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 South East 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 up 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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125.21 million (as of September 2021; Source: MIC, Japan)
29.1% of the population is over 65 years of age; 15.0% of the population is aged 75 & above (as of September 2021; Source: MIC, Japan)
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Life Expectancy (years)
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Male – 81.64; Female – 87.74 years (August 2021; 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 – 245 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 December 2021)
Liberal Democratic Party
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275 (21)
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The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Independent
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112 (15)
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Komeito
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29 (4)
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Japanese Communist Party
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12 (3)
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Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party)
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11 (1)
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Democratic Party For the People
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10 (0)
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Independents
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10 (0)
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INCUMBENTS
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460 (47)
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Vacancies
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5
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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 December 2021)
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Political Group in the House
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Number of Members
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Liberal Democratic Party and Voice of The People
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111 (17)
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The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Social Democratic Party
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45 (15)
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Komeito
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28 (5)
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Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party)
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15 (3)
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Democratic Party For the People and The Shin-Ryokufukai
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15 (4)
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Japanese Communist Party
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13 (5)
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Okinawa Whirlwind
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2 (0)
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REIWA SHINSENGUMI
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2 (1)
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Hekisuikai
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2 (2)
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Your Party
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2 (0)
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Independents
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7 (4)
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INCUMBENTS
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242 (56)
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Vacancies
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3
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MEMBERSHIP
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245
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Note: Figures in parentheses show the number of women members
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Cabinet
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KISHIDA Fumio (R)
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Prime Minister
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SUZUKI Shunichi (R)
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Minister of Finance Minister of State for Financial Services Minister in charge of Overcoming Deflation
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KANEKO Yasushi (R)
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Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications
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FURUKAWA Yoshihisa (R)
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Minister of Justice
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HAYASHI Yoshimasa (R)
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Minister for Foreign Affairs
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SUEMATSU Shinsuke (C)
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Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister in charge of Education Rebuilding
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GOTO Shigeyuki (R)
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Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Minister for Working-style Reform
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KANEKO Genjiro (C)
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Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
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HAGIUDA Koichi (R)
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Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Minister in charge of Industrial Competitiveness Minister for Economic Cooperation with Russia Minister in charge of the Reponse to the Economic Impact caused by the Nuclear Accident Minister of State for the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation
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SAITO Tetsuo (R)
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Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister in charge of Water Cycle Policy
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YAMAGUCHI Tsuyoshi (R)
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Minister of the Environment Minister of State for Nuclear Emergency Preparedness
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KISHI Nobuo (C)
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Minister of Defense
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MATSUNO Hirokazu (R)
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Minister in charge of Mitigating the Impact of U.S. Forces in Okinawa Minister in charge of the Abductions Issue
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NISHIME Kozaburo (R)
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Minister for Reconstruction Minister in charge of Comprehensive Policy Coordination for Revival from the Nuclear Accident at Fukushima
Minister in charge of Administrative Reform Minister in charge of Civil Service Reform Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs Minister of State for Regulatory Reform
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NINOYU Satoshi (C)
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Chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission Minister in charge of Building National Resilience Minister in charge of Territorial Issues Minister of State for Disaster Management Minister of State for Ocean Policy
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NODA Seiko (R)
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Minister for Promoting Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens Minister in charge of Regional Revitalization Minister of State for Measures for Declining Birthrate Minister of State for Regional Revitalization
Minister in charge of Women's Empowerment Minister of State for Gender Equality
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YAMAGIWA Daishiro (R)
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Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Minister in charge of Social Security Reform Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy
Minister in charge of the Trans-Pacific Partnership
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MAKISHIMA Karen (R)
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Minister for Digital Transformation Minister in charge of Information Technology Policy Minister of State for the Social Security and Tax Number System
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HORIUCHI Noriko (R)
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Minister for Covid-19 Vaccination
Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games
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WAKAMIYA Kenji (R)
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Minister for the World Expo 2025 Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety Minister of State for "Cool Japan" Strategy Minister of State for the Intellectual Strategy Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Minister of State for Space Policy
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