Japan

• 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)

• 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"

noun:

Japanese (singular and plural)

adjective:

Japanese

total:

50.2 years (2025 est.)

male:

48.3 years

female:

51.3 years

• 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)

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 (2024 est.)

total:

1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

2 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

1.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

85.2 years (2024 est.)

male:

82.3 years

female:

88.2 years

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.)

total:

15.5% (2025 est.)

male:

24.4% (2025 est.)

female:

7.2% (2025 est.)

• air pollution from power plants results in acid rain;
• acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality;
• waste management issues;
• ongoing environmental clean-up in small area of Fukushima after nuclear accident in 2011

urban population:

92% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

-0.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

energy:

214.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)

agriculture:

972.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste:

208.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

other:

22.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

42.72 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

11.5% (2022 est.)

municipal:

13.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial:

13 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

53 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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)

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 from the Chinese name for the country, Cipangu;
• both Nihon and Nippon come from the Japanese words nichi , or "sun," and hon , or "origin," which is frequently translated as "Land of the Rising Sun"

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" because of its location on a bay;
• the name was changed to Tokyo, meaning "eastern capital," in 1868, as a contrast to Kyoto, the previous capital to the west

• civil law system based on German model;
• also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions;
• Supreme Court reviews legislative acts

history:

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

amendment process:

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

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

legislature name:

National Diet (Kokkai)

legislative structure:

bicameral

chamber name:

House of Representatives (Shugiin)

number of seats:

465 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

mixed system

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

4 years

most recent election date:

7/20/2025

parties elected and seats per party:

• Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) (191);
• Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (148);
• Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) (38);
• Democratic Party for the People (28);
• Komeito (24);
• Other (36)

percentage of women in chamber:

15.7%

expected date of next election:

October 2028

chamber name:

House of Councillors (Sangiin)

number of seats:

248 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

mixed system

scope of elections:

partial renewal

term in office:

6 years

most recent election date:

10/27/2024

parties elected and seats per party:

• Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) (39);
• Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (22);
• Democratic Party for the People (17);
• Sanseito (14);
• Komeito (8);
• Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) (7);
• Independents (8);
• Other (10)

percentage of women in chamber:

29.4%

expected date of next election:

June 2028

highest court(s):

Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices)

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 during the first general election of the House of Representatives after 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)

note: the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in constitutional issues

• Conservative Party of Japan or CPJ
• Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan or CDP
• Democratic Party for the People or DPFP or DPP
• Japan Communist Party or JCP
• Japan Innovation Party or Nippon Ishin no kai or Ishin
• Komeito or Komei
• Liberal Democratic Party or LDP
• Okinawa Social Mass Party or Okinawa Whirlwind or OW
• Party to Protect the People from NHK or NHK
• Reiwa Shinsengumi
• Sanseito Party
• Social Democratic Party or SDP

chief of mission:

Ambassador George GLASS (since 17 July 2025)

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:

[email protected]; https://jp.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general:

Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo

consulate(s):

Fukuoka, Nagoya

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

description:

white with a large red disk that symbolizes the sun without rays, in the center

history:

• the current flag was adopted in 1854, but a sun flag has been in use in Japan since at least 1184;
• the sun has long been a national symbol: according to tradition, the sun goddess Amaterasu founded the country in the 7th century B.C.

• the Kikumon is the Japanese emperor's family coat of arms and dates from 1183;
• the Imperial chrysanthemum emblem (菊の御紋, kikunogomon ) 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

title:

"Kimigayo" (“His Majesty’s Reign)

lyrics/music:

unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI

history:

• adopted 1999;
• unofficial national anthem since 1883;
• oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier;
• some oppose the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor

total World Heritage Sites:

26 (21 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);
• Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan (c);
• Yakushima (n);
• Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) (c);
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (c);
• Shirakami-Sanchi (n);
• Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (c);
• Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (c);
• Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (c);
• Shrines and Temples of Nikko (c);
• Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (c);
• Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (c);
• Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land (c);
• Ogasawara Islands (n);
• Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region (c);
• Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region (c);
• Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island (n);
• Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan (c)

• second-largest East Asian economy;
• trade-oriented and highly diversified;
• high public debt levels;
• following years of near-zero interest rates, gradual increases to address inflation and depreciation of yen;
• strong rebound in tourism;
• aging population poses challenges to labor force participation

total:

3.9% (2024 est.)

male:

4.2% (2024 est.)

female:

3.7% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

15.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

2.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

lowest 10%:

2.4% (2020 est.)

highest 10%:

23.9% (2020 est.)

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

Number of operational nuclear reactors:

14 (2025)

Number of nuclear reactors under construction:

2 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors:

12.63GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production:

5.5% (2023 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down:

27 (2025)

production:

27.657 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption:

197.612 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports:

1.615 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports:

170.874 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves:

350 million metric tons (2023 est.)

total petroleum production:

8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

3.14 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves:

44.115 million barrels (2021 est.)

production:

2.019 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption:

88.317 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports:

271.607 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports:

85.003 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves:

20.898 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

• a mix of public and commercial TV and radio stations;
• 5 national terrestrial TV networks including 1 public broadcaster;
• large number of radio and TV stations;
• satellite and cable services provide access to international channels (2023)

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)

total ports:

163 (2024)

large:

11

medium:

26

small:

54

very small:

71

size unknown:

1

ports with oil terminals:

99

key ports:

Kawasaki Ko, Kobe, Mikawa, Nagasaki, Nagoya Ko, Onomichi-Itozaki, Osaka, Tokyo Ko, Wakamatsu Ko, Wakayama-Shimotsu Ko, Yokohama Ko

• the JSDF is equipped largely with domestically produced weapons platforms;
• most of its imported arms are from the US;
• Japan's defense industry is capable of producing a wide range of air, ground, and naval weapons systems;
• some domestically produced weapons are US-origin and manufactured under license (2025)

• has one of the world’s largest and most advanced space programs, with independent capabilities in all areas except autonomous manned space flight;
• designs, builds, launches, and operates the full spectrum of satellites;
• designs, builds, and independently launches satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs) and other spacecraft;
• has a wide range of research and development programs;
• has an astronaut training program;
• participates in international programs such as the International Space Station and the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope project;
• leads the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum and co-leads the Global Earth Observation System of Systems;
• cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, the ESA and its member states, India, Russia, the UAE, the US;
• has a commercial space industry that develops space-related capabilities and technologies, including satellites, satellite payloads and subcomponents, and SLVs;
• in recent years, the Japanese Government has supported space startup companies (2025)

• 1966-1970 - initiated satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program and launched first domestically produced satellite (OHSUMI)
• 1985 - launched two Halley’s Comet observation satellites (Japan’s first missions beyond Earth’s orbit)
• 1992 - first astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle
• 1998 - launched its first Mars orbiter (failed to enter orbit)
• 2003 - launched world’s first uncrewed spacecraft (Hayabusa 1) to return with a sample from an asteroid (2010)
• 2007 - launched Lunar orbiter (Kaguya) mission
• 2010 - launched Venus orbiter (Akatsuki) mission
• 2014 - launched asteroid probe with lander/rover (Hayabusa 2); first Japanese International Space Station commander
• 2018 - launched joint Japan-ESA probe to Mercury (BepiColombo); began operation of a navigational/positioning satellite constellation (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, QZSS)
• 2019 - began participating in US-led lunar orbital station and Moon exploration programs
• 2024 - soft-landed unmanned spacecraft (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon or SLIM) on the Moon; conducted first successful test launch of domestically produced H3 medium-lift SLV

refugees:

60,361 (2024 est.)

IDPs:

29,244 (2024 est.)

stateless persons:

505 (2024 est.)