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ECONOMY Japan's industrialized, free-market economy is the world's second largest. Japan is the world's largest foreign aid donor, a major source of world capital, and a technology leader in many fields. Its economy is highly efficient and competitive in areas linked to international trade, and provides the Japanese people with a high standard of living. Japan's GDP in 1995 was $4.7 trillion; its per capita GDP was $36,863. Japan has only limited natural resources, including mineral deposits and fish, and is highly dependent on imported raw materials, particularly petroleum and iron and aluminum ore. Less than 16% of the country's area is arable, and this land is intensively cultivated. The country's main agricultural products are rice, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat and silk. Farming, however, comprises less than 10% of the total labor force. Japan's industries include machinery and equipment, metals and metal products, textiles, autos, chemicals and electrical and electronic equipment
RELIGION Two major currents of religion in Japan are Buddhism, which was brought to Japan in the sixth century, and Shinto, which developed a the nation's folk religion. As of the end of 1994, there were 231,428 religious institutions, including Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and Christian churches. Culturally, historically, and politically Buddhism has had a great influence on the Japanese mentality. Buddhism is divided into a number of sects with the major sects being Jodo Shinshu, Nichiren, and Zen. As of the end of 1994, there were over 78,000 Buddhist temples in Japan. Shinto has survived in the form of traditional beliefs and customs and in such practices as individual prayers and a variety of ties and festivities. Unlike such imported systems as Buddhism and Confucianism, Shinto embodies an indigenous religion and philosophy. Under the present Constitution Shinto has no official status of any situation, however, Shinto has no official status of any kind. Statistics show that there are 117 million followers of Shinto and 90 million adherents of Buddhism in Japan. In customary practice, Shinto rites are observed to celebrate such occasions as birth and marriage, while Buddhist ceremonies are used for funerals and memorial services.
MISCELLANIOUS The Japanese commonly refer to their country as Nihon Koku, Nippon Koku or Nihon or Nippon. These names translate to mean "The Sources of the Sun" or "Land of the Rising Sun." The islands of Japan are actually the exposed tops of huge undersea ridges. These ridges rise up out of the Pacific Ocean. Because of this, more than eighty percent of the land is rugged mountains and hills. Japan has numerous volcanoes, about two hundred, and many earthquakes. In fact, Japan has about three minor earthquakes every day of the year. Japan does have severe earthquakes too, such as the Great Kanto Earthquake that shook the country in 1923. This historic disaster demolished the cities of Tokyo and Yokohama and more than one hundred and twenty thousand lives were lost at that time. Japan is home to ten percent of the world's active volcanoes. There is no need to send invitations to weddings, funerals, and the like as they are community events which are shared by all in Japanese villages. All of the village women prepare food and the entire village either mourns or congratulates the newly-wed couple.
