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Last updated: April 16, 2024
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  • Red-crowned cranes at Kushiro Marsh on the island of Hokkaido. While the population on Hokkaido is resident, others migrate from eastern Siberia and northeastern China to the Korean peninsula and east-central China. They are among the rarest cranes in the world. In some parts of its range, the red-crowned crane is regarded as a symbol of luck, longevity, and fidelity. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Service/ Barnett Rattner.

    Red-crowned cranes at Kushiro Marsh on the island of Hokkaido. While the population on Hokkaido is resident, others migrate from eastern Siberia and northeastern China to the Korean peninsula and east-central China. They are among the rarest cranes in the world. In some parts of its range, the red-crowned crane is regarded as a symbol of luck, longevity, and fidelity. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Service/ Barnett Rattner.

  • The city of Ishinomaki was one of the hardest hit when a powerful tsunami swept ashore on 21 March 2011. This satellite image is from three days later, when water still inundated the city. Water is dark blue in this false-color image. Plant-covered land is red, exposed earth is tan, and the city is silver. The most extensive flooding may be seen around Matsushima Air Base (lower left corner) where several airplanes were damaged and where the surrounding neighborhoods are flooded. Dark blue fills in the spaces between buildings in sections of Ishinomaki near the harbor (image center) and by the river (upper right). Photo courtesy of NASA.

    The city of Ishinomaki was one of the hardest hit when a powerful tsunami swept ashore on 21 March 2011. This satellite image is from three days later, when water still inundated the city. Water is dark blue in this false-color image. Plant-covered land is red, exposed earth is tan, and the city is silver. The most extensive flooding may be seen around Matsushima Air Base (lower left corner) where several airplanes were damaged and where the surrounding neighborhoods are flooded. Dark blue fills in the spaces between buildings in sections of Ishinomaki near the harbor (image center) and by the river (upper right). Photo courtesy of NASA.

  • This high-oblique, northeast-looking space shuttle photograph captures a portion of Southern Honshu Island and Shikoku Island of Japan. The darker areas show volcanic, mountainous terrain that comprises more than 80 percent of Japan; the lighter, more highly reflective areas of the coastal plains and valleys are urban and agricultural areas. Separated by the Seto Inland Sea are Shikoku Island to the south and the Osaka-Kobe industrial metroplex on Honshu Island to the north. Photo courtesy of NASA.

    This high-oblique, northeast-looking space shuttle photograph captures a portion of Southern Honshu Island and Shikoku Island of Japan. The darker areas show volcanic, mountainous terrain that comprises more than 80 percent of Japan; the lighter, more highly reflective areas of the coastal plains and valleys are urban and agricultural areas. Separated by the Seto Inland Sea are Shikoku Island to the south and the Osaka-Kobe industrial metroplex on Honshu Island to the north. Photo courtesy of NASA.

  • Satellite image shows North and South Korea (upper left) as well as the Japanese island of Shikoku, nestled between Kyushu to the southwest and Honshu to the north. Photo courtesy of NASA.

    Satellite image shows North and South Korea (upper left) as well as the Japanese island of Shikoku, nestled between Kyushu to the southwest and Honshu to the north. Photo courtesy of NASA.

  • Mt. Fuji on the island of Honshu as seen from the space shuttle. The snow-capped inactive volcano, surrounded at lower levels by clouds in this image, lies several miles south of Tokyo. Image courtesy of NASA.

    Mt. Fuji on the island of Honshu as seen from the space shuttle. The snow-capped inactive volcano, surrounded at lower levels by clouds in this image, lies several miles south of Tokyo. Image courtesy of NASA.

  • The temple gable mimics the shape of Mt. Fuji in the background.

    The temple gable mimics the shape of Mt. Fuji in the background.

  • Colorful kimonos in a Tokyo coffee shop.

    Colorful kimonos in a Tokyo coffee shop.

  • Equestrian statue of the famous samurai Kusunoki Masashige (1294-1336) outside of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

    Equestrian statue of the famous samurai Kusunoki Masashige (1294-1336) outside of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

  • The Imperial Palace and Nijubashi Bridge in Tokyo.

    The Imperial Palace and Nijubashi Bridge in Tokyo.

  • East Gardens of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

    East Gardens of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

  • Layers of green foliage along the shoreline of a Japanese garden.

    Layers of green foliage along the shoreline of a Japanese garden.

  • Lotus blossoms.

    Lotus blossoms.

  • A roof finial of watari-yagura in Tokyo.

    A roof finial of watari-yagura in Tokyo.

  • The haiden (hall of worship) at the Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The Shinto shrine was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japan in various wars.

    The haiden (hall of worship) at the Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The Shinto shrine was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japan in various wars.

  • The haiden (hall of worship) at the Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The Shinto shrine was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japan in various wars.

    The haiden (hall of worship) at the Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The Shinto shrine was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japan in various wars.

  • The Diet Building in Tokyo at night.

    The Diet Building in Tokyo at night.

  • Shotoku-taishi-do Hall, Narita, Japan.

    Shotoku-taishi-do Hall, Narita, Japan.

  • Gaku-do Hall in Narita.

    Gaku-do Hall in Narita.

  • A Laughing Buddha in Narita.

    A Laughing Buddha in Narita.

  • Kinkaku-ji or "Temple of the Golden Pavilion," is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto and one of the most popular buildings in the country, attracting thousands of visitors annually. Designated as a National Special Historic Site and a National Special Landscape, it is one of 17 locations making up the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto that are World Heritage Sites.

    Kinkaku-ji or "Temple of the Golden Pavilion," is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto and one of the most popular buildings in the country, attracting thousands of visitors annually. Designated as a National Special Historic Site and a National Special Landscape, it is one of 17 locations making up the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto that are World Heritage Sites.

  • Ginkaku-ji, or "Temple of the Silver Pavilion," is a Zen Buddhist temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto. This fall scene shows the structure reflected in its adjacent pool.

    Ginkaku-ji, or "Temple of the Silver Pavilion," is a Zen Buddhist temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto. This fall scene shows the structure reflected in its adjacent pool.

  • Another autumnal view of Ginkaku-ji, or "Temple of the Silver Pavilion," the Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto.

    Another autumnal view of Ginkaku-ji, or "Temple of the Silver Pavilion," the Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto.

  • An ice sculpture at the Sapporo Snow Festival reproduces the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

    An ice sculpture at the Sapporo Snow Festival reproduces the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

  • Asahi-dake is the tallest mountain on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Part of the Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group of the Ishikari Mountains, it is located in the northern part of Daisetsuzan National Park. The mountain is popular with hikers in the summer and during winter is open for use by skiers and snowboarders.

    Asahi-dake is the tallest mountain on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Part of the Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group of the Ishikari Mountains, it is located in the northern part of Daisetsuzan National Park. The mountain is popular with hikers in the summer and during winter is open for use by skiers and snowboarders.

  • View of some of the Ishikari Mountains from the summit of Asahi-dake, the tallest mountain on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

    View of some of the Ishikari Mountains from the summit of Asahi-dake, the tallest mountain on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

  • View of Nagasaki with a sign displaying the devastated city in October of 1945 following the atomic bombing on 9 August 1945 that sped the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II.

    View of Nagasaki with a sign displaying the devastated city in October of 1945 following the atomic bombing on 9 August 1945 that sped the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II.

  • Monument at the atomic bomb hypocenter (ground zero) in Nagasaki.

    Monument at the atomic bomb hypocenter (ground zero) in Nagasaki.

  • A view of Mount Aso on the island of Kyushu. The active volcano is the largest in Japan, and is among the largest in the world.

    A view of Mount Aso on the island of Kyushu. The active volcano is the largest in Japan, and is among the largest in the world.

  • The distinctive, white, five-story Shimabara Castle keep in Shimabara, Hizen province (present day Nagasaki prefecture) dates to the 17th century.

    The distinctive, white, five-story Shimabara Castle keep in Shimabara, Hizen province (present day Nagasaki prefecture) dates to the 17th century.

  • Some of the boiling hot springs on the Shimabara Peninsula in Nagasaki prefecture, Kyushu.

    Some of the boiling hot springs on the Shimabara Peninsula in Nagasaki prefecture, Kyushu.

  • A rugged section of the Okinawa coastline.

    A rugged section of the Okinawa coastline.

  • Sea stacks along an Okinawan shore.

    Sea stacks along an Okinawan shore.

  • Rocky beach and rugged cliffs along an Okinawan sea shore.

    Rocky beach and rugged cliffs along an Okinawan sea shore.

  • Pathway leading down to an Okinawan beach.

    Pathway leading down to an Okinawan beach.

  • Sunrise over a verdant Okinawan shoreline.

    Sunrise over a verdant Okinawan shoreline.

  • Sunrise over a verdant Okinawan shoreline.

    Sunrise over a verdant Okinawan shoreline.

  • Okinawan shoreline.

    Okinawan shoreline.

  • The Cornerstone of Peace is a monument park in Itoman commemorating the Battle of Okinawa and the role of Okinawa during World War II. The names of all who lost their lives in the fighting regardless of nationality and civilian or military status - over two hundred and forty thousand people - are inscribed on some 116 stones at the memorial. The memorial park was opened on 23 June 1995, marking the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the 82-day battle.

    The Cornerstone of Peace is a monument park in Itoman commemorating the Battle of Okinawa and the role of Okinawa during World War II. The names of all who lost their lives in the fighting regardless of nationality and civilian or military status - over two hundred and forty thousand people - are inscribed on some 116 stones at the memorial. The memorial park was opened on 23 June 1995, marking the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the 82-day battle.

  • Monument at the Cornerstone of Peace Memorial Park.

    Monument at the Cornerstone of Peace Memorial Park.

  • The Cornerstone of Peace is a monument park in Itoman commemorating the Battle of Okinawa and the role of Okinawa during World War II. The names of all who lost their lives in the fighting regardless of nationality and civilian or military status - over two hundred and forty thousand people - are inscribed on some 116 stones at the memorial. The memorial park was opened on 23 June 1995, marking the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the 82-day battle.

    The Cornerstone of Peace is a monument park in Itoman commemorating the Battle of Okinawa and the role of Okinawa during World War II. The names of all who lost their lives in the fighting regardless of nationality and civilian or military status - over two hundred and forty thousand people - are inscribed on some 116 stones at the memorial. The memorial park was opened on 23 June 1995, marking the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the 82-day battle.

  • Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr., commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force and commander of Marine Corps Bases Japan, reviews the names on the Cornerstone of Peace at Okinawa Peace Memorial Park in Itoman City, during the 2011 Okinawa Memorial Service for All War Dead June 23. Image courtesy of the US Marine Corps.

    Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr., commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force and commander of Marine Corps Bases Japan, reviews the names on the Cornerstone of Peace at Okinawa Peace Memorial Park in Itoman City, during the 2011 Okinawa Memorial Service for All War Dead June 23. Image courtesy of the US Marine Corps.

  • The Kuge Memorial Tower located at the Cornerstone Peace Park honors Toshiya Kuge, 20, of Osaka, Japan who died on 11 September 2001. Kuge was on Flight 93, which crashed into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania during an attempt by the passengers and crew to regain control of the plane from four highjackers. All 44 people on board were killed, including the highjackers. Kuge was an athlete and scholar who was determined to become proficient in English and earn a Master's degree in engineering from an American university. He loved American football and was a linebacker in his first year of college at Waseda University where he was an engineering student. On this two-week vacation trip, the friendly, outgoing college sophomore went whitewater rafting in the Canadian Rockies, and visited Niagara Falls and the Statue of Liberty. This was his second visit to the US. Kuge was traveling alone in order to immerse himself in the English language. Flight 93 was the first leg of Kuge's journey home.

    The Kuge Memorial Tower located at the Cornerstone Peace Park honors Toshiya Kuge, 20, of Osaka, Japan who died on 11 September 2001. Kuge was on Flight 93, which crashed into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania during an attempt by the passengers and crew to regain control of the plane from four highjackers. All 44 people on board were killed, including the highjackers. Kuge was an athlete and scholar who was determined to become proficient in English and earn a Master's degree in engineering from an American university. He loved American football and was a linebacker in his first year of college at Waseda University where he was an engineering student. On this two-week vacation trip, the friendly, outgoing college sophomore went whitewater rafting in the Canadian Rockies, and visited Niagara Falls and the Statue of Liberty. This was his second visit to the US. Kuge was traveling alone in order to immerse himself in the English language. Flight 93 was the first leg of Kuge's journey home.

  • A Shisa is a traditional Okinawan carving and decoration, often seen in similar pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog. Shisa are believed to act as wards from certain evils.

    A Shisa is a traditional Okinawan carving and decoration, often seen in similar pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog. Shisa are believed to act as wards from certain evils.

  • The burial tradition on the Ryukyu Islands (of which Okinawa is the largest) is the use of domed burial vaults termed turtleback tombs. The bones of many generations of a particular family could repose in one such tomb. During the Battle of Okinawa, many Okinawan civilians sought refuge from the naval bombardment of the island inside their ancestors' turtleback tombs. Later, many of these tombs were used by the Japanese defenders of the island.

    The burial tradition on the Ryukyu Islands (of which Okinawa is the largest) is the use of domed burial vaults termed turtleback tombs. The bones of many generations of a particular family could repose in one such tomb. During the Battle of Okinawa, many Okinawan civilians sought refuge from the naval bombardment of the island inside their ancestors' turtleback tombs. Later, many of these tombs were used by the Japanese defenders of the island.

  • The burial tradition on the Ryukyu Islands (of which Okinawa is the largest) is the use of domed burial vaults termed turtleback tombs. The bones of many generations of a particular family could repose in one such tomb. During the Battle of Okinawa, many Okinawan civilians sought refuge from the naval bombardment of the island inside their ancestors' turtleback tombs. Later, many of these tombs were used by the Japanese defenders of the island.

    The burial tradition on the Ryukyu Islands (of which Okinawa is the largest) is the use of domed burial vaults termed turtleback tombs. The bones of many generations of a particular family could repose in one such tomb. During the Battle of Okinawa, many Okinawan civilians sought refuge from the naval bombardment of the island inside their ancestors' turtleback tombs. Later, many of these tombs were used by the Japanese defenders of the island.

  • War memorial at the southern Okinawan site where Lt. Gen. Simon G. Buckner Jr. was killed (one of the markers is on the exact site). His death took place in the closing days of the campaign; he was watching an attack on Ibaru Ridge in the southern part of the island a few miles from the coast.

    War memorial at the southern Okinawan site where Lt. Gen. Simon G. Buckner Jr. was killed (one of the markers is on the exact site). His death took place in the closing days of the campaign; he was watching an attack on Ibaru Ridge in the southern part of the island a few miles from the coast.

  • The cave in Mabuni Hill where General Mitsuri Ushijima, the commander of the 32nd Army, had his last command post and committed suicide at the end of the battle for Okinawa.

    The cave in Mabuni Hill where General Mitsuri Ushijima, the commander of the 32nd Army, had his last command post and committed suicide at the end of the battle for Okinawa.

  • Memorial Monument at the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters in Tomigusuku-city.

    Memorial Monument at the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters in Tomigusuku-city.

  • Commanding officer’s room in the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters in Tomigusuku-city. On the surface of a wall of this room, the farewell poem of commanding officer Ota is still brightly visible: “Born as a man, nothing fulfills me more than to die under the banner of the Emperor.”

    Commanding officer’s room in the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters in Tomigusuku-city. On the surface of a wall of this room, the farewell poem of commanding officer Ota is still brightly visible: “Born as a man, nothing fulfills me more than to die under the banner of the Emperor.”

  • Hiji Waterfall in Yanbaru National Park, Okinawa.

    Hiji Waterfall in Yanbaru National Park, Okinawa.

  • Mikasa is a pre-dreadnought battleship built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late 1890s. The ship served as the flagship of Vice Admiral Togo Heihachiro (the statue in the foreground) throughout the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, including the Battle of Tsushima. She has been partially restored and is now a museum ship located at Mikasa Park in Yokosuka. Mikasa is the last remaining example of a pre-dreadnought battleship anywhere in the world.

    Mikasa is a pre-dreadnought battleship built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late 1890s. The ship served as the flagship of Vice Admiral Togo Heihachiro (the statue in the foreground) throughout the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, including the Battle of Tsushima. She has been partially restored and is now a museum ship located at Mikasa Park in Yokosuka. Mikasa is the last remaining example of a pre-dreadnought battleship anywhere in the world.

  • Starboard side view of the Mikasa pre-dreadnought battleship berthed at Mikasa Park in Yokosuka.

    Starboard side view of the Mikasa pre-dreadnought battleship berthed at Mikasa Park in Yokosuka.

  • Red-crowned cranes at Kushiro Marsh on the island of Hokkaido. While the population on Hokkaido is resident, others migrate from eastern Siberia and northeastern China to the Korean peninsula and east-central China. They are among the rarest cranes in the world. In some parts of its range, the red-crowned crane is regarded as a symbol of luck, longevity, and fidelity. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Service/ Barnett Rattner.

    Red-crowned cranes at Kushiro Marsh on the island of Hokkaido. While the population on Hokkaido is resident, others migrate from eastern Siberia and northeastern China to the Korean peninsula and east-central China. They are among the rarest cranes in the world. In some parts of its range, the red-crowned crane is regarded as a symbol of luck, longevity, and fidelity. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Service/ Barnett Rattner.

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  • A nighttime view of Tokyo from the International Space Station as it orbited 420 km (261 mi) above the island nation in February 2021. The heart of the city is brightest, with ribbons of lights radiating outward from the center along streets and railways. The regularly spaced bright spots along the ribbons heading out of the downtown area are train stations along public transit routes. The lights of Tokyo are a cooler blue-green color than in many other world cities. The color results from the more widespread use of mercury vapor lighting as opposed to sodium vapor lighting, which produces an orange-yellow light. Photo courtesy of NASA.
  • The city of Ishinomaki was one of the hardest hit when a powerful tsunami swept ashore on 21 March 2011. This satellite image is from three days later, when water still inundated the city. Water is dark blue in this false-color image. Plant-covered land is red, exposed earth is tan, and the city is silver. The most extensive flooding may be seen around Matsushima Air Base (lower left corner) where several airplanes were damaged and where the surrounding neighborhoods are flooded. Dark blue fills in the spaces between buildings in sections of Ishinomaki near the harbor (image center) and by the river (upper right). Photo courtesy of NASA.
  • This high-oblique, northeast-looking space shuttle photograph captures a portion of Southern Honshu Island and Shikoku Island of Japan. The darker areas show volcanic, mountainous terrain that comprises more than 80 percent of Japan; the lighter, more highly reflective areas of the coastal plains and valleys are urban and agricultural areas. Separated by the Seto Inland Sea are Shikoku Island to the south and the Osaka-Kobe industrial metroplex on Honshu Island to the north. Photo courtesy of NASA.
  • Satellite image shows North and South Korea (upper left) as well as the Japanese island of Shikoku, nestled between Kyushu to the southwest and Honshu to the north. Photo courtesy of NASA.
  • Mt. Fuji on the island of Honshu as seen from the space shuttle. The snow-capped inactive volcano, surrounded at lower levels by clouds in this image, lies several miles south of Tokyo. Image courtesy of NASA.
  • The temple gable mimics the shape of Mt. Fuji in the background.
  • Colorful kimonos in a Tokyo coffee shop.
  • Equestrian statue of the famous samurai Kusunoki Masashige (1294-1336) outside of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
  • The Imperial Palace and Nijubashi Bridge in Tokyo.
  • East Gardens of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
  • Layers of green foliage along the shoreline of a Japanese garden.
  • Lotus blossoms.
  • A roof finial of watari-yagura in Tokyo.
  • The haiden (hall of worship) at the Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The Shinto shrine was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japan in various wars.
  • The haiden (hall of worship) at the Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The Shinto shrine was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japan in various wars.
  • The Diet Building in Tokyo at night.
  • Shotoku-taishi-do Hall, Narita, Japan.
  • Gaku-do Hall in Narita.
  • A Laughing Buddha in Narita.
  • Kinkaku-ji or "Temple of the Golden Pavilion," is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto and one of the most popular buildings in the country, attracting thousands of visitors annually. Designated as a National Special Historic Site and a National Special Landscape, it is one of 17 locations making up the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto that are World Heritage Sites.
  • Ginkaku-ji, or "Temple of the Silver Pavilion," is a Zen Buddhist temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto. This fall scene shows the structure reflected in its adjacent pool.
  • Another autumnal view of Ginkaku-ji, or "Temple of the Silver Pavilion," the Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto.
  • An ice sculpture at the Sapporo Snow Festival reproduces the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
  • Asahi-dake is the tallest mountain on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Part of the Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group of the Ishikari Mountains, it is located in the northern part of Daisetsuzan National Park. The mountain is popular with hikers in the summer and during winter is open for use by skiers and snowboarders.
  • View of some of the Ishikari Mountains from the summit of Asahi-dake, the tallest mountain on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.
  • View of Nagasaki with a sign displaying the devastated city in October of 1945 following the atomic bombing on 9 August 1945 that sped the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II.
  • Monument at the atomic bomb hypocenter (ground zero) in Nagasaki.
  • A view of Mount Aso on the island of Kyushu. The active volcano is the largest in Japan, and is among the largest in the world.
  • The distinctive, white, five-story Shimabara Castle keep in Shimabara, Hizen province (present day Nagasaki prefecture) dates to the 17th century.
  • Some of the boiling hot springs on the Shimabara Peninsula in Nagasaki prefecture, Kyushu.
  • A rugged section of the Okinawa coastline.
  • Sea stacks along an Okinawan shore.
  • Rocky beach and rugged cliffs along an Okinawan sea shore.
  • Pathway leading down to an Okinawan beach.
  • Sunrise over a verdant Okinawan shoreline.
  • Sunrise over a verdant Okinawan shoreline.
  • Okinawan shoreline.
  • The Cornerstone of Peace is a monument park in Itoman commemorating the Battle of Okinawa and the role of Okinawa during World War II. The names of all who lost their lives in the fighting regardless of nationality and civilian or military status - over two hundred and forty thousand people - are inscribed on some 116 stones at the memorial. The memorial park was opened on 23 June 1995, marking the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the 82-day battle.
  • Monument at the Cornerstone of Peace Memorial Park.
  • The Cornerstone of Peace is a monument park in Itoman commemorating the Battle of Okinawa and the role of Okinawa during World War II. The names of all who lost their lives in the fighting regardless of nationality and civilian or military status - over two hundred and forty thousand people - are inscribed on some 116 stones at the memorial. The memorial park was opened on 23 June 1995, marking the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the 82-day battle.
  • Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr., commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force and commander of Marine Corps Bases Japan, reviews the names on the Cornerstone of Peace at Okinawa Peace Memorial Park in Itoman City, during the 2011 Okinawa Memorial Service for All War Dead June 23. Image courtesy of the US Marine Corps.
  • The Kuge Memorial Tower located at the Cornerstone Peace Park honors Toshiya Kuge, 20, of Osaka, Japan who died on 11 September 2001. Kuge was on Flight 93, which crashed into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania during an attempt by the passengers and crew to regain control of the plane from four highjackers. All 44 people on board were killed, including the highjackers. Kuge was an athlete and scholar who was determined to become proficient in English and earn a Master's degree in engineering from an American university. He loved American football and was a linebacker in his first year of college at Waseda University where he was an engineering student. On this two-week vacation trip, the friendly, outgoing college sophomore went whitewater rafting in the Canadian Rockies, and visited Niagara Falls and the Statue of Liberty. This was his second visit to the US. Kuge was traveling alone in order to immerse himself in the English language. Flight 93 was the first leg of Kuge's journey home.
  • A Shisa is a traditional Okinawan carving and decoration, often seen in similar pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog. Shisa are believed to act as wards from certain evils.
  • The burial tradition on the Ryukyu Islands (of which Okinawa is the largest) is the use of domed burial vaults termed turtleback tombs. The bones of many generations of a particular family could repose in one such tomb. During the Battle of Okinawa, many Okinawan civilians sought refuge from the naval bombardment of the island inside their ancestors' turtleback tombs. Later, many of these tombs were used by the Japanese defenders of the island.
  • The burial tradition on the Ryukyu Islands (of which Okinawa is the largest) is the use of domed burial vaults termed turtleback tombs. The bones of many generations of a particular family could repose in one such tomb. During the Battle of Okinawa, many Okinawan civilians sought refuge from the naval bombardment of the island inside their ancestors' turtleback tombs. Later, many of these tombs were used by the Japanese defenders of the island.
  • War memorial at the southern Okinawan site where Lt. Gen. Simon G. Buckner Jr. was killed (one of the markers is on the exact site). His death took place in the closing days of the campaign; he was watching an attack on Ibaru Ridge in the southern part of the island a few miles from the coast.
  • The cave in Mabuni Hill where General Mitsuri Ushijima, the commander of the 32nd Army, had his last command post and committed suicide at the end of the battle for Okinawa.
  • Memorial Monument at the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters in Tomigusuku-city.
  • Commanding officer’s room in the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters in Tomigusuku-city. On the surface of a wall of this room, the farewell poem of commanding officer Ota is still brightly visible: “Born as a man, nothing fulfills me more than to die under the banner of the Emperor.”
  • Hiji Waterfall in Yanbaru National Park, Okinawa.
  • Mikasa is a pre-dreadnought battleship built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late 1890s. The ship served as the flagship of Vice Admiral Togo Heihachiro (the statue in the foreground) throughout the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, including the Battle of Tsushima. She has been partially restored and is now a museum ship located at Mikasa Park in Yokosuka. Mikasa is the last remaining example of a pre-dreadnought battleship anywhere in the world.
  • Starboard side view of the Mikasa pre-dreadnought battleship berthed at Mikasa Park in Yokosuka.
  • Red-crowned cranes at Kushiro Marsh on the island of Hokkaido. While the population on Hokkaido is resident, others migrate from eastern Siberia and northeastern China to the Korean peninsula and east-central China. They are among the rarest cranes in the world. In some parts of its range, the red-crowned crane is regarded as a symbol of luck, longevity, and fidelity. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Service/ Barnett Rattner.

Japan Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Rahm EMANUEL (since 25 March 2022)

embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420

mailing address: 9800 Tokyo Place, Washington DC  20521-9800

telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000

FAX: [81] (03) 3224-5856

email address and website:
TokyoACS@state.gov

https://jp.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo

consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya

Age structure

0-14 years: 12.29% (male 7,835,474/female 7,370,449)

15-64 years: 58.49% (male 36,378,186/female 35,981,176)

65 years and over: 29.22% (2023 est.) (male 15,909,031/female 20,244,922)
2023 population pyramid
This is the population pyramid for Japan. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

36 00 N, 138 00 E

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Heliports

2,839 (2024)

Natural hazards

many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoons

volcanism: both Unzen (1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than California
Area comparison map

slightly smaller than California

Military service age and obligation

18-32 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)

note: as of 2023, women made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel

Background

In 1603, after decades of civil warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate (a military-led, dynastic government) ushered in a long period of relative political stability and isolation from foreign influence. For more than two centuries this policy enabled Japan to enjoy a flowering of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports after signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and an ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold actual decision-making power. Following three decades of unprecedented growth, Japan's economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s, but the country remains an economic power. In March 2011, Japan's strongest-ever earthquake, and an accompanying tsunami, devastated the northeast part of Honshu island, killed thousands, and damaged several nuclear power plants. Prime Minister ABE Shinzo was reelected to office in December 2012, and embarked on ambitious economic and security reforms to improve Japan's economy and bolster the country's international standing. In November 2019, ABE became Japan's longest-serving post-war prime minister; he resigned in September 2020 and was succeeded by SUGA Yoshihide. KISHIDA Fumio became prime minister in October 2021.

Environment - current issues

air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere; following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan originally planned to phase out nuclear power, but it has now implemented a new policy of seeking to restart nuclear power plants that meet strict new safety standards; waste management is an ongoing issue; Japanese municipal facilities used to burn high volumes of trash, but air pollution issues forced the government to adopt an aggressive recycling policy

Environment - international agreements

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Population below poverty line

16.1% (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9%

highest 10%: 26.4% (2013 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Exports - commodities

cars/vehicle parts, general machinery, integrated circuits, refined petroleum, construction vehicles  (2022)

Exports - partners

US 19%, China 19%, Australia 10%, South Korea 7%, Taiwan 7%, Thailand 4% (2022)

Administrative divisions

47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

Agricultural products

eggs, rice, milk, sugar beets, vegetables, poultry, potatoes, cabbages, sugar cane, pork

Military and security forces

Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF): Ground Self-Defense Force (Rikujou Jieitai, GSDF; includes aviation), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jieitai, MSDF; includes naval aviation), Air Self-Defense Force (Koukuu Jieitai, ASDF) (2024)

note: the Coast Guard is under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; it is barred by law from operating as a military force, but in times of conflict Article 80 of the 1954 Self-Defense Forces Act permits the transfer of control of the coast guard to the Ministry of Defense with Cabinet approval

Budget

revenues: $1.756 trillion (2019 est.)

expenditures: $1.916 trillion (2019 est.)

Capital

name: Tokyo

geographic coordinates: 35 41 N, 139 45 E

time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: originally known as Edo, meaning "estuary" in Japanese, the name was changed to Tokyo, meaning "eastern capital," in 1868

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, natural gas, coal, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment  (2022)

Climate

varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Coastline

29,751 km

Constitution

history: previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947

amendments: proposed by the Diet; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of both houses of the Diet and approval by majority in a referendum; note - the constitution has not been amended since its enactment in 1947

Exchange rates

yen (JPY) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
131.498 (2022 est.)
109.754 (2021 est.)
106.775 (2020 est.)
109.01 (2019 est.)
110.423 (2018 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019); note - succeeded his father who abdicated on 30 April 2019

head of government: Prime Minister Fumio KISHIDA (since 4 October 2021)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister

election results: 2021: Fumio KISHIDA reelected prime minister on 10 November 2021; upper house vote - Fumio KISHIDA (LDP) 141, Yukio EDANO (CDP) 60; lower house vote - Fumio KISHIDA 297, Yukio EDANO 108

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Flag description

white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

Independence

3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 11 February 660 B.C. (mythological date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)

Industries

motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in constitutional issues

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice designated by the Cabinet and appointed by the monarch; associate justices appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the monarch; all justices are reviewed in a popular referendum at the first general election of the House of Representatives following each judge's appointment and every 10 years afterward

subordinate courts: 8 High Courts (Koto-saiban-sho), each with a Family Court (Katei-saiban-sho); 50 District Courts (Chiho saibansho), with 203 additional branches; 438 Summary Courts (Kani saibansho)

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 12.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 11.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 68.5% (2018 est.)

other: 19% (2018 est.)

Legal system

civil law system based on German model; system also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

Legislative branch

description: bicameral National Diet or Kokkai consists of:
House of Councillors or Sangi-in (248 seats; 148 members directly elected in multi-seat districts by simple majority vote and 100 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with half the membership renewed every 3 years)

House of Representatives or Shuugi-in (465 seats; 289 members directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote and 176 directly elected in multi-seat districts by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve up to 4-year terms)

elections:
House of Councillors - last held on 10 July 2022 (next to be held in July 2025)
House of Representatives - last held on 31 October 2021 (next to be held by October 2025)

election results:
House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/grouping as of January 2024 - LDP 116, CDP-SDP 40, Komeito 27, JCP 11, Ishin-FEFA 21, DPFP 11, Reiwa 5, OW 2, NHK 2, independent 12; composition as of February 2024 - men 182, women 66; percentage women 26.6%

House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/grouping as of January 2024 - LDP 260, CDP 96, Ishin 41, Komeito 32, JCP 10, DPFP 7, Yushi no Kai 4, FEFA 4, Reiwa 3, independent 7; composition as of February 2024 - men 416 men, women 48; percentage women 10.3%; note - total National Diet percentage women 16%

note: the Diet in June 2017 redrew Japan's electoral district boundaries and reduced from 475 to 465 seats in the House of Representatives; the amended electoral law, which cuts 6 seats in single-seat districts and 4 in multi-seat districts, was reportedly intended to reduce voting disparities between densely and sparsely populated voting districts

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and the Korea and Tsushima Straits

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

International organization participation

ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, CPLP (associate), EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Quad, SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

National holiday

Birthday of Emperor NARUHITO, 23 February (1960); note - celebrates the birthday of the current emperor

Nationality

noun: Japanese (singular and plural)

adjective: Japanese

Natural resources

negligible mineral resources, fish; note - with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is almost totally dependent on imported sources of energy

Geography - note

note 1: strategic location in northeast Asia; composed of four main islands (the "Home Islands") - from north: Hokkaido, Honshu (the largest, most populous, and site of Tokyo, the capital), Shikoku, and Kyushu  

note 2: a 2023 Geospatial Information Authority of Japan survey technically detected 100,000 islands and islets, but only the 14,125 islands with a circumference of at least 100 m (330 ft) were officially counted; only about 260 of the islands are inhabited

note 3: Japan annually records the most earthquakes in the world; it is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire

Economic overview

fourth-largest economy; trade-oriented and highly diversified; high public debt levels; real wage declines in inflationary environment; sustained near-zero central bank rates coupled with depreciation of yen; strong rebound in tourism

Pipelines

4,456 km gas, 174 km oil, 104 km oil/gas/water (2013)

Political parties and leaders

Collaborative Party or The Party to Protect People from NHK or NHK Party [Ayaka OTSU (de jure) Takashi TACHIBANA (de facto)]
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan or CDP [Kenta IZUMI]
Democratic Party for the People or DPFP or DPP [Yuichiro TAMAKI]
Free Education for All or FEFA [Seiji MAEHARA]
Japan Communist Party or JCP [Tomoko TAMURA]
Japan Innovation Party or Nippon Ishin no kai or Ishin [Nobuyuki BABA]
Komeito [Natsuo YAMAGUCHI]
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Fumio KISHIDA]
Okinawa Whirlwind or OW [N/A]
Reiwa Shinsengumi [Taro YAMAMOTO]
Social Democratic Party or SDP [Mizuho FUKUSHIMA]
Yūshi no Kai [Shuji KIRA]

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Tomakomai, Yokohama

container port(s) (TEUs): Kobe (2,823,774), Nagoya (2,725,597), Osaka (2,425,638), Tokyo (4,325,956), Yokohama (2,861,197) (2021)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Chita, Chita Midorihama, Fukuoka, Futtsu, Hachinone, Hakodate, Hatsukaichi, Higashi Ohgishima, Higashi Niigata, Himeiji, Hitachi, Ishikari, Joetsu, Kagoshima, Kawagoe, Hibiki, Mitzushima, Nagasaki, Naoetsu, Negishi, Ohgishima, Oita, Sakai, Sakaide, Senboku, Shin Minato, Shin-Sendai, Sodeshi Shimizu, Sodegaura, Soma, Tobata, Toyama Shinko, Yanai, Yokkaichi, Yoshinoura

Okinawa - Nakagusuku

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: Japan has one of the best developed telecom markets globally, the fixed-line segment remains stagnant and the focus for growth is in the mobile sector; the MNOs have shifted their investment from LTE to 5G, and growth in 5G showed early promise although there have been recent setbacks; these have partly been attributed to the economic difficulties, the impact of restrictions imposed during the pandemic, and unfavorable investment climate (not helped by the delay of the Tokyo Olympics from 2020 to 2021), and to restrictions in the supply of 5G-enabled devices; the fixed broadband market is dominated by fiber, with a strong cable platform also evident; fiber will continue to increase its share of the fixed broadband market, largely at the expense of DSL; the mobile market is dominated by three MNOs, mobile broadband subscriber growth is expected to be relatively low over the next five years, partly due to the high existing subscriptions though growth has been stimulated by measures which have encouraged people to school and work from home; there has also been a boost in accessing entertainment via mobile devices since 2020 (2021)

domestic: 49 per 100 for fixed-line and 161 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021)

international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables with landing points for HSCS, JIH, RJCN, APCN-2, JUS, EAC-C2C, PC-1, Tata TGN-Pacific, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, APCN-2, FASTER, SJC, SJC2, Unity/EAC-Pacific, JGA-N, APG, ASE, AJC, JUPITER, MOC, Okinawa Cellular Cable, KJCN, GOKI, KJCN, and SeaMeWE-3, submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and US; satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 2 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2019)

Terrain

mostly rugged and mountainous

Government type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Japan

local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku

local short form: Nihon/Nippon

etymology: the English word for Japan comes via the Chinese name for the country "Cipangu"; both Nihon and Nippon mean "where the sun originates" and are frequently translated as "Land of the Rising Sun"

Location

Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

Map references

Asia

Irrigated land

15,730 sq km (2014)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador YAMADA Shigeo (since 27 February 2024)

chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700

FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187

email address and website:
https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html

consulate(s) general: Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver (CO), Detroit (MI), Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New York, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), Seattle (WA)

Internet country code

.jp

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 531 (2022)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.232 trillion (2022 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: A (2015)

Moody's rating: A1 (2014)

Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2015)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

430 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years

male: 15 years

female: 15 years (2019)

Urbanization

urban population: 92% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: -0.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Broadcast media

a mixture of public and commercial broadcast TV and radio stations; 5 national terrestrial TV networks including 1 public broadcaster; the large number of radio and TV stations available provide a wide range of choices; satellite and cable services provide access to international channels (2023)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99.1% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

name: "Kimigayo" (The Emperor's Reign)

lyrics/music: unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI

note: adopted 1999; unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier; there is some opposition to the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor
This is an audio of the National Anthem for Japan. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

37.194 million TOKYO (capital), 19.013 million Osaka, 9.569 million Nagoya, 5.490 million Kitakyushu-Fukuoka, 2.937 million Shizuoka-Hamamatsu, 2.666 million Sapporo (2023)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Physicians density

2.48 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Hospital bed density

13 beds/1,000 population (2018)

National symbol(s)

red sun disc, chrysanthemum; national colors: red, white
Kikumon – the Japanese Family Coat of Arms of the emperor
The Kikumon is the Japanese Family Coat of Arms of the emperor and dates from 1183. The Imperial chrysanthemum emblem (菊の御紋, kikunogomon) symbol is a yellow or orange chrysanthemum with black or red outlines and background. A central disc is surrounded by a front set of 16 petals. A rear set of 16 petals are half staggered in relation to the front set and are visible at the edges of the flower.

Mother's mean age at first birth

30.7 years (2018 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

39.8% (2015)

note: percent of women aged 20-49

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 55.5% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 19.6% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 24% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 17.7% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -16.8% (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 71.1

youth dependency ratio: 20.1

elderly dependency ratio: 51

potential support ratio: 2 (2021 est.)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Japan

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Population distribution

all primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one-third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain (Kanto Plain)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2021)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 22 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 673

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 126,387,527 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 9,420,660,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

JA

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99.9% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Japanese 97.5%, Chinese 0.6%, Vietnam 0.4%, South Korean 0.3%, other 1.2% (includes Filipino, Brazilian, Nepalese, Indonesian, American, and Taiwanese) (2022 est.)

note: data represent population by nationality; up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil

Religions

Shintoism 48.6%, Buddhism 46.4%, Christianity 1.1%, other 4% (2021 est.)

note: total adherents among persons claiming a religious affiliation

Languages

Japanese

major-language sample(s):
必要不可欠な基本情報の源、ワールド・ファクトブック(Japanese)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Japanese audio sample

Imports - partners

China 22%, US 10%, Australia 10%, Taiwan 4%, South Korea 4% (2022)

Disputes - international

Japan-China-Taiwan: the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Tai) are also claimed by China and Taiwan; Senkaku-shoto is situated near key shipping lanes, rich fishing grounds, and possibly significant oil and natural gas reserves

Japan-Russia: the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities

Japan-South Korea: Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954

Elevation

highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m

lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m

mean elevation: 438 m

Current health expenditure

10.9% of GDP (2020)

Military - note

the Japan Self-Defense Force's (JSDF) primary concerns are perceived threats posed by China and North Korea, as well as protecting the country’s territorial waters, countering piracy and terrorism, and conducting humanitarian operations; it exercises regularly with the US military and increasingly with other regional countries, such as Australia; the ground forces are organized into 10 divisions and a number of independent brigades, which include airborne, air assault, and amphibious rapid reaction forces; the maritime force is one of the largest and most modern navies in the world; its principal warships include four helicopter carriers (two are undergoing conversion to light aircraft carriers), more than 40 destroyers and frigates, three landing platform/dock (LPD) amphibious assault ships, and more than 20 attack-type submarines; it also has a large force of maritime aircraft, including over 150 for anti-submarine warfare; the Air Self Defense Force has over 300 modern combat aircraft, as well as more than 200 other aircraft for surveillance, early warning, electronic warfare, search and rescue, transportation, and logistics

Japan’s alliance with the US (signed in 1951) is one of the cornerstones of the country’s security, as well as a large component of the US security role in Asia; approximately 55,000 US troops and other military assets, including aircraft and naval ships, are stationed in Japan and have exclusive use of more than 80 bases and facilities; in exchange for their use, the US guarantees Japan’s security; the Japanese Government provides about $2 billion per year to offset the cost of stationing US forces in Japan; in addition, it pays compensation to localities hosting US troops, rent for bases, and costs for new facilities to support the US presence; Japan also has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation

Japan was disarmed after its defeat in World War II; shortly after the Korean War began in 1950, US occupation forces in Japan created a 75,000-member lightly armed force called the National Police Reserve; the JSDF was founded in 1954; Article 9 of Japan’s 1947 constitution renounced the use of force as a means of settling international disputes; however, Japan has interpreted Article 9 to mean that it can maintain a military for national defense purposes and, since 1991, has allowed the JSDF to participate in noncombat roles overseas in a number of UN peacekeeping missions and in the US-led coalition in Iraq; in 2014-2015, the Japanese Government reinterpreted the constitution as allowing for "collective self-defense," described as the use of force on others’ behalf if Japan’s security was threatened; in 2022, the government released three security policy documents that labeled China as an “unprecedented strategic challenge,” declared Japan’s intention to develop "counterstrike” capabilities, including cruise missiles and armed drones, and outlined plans to increase Japan’s security-related expenditures to 2% of its national gross domestic product (GDP), in line with NATO standards; post-war Japan generally has limited defense spending to 1% of its GDP (2023)

Literacy

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 230-240,000 active personnel (145-150,000 Ground; 40-45,000 Maritime; 40-45,000 Air); 14,000 Coast Guard (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the JSDF is equipped with a mix of imported and domestically produced equipment; Japan has a robust defense industry and is capable of producing a wide range of air, ground, and naval weapons systems; the majority of its weapons imports are from the US and some domestically produced weapons are US-origin and manufactured under license (2023)

Military deployments

approximately 200 Djibouti (2023)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 14.8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 10.3 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 53.3 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 43.981 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,155,069 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.9% (2015 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 16% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 2.3% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 10.84 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 1,135.89 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 29.99 megatons (2020 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Biwa-ko 688 sq km

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 25 (20 cultural, 5 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (c); Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (c); Himeji-jo (c); Shiretoko (n); Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan (c); Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape (c); Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan (c); Yakushima (n); Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (c); Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (c)

Coal

production: 29.84 million metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 210.882 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 3.201 million metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 174.486 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 350 million metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 73.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 4.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 8.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 10% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Natural gas

production: 1,928,431,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

consumption: 102,108,738,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports: 28,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

imports: 105,255,103,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves: 20.898 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

note: Japan had been the largest global liquefied natural gas (LNG) importer until 2021 when it was exceeded by China; prior to 2021, Japan had been the largest importer of LNG for 51 years; Japan has the largest LNG storage tank capacity in the world, or about 643 million cubic feet (MMcf) as of early 2020; in 2019, Japan sourced 28% of its LNG imports from regional suppliers in Southeast Asia and 39% from Australia

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 10,200 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 3,739,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 3,012,800 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 44.1 million barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.68 (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

46.8% (2023 est.)

Remittances

0.13% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.11% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 10 (2023)

Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 2

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 9.49GW (2023)

Percent of total electricity production: 7% (2018)

Percent of total energy produced: 24% (2021)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 17

Space program overview

has one of the world’s largest and most advanced space programs with independent capabilities in all areas of space categories except for autonomous manned space flight; designs, builds, launches, and operates the full spectrum of satellites, including communications, remote sensing (RS), astronomical observation, scientific, and navigational/positional; designs, builds, and independently launches satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs) and other spacecraft, including interplanetary and Lunar probes, space station modules and space labs, and space transportation systems; has a wide range of research and development programs, including reusable SLVs, space-based astronomy, spacecraft components, robotics, solar sails, radio waves, and space plasma; has an astronaut training program; participates in international space programs, including the International Space Station (ISS), leading the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum, and co-leading the Global Earth Observation System of Systems; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, the European Space Agency (ESA) and its individual member states, India, Russia, the UAE, the US, and a range of other countries and space agencies throughout Africa, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific regions; has a substantial commercial space industry that develops an array of space-related capabilities and technologies, including satellites, satellite payloads and subcomponents, and SLVs; in 2018, the Japanese Government announced the establishment of a $950 million venture capital fund to support the development of Japanese space startup companies (2023)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S

Space agency/agencies

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA; established in 2003); JAXA was established from the merger of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL), and National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA); the military has a space operations squadron under the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to monitor and counter threats to satellites (2023)

Space launch site(s)

Tanegashima Space Center/Yoshinobu Launch Complex (Kagoshima), Uchinoura Space Center (Kagoshima), Noshiro Testing Center (Akita) (2023)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 10

global geoparks and regional networks: Aso UNESCO; Hakusan Tedorigawa; Itoigawa; Izu Peninsula; Mt. Apoi; Muroto; Oki Islands; San'in Kaigan; Toya - Usu; Unzen (2023)

Labor force

69.114 million (2022 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 4.4% (2021 est.)

male: 4.6%

female: 4.1%

Net migration rate

0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 49.5 years (2023 est.)

male: 48 years

female: 50.9 years

Debt - external

$4,254,271,000,000 (2019 est.)
$3,944,898,000,000 (2018 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.228 trillion (2022 est.)
$1.406 trillion (2021 est.)
$1.391 trillion (2020 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Waterways

1,770 km (2010) (seagoing vessels use inland seas)

Refined petroleum products - imports

1.1 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Public debt

216.36% of GDP (2021 est.)
215.77% of GDP (2020 est.)
198.02% of GDP (2019 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Total fertility rate

1.39 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2023)
1.1% of GDP (2022)
1% of GDP (2021)
1% of GDP (2020)

note: the Japanese Government in 2022 pledged to increase defense expenditures to 2% of GDP in line with NATO standards by March 2028; if the planned increase occurs, Japan would have the world's third largest defense budget

Unemployment rate

2.6% (2022 est.)
2.83% (2021 est.)
2.81% (2020 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

123,719,238 (2023 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Internet users

total: 99.6 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 83% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

1,103,234,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 439.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 444.271 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 219.72 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Area

total: 377,915 sq km

land: 364,485 sq km

water: 13,430 sq km

note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)

Taxes and other revenues

35.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.21 trillion (2022 est.)
$5.157 trillion (2021 est.)
$5.049 trillion (2020 est.)

note: data in 2017 dollars

Roadways

total: 1,218,772 km

paved: 992,835 km (includes 8,428 km of expressways)

unpaved: 225,937 km (2015)

Airports

279 (2024)

Infant mortality rate

total: 1.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

male: 2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 200,478,808 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 161 (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

32.9 (2013 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2022 est.)
-0.23% (2021 est.)
-0.02% (2020 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Refined petroleum products - exports

370,900 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Current account balance

$90.963 billion (2022 est.)
$197.154 billion (2021 est.)
$150.029 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$41,600 (2022 est.)
$41,000 (2021 est.)
$40,000 (2020 est.)

note: data in 2017 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 44,000,791 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 20.1% (2020 est.)

male: 30.1% (2020 est.)

female: 10% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4.3% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

147.107 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Death rate

11.7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Birth rate

6.9 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 348.666 million kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 903,698,740,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 44.094 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 5,229 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 166, container ship 49, general cargo 1,893, oil tanker 666, other 2,455

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Imports

$1.08 trillion (2022 est.)
$942.45 billion (2021 est.)
$801.889 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$921.212 billion (2022 est.)
$920.639 billion (2021 est.)
$794.291 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 60,720,856 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

3.467 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 8.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 1.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 5.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 85 years (2023 est.)

male: 82.1 years

female: 88.1 years

Real GDP growth rate

1.03% (2022 est.)
2.14% (2021 est.)
-4.28% (2020 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

-1.25% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Railways

total: 27,311 km (2015)

standard gauge: 4,800 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (4,800 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 124 km (2015) 1.372-m gauge (124 km electrified)

dual gauge: 132 km (2015) 1.435-1.067-m gauge (132 km electrified)

22,207 km 1.067-mm gauge (15,430 km electrified)
48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.1% (2017 est.)

industry: 30.1% (2017 est.)

services: 68.7% (2017 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.41% (2023 est.)
Sources: