The four main islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, and a string of smaller islands on the far Eastern coast of Asia form the archipelago of Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun. Mountains, hills and forests cover over two thirds of land area, while residential and industrial areas account for less than ten percent. The terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous, with the highest peak Mount Fujiyama standing at 3,776 meters. Japan is in the middle of a highly active seismic belt, and has many dormant and some active volcanoes.

The seas surrounding Japan provide a rich source of fish. With a negligible 27,820 kilometers under cultivation, Japan has few agricultural and mineral resources.

One of the most densely populated nations on earth, with about 330 persons per square kilometer, Japan today sees the scepter of an aging population with a .0.23% population growth rate. Literacy is a high 99%, with free public schooling for all children up to junior high school.

The major ethnic group is Japanese, constituting about 99.4%, with Koreans dominating the minority along with a mix of Caucasian and other races. Most Japanese practice a blend of Buddhism and Shintoism, with Confucian thought influencing Japanese philosophy.

Japanese political history has been dominated by its imperialist heritage, interspersed by takeovers by its nobles, shoguns (military rulers) and Samurai (warrior) classes. Today Japan is a constitutional monarchy, with a parliamentary government. The Japan judicial system has strong Anglo-American influences, and has several levels of courts, with the final authority lying with the Supreme Court.

• Population: 127 million
• Capital City: Tokyo
• Area: 377, 935 sq. kilometers of land (slightly smaller than the state of California with a coastline of 29,751 km.
• Climate: Ranges from cool temperate in the North to tropical in the south.
• Ethnic groups: Japanese (99.4%), other (0.6% - mostly Korean)
• Religion: Shinto and Buddhist (84%), other (16% - including Christianity)
• Language: Japanese