Japan:

Region: Eastern Asia

Capital: Tokyo

Official Language/s:

Population: 127654000

Currency: Yen

Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Geography: Japan is made up of over three thousand islands extending along the Pacific coast of Asia. The main islands, running from north to south, are Hokkaidō, Honshū, Shikoku and Kyūshū. Together these are often known as the Japanese Archipelago. The area around and including Tokyo is the largest metropolitan area in the world and is home to over 30 million people.

Economy: Japan has the second largest economy in the world after the United States with major industries including insurance, real estate, retail, transport, telecommunications and construction. Japan also boasts some of the largest and most technologically advanced motor vehicles, electronics, machine tools, steel, textiles and processed foods.  The service sector is particularly strong accounting for 75% of the gross domestic product.

Demographics: Japanese society is mostly linguistically and culturally homogeneous with only small populations of foreign workers and other cultures. TheYamato people are the most dominant native ethnic group with other indigenous group inclduing Ainu and Ryukyuan, as well as burakumin. Japan has one of the highest rates of life expectancy rates in the world standing at 81.25 years of age in 2006.

Education: Primary, secondary schools and universities were introduced into Japan in 1872 and since 1947 compulsory education has consisted of elementary school and middle school. Compulsory education lasts for nine years from the ages of 6 to 15 with nearly all children continuing to three-years of senior high school. Approximately 75% of high school graduates attend a university, junior college, trade school, or other institution. As a result Japan’s education is very competitive particularly for entry to higher education. Currently Japan is ranked 6^th best in the world for knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students.

Health: In Japan the government provides healthcare services including free screening examinations for particular diseases, prenatal care, and infectious disease control. Since 1973, all elderly citizens have been covered by government-sponsored insurance with compulsory insurance programs enforced for all other residents. The health system has been marred by excessive paperwork, over medication and uneven distribution of health personnel favouring rural areas. Suicide has remained a major health issue in Japan for the past decade with an estimated 50% being related to health problems. However the Yomiuri’s 2007 figures show 274 school children were among those who took their own lives. One of the biggest public health issues in Japan is the use of tobacco which is responsible for one in ten deaths.

Downloadable Resources:

Poster