| Introduction |
| While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth. |
| Location |
| Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula |
| Geographic coordinates |
| 36 00 N, 138 00 E |
| Area |
total: 377,835 sq km
note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
water: 3,091 sq km
land: 374,744 sq km |
| Area - comparative |
| slightly smaller than California |
| Land boundaries |
| 0 km |
| Coastline |
| 29,751 km |
| Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 NM; between 3 NM and 12 NM in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
| Climate |
| varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north |
| Terrain |
| mostly rugged and mountainous |
| Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m |
| Natural resources |
| many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons |
| Land use |
arable land: 12.13%
permanent crops: 1.01%
other: 86.86% (1998 est.) |
| Irrigated land |
| 26,790 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards |
| many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoon |
| Environment - current issues |
| air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere |
| Environment - international agreements |
| party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling |
| Geography - note |
| strategic location in northeast Asia |
| Population |
| 127,333,002 (July 2004 est.) |
| Capital |
| Tokyo |
| Phone Code |
| +81 |
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