Country's Full Name: Japan; Nihon/Nippon

Brief History: Early sign of hunter-gatherer culture (about 15,000 years BC) could be found in the form of decorated clay vessels with plaited patterns. Different clans of Shoguns (military dictator) ruled the country for 700 years from AD 1192. Japan came into western influence in 1542 with Portuguese ships landing at Nagasaki. However, the powerful shogunate didn’t allow the westerners to expand their business from Japanese soil.

The shogun system was finally abolished in 1868 after Emperor Meiji’s royal decree. Japan became regional superpower after defeating China (1894-95) and Russia (1904-05). It annexed Formosa (Taiwan), Pescadores Islands and Manchuria from China. The expansion continued in Russian territory of Sakhalin. Japan joined the axis power in 1936 propelling itself in the Second World War after the invasion of Pearl Harbor the US naval base on Dec 7, 1941. Japan surrendered on Sep 2, 1945 after US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki suffering heavy losses. All the occupied areas were reverted back unconditionally by Japan. Despite heavy men, machinery and economic losses Japan rose to become the economic and technological superpower.

What is the country known for:
It is second most technologically powerful economy in the world after the US.
It is also called as land of the rising Sun.
Mount Fuji attracts many visitors and hikers.
It is the only country to witness the catastrophe of atomic bombing.


Main Industries:
Japan is not rich in mineral resources but it is among the world's largest and technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods

Main Trading Partners:
Exports: $678.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities: transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals
Exports - partners: US 20.4%, China 15.3%, South Korea 7.6%, Taiwan 6.3%, Hong Kong 5.4% (2007)
Imports: $573.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw materials
Imports - partners: China 20.5%, US 11.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.7%, UAE 5.2%, Australia 5%, South Korea 4.4%, Indonesia 4.2% (2007)

Major Cities:
Tokyo, 35,327,000 (metro. area), 8,483,050 (city proper)
Yokohama, 3,494,900 (part of Tokyo metro. area); Osaka, 11,286,000 (metro. area), 2,597,000 (city proper); Nagoya, 2,189,700; Sapporo, 1,848,000; Kobe, 1,529,900 (part of Osaka metro. area); Kyoto, 1,470,600 (part of Osaka metro. area); Fukuoka, 1,368,900; Kawasaki, 1,276,200 (part of Tokyo metro. area); Hiroshima, 1,132,700

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

Japan comprises over 3,000 islands making it an archipelago. The largest islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku together accounting for 97% of Japan's land area.

Size:
Total: 377,835 sq km
Land: 374,744 sq km
Water: 3,091 sq km
Note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)

Slightly smaller than California

Time Zone: UTC 9 hours – Japanese Standard Time

Type of Government:
Japan is constitutional monarchy where Emperor is the symbolic head with limited powers. The democratically elected Prime Minister with his group of ministers are the main power center with sovereignty in the hands of common people of Japan.
Parliament consists of bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected for 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 four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs)
Chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
Head of government: Prime Minister Taro ASO (since 24 September 2008)

National Holidays:

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
11 Jan Coming of Age Day.
11 Feb National Foundation Day.
20 Mar Vernal Equinox.
29 Apr Showa Day.
3 May Constitution Memorial Day.
4 May Greenery Day.
5 May Children's Day.
19 Jul Marine Day.
20 Sep Respect for the Aged Day.
23 Sep Autumnal Equinox.
11 Oct Sports Day.
3 Nov Culture Day.
23 Nov Labour Thanksgiving Day.
23 Dec Birthday of the Emperor.

2011
1 Jan New Year's Day.
10 Jan Coming of Age Day.
11 Feb National Foundation Day.
20 Mar Vernal Equinox.
29 Apr Showa Day.
3 May Constitution Memorial Day.
4 May Greenery Day.
5 May Children's Day.
18 Jul Marine Day.
19 Sep Respect for the Aged Day.
23 Sep Autumnal Equinox.
10 Oct Sports Day.
3 Nov Culture Day.
23 Nov Labor Thanksgiving Day.
23 Dec Birthday of the Emperor.

Note
(a) With the exception of New Year Bank Holidays, if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following day is treated as a holiday instead. (b) When there is a single day between two national holidays, it is also taken as a holiday. (c) Between 29 December and 3 January government offices and many shops and offices are closed.

Population:
127,288,416 (July 2008 est.)

0-14 years: 13.7% (male 8,926,439/female 8,460,629)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 41,513,061/female 40,894,057)
65 years and over: 21.6% (male 11,643,845/female 15,850,388) (2008 est.)

Religion:
Observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

Language: Japanese

Local Customs:
When invited to Japanese home do remember to bring gift or “omiyage” for the host. Do not take flowers; they are not considered an appropriate gift.
While exchanging business cards do read the card with interest. Simply putting it into the pocket is considered rude. Do print business cards in English and Japanese.
Unlike Westerners handshaking to show gratitude, Japanese when they meet and depart bow to each other. The other person's age, status and social connections determine how deeply he or she will bow and for how long.
Be punctual for business meetings.
Shoes have to be removed while entering homes and many public places.
Chopsticks are essentially used for eating. Before eating or drinking, it is customary to say "Itadakimasu” (good eating to you, I am starting to eat).
“Kimono” is the national dress for women.

Best Time to go:
The best time to go Japan can be in spring (March-May) and fall (September-November). Many visitors like to see the blooming of Sakura or Cherry Flower in spring season.

Currency:
1 Japanese Yen = 0.007258 Euro
1 Euro (EUR) = 137.778 Japanese Yen (JPY)

1 Japanese Yen = 0.009861 US Dollar
1 US Dollar (USD) = 101.414 Japanese Yen (JPY)

1 Japanese Yen = 0.005654 British Pound
1 British Pound (GBP) = 176.866 Japanese Yen (JPY)

Customs Regulations:
Free import of
1. Tobacco products (for passengers 20 years of age or older)
a. residents
- 200 cigarettes;
- 50 cigars;
- 250 grams of tobacco;
- 250 grams of a combination thereof;
- An additional equal quantity of Japanese made tobacco articles which were acquired duty free outside Japan, may be imported.
b. non-residents twice the amounts in 1.a. above;

2. Alcohol (passengers 20 years or older) 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages (of about 0.750 litre each).
3. Perfume 2 ounces.
4. Gifts and souvenirs up to JPY 200,000.

Tipping: Tipping in Japan is non-existent. It is improper to tip anyone for the service.