Japan

Guide Note
Japan, frequently referred to as the Land of the Rising Sun, is an island country located in Northeast Asia to the east of China, Korea and Russia. It is comprised of over 3,000 islands along the Pacific coast of Asia, many of which are forested, mountainous or volcanic. About 70% to 80% of the country is unsuitable for agricultural, industrial, or residential use due to the steep elevations, climate and risk of landslides caused by earthquakes, soft ground and heavy rain.
Japan's government is a constitutional monarchy, with the Emperor representing the country as a ceremonial figurehead, and power held chiefly by elected members of the Diet of Japan, a bicameral parliament, and the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet.
Fast Facts
- Capital: Tokyo
- Government: Constitutional Monarchy
- Emperor: Akihito
- Prime Minister: Yasuo Fukuda
- Population: 127,433,494
- Currency: Japanese Yen
- Exchange rate
- Official Language: Japanese
- Member of United Nations, G8, G4, OECD and APEC
- Also try: Tokyo | Japan Vacation
The Mahalo Top 7
- Official Site: Japan National Tourist Organization
- Wikipedia: Japan
- U.S. Department of State: Japan
- CIA World Factbook: Japan
- BBC News: Country Profile: Japan
- The Economist: Japan
- Japan Today
Japan Recent News
- The Japan News Net
- Official News Site: Mainichi Daily News
- Official News Site: Japan Times
- Official News Site: Kyodo News
- Official News Site: Yomiuri Daily News
- Official News Site: Nikkei News
Japan Vacation
- Mahalo's page on Japan Vacation
- Mahalo's page on Tokyo Vacation
- Mahalo's page on Nagoya Vacation
- Mahalo's page on Kyoto Vacation
Japan Travel Information
Airports
- Narita International Airport (Tokyo)
- Kansai International Airport
- Haneda Airport "Big Bird" (Tokyo Domestic)
Japan Politics
- Wikipedia: Politics of Japan | Law of Japan
- Wikipedia: The Emperor of Japan
Japan Government Sites
- The Emperial Household Agency
- Prime Minister
- Cabinet
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication
- House of Councillors
- The House of Representatives
- Supreme Court of Japan
Japan International Relations
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Wikipedia: Foreign Relations of Japan
- Traveldocs.com: Japan - Foreign Relations
Japan Economy
- Wikipedia: Economy of Japan
- Official Site: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
- Official Site: Ministry of Finance
- Official Site: Bank of Japan
- Official Site: Tokyo Stock Exchange
Japan Military
- Wikipedia: Imperial Japanese Army | Imperial Japanese Navy
- Official Site: Ministry of Defense
- Official Site: Japan Self-Defense Air Force
- Official Site: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
- Official Site: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
- GlobalSecurity.org: Japan Ground Self Defense Force
Japan Facts and History
- Wikipedia: History of Japan
- Japan-guide.com: History
- Japan 101: History of Japan Menu
- The Association for Advancement of Unbiased View of History: Modern Japanese History Database
Japan Maps and Geography
- Wikipedia: Geography of Japan
- Geographical Survey Institute: Japan
- Geology.com: Map and Satellite Images of Japan
- Japan 101: Basic Geography of Japan
Japan Capital
- Mahalo's page on Tokyo
- Mahalo's page on Tokyo Vacation
- Mahalo's page on Tokyo Hotels
- Mahalo's page on Tokyo Restaurants
- Mahalo's page on Tokyo Tours
- Official Site: Tokyo Metropolitan Government
- BBC Weather: Tokyo
Japan Major Cities
Osaka
- Mahalo's page on Osaka Vacation
- Official Site: City of Osaka
Kyoto
- Mahalo's page on Kyoto
- Official Site: City of Kyoto
Nagoya
- Mahalo's page on Nagoya Vacation
- Official Site: City of Nagoya
Other Major Cities
- Official Site: City of Yokohama
- Official Site: City of Kobe
- Official Site: City of Nagasaki
- Official Site: City of Hiroshima
Japan Culture
- Mahalo's page on Japanese Food
- Official Site: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Wikipedia: Culture of Japan | Sport in Japan
- Web Japan: Trends in Japan
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: A History of Kimono
- Japan-guide.com: Japan A-Z
Related Searches
Yasuo Fukuda | Shinzo Abe | How to Speak Japanese | Tokyo | Japanese | Japan Vacation | Japanese Food | Kyoto Protocol | Japan Earthquake | China and Japan Lunar Missions | Japanese Moon Mission | Japanese House of Councillors election (2007) | 2007 Chuetsu offshore earthquake | U.S. Conflict with North Korea | N. Korea Nuclear Deadline | North Korea Ends Nuclear Program | Osaka Vacation | Kyoto | Kyoto Hotels | Kyoto Restaurants | Kyoto Tours | Nagoya Vacation | Tokyo Hotels | Tokyo Restaurants | Tokyo Tours | Christmas in Japan | How to Make Matcha Tea | South Korea | North Korea | China | Russian Federation
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