Outline of Japan

The Flag of Japan		The Imperial Seal of Japan

An enlargeable map of Japan

See also: Index of Japan-related articles

Japan is an island nation in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean. It lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin" (because it lies to the east of nearby countries), which is why Japan is sometimes referred to as the "Land of the Rising Sun".

Japan is a major economic power, and has the world's third-largest economy by both nominal GDP and purchasing power parity. It is also the world's fourth largest exporter and fifth largest importer. It is the only Asian country in the G8 and is currently serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. It is a developed country with very high living standards (10th highest HDI). Japan has the highest life expectancy of any country in the world (according to both the UN and WHO estimates) and the third lowest infant mortality rate.^[1][2]

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Japan:

General reference

Tokyo, Japan

• Pronunciation: /dʒəˈpæn/ ( listen)
  • Japanese: [nihoɴ] or [nipoɴ]
• Common endonyms: 日本 (Nippon, Nihon)
• Official endonym: 日本国 (Nippon-koku)
• Adjectival: Japanese
• Etymology: Name of Japan
• International rankings of Japan
• ISO country codes: JP, JPN, 392
• ISO region codes: ISO 3166-2:JP
• Internet country code top-level domain: .jp

Geography of Japan

An enlargeable topographic/hydrographic map of Japan

Main article: Geography of Japan

• Japan is: an island country and archipelago of 6,852 islands.^[3]
• Location:
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Northern Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere
    • Asia
      • East Asia^[4]
  • Time zone: Japan Standard Time (UTC+09)
  • Extreme points of Japan
    • High: Mount Fuji 3,776 m (12,388 ft)
    • Low: Hachiro-gata −4 m (−13 ft)
  • Land boundaries: none
  • Coastline: 29,751 km
• Population of Japan: 127,433,494 people - 10th most populous country
• Area of Japan: 377,873 km² (145,898 sq mi) - 62nd largest country
• Atlas of Japan
• Addressing system in Japan
• Historic provinces of Japan
• Japan Standard Time

Environment of Japan

An enlargeable satellite image of Japan

Main article: Environment of Japan

• Climate of Japan
  • Global warming in Japan
• Environmental issues in Japan
• Ecoregions in Japan
• Energy in Japan
• Geology of Japan
• National parks of Japan
• Protected areas of Japan
• Tsunami
• Wildlife of Japan
  • Flora of Japan
  • Fauna of Japan
    • Birds of Japan
    • Mammals of Japan

Geographic features of Japan

An enlargeable map of the extreme points of Japan

An enlargeable map of the World Heritage Sites of Japan

Main article: Landforms of Japan

• Glaciers of Japan
• Islands of Japan
• Lakes of Japan
• Mountains of Japan
  • Volcanoes in Japan
• Rivers of Japan
  • Waterfalls of Japan
• Three Views of Japan
• Valleys of Japan
• List of World Heritage Sites in Japan

Regions of Japan

Tsunami wall at Tsu, Japan

Main articles: Islands of Japan and Regions of Japan

The four main islands of Japan are:

• Hokkaidō
• Honshū
• Kyūshū
• Shikoku

Major regions of Japan include:

• Hokkaidō (the island of Hokkaidō and nearby islands, largest city Sapporo)
• Tōhoku region (northern Honshū, largest city Sendai)
• Kantō region (eastern Honshū, largest cities Tokyo and Yokohama)
• Chūbu region (central Honshū, including Mt. Fuji), sometimes divided into:
  • Hokuriku region (northwestern Chūbu)
  • Kōshin'etsu region (northeastern Chūbu, largest city Nagano)
  • Tōkai region (southern Chūbu, largest city Nagoya, Hamamatsu, and Shizuoka)
• Kansai or Kinki region (west-central Honshū, largest cities Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto)
• Chūgoku region (western Honshū, largest city Hiroshima, and Okayama)
• Shikoku (island, largest city Matsuyama, and Takamatsu)
• Kyūshū (island, largest city Fukuoka) which includes:
  • Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa

Ecoregions of Japan

Main article: Ecoregions of Japan

Administrative divisions of Japan

Main article: Prefectures of Japan

• Administrative division types
  • Regions of Japan (unofficial)
    • Prefectures of Japan
      • Subprefectures of Japan
        • Districts of Japan
          • Municipalities of Japan
            • Wards of Japan

Prefectures of Japan

Map of the prefectures of Japan in ISO 3166-2:JP order and the regions of Japan.

From north to south (numbering in ISO 3166-2:JP order), the prefectures of Japan and their commonly associated regions are:

Hokkaidō 1. Hokkaidō Tōhoku 2. Aomori 3. Iwate 4. Miyagi 5. Akita 6. Yamagata 7. Fukushima Kantō 8. Ibaraki 9. Tochigi 10. Gunma 11. Saitama 12. Chiba 13. Tokyo 14. Kanagawa

Chūbu 15. Niigata 16. Toyama 17. Ishikawa 18. Fukui 19. Yamanashi 20. Nagano 21. Gifu 22. Shizuoka 23. Aichi Kansai 24. Mie 25. Shiga 26. Kyoto 27. Osaka 28. Hyōgo 29. Nara 30. Wakayama

Chūgoku 31. Tottori 32. Shimane 33. Okayama 34. Hiroshima 35. Yamaguchi Shikoku 36. Tokushima 37. Kagawa 38. Ehime 39. Kōchi Kyūshū & Okinawa 40. Fukuoka 41. Saga 42. Nagasaki 43. Kumamoto 44. Ōita 45. Miyazaki 46. Kagoshima 47. Okinawa

Karafuto, a portion of the island of Sakhalin north of Hokkaidō (not shown on the map), was part of Japan from 1907 until World War II. The entire island is now governed by Russia, but some Japanese people claim Karafuto is still part of Japan.

Municipalities of Japan

Cities of Japan

Main article: Municipalities of Japan

• Cities of Japan
  • Capital of Japan: Tokyo
  • Cities designated by government ordinance
  • Cities, by population
• Towns of Japan
• Villages of Japan

Demography of Japan

Main article: Demographics of Japan

• Aging of Japan

Government and politics of Japan

Akihito, 125th Emperor of Japan

Naoto Kan, the Prime Minister of Japan

Main article: Government of Japan and Politics of Japan

• Form of government: parliamentary multi-party representative democratic constitutional monarchy
• Capital of Japan: Tokyo
• Elections in Japan
  • (specific elections)
• Imperial House of Japan (Imperial family)
  • Imperial Guard of Japan
  • Imperial Household Law
  • Imperial Household Agency
• Civil service of Japan
• Japanese public corporations
• Independent administrative institutions of Japan
• Political parties in Japan

• Government-business relations in Japan
• Human rights in Japan
• Mass media and politics in Japan
• Monetary and fiscal policy of Japan
• Political funding in Japan
• Political scandals of Japan
• Political extremism in Japan
• Taxation in Japan
• Health care in Japan
• Social welfare in Japan

Branches of the government of Japan

Main article: Government of Japan

Executive branch of the government of Japan

Present Kantei, office and residence of the Prime Minister.

• Symbol of state: Akihito, Emperor of Japan
  • Emperor has no executive authority, but is treated as a head of state under diplomatic protocol
  • Controversies regarding the role of the Emperor of Japan
  • Emperors of the past
• Head of state: de facto head of state of Japan is the head of government, the Prime Minister (see below)
• Head of government: Naoto Kan, Prime Minister of Japan
  • Kantei (Office and residence of the Prime Minister)
  • Prime Ministers of the past
• Cabinet of Japan
• Ministries of Japan
  • National Public Safety Commission
  • Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Ministry of Finance (Japan)
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  • Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
  • Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
  • Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
  • Ministry of the Environment
  • Ministry of Defence

Legislative branch of the government of Japan

National Diet Building

• Diet of Japan (bicameral legislature of Japan)
  • House of Councillors
  • House of Representatives of Japan
• National Diet Building

Judicial branch of the government of Japan

• Judicial system of Japan
• Supreme Court of Japan

Foreign relations of Japan

Dish of whale meat.

Main article: Foreign relations of Japan

• Diplomatic missions of Japan
• Foreign aid institutions of Japan
• Foreign policy of Japan
• Japan's non-nuclear policy
• Whaling in Japan

International organization membership of Japan

Japan is a member of:^[5]

African Development Bank Group (AfDB) (nonregional member) Asian Development Bank (ADB) Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (dialogue partner) Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF) Australia Group Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Colombo Plan (CP) Council of Europe (CE) (observer) East Asia Summit (EAS) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) (observer) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Group of Five (G5) Group of Seven (G7) Group of Eight (G8) Group of Ten (G10) Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (G20) Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) International Criminal Court (ICCt) International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) International Development Association (IDA) International Energy Agency (IEA) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) International Finance Corporation (IFC) International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) International Labour Organization (ILO) International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) International Monetary Fund (IMF) International Olympic Committee (IOC) International Organization for Migration (IOM)

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM) International Telecommunication Union (ITU) International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) (partner) Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Organization of American States (OAS) (observer) Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) (partner) Paris Club Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (observer) Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) (observer) United Nations (UN) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Universal Postal Union (UPU) World Confederation of Labour (WCL) World Customs Organization (WCO) World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) World Health Organization (WHO) World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) World Meteorological Organization (WMO) World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) World Trade Organization (WTO) Zangger Committee (ZC)

Law and order of Japan

Motorcycle policeman questioning driver

Main article: Law of Japan

• Attorneys in Japan
• Capital punishment in Japan
• Civil Code of Japan
• Constitution of Japan
• Criminal justice system of Japan
• Crime in Japan
• Juries in Japan
  • Organized crime in Japan
• Human rights in Japan
  • Freedom of the press in Japan
  • Freedom of religion in Japan
  • LGBT rights in Japan
• Law enforcement in Japan
• Penal system of Japan
• Public order and internal security in Japan

Military of Japan

Main article: Military of Japan

• Japan's non-nuclear policy
• Japan Self-Defense Forces
  • Army of Japan: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
  • Navy of Japan: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
  • Air force Japan: Japan Air Self-Defense Force
• Military history of Japan
• National security of Japan

History of Japan

Japanese bushi in armour

Main articles: History of Japan, Timeline of Japanese history, and Current events of Japan

• History of Japan by year
• History of Tokyo
• Japanese nationalism
• Military history of Japan
  • Samurai
  • Shogun
  • Ninja
  • Japanese militarism
  • Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
    • Attack on Pearl Harbor
    • Kamikaze
    • Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
    • Surrender of Japan
    • Aftermath of World War II: Occupation of Japan
  • Naval history

History of Japan by period

Paleolithic Jōmon period Yayoi period Kofun period Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Mongol invasions of Japan Kemmu restoration

Muromachi period Nanboku-chō period Sengoku period Azuchi-Momoyama period Nanban trade Edo period Bakumatsu Meiji period Meiji Restoration Empire of Japan

Taishō period Japanese expansion (1941-1942) Japan in WWI Shōwa period Japanese militarism Occupation of Japan Post-Occupation Japan Heisei period

Culture of Japan

Main article: Culture of Japan

Cultural Properties of Japan Japanese aesthetics Japanese calendar Customs and etiquette of Japan Japanese tea ceremony Funerals in Japan Gambling in Japan Japanese martial arts Media in Japan Digital television in Japan Pornography in Japan

Japanese mobile phone culture Japanese philosophy National symbols of Japan Imperial Regalia of Japan Imperial Seal of Japan Flag of Japan Kimi Ga Yo National anthem of Japan National Treasures of Japan Public bathing Onsen Sentō

Popular culture in Japan Cuteness in Japanese culture Prostitution in Japan Records of Japan Japanese values Westernization Americanization List of World Heritage Sites in Japan

Architecture of Japan

Himeji Castle (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)

Main article: Architecture of Japan

• Buddhist temples in Japan
  • Hōryū-ji
  • Tōdai-ji
  • Enryaku-ji
  • Mount Kōya
• Castles in Japan
  • Himeji Castle
  • Matsumoto Castle
  • Osaka Castle
• Housing in Japan
• Shinto shrine
  • Izumo-taisha
  • Usa Shrine

Art of Japan

Art in Japan Calligraphy • Dogū • Dōtaku • Haniwa • Japonisme • Kagami[disambiguation needed ] • Kakemono • Kanō School • Magatama • Manga • Origami • Imari porcelain • Pottery • Traditional Pottery • Ukiyo-e • Yamato-e Cinema of Japan Anime Studio Ghibli Directors - Shōhei Imamura • Takeshi Kitano • Hirokazu Koreeda • Akira Kurosawa • Takashi Miike • Hayao Miyazaki • Kenji Mizoguchi • Mikio Naruse • Nagisa Oshima • Yasujirō Ozu • Isao Takahata Films - Godzilla • In the Realm of the Senses • Kagemusha • Rashōmon • Ring • Seven Samurai

Literature of Japan Japanese writers Kojiki Nihonshoki Tale of Genji Japanese Literary Genres Monogatari Haiku Waka

Music of Japan Koto Shakuhachi Shamisen Taiko Gagaku Enka Jpop Karaoke Theatre in Japan Kabuki Bunraku Noh Kyōgen

Cuisine of Japan

Sushi for sale

Main article: Cuisine of Japan

• Examples:
  • Bentō
  • Daikon
  • Mochi
  • Ramen
  • Sake
  • Sashimi
  • Sushi
  • Tempura
  • Wasabi
• Japanese dishes
• Japanese snacks

Cultural icons of Japan

Geisha

See also: Cultural icon

• Bonsai
• Japanese dragon
• Japanese gardens
• Geisha
• Karate
  • Black belt
• Kimono
• Ninja
• Rising Sun Flag
• Sakura
• Sumo
• Sushi

Fashion in Japan

Two women wearing yukatas.

• Clothing of Japan
  • Geta
  • Hakama
  • Kimono
    • Furisode
    • Yukata
  • Okobo
  • School uniforms in Japan
  • Tabi
  • Waraji
  • Zōri
• Japanese street fashion

Holidays and festivals of Japan

Main articles: Holidays of Japan and Japanese festivals

• Golden Week
  • Shōwa Day
  • Constitution Memorial Day
  • Greenery Day
  • Kodomo no Hi
• Hanami
• Hina Matsuri
• Momijigari
• O-Bon
• Setsubun
• Tanabata

Homes in Japan

Main articles: Housing in Japan and Homes in Japan

Furnishings Butsudan Byōbu Chabudai Furo Futon Kamidana

Kotatsu Ikebana Sudare Tansu Toilets in Japan Zabuton Minka

Rooms Japanese kitchen Washitsu Fusuma Shōji Tatami (flooring) Tokonoma

Language in Japan

Main article: Languages of Japan

Japanese language Historical kana usage Grammar Pronunciation Romanization of Japanese Japanese dialects Kansai-ben Saga-ben Wasei-eigo (Japanese English)

Ryukyuan languages Amami Kikai Okinawan Kunigami Yoron Miyako Yaeyama Yonaguni

Foreign Variations Franponais Engrish Writing systems of Japan Kanji Hiragana Katakana Furigana

People of Japan

Main articles: Japanese people and List of Japanese people

Ijime Japanese celebrities Japanese diaspora Elderly people in Japan Japanese family structure Homosexuality in Japan Japanese names Women in Japan

Ethnicity in Japan Ethnic minorities in Japan Ainu people Burakumin Dekasegi Ryukyuan people Yamato people

Stereotypes in Japan Geisha Freeter Hikikomori Kogaru Otaku Yakuza Burakumin

Religion in Japan

Main article: Religion in Japan

Buddhism in Japan Nichiren Buddhism Shingon Tendai Pure Land Buddhism Zen

Shinto Christianity in Japan Protestantism in Japan Roman Catholicism in Japan Japanese Orthodox Church Judaism in Japan

Islam in Japan Neo-Confucianism in Japan Shinshūkyō Hinduism in Japan Japanese Mythology

Sports and gaming in Japan

Main article: Sports in Japan

• Sports
  • Aikido
  • Baseball in Japan
  • Football in Japan
  • Kendo
  • Professional wrestling in Japan
  • Sumo
• Traditional Games
  • Go
  • Shogi
  • Mah-jong
  • Hanafuda

Economy and infrastructure of Japan

Shinkansen

Main article: Economy of Japan

• Economic rank, by nominal GDP (2007): 2nd (second)
• Agriculture, forestry, and fishing in Japan
• Automobile industry in Japan
• Bank of Japan
• Buildings and structures in Japan
  • Tallest buildings and structures in Japan
• Companies of Japan
• Communications in Japan
  • Internet in Japan
• Construction industry of Japan
• Consumer electronics industry of Japan
• Currency of Japan: Yen
  • ISO 4217: JPY
• Department stores in Japan
• Defense industry of Japan
• Economic history of Japan
• Economic relations of Japan
• Energy in Japan
  • Nuclear power in Japan
• Financial system of Japan
• Health care in Japan
• Labor market of Japan
• Manufacturing industries of Japan
• Monetary and fiscal policy of Japan
• Mining in Japan
• National parks of Japan
• Private enterprise in Japan
• Research and development in Japan
• Standard of living in Japan
• Trade policy of Japan
• Trade and services in Japan
• Tourism in Japan
• Transport in Japan
  • Airports in Japan
  • Expressways of Japan
  • National highways of Japan
  • Shinkansen
  • Tokyo Metro
  • Rail transport in Japan
• Water supply and sanitation in Japan

Education in Japan

Japanese junior high school students in sailor outfit-style school uniforms

Main article: Education in Japan and History of education in Japan

• History of education in Japan
• Japanese history textbook controversies
• Juku (Cram School)
• Language minority students in Japanese classrooms
• Romanization of Japanese
• School uniforms in Japan
• Yutori education

Structure of education in Japan

• Elementary schools in Japan
• Secondary education in Japan
• Higher education in Japan

Health in Japan

Main article: Health in Japan

Science and technology of Japan

JAXA Kibo, the largest module for the International Space Station

Main article: Science and technology in Japan

• Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
• Research and development in Japan
• Japanese robotics

See also

	Japan portal
	Asia portal

Main article: Japan

• Tourism in Japan
• Index of Japan-related articles
• List of international rankings
• List of Japan-related topics
• Member state of the Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors
• Member state of the United Nations
• Outline of Asia
• Outline of geography

References

1. ^ WHO: Life expectancy in Israel among highest in the world Haaretz, May, 2009
2. ^ United Nations World Population Propsects: 2006 revision – Table A.17 for 2005–2010
3. ^ "Facts and Figures of Japan 2007 01: Land". Foreign Press Center Japan. p. 1. http://fpcj.jp/old/e/mres/publication/ff/pdf_07/01_land.pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-04. 
4. ^ "Standard Country and Area Codes Classifications". United Nations Statistics Division. 2010-04-01. http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#asia. 
5. ^ "Japan". The World Factbook. United States Central Intelligence Agency. July 14, 2009. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html. Retrieved July 23, 2009. 

External links

Wikimedia Atlas of Japan

Official

• Kantei.go.jp—Official prime ministerial and cabinet site
• Kunaicho.go.jp—Official site of the Imperial family.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs—Detailed papers on Japan's foreign policy, education programs, culture and life.
• Shugi-in.go.jp—Official site of the House of Representatives
• National Diet Library (English)

Media

• NHK Online
• Kyodo News
• Yomiuri Shimbun (English)
• Asahi Shimbun (English)
• The Japan Times

Tourism

• Japan National Tourist Organization
• Outline of Japan travel guide from Wikitravel

Other

• CIA World Factbook—Japan
• Encyclopaedia Britannica's Japan portal site
• Guardian Unlimited—Special Report: Japan
• Wikimedia Atlas of Japan
• Works by Government of Japan at Project Gutenberg containing the 1889 and 1946 Constitutions