| Area Total | 377,915 sq km |
| Climate | varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north |
| Natural Resources | negligible mineral resources, fish, note, with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is the world’s largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil |
| Imports | China 24.5%, US 11%, Australia 5.8%, South Korea 4.2%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2017) – petroleum, liquid natural gas, clothing, semiconductors, coal, audio and visual apparatus (2014 est.) |
| Government | parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
| Capital | Tokyo |
| Population | 126.2 million (July 2018 est.) |
| Ethnicity | Japanese 98.1%, Chinese 0.5%, Korean 0.4%, other 1% (includes Filipino, Vietnamese, and Brazilian) (2016 est.) |
| Language | Japanese |
| Exports | US 19.4%, China 19%, South Korea 7.6%, Hong Kong 5.1%, Thailand 4.2% (2017) – motor vehicles, iron and steel products, semiconductors, auto parts, power generating machinery, plastic materials (2014 est.) |
News about Japan
- Half of Japan’s samurai were women, groundbreaking new exhibition at British Museum says
by Maira Butt on February 3, 2026‘Samurai’ explores over a thousand years of Japanese history related to the elite warrior class
- A cheat sheet to Takaichi’s snap election
on February 3, 2026Parties with traditional vote-generating architectures in place before Japan's snap election have a significant advantage.
- Japan’s plan to bring back WWII military titles sparks debate
by Maroosha Muzaffar on February 3, 2026Ruling coalition says move aligns SDF with ‘international standards’, but critics warn it risks regional tensions
- Despite new curbs, Elon Musk’s Grok at times produces sexualized images
on February 3, 2026Elon Musk’s flagship artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, continues to generate sexualized images of people even when users explicitly warn that the subjects do not consent.
- What's changed in Venezuela a month after Maduro's ouster
on February 3, 2026Rodriguez's interim government swiftly approved reforms to the oil industry, in what analysts have described as a law heavily influenced by Washington.
- Photos of Hakone Shrine marking Setsubun with bean-throwing to ward off evil spirits
by Eugene Hoshiko on February 3, 2026Scores gathered at a shrine in Japan’s Hakone to try and catch “lucky beans,” hoping to ward off evil spirits as they celebrate the last day of winter in the Japanese lunar calendar.
- Problems with mail-order drug subscriptions rising in Japan
on February 3, 2026The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan (NCAC) is calling on people to carefully check contract details before completing orders to purchase nonprescription drugs online.
- Fuji Media unveils big share buyback to push out activist
on February 3, 2026Under the plan, Fuji Media will repurchase up to ¥235 billion ($1.5 billion) of its own shares.
- Whip up sesame-crusted eggs for your Japanese breakfast
on February 3, 2026When it comes to frying eggs in Japan, it's all about keeping the yolks runny. Get cracking with this recipe that can be done in a jiffy.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino favors ending Russia ban
on February 3, 2026FIFA barred Russia from competition when its ongoing invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
- Assassin of former PM Abe set to appeal life imprisonment ruling, media reports say
on February 3, 2026The defense lawyers plan to appeal on Wednesday, the deadline for them to appeal the Jan. 21 ruling by the Nara District Court.
- Nikkei reaches new high as earnings help fuel rebound
on February 3, 2026The Nikkei rebounded from Monday’s drop to rise 3.9%, closing at a record 54,720.66, with tech-related firms like TDK and Kyocera among the top gainers.
- Switch 2 sales boost Nintendo profits, but chip shortage looms
on February 3, 2026In April-December, net profit rose 51.3% year-on-year to ¥358.9 billion, Nintendo said, but a global memory chip shortage could drive up manufacturing costs.
- Philippine lawmakers weigh impeachment for Marcos
on February 3, 2026The Philippine president is accused of betraying the public’s trust, corruption and violating the country’s constitution.
- Family of Australian woman who died after Japanese ski lift accident remember their ‘beautiful girl’
by Ima Caldwell and Daisy Dumas on February 3, 2026Tributes for Queensland snowboarder Brooke Day recall a ‘cherished team mate’ who had an ‘infectious sense of humour’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe family of an Australian woman who died in a ski lift accident in Japan have remembered their “beautiful girl” as […]
- Head of ‘proxy quitting’ company arrested over alleged attorneys law violations
on February 3, 2026Shinji Tanimoto, 37, and his wife, Shiori, 31, are suspected of having illegally referred their clients to lawyers in exchange for a fee.
- Sham review – Takashi Miike revisits infamous ‘murder teacher’ trial in unflinching courtroom drama
by Peter Bradshaw on February 3, 2026Based on a real-life case of a teacher charged with abusing a child, Japan’s master of the extreme doesn’t sit on the fence in this two-sided retellingTakashi Miike, Japan’s maestro of the extreme, now takes on a relatively sedate and mainstream genre: the courtroom drama. But he can’t help bringing to it his signature shocks and unsubtle tropes. […]
- JR East given administrative guidance over service halts
on February 3, 2026The company’s executive vice president and chief safety officer was summoned over recent issues such as disruptions on the Yamanote and Joban lines.
- Heavy snowfall along Sea of Japan coast claims at least 30 lives
on February 3, 2026The highest death toll was seen in Niigata Prefecture, with 12 fatalities, followed by six deaths in Akita Prefecture and four in Aomori Prefecture.
- Pakistan's India boycott splits fans as politics overshadows cricket
on February 3, 2026The government on Sunday cleared Pakistan to take part in the Twenty20 World Cup beginning Saturday but barred the team from playing India in a Feb. 15 group match in Colombo.
