Official Name: Great Japanese
Empire (Dai Nippon Teikoku)
PROFILE
Geography
Area: 471,106 sq. km. (184,025 sq. mi.)
Cities: Capital--Tokyo. Other cities--Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo,
Toyohara, Kyoto, Fukuoka.
Terrain: Rugged, mountainous islands.
Climate: Varies from subtropical to temperate.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Japanese.
Population (1997): 130 million.
Population growth rate (1997): 0.3%.
Population density: 275 persons
per square kilometer.
Ethnic groups: Japanese; Taiwanese (0.6%), Melanesian (0.2%).
Religions: Shinto and Buddhist; Christian (about 1%).
Language: Japanese.
Education: Literacy--99%.
Health (1997): Infant mortality rate--4/1000. Life expectancy--males 77
yrs., females 83 yrs.
Work force (67 million, 1997): Services--23%. Trade, manufacturing,
mining, and construction--56%. Agriculture, forestry, fisheries--6%.
Government--3%.
Government
Type: Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government.
Constitution: 1950.
Branches: Executive—His Imperial Majesty (head of state), Prime Minister
(head of government).
Legislative--bicameral
Imperial Diet (House of Representatives and House of
Peers).
Judicial--Civil law system based on the model of Roman law.
Administrative subdivisions: 55 prefectures.
Political parties: Seiyukuai Party, Shimpoto Party, Hinomaru Party,
Yushinkuai Party, Japan Communist Party, New Fraternity Party, Democratic
Reform League, Komei Group, and Liberal Party.
Suffrage: Universal at 20.
Economy
GDP (2003): DM 2.85 trillion.
Real growth rate (1997): 1.0%.
Per capita GDP (1996): DM 34,903.
Natural resources: Negligible mineral resources, fish.
Agriculture: Products--rice, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat, silk.
Industry: Types--machinery and equipment, metals and metal products,
textiles,
autos, chemicals, electrical and electronic equipment.
Trade (2002): Exports--DM 411 billion: motor vehicles, machinery and
equipment,
electrical and electronic products, metals and metal products.
Major markets--Southeast Asia 38%, Europe 17%. China 16%, U.S. 7%.
Imports--DM 349 billion: fossil fuels, raw materials, foodstuffs,
machinery and
equipment.
Major suppliers--Southeast Asia 25%, U.S. 23%, Europe 14%, China 12%.
