Fact Sheet & Country Note on Japan
I. General
Official Name
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Japan (Nihon or Nippon in Japanese which means ‘Origin of Sun’).
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Language
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Japanese
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Standard Time
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GMT + 9 hours
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Land Territory
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3,77,975 sq. kms.
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Geography
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Japan, known as the ‘Land of Rising Sun’, is a part of a long chain of mountains running from Southeast Asia to Alaska. It comprises of over six thousand islands. It has long rocky coastline with many small and excellent harbors, numerous valleys, rivers and lakes. Mountainous and hilly areas account for over 75% of total area with 532 mountains over 2,000 meters high. Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain rising to 3776 meters. Being located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan is prone to earthquakes.
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Climate
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Predominantly temperate, it is marked by four distinct seasons with pronounced differences in the North and the South. Northern Japan has long and harsh winters and relatively cool summers. Central Japan has cold short winters and cool humid summers.
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Main Cities
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Tokyo (capital), Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo,Fukouka, Kobe, Kawasaki, Kyoto, Sendai
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Total Prefectures
(Administrative division)
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47
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Population and demography
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125.05 million (as of May 2022; Source: Statistical Bureau of Japan)
29.1% of the population is over 65 years of age; 15.0% of the population is aged 75 & above
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Life Expectancy (years)
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Male – 81.47; Female – 87.57 years (August 2022; Source: MHLW, Japan)
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Religions
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Shintoism (51%), Buddhists (43%), Christians (1%), Others (5%)
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Neighboring Countries
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Russia, North Korea, South Korea, China, Philippines, Pacific Islands, and the US
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Political System
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Japan is a constitutional monarchy. The Emperor is the symbol of State and of the unity of people. He performs his constitutional duties on the advice and with the approval of the Cabinet. Japan follows parliamentary democracy with separation of legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The term of the government is four years. It may be terminated earlier if the Cabinet dissolves the House of Representatives. The Cabinet headed by Prime Minister is responsible to the Parliament (Diet) consisting of the House of Representatives (Lower House – 465 seats) and the House of Councillors (Upper House – 248 seats). Voting is by universal adult suffrage (18 years old and above).
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Head of State (Emperor)
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NARUHITO
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Head of Government (Prime Minister)
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KISHIDA Fumio
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Minister for Foreign Affairs
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HAYASHI Yoshimasa
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Major Political Parties in Diet (Japanese Parliament)
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House of Representatives – 465 (as of March 13, 2023)
Liberal Democratic Party
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260 (20)
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The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Independent
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97 (13)
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Komeito
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32 (4)
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Japanese Communist Party
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10 (2)
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Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party)
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40 (4)
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Democratic Party For the People
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10 (1)
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Independents
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5 (0)
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INCUMBENTS
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461 (46)
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Vacancies
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4
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MEMBERSHIP
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465
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Note: Figures in parentheses show the number of women members
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House of Councillors – 245 (as of March 13, 2023)
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Political Group in the House
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Number of Members
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Liberal Democratic Party
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118 (23)
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The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Social Democratic Party
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40 (19)
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Komeito
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27 (4)
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Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party)
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21 (4)
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Democratic Party For the People and The Shin-Ryokufukai
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13 (4)
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Japanese Communist Party
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11 (5)
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Okinawa Whirlwind
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2 (0)
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REIWA SHINSENGUMI
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5 (1)
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Independents
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8(4)
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INCUMBENTS
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247 (64)
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Vacancies
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1
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MEMBERSHIP
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248
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Note: Figures in parentheses show the number of women members
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II. Key Economic Indicators
Economy
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The economy of Japan is the third largest in the world by nominal GDP, the fourth largest by purchasing power parity and is the world’s second largest developed economy. Japan is the world’s third largest automobile manufacturing country, has the largest electronics goods industry, and is often ranked among the world’s most innovative countries leading several measures of global patent filings. Manufacturing in Japan focuses primarily on high-tech and precision goods, such as optical instruments, hybrid vehicles, and robotics. Besides the Kanto region, the Kansai region is one of the leading industrial clusters and manufacturing centers for the Japanese economy. Japan is the world’s largest creditor nation, generally running an annual trade surplus and having a considerable net international investment surplus.
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GDP
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Real: 546.0 trillion JPY (US$4.1 trillion) (FY 2021-22)
(Unofficial Conversion as per rates on February, 2023)
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GDP Growth Rate
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Real: –1.1%, Nominal : 1.3% (FY 2021-22)
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GDP Per capita
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US$ 39,803 (FY 2021-22)
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Major Sectors (% of GDP)
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Agriculture: 1.2
Industry: 27.5
Services: 71.4
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Inflation rate
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2.5%(CY 2022)
0.8% (CY 2021)
0.0% (CY 2020)
0.5% (CY 2019)
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Unemployment rate
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2.5% (CY 2022)
2.9% (CY 2021)
2.8% (CY 2020)
2.4% (CY 2019)
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Total Trade
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USD 1545.11 billion (CY 2022)
USD 1450.65 billion (CY 2021)
USD 1276.34 billion (CY 2020)
USD 1427.19 billion (CY 2019)
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Major Trading Partners
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China, USA, EU
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Rate of Exchange
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USD/JPY: 134.25
INR/JPY: 1.64
(As on March 13, 2023)
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Major Items of Exports
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Transport equipment (Motor vehicles, parts of motor vehicles, ships, etc.), Electrical machinery & Semiconductors, Machinery (iron & steel products, electronic integrated circuits, power generating machinery), Manufactured goods (Iron & steel products, nonferrous metals, etc.), Chemicals (organic, medical, plastic materials), Food stuffs, Others.
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Major Items of Imports
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Mineral fuels (Petroleum & petroleum products, LNG, coal, LPG), Manufactured goods (iron & steel, nonferrous, textile yarn and fabric, clothing & accessories, medical products), Machinery (telecommunications equipment, semiconductors, electronic integrated circuits, computers & parts, scientific & optical equipment), Food stuffs, Transport equipment, Chemicals (Organic & medical products), Raw materials (wood, ore of nonferrous, iron ore, etc).
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Japan’s Major Industries
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Motor Vehicles, Electronic Goods, Machinery & Machine Tools, Steel & Non-Ferrous Metals, Ships, Chemicals, Textiles, Processed Food
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III. India Specific Information
Indian Origin/Permanent Resident
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Total: 547
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Indian Expatriates
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Total: approx 40,202
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Indian Organizations
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Banks
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2
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PSUs
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2
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Government Organizations
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2
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Indian Associations registered with EOI & CGI
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49 with EOI Tokyo
09 with CGI Osaka
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https://www.gsi.go.jp/KOKUJYOHO/MENCHO/202001/area_todofuken.pdf
http://www.biodic.go.jp/english/kiso/33/33_kaiga_e.html
https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/nenkan/69nenkan/1431-02.html
http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/jinsui/2019np/index.html
https://www.e-stat.go.jp/en/stat-search/files?page=1&layout=dataset&toukei=00200524&tstat=000000090001
https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/pdf/2019all.pdf#page=23
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/youran/aramashi/all.pdf
http://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_english.nsf/html/statics/english/strength.htm
https://www.sangiin.go.jp/japanese/joho1/kousei/eng/strength/index.htm
https://japan.kantei.go.jp/99_suga/meibo/daijin/index_e.html (R denotes House of Representatives & C denotes House of Councillors)
https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/en/sna/data/sokuhou/files/2020/qe201_2/gdemenuea.html
https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/japan/index.html
https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/en/sna/data/sokuhou/files/2020/qe201_2/gdemenuea.html
https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/roudou/results/month/index.html
https://www.mof.go.jp/english/international_policy/reference/official_reserve_assets/e0206.html
https://www.mof.go.jp/english/jgbs/reference/gbb/e202003.html
https://www.boj.or.jp/en/statistics/market/forex/fxdaily/index.htm/
https://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/shinbun/trade-st_e/2019/2019_216e.pdf
https://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/shinbun/trade-st_e/2019/2019_216e.pdf
https://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/shinbun/trade-st_e/2019/2019_216e.pdf
https://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/shinbun/trade-st_e/2019/2019_216e.pdf
http://www.moj.go.jp/housei/toukei/toukei_ichiran_touroku.html