Emperor Go-Daigo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Go-Daigo \"Emperor Go-Daigo\"). Go-Daigo was defeated by [Ashikaga Takauji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashikaga_Takauji \"Ashikaga Takauji\") in 1336, beginning the [Muromachi period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muromachi_period \"Muromachi period\") (1336–1573). The succeeding [Ashikaga shogunate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashikaga_shogunate \"Ashikaga shogunate\") failed to control the feudal warlords (*daimyō*) and [a civil war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cnin_War \"Ōnin War\") began in 1467, opening the century-long [Sengoku period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sengoku_period \"Sengoku period\") (\"Warring States\").\n\nDuring the 16th century, Portuguese traders and [Jesuit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesuit \"Jesuit\") missionaries reached Japan for the first time, initiating direct commercial and cultural exchange between Japan and the West (see [Nanban trade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanban_trade \"Nanban trade\") and [Nanban art](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanban_art \"Nanban art\")). [Oda Nobunaga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oda_Nobunaga \"Oda Nobunaga\") used European technology and firearms to conquer many other *daimyō*; his consolidation of power began what was known as the [Azuchi–Momoyama period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azuchi%E2%80%93Momoyama_period \"Azuchi–Momoyama period\"). After [the death of Nobunaga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honn%C5%8D-ji_Incident \"Honnō-ji Incident\") in 1582, his successor, [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi \"Toyotomi Hideyoshi\"), unified the nation in the early 1590s and launched [two unsuccessful invasions of Korea in 1592 and 1597](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasions_of_Korea_(1592%E2%80%9398) \"Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98)\").\n\n[Tokugawa Ieyasu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Ieyasu \"Tokugawa Ieyasu\") served as regent for Hideyoshi's son [Toyotomi Hideyori](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyori \"Toyotomi Hideyori\") within the [Council of Five Elders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Five_Elders \"Council of Five Elders\") and used his position to gain political and military support. When open war broke out, Ieyasu defeated rival clans in the [Battle of Sekigahara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sekigahara \"Battle of Sekigahara\") in 1600. He was appointed *shōgun* by [Emperor Go-Yōzei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Go-Y%C5%8Dzei \"Emperor Go-Yōzei\") in 1603 and established the [Tokugawa shogunate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_shogunate \"Tokugawa shogunate\") at [Edo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo \"Edo\") (modern Tokyo). The shogunate enacted measures including *[buke shohatto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buke_shohatto \"Buke shohatto\")*, as a code of conduct to control the autonomous *daimyō*, and in 1639 the isolationist *[sakoku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakoku \"Sakoku\")* (\"closed country\") policy that spanned the two and a half centuries of tenuous political unity known as the [Edo period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_period \"Edo period\") (1603–1868). Modern Japan's economic growth began in this period, resulting in roads ([Kaidō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaid%C5%8D \"Kaidō\")) and water transportation routes, as well as financial instruments such as [futures contracts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futures_contract \"Futures contract\"), banking and insurance of the [Osaka rice brokers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osaka_rice_brokers \"Osaka rice brokers\"). The study of Western sciences (*[rangaku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangaku \"Rangaku\")*) continued through contact with the Dutch enclave in [Nagasaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasaki \"Nagasaki\"). The Edo period gave rise to *[kokugaku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokugaku \"Kokugaku\")* (\"national studies\"), the study of Japan by the Japanese.\n\n[Emperor Meiji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Meiji \"Emperor Meiji\") (明治天皇, *Meiji-tennō*); 1852–1912\n\nThe [Empire of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Japan \"Empire of Japan\") and its influence, 1942\n\nThe [United States Navy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy \"United States Navy\") sent Commodore [Matthew C. Perry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_C._Perry \"Matthew C. Perry\") to force the opening of Japan to the outside world. Arriving at [Uraga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uraga,_Kanagawa \"Uraga, Kanagawa\") with four \"[Black Ships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Ships \"Black Ships\")\" in July 1853, the [Perry Expedition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Expedition \"Perry Expedition\") resulted in the March 1854 [Convention of Kanagawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_of_Kanagawa \"Convention of Kanagawa\"). Subsequent similar treaties with other Western countries brought economic and political crises. The resignation of the *shōgun* led to the [Boshin War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boshin_War \"Boshin War\") and the establishment of a [centralized state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolition_of_the_han_system \"Abolition of the han system\") nominally unified under the emperor (the [Meiji Restoration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Restoration \"Meiji Restoration\")). Adopting Western political, judicial, and military institutions, the [Cabinet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Japan \"Cabinet of Japan\") organized the [Privy Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privy_Council_(Japan) \"Privy Council (Japan)\"), introduced the [Meiji Constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Constitution \"Meiji Constitution\") (November 29, 1890), and assembled the [Imperial Diet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Diet \"National Diet\").\n\nDuring the [Meiji period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_period \"Meiji period\") (1868–1912), the [Empire of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Japan \"Empire of Japan\") emerged as the most developed state in [Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia \"Asia\") and as an industrialized world power that pursued military conflict to expand its sphere of influence. After victories in the [First Sino-Japanese War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Sino-Japanese_War \"First Sino-Japanese War\") (1894–1895) and the [Russo-Japanese War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Japanese_War \"Russo-Japanese War\") (1904–1905), Japan gained control of Taiwan, Korea and the southern half of [Sakhalin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakhalin \"Sakhalin\"), and annexed Korea in 1910. The Japanese population doubled from 35 million in 1873 to 70 million by 1935, with a significant shift to urbanization.\n\nThe early 20th century saw a period of [Taishō democracy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taish%C5%8D_period \"Taishō period\") (1912–1926) overshadowed by increasing [expansionism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expansionism \"Expansionism\") and [militarization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_militarism \"Japanese militarism\"). [World War I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_during_World_War_I \"Japan during World War I\") allowed Japan, which joined the side of the victorious [Allies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_I \"Allies of World War I\"), to capture [German possessions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_colonial_empire \"German colonial empire\") in the [Pacific](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific \"Pacific\") and China in (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles \"Treaty of Versailles\"). The 1920s saw a political shift towards [statism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statism_in_Sh%C5%8Dwa_Japan \"Statism in Shōwa Japan\"), a period of lawlessness following the 1923 [Great Tokyo Earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Tokyo_Earthquake \"Great Tokyo Earthquake\"), the passing of [laws against political dissent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Preservation_Law \"Peace Preservation Law\"), and a series of [attempted coups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_15_Incident \"May 15 Incident\").\n\nThis process accelerated in the 1930s, spawning several radical nationalist groups that shared a hostility to liberal democracy and a dedication to expansion in Asia. In 1931, Japan [invaded China and occupied Manchuria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_Manchuria \"Japanese invasion of Manchuria\"), which led to the establishment of [puppet state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppet_state \"Puppet state\") of [Manchukuo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchukuo \"Manchukuo\") in 1932; following [international condemnation of the occupation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lytton_Report \"Lytton Report\"), it resigned from the [League of Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nations \"League of Nations\") in 1933. In 1936, Japan signed the [Anti-Comintern Pact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Comintern_Pact \"Anti-Comintern Pact\") with [Nazi Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany \"Nazi Germany\"); the 1940 [Tripartite Pact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripartite_Pact \"Tripartite Pact\") made it one of the [Axis powers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_powers \"Axis powers\").\n\nOn September 2, 1945, Japan [surrendered to the Allies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_of_Japan \"Surrender of Japan\").\n\nThe Empire of Japan invaded other parts of China in 1937, precipitating the [Second Sino-Japanese War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sino-Japanese_War \"Second Sino-Japanese War\") (1937–1945). In 1940, the Empire [invaded French Indochina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_French_Indochina \"Japanese invasion of French Indochina\"), after which the United States placed an oil embargo on Japan. On December 7–8, 1941, Japanese forces carried out surprise [attacks on Pearl Harbor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attacks_on_Pearl_Harbor \"Attacks on Pearl Harbor\"), as well as on British forces in [Malaya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Malaya \"Battle of Malaya\"), [Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Singapore_(1941) \"Bombing of Singapore (1941)\"), and [Hong Kong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hong_Kong \"Battle of Hong Kong\"), among others, beginning [World War II in the Pacific](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_in_the_Pacific \"World War II in the Pacific\"). Throughout areas occupied by Japan during the war, [numerous abuses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes \"Japanese war crimes\") were committed against local inhabitants. Many women were forced into [sexual slavery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_women \"Comfort women\").\n\nAfter [Allied](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_II \"Allies of World War II\") victories during the next four years, which culminated in the [Soviet invasion of Manchuria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_invasion_of_Manchuria \"Soviet invasion of Manchuria\") and the [atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki \"Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki\") in 1945, Japan agreed to [an unconditional surrender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_of_Japan \"Surrender of Japan\"). The war cost Japan millions of lives and many of its [conquered territories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_conquests_of_the_Empire_of_Japan \"Territorial conquests of the Empire of Japan\"), including *[de jure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_jure \"De jure\")* parts of Japan such as [Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_under_Japanese_rule \"Korea under Japanese rule\"), [Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_under_Japanese_rule \"Taiwan under Japanese rule\"), [Karafuto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karafuto \"Karafuto\"), and the [Kurils](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurils \"Kurils\"). The Allies, led by the United States, repatriated millions of [Japanese settlers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_diaspora \"Japanese diaspora\") from their former colonies and military camps throughout Asia, largely eliminating the [Empire of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Japan \"Empire of Japan\") and its influence over the territories it conquered. The Allies convened the [International Military Tribunal for the Far East](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Military_Tribunal_for_the_Far_East \"International Military Tribunal for the Far East\") to prosecute Japanese leaders except [the Emperor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito \"Hirohito\") for [Japanese war crimes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes \"Japanese war crimes\").\n\nIn 1947, Japan adopted [a new constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Japan \"Constitution of Japan\") emphasizing liberal democratic practices. The [Allied occupation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Japan \"Occupation of Japan\") ended with the [Treaty of San Francisco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_San_Francisco \"Treaty of San Francisco\") in 1952, and Japan was granted membership in the [United Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations \"United Nations\") in 1956. [A period of record growth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_economic_miracle \"Japanese economic miracle\") propelled Japan to become the world's [second-largest economy at that time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_largest_historical_GDP \"List of countries by largest historical GDP\"); this ended in the mid-1990s after the popping of [an asset price bubble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_asset_price_bubble \"Japanese asset price bubble\"), beginning the \"[Lost Decade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Decade_(Japan) \"Lost Decade (Japan)\")\" characterized by economic stagnation and low inflation. In 2011, Japan suffered one of the largest earthquakes in its recorded history—the [Tōhoku earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake \"Tōhoku earthquake\")—triggering the [Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Daiichi_nuclear_disaster \"Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster\"). On May 1, 2019, after the historic [abdication of Emperor Akihito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdication_of_Emperor_Akihito \"Abdication of Emperor Akihito\"), his son [Naruhito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naruhito \"Naruhito\") became Emperor, beginning the *[Reiwa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiwa \"Reiwa\")* era (2019-).\n\nA topographic map of Japan\n\nJapan comprises [14,125 islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Japan \"List of islands of Japan\") extending along the Pacific coast of Asia. It stretches over 3000 km (1900 mi) northeast–southwest from the [Sea of Okhotsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Okhotsk \"Sea of Okhotsk\") to the [East China Sea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_China_Sea \"East China Sea\"). The country's five main islands, from north to south, are [Hokkaido](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokkaido \"Hokkaido\"), [Honshu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honshu \"Honshu\"), [Shikoku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikoku \"Shikoku\"), [Kyushu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyushu \"Kyushu\") and [Okinawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa_Island \"Okinawa Island\"). The [Ryukyu Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryukyu_Islands \"Ryukyu Islands\"), which include Okinawa, are a chain to the south of Kyushu. The [Nanpō Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanp%C5%8D_Islands \"Nanpō Islands\") are south and east of the main islands of Japan. Together they are often known as the [Japanese archipelago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_archipelago \"Japanese archipelago\"). As of 2019[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), Japan's territory is 377,975.24 km2 (145,937.06 sq mi). Japan has the [sixth-longest coastline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_length_of_coastline \"List of countries by length of coastline\") in the world at 29,751 km (18,486 mi). Because of its far-flung outlying islands, [Japan's exclusive economic zone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_economic_zone_of_Japan \"Exclusive economic zone of Japan\") is the [eighth-largest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_length_of_exclusive_economic_zones \"List of countries by length of exclusive economic zones\") in the world, covering 4,470,000 km2 (1,730,000 sq mi).\n\nThe Japanese archipelago is 67% [forests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forestry_in_Japan \"Forestry in Japan\") and 14% [agricultural](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Japan \"Agriculture in Japan\"). The primarily rugged and mountainous terrain is restricted for habitation. Thus the habitable zones, mainly in the coastal areas, have very high population densities: Japan is the [40th most densely populated country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population_density \"List of countries by population density\") even without considering that local concentration. Honshu has the highest population density at 450 persons/km2 (1200/sq mi) as of 2010[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), while Hokkaido has the lowest density of 64.5 persons/km2 as of 2016[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). As of 2014[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), approximately 0.5% of Japan's total area is [reclaimed land](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reclaimed_land \"Reclaimed land\") (*umetatechi*). [Lake Biwa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Biwa \"Lake Biwa\") is an [ancient lake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_lake \"Ancient lake\") and the country's largest freshwater lake.\n\nJapan is substantially prone to [earthquakes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquakes_in_Japan \"Earthquakes in Japan\"), [tsunami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsunami \"Tsunami\") and [volcanic eruptions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_eruptions \"Volcanic eruptions\") because of its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire. It has the [17th highest natural disaster risk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_natural_disaster_risk \"List of countries by natural disaster risk\") as measured in the 2016 World Risk Index. Japan has 111 active volcanoes. Destructive earthquakes, often resulting in tsunami, occur several times each century; the [1923 Tokyo earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Tokyo_earthquake \"1923 Tokyo earthquake\") killed over 140,000 people. More recent major quakes are the 1995 [Great Hanshin earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Hanshin_earthquake \"Great Hanshin earthquake\") and the [2011 Tōhoku earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami \"2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami\"), which triggered a large tsunami.\n\n[Mount Fuji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Fuji \"Mount Fuji\") and [Shinkansen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen \"Shinkansen\")\n\nThe climate of Japan is predominantly temperate but varies greatly from north to south. The northernmost region, Hokkaido, has a [humid continental climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humid_continental_climate \"Humid continental climate\") with long, cold winters and very warm to cool summers. [Precipitation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitation \"Precipitation\") is not heavy, but the islands usually develop deep snowbanks in the winter.\n\nIn the [Sea of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Japan \"Sea of Japan\") region on Honshu's west coast, northwest winter winds bring heavy snowfall during winter. In the summer, the region sometimes experiences extremely hot temperatures because of the [Foehn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foehn \"Foehn\"). The [Central Highland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Highland_(Japan) \"Central Highland (Japan)\") has a typical inland humid continental climate, with large temperature differences between summer and winter. The mountains of the [Chūgoku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%ABgoku \"Chūgoku\") and Shikoku regions shelter the [Seto Inland Sea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seto_Inland_Sea \"Seto Inland Sea\") from seasonal winds, bringing mild weather year-round.\n\nThe Pacific coast features a [humid subtropical](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humid_subtropical \"Humid subtropical\") climate that experiences milder winters with occasional snowfall and hot, humid summers because of the southeast seasonal wind. The Ryukyu and Nanpō Islands have a [subtropical climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtropical_climate \"Subtropical climate\"), with warm winters and hot summers. Precipitation is very heavy, especially during the rainy season. The main [rainy season](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asian_rainy_season \"East Asian rainy season\") begins in early May in Okinawa, and the rain front gradually moves north. In late summer and early autumn, [typhoons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon \"Typhoon\") often bring heavy rain. According to the Environment Ministry, heavy rainfall and increasing temperatures have caused problems in the agricultural industry and elsewhere. The highest temperature ever measured in Japan, 41.8 °C (107.2 °F), was recorded on August 5, 2025.\n\nJapan has nine forest [ecoregions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecoregions_in_Japan \"Ecoregions in Japan\") which reflect the climate and geography of the islands. They range from [subtropical moist broadleaf forests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtropical_moist_broadleaf_forests \"Subtropical moist broadleaf forests\") in the Ryūkyū and [Bonin Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonin_Islands \"Bonin Islands\"), to [temperate broadleaf and mixed forests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_broadleaf_and_mixed_forests \"Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests\") in the mild climate regions of the main islands, to [temperate coniferous forests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_coniferous_forest \"Temperate coniferous forest\") in the cold, winter portions of the northern islands. Japan has over 90,000 species of wildlife as of 2019[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), including the [brown bear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_bear \"Brown bear\"), the [Japanese macaque](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_macaque \"Japanese macaque\"), the [Japanese raccoon dog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_raccoon_dog \"Japanese raccoon dog\"), the [small Japanese field mouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Japanese_field_mouse \"Small Japanese field mouse\"), and the [Japanese giant salamander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_giant_salamander \"Japanese giant salamander\"). There are 53 [Ramsar wetland sites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsar_sites_in_Japan \"Ramsar sites in Japan\") in Japan. [Five sites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Sites_in_Japan \"World Heritage Sites in Japan\") have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for their outstanding natural value.\n\nAutumn [maple leaves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_tree \"Maple tree\") (*[momiji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momiji \"Momiji\")*) at [Kongōbu-ji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong%C5%8Dbu-ji \"Kongōbu-ji\") on [Mount Kōya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_K%C5%8Dya \"Mount Kōya\"), a [UNESCO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO \"UNESCO\") [World Heritage Site](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site \"World Heritage Site\")\n\nIn the period of rapid economic growth after World War II, environmental policies were downplayed by the government and industrial corporations; as a result, [environmental pollution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Big_Pollution_Diseases_of_Japan \"Four Big Pollution Diseases of Japan\") was widespread in the 1950s and 1960s. Responding to rising concerns, the government introduced environmental protection laws in 1970. The [oil crisis in 1973](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_oil_crisis \"1973 oil crisis\") also encouraged the efficient use of energy because of Japan's lack of natural resources.\n\nJapan ranks 20th in the 2018 [Environmental Performance Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_Performance_Index \"Environmental Performance Index\"), which measures a country's commitment to environmental sustainability. Japan is the world's [fifth-largest emitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions \"List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions\") of [carbon dioxide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide \"Carbon dioxide\"). As the host and signatory of the 1997 [Kyoto Protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol \"Kyoto Protocol\"), Japan is under treaty obligation to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions and to take other steps to curb climate change. In 2020, the government of Japan announced a target of [carbon-neutrality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-neutral \"Carbon-neutral\") by 2050. Environmental issues include urban air pollution ([NOx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOx \"NOx\"), suspended [particulate matter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particulate_matter \"Particulate matter\"), and [toxics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxics \"Toxics\")), [waste management](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_management \"Waste management\"), water [eutrophication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication \"Eutrophication\"), [nature conservation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_conservation \"Nature conservation\"), [climate change](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_in_Japan \"Climate change in Japan\"), chemical management and international co-operation for conservation.\n\nJapan is a [unitary state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state \"Unitary state\") and [constitutional monarchy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy \"Constitutional monarchy\") in which the power of the [emperor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_of_Japan \"Emperor of Japan\") (*Tennō*) is limited to a [ceremonial role](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_head_of_state \"Ceremonial head of state\"). Executive power is instead wielded by the [prime minister](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Japan \"Prime Minister of Japan\") and the [Cabinet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Japan \"Cabinet of Japan\"), whose sovereignty is vested in the Japanese people. [Naruhito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naruhito \"Naruhito\") is the Emperor of Japan, having succeeded his father [Akihito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihito \"Akihito\") upon his accession to the [Chrysanthemum Throne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysanthemum_Throne \"Chrysanthemum Throne\") in 2019.\n\nThe [National Diet Building](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Diet_Building \"National Diet Building\")\n\nJapan's legislative organ is the [National Diet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Diet \"National Diet\"), a [bicameral](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicameral \"Bicameral\") [parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament \"Parliament\"). It consists of a lower [House of Representatives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Representatives_(Japan) \"House of Representatives (Japan)\") with 465 seats, elected by popular vote every four years or when dissolved, and an upper [House of Councillors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Councillors \"House of Councillors\") with 248 seats, whose popularly-elected members serve six-year terms. There is [universal suffrage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_suffrage \"Universal suffrage\") for adults over 18 years of age, with a [secret ballot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_ballot \"Secret ballot\") for all elected offices. The prime minister as the [head of government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_government \"Head of government\") has the power to appoint and dismiss [Ministers of State](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministers_of_State \"Ministers of State\"), and is [appointed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Investiture \"Imperial Investiture\") by the emperor after being designated from among the members of the Diet. [Sanae Takaichi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanae_Takaichi \"Sanae Takaichi\") is Japan's prime minister; she took office after winning the [2025 Liberal Democratic Party leadership election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Liberal_Democratic_Party_(Japan)_presidential_election \"2025 Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) presidential election\") and securing a [confidence and supply](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confidence_and_supply \"Confidence and supply\") agreement with [Ishin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Innovation_Party \"Japan Innovation Party\").\n\nHistorically influenced by [Chinese law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_law \"Chinese law\"), the Japanese legal system developed independently during the Edo period through texts such as *[Kujikata Osadamegaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kujikata_Osadamegaki \"Kujikata Osadamegaki\")*. Since the late 19th century, [the judicial system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_system_of_Japan \"Judicial system of Japan\") has been largely based on the [civil law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_law_(legal_system) \"Civil law (legal system)\") of Europe, notably Germany. In 1896, Japan established a [civil code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_code \"Civil code\") based on the German [Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%BCrgerliches_Gesetzbuch \"Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch\"), which remains in effect with post–World War II modifications. The [Constitution of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Japan \"Constitution of Japan\"), adopted in 1947, is the oldest unamended constitution in the world. Statutory law originates in the legislature, and the constitution requires that the emperor promulgate legislation passed by the Diet without giving him the power to oppose legislation. The main body of Japanese statutory law is called the [Six Codes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Codes \"Six Codes\"). Japan's court system is divided into four basic tiers: the [Supreme Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Japan \"Supreme Court of Japan\") and three levels of lower courts.\n\nJapan is divided into 47 prefectures, each overseen by an elected [governor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_(Japan) \"Governor (Japan)\") and legislature. In the following table, the prefectures are grouped by [region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_regions_of_Japan \"List of regions of Japan\"):\n\n\n\n| Prefectures of Japan with colored regions | Hokkaido1.Hokkaido | Tōhoku2.Aomori3.Iwate4.Miyagi5.Akita6.Yamagata7.Fukushima | Kantō8.Ibaraki9.Tochigi10.Gunma11.Saitama12.Chiba13.Tokyo14.Kanagawa | Chūbu15.Niigata16.Toyama17.Ishikawa18.Fukui19.Yamanashi20.Nagano21.Gifu22.Shizuoka23.Aichi |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Kansai24.Mie25.Shiga26.Kyoto27.Osaka28.Hyōgo29.Nara30.Wakayama | Chūgoku31.Tottori32.Shimane33.Okayama34.Hiroshima35.Yamaguchi | Shikoku36.Tokushima37.Kagawa38.Ehime39.Kōchi | Kyūshū40.Fukuoka41.Saga42.Nagasaki43.Kumamoto44.Ōita45.Miyazaki46.Kagoshima47.Okinawa |\n\n\n\nJapan is a member of both the [G7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G7 \"G7\") and the [G20](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G20 \"G20\").\n\nA member state of the United Nations since 1956, Japan is one of the [G4 countries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G4_nations \"G4 nations\") seeking reform of the [Security Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_Council \"Security Council\"). Japan is a member of the [G7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G7 \"G7\"), [APEC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APEC \"APEC\"), and \"[ASEAN Plus Three](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASEAN_Free_Trade_Area#ASEAN_Plus_Three \"ASEAN Free Trade Area\")\", and is a participant in the [East Asia Summit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asia_Summit \"East Asia Summit\"). It is the world's [fifth-largest donor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_development_aid_sovereign_state_donors \"List of development aid sovereign state donors\") of [official development assistance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Development_Assistance_(Japan) \"Official Development Assistance (Japan)\"), donating US$9.2 billion in 2014. In 2024, Japan had the [fourth-largest diplomatic network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_diplomatic_missions \"List of countries by number of diplomatic missions\") in the world. Japan is widely considered to be a [great power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_power \"Great power\") due to its [economic power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_power \"Economic power\") and political, cultural, and military influence.\n\nJapan has close economic and military [relations with the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan%E2%80%93United_States_relations \"Japan–United States relations\"), with which it maintains [a security alliance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Mutual_Cooperation_and_Security_between_the_United_States_and_Japan \"Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan\"). The United States is a major market for Japanese exports and a major source of Japanese imports, and is committed to defending the country, with military bases in Japan. In 2016, Japan announced the Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision, which frames its regional policies. Japan is also a member of the [Quadrilateral Security Dialogue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrilateral_Security_Dialogue \"Quadrilateral Security Dialogue\") (\"the Quad\"), a multilateral security dialogue reformed in 2017 aiming to limit Chinese influence in the [Indo-Pacific](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pacific \"Indo-Pacific\") region, along with the United States, Australia, and India.\n\nJapan is engaged in several territorial disputes with its neighbors. It contests Russia's control of the [Southern Kuril Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuril_Islands_dispute \"Kuril Islands dispute\"), which were occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945. South Korea's control of the [Liancourt Rocks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liancourt_Rocks \"Liancourt Rocks\") is acknowledged but not accepted as they are claimed by Japan. Japan has strained relations with China over the [Senkaku Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senkaku_Islands \"Senkaku Islands\") and the status of [Okinotorishima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinotorishima \"Okinotorishima\").\n\n[JMSDF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Maritime_Self-Defense_Force \"Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force\") [*Kongō*-class destroyer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong%C5%8D-class_destroyer \"Kongō-class destroyer\")\n\nJapan is the third highest-ranked Asian country in the 2024 [Global Peace Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Peace_Index \"Global Peace Index\"). It spent 1.4% of its total GDP on [its defence budget](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_Japan \"Military budget of Japan\") and maintained the [tenth-largest military budget](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures \"List of countries by military expenditures\") in the world in 2024. The country's military, the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), is restricted by [Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_Japanese_Constitution \"Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution\"), which renounces Japan's right to declare war or use military force in international disputes. The military is governed by the [Ministry of Defense](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Defense_(Japan) \"Ministry of Defense (Japan)\"), and primarily consists of the [Japan Ground Self-Defense Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Ground_Self-Defense_Force \"Japan Ground Self-Defense Force\"), the [Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Maritime_Self-Defense_Force \"Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force\"), and the [Japan Air Self-Defense Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Air_Self-Defense_Force \"Japan Air Self-Defense Force\"). The [deployment of troops to Iraq](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Iraq_Reconstruction_and_Support_Group \"Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group\") and Afghanistan marked the first overseas use of Japan's military since World War II.\n\nThe [Government of Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Japan \"Government of Japan\") has been making changes to its security policy which include the establishment of the [National Security Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Council_(Japan) \"National Security Council (Japan)\"), the adoption of the National Security Strategy, and the development of the National Defense Program Guidelines. In 2015, the Japanese parliament passed the [Legislation for Peace and Security](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislation_for_Peace_and_Security \"Legislation for Peace and Security\"), allowing the JSDF to participate in foreign conflicts in an \"existential crisis situation\". In December 2022, Prime Minister [Fumio Kishida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumio_Kishida \"Fumio Kishida\") instructed the government to increase spending by 65% until 2027. Recent tensions, particularly with North Korea and China, have reignited the debate over the status of the JSDF and its relation to Japanese society.\n\nThe headquarters of the [Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Metropolitan_Police_Department \"Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department\")\n\nDomestic security in Japan is provided mainly by the [prefectural police departments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefectural_police_department \"Prefectural police department\"), under the oversight of the [National Police Agency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Police_Agency_(Japan) \"National Police Agency (Japan)\"). As the central coordinating body for the Prefectural Police Departments, the National Police Agency is administered by the [National Public Safety Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Public_Safety_Commission_(Japan) \"National Public Safety Commission (Japan)\"). The [Special Assault Team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Assault_Team \"Special Assault Team\") comprises national-level [counter-terrorism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-terrorism \"Counter-terrorism\") tactical units that cooperate with territorial-level [Anti-Firearms Squads and Counter-NBC Terrorism Squads](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_Police_Unit#Specialist_squads \"Riot Police Unit\"). The [Japan Coast Guard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Coast_Guard \"Japan Coast Guard\") guards territorial waters surrounding Japan and uses surveillance and control countermeasures against smuggling, marine [environmental crime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_crime \"Environmental crime\"), poaching, piracy, spy ships, unauthorized foreign fishing vessels, and illegal immigration.\n\nThe [Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_and_Sword_Possession_Control_Law \"Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law\") strictly regulates the civilian ownership of guns, swords, and other weaponry. According to the [United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Office_on_Drugs_and_Crime \"United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime\"), among the member states of the UN that report statistics as of 2018[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), the incidence rates of violent crimes such as murder, abduction, sexual violence, and robbery are very low in Japan.\n\nJapanese society traditionally places a strong emphasis on [collective harmony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wa_(Japanese_culture) \"Wa (Japanese culture)\") and [conformity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collectivism \"Collectivism\"), which has led to the suppression of [individual rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual_rights \"Individual rights\"). [Japan's constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Japan \"Constitution of Japan\") prohibits racial and religious discrimination, and the country is a signatory to numerous international human rights treaties. However, it lacks any laws against discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity and does not have a national human rights institution.\n\nJapan has faced criticism for [its gender inequality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_inequality_in_Japan \"Gender inequality in Japan\"), [not allowing same-sex marriages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Japan \"Same-sex marriage in Japan\"), use of [racial profiling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_profiling \"Racial profiling\") by police, and [allowing capital punishment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Japan \"Capital punishment in Japan\"). Other human rights issues include the treatment of marginalized groups, such as [ethnic minorities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_Japan \"Racism in Japan\"), [refugees and asylum seekers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Japan#Refugees_and_asylum_seekers \"Immigration to Japan\").\n\nSkyscrapers in [Nakanoshima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakanoshima \"Nakanoshima\"), [Osaka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osaka \"Osaka\"); a major [financial center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_center \"Financial center\") in Japan\n\nJapan has the world's [fifth-largest economy by nominal GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal) \"List of countries by GDP (nominal)\"), after that of the United States, China, Germany and India; and the [fifth-largest by PPP-adjusted GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP) \"List of countries by GDP (PPP)\"). As of 2023[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), [Japan's labor force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_market_of_Japan \"Labor market of Japan\") is the world's [tenth-largest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_labour_force \"List of countries by labour force\"), consisting of over 69.2 million workers. As of 2024[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), Japan has a [low unemployment rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_unemployment_rate \"List of countries by unemployment rate\") of around 2.6%. [Its poverty rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Japan \"Poverty in Japan\") is the second highest among the G7 countries, and exceeds 15.7% of the population. Japan has the highest ratio of public debt to GDP among advanced economies, with [a national debt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_of_Japan \"National debt of Japan\") estimated at 248% relative to GDP as of 2022[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). The [Japanese yen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_yen \"Japanese yen\") is the world's third-largest [reserve currency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_currency \"Reserve currency\") after the US dollar and the euro.\n\nIn 2024, Japan was the world's [eight-largest exporter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_exports \"List of countries by exports\") and [sixth-largest importer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_imports \"List of countries by imports\"). Its exports amounted to 21.9% of its total GDP in 2023. In 2024, [Japan's main export markets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_largest_trading_partners_of_Japan \"List of the largest trading partners of Japan\") were China (22.2%, including Hong Kong) and the United States (20.6%). [Its main exports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_exports_of_Japan \"List of exports of Japan\") are motor vehicles, iron and steel products, semiconductors, and auto parts. Japan's main import markets in 2024 were China (22.3%), the United States (10.5%), and Australia (7.1%). Japan's main imports are machinery and equipment, fossil fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, and raw materials.\n\nThe Japanese variant of capitalism has many distinct features: [keiretsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keiretsu \"Keiretsu\") enterprises are influential, and [lifetime employment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifetime_employment \"Lifetime employment\") and seniority-based career advancement are common in the [Japanese work environment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_work_environment \"Japanese work environment\"). Japan has a large [cooperative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperative \"Cooperative\") sector, with three of the world's ten largest cooperatives, including the largest [consumer cooperative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_cooperative \"Consumer cooperative\") and the largest [agricultural cooperative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_cooperative \"Agricultural cooperative\") as of 2018[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). It [ranks highly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_rankings_of_Japan#Economy \"International rankings of Japan\") for [competitiveness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_(companies) \"Competition (companies)\") and [economic freedom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_freedom \"Economic freedom\"). The country attracted 36.9 million international tourists in 2024, and was [ranked eleventh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tourism_rankings \"World Tourism rankings\") in the world in 2019 for [inbound tourism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inbound_tourism_(Japan) \"Inbound tourism (Japan)\"). The 2024 *[Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travel_and_Tourism_Competitiveness_Report \"Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report\")* ranked Japan third in the world out of 117 countries. Its international tourism receipts in 2019 amounted to $46.1 billion.\n\nA [rice paddy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_paddy \"Rice paddy\") in [Aizu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aizu \"Aizu\"), [Fukushima Prefecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Prefecture \"Fukushima Prefecture\")\n\nThe Japanese agricultural sector accounts for about 1.2% of the country's total GDP as of 2018[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). Only 11.2% of Japan's land is suitable for cultivation. Because of this lack of arable land, a system of [terraces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrace_(earthworks) \"Terrace (earthworks)\") is used to farm in small areas. This results in one of the world's highest levels of crop yields per unit area, with an agricultural self-sufficiency rate of about 50% as of 2018[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). Japan's small agricultural sector is highly subsidized and [protected](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_Protectionism_in_Japan \"Agricultural Protectionism in Japan\"). There has been a growing concern about farming as farmers are aging with a difficult time finding successors.\n\nJapan ranked seventh in the world in [tonnage of fish caught](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_industry_by_country \"Fishing industry by country\") and captured 3,167,610 metric tons of fish in 2016, down from an annual average of 4,000,000 tons over the previous decade. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch, prompting critiques that Japan's fishing is leading to depletion in fish stocks such as [tuna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuna \"Tuna\"). Japan has sparked controversy by supporting commercial [whaling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaling_in_Japan \"Whaling in Japan\").\n\nThe [Nissan GT-R](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_GT-R \"Nissan GT-R\"), a [sports car](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_car \"Sports car\") manufactured by [Nissan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan \"Nissan\"). Japan is the [third-largest producer of motor vehicles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_motor_vehicle_production \"List of countries by motor vehicle production\") in the world.\n\nJapan has a large industrial capacity and is home to some of the \"largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, [machine tools](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_tool \"Machine tool\"), steel and nonferrous metals, ships, [chemical substances](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_substance \"Chemical substance\"), textiles, and [processed foods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processed_foods \"Processed foods\")\". Japan's industrial sector makes up approximately 27.5% of its GDP. The country's manufacturing output is the [fourth highest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_manufacturing_output \"List of countries by manufacturing output\") in the world as of 2023[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit).\n\nJapan is in the top three globally for both automobile production and export, and is home to [Toyota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota \"Toyota\"), the world's [largest automobile company by production](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_manufacturers_by_motor_vehicle_production \"List of manufacturers by motor vehicle production\"). The Japanese shipbuilding industry faces increasing competition from its East Asian neighbors, South Korea and China; a 2020 government initiative identified this sector as a target for increasing exports.\n\nOnce considered the strongest in the world, the [Japanese consumer electronics industry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_consumer_electronics_industry \"Japanese consumer electronics industry\") is in a state of decline as regional competition arises in neighboring East Asian countries such as South Korea and China. However, [Japan's video game sector](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_games_in_Japan \"Video games in Japan\") remains a major industry; in 2014, Japan's consumer video game market grossed $9.6 billion, with $5.8 billion coming from mobile gaming. By 2015, Japan had become the world's [fourth-largest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_games_markets_by_country \"List of video games markets by country\") [PC game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_game \"PC game\") market by revenue, behind [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_games_in_China \"Video games in China\"), the [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_games_in_the_United_States \"Video games in the United States\"), and [South Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_games_in_South_Korea \"Video games in South Korea\").\n\nJapan's service sector accounts for about 69.8% of its total economic output as of 2023[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). [Banking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banking_in_Japan \"Banking in Japan\"), retail, [transportation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Japan \"Transportation in Japan\"), and [telecommunications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Japan \"Telecommunications in Japan\") are all major industries, with companies such as Toyota, [Honda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda \"Honda\"), [Yamaha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_Motor_Company \"Yamaha Motor Company\"), [Mitsubishi UFJ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_UFJ \"Mitsubishi UFJ\"), [NTT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon_Telegraph_and_Telephone \"Nippon Telegraph and Telephone\"), [Aeon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeon_(company) \"Aeon (company)\"), [SoftBank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SoftBank \"SoftBank\"), [Hitachi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi \"Hitachi\"), [Mitsui](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsui \"Mitsui\") and [Itochu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itochu \"Itochu\") listed as among the largest in the world.\n\nThe [Japanese Experiment Module](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Experiment_Module \"Japanese Experiment Module\") (Kibō) at the [International Space Station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station \"International Space Station\")\n\nRelative to gross domestic product, Japan's [research and development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_and_development \"Research and development\") budget is the [sixth or seventh highest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_by_research_and_development_spending \"List of sovereign states by research and development spending\") in the world, with 907,400 researchers sharing a 22-trillion-yen research and development budget as of 2023[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). Japan has the second highest number of researchers in science and technology per capita in the world with 14 per 1000 employees. The country has produced twenty-two [Nobel laureates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize \"Nobel Prize\") in either physics, chemistry or medicine, and three [Fields medalists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fields_Medal \"Fields Medal\").\n\nJapan is a leading [robotics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_robotics \"Japanese robotics\") producer, supplying 38% of the world's 2024 total, down from 55% in 2017.\n\nThe [Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Aerospace_Exploration_Agency \"Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency\") is Japan's national [space agency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_agency \"Space agency\"); it conducts space, planetary, and aviation research, and leads development of rockets and satellites. It is a participant in the [International Space Station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station \"International Space Station\"): the [Japanese Experiment Module](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Experiment_Module \"Japanese Experiment Module\") (Kibō) was added to the station during [Space Shuttle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle \"Space Shuttle\") assembly flights in 2008. The [space probe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_probe \"Space probe\") *[Akatsuki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akatsuki_(spacecraft) \"Akatsuki (spacecraft)\")* was launched in 2010 and achieved orbit around Venus in 2015. Japan's plans in [space exploration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_exploration \"Space exploration\") include building a [Moon base](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_the_Moon \"Colonization of the Moon\") and landing astronauts by 2030. In 2007, it launched lunar explorer [SELENE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SELENE \"SELENE\") (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) from [Tanegashima Space Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanegashima_Space_Center \"Tanegashima Space Center\"). The largest lunar mission since the [Apollo program](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_program \"Apollo program\"), its purpose was to gather data on the [Moon's origin and evolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon#Formation \"Moon\"). The explorer entered a lunar orbit on October 4, 2007, and was deliberately crashed into the Moon on June 11, 2009.\n\n[Japan Airlines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Airlines \"Japan Airlines\"), the [flag carrier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_carrier \"Flag carrier\") of Japan\n\nJapan has invested heavily in transportation infrastructure since the 1990s. The country has approximately 1,200,000 kilometers (750,000 miles) of roads made up of 1,000,000 kilometers (620,000 miles) of city, town and village roads, 130,000 kilometers (81,000 miles) of prefectural roads, 54,736 kilometers (34,011 miles) of general national highways and 7641 kilometers (4748 miles) of [national expressways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressways_of_Japan \"Expressways of Japan\") as of 2017[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit).\n\nSince privatization in 1987, [dozens of Japanese railway companies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_railway_companies_in_Japan \"List of railway companies in Japan\") compete in regional and local passenger transportation markets; major companies include seven [JR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Railways_Group \"Japan Railways Group\") enterprises, [Kintetsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintetsu_Railway \"Kintetsu Railway\"), [Seibu Railway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seibu_Railway \"Seibu Railway\") and [Keio Corporation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keio_Corporation \"Keio Corporation\"). The high-speed [Shinkansen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen \"Shinkansen\") (bullet trains) that connect major cities are known for their safety and punctuality.\n\nThere are [280 airports in Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_Japan \"List of airports in Japan\") as of 2025[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). The largest domestic airport, [Haneda Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haneda_Airport \"Haneda Airport\") in Tokyo, was Asia's [second-busiest airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_busiest_airports_by_passenger_traffic \"List of busiest airports by passenger traffic\") in 2019. The Keihin and Hanshin superport hubs are among the largest in the world, at 7.98 and 5.22 million [TEU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-foot_equivalent_unit \"Twenty-foot equivalent unit\") respectively as of 2017[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit).\n\nPart of the [Seto Hill Windfarm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seto_Windhill \"Seto Windhill\")\n\nAs of 2019[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), 37.1% of energy in Japan is produced from petroleum, 25.1% from coal, 22.4% from [natural gas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gas \"Natural gas\"), 3.5% from [hydropower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydropower \"Hydropower\") and 2.8% from [nuclear power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_Japan \"Nuclear power in Japan\"), among other sources. Nuclear power was down from 11.2% in 2010. By May 2012 all of [the country's nuclear power plants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nuclear_power_plants_in_Japan \"List of nuclear power plants in Japan\") had been taken offline because of ongoing public opposition following the [Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Daiichi_nuclear_disaster \"Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster\") in March 2011, though government officials continued to try to sway public opinion in favor of returning at least some to service. The [Sendai Nuclear Power Plant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sendai_Nuclear_Power_Plant \"Sendai Nuclear Power Plant\") restarted in 2015, and since then several other nuclear power plants have been restarted. Japan lacks significant domestic reserves and has a heavy dependence on [imported energy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_oil_imports \"List of countries by oil imports\"). The country has therefore aimed to diversify its sources and maintain high levels of energy efficiency.\n\nView of Tokyo from the top of the [Tokyo Skytree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Skytree \"Tokyo Skytree\"). The [Greater Tokyo Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Tokyo_Area \"Greater Tokyo Area\") is ranked as the [most populous metropolitan area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_areas_by_population \"List of metropolitan areas by population\") in the world.\n\nJapan has a population of over 123 million, of whom nearly 120 million are Japanese nationals (2024 estimates). A small population of foreign residents makes up the remainder. Japan is the world's [fastest aging country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aging_of_Japan \"Aging of Japan\") and has the highest proportion of [elderly citizens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elderly_people_in_Japan \"Elderly people in Japan\") of any country, comprising [one-third of its total population](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_age_structure \"List of countries by age structure\"); this is the result of a [post–World War II baby boom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post%E2%80%93World_War_II_baby_boom \"Post–World War II baby boom\"), which was followed by an increase in life expectancy and a decrease in [birth rates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_rate \"Birth rate\").\n\nJapan has a [total fertility rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_fertility_rate \"Total fertility rate\") of 1.2, which is below the [replacement rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-replacement_fertility \"Sub-replacement fertility\") of 2.1, and is among the world's [lowest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_total_fertility_rate \"List of countries by total fertility rate\"): it has a [median age](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_age \"Median age\") of 48.4, the [highest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_median_age \"List of countries by median age\") in the world. As of 2025[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit), over 29.3% of the population is over 65, or more than one in four out of the Japanese population. As a growing number of younger Japanese are not marrying or remaining childless, Japan's population is expected to drop to around 88 million by 2065.\n\nThe changes in demographic structure have created several social issues, particularly a decline in the workforce population and an increase in the cost of social security benefits. The Government of Japan projects that there will be almost one elderly person for each person of working age by 2060. [Immigration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Japan \"Immigration to Japan\") and birth incentives are sometimes suggested as a solution to provide younger workers to support the nation's aging population. On April 1, 2019, Japan's revised immigration law was enacted, protecting the rights of foreign workers to help reduce labor shortages in certain sectors.\n\nIn 2023, 92% of the Japanese population lived in cities. The capital city, Tokyo, has a population of 13.9 million (2022). It is part of the [Greater Tokyo Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Tokyo_Area \"Greater Tokyo Area\"), the [biggest metropolitan area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_areas_by_population \"List of metropolitan areas by population\") in the world with 37.4 million people (2024). Japan is an ethnically and culturally [homogeneous society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_ranked_by_ethnic_and_cultural_diversity_level \"List of countries ranked by ethnic and cultural diversity level\"), with the [Japanese people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_people \"Japanese people\") forming 97.4% of the country's population. Minority ethnic groups in the country include the indigenous [Ainu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainu_people \"Ainu people\") and [Ryukyuan people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryukyuan_people \"Ryukyuan people\"). [Zainichi Koreans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zainichi_Koreans \"Zainichi Koreans\"), [Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_people_in_Japan \"Chinese people in Japan\"), [Filipinos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipinos_in_Japan \"Filipinos in Japan\"), Brazilians mostly [of Japanese descent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Brazilian \"Japanese Brazilian\"), and Peruvians mostly [of Japanese descent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Peruvian \"Japanese Peruvian\") are also among Japan's small minority groups. *[Burakumin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burakumin \"Burakumin\")* make up a social minority group.\n\n\n\n| vteLargest cities or towns in Japan2015 Census |\n| --- |\n| Rank | Name | Prefecture | Pop. | Rank | Name | Prefecture | Pop. |\n| 1 | Tokyo | Tokyo | 9,272,740 | 11 | Hiroshima | Hiroshima | 1,194,034 |\n| 2 | Yokohama | Kanagawa | 3,724,844 | 12 | Sendai | Miyagi | 1,082,159 |\n| 3 | Osaka | Osaka | 2,691,185 | 13 | Chiba | Chiba | 971,882 |\n| 4 | Nagoya | Aichi | 2,295,638 | 14 | Kitakyushu | Fukuoka | 961,286 |\n| 5 | Sapporo | Hokkaido | 1,952,356 | 15 | Sakai | Osaka | 839,310 |\n| 6 | Fukuoka | Fukuoka | 1,538,681 | 16 | Niigata | Niigata | 810,157 |\n| 7 | Kobe | Hyōgo | 1,537,273 | 17 | Hamamatsu | Shizuoka | 797,980 |\n| 8 | Kawasaki | Kanagawa | 1,475,213 | 18 | Kumamoto | Kumamoto | 740,822 |\n| 9 | Kyoto | Kyoto | 1,475,183 | 19 | Sagamihara | Kanagawa | 720,780 |\n| 10 | Saitama | Saitama | 1,263,979 | 20 | Okayama | Okayama | 719,474 |\n\n\n\n*[Kanji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji \"Kanji\")* and *[hiragana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiragana \"Hiragana\")* signs\n\nThe [Japanese language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_language \"Japanese language\") is Japan's *de facto* national language and the primary written and spoken language of most people in the country. [Japanese writing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_writing \"Japanese writing\") uses [kanji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji \"Kanji\") ([Chinese characters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_character \"Chinese character\")) and two sets of [kana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kana \"Kana\") ([syllabaries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllabaries \"Syllabaries\") based on [cursive script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursive_script_(East_Asia) \"Cursive script (East Asia)\") and [radicals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_(Chinese_characters) \"Radical (Chinese characters)\") used by kanji), as well as the [Latin alphabet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_alphabet \"Latin alphabet\") and [Arabic numerals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_numerals \"Arabic numerals\"). English has taken a major role in Japan as a business and international [link language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_language \"Link language\"), and is a compulsory subject at the junior and senior high school levels. [Japanese Sign Language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Sign_Language \"Japanese Sign Language\") is the primary [sign language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_language \"Sign language\") used in Japan and has gained some official recognition, but its usage has been historically hindered by discriminatory policies and a lack of educational support.\n\nBesides Japanese, the [Ryukyuan languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryukyuan_languages \"Ryukyuan languages\") ([Amami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amami_%C5%8Cshima_language \"Amami Ōshima language\"), [Kunigami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunigami_language \"Kunigami language\"), [Okinawan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawan_language \"Okinawan language\"), [Miyako](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyakoan_language \"Miyakoan language\"), [Yaeyama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaeyama_language \"Yaeyama language\"), [Yonaguni](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonaguni_language \"Yonaguni language\")), part of the [Japonic language family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japonic_language_family \"Japonic language family\"), are spoken in the Ryukyu Islands chain. Few children learn these languages, but local governments have sought to increase awareness of the traditional languages. The [Ainu language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainu_language \"Ainu language\"), which is a [language isolate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_isolate \"Language isolate\"), is [moribund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moribund_language \"Moribund language\"), with only a few native speakers remaining as of 2014[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). Additionally, a number of other languages are taught and used by ethnic minorities, immigrant communities, and a growing number of foreign-language students, such as [Korean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_language \"Korean language\") (including a distinct [Zainichi Korean dialect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zainichi_Korean_language \"Zainichi Korean language\")), [Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language \"Chinese language\") and [Portuguese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_language \"Portuguese language\").\n\nThe [torii](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii \"Torii\") of [Itsukushima Shinto Shrine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itsukushima_Shinto_Shrine \"Itsukushima Shinto Shrine\") near [Hiroshima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshima \"Hiroshima\")\n\nJapan's constitution guarantees full religious freedom. Upper estimates suggest that 84–96% of the Japanese population subscribe to [Shinto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto \"Shinto\") as its indigenous religion. However, these estimates are based on people [affiliated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danka_system \"Danka system\") with a temple, rather than the number of true believers. Many Japanese people practice both Shinto and [Buddhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Japan \"Buddhism in Japan\"); they can identify with both religions or describe themselves as non-religious or spiritual. The level of participation in religious ceremonies as a cultural tradition remains high, especially during [festivals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_festivals \"Japanese festivals\") and occasions such as the [first shrine visit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatsum%C5%8Dde \"Hatsumōde\") of the [New Year](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_New_Year \"Japanese New Year\"). [Taoism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism_in_Japan \"Taoism in Japan\") and [Confucianism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucianism_in_Japan \"Confucianism in Japan\") from China have also influenced Japanese beliefs and customs.\n\nIn 2018, 1% to 1.5% of the population were [Christians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Japan \"Christianity in Japan\"). Throughout the latest century, Western customs originally related to Christianity, including [Western style weddings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_in_Japan \"Marriage in Japan\"), [Valentine's Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day \"Valentine's Day\") and [Christmas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas \"Christmas\"), have become popular as secular customs among many Japanese.\n\nAbout 90% of those practicing [Islam in Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Japan \"Islam in Japan\") are foreign-born migrants as of 2016[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit). In 2018, there were an estimated 105 [mosques](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosque \"Mosque\") and 200,000 Muslims in Japan, 43,000 of which were Japanese nationals. Other minority religions include [Hinduism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_in_Japan \"Hinduism in Japan\"), [Judaism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism_in_Japan \"Judaism in Japan\"), and [Baháʼí Faith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%CA%BC%C3%AD_Faith_in_Japan \"Baháʼí Faith in Japan\"), as well as the [animist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animist \"Animist\") beliefs of the Ainu.\n\nStudents celebrating after the announcement of the results of the [entrance examinations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_education_in_Japan#University_entrance \"Higher education in Japan\") to the [University of Tokyo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Tokyo \"University of Tokyo\")\n\nSince the 1947 [Fundamental Law of Education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_Law_of_Education \"Fundamental Law of Education\"), compulsory education in Japan comprises [elementary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary_schools_in_Japan \"Elementary schools in Japan\") and [junior high school](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_education_in_Japan#Junior_high_school \"Secondary education in Japan\"), which together last for nine years. Almost all children continue their education at a three-year [senior high school](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_education_in_Japan \"Secondary education in Japan\"). The top-ranking university in Japan is the [University of Tokyo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Tokyo \"University of Tokyo\"). Starting in April 2016, various schools began the academic year with elementary school and junior high school integrated into one nine-year compulsory schooling program. [MEXT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEXT \"MEXT\") plans for this approach to be adopted nationwide.\n\nThe [Programme for International Student Assessment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programme_for_International_Student_Assessment \"Programme for International Student Assessment\") (PISA) coordinated by the OECD ranks the knowledge and skills of Japanese 15-year-olds as the third best in the world. Japan is one of the top-performing [OECD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OECD \"OECD\") countries in reading literacy, math, and sciences with the average student scoring 520 and has one of the world's highest-educated labor forces among OECD countries. It spent 7.4% of its total GDP on education in 2021.\n\nIn 2023, Japan ranked third for the percentage of 25- to 64-year-olds that have attained tertiary education, at 56%. Approximately 65.5% of Japanese aged 25 to 34 have some form of tertiary education qualification, with bachelor's degrees being held by 34.8% of Japanese aged 25 to 64, the second most in the OECD after [South Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_South_Korea \"Education in South Korea\"). Japanese women are more highly educated than the men: 59% of women possess a university degree, compared to 52% of men.\n\n[University of Tokyo Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Tokyo_Hospital \"University of Tokyo Hospital\")\n\nHealth care in Japan is provided by national and local governments. Payment for personal medical services is offered through a universal health insurance system that provides relative equality of access, with fees set by a government committee. People without insurance through employers can participate in a national health insurance program administered by local governments. Since 1973, all elderly persons have been covered by government-sponsored insurance.\n\nJapan spent 11.42% of its total GDP on healthcare in 2022. In 2020, the overall life expectancy in Japan at birth was 85 years (82 years for men and 88 years for women), the [highest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy \"List of countries by life expectancy\") in the world; while it had a very low [infant mortality rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_mortality_rate \"Infant mortality rate\") (2 per 1,000 [live births](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_birth_(human) \"Live birth (human)\")). Since 1981, the principal cause of death in Japan is [cancer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer \"Cancer\"), which accounted for 27% of the total deaths in 2018—followed by [cardiovascular diseases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiovascular_disease \"Cardiovascular disease\"), which led to 15% of the deaths. Japan has one of the world's [highest suicide rates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_Japan \"Suicide in Japan\"), which is considered a major social issue. Another significant public health issue is [smoking among Japanese men](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_in_Japan \"Smoking in Japan\"). Japan has the lowest rate of heart disease in the OECD, and the lowest level of [dementia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia \"Dementia\") among developed countries.\n\nContemporary Japanese culture combines influences from Asia, Europe, and North America. Traditional Japanese arts include [crafts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_handicrafts \"Japanese handicrafts\") such as [ceramics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_pottery_and_porcelain \"Japanese pottery and porcelain\"), [textiles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimono \"Kimono\"), [lacquerware](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_lacquerware \"Japanese lacquerware\"), [swords](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_sword \"Japanese sword\"), and [dolls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_traditional_dolls \"Japanese traditional dolls\"); performances of [bunraku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunraku \"Bunraku\"), [kabuki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki \"Kabuki\"), [noh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noh \"Noh\"), [dance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_traditional_dance \"Japanese traditional dance\"), and [rakugo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakugo \"Rakugo\"); and other practices, the [tea ceremony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony \"Japanese tea ceremony\"), [ikebana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikebana \"Ikebana\"), [martial arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_martial_arts \"Japanese martial arts\"), [calligraphy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_calligraphy \"Japanese calligraphy\"), [origami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origami \"Origami\"), [onsen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onsen \"Onsen\"), [Geisha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geisha \"Geisha\"), and [games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_games \"List of Japanese games\"). Japan has a developed system for the protection and promotion of both tangible and intangible [Cultural Properties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Properties_of_Japan \"Cultural Properties of Japan\") and [National Treasures](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Treasures_of_Japan \"National Treasures of Japan\"). [Twenty-two sites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Heritage_Sites_in_Japan \"List of World Heritage Sites in Japan\") have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, eighteen of which are of cultural significance. Japan is considered a [cultural superpower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_superpower \"Cultural superpower\").\n\n[Ritsurin Garden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritsurin_Garden \"Ritsurin Garden\"), one of the most famous strolling gardens in Japan\n\nThe history of Japanese painting exhibits synthesis and competition between native Japanese esthetics and imported ideas. The interaction between Japanese and European art has been significant: for example [ukiyo-e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo-e \"Ukiyo-e\") prints, which began to be exported in the 19th century in the movement known as [Japonism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japonism \"Japonism\"), had a significant influence on the development of modern art in the West, most notably on [post-Impressionism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-Impressionism \"Post-Impressionism\").\n\nJapanese architecture is a combination of local and other influences. It has traditionally been typified by wooden or mud plaster structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs. [Traditional housing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minka \"Minka\") and many [temple buildings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Buddhist_architecture \"Japanese Buddhist architecture\") see the use of [tatami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatami \"Tatami\") mats and [sliding doors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dji \"Shōji\") that break down the distinction between rooms and indoor and outdoor space. Since the 19th century, Japan has incorporated much of Western [modern architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_architecture \"Modern architecture\") into construction and design. It was not until after World War II that Japanese architects made an impression on the international scene, firstly with the work of architects like [Kenzō Tange](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenz%C5%8D_Tange \"Kenzō Tange\") and then with movements like [Metabolism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolist_Movement \"Metabolist Movement\").\n\n12th-century [illustrated handscroll](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genji_Monogatari_Emaki \"Genji Monogatari Emaki\") of *[The Tale of Genji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_Genji \"The Tale of Genji\")*, a [National Treasure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Treasures_of_Japan \"National Treasures of Japan\")\n\nThe earliest works of Japanese literature include the *[Kojiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki \"Kojiki\")* and *[Nihon Shoki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Shoki \"Nihon Shoki\")* chronicles and the *[Man'yōshū](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27y%C5%8Dsh%C5%AB \"Man'yōshū\")* [poetry anthology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_poetry_anthologies \"List of Japanese poetry anthologies\"), all from the 8th century and written in Chinese characters. In the early Heian period, the system of [phonograms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonogram_(linguistics) \"Phonogram (linguistics)\") known as *kana* ([hiragana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiragana \"Hiragana\") and [katakana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katakana \"Katakana\")) was developed. *[The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_the_Bamboo_Cutter \"The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter\")* is considered the oldest extant Japanese narrative. An account of court life is given in *[The Pillow Book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pillow_Book \"The Pillow Book\")* by [Sei Shōnagon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sei_Sh%C5%8Dnagon \"Sei Shōnagon\"), while *[The Tale of Genji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_Genji \"The Tale of Genji\")* by [Murasaki Shikibu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murasaki_Shikibu \"Murasaki Shikibu\") is often described as the world's first novel.\n\nDuring the Edo period, the [chōnin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%8Dnin \"Chōnin\") (\"townspeople\") overtook the samurai aristocracy as producers and consumers of literature. The popularity of the works of [Saikaku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saikaku \"Saikaku\"), for example, reveals this change in readership and authorship, while [Bashō](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bash%C5%8D \"Bashō\") revivified the poetic tradition of the [Kokinshū](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokinsh%C5%AB \"Kokinshū\") with his [haikai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haikai \"Haikai\") ([haiku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku \"Haiku\")) and wrote the poetic travelogue *[Oku no Hosomichi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oku_no_Hosomichi \"Oku no Hosomichi\")*. The Meiji era saw the decline of traditional literary forms as Japanese literature integrated Western influences. [Natsume Sōseki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natsume_S%C5%8Dseki \"Natsume Sōseki\") and [Mori Ōgai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mori_%C5%8Cgai \"Mori Ōgai\") were significant novelists in the early 20th century, followed by [Ryūnosuke Akutagawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ry%C5%ABnosuke_Akutagawa \"Ryūnosuke Akutagawa\"), [Jun'ichirō Tanizaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jun%27ichir%C5%8D_Tanizaki \"Jun'ichirō Tanizaki\"), [Kafū Nagai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaf%C5%AB_Nagai \"Kafū Nagai\") and, more recently, [Haruki Murakami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haruki_Murakami \"Haruki Murakami\") and [Kenji Nakagami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji_Nakagami \"Kenji Nakagami\"). Japan has two [Nobel Prize-winning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize_in_Literature \"Nobel Prize in Literature\") authors – [Yasunari Kawabata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasunari_Kawabata \"Yasunari Kawabata\") (1968) and [Kenzaburō Ōe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenzabur%C5%8D_%C5%8Ce \"Kenzaburō Ōe\") (1994).\n\nJapanese philosophy has historically been a [fusion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_fusion \"Information fusion\") of both foreign, particularly [Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_philosophy \"Chinese philosophy\") and [Western](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_philosophy \"Western philosophy\"), and uniquely Japanese elements. In its literary forms, Japanese philosophy began about fourteen centuries ago. Confucian ideals remain evident in the [Japanese concept of society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_society \"Japanese society\") and the self, and in the organization of the government and the structure of society. Buddhism has profoundly impacted Japanese psychology, metaphysics, and esthetics.\n\n*[Noh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noh \"Noh\")* performance at a Shinto shrine\n\nJapanese music is eclectic and diverse. Many [instruments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Japanese_musical_instruments \"Traditional Japanese musical instruments\"), such as the [koto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koto_(instrument) \"Koto (instrument)\"), were introduced in the 9th and 10th centuries. The popular [folk music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Japan#Folk_music \"Music of Japan\"), with the guitar-like [shamisen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamisen \"Shamisen\"), dates from the 16th century. Western classical music, introduced in the late 19th century, forms an integral part of Japanese culture. [Kumi-daiko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumi-daiko \"Kumi-daiko\") (ensemble drumming) was developed in post-war Japan and became very popular in North America. Popular music in post-war Japan has been heavily influenced by American and European trends, which has led to the evolution of [J-pop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-pop \"J-pop\"). [Karaoke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaoke \"Karaoke\") is a significant cultural activity.\n\nThe four traditional theaters from Japan are *[noh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noh \"Noh\")*, *[kyōgen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%8Dgen \"Kyōgen\")*, *[kabuki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki \"Kabuki\")*, and *[bunraku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunraku \"Bunraku\")*. Noh is one of the oldest continuous theater traditions in the world.\n\nThe Japanese media franchise *[Pokemon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokemon \"Pokemon\")* is the [highest grossing media franchise](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_media_franchises \"List of highest-grossing media franchises\") of all time.\n\nAccording to the 2015 NHK survey on television viewing in Japan, 79% of Japanese watch television daily. [Japanese television dramas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_television_drama \"Japanese television drama\") are viewed both within Japan and internationally. Many Japanese [media franchises](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_franchise \"Media franchise\") have gained considerable global popularity and are among the world's [highest-grossing media franchises](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highest-grossing_media_franchises \"Highest-grossing media franchises\"). [Japanese newspapers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_newspapers \"Japanese newspapers\") are among the most circulated in the world as of 2016[[update]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japan&action=edit).\n\nJapan has one of the oldest and largest film industries globally. [Ishirō Honda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishir%C5%8D_Honda \"Ishirō Honda\")'s *[Godzilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla_(1954_film) \"Godzilla (1954 film)\")* became an international icon of Japan and spawned an entire subgenre of *[kaiju](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiju \"Kaiju\")* films, as well as the longest-running film franchise in history. Japanese comics, known as [manga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga \"Manga\"), developed in the mid-20th century and have become popular [worldwide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga_outside_Japan \"Manga outside Japan\"). A large number of [manga series](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_manga \"List of best-selling manga\") have become some of the [best-selling comics series](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_comic_series \"List of best-selling comic series\") of all time, rivalling the [American comics industry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_comic_book \"American comic book\"). Japanese animated films and television series, known as [anime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime \"Anime\"), were largely influenced by Japanese manga and have become highly popular globally.\n\nYoung women celebrate [Coming of Age Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_of_Age_Day \"Coming of Age Day\") (成人の日, *Seijin no Hi*) in [Harajuku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harajuku \"Harajuku\"), [Tokyo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo \"Tokyo\").\n\nOfficially, Japan has 16 national, government-recognized holidays. Public holidays in Japan are regulated by the Public Holiday Law (国民の祝日に関する法律, *Kokumin no Shukujitsu ni Kansuru Hōritsu*) of 1948. Beginning in 2000, Japan implemented the [Happy Monday System](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Monday_System \"Happy Monday System\"), which moved a number of national holidays to Monday in order to obtain a long weekend. The national holidays in Japan are [New Year's Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_New_Year \"Japanese New Year\") on January 1, [Coming of Age Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_of_Age_Day \"Coming of Age Day\") on the second Monday of January, [National Foundation Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Foundation_Day_(Japan) \"National Foundation Day (Japan)\") on February 11, [The Emperor's Birthday](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor%27s_Birthday \"The Emperor's Birthday\") on February 23, [Vernal Equinox Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernal_Equinox_Day \"Vernal Equinox Day\") on March 20 or 21, [Shōwa Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dwa_Day \"Shōwa Day\") on April 29, [Constitution Memorial Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Memorial_Day \"Constitution Memorial Day\") on May 3, [Greenery Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenery_Day \"Greenery Day\") on May 4, [Children's Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Day_(Japan) \"Children's Day (Japan)\") on May 5, [Marine Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Day \"Marine Day\") on the third Monday of July, [Mountain Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Day \"Mountain Day\") on August 11, [Respect for the Aged Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respect_for_the_Aged_Day \"Respect for the Aged Day\") on the third Monday of September, [Autumnal Equinox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_equinox \"September equinox\") on September 23 or 24, [Health and Sports Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_and_Sports_Day \"Health and Sports Day\") on the second Monday of October, [Culture Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_Day \"Culture Day\") on November 3, and [Labor Thanksgiving Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Thanksgiving_Day \"Labor Thanksgiving Day\") on November 23.\n\nA plate of *[nigiri-zushi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi \"Sushi\")*\n\nJapanese cuisine offers a vast array of [regional specialties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_regional_cuisine \"Japanese regional cuisine\") that use traditional recipes and local ingredients. Seafood and [Japanese rice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_rice \"Japanese rice\") or [noodles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_noodles \"Japanese noodles\") are traditional staples. [Japanese curry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_curry \"Japanese curry\"), since its introduction to Japan from [British India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Raj \"British Raj\"), is so widely consumed that it can be termed a [national dish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_dish \"National dish\"), alongside [ramen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramen \"Ramen\") and [sushi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi \"Sushi\"). Traditional Japanese sweets are known as *wagashi*. Ingredients such as [red bean paste](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_bean_paste \"Red bean paste\") and [mochi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochi \"Mochi\") are used. More modern-day tastes include [green tea ice cream](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea_ice_cream \"Green tea ice cream\").\n\nPopular Japanese beverages include [sake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sake \"Sake\"), a brewed rice beverage that typically contains 14–17% alcohol and is made by multiple fermentation of rice. Beer has been brewed in Japan since the late 17th century. [Green tea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea \"Green tea\") is produced in Japan and prepared in forms such as [matcha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matcha \"Matcha\"), used in the [Japanese tea ceremony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony \"Japanese tea ceremony\").\n\n[Sumo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumo \"Sumo\") wrestlers form around the referee during the ring-entering ceremony.\n\nTraditionally, [sumo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumo \"Sumo\") is considered Japan's national sport. Japanese martial arts such as [judo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo \"Judo\") and [kendo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendo \"Kendo\") are taught as part of the compulsory junior high school curriculum. [Karate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate \"Karate\"), which originated in the Ryukyu Kingdom, is popular across the world and has been [included in the Olympic Games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate_at_the_Summer_Olympics \"Karate at the Summer Olympics\"). [Baseball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_in_Japan \"Baseball in Japan\") is the most popular sport in the country. Japan's top professional league, [Nippon Professional Baseball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon_Professional_Baseball \"Nippon Professional Baseball\") (NPB), was established in 1936. Since the establishment of the [Japan Professional Football League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Professional_Football_League \"Japan Professional Football League\") (J.League) in 1992, association football gained a wide following. The country co-hosted the [2002 FIFA World Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_FIFA_World_Cup \"2002 FIFA World Cup\") with South Korea. Japan has one of the most successful football teams in Asia, winning the [Asian Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Cup \"Asian Cup\") four times, and the [FIFA Women's World Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_FIFA_Women%27s_World_Cup \"2011 FIFA Women's World Cup\") in 2011. Golf is also popular in Japan.\n\nIn [motorsport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorsport \"Motorsport\"), Japanese automotive manufacturers have been successful in multiple different categories, with titles and victories in series such as [Formula One](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One \"Formula One\"), [MotoGP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing \"Grand Prix motorcycle racing\"), and the [World Rally Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Rally_Championship \"World Rally Championship\"). Drivers from Japan have victories at the [Indianapolis 500](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_500 \"Indianapolis 500\") and the [24 Hours of Le Mans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Hours_of_Le_Mans \"24 Hours of Le Mans\") as well as podium finishes in Formula One, in addition to success in domestic championships. [Super GT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_GT \"Super GT\") is the most popular national racing series in Japan, while [Super Formula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Formula \"Super Formula\") is the top-level domestic open-wheel series. The country hosts major races such as the [Japanese Grand Prix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Grand_Prix \"Japanese Grand Prix\").\n\nJapan hosted the Summer Olympics in [Tokyo in 1964](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Summer_Olympics \"1964 Summer Olympics\") and the Winter Olympics in [Sapporo in 1972](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_Winter_Olympics \"1972 Winter Olympics\") and [Nagano in 1998](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_Winter_Olympics \"1998 Winter Olympics\"). The country hosted the official [2006 Basketball World Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Basketball_World_Championship \"2006 Basketball World Championship\") and co-hosted the [2023 Basketball World Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Basketball_World_Championship \"2023 Basketball World Championship\"). Tokyo hosted the [2020 Summer Olympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Summer_Olympics \"2020 Summer Olympics\") in 2021, making Tokyo the first Asian city to host the Olympics twice. The country gained the hosting rights for the official [Women's Volleyball World Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Volleyball_World_Championship \"Women's Volleyball World Championship\") on five occasions, more than any other country. Japan is the most successful Asian [Rugby Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Union \"Rugby Union\") country and hosted the 2019 IRB [Rugby World Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_World_Cup \"Rugby World Cup\").\n\n* [Japan portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Japan \"Portal:Japan\")\n\n**Government**\n\n**General information**\n\n* [Japan](https://web.archive.org/web/20090421051351/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/japan.htm) from *[UCB](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Colorado_Boulder \"University of Colorado Boulder\") Libraries GovPubs* (archived April 21, 2009)\n* [Japan](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-14918801) from [BBC News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_News \"BBC News\")\n* [Japan](https://www.oecd.org/japan/) from the [OECD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OECD \"OECD\")\n* Geographic data related to [Japan](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/382313) at [OpenStreetMap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenStreetMap \"OpenStreetMap\")\n\n[36°N 138°E / 36°N 138°E / 36; 138](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Japan¶ms=36_N_138_E_type:country_region:JP)",
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