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.

Parliamentary elections were held on August 30th 2009 and the Liberal Democratic Party, who had held power in Japan for over 50 years, were defeated in a land slide victory by the Democratic Party of Japan. Prime Minister Taro Aso announced that he would resign shortly after the crushing defeat.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8229368.stm2 Yukio Hatoyama became Japan's 93rd prime minister.

Japan is comprised of over 3,000 islands along the Pacific coast of Asia, many of which are heavily forested, mountainous or volcanic.Asiarooms.com: Japan Japan's population of nearly 128 million people are mostly concentrated in large metropolitan centers, since up to 80% of the country is unsuitable for development due to climate and topography. Because of its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan sees several small earthquakes each year and occasional large earthquakes, which may also cause tsunamis.K12 Academics: Japan: Geography

Japan is one of the most earthquake prone places in the world because it sits atop two separate subduction zones, one of which has produced powerful, mega-thrust quakes that often lead to a tsunami.LiveScience: Scientists Dig Deep for In-Depth Look at Earthquakes (February 19, 2009)

Currently a team of researchers have been divided into two groups, one assigned to Japan and the other to Costa Rica, both of which aim to utilize new tools in order to exact a more in-depth view of earthquake faults. For geologist Harold Tobin's Japanese team, this means studying the deep sea's floor, trying to gain a better understanding of an earthquake's affect underwater as it gives rise to tsunamis. His team will have access to a deep-sea drilling ship for their research, which is projected to take a decade to complete. The first phase was finished in February of 2009.LiveScience: Scientists Dig Deep for In-Depth Look at Earthquakes (February 19, 2009)

Japan's government is a constitutional monarchy, with the dynastic Emperor representing the country as a ceremonial figurehead. Power is chiefly held 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.Prime Minister of Japan and his Cabinet: Fundamental Structure of the Government of Japan