FAST FACTS
Area: 377,800 sq km
1997 population: 126,410,000
Capital (population): Tokyo (11,936,000)
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Ethnic groups: Japanese 99% plus Chinese, Korean and
Ainu
Languages: Japanese (official)
Religions: Shintoism 93%, Buddhist 74% (most Japanese
consider
themselves both Shinto and Buddhist) and 1% Christian
Currency: Yen = 100 sen
1997 GDP per capita: US$ 37,013
Japan became an industrial and military power, shaking
the western world's superior view held over Asians,
when in 1905, the Japanese defeated the military might
of Russia. Japan's frustrated warlords began to push
expansionist ideologies, which eventually led to Japan's
imperialist ventures up to and during the Second World
War. After defeat, having its confidence, country, society
and even the emperor reduced to its knees, the Japanese
quickly set about rebuilding a new Japan, with US help.
Japanese industry proved infinitely versatile, adapting
western products, and learning to make them better and
cheaper than her western counterparts. This trend reached
its peak in the 1970s, when Japanese car imports threatened
the US car market, a symbol of industrial pride to the
US. Japan's major industries have become world leaders
in electronics, heavy industry, information technology,
and many more major sectors. This industrial might created
wealth which has eventually made Japan one of the world's
richest countries, a wealth which has percolated down
to Japanese consumers, who have some of the highest
per capita incomes, and spending powers in the world.
Despite the wealth it amassed, Japan has been in recession
since the late 1980s, and continues to struggle with
problems in its commercial and financial infrastructure.
However, Japan, and the Japanese, remain rich, and are,
in a sense, the model of Asian consumption looked up
to as the shining example for all others in the region
to aspire to. Japan is likely to remain a strong consumer
market, and a key one for any company serious about
being in Asia.
JAPAN LINKS
http://www.kyodo.co.jp
http://www.japanese.com/japanlinks.html
