| 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
- Man charged with murder allegedly made victim date other men for moneyon November 21, 2024
Investigators suspect 26-year-old Ryotaro Masuda repeatedly beat his girlfriend, using money she received from coerced involvement with other men for his own investments.
- Indian billionaire Gautam Adani charged in U.S. with briberyon November 21, 2024
The billionaire chair of Indian conglomerate Adani Group has been indicted in New York over his role in a $265 million bribery scheme.
- Southeast Asian defense chiefs discuss regional security with US, China and other partner nationsby Jintamas Saksornchai on November 21, 2024
Southeast Asian defense chiefs are meeting with China, the United States and other partner nations in Laos for security talks, which come as Beijing’s increasingly assertive stance in its claim to most of the South China Sea is leading to more confrontations
- Ohkawara investigators referred to prosecutors over falsified documentson November 21, 2024
Executives at Ohkawara Kakohki were arrested in 2020 on suspicion of illegally exporting chemical machinery, but the charges were later dropped.
- Stock market today: Asian shares mostly slip despite Nvidia's solid earnings reportby Yuri Kageyama on November 21, 2024
Asian shares have mostly fallen after a mixed close on Wall Street, with regional markets shrugging off a strong profit report from Nvidia that was released after U.S. markets closed
- Ishiba set to announce $140 billion stimulus packageon November 21, 2024
The package aims address a range of challenges from inflation to wage growth, and alleviate a cost-of-living crunch.
- Chipmaker Kioxia to receive market listing approval, sources sayon November 21, 2024
Bain-backed Kioxia will have a market value of about ¥750 billion ($4.84 billion) based on the indicative price for its initial public offering.
- Ex-yokozuna Kitanofuji dies at 82on November 21, 2024
After a stellar career, Kitanofuji remained popular in retirement for delivering witty comments during live sumo tournament broadcasts.
- 'Sport will have the last word' as World Rally title goes down to the wire in Japanon November 21, 2024
The only certainty about this year's World Rally Championship is that a Hyundai driver will take the title.
- U.S. women to host Japan, Australia and Colombia in 2025 eventon November 21, 2024
The 10th edition of the event will feature a six-game, three-day format for round-robin matches.
- Strategic subsea cables: the vulnerable links that enable our digital liveson November 21, 2024
Sweden and Finland have opened investigations into potential "sabotage" against cables damaged on Sunday and Monday in the Baltic Sea.
- Nomura ex-employee charged with attempted murderon November 21, 2024
The former employee was charged on suspicion of robbery, attempted murder and arson of an inhabited building, the brokerage said.
- Nvidia's AI chip demand still booming but slowing sales worry investorson November 21, 2024
The company is in the middle of launching its powerful Blackwell artificial intelligence chips, which will weigh on gross margins initially but improve over time.
- Korea Zinc takeover battle tests Seoul's resolve on tackling 'Korea discount'on November 21, 2024
South Korean firms tend to have lower valuations compared to their overseas peers due to low dividend payouts and the dominance of family-run conglomerates.
- Apple Daily: The Hong Kong tabloid that dared to challenge Chinaon November 21, 2024
Hong Kong's Apple Daily was once the city's most popular tabloid by punching up against the Chinese Communist Party. But Beijing had the last laugh.
- Brilliant Paolini leads Italy to fifth Billie Jean King Cup titleon November 21, 2024
A year after Italy suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Canada in the decider, the charismatic Paolini demolished her Slovakian opponent to clinch the title.
- Nissan urges U.K. to ease EV targets amid weak demandon November 21, 2024
A British mandate requires at least 22% of an automaker's new car sales in 2024 to be purely EVs, or they face hefty fines.
- Verstappen in sight of exclusive club of four-time F1 championson November 21, 2024
Red Bull's three-time champion needs only to stay ahead of Lando Norris to secure the title.
- Hedge fund Effissimo stirs speculation with its stake in Nissan Motoron November 21, 2024
News of the investment sent Nissan’s shares soaring 13% on Nov. 12.
- U.S. government efficiency panel to use Supreme Court rulings for agency cutson November 21, 2024
The panel will be led by Elon Musk, billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and Vivek Ramaswamy, founder of biotech firm Roivant Sciences.
