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Japan's
complex topography provides the land with
beautiful and at times dramatic scenery--snow-fed mountain
lakes, rocky gorges and turbulent rivers, rugged peaks, and graceful
waterfalls. They are a constant source of inspiration and pleasure to
Japanese and foreign visitors alike. While retaining its time-honored
culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th
and early 20th centuries. After its devastating defeat in World War II,
Japan recovered to become the second most powerful economy in the world
and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a
symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful
politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced
a major slowdown in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented
growth.
Since 1945
Japan has enjoyed a remarkable degree of domestic political stability.
Except for a brief period of socialist government in 1947 and 1948, the
conservatives have maintained a constant majority in the Diet.
After the mid-1960s, Japan began to face several new types of problems
both internally and externally. With the immediate needs of life
satisfied, the people began to seek other goals, especially improvements
in the quality of life. Students expressed discontent in their schools and
universities. Various citizen's groups called for the rectification of
social inequalities. And the problem of pollution brought on by the
country's all-out pursuit of economic development increasingly attracted
public attention.
The shift to a low growth economy in the 1970s, together with an
increasingly severe international economic environment, greatly influenced
the lives of the Japanese people, bringing about changes in their thinking
and life styles. Values have become more
diversified, and many people now place more importance on self-expression
and the pursuit of more personalized goals. The reversion of Okinawa (the
Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands) from U.S. administration to Japan in
1972 and rapprochement with the People's Republic of China in the same
year were two remarkable events in the 1970s. As regards its role in the
world economy, Japan has taken various measures to liberalize its markets.
As an important member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development committed to the
maintenance of free trade, Japan currently plays a significant role in the
areas of trade, finance, and economic and technological assistance. Since
1975 Japan has been a member of the annual seven-nation economic summit,
which was held in Tokyo in 1979 and 1986.In view of Japan's increasing
national power and the growing expectations of other countries in its
international role, the Government from the mid-1980s has adopted a
positive attitude toward expanding Japan's contribution to the global
community.
The Japanese
archipelago, lying off the eastern coast of the Asian
continent, stretches in a narrow arc 3,800 kilometers long, ranging from
20 degrees, 25 minutes to 45 degrees, 33 minutes north latitude. Japan's
total area of 377,819 square kilometers--slightly larger than the United
Kingdom but only about one-ninth the size of India and one twenty-fifth
that of the United States--represents less than 0.3% of the world's land
area.The archipelago consists of four main islands -
Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku
(from largest to smallest)--a number of island chains, and thousands of
smaller islands. Honshu accounts for over 60% of the total area.
Japan's complex
topography presents a contrast to its relatively benign
climate. The Japanese islands form part of a long chain of mountains
running from Southeast Asia all the way to Alaska. This has given the
country a long and rocky coastline with many small but excellent harbors.
It has also created a large number of mountainous areas with numerous
valleys, swift-flowing rivers, and clear lakes. Mountains account for
about 71% of Japan's total land area, according to a survey by the
Ministry of Construction's Geographical Survey Institute. Altogether 532
of these mountains are over 2,000 meters high; Mount Fuji, the tallest,
rises 3,776 meters.
Though it has not erupted since 1707, Mount Fuji
is classified as one of Japan's 77 active volcanoes. These volcanoes
provide the country with one of its most pleasant amenities--mineral hot
springs, which serve as sites for numerous resorts catering to millions of
Japanese vacationers in search of rest and relaxation. Along with this
volcanic activity, Japan is subject to tremors and occasional major
earthquakes.
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