Japan

Japan

Introduction

Background

In 1603, after decades of civil warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate (a military-led, dynastic government) ushered in a long period of relative political stability and isolation from foreign influence. For more than two centuries this policy enabled Japan to enjoy a flowering of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports after signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 – triggering America’s entry into World War II – and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and an ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold actual decision-making power. Following three decades of unprecedented growth, Japan’s economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s, but the country remains a major economic power. In March 2011, Japan’s strongest-ever earthquake, and an accompanying tsunami, devastated the northeast part of Honshu island, killing thousands and damaging several nuclear power plants. The catastrophe hobbled the country’s economy and its energy infrastructure, and severely strained its capacity to deal with the humanitarian disaster.

Geography

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

Map references

Asia

Area

total: 377,915 sq km
country comparison to the world: 62 land:364,485 sq km
water:13,430 sq km
note:includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)

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:Fujiyama 3,776 m

Natural resources

negligible mineral resources, fish
note:with virtually no energy natural resources, Japan is the world’s largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil

Land use

arable land: 11.64%
permanent crops:0.9%
other:87.46% (2005)

Irrigated land

25,160 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

430 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 88.43cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%)
per capita:690cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

many dormant and some active volcanoes

about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year

tsunamis

typhoons
volcanism:both Unzen (elev. 1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (elev. 1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed “Decade Volcanoes” by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations

other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island’s most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu

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
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

strategic location in northeast Asia

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Japanese (singular and plural)
adjective:Japanese

Ethnic groups

Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6%
note:up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries

some have returned to Brazil (2004)

Languages

Japanese

Religions

Shintoism 83.9%, Buddhism 71.4%, Christianity 2%, other 7.8%
note:total adherents exceeds 100% because many people belong to both Shintoism and Buddhism (2005)

Population

126,475,664 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.1% (male 8,521,571/female 8,076,173)
15-64 years:64% (male 40,815,840/female 40,128,235)
65 years and over:22.9% (male 12,275,829/female 16,658,016) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 44.8 years
male:43.2 years
female:46.7 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.278% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214

Birth rate

7.31 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220

Death rate

10.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Urbanization

urban population: 67% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

TOKYO (capital) 36.507 million

Osaka-Kobe 11.325 million

Nagoya 3.257 million

Fukuoka-Kitakyushu 2.809 million

Sapporo 2.673 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.056 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.74 male(s)/female
total population:0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 161

Infant mortality rate

total: 2.78 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 218 male:2.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female:2.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.25 years
country comparison to the world: 5 male:78.96 years
female:85.72 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.21 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218

Health expenditures

9.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 40

Physicians density

2.063 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 61

Hospital bed density

13.75 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 1

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

8,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

3.1% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 65

Education expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 117

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2002)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years
male:15 years
female:15 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 9.1%
country comparison to the world: 109 male:10.1%
female:8% (2009)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Japan
local long form:Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku
local short form:Nihon/Nippon

Government type

a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy

Capital

name: Tokyo
geographic coordinates:35 41 N, 139 45 E
time difference:UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

47 prefectures

Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

Independence

3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution)

notable earlier dates: 660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU)

29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)

National holiday

Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)

Constitution

3 May 1947

Legal system

civil law system based on German model

system also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions

judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

20 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
head of government:Prime Minister Yoshihiko NODA (since 30 August 2011)
cabinet:Cabinet is appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:Diet designates the prime minister

constitution requires that the prime minister commands parliamentary majority

following legislative elections, the leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister

the monarchy is hereditary

Legislative branch

bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats – members elected for fixed six-year terms

half reelected every three years

146 members in multi-seat constituencies and 96 by proportional representation) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats – members elected for maximum four-year terms

300 in single-seat constituencies

180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs)

the prime minister has the right to dissolve the House of Representatives at any time with the concurrence of the cabinet
elections:House of Councillors – last held on 11 July 2010 (next to be held in July 2013)

House of Representatives – last held on 30 August 2009 (next to be held by August 2013)
election results:House of Councillors – percent of vote by party – DPJ 31.6%, LDP 24.1%, YP 13.6%, NK 13.1%, JCP 6.1%, SDP 3.8%, others 7.7%

seats by party – DPJ 106, LDP 84, NK 19, YP 11, JCP 6, SDP 4, others 12
House of Representatives – percent of vote by party (by proportional representation) – DPJ 42.4%, LDP 26.7%, NK 11.5%, JCP 7.0%, SDP 4.3%, others 8.1%

seats by party – DPJ 308, LDP 119, NK 21, JCP 9, SDP 7, others 16 (2009)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet

all other justices are appointed by the cabinet)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Yoshihiko NODA]

Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII]

Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Sadakazu TANIGAKI]

New Komeito or NK [Natsuo YAMAGUCHI]

People’s New Party or PNP [Shizuka KAMEI]

Social Democratic Party or SDP [Mizuho FUKUSHIMA]

Your Party or YP [Yoshimi WATANABE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: business groups

trade unions

International organization participation

ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ichiro FUJISAKI
chancery:2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 238-6700
FAX:[1] (202) 328-2187
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Seattle
consulate(s):Anchorage, Nashville

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador John V. ROOS
embassy:1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
mailing address:Unit 9800, Box 300, APO AP 96303-0300
telephone:[81] (03) 3224-5000
FAX:[81] (03) 3505-1862
consulate(s) general:Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
consulate(s):Fukuoka, Nagoya

Flag description

white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

National symbol(s)

red sun disc

chrysanthemum

National anthem

name: “Kimigayo” (The Emperor”s Reign)
lyrics/music:unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI
note:adopted 1999

in use as unofficial national anthem since 1883

oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier

there is some opposition to the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor

Economy

Economy – overview

In the years following World War II, government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan develop a technologically advanced economy. Two notable characteristics of the post-war economy were the close interlocking structures of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, known as keiretsu, and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Both features are now eroding under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic demographic change. Japan’s industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. A tiny agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self sufficient in rice, Japan imports about 60% of its food on a caloric basis. Japan maintains one of the world’s largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades, overall real economic growth had been spectacular – a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the after effects of inefficient investment and an asset price bubble in the late 1980s that required a protracted period of time for firms to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis that adjusts for price differences, Japan in 2010 stood as the third-largest economy in the world after China, which surpassed Japan in 2001. The Japanese financial sector was not heavily exposed to sub-prime mortgages or their derivative instruments and weathered the initial effect of the recent global credit crunch, but a sharp downturn in business investment and global demand for Japan’s exports in late 2008 pushed Japan further into recession. Government stimulus spending helped the economy recover in late 2009 and 2010. Prime Minister KAN’s government has proposed opening the agricultural and services sectors to greater foreign competition and boosting exports through free-trade agreements, but debate continues on restructuring the economy and funding new stimulus programs in the face of a tight fiscal situation. Japan’s huge government debt, which exceeds 200% of GDP, persistent deflation, reliance on exports to drive growth, and an aging and shrinking population are major long-term challenges for the economy. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake and an ensuing tsunami devastated the northeast coast of Honshu Island on 11 March 2011, washing away buildings and infrastructure as much as 6 miles inland, killing thousands, severely damaging several nuclear power plants, displacing and leaving homeless more than 320,000 people, and leaving a million households without running water. Radiation leaks at the Fukushima Daiichai nuclear power plant prompted mass evacuations and the declaration of a no-fly zone – initially for people and planes within 12.5 miles of the plant but later expanded to 19 miles. Radioactive iodine-131 has been found as far as 100 miles from the plant in samples of water, milk, fish, beef, and certain vegetables, at levels that make these foods unfit for consumption and create uncertainty regarding possible long-term contamination of the area. Energy-cutting efforts by electric companies and train lines slowed the pace of business throughout Honshu Island, and the stock market gyrated, dropping as much as 10% in a single day. In order to stabilize financial markets and retard appreciation of the yen, the Bank of Japan injected more than $325 billion in yen into the economy. Estimates of the direct costs of the damage – rebuilding homes and factories – range from $235 billion to $310 billion. Some economic forecasters, who previously had anticipated slower growth for Japan in 2011, now believe GDP may decline as much as 1% for the year.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.31 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4 $4.146 trillion (2009 est.)
$4.424 trillion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.459 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

3.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100 -6.3% (2009 est.)
-1.2% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$34,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38 $32,600 (2009 est.)
$34,800 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 1.4%
industry:24.9%
services:73.8% (2010 est.)

Labor force

62.97 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 3.9%
industry:26.2%
services:69.8% (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44 5% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

15.7% (2007)
note:Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) press release, 20 October 2009

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%:27.5% (2008)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

37.6 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 77 24.9 (1993)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Budget

revenues: $1.776 trillion
expenditures:$2.221 trillion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-8.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

Public debt

199.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2 194.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9 -1.3% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.3% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 141 0.3% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

1.475% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187 1.475% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$6.047 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1 $5.246 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$16.46 trillion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 1 $15.43 trillion (31 December 2009)

Stock of domestic credit

$16.39 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3 $13.32 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.1 trillion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 4 $3.378 trillion (31 December 2009)
$3.22 trillion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit

pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs

fish

Industries

among world’s largest and technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods

Industrial production growth rate

16.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

Electricity – production

982.3 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

Electricity – consumption

963.9 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

131,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

Oil – consumption

4.452 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

Oil – exports

366,800 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Oil – imports

4.394 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

Oil – proved reserves

44.12 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Natural gas – production

3.397 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53

Natural gas – consumption

100.3 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Natural gas – imports

98.01 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

Natural gas – proved reserves

20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76

Current account balance

$166.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3 $142.2 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$730.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5 $545.3 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals

Exports – partners

China 19.4%, US 15.7%, South Korea 8.1%, Hong Kong 5.5%, Thailand 4.4% (2010)

Imports

$639.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5 $501.6 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw materials

Imports – partners

China 22.1%, US 9.9%, Australia 6.5%, Saudi Arabia 5.2%, UAE 4.2%, South Korea 4.1%, Indonesia 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.063 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2 $1.024 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$2.719 trillion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 6 $2.441 trillion (30 September 2010)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$199.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21 $199.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$795.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8 $738.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

yen (JPY) per US dollar -
87.78 (2010)
93.57 (2009)
103.58 (2008)
117.99 (2007)
116.18 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

176 (2010)
country comparison to the world:34

Airports – with paved runways

total: 144
over 3,047 m:7
2,438 to 3,047 m:44
1,524 to 2,437 m:38
914 to 1,523 m:28
under 914 m:27 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 32
914 to 1,523 m:4
under 914 m:28 (2010)

Heliports

15 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 4,135 km

oil 171 km

oil/gas/water 53 km (2010)

Railways

total: 26,435 km
country comparison to the world: 11 standard gauge:3,978 km 1.435-m gauge (3,978 km electrified)
narrow gauge:96 km 1.372-m gauge (96 km electrified)

22,313 km 1.067-m gauge (15,235 km electrified)

48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways

total: 1,203,777 km
country comparison to the world: 5 paved:961,366 km (includes 7,560 km of expressways)
unpaved:242,411 km (2008)

Waterways

1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 46

Merchant marine

total: 673
country comparison to the world: 16 by type:bulk carrier 152, cargo 31, carrier 3, chemical tanker 28, container 2, liquefied gas 63, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 120, petroleum tanker 152, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 52, vehicle carrier 54
foreign-owned:1 (Norway 1)
registered in other countries:3,064 (Bahamas 93, Belize 1, Bermuda 2, Burma 1, Cambodia 2, Cayman Islands 19, China 2, Cyprus 19, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 84, Indonesia 7, Isle of Man 15, Liberia 102, Malaysia 4, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 41, Netherlands 1, Panama 2347, Philippines 82, Portugal 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Sierra Leone 3, Singapore 146, South Korea 15, Thailand 2, UK 4, Vanuatu 44, unknown 4) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Tomakomai, Yokohama

Military

Military branches

Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD): Ground Self-Defense Force (Rikujou Jietai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jietai, MSDF), Air Self-Defense Force (Koukuu Jieitai, ASDF) (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service

Maritime Self-Defense Force mandatory retirement at age 54 (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 27,301,443
females age 16-49:26,307,003 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 22,390,431
females age 16-49:21,540,322 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 623,365
female:591,253 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 149

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the “Northern Territories” and in Russia as the “Southern Kuril Islands,” occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities

Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954

China and Taiwan dispute both Japan’s claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan’s unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting