| 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
- 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
- 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.
- Families mourn those killed in a Congo mine landslide as some survivors prepare to return
by Ruth Alonga,Justin Kabumba and Wilson McMakin on February 3, 2026A landslide last week killed at least 200 people in eastern Congo at a rebel-controlled coltan mine and families of the deceased are mourning their lost loved ones
- Asian shares surge as markets regain momentum after recent volatility
by Yuri Kageyama on February 3, 2026Asian shares have surged, led by a 5% jump in South Korea's benchmark
